Chisoxfn

QUOTE (Soderholm's Lovechild @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:35 PM) I believe very little of what I hear publicly from the White Sox organization in the offseason. Especially from Ozzie, as I'm pretty sure KW lies to him on a regular basis. By the way, welcome aboard!

QUOTE (Soderholm's Lovechild @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:35 PM) I believe very little of what I hear publicly from the White Sox organization in the offseason. Especially from Ozzie, as I'm pretty sure KW lies to him on a regular basis. That is an exceptional point. Kenny likes stuff to stay quiet and it is no secret that Ozzie has loose lips. "Loose Lips Sink Ships"

QUOTE (monomach @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:29 PM) I don't see how the pen is any better than last year. We ditched Carrasco, who was underrated and picked up a guy that no one is sure still has it. We'll still have Ozzie using an amazing lefty-only guy (Randy Williams) against righties. On the other hand, the rotation is so good that the pen should be "good enough." Linebrink, Pena, and Jenks should all be better than last year. That alone should make them significantly better.

QUOTE (Mattchoo @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:32 PM) I hope you are right. Please be Gonzo or Prince!!!! Of course that would move PK to DH FULL TIME, which goes against what Ozzie just said in an interview. Prince is represented by Scott Boras so that is unlikely. Gonzo will be heavily courted by the Red Sox and while the Sox have enough to get Adrian Gonzalez, they can't afford to go toe to toe with them.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:31 PM) The trade is fine as long as there's another move coming. Well there is what we've heard in quiet and than there is what the Sox have publicly stated. I'm going to hold out my hope that they are working on things. Kenny doesn't just sit around and I certainly hope we have the flexibility to add one more bat. If we do, than this really has been a great off-season, especially when you consider the additions of Peavy/Garcia/Rios late last year.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:28 PM) Thome can platoon though, is the point. Jones can face lefties and Thome righties, for still less than half the price (or thereabouts) that Matsui costs. I could give two s***s where he is hitting the ball if they're not able to catch it at the same rate as they are not able to catch the balls Matsui hits. And damn, I hate those walks and home runs....they kill me! The point is, a guy that hits for a much higher average is much more likely to get the big hits than a guy who will either whack the heck out of the ball than not. Add in the fact that one hits for a significantly higher average with RISP and it really swings another way. I realize Thome is cheap and I'd rather have him than Kotsay/Jones but that doesn't mean I'd be happy with it. He was one of the big things that was wrong with our offense. But he wasn't the only thing.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:12 PM) Because he hits more doubles and less home runs? Because he hits to all fields, strikes out less, and is a better pure hitter at this point. He's a much more complete offensive player than Jim Thome. Thome's stats were heavily driven by HR's and Walks but he had major negatives in the fact that he had a poor average and very high strike-out totals. He is by definition an all or nothing player. Look, I realize the OPS is nice. But with two guys on, I'd like to know I have a guy that can hit for good power and for a better average than a guy that will either walk, hit a 3 run HR or strike out.

QUOTE (JDSox @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:10 PM) Another thing cutting against dealing Quentin is he is a virtual bargain if he lives up to his potential. Getting hit in the wrist is more of a freak thing, and his plantar fascitis should be cleared up this year. He should have a big year and easily outproduce his cheap contract. I think the Sox would be making a massive mistake moving Quentin. He's a good guy whose works his ass off and is reportedly in great shape. The upside is too high and his contract is really too much of a bargain. This guy is a potential MVP whom the club has under control for a few more years. It would be a massive mistake to move him, unless, you are getting a budding superstar in return.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:08 PM) We just had Thome LAST YEAR who put up an .850 OPS and all anyone could do was rag on him for being slow and old. Now we want to pay a very similar player $6.5 million, when the same guy we had last year can be had for half that. Brilliant. Matsui is a much more complete hitter than Jim Thome.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:04 PM) The annoything thing is that Ozzie has been stating his desire to go with a rotating DH since mid-september, this isn't something started by Williams in recent days as a negotiating tactic, this appears to be something that the manager truly desires. Ya, that scares me. I hope Ozzie has some plan up his sleeve. I love the idea of a rotating DH, but it should consist of a few guys that the club can rotate and maybe one extra player that is young who could use the extra at bats (where the other guys rest) as developmental experience. For example, if the club had 4 quality guys for the 3 OF spots and DH, plus a Tyler Flowers, I'd be perfectly content. But to use a rotating DH's at bats with Vizquel/Jones/Kotsay would be very bad, imo. Nothing wrong with a rotating DH to keep guys fresh, just make sure we are talking about starting caliber players being a part of this combo. The Angels have excelled with this approach over the years, but they also aren't running a bunch of s*** out there either.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 03:01 PM) If he's going to be getting significant time at DH and OF then he's not a bench player and in the 3 seasons he's been healthy enough to manage starter level PA he's put up s*** numbers. Kotsay, if used properly, can be a very valuable bench guy. He handles the bat well, plays a nice defense at 1st base, and can give you a bit of flexibility and play decently out in left/right. He also has a stroke that should work off the bench well. If the club is going to use him as a starter, than it would be a huge mistake. Kotsay isn't the player he was 7 or 8 years ago, he's physically limited and the only way you can get success out of him is as a role player. I really hope the Sox plan on using him that way. Ozzie used him pretty good and effectively last year. He might have went with him a little long in certain stretches, but his performance warranted that. He's also just a great guy to have in the locker room.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 02:58 PM) Matsui got 3.5 millioin, so you're basically talking not having Jones/Pierre/Omar. I would have much rather the Sox had Matsui and Putz. I don't even dislike Pierre. Didn't he get 6.5 million?

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 02:57 PM) How about not wasting $8M on Pierre and instead finding someone off the scrapheap that can put up a ~.330 OBP for the minimum and play a little CF, they're out there. I'll gladly take a DH that can put up a decent OPS if it means no Kotsay or Andruw Jones, this is the AL you don't use your bench all that often and neither player has much flexibility anyway. I don't really give a s*** about either. And if Vizquel isn't going to be getting 250+ PA including time at DH I'm disappointed they signed him as well. You can not, under any circumstance (at least not when healthy) break camp with Kotsay/Jones/Vizquel getting significant at bats at DH. Vizquel's value is as a back-up defensive player so DH'ing him would be assisine. Jones has proven he isn't the player he once was. Sure, he's young enough that he could figure things out, but he signed for 500K for a reason and the odds are far greater that he hits .220 with a s***-ton of strikeouts and 15HR's than he hits .270 with 35HR's. And Kotsay is great in a reserve/platoon role. You limit Kotsay and keep him fresh and he'll be a real nice pinch-hitter, pinch-runner, defensive replacement (at 1st). Anything more and you are making a mistake. Bottom line, the above scenario would be a f***ing joke and it better not happen. I don't expect that it will and I really hope all of this talk is the club playing coy. I am scared that Ozzie might actually think that it would be a good idea to use those guys as your DH.

I'll say this, a DH of Kotsay/Jones would be an epic disaster.

QUOTE (striker @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 02:06 PM) Not sure if this was posted yet: http://whitesoxpride.mlblogs.com/archives/...erre_trade.html KW: That scares me...big time.

By the way, what did you guys think of the format? We are going to try to do more pieces using the slide-show format.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:42 PM) Isn't Boston in great shape to get Gonzalez now since they signed Lackey and Cameron? Yep, they can offer up the moon for Gonzalez.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:32 PM) I think we are committed to Quentin in the Sox OF. He has too much upside. I also forgot that besides the DH we still need a back up catcher. So is KW looking trade or free agent? Flowers or Mike Redmond will be the guy. Ozzie loves Redmond and I think they will ultimately go that route. Redmond is very good defensively and is very familiar with the division.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:29 PM) You ain't lyin'. I frequent Dodgerblues.com every now and then and Ethier is their Beckham, along with Clayton Kershaw. Man, the things I would do to see Kershaw in a White Sox uni. Seriously, his curveball makes me want to...nevermind. Too graphic. Ya, Kershaw and Ethier are studs. There is also Kemp and Loney, both of whom are pretty damn solid too.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:25 PM) Do you think patience just means waiting some of these free agents out and hope the price comes down? I ws surprised that we might pick up maybe a half of Pierre's bloated salary. Plus after the deal some site I read was specualting that Andruw Jones was the full-time DH now. I doubt that is going to happen. Jones was never told he was the full-time DH. In fact its been made very obvious to him that he can compete and get at bats if he shows up and kicks ass (just like any player would), but that he won't be the primary DH. I'm very thankful of that. Obviously things can change, but it would be a massive mistake to rely on Jones as our full-time DH. In fact, it would be a complete disaster.

QUOTE (League @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:25 PM) How much value would Q! have right now? His value would be good, but not super high given that he had an injury riddled 2009 campaign. But package Q with other guys and you should be able to get a budding star.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:23 PM) I've got to be honest, I think we are looking at a trade, and I honestly think we are giving up an impact player. I really think KW is shopping Quentin. If the Sox have soured on his long-term health status, now might be the only time to deal him. It would open up another hole though, but maybe Kenny thinks Kotsay/Jones will fill that hole. I certainly hope not.

QUOTE (longshot7 @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:22 PM) We both know the Dodgers are in total chaos, but I can't see them trading Ethier - I think their fanbase would revolt. Ya, the extent of the chaos though I think is still underpublished. They are literally f***ed. They have zero money and a mandate to cut pay. Add in the fact that the McCourts really have zero say due to the litigation going on and the 99% odds that after the divorce is settled, Frank won't have the money to finance the team and you are looking at a club that has "lame duck" ownership and no backing to do anything until the team is ultimately sold. The problem is I'm hearing Frank will hold the team as long as possible and that means you won't have a sale for another year. Which means Coletti might have to get real creative in Dodger town.

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:21 PM) But at the same time, whoever is on the other end of negotiations knows that KW still needs that bat, and as the offseason moves on, there'll be fewer options. In other words, let's get this moving because the anticipation is too much. At least drop a hint. He'll always have a fall back though, Vladdy. Vlad wouldn't sign a deal today for 6 or 6.5M per season. But given how few teams are looking for a DH, reality will set in, and he'll end up signing for a bit less. He might get some nice incenvites but his base pay will fall into the reasonable range and Kenny can use that as leverage. There are also Jack Cust, Adam LaRoche, Jim Thome, Carlos Delgado, and Troy Glaus that he can use as leverage. Kenny should be in a position of power. And I have no basis for my Ethier talk other than the fact that I f***ing love the guy and he'd fit into the Sox plans of an athletic player, who hits lefty. I'd assume he's damn near untouchable, but for the right package, and given the Dodgers problems due to the divorce, you never know.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 01:16 PM) That’s what pissed me off so much about the Cowley thing. I guess I’m a little defensive, but I trust all the guys over here. And for Cowley to do what he did publically really set me off. At the end of the day, its all good. I know people respect the site and if someone hasn't heard of us or doesn't trust us, that is their loss, imo. I think back to a day where I was the only person reporting something about Brandon McCarthy, everyone else in the media was saying one thing and I was saying the opposite. Little did they know, I was getting the info straight from the horses mouth, haha. We try to do things in as honest and ethical manner as possible and will always do that. If we don't have a basis, we won't report it as a rumor, if we haven't heard anything and someone else is reporting it, we'll publish the info so our readers can see it and link to the source of who is reporting (ie, Cowley/Gonzalez/Whomever) and give our take. Most of the time we won't have the scoop, but that doesn't mean we don't have some scoops. Clearly we don't get paid to do what we do so we aren't always around or chatting with our contacts on a regular basis. But when we do hear something juicy, we try to pass it on and depending on the significant it might just be a blurb in a post or twitter or it might be an article. Just think back to some of the stuff I've b****ed about Swisher for, ahahaa.