Chisoxfn

I think Allen has the batspeed to make it and as a hitter he's gotten so much better the past couple seasons. He's a guy that really keeps getting better. When drafted he was a raw guy with upside and than for a while he floudnered and I had given up on him and than bam, he made major strides the past couple years and is now probably the best off the radar 1st base prospect in baseball and one of the top 8 first base prospects in the game. I don't know if he's ready yet, but I have no problem moving two of Dye/Thome/Konerko this season and giving Allen a shot. Very good approach at the plate, should hit for enough power (not 40HR power though, imo). This comparison is going to sound really assinine, but Huddy reminds me a lot of Roy Halladay. I'm not necessarily saying pure stuff wise or anything like that but they have similar arm actions and builds and I'm probably nuts in this comparison. But Huddy has a good fastball (90-94) that gets nice movement and what looks like a very solid slider/split combo and a developing changeup. JPN can probably give a better scouting report as I've seen him pitch much less than he has.

QUOTE (Adele_H @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:58 PM) Those who've seen him pitch... does Omogrosso throw a legitimate 99 mph or is he a typical Sox prospect who loses 3+ MPH on a plane ride to Chicago upon promotion? I haven't ever seen him touted as throwing 99MPH but he does throw into the mid 90's. As a reliever I think you'll see him sit in the 94-97MPH range. As a starter he pitches in the 93-95 MPH range. Projects much better as a reliever.

I'm really really excited to see what Allen does in AAA and what Huddy does in AA. I fell in love with Hudson this spring (loved his delivery and the total package of pitches) and Allen is really becoming a pretty damn good hitter.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:50 PM) They could have had him for nothing a month ago. If he's lights out, the White Sox are trying to win, they will keep him. If he struggles, no one is picking up his contract. Rosenthal had an article last week that no one could afford Dye. They aren't going to go for Contreras unless the money is even and if that's the case, I really don't know what the benefit of trading him really is. We see the upside the last two starts. If true than your right. I still think what rosenthal is saying is that no one that can afford Dye is also willing to give up the type of prospect(s) it would take to make the Sox willing to move him.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:46 PM) And they aren't going to pay it. I think a team pays it (based upon his last two starts) but the question is what does the team give the Sox and the answer is probably very little. That said I might be wrong because if teams think Jose's back, well they might give up a lot more than I expected, but I doubt it and your probably right (well to an extent cause I do think if you put Jose on waivers today someone claims him, thus meaning someone would be willing to trade him). Just my 2 cents though.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:45 PM) Probably not. Thanks for your imput. Dick that was hillarious. I don't know why, but your response gave me a good laugh. Now lets hope the Sox sweep Cincy!!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:40 PM) And we could finally present him with his World Series ring for 2005 for contributions to the Sox. From a PR standpoint Vladdy it is a good move, especially if we have traded key veterans this year. Vladdy is the type of signing that shoudln't hurt the franchise and gives us a nice veteran bat in the middle of the order. Not an elite bat but still a good bat and he'd be a great DH, imo. Keeping Dye makes a lot of sense too. See if you can get him to agree to another 2yr extension with a club option at 14-16M with some incentives and a couple M buyout for the 3rd year option.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:37 PM) For some reason, I have a feeling Vlad will be our DH next season. Last time I said something like this, it was about Carlos Pena being our 1B in 2006. Oops! He's struggled but I'd be on board with Vladdy because I still think he'll be able to hit. I just think he needs an off-season with rest and be willing to be a full time DH. Only to a shorter term deal though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:37 PM) Here is the list of Free Agent RF this offseason Kearns has a club option. Ordonez has a club/vesting option. Dye has a mutual option that won't be picked up. Some other names could be available who currently aren't playing RF but could be moved there, including: Holliday, Bay, Russell Branyan, etc. The Sox could make a run at Holliday in a trade, but they'd have to ink him to a big contract. Not a bad idea cause I think Holliday is a darn nice looking piece and a middle of the order bat. That said it isn't in Boras style to sign extensions following a trade. Holliday is the most available piece though. But what about the Justin Uptons of the world or maybe Crawford does become available because the Drays decide to cut costs a bit.

QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:35 PM) I could consider getting rid of Fields and Wise PERMANENTLY (I don't mean, like, killing them) from the White Sox Organization a plus and almost like buying without buying. And I mean out of the organization, none of this sent down s***, I dont want to risk seeing them if someone goes on the DL. Call up Ward to back up Paulie. He's at least had MLB experience and can give you some pop off the bench and is a lefty. I think with Fields you try to package him for an arm that has failed at the big league level that has big league stuff. Maybe you send Konerko to the Giants for Sanchez (whose stock has really dropped). Gives you cash and a projectable arm and than the Sox can try to swing Fields, Sanchez and a top prospect (I should point out if we get that big name RF, we'd likely see one of our top prospects go plus other pieces) for a RF that we like.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:17 PM) Unless KW can do something like he was trying to do with the Peavy deal...find a major piece that can help us for 3+ years, I don't see us buying anything. Not with the minor league depth we suddenly have. I'd be interested in being a seller...but I don't want our team to be the California Housing Market - I'd rather take my chances on a hot streak at the end of the season than sell for little return. Wonder if anyone would be interested in Podsednik if he keeps hitting like this. I think Pods and Contreras both have a lot of value to another team right now. Long-term, probably not, but down the stretch if they play like this they'll be valuable assets on a contender. Oh and after thinking more, I think getting a Corner OF bat would be the best option outside of picking up a front of the rotation arm. But if you get that big corner OF bat to go with Quentin you really do have to get rid of two of Paulie/Dye/Thome or are at least best suited doing that. I say that because you can than utilize the DH and 1B spot to rotate plenty of AB's between Flowers (some of his AB's coming at C)/Allen/Viciedo/Veteran. Depending on how much you believe in Viciedo/Allen, you might be best off going with Thome since you can sign him to a one year deal, however, Dye is a darn solid hitter and still has tons of power and as a whole is a better bet to stay healthy. Dye also strikes out more though and Thome's OBP would be very value added as the lineup would be changed significantly and his power presence would be nice (thats right, I'm supporting Thome for the moment). That could be a nice looking offense that is able to win yet still have developmental slots for guys like Allen/Flowers/Viciedo/Danks with 2 of the youngsters being very protected as Flowers would have AJ as protection and our 1B/DH spot would have a veteran as protection in a sense (Protection that starts a lot).

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) You have to take into consideration that Dye's option will most likely not be picked up. However he may return as our DH. So that leaves RF and CF open for improvement. So if they decide to let Danks run with it in CF next year awesome, you still have RF to potentially fill. I would love Carl Crawford- even as our leadoff hitter. Its too bad they weren't out of contention, because i would LOVE for KW find a way to bring him over. A Quentin-Danks-Crawford OF going forward would definitley work. Completely agree. On a sidenote, excellent discussion you've started!!!!!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) How about finding a RF for next year, and then basically narrowing down between Dye and Thome who you want to play DH next season? Excellent idea. Having a good long-term corner outfielder to go with Quentin and Danks with Anderson in a backup role (unless he totally explodes down the stretch). You than keep one of Dye and Thome and try to negotiate to get one of them back. If we lack left handed power go with Thome, if its righties go with Dye. Than you see if Getz/Beckham/Ramirez look legit and if they are your infield is set and two of those guys are atop your order with danks lower in the order and you still have a pretty good middle of the lineup consisting of your RF/Quentin/Thome or Dye/Paulie (or if you make a trade, you could have Brandon Allen with Flowers getting ocassional at bats). Bottom line is its still a pretty solid lineup with a lot more speed and some upside.

Eh, we aren't the fastest on the web but we usually aren't too slow. I wish we could have this thing on a killer machine, but unfortunately costs get in the way but we usually try to get on as good of a machine as financially possible.

That is where you have to hope that Kenny can somehow find a way to get a nice piece. That said, the even tougher part is you also have Danks slated for CF so its going to be interesting. Hopefully Getz hits down the stretch and it allows a top of the order of Getz/Beckham and than the Sox can find a way to pick up another outfielder or something. It isn't going to be easy. I really hope the Sox kids pan out in a hurry cause we got a nice looking rotation long-term.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 03:54 PM) Freddy Sanchez has an $8 million option for next year. You figure PK and AJ come off that year also. He would help us with the rest of this year and be apart of a competitive younger team next year. I'm not willing to pay Sanchez 8 million in expense of Getz. I think that would be a long-term mistake and 8M should go to an impact bat or fill a major need position (ie, leadoff spot). We have enough guys that can slide into the 2 spot, imo (Ramirez, Slayer, Getz).

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 03:56 PM) BTW, I would say that Contreras needs to be traded last Saturday. I'd also like to see the Sox acquire a solid righty bullpen arm that will be here next year. I think Count gets dealt with Poreda sliding into the rotation and we'll see the Sox go with that the rest of the way. They'll evaluate there guys and than make a decision as what to do in the off-season (ie, if they feel that Clayton and Poreda are starters or if they need to find some, plus whether Gavin and Danks are front of the rotation guys). I also think you'll see guys like Link and Omogrosso get there opportunity at the big league club but the Sox might also make a deal or two for arms that they like which are raw and need to be honed. Basically some projects that have failed at the major league level. Bottom line I see the Sox shedding some payroll in an effort to create roster spots for current season development as well as get a bit of a prospect return (although I expect us to get very few upper echelon prospects, if any), and of course more financial flexibility to acquire an every day player for this year and beyond as well as go out and make some free agent or international signings.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 03:54 PM) Freddy Sanchez has an $8 million option for next year. You figure PK and AJ come off that year also. He would help us with the rest of this year and be apart of a competitive younger team next year. Exept that he's going to be 32. Than again Figgins, the guy I figure we'll sign next year, is also getting up there in age. If the Sox buy, I expect them to be buying a leadoff hitter (as Fathom pointed out).

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I think were sellers but that doesn't mean we don't buy in some areas. Whatever Kenny does I think it will be geared more towards the long-term future of the club than the short-term. Freddy Sanchez doesn't sound bad and he's a good hitter, but he's going to be 32 years old next year and I believe he's owed a good chunk of money. That said, I think the Sox will trade some players but at the same time target another player or two and no matter what they do I still expect them to "contend" for the AL Central because of the strong rotation.

If there is one thing KDub Jr can do its flat out fly. He really is an impressive athlete on the field, I just don't know if he can figure out that whole hitting thing.

I don't care if the women kept coming back. That makes her incredibly stupid but that doesn't mean she deserves to get beaten. And if she hits him, than marshall should walk the f*** away and never talk to her again. Yes, it really is that simple.

If I can hit well over .400 in softball than so could Mauer. In all seriousness I think Mauer has a shot. But its such an amazingly difficult feat. He is the best hitter in the majors since Gwynn though, imo and I won't be shocked when Mauer makes at least a run at it a couple different times in his career (much like TGwynn did).

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 03:31 PM) Seriously, why is he even on this team? Send him to AAA or AA and make room for him in the pen or in the rotation. Then call him up. Plenty of teams have had success developing starting pitchers through the bullpen. You can even look at certain starters that had failed initially who didn't end up succeeding until after they had stints in the pen (Earvin Santana being a recent example).

QUOTE (Y2HH @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 03:21 PM) If you look at what I'm saying, you'd see I actually agree with you -- almost 100%. I'm not saying Linebrink doesn't share fault, but so does Getz, etc...it was a team effort is my point. I'm saying DO NOT play the typical Soxtalk scapegoat game -- which is what everyone here seems content in doing. Understood. I just hate the blame game. Unless a guy has constantly stunk for an extended period of time. Even Wise, I don't think its fair to boo him, but I understand if people want to, but I can't at all even rationalize why he's on the roster. Getz made an error, sure, but he also had a good offensive game and quite frankly he's pretty solid defensively so its not as if its a typical thing out of him. And maybe Coop has told Ozzie that they need to get Linebrink lots of work to get him into a rhythm or something. Hell, I don't know. I just think you should be able to turn a 4 run lead over to almost anyone when its the 8th inning of a game. And the only big mistake managerial wise was ozzie leaving Liney to face Soto.