joeynach

We all know the sox always try and break up Danks and Buehrle from pitching back to back in the rotation. Given that they are both lefties and pitch similar styles it makes sense.

Question is will he be the closer or will thornton.

It would be nice to see a statistical real projection for Sox, Twins, Tigers wins. Like one based on total WAR for each team, or runs projects vs runs allowed (Pythagorean win formula).

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 12, 2011 -> 09:02 AM) And let's not forget the "hometown hero/Paul Bunyan" side of this... They really had little choice but to give him that contract. Now, with the Cardinals and Pujols, that's a somewhat different story...because they would be giving Pujols contract dollars far into what could be the downside of his career in his 30's. I can't remember what website does the "true financial value" analysis which incorporates souvenir sales/marketing "Q" ratings, etc., but the Mariners until recent years have always felt they were getting a good ROI on the Ichiro contract and this is definitely one of those situations. Now a Morneau that's not healthy/productive or a Nathan that requires at least a year to work back to prior levels as the closer, that's going to hurt them a lot more than a down season for Mauer. If you could somehow find this magical website you speak of that would be freaking great and I would send you 20 virtual dollars. But seriously, if you can find this that would be great I would really enjoy that.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 09:36 PM) I would say that .330/.410/.490/.900 with 12 homers is worth $23 million at several other positions. Hell, the Red Sox just gave $20 mill a year to Crawford, and his numbers are nowhere close to Mauer's. See this is where I have the problem, though I agree I would much rather have $23M for Mauer in comparison to $20M for Crawford. Mauer like you just posted above is more valuable, but the problem is I believe your comparing big overpay vs. big overpay. I dont think either guy is worth the sum they received. I think the free agent market vastly inflated Crawford thats for sure. The guys you compared Mauer to, Utley and Hanley, make $15M annually, the guy I compared him to, Chipper Jones, made $15M annually in his hay day. Crawford is not in those categories for sure and is vastly overpaid. Mauer didnt hit the FA market, just like Hanley and Utley, and they received $15M, but Mauer received $23M.........seems like on overpay either way you look at it.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 07:32 PM) And that 162 game average includes his .783 OPS from his first full year of starting. He put up a 1.000+ OPS in 09, which is too much, but I think he's about a .925 true OPS talent. His home runs were a bit down last year and I think that could certainly improve. No bull man but I like to let the numbers speak for themselves. According to baseball-reference, in 3092 career at bats Mauer owns a career 162 game average of .327/.407/.481/.888 with 16HR and 81 RBI. Those are the facts. In fact aside from a slight difference in batting average its almost the same as Chipper Jones career 162 game average of .306/.405/.536/.941 with 21 HR and 107 RBI. And if you are a saber guy right off the bat you say Chipper Jones is a much more valuable player becuase batting average is hogwash and OPS is everything, Jones OPS is 52 points higher than Mauer's. Chipper Jones has had a fine paying career, but the highest he was ever payed was $16M annually in 2005 as part of a 6 year 90M contract he signed in 2001. Since then he has had average salary of about $12M. And after all that Mauer gets an 8 year $184M contract becuase of what, hes a catcher, becuase he went to HS and grew up in St. Paul, becuase Twins fans wanted the local favorite around forever. Thats awful becuase he is NOT EVEN AS GOOD OF A HITTER AS CHIPPER JONES!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 11, 2011 -> 02:23 PM) Because Joe Mauer hit .327/.402/.469 and it was generally considered by the greater baseball community as a down year. Down year, thats exactly what his 162 game average is!!!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 11:05 PM) Nathan's contract expires after this season, though their is a club option worth $12.5 million or a $2 mill buyout. Liriano is also a free agent following next season, so while you are correct in stating that his salary will be above $10+ mill over the next couple years, he will only be under team control for one more. I also think he's going to at least have to have another year similar to last season for his salary to jump 250% next season. Beyond any of that, Joe Mauer is one of the most valuable players in the game today and is a player who can pretty much literally win you a division title on his own. You don't let that go, consequences be damned. And what of Mauer's 2010 line of .327/.402/.469 with 9 HR and 75 RBI is deserving of $23M. I agree he is a tremendous hitter, but there are quite a few other guys I would rather pay $23M for. I think by the numbers Carlos Gonzalez and Robinson Cano would be much more deserving coming off their 2010 seasons.

This is the first time I have seen the cubs vs. sox series for a weekday games only. They are on Mon, Tue, Wed nights so that might have something to do with the availability. I just checked their are plenty of UD only tickets available for all games. But IMO, unless its a cant miss playoff game the UD is best reserved for kids, teachers night, camp field trips, church groups, etc. Your HD TV and couch offer a better experience that the UD, especially in the sections down by the foul poles.

no DH list

QUOTE (The Baconator @ Feb 10, 2011 -> 08:37 PM) Earlier on Baseball Tonight, Olney said they were prepared to trade him perhaps as soon as spring training starts. This is exactly what a lot of baseball people said would happen and something I defiantly agreed upon at the time. The $23M annual salary for Mauer would have consequences for this mid market team. The Twins are going to have a $110M+ payroll in 2011 and perhaps even higher in 2012. You have $49M committed to 3 players in Mauer/Morneau/Nathan for both 2011 and 2012. This is one of the consequences to signing Mauer (and Morneau) to those large extensions, you cant afford the escalating price for a guy like Liriano. Though hes salary is only about $4M this year it will escalate above $10M+ in the next couple years. Liriano proposed a 3 Year $39M extension to the Twins which they promply said no thank you and have thus being exploring a trade. Twins nation wanted Mauer locked up at all costs, well they got it, and are quicly going to realize that there are consequences to such actions in a mid market team.

The title of this thread should be Hippie (Buehrle) vs. Thug Life (Vick)

QUOTE (kev211 @ Feb 9, 2011 -> 11:40 PM) Isn't it just a club option anyway? That automatically vest if he gets traded, but the sox can still can pick it up whenever they want. I don't believe they have to find a way. Edit: Unless you're talking about just finding the money to do it, if so ignore this. Maybe your right. I wasnt sure if its a regular team option that vests if traded, or an option that only exists if he gets traded.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 9, 2011 -> 08:10 PM) You think dumping Teahen's salary would be enough to offset what Young has due to him the next three years? I want no part of a declining Michael Young at his salary during his age 34-36 seasons. Brent Morel is one of the few legitimate prospects we have. I think we've gotten so used to KW trading the farm away to 'go for it' every year that it's become almost taboo to want to give a young guy a shot. And this coming from somebody who loathes are minor league system, along with the way we draft, scout, spend, ect. I hope that Morel can really excite some people and have a solid rookie campaign kinda like Beckham did. I actually have a gut feeling that Morel is going to be just fine, play good Defense and hit at something like a .260/.330/.410 clip. Its the white sox highly touted prospects that never work out and always disappoint, but this mid level expectation prospect may actually work out.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 9, 2011 -> 04:04 PM) Said by whom? That sounds insane, they already turned the guy into the league's most expensive DH/Super sub because they wanted a defensive upgrade. Read that MLBtraderumors.com "Texas is looking for starting pitching and a position player who can help at the Major League level."

me, @Joeynach I am the moderator of MLBtraderumors White Sox Material on facebook and twitter

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 9, 2011 -> 03:18 PM) I'm not normally one to consider home/away splits because hitters generally hit better at home than they do on the road. Young's are scary though: 2010 Home: .307/.361/.509/.871 2010 Away: .260/.299/.380/.679 2009 Home: .347/.411/.525/.936 2009 Away: .297/.337/.511/.848 2008 Home: .305/.362/.441/.803 2008 Away: .264/.317/.364/.680 Career Home: .322/.372/.487/.859 Career Away: .279/.322/.411/.733 After reading this post I can not believe that Young makes $16M. Hes a solid player but $16M+ salaries are reserved for cant miss automatic all stars that bring something spectacular to the table (either offense or defense).

Dont get me wrong, Young is an all star. And adding an All star to your team is a good thing, especially in the wake of a rookie who is slotted to take the position isnt really a cant miss prospect. I like Morel, but if the Sox can get Young for their price and you do it. It makes your team better. There are a couple big problems. There is no way the Sox would take on 3 Years and $48M for Young without the Rangers eating like half that salary. Also, the Rangers are said to want 1 top pitching prospect and 1 major league ready position player that can contribute right now. The sox may have a need or open slot for Young, but they dont have the package to offer the Rangers to acquire him.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Feb 8, 2011 -> 12:07 PM) I am confident we will see him early this year, but not so about his ability to be very good again. As is, last year he was ok granted coming on strong before he got injured. I still can't see anything better than a 4.00 ERA based on last year's struggles and the injury. I just cant see how his velocity will come back. There is no way his average fastball velocity will be 92-94 like it has been once gets back.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Feb 8, 2011 -> 11:30 AM) This news is quite encouraging. I'd be very surprised if he's ready for opening day, but it definitely sounds like he'll be on the mound well before June. He will be ready to go in May. He will stay for extended spring training to help build arm strength, make a couple AAA rehab starts and then will be back.

I think another interesting question is that if the White Sox have success this year and reap the (financial) benefits of a deep playoff run, do they find a way to exercise that $15M option on Buehrle's contract that is set to vest only if he get (agrees) to a trade. My gut tells me with the way this organization works, if the sox and Buehrle have a both have a great year they will find a way to keep on of their own and get that option picked up.

There are retards out there in our city, what can ya do

I dont get it, they have a division that basically gurantees the Yanks and Red Sox playoff berths. They added about $30M in payroll this year and for what. What is so special about 2011 that warranted Vlad on a 1 year deal, DLee on a 1 year deal, Ducescher on 1 year deal, trade for Reynolds, trade for Hardy, and a 2 year deal for Kevin Gregg. Im not saying they didnt get better, but they did all this to go from 66 wins in 2010 to maybe 74 if things work out for them in 2011. Whats the point, yeah they will draw some more fans, but id rather just keep a low payroll and let my kids and young pitching staff develop and get major league time.

Pierre is a fine leadoff hitter if ozzie uses him correctly. He has shown us the ability to get on base at a decent enough clip and steal some bases to offset his lack of power or lack of high batting average. If he does all that he will be a fine leadoff hitter for us in 2011. Its when the 8th place hitter gets a leadoff single/double, then ozzie bunts with the 9th hitter to move the runner over for a big RBI hit/sacfly opportunity for Pierre with 1 out that drives me crazy. Keep away from that insanity and Pierre is fine leadoff hitter by me.

QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ Feb 3, 2011 -> 11:27 PM) I have a friend who is still in the A's marketing organization and apparently JD loved to take strippers to Hawaii with him, would take them golfing/have them caddy for him, have them strip down and lie down on the green next to the hole and give him something to aim at. He always used to ping me when he would see one of the Boys/Girls Clubs of America ads while he was with the Sox. Full respect. Love JD, bring that man a contract! Awesome mental image!!!