joeynach

I think people need to realize this trade is all about timing. KW and the sox realize they have about a 2 year window here to make a run with the way their rotation is set up. They have Buehrle through 2011, Peavy through 2012, and Danks & Flloyd until 2012. They also only have Konerko through 2010 and essentially have a weak division that has Cle going in reverse, Det tied with $120M payroll already, and a Twins team that is going to find its superstar hit Free Agency in a year. For the white sox the time to make a run is NOW. While I am surprised the sox gave up on Getz, a speedy and solid defender at 2B, it is no surprise Fields is gone. According to Fangraphs, Fields could never even cover a major league fastball in his entire hitting career, he has no place playing professional baseball at all, IMO. The Tehan trade is a get better now and for the next 2 years move. He will probably make about $4-5M through his arbitration years, the next 3 seasons. He provides decent numbers, decent defense, decent speed, and good versatility. I think this move allows to the sox to make their roster a versatile go for it now thing. No more slow base clogging life and pull players. This move allows the sox to play Tehan in RF and have an infield of Beckham at 3B, Alexi at SS, and Hudson/Polanco at 2B. Or on the other hand play Tehan at 3B, move Beckham to his natural SS, Alexi to 2B, and have room for Pods/other leadoff hitting OF. There is no way KW made this move to hand 2B to Jayson "no plate disciple" Nix. In a whole other scenario the sox have said they want a DH that can also play the field and rotate around, so Tehan can be used as a DH allowing more upgrades at either 2B, RF, or 3B. In the end this move is defiantly just round 1 for KW on his roster make up. The sox are obviously moving for an overall more atheltic and consistent lineup to match the window of opportunity bestowed before them. As for the Royals they might as well just release Field I find him valueless (cant play D and cant hit), and for Getz, sure you got to give him his playing time, but he looks more like the next Greg Counsel than the next Ryne Sandberg.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 07:40 PM) Brooks response: Joey, Thanks for the note and idea. Only issue we run into comes with serving and selling food outside the walls of the ballpark. That requires an additional permit, one we are not able to obtain on a daily basis. I always thought it was cool coming out of a Yankees game and seeing the vendors lined up. Really appreciate you reaching out. Brooks

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 4, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) I think since he's arb-eligible this year he can earn quite a bit more than that by simply not signing, that wouldn't be a competitive offer any more. Yeah but thats a risky move to rely on 3 years of arbitration to earn more than a guaranteed contract. If he gets hurt, has an accident, or even has a terrible year his value on a 1 year contract in arbitration will go down not up. Conversely, MLB contracts are guaranteed, so if he signed say a 4 year deal he would still get paid a great value if injured or he had an off year. Going the arbitration route is a risk, something that he apparently is willing to take. In 2010 he would probably get something like $2M and if he continues pitching well in 2011 and 2012 he would probably get salaries of $5-6M and $8-9M respectively. While those both might be a couple mil higher than what he was offered in a contract extension in 2009 they are not guaranteed so its high risk against somewhat low reward. Though my gut tells me he and agent arent dumb and probably dont want to go the arbitration route, they just want to reject the first offer to be able to negotiate an increased offer the second time around. I fully expect Danks to sign an extension at some point in the next year.

Bad speculation. The sox want youth, speed, and defense. Johnny Damon gets a D- in all 3 of those categories. Good job by the author thought not to bring that up. Never let the facts get in the way of a crappy off season baseball story.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 01:58 PM) Someone needs to forward these ideas to the Sox. I emailed brooks today.

QUOTE (striker62704 @ Nov 2, 2009 -> 01:26 PM) My thoughts exactly. Vendors would being uniqueness that you otherwise couldn't get at your neighborhood mall. Ive always thought that since the sox did such a good job with food, items like Hot Dogs, Polish, Italian Sausasge, Elotes, etc they it would be really cool of sox setup some of these foodstand outside of the park. Like in front of gate 3 or 5, near the home plate box office, in some of the parking lots where people gather. I think that would be so cool and give fans more reason to come early and stay late, of course it wouldnt cost much and it would provide some more revenue for the sox.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 1, 2009 -> 04:03 PM) What should we call it now? My vote would be Sox Square. Love it

Lol this exclusive from WBBM is about a year late. I have all the schematics for the plan from the design firm and have had them for over a year. I posted them here like a year ago. Its funny how exclusive WBBM is though. Here is a sample of what I got. existing_vs_proposed.pdf

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 25, 2009 -> 11:55 AM) I have it at 8 spots, with a 4 man bench (Kotsay, Flowers, De Aza, Nix) Keeping Bobby CL - Jenks SU - Thornton SU - Hudson MR - Nunez MR - Pena MR - Linebrink LR - Torres LR - Carrasco The Bobby-Alexei for Ellsbury-Okajima-Bard trade Olney suggested CL - Thornton SU - Okajima SU - Bard MR - Nunez MR - Pena MR - Linebrink LR - Hudson LR - Carrasco Wait I must have missed it, but I love that trade. Get me Ellsbury now.

The sox should really try hard to get Danks signed up. Probably something like 3 years 17-18 Mil with a 4th year Team option at 10 Mil should do it.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Oct 20, 2009 -> 01:56 AM) Not that I'm trying to doubt you, but I guess I'll wait and see what happens. I just think it's too difficult right now to predict next season's payroll using past history. The club lowered payroll last year in preparation of the economic crisis. If they think the economy will be better next year, at least for baseball, maybe they will put more money back into the team. On the other hand, I know that the contracts of several big advertisers were up after this season. Honestly, I could see the payroll heading in either direction. I think it's a bit premature to automatically assume payroll will remain static or go down. Not that I'm expecting any significant changes. Attendance was down something like 6%..the sox lost a lot of sponsorship and advertising deals for 2009. The sox couldnt draw a lick in spring training. You will those effect the 2010 payroll and budget, always take a period to filter down.

No thanks on Hawpe for 7.5 id rather make a run at Nick Jonhson. If anyone from the rockies I think we need id make a run at Rafael Betancourt, hes a FA unless the rockies pick up a 5.4M option, probably wont happen. He could probably be signed for 2 years 5 mil.

QUOTE (son of a rude @ Oct 12, 2009 -> 02:29 PM) Yeah, I'm liking that number. Does anybody have any rough estimate on what it will be after we offer arb to danks, quentin, DJ, and pena? (hoping we dont offer it to bobby) I'm not good with the arb numbers. I have preliminary numbers that show the sox at $75 Mil right now. That number does not include arbitration raises to Danks, Jenks, Carrasco, Pena, Betemit (if not non-tendered), and Quentin. It also does not include anything for Pods who could be resigned soon. So basically if we all figure the sox payroll to be between $90 and $95 Mil it looks the sox are going to have very little if anything to spend this offseason. That is, unless they can move some expensive pieces like Konerko, Linebrink, or Jenks. But as of right now I dont see it possible to add any player this is going to make more than a few mil; no Figgins, no Nick Jonhson, no trade for Dunn.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Oct 12, 2009 -> 02:08 PM) I don't want the Sox to be one of them when it comes to good players. Spend the money Jerry. Yay another insightful quote completing ignoring the factor which drives every entity in this country, economics.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Oct 10, 2009 -> 07:22 PM) Pierzynski: June 24th Buehrle: July 16th The AJ 5/10 rights is almost meaningless. Its very unlikely we try and trade him by the deadline anyway and hes a free agent after 2010.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 11, 2009 -> 02:36 AM) First off, there is no reason he can't produce somewhere else. While he certainly feels comfortable in Chicago, there is really no evidence to suggest this is the only place he can be successful. Secondly, I think he'll get a few multi-year offers. Finally, his agent has to be aware of the fact that he is probably a 1-year stopgap were he to sign with Chicago. So even if he did play well here in 2010, odds are, we'll be ready to move on by 2011. I think most likely he can find someone to give him a 2 year deal with 10 mil. Or at least 1 Year 5 mil with an option for the 2nd at 5 mil. If i was the sox I wouldnt do that. Hes not a long term solution to anything, and he has never had back to back productive years.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 10, 2009 -> 01:31 PM) Think LH middle-of-order type hitter first, position second. Sox have a lot of movable parts defensively, no too mention a DH opening. Nick Johnson would be a nice piece to add. He could play DH/1B/RF. Most likely he and konerko can split time at DH/1B and hes an OBP Machine.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Oct 7, 2009 -> 11:24 PM) I strongly disagree with this part. Jenks will be easy to move. The hard part is getting good talent back in the deal. The Sox will have to target MLB role players, probably ones already making pretty good chunks of money, or else they'll have to go after either prospects who aren't all that great or reclamation projects. But make no mistake: Bobby Jenks at around $7M on a one-year commitment is A s*** TON better than Jose Valverde at $8-10 per year for several years or 2-3 years to constantly injured Mike Gonzalez. If you could trade Jenks to get some nice young players in here I would ok with that only if we make another addition to the pen. The only scenarios I could see would be acquiring Wuertz to set up and moving Thornton to close or signing Rafael Soriano to close and keeping thornton at set up.

As a pure baseball fan....the Twins/Tigers by far. In fact that was one of the best games I have seen in my entire life. The Sox/Twins game was great too featuring some fantastic things; the griffey throw out at home, Thome's bomb, Anderson's diving grab to clinch it. But man that Twins/Tigers had like a crazy play during a crazy situation like once every inning or two.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Oct 5, 2009 -> 07:15 PM) I really, REALLY don't like basing any of my opinions on what Cowley writes or says, but like it or not, he does have more access at this point than I do. He has said numerous times that Dye sulked in the clubhouse on a regular basis during the second half, and expected the Sox to approach him about a new deal. When he found out the Sox didn't have him in the plans, along with acquiring Rios, he mailed it in. If that is true, I lost a ton of respect for Dye, who was probably in my Top 3 favorites of all time. Im not saying he did or didn't mail it in. But if he found out the sox were essentially going to make him a Free Agent wouldnt that motivate him even more to get out of that slump, and start producing in his contract year, knowing that hes gonna need to show some clubs he can still play. Doens't make sense why would a guy rollover after being informed hes going to be a free agent and need to negotiate a new contract with a new team.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 5, 2009 -> 05:07 PM) We are going to miss his production. My question is: Why do the Dye naysayers immediately claim he's finished and not just say he had an off year? Rios ... oh he had an off year. Swisher last year ... oh he had an off year. But Dye is finished? Dye will have 2 good years with whomever acquires him. I'm just saying KW needs to replace some big time production in Dye and Thome. Why can't some people just say Dye had an off year or rotten second half?? I know why. We know him too well and people are sick of him and want new blood. Hope the new blood can produce like the Jermaine of the first half. Not true if you look at Dye's splits between 1st half and 2nd half production its been pretty noticeable that he wears down a but in the 2nd half. I think I had a thread on it about a month ago. Except for 2006 his power #s from 07, 08, 09 look like 22 Hr's first half and like 10 Hr's 2nd half. Same with his Avg and OBP, steady declines the 2nd half. That my friend is the tell tale sign of age catching up with a slugger.

When asked by Scott Gregor about whether he thinks he played his last game with the White Sox Dye said, "I don't really have a feeling". Sounds like the I know im gone attitude to me. Could just be Dye being Dye, usually humbled and quiet, but hes gotta realize he essentially played himself to this point. I have loved this guy over the years, but I know longer believe he can be on offensive force and carry a team over an extended period of time, let alone produce at all in the 2nd half. Sorry Jermaine, but last I looked the key to winning baseball wasn't to retain expensive aging sluggers, Goodbye ole friend, thanks for 2005 and good luck.

Its Phil Rogers, master of the worst articles and analysis in the history of Chicago. Enough said. How he even has a voice on such matters is beyond me.

dude....awesome

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Oct 3, 2009 -> 12:54 PM) Floyd and Danks continuing to progress were the most important things going into this season. I thought it was important for one of them to turn into a legit #1 for the Sox to be a championship contender, but then KW traded for Peavy and well that speaks for itself . . . With Beckham being a fixture at third for the next 10 years and Ramirez improvement defensively at short the in the second half I think the Sox are closer to contending than anyone thinks. I can't wait for spring training. On top of all that we broke in Getz and Nix into the full time mix and go see what those guys are really all about. I was thoroughly pleased with Getz; played great D, stole bases, hit for average. It would be nice to see him add a bit of power and extra base hits, but hes still very young. When it comes to Nix he played ok D, I was a little dissapointed due to the fact that he was regarded as a + glove man, but hes still young too. Nix has a bit more pop in his bat, but struck out way too much and had trouble hitting for average. It was good to break these guys in though, most likely one of them will turn into an everyday starter for years to come.