Marty34

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 21, 2011 -> 05:44 PM) They already got that. They need 1 or 2 more (with Danks signed) before I'd be willing to address other areas.

Not a bad move if true. They'll just have to look at dealing something someone wants in order to get that other SP prospect or two that they will need.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 18, 2011 -> 04:10 AM) Let's recap... shall we? After the San Diego Padres pull off a 4 for 1 swap of Ace starting pitcher Matt Latos with the Cincinnati Reds, the trade market is starting to heat up. The bar for starting pitching looks to be set high in that the Reds gave up not only Alonso, but also a nice trio in Grandal, Volquez, and Boxburger. So, in addition to the Reds - who else may have interest in Danks or Floyd? Let's see... 1.) Rangers 2.) Yankees 3.) Red Sox 4.) Blue Jays 5.) Washington 6.) Mets 7.) Marlins 8.) Orioles Take one off that list with Darvish and the Jays. So, that's 7 teams that are bidding on 2 LPH's in Danks and Gio. Floyd is one of a few attractive options from the right. Oh and it seems that the Reds actually may still want more pitching. Sit tight folks. Gonzalez, Shields, Jurrens, Garza, and Wandy Rodriguez are pitchers who also appear to be on the market. The market became less favorable for the Sox because teams see what Beane is asking for Gonzalez and what SD got for Latos and are probably thinking about dealing a pitcher they weren't otherwise going to move and those pitchers are more attractive than Danks and Floyd. Think what Tampa could get if they moved Price.

The Reds acquiring a pitcher that wasn't thought to be on the market throws somewhat of a wrench in the Sox plans. With each deal like this that happens, I think it becomes more likely that the Sox will deal Ramirez. The Hanley Ramirez situation even makes that tough.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 15, 2011 -> 07:13 PM) That's a great point. Thornton is probably selling cars if Cooper didn't fix him. If he did pop off, and we really have no idea, everyone thought the veteran who wanted to go if the Sox went young was AJ and he said no, or Peavy, and he and Cowley don't seem to have the same story, so that's doubtful, its weak sauce. I really think its probably a made up quote, but what a classy thing to do on twitter, rip Gonzo, the beat writer who is better than Cowley ever could be. My opinion is the unnamed pitcher was Buehrle because it wasn't prefaced by "White Sox pitcher" and he was not happy with the way Coop was conducting business in he last year of his contract. Buehrle was in the same boat. One other thing, Gonzo is a real good guy, but I never learn anything I did not know before reading his stories.

The story is at least one pitcher on the staff last year thought Coop was looking out for himself in the last year of his contract and wasn't the 'same old Coop' until he got his extension. Like it or not, that perception is a legit story.

QUOTE (VictoryMC98 @ Dec 15, 2011 -> 11:27 AM) But, shouldn't a reporter just rip on the White Sox Scape goat, like the board does? The hatred toward Cowley on here, it's as if he said something disparaging about Soxtalk.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 15, 2011 -> 11:25 AM) Making s*** up /= reporter What did he make up?

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 15, 2011 -> 08:57 AM) Here's the problem with Cowley's reporting. He takes a few disgruntled people and uses their thoughts to advance the narrative he wants to tell. So, because there a few people who dont like Coop, therefore everyone hates him and all he was doing is protecting his ass. You could take this model and apply it to any work environment in the country. there are ALWAYS people who dislike their boss. I know in my particular situation, if you interviewed me and one of my co-workers, you'd think my boss was a lying back stabbing bafoon. If you interviewed others, they'd say they love the man and he's a great guy. Which is the truth? If Cowley disliked my boss, he'd only use me and my co-worker as his sources. It's called being a reporter.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Dec 14, 2011 -> 10:39 AM) I think Joe's article was well written. We know there were problems inside the Sox last season. We had lots of spirited talk here about internal issues and player and coach and manager issues. Simply because Cowley writes the srticle is no reason now to dismiss the information as being from an unreliable adn trouble making writer. Where there is smoke there probably is fire. The truth hurts sometimes. Bottom line is we need to get things straightened out and get back to winning baseball games instead of looking to tear the team and organization apart. Yea, it's shoot the messenger around here regarding Cowley. Interesting info in the article regardless.

Cowley is up in White Sox business and he doesn't give a damn. Another solid report.

I think best case scenario for Axelrod is that he becomes this generation's Jon Snyder.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 12, 2011 -> 06:21 PM) Step one at being right at predicting trades. Predict everyone to be traded Somebody here had inside info on Buehrle re-signing. Hate on them for a bit instead of waiting your time on those who were right.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 12, 2011 -> 03:36 PM) That's nice. And he's still not going anywhere in a trade. The Phillies are in full-blown win-now mode, as they should be. I heard Gammons say last week that they have interest in Gonzalez and that would allow them to deal Hamels. Not out of the realm

I don't think Hamels re-signs with the Phillies and I'd be surprised if they just lets him walk away.

I can see the Phillies dealing Hamels if the return for Gonzalez is pretty good. The SP market looks like Tor, Tex, NYY, Bos, KC and Cin are darkhorses. Pitchers on the market, Gonzalez, Danks, Floyd, Darvish, Garza, and maybe Hamels. I think Gonzalez goes to Tor, Darvish goes to Tex, Garza to Bos, Hamels/Danks to NYY/KC, Floyd to Cin.

Ben Francisco to Jays. Would phils be interested in Quentin?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 11, 2011 -> 03:30 PM) Then either don't trade Santos, or don't rush to trade Santos and get done what needs to happen with Danks first. Effective negotiation tactics aren't as obscure as you're trying to make them out to be. Debating KW's trade negotiation tactics is a chicken/egg argument because we aren't privy to all information, but let me leave it at this. I don't necessarily agree with the premise that Danks had to go before Santos. I believe Santos is at his peak value and it was at least as important that he be traded as it is Danks.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 11, 2011 -> 03:20 PM) Then, um, trade Danks. The team has to trade Danks. The team doesn't have to trade Santos. Take the players from Boston for Danks and then move on and see what else you can get for Santos. Point is, Danks value is less than Santos. If Williams asks for player A from the Red Sox for Santos, he is not going to get him for Danks most likely.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 11, 2011 -> 03:07 PM) Yes it does, enormously, both of those teams would be willing to give up players to take on Sergio, the Sox would not be willing (or able) to give up plyaers to take on Gio. No, the Sox would be willing to give players up for Gonzalez, Beane probably would not want them though.

What if Williams was planning on asking Boston for the same players for Danks as he was for Santos? If he offers the Red Sox Santos, he loses leverage on Danks.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 11, 2011 -> 02:39 PM) Crazy. The White Sox have no talent to give up in exchange for a guy who is arb-eligible for the first time this year. Doesn't differ from Williams not calling Boston or Baltimore.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 11, 2011 -> 02:21 PM) No, because the White Sox aren't in need of a soon to be expensive starter. However, if the White Sox were in need of that player, it would make sense to call them. I think the Sox would be interested in a pre-arb Gonzalez.

If Beane doesn't call the Sox about Gonzalez is he not shopping him as he should? So the story is the Red Sox and Orioles would have ponied up for Santos. I believe the Jays were the best match for Santos.

QUOTE (CyAcosta41 @ Dec 11, 2011 -> 09:58 AM) The real issue is that by NOT contacting the Red Sox, NOT contacting the Orioles, and likely NOT contacting many other teams as well, it appears that Kenny didn't exhaustively maximize value for his trading chip. A team with deep resources and a well-stocked farm can get away with that; we can't. Some will say -- "well, that's not how Kenny does his business ... he finds a target and does what it takes to get him." Maybe that's true. And maybe the old dog must learn that the old tricks haven't been working all that well and it's time to learn a new trick or two (not that due diligence and establishing a market is a "new" trick to most, but it certainly might be a new way of operating for our GM). Maybe Molina was their number 1 target all along and when the Jays agreed there was no reason to offer Santos around to drive up his price. With guys like Bailey and Marmol on the market, the Jays could have gone elsewhere if the Sox drove too hard of a bargain. I don't have a problem with the way Williams handled this.