Randar68

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 03:36 PM) Ya, I am pretty muhc convinced Carlos will be moved. His contract like triples this season to around 12 million a year (they really backended the deal and the 1st year was extremely cheap the rest of relatively pricey) and there is no way the Marlins can afford that. Especially when they will have to find a starter to replace AJ. Delgado can be had and should probably be one of the first options the Sox look at. He's carried offenses before, is left handed, and is a total machine. Would be a great addition to this offense. Plus you could photoshop the Jobu sig to have Carlos under the hood...

QUOTE(3E8 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 03:28 PM) I agree with you completely. Anderson doesn't walk at an alarming rate, averaged about 1 BB per 10 AB's in the minors. He won't come close to that batting at the bottom of the White Sox order. Between A, AA, and AAA, he hit a grand total of 28 home runs the past two years. Tell me how he is going to out-OPS Rowand in his rookie season. You don't think Anderson would put up a .750+ OPS his first year? ok.. I guess. :sleep He's gone from Great Falls to the Majors in 3 seasons... you think there might be a reason for that?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 03:17 PM) Is it totally wrong for me to not want to get rid of any of our Of'ers. I would love to have a fully homegrown young core of starters on my team. Not wrong at all... I'd love to see it come to fruition as well. However, can we sacrifice winning with the current rotation we have now? If we're borderline competitive with the current offense and can make us a legit World Series threat by trading someone, I would welcome that as well... You don't have a rotation like we do right now very often in my experience... the window is small...

QUOTE(MnSoxFan @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 01:38 PM) I would think Jenks gets some votes. Great point, forgot about that one. More likely for him to make it than any of the other guys...

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:44 AM) What's your issue lately? You've been prickly with everyone you disagree with. Take a deep breath maybe? Your definition of logic and reasoned thought doesn't necessarily have to be everyone else's. Please show me where either of logic or reasoned thought were used in the original post. 1) He totally glossed over one of the deepest levels in the organization, High-A. 2) He neglected to put 2-and-2 together to see that 5/160 is almost right-on league average... 3) He made a grand conclusion about how BA rates or views our organization based on incomplete and poorly interpreted data I'm still waiting for logic or reason to show itself...

QUOTE(JimH @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 09:08 AM) Rock, he is retired, and a lifelong fan of 60+ years at least. Some slack is probably in order. I guess that absolves him from using logic or reasoned thought?

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 11:35 PM) Phillies will pay 1/3 of his contract, but want big time talent in return. If that's the case, they could probably get Delgado for less... We'll see what the bidding looks like, but we'd better hope Kenny can pull off some big moves, because the FA market is pretty barren and we need 2 middle of the order hitters somehow...

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Sep 28, 2005 -> 06:32 AM) So what are they go going to do if they dont get anything there asking for? Sit Thome? They will get a good package back, but he could be had, and it wouldnt be a huge blow to the farm. Both Thome and Delgado at a MINIMUM will be on the market... perhaps Helton as well? With PK a free agent and Kevin Millar out there, there are 1st base options in the market...

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 06:18 PM) Ryan Howard. WTF are you smoking? The Phils would want Buehrle, Garland, and McCarthy for him... There's no chance in hell.... If you had your thinking cap on, you'd have possibly included Jim Thome in the discussions if he gets healthy... Philly has no need for him next year...

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 05:47 PM) Let's play a quick game of "which one doesn't belong in this discussion": Aaron Rowand- .275 BA, .332 OBP Juan Uribe- .252 BA, .298 OBP Joe Crede- .254 BA, .308 OBP Carl Everett- .245 BA, .306 OBP That's a nice convenient discussion to leave power and run production totally out of the equation, isn't it... Where's the Church Lady when you need a quote? "Hooooow Conveeeeeeeeenient" QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 05:47 PM) Plus he's still fairly young and has really only had two years as a full time player. :headshake QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 05:47 PM) I disagree with you that you HAVE to have a leadoff hitter or a middle of the order hitter at one of the middle infield spots or in center. Would you pass on Ichiro with our current roster because he doesn't have enough power? Ichiro is a leadoff hitter, but not only that, but he'd be a far better CF'er than Aaron Rowand. On top of that, you're going to use a scenario from a last-place team to support your argument? Yikes! Where is your leadoff hitter going to come from? We have ours in LF in a traditional and common place to have a #3, #4, or #5 hitter. What do we have in CF? a #7 or #8 hitter with no qualities becoming of hitting at the top or middle of the order. Ok, that's 2 positions wasted for 1 leadoff hitter. We already have Iguchi at #2 and he's a solid fit for that role, plays enough defense. That brings us to Uribe and Crede. Uribe has more RBI's out of the #8 and #9 hole than Rowand has batting in the #3, #6, #7 positions... Not only that, but either or Uribe or Crede play FAR superior defense for their positions than Rowand, who you people STILL fail to admit has CRAP instincts in CF. How many times must he float on the ball... how many mile-high fly-balls have to fall in front of him? How many misplays on balls hit at him must he make? Does he have to circle the wagons a few more times for some of you to pay attention? I have no problem replacing Uribe or Crede, but that help has to come from outside the organization. Rowand can be replaced a month ago for all I care, and it can be done internally. We're talking about 3 low-salary players who we want to replace at least one of. With what and how much is it gonna cost me? Upgrading Uribe is gonne be VERY expensive if you want to look at Furcal. Crede? Bill Mueller is about the only option available on the FA market, and his durability is a question-mark. Again, Rowand's replacement has been sitting in the dugout the past 4 weeks and makes the league-minimum. Now you can address the other big issues like resigning Konerko or not and how do you replace him... who will DH, how do you fill out the bullpen, etc...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 03:22 PM) While we do have multiple viable options, I'm not sure that they're a.) within 18 months of being MLB Ready, and b.) not going to be busy replacing other outfield spots. Remember...of the 3 outfielders we have right now, I believe Dye's contract is up the soonest (save Everett). In other words, just for free agent reasons, he'll need replaced first. (and the odds are his injury history may well catch up with him next season too). That takes up 1 viable option. Secondly...Podsednik is still a fairly big question mark, in that if he can't steal bases, he's pretty much useless as a leadoff hitter and a detriment to our lineup. Rowand right now is the least of our concerns in the outfield. If Rowand and his lackluster offense and over-rated defense are the least of our concerns, I'm sorry, but we're F***ed... Pods has been hurt. the first 3-4 months of this season were not an anomoly. Dye is signed through 2006 and is our 2nd or 3rd best offensive player, while playing a pretty good RF (not great)... Rowand doesn't provide you with a ( A ) middle of the order hitter or a ( B ) lead-off hitter. If he can't give you "B", then Pods must stay. If he can't give you "A" either, you'd better be out there filling that need elsewhere in the market... Anderson isn't viable in the next 18 months? One of Sweeney, Young or Owens isn't likely to be viable in the next 18 months? Heck, as fast as Young and Owens are coming, I can't see them being overlooked for contributing in 2006 if needed in your prescribed injury scenario... Clearly what we do with Konerko has a lot of bearing on what other moves and options the team will have to look at... However, even if you retain him, you've got to fill that DH role and you absolutely MUST find another middle-of-the-order bat... Where these guys are going to fit is anybody's guess, with key defensive guys like Crede and Uribe and Iguchi being such a valuable #2 hitter... Doesn't leave many options OTHER than to replace Rowand, Konerko, and DH... Signing Furcal allows you to possibly move Pods and add a better LF bat to the heart of the order...

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 03:28 PM) Rowand's a perfect outfielder if you have an above average offense besides him. The problem is that between him, Uribe, and Crede, you have three guys who are more defensive players than they are offensive. That's fine and dandy in the NL, but in the AL, you have to be able to score. That is exactly right... Somewhere in your lineup, you have to find a spot for a lead-off type hitter. If your CF'er provides you with Beltran or Edmunds-like offense, you can afford to have your LF'er be that type of Juan Pierre or Pods type of guy. However, if your CF'er doesn't provide you with any outstanding offensive characteristic, you are awfully hard-pressed to use a position like LF (that is comparatively easy to find productive middle of the order hitters)... Here's the point. Unless you can get that middle-of-the-order production or a lead-off hitter out of SS, 2B, or CF, you're going to be severely handicapping your lineup because you need to have that kind of player shoe-horned in to another position that is far easier to find productive middle of the order hitters that you will now be lacking... If you have one or more power-players at those positions, it's far easier to field a balanced line-up by inserting that lead-off type player elsewhere in the field without compromising the balance of the offense... It's all a matter of market scarcity... You want to build your everyday line-up around your exceptional players and taylor it to be most-easily adjusted via market options... in the market, power-hitting good-defense CF'ers are much harder to find and cost WAY more than the LF or RF equivalent...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 02:45 PM) The outlier seems to me to be the 2002 season, the only season during which his OPS was more than 100 points away from his career average. His .742 OPS this season is also a fair amount lower than his career average, and even lower than his 2003 number. His career OPS including this season, in the majors, is less than .800. His 2004 .905 OPS is WAY out of line with that. Year___AB's___OPS 2001___123___.816 2002___302___.692 2003___157___.779 2004___487___.905 2005___561___.742 Again, what's the outlier? Basically a ~.750 OPS player? Heck, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt... he's an .800 OPS CF'er with no base-stealing ability, limited power, lot's of K's, and no walks... What the heck you gonna do with that? You can't build an OF'er around a player like that, not when you have multiple viable options within 18 months of being MLB-ready... If you don't want to carry Rowand as a 4th OF'er, trade him... Heck, the Yankees need a CF'er and we know how Aaron played in Yankee Stadium...

3 Gio mentions in today's chat-wrap...

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 02:29 PM) Southern League Possibles Young - Top 5 Sweeney - Top 10, maybe higher BA love him. Fields - High draft pick - They usually get some love Rogo Tracey Haigwood You're going to see Owens possibly accounted for there, too. You don't produce like that after a jump from Low A to Double A and not catch quite a few eyes doing so... Fields will not be rated. Rogo likely bypassed as well. Young, Sweeney, Owens with either Haig (if not in the Carolina League list) or Tracey as your best bets to have a pitcher listed, although I think none will be...

QUOTE(BigEdWalsh @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 02:01 PM) I don't know, the guy is still only 19 yrs old. He looked pretty good when he was backed up to the Rookie League. Next year, I would assume at Kanny, hopefully he can progress. At 19, I would say he's still a pretty highly regarded prospect. He made a lot of progress at Kanny aftert struggling mightily early. Bristol -> Kanny is a HUGE jump for someone as young and raw as Hernandez. If you look at his numbers at the plate, he was turning it around his last 3-4 weeks there before heading back to Great Falls when Lucy came off the DL. Invaluable experience for a kid his age, and he reportedly handled himself very well behind the dish... Was good to get him back to Great Falls and have such a positive conclusion to his season that he can take and build on...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 11:09 AM) Rowand still has a lot of potential in him...he's cheap and we have him for several more years. This year has clearly been the disappointment that none of us wanted for him however. This team needs him to be able to hit nearly .300 with an OPS a fair amount over .800. He didn't do that this year...but when you're playing with Youth, sometimes you just have to hope for improvement. Rowand is 27 years old.... Please see this link and tell me again what the outlier is... http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/aaron-rowand.shtml What has he ever done to make you think he still has "potential" and can come anywhere near replicating his 2004? sheeesh. Also, IMO, I doubt the Sox trade Pods unless Jerry Owens is ready to be that lead-off guy and LF'er. 4/9ths of your starting line-up in 2007? Owens-Young-Anderson with Sweeney at 1B? Who knows?

QUOTE(bigredrudy @ Sep 27, 2005 -> 01:09 PM) Thus far BA does not think all that much of the sox farm system. The Sox have very few players in their top 20's. I know most of the talent is at Birmingham but even so I am surprised at what I have seen so far. Since we know Charlotte won't have more than one player in the top 20, even a good showing in the Southern League won't make up for this poor showing. And I think Birmingham will have only 3 in the top 20. WTF are you talking about? Sox had one guy in the Appy League (Cunningham @ #9), 2 guys in the Pioneer League (Hernandez @ #5 and Allen @ #19) and one from Kannapolis (Gio #12). They have yet to even do the leagues where the Sox are the strongest (W-S and Birmingham)... The Sox have 5 out of 160 prospects ranked so far. With 30 MLB teams, that's about average, and like I said, the 2 levels the Sox are strongest and deepest at are not even covered yet... Sheeesh, what a load of crap...

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 10:03 AM) I have yet to see if he is worthy of a starting job in the MLB. Hell, Rowand hasn't been worthy of one based on this season...

QUOTE(3E8 @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 08:53 AM) It was a thread about what you would do if you were the GM... not: 1) What KW will or realistically can do Yes, but that doesn't mean someone's plan to put a prospect on the bench regularly isn't all of the above, especially when they're not upgrading that position from its current level via any other move...

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 03:28 AM) I meant KW's era. KW was technically the GM, even though Ron was behind a lot of that trade, KW was still the guy that pulled the trigger. Not like anoy of the guys we gave up have done much of anything, though. Wells is perfect in a place where they never play any important games and there's no pressure. Bring him back here, and he'd be back to his old self...

QUOTE(bumptious96 @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 03:15 AM) 4th OF: Anderson (will rotate between left and right and play a good amount) I'm nit sure how many times I have to call this plan: A ) Stupid B ) Asinine C ) ludicrous before people stop saying it. YOU DON'T BRING UP PRIZED PROSPECTS AND SIT THEM. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CF'ER IS A .750 OPS PLAYER WITH INFERIOR DEFENSE TO THE PROSPECT! Sheesh. Guys, if anyone is going to be the 4th OF'er next year, it's Rowand. Get over it between now and April 1st next year... PLEASE!

QUOTE(bumptious96 @ Sep 26, 2005 -> 03:15 AM) The Sox aren't going to have as much spending room as everyone might think. Alot of players are getting raises after the season. Then add in Pauly's contract and Frank's buyout, there's no way the Sox are going to get Furcal. That is assuming they resign Paul, which is a good chunk of the money most people are saying they'd spend elsewhere.

threads like these always bring the kool-aid drinking "don't let me favorite player go or try to replace him" homers out... It was a thread about what you would do if you were the GM... not: 1) What KW will or realistically can do 2) How to rehash the Konerko or Rowand arguments 3) How to think everyone on this team is irreplaceable etc etc etc. Sheeeesh. I realise this is a "fan" site and "fans" have favorite players, but s***, I wanna win. If that means getting rid of a player I like, F*** IT! Sheeesh. Some people are like 12-year-old girls with crushes on their teachers (players)...

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Sep 23, 2005 -> 09:36 AM) Today over at http://www.minorleagueball.com, John Sickles will be taking my suggestion for this. Anyone with any interest may want to check his site today. The real problem is that every move is so contingent on other moves you make... I'm definitely starting Brian Anderson in CF next year and seeing what the market for Rowand looks like in trade. Dye in RF or 1B if you can't move Rowand. Pods? I'm not sure I'd keep him if I could land Furcal, although a 1-2 of Pods-Furcal could be fun to watch run... This team desperately needs a middle-of-the-order hitter... Delgado, a healthy Frank, someone who can scare opposing pitchers and get on-base at a good clip. The trade-market is really the only way to land one this year... Address 1B: 1) Try to trade for Delgado 2) Again look to try to get Helton from Colorado 3) maybe Texas would part with Texiera for a package including Garland or Buehrle? 4) Look at Durazo and Millar in FA 5) Move Dye to 1st? Priority FA's: 1) Rafael Furcal 2) always look for an Ace Starting pitcher or innings eater... (Burnett, Schmidt, Millwood, etc) 3) Bill Mueller 4) Brian Giles (not coming here, though). 5) If I landed Furcal, I'd also look at Matsui if he becomes a FA (complicated contract) 6) Legit lefty-specialist. Cotts is not, Marte is unreliable... 7) Tom Gordon Based on the above moves, this allows you to trade some of Uribe, Crede, Pods, Rowand, or a starter if one is signed. current Sox: 1) let Konerko, Carl, Blum, Marte, walk or trade for whatever you can get 2) Resign Garland to a Buehrle-like back-loaded contract, although I don't think he should get as much as Buehrle based on performance 3) Pickup options or resign Politte, Widger, Ozuna 4) If Mueller not signed, resign Crede to a 3-year deal, not much $$ there Frankly, the Sox will have some money to spend, and with an increase in payroll in the 5-10 million dollar range, I think they should be looking at trades where they can take salary and not give up TOP talent... aka. Delgado, Helton, etc... My best-case lineup for 2006: 1) Pods - LF 2) Furcal - SS 3) Helton or Delgado - 1B 4) Frank - DH 5) Dye - RF 6) Iguchi - 2B 7) AJ - C 8) Anderson - CF 9) Crede - 3B Bench: Gload, Ozuna, Timo, Uribe, and Rowand Rotation: 1) Buehrle 2) Garcia 3) Garland 4) Contreras 5) McCarthy Bullpen: lefty-specialist, Hermy, Politte, Gordon and Cotts Closer: Jenks Might not be opposed to keeping Vizcaino and using a short bench or not signing Gordon... This should all be in whatever color indicates "dreaming"... I dunno at this time. We'll have to see who is available in the offseason, as trades are going to be Kenny's best bet with the weak FA crop outside of about 4-5 players...