elrockinMT

Let's just hope this is idle speculation. We don't need another tinkerer coming in and throwing people into roles they are not comfortable with or prepared to handle. Jose Valentin has done a very good job in improving at the SS position. Harris can play 2B and Rowand CF and need the oportunity to show what they have to help this team win. Uribe was supposed to be the super sub in the infield. If we start moving players around just to show how "not by the book" we are I think we will end up with a weakened defense and players struggling to perfrom to their potential. There have not ben many success stories when it comes to this position switching stuff and I can see a lot of problems developing. It is really amazing to me that the acquisition of one player, Uribe, suddenly requires a complete overhaul of our on-field line up. That's quite a move considering the fellow hits at or around the "dreaded Mendoza line."

It could be cyclical also. Pitching dominated in the late 50's through the 60's and MLB tinkered with the mound, etc. Teams made a big push on improving their offense training, coaching, etc, all the way up from the minors to the bigs. Baseball wanted more offense thinking that would bring in more fans. Ballparks brought in the fences, the Sox quit freezing baseballs and adjusting the foul lines for bunts, etc, etc. Pitching may eventually get the same rapt attention and we will see a return to some dominance by hurlers.

I think it's good that we have some versatility with our starters. Valentin is the SS and I am happy with Jose, but Jose can play 3B in a pinch also to relieve Crede. I would sure be happy if the "Milkman" was back with us helping at 3B and 1B. The article posted gave me some info that I hadn't seen before. I wondered what Koch was doing this off season and it appears that the news is encouraging. I also liked his take on Politte.

I believe that in years past we have had an interest in Pedro Astacio. Now we can afford him. I don't know about his present health, but if he is recovered from the injury that sidelined him he might be worth an incentive laden contract.

I say we make a push as Sox fans and demand that Kenny make a run at the "Milkman."

Heh wait a minute now... we can compete with the Tigers anyday!

01/07/2004 12:33 PM ET Uribe to get second chance Middle infielder spends winter in Dominican Republic By Scott Merkin / MLB.com New acquisition Juan Uribe has a career .258 average in 314 Major League games. (David Zalubowski/AP) CHICAGO -- The move by the White Sox to acquire Juan Uribe from Colorado didn’t exactly make front-page news nationally when it happened on Dec. 2. In fact, some White Sox enthusiasts were looking forward to Aaron Miles, the infielder traded from Chicago to Colorado, getting a chance to move his solid offensive numbers over the past two years from the minor leagues to the South Side. But the Uribe transaction not only serves as the main offseason move to date for the White Sox but also could provide an important and versatile addition to their infield in 2004. Uribe, who will turn 25 on July 22, will back up Jose Valentin at shortstop and could challenge Willie Harris for the starting job at second base with a solid Spring Training. “This is not a guy who hasn’t done it before,” said White Sox general manager Kenny Williams. “This situation will be a settling one for him. It should be settling in some ways but demanding in others.” During three seasons in Colorado, Uribe hit .258 with 24 home runs and 135 RBIs. His best season came in 2001, when Uribe hit .300 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs. One of the knocks against Uribe is his strikeout-to-walk ratio, with 235 strikeouts in 1,155 at-bats, while walking 59 times. That trend has continued on a smaller scale during Winter League action in the Dominican Republic, where Uribe joined future teammate Jamie Burke and former White Sox catcher Josh Paul, as well as Rafael Furcal, David Ortiz and Neifi Perez, on Leones del Escogido. Uribe struck out 15 times in 69 at-bats for Leones, drawing five walks. But Uribe hit a solid .275 during 21 games. The talented shortstop did not hit a home run, a step away from the power swing adapted at Coors Field that might have caused him trouble. “I think his problem was that he was playing in the wrong ballpark,” said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen of Uribe. “With the way the ball carries in Colorado, you try to become a home run hitter. “Juan is not a home run hitter. He has great hands, some of the best defensively in the National League. Hopefully, he will really help us.” Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Maybe and I guess we have to let Willie Harris show us what he's got. I just hope that the .250 or so Roberto may hit isn't still 100 points better than Willie. I am inclined to think Harris might break out this year so let's go Sox!

I know that Juan Gone can be a productive hiiter, but nhe by himslef will not win the division for KC. Our offense is still better and I think out core starting pitching is better. Juan Gonzalez has not made the difference for a number of teams and is injured quite often. Not saying he isn't good or anything just that he may not be the answer everyone thinks he is.

Heh, plus I read the Tribune/Sun_Times reports where Kenny Williams says Konerko is getting married. I did not think Chicago's most eligible bachelor would bite the dust.

Steff, I think it would be great for light reading. I appreciate the fact you do get information and are willing to share it. Never see you very upset when someone disagrees with you either on the info you give. Maybe it's becasue you don't have a huge ego to feed. I would like to get the CBA when you have a chance, but please don't hurry with it if you have other things to do. [email protected]

I believe that part of Bart's salary was paid partly by Montreal or through funds received from the Yankees. Bart was acquired in a trade not free agency. Albert Belle was a free agent some years ago so if you want to be technical about it then once upon a time Jerry did spend some money. David Wells was acquired in a trade with the Blue Jays not free agency. I can understand your reasoning, but I am not very optimistic it will happen, but if it does I will extend my olive branch to you and simply revel in the fact I was wrong. I do think we can be competitive this year with the present team and really that's the main think to worry about in my opinion. You just want to go through the season knowing you are in the hunt. At some point this spending on older players must come back to roost for the Yankees, Red Sox, etc.

We can always hope folks. But, I agree with Rex in that we are all trying to see a silver lining behind all of this talk and the reality is most likley Kenny is speaking the truth and we won't do anything. I am not against going into '04 with what we have, but a few additions like a reliable 4th or 5th starter would be good and an experienced middle reliever, but I am not sure we can even think about adding a Kenny Rogers at this point, or should we. I am still mystified and miffed at the talk from the Sox front office at the end on the season where we were being told every effort would be made to keep the likes of Colon, Everett, Alomar, et al, etc, etc, blah, blah and now they are ALL gone. Did Reinsdorf lead Kenny to believe he was going to open the vault only to pull the key away at the last moment? I think Jerry Reinsdorf owes the Sox and the Sox fans an explanation.

Anything is possible, but I am not sure we have the farm system left to do that?!

I don't believe that Jerry Reinsdorf will spend big money ever on big ticket free agents. Forget the list that may be there for next season and it isn't healthy or wise for us to think that Reinsdorf has a big paying plan for the future. He doesn't and that's the bottom line. Plus you really don't know what that final list of FA's will look like at the end of '04. My bet is that the teams that have the more desirable ones will make every attempt to resign them. It is my opinion that we may still make some signings before Spring Training, but it will be on the cheap and limited to whatever and whoever is left come February 20th or so. I believe that the Kenny Williams strategic plan for the '04 season failed to develop because Reinsdorf locked the doors to the bank vault. Although I am happy Kenny didn't make trades just for the sake of making it look like the Sox were on the way up. I think he has been honest with us, but I wish we would hear from old Jerry once in awhile about where he wants this team to go and that he is willing to help bring a championship to COMISKEY Park.

Can't fault Robbie on this deal. If he signs with the D-Backs, or the Cards, he apparently has agreed to less money than he made in '03 from the Mets. He agreed to do the same with the Sox, but Reinsdorf is too cheap and wanted even less than fair market.

I think we will see more bunt single attempts this season from Willie. He should improve under the likes of Ozzie and Joey and has very good speed and needs to use it more. I was impressed with his improveemnt with the bat towards the end of the season. He should line drive ability and made some solid contact. Hoperfully '04 will be his break out year.

Either way then he stays with the Sox? At least that's how I take it.

Always fun to read these analysis' and break downs, but the problem is I haven't seen many come true. It is way to early to put much stock in these statements. You almnost have to wait till the end of spring training to see what is developing.

.... this will free up payroll not only for ponson but we will hopefully get some real good prospects and also we will have ponson for my guess 3 years, and have konerko and his 9 mil salary off the books for next year. The sox should have about 20 mil to spend next offseason if they don;t keep maggs and valentin. which they should lock up elo in the middle of the season if he is ass good as last year. Next years free agent outlook is supposed to be good. I just hope this works out for us. I respect your opinion, but all I would really agree with here is that we should resign Esteban Loaiza.

I think that KW has many plans, but none have worked out. I just hope the one main theme is that we refuse to get ripped off. I can just see trading Konerko, Lee or Maggs and getting nothing concrete in return. You want to help the team improve by trading star players and not just dump salary.

That's great info to have Steff. I appreciate your determination to get the info. I know that you must have been fuming when you were challenged like that. Now answer me this, Rex and Steff, I don't think we signed Schonenweis did we? I thought it was just as stated in the rules that we offered to negotiate or arbitration. Doesn't mean we have or will sign him only that we have more time.

Steff, who are you talking about? I assume Ponson and not Ritchie? Just wanted to make sure before I step in it. I hope we don't trade Konerko for simply prospects. We trade an established star who hits for average and power, except for one medoicre year in '03, and we are ready to send him off for a package of minor league maybes. We don't have a good track record with LA anyway. I am not sold on Ponson either. There is no positive consistency yet which would make me want to dish out $5M or $6M for him. If he signs for maybe $3M plus incentives then we should think about it.

I don't think Robbie could resign with the Sox until May 5th? I am not sure he would want to anyway after being jerked around. I see him landing in St Louis.

1967-1968: Worse Deal: Tommie Agee, Al Weis and JC Martin to the Mets for Tommy Davis and Jack Fisher