Frank the Tank 35

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 3, 2005 -> 01:37 PM) My only question is this...what happens if Thome can't play? We screwed. I'm not saying I LIKE the option, but that it is likeLY. Of course I'm assuming anybody interested in obtaining Thome would be given all the doctors' reports and perhaps a rehab display? Like I said, I'm not a fan of our options right now.

I'm not a big fan of Thome, but if PK leaves, I see that as the most likely option. The Phils don't want him and would send him over for less than equal value and/or cash for his salary. Delgado would be great, but we'd have to give up more to get him IMO. It's just not the same situation as Philly where Thome had his worst year and back problems, with the huge contract, while Ryan Howard, who costs nothing, pounded the ball. I'd prefer, of course, Chad Tracy, but I have a hard time seeing him getting traded at this point. Lyle Overbay would be OK. I have my reservations about him as we'd definitely be losing power, but at least we'd be a little more secure in terms of injury problems. Needless to say I'm definitely very wary of our options right now barring a miraculous Tracy trade.

QUOTE(WSFAN35 @ Nov 2, 2005 -> 11:57 PM) With all the talk about trading for Manny, I wonder why no one has mentioned Todd Helton. The Rockies would be willing to eat up substantial dollars on his contract in order to get rid of him, IMO definately moreso than the Red Sox would for Ramirez. It might take some substantial trading materials, but I feel it would be worth the price if we lose Konerko to the 14-15 million a year range. Konerko and Helton are on par with eachother when it comes to defense, and while Helton is assisted by Coors Field, he walks more, strikes out less, hits for a higher average, and hits lefty. He might be headed towards the downside of his career, but he's still a MLB number 3 hitter, his contract is short and Rogowski may be ready for 07. This topic was discussed way back during the trade deadline. Basically, the Rockies will not and are not even interested in trading Helton. He's their marquee player. He has even been quoted saying that he does not want to leave Colorado (no matter how much they suck) and wants to be at the center of their rebuilding process. Call him crazy, but that's the situation. So... no is your answer.

Hermanson's '05 WAS a fluke IMO. He operated on smoke and mirrors all year long. A lot of ppl hit him hard, just right at our fielders. He pitched just like Brandon Backe did against us: slider, slider, slider. That's all he's got folks. He has a good slider with location. I don't know how he kept it up for so long, but the league will adjust to him. In 2006, healthy or not, Hermanson is gonna get lit up if he's still with the Sox.

And those are a legit 27 homers. He doesn't have any dumbass Vtek uppercut swing. He has an level stroke, good for, ::gasp::, an average!

Is there a possibility of a 3-way? Angels-D'backs-BoSox?

For those of you who feel slighted about GG's, check out ESPN's sportsnation poll today. It asks if you think Derek Jeter is the best defensive SS in the AL. Outside of New York (which is close at 53%-47%), the only other states who think he IS the best are Wyoming (6 votes) and Alaska (1 vote). He's currently losing 67%-33%.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Nov 1, 2005 -> 11:13 PM) This is what they've got at the moment at 1B, 3B and the OF. Chad Tracy Tony Clark Troy Glaus Conor Jackson Carlos Quentin Luis Terrero Shawn Green Luis Gonzalez Can anybody say logjam!!!! Let's break this down. If they can't trade Glaus, he's a must-play for the $$ he's making and his talent. If they can't trade Gonzo or Green, they're also definitely starting lineup. They just resigned Tony Clark but also want to get Conor Jackson, their hot prospect, in the lineup. If I remember correctly they said they might try getting him in the OF although his defense is questionable at best. Terrero is a nobody, benchwarmer material. I'm not real familiar with Quentin, is he a rookie? Basically, it's Tracy, Jackson, and Clark competing for 3 spots. Tracy is the best option defensively to play the OF. I have a feeling Clark and Jackson will be platooning till Jackson is ready for a full-time role. Personally I don't see them moving Tracy UNLESS we were to take Russ Ortiz off their hands as well which would open up $$ for them to sign another SP in addition to Marte and the prospects we'd send over there. But if they trade any one of Glaus, Green, or Gonzo, they keep Tracy for sure.

I realize that the Diamondbacks have extra position players. They just locked up a washed up firstbaseman that had a career year as well as brought back Clayton (if I remember right, maybe I was dreaming?). They have a full outfield and Glaus at third. I could possibly see them moving Tracy as an absolute last resort if they couldn't move some other player. I'm not gonna get myself excited about it yet until there's actual confirmation he's available.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Nov 1, 2005 -> 10:05 PM) I think that would definately be the ideal option. Especially for Tracy. Hell yes, if only they would move him. Some Boston paper said 'Zona may move him, but it was all speculation and poor speculation at that. I'd be surprised if they did, but I'd want the Sox to be first in line on that if they did.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Nov 1, 2005 -> 08:04 PM) If you think Frank is gonna do that next year, you're either an idiot or incredibly high. His abbreviated stats from the past two seasons say he's definitely still capable of producing on that scale. I agree, age is not kind to stats, so take .020 points off his BA and what do you have? Dunn's average from last year. I'd much rather put a least a worthwhile effort into those hopes at a small contract w/ incentives rather that blow one of our starters on a guy who never was endearing to me outside of his fantasy league stats. If Frank goes down again at some point, make a trade mid-season. The Reds will be out of it by then anyway...

I never understood the lovefest for Adam Dunn, and I guess I never will. Let's play a game comparing Adam Dunn to a mystery person. Dunn's 2005 stats (543 ABs): .247 avg, .387 obp, .540 slg, .927 ops 40 hrs, 101 rbis, 114 bbs, 168 k's .249 avg bases empty, .248 risp, .231 risp w/ 2 outs, .231 bases loaded Mystery player's last full season (546 ABs): .267 avg, .390 obp, .562 slg, .952 ops 42 hrs, 105 rbis, 100 bbs, 115 k's .222 avg bases empty, .280 risp, .305 risp w/ 2 outs, .333 bases loaded Dunn would cost AT LEAST one of our top starters. The mystery player has injury concerns but would be VERY affordable. WHO do YOU think this mystery player is? And the follow-up question: which situation would most benefit the Sox?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 03:59 PM) That doesn't mean the Yankees won't try to overpay him. How much do you think they'd be willing to spend on a set-up guy? Ryan is looking to command at least $7 mil per year.

Frank is low risk (monetarily), high reward. He's a longtime Sox and is willling to do anything to stay here. I can't see why the Sox wouldn't bring him back. I actually think it would be foolish not to. I like the Durazo backup plan. The lefty aspect is intriguing as is his supposed unfulfilled potential. Coming off surgery and with the prospects of going to a team that just won the WS, I think something could easily be done in the $1-2 mill range with incentives.

The A's are interested in acquiring Thomas' services. Makes sense that they would try to persue a high OBP guy. Low risk, high reward.

I'm not saying Giles wouldn't be worth $10 mil NEXT season but how about in the third year of his contract? Not worth it IMO. Yes I have looked at his stats, he was on one of my fantasy teams this past year! Even if his contract was front heavy, something like a 13-10-7 split, he's not worth $13 next year for the Sox. We simply do NOT have the resources for this guy if we want Konerko back. I know Bonds has set a new standard in terms of how long players can play at their highest level, but be realistic, the steroid age is almost over. Players' abilities will resume declining in their mid to upper 30's with the usual retirement at 40 for GOOD players.

Talk about not investing in "aging" performers aka Konerko. People are worried his stats will start to decline when he's 32-33. Giles is ALREADY 34. He'll be 35 in January. C'mon ppls, he's not worth $10 mil at this point. I'm not saying he's not going to get it, but he's not worth it especially from the Sox.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Oct 31, 2005 -> 02:22 PM) Carl will be in a place like Tampa. Carl's not going to Tampa. They already have their OF full + DH duties. They have Crawford, Gomes, Huff (yes I know he plays 1B too but Travis Lee got all the reps there later in the season), Gathright, and a healed Baldelli.

He got roasted in a couple of his starts at the major league level. BMac has shown more promise than him at the majors level so far IMO. I read somewhere that they're believed to have similar value, potential, etc.

QUOTE(Dam8610 @ Oct 30, 2005 -> 03:28 AM) Don't you think having Manny Ramirez looming on deck would make Konerko a much better hitter? I do. I don't however think that having Konerko on deck would make Manny a better hitter. This is my logic for putting Konerko in the 3 hole. It maximizes the potential of the lineup IMO. It probably would help a little, but I think the whole point of having your best hitter in the 3 hole is to drive in runs and continue the inning. If Pods and/or Gooch can get on base, Manny has a better chance of driving them in than Konerko. If they do not get on base, Manny still has a better chance to get on base thus extending the inning to Konerko.

BTW, posting on Soxtalk is an EXCELLENT way to sober up before going to bed. I HIGHLY recomment it. Oh and in regards to trading for Manny, I think that the Rowand, Marte, Duque deal (or prospects) could conceivably work. Consider what we did with the Lee trade. We took that extra money saved and reinvested it in other key players. If we got Manny I don't think the BoSox would throw alot of money our way, so they'd be saving something approaching $10 mil by trading Manny. Say they turn that into a Matsui or Giles or maybe BJ Ryan, to shore up their closer issues, signing and now they're on to something. Certainly Rowand+Marte+Duque do not = Manny. But perhaps, Rowand+Marte+Duque+Matsui/Giles do = Manny. Just a drunken thought anyway...

Manny would bat 3rd. Why did Frank bat 3rd for so long? Because he was the best hitter. Guy who swings a bit stick but doesn't necessarily hit for a high average= cleanup hitter.

With the contract that he's going to get, Damon is definitely not worth it. He's become overrated, some kind of Boston mystique. His defense is lousy, worse than any of our current OFs. He's lost speed and can't steal a base like he used to. He'd be a good #2 hitter but doesn't have any place on the White Sox whatsoever.

You also have to take into consideration that Sheff is getting quite old. He needs cortisone shots in his shoulder all the time from what I remember. During the year there were rumors of him being traded to which he said something to the tune of refusing to play for any other team but the Yanks. I do, however, appreciate his street smart sense, i.e., the way he agreed to a contract without the help of a greedy agent. And much to the chagrin of his teammates, media, etc., what he said about himself being the leader in that lineup was absolutely true. He was definitely one of, if not the, most clutch guy in that lineup which is why he bat third not Arod, Giambi, Matsui, etc. High risk/ high reward, so either way I wouldn't be mad. I don't think the Yanks trade Cano for Hunter. I think that even the mighty Yankees are finally at a spending limit. They finally have a couple cheaper guys in Cano and Wang. They're probably going to try to unload some of the heftier contracts (while having to pay a good portion of them). If they traded Cano, wouldn't that just make a hole at 2B?

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 28, 2005 -> 08:06 PM) The best thing is that we're basically playing with house money right now. KW can take a chance. Don't be shocked if we don't try and make a big time trade this offseason. It would be intriguing if Ozzie tries to use his latin influence to get someone like the disgruntled Miguel Cabrera. Haha... or hey, the Phils are looking to unload some contracts... how about the Venezuelan Bobby Abreu???