Rowand44

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 11:58 AM) As for getting on base Soriano had a 328 while AJ had a 312 OBP. So i guess Soriano gets on base more than AJ Once again you saw aj's worst year in the league. Aj has a career .336 obp and Alf has a career .323 obp so no Alf doesn't get on base more then aj and I don't understand why you're comparing them anyways.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 11:56 AM) Rowand I live is San Fran and AJ was brutal behind the plate with all the pass balls and not being able to throw out alot of runners from stealing... Here in SF alot of fans and some players accused AJ from not being able to call a good game.. As a Sox fan Im thrilled that we got AJ for his offensive numbers Well you saw one season of him. Last year was his worst, period. He threw out a lot less runners then he usually did, and trust me I've seen him play a lot too and he does call a good game.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 11:45 AM) You guys are bashing Soriano because of his bad defense.. If thats the case he should all bashed AJ for his bad defense as well. Aj is a good defender. Alf is brutal at 2nd, he strikes out way to much, he doesn't get on base, we have enough power, we don't need another player like Soriano.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 08:12 AM) This how I would rank the 2B who I want to come to the Sox 1 Alfonzo Soriano 2 Luis Castillo 3 Tadahito Iguchi 4 Ray Durham 5 Brett Boone 6 Alex Cora Why the heck would you want Soriano??

QUOTE(sox-r-us @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 05:28 PM) One thing people need to remember is that Ray gives us a lot of the HRs we have lost with the loss of Maggs, CLee and Valentin back Trust me, you still need power to win in this game, especially at our ball park Just look at Boston and the Card line up last year. Also, Ray would easily hit 25-30 dingers at the "new and improved" Cell You realize the sox are still going to be atleast in the top 3rd of the league in homers, right?? I'm willing to bet they hit over 200 this year.

I miss all the good stuff

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 9, 2005 -> 12:37 AM) Wow I'd be pissed as an Astros fan right about now; The astros are done, their whole offseason came down to Beltran signing with them, if he came back clemens was coming back but since no Carlos I'm fairly confident that Roger retires. They'll be fighting it out for 3rd place in the central with the reds now.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 08:05 PM) If the Sox handle things right though, they will be able to spell Ray with a platoon guy and that should be alright. Personally I think its a great move as long as they don't give up Marte. I think thats probably a little too much, unless they get something else in return that could help them out of the pen. But budget wise, they could basically afford to add Durham's entire contract but no way in hell would I give up Marte for him and take on that big contract. On a sidenote, Durham is under contract at roughly 6.5 this year and the following year is an option year. I agree with what everyone has said, I'd love to have Ray but no way in hell should we give up Damaso for him.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 03:07 PM) I would do the same thing if I was him. They act as if they are entitled to the ball. Either pay up or f*** off. The Red Sox owners and fans weren't on the field to catch the ball. He was. Therefore, if anyone actually owns it, it's Mienkiewicz. And why is this coming out 3 months after the season ended? If it was that important, they should have sought it immediately, not now. I think he said the negotiations will begin with 4 years of school for one of his kids at Florida State. Kudos to Doug for not just handing it over. Definitely. Doug caught the ball the redsox weren't the providers of the ball therefore if the cardinals don't want it(why would they) it's doug's ball, period.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 02:23 PM) I think it's his ball and he can keep it if he wants. Just my two cents. I'm with aboz on this one. Also how is it the red sox ball, the game was played at busch stadium, the cardinals provided the ball not the red sox. This is doug's ball not boston's.

Damn UNC :puke

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 12:52 PM) I think it's much more about confidence. Obviously, you'll be a lot more confident in it if you practice it a lot, but Harris isn't a terrible bunter. And bunting definitely shouldn't be a reason to like/dislike a guy. Tell ozzie that. Like I said I have no problem with willie as the starting 2b, however I'd like someone on this team that can bat 2nd to move aaron down and bunting for a number 2 hitter is essential.

You forgot Mr. Dye, aboz. I'm going to hold off on this thread for another week or so to see if kenny adds another middle infielder.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 12:45 PM) Bunting is a confidence thing. If your a confident bunter, it's easy to get it down. Harris obviously wasn't confident last year, and, how could he be confident? He was jerked around in the lineup way too often, IMHO. Durham is making way, way too much money for us to take on. No thanks... Oh, one more thing. Durham knows how to steal bases, yet only has 23 in the last three years... Bunting is a skill. I'm not saying willie can't become a good bunter but as of right now he's brutal at it.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 12:45 PM) Bunting is a confidence thing. If your a confident bunter, it's easy to get it down. Harris obviously wasn't confident last year, and, how could he be confident? He was jerked around in the lineup way too often, IMHO. Durham is making way, way too much money for us to take on. No thanks... Oh, one more thing. Durham knows how to steal bases, yet only has 23 in the last three years... Ray has over 200 sb's for his career and something like a 78 percent success rate. He knows how to steal a base, I think him not running these last few years has more to do with his injuries then anything else. I'm sure if he came to the sox you'd see him running much more.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 12:41 PM) Excellent point. If your gonna go one step for the older, worse player in Durham, why not go the extra mile and get the younger, and making-less-money Polanco? I'd (easy for me to say sitting right here, right? ) take on the five million in his contract for Adkins and Harris. Or, hell, maybe we could just get him for Adkins. They lost Rodriguez in the Lofton trade, so I bet they could probably use another arm in their bullpen, a young one, too. Ray's older but he's still a better player then Polanco, obviously the big difference is the money......

QUOTE(The Critic @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 12:27 PM) Is it crazy to consider AJ for the 2 slot? He hits for a high average, puts the ball in play, being a lefty probably means he puts the ball to the right side fairly often. I don't think he strikes out too much, but I'm not really sure about that. The only downside would appear to be the double play, due to the lack of foot speed. What does everyone think? Should the Sox try AJ hitting 2nd in Spring Training to see how he does? Good average, low obp. He's more suited down in the order where he can drive in runs, he's a pesky guy and always drives in big runs when the game is on the line.

QUOTE(striker62704 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:49 AM) Interesting comparisons for Willie Harris nay sayers. 1st year stats: G AB R H HR RBI BB SO SB CS OBP AVG Durham 1995 CHW 125 471 68 121 7 51 31 83 18 5 . 309 .257 Harris 2004 CHW 129 409 68 107 2 27 51 79 19 7 .343 .262 We might as well stick with Harris one more year and see what he can give us. I have no problem with willie, I've said that before, however ray can bunt and knows how to steal bases, also ray has consistantly had a very good obp, ray would be a great guy to plug in, in the 2 slot of the order.

QUOTE(traydragen @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:43 AM) Apparently all the rumors were true..if this has been posted or doesnt belong here then move it or delete it or something. If Millwood is healthy this year then I believe this can be very big news for them. CLEVELAND -- Concerned about Kevin Millwood's elbow, the Cleveland Indians structured his $7 million contract in a way to protect the team financially if the right-hander gets hurt while pitching next season. Under the innovative deal with agent Scott Boras, Millwood will be guaranteed $3 million in salary. He also gets a $4 million signing bonus, but that money is contingent on him not spending more than 20 days on the disabled list for a shoulder or elbow injury sustained while pitching -- not fielding or batting. Millwood also can earn an additional $1 million in performance bonuses, getting the full amount if he makes 34 starts or pitches 215 innings. If Millwood spends 21 or more days on the DL for an injury to his shoulder or elbow sustained while pitching, he would lose 1/183rd of the signing bonus for each day on the DL, including the first 20. That reduction calculates to $21,857 per day. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro would not comment on any specifics of the contract Friday. "It's a deal where the player and team are sharing equal risk," he said. The structure is somewhat along the lines of the $40 million, four-year deal Boras negotiated last offseason between catcher Ivan Rodriguez and the Detroit Tigers, which allows the team to make a termination payment and void remaining salaries if he goes on the DL for a lumbar spine injury for specified days. Millwood, 30, has pitched more than 200 innings four times in his career and would earn a $250,000 bonus for making 29 starts or reaching 185 innings. He would get another $250,000 each for 31 starts or 195 innings, 33 starts or 205 innings and 34 starts or 215 innings. The signing will end months of frustration for the Indians, who had come up short during free agency in their quest to add a quality pitcher to their starting staff. Millwood will slide nicely into the No. 3 spot behind C.C. Sabathia and Jake Westbrook and ahead of Cliff Lee and Scott Elarton or Jason Davis. Millwood, who made $11 million last season, has won more than 17 games three times in his career. In 2002, his first season with the Phillies, he went 18-8 with a 3.24 ERA. Last season, he was just 9-6 with a 4.85 ERA in 25 starts, but only two after hurting his right elbow. AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service Well the Indians definitely structured this contract better then was thought before, still Millwood isn't very good and imo the Indians still finish in a distant 3rd.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:40 AM) It's easier to find a hard working CF who would do anything to help the team, who is both solid offensively and great defensively then it is to find a IF who thinks he is a power hitter and swings for the fences on every at bat. I like AROW and I will continue to like him when he leaves. Do I like him more then I like the Sox? No. Uribe still has to prove he can come to camp in shape. He also needs to find a shorter swing. IMO AROW is a better player at this stage of his career. Just because I think Aaron is a better player then Uribe doesn't mean I like him more then the Sox. AROW has the potential to walk into next year and become a star and it's going to bite us on the ass if he does. It's harder to find a 25 year old shortstop who can bat .285 and hit you 25 homeruns that also has the potential to be a gold glove shortstop. If aaron hits the way he did last year he'll be locked up midseason.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:30 AM) I dont think Chicago reporters are not that good breaking stories. It was the NYPost who reported that the Sox was about to sign Orlando Hernandez and also NYPost mention that the Whitesox were close to signing Iguchi... KNBR mention it first that the Sox were going to sign AJ WU, did they say anything else besides that the sox were interested in ray??

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:26 AM) Juan Uribe needed to prove he could do it again. Arow was about a career .280 hitter before coming into this season. This was nothing more then KW lowballing a player who deserved more. What happens when Rowand does repeat and he commands even more money? KW is going to lose him for nothing and he is going to end up being a superstar somewhere else. Yes he'll eventually leave like all of the other great Sox players who the team is too cheap to keep (except Frank Thomas) and yes I will still remain a Sox fan after he's gone. It's just so frustrating that they would cheap out on AROW yet give a long term contract to a guy who hasn't proven half of what AROW has. Give me a break Jeckle. It's easier to find an Aaron Rowand then it is to find a Juan Uribe, they didn't lowball him so give that s*** up. Like I said before it seems to me you care more about your favorite players then you do about the team.

QUOTE(CubKilla @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:26 AM) Please no Ray "I fancy myself as a power hitter" Durham. He's MLB's equivalent to Willie Mays Hayes. Ray hits some homeruns but the guy also always has a high obp, I wonder if someone could find the amount of runs per game that the giants averaged with ray and what they did without him, I'd be willing to bet they scored a whole bunch more with him.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:17 AM) I disagree. Aaron Rowand is the heart and soul of this team. Without his hard nose style of play and attitude we aren't contenders at all last year. Hell we aren't even pretenders. You didn't answer my question. Aaron is a great player and Kenny has offered him a contract extension he didn't accept. Why offer him more money as of right now when he's had 1 good year and it's not like he's eligible for free agency after this year. Right now it's in the best interest of the team to not just throw money at Aaron, trust me I want him locked up also but not for a huge price until he proves he can do it for 2 years in a row.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Jan 8, 2005 -> 11:12 AM) Look at the message under my Avatar... ----> AROW is one of the best pure talents to ever come out of the White Sox organization and if KW drops the ball and fails to sign him then he should be fired on the spot. You really like your favorite players more then the team, don't you??