NorthSideSox72

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 03:14 PM) well, if you could get nomar for like 1 year $5 mil that would save quite a bit of dough. I'm assuming dye and konerko are gone, neither of whom have been linked to bringing in a 1B. they'd have to find one off the scrap heap. not much out there. KC has a plethora of 1B's, and I'd love to see the Sox find a way to get the Hawaiian guy whose name I won't even try to spell. Something with a lot of K's and apostrophes in it.

So, fair to say we'll see a flurry of trades and signings in the next week or so?

QUOTE (jenks45monster @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 03:09 PM) Depends on what the return would be for Paulie. Why trade Paulie, who turns 33 next season, and get Nomar, who turns 36 next season? Just doesn't make a whole ton of sense to me considering KW's youth movement. KW won't ever do a real, full-on "youth movement". As has been shown over the years, the Sox under KW don't do full rebuilding. They do it piecemeal.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 02:58 PM) KW said he's filling his holes at P, 3B, 2B and CF from within. Ah, OK. I was just thinking... if you get Figgins for PK, you put him in CF, and your outfield is set. You now just need a 1B. Or, you move Dye to 1B, and you need 1 OF, which could be Anderson/Owens (though that's not ideal by any means).

QUOTE (chunk23 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 02:53 PM) I was just going to ask that. KW screwed up by trading Swisher so early. Swisher is an excellent defensive 1B, but his numbers don't make it for that position. If we want an excellent defensive 1B with mediocre offensive talent, we can get Ross Gload or the like for cheaper. Besides, he wore out his welcome with the team.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 02:53 PM) According to Rosenthal, they are going to find the bat, a la KW, from within. How is that a la KW? I don't see the Sox getting a big bat from their system this year. 2010, 2011, sure - Beckham, Allen, etc. But who do you bring up now that is a powerful offensive player for 1B/DH or OF?

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 02:52 PM) I used to feel this way, but I really have thought about it, and it doesn't make any sense to me. With MLB not setting a salary cap, why should the Yanks limit spending if they have it? They have created an empire, and instead of Yankee fans having to read about their team cutting millions in payroll, they outbid everyone for the best players on the market. On top of it, the farm system has gone back to producing for them. I'm not saying the rules should change or anything. Just that I still have some loyalty to the idea of real competition in baseball. Parity is good. That makes the Yankees bad. Also, when you go purely for biggest buck, that tends to net you a higher percentage of just plain unlikeable players. My feelings on this are not logical. Purely emotional.

QUOTE (longshot7 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 02:47 PM) He's good in CF. I had season tix for the Angels one of the years he played CF almost exclusively. I think I remember chisoxfn saying the same thing - Figgins being pretty good out there. I am starting to think a PK for Figgins type of deal (maybe with others involved) might be a good thing for the Sox. But, if we follow that through... who plays 1B? Do you move Dye there and find an OF? I don't think the Sox have an in-house option ready for 2009, Allen isn't ready. Do you put Fields or Viciedo at 1B maybe?

Yankees sign Teixera. See Diamond Club thread. Angels now definitely in seach of a bat.

I almost get the impression that the Yankees are seeing most of baseball tightening belts, and deciding to take the opportunity to make a crushing blow by going the opposite direction. All the more reason to hope they finish in 3rd.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 02:36 PM) History says that the last time these people were in office and they wanted to pardon a bunch of their criminal buddies so that they could return 8 years later and run this country further in to the ground, they did so on December 24th. Just something to watch as we come through the media shutdown period that starts tomorrow. cnn.com's breaking news band says this right now:

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 01:57 PM) IMO this is the year the Angels get Konerko. The more i think about, the more i think Dye stays... As he would take over for Thome at DH in 2010. Im sure the Angels are going to want some pitching back also if they deal Weaver. So i could see a Konerko and Marquez for Weaver and Morales type deal. As far as the Figgins in CF question goes, that would be just another Swisher experiment type of deal. Figgins plays a solid LF and a decent 3b. The only way i would want Figgins here is if Dye gets dealt and Quentin is moved to RF. You really think that KW would trade Marquez after scouting him in person and acquiring him in trade? I think that's unlikely.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 11:56 AM) I can't see the video at work. I see only the still, and I THINK its Bush Sr blowing chunks in the far east. Is it something else, Balta?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 11:47 AM) I think every year you don't give BA a chance increases the likelihood he will never amount to much. If you're going to give a chance to guys like Fields and Lillibridge, BA has earned his shot too. They threw him into a very tough spot in 2006, although he could have handled it better. Since then he has been pretty much blown off. I have no problem with him being a 4th OF if they get someone legit. If it were for Kotsay, if I were BA's agent, I would tell KW its time to move BA on. That is definitely a good point about BA. He's in a tough spot right now. I was just thinking more in terms of the team's best interests. Players do get into these situations sometimes. Talented players are either blocked by other guys, or are given only one shot and fail, but seem likely to do better if given another chance.

BTW, since we are discussing CF's in the Angels thread... Has anyone seen Figgins play CF? He hasn't played there with Hunter around, but, he played a fair amount of games there in years past. How is he out there?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 11:04 AM) Yea, they pretty much do. Really. Fascinating. I was under the impression these were special events.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 10:58 AM) Sorry, I'm just point out Kotsay isn't the OBP machine you suggested. I would rather have Anderson and Owens. I like BA, and don't like Owens, but Erstad was a mistake, and Kotsay would be making the same mistake twice IMO. He isn't the GG quality CF he used to be. Doesn't run. Doesn't hit with power and will most likely wind up on the DL. Unless KW is going to get a legit CF, he might as well see what BA can do. If he had 500 AB last year he probably would have had 20 + homers and we all know what he can do defensively. Why banish him to the bench for a guy who isn't as good? Not saying BA is a star in the making, but there's no doubt in my mind if he played everyday he would have better numbers than Kotsay. Playing a full season, I think BA could hit 15-20 HR, but he'd also hit .210 I think with a sub-Uribe OBP. Kotsay if healthy would give you a .330-.340 OBP, though only marginal power (maybe 10 HR). Anderson gives you very good defense, but looking at recent years, I think Kotsay gives you good (but not as good) D as well. Anderson could spell Kotsay defensively like he did Griffey. Given that, I'd rather have Kotsay. But you of course take the chance on health, which is why its good to have BA around as a backup plan. Interesting looking at the defensive stats for Kotsay and Anderson in 2008 - they played very similar number of games, though Kotsay played 50% more innings. They both had 1.000 FPct, Kotsay had a BETTER RF (I was surprised at that), and had 3 assists to BA's 0 (small sample size there, of course). Anyway, I agree BA is better defensively, and stats aren't great for defense. But Kotsay is no slouch out there, even now.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 10:11 AM) People keep saying that. But, the type of collision being created by the Large Hadron Collider happens ever second of every day in our atmosphere. They are simply doing it a controlled environment where you can see the results. That isn't the impression I got at all. I don't think these collisions happen all the time in our atmosphere. Balta?

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 10:53 AM) Sorry NSS, but you called him an OBP machine. We're rather vigilant here. Anyway, I really hope Kenny is "thinking bigger". Kotsay would just be more crap that Ozzie might have a brief love fling with, thus keeping a younger player from emerging. I have no confidence in Owens, and little in BA, but I'd rather see them get the chance vs. MK. I was comparing him to Kotsay, but I suppose the word "machine" wasn't the ideal choice. I can see giving Anderson a shot. I just don't see BA being much of a major league hitter, thus my feeling that Kotsay would be a better choice, with Anderson as the fall-back. But ultimately, I'd rather see someone better than ANY of those three. And I can see KW making a Kotsay type move, but not a major trade/signing for a CF.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 10:48 AM) .279 also was Kotsay's OBP with Oakland in 2007. He has back problems. So, instead of finding numbers from a couple seasons back... how about you tell us what your opinion is on the topic? Which is better of these two scenarios, in your opinion: --Anderson/Owens in CF --Kotsay in CF, with Anderson/Owens as plan B

QUOTE (Texsox @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 10:26 AM) Basically it doesn't seem to rise to the level of assault in my estimation. I can't think of anyone doing hard time for throwing a shoe. From what I read, the charges all stemmed from insulting, and that just seems wrong to give someone two years for what is tantamount to flipping him off. I can't speak for Iraqi law, but by US and general common law, what he did is textbook definition of assault. He threw a potentially harmful object at another person. That is assault.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 10:01 AM) OBP machine? He's got a .337 career OBP and hasn't been able to match that the past 4 seasons. Erstad's OBP the year prior to signing with the Sox was .279. Kotsay was .340 in ATL, .286 with BOS in very limited at bats there. And I was making a comparison, not saying Kotsay was some huge OBP guy. I know you want to focus in on any specific thing that doesn't fit, but, look again at my main point here: Kotsay with Anderson as a backup plan > Anderson/Owens in CF for the Sox, as long as Kotsay can be had for fairly cheap. Its low risk for a possible high reward, and if he can't stay healthy or is truly done, then you are back where you were anyway. One thing that does concern me though about Kotsay, aside from health, is the dropoff in SLG after 2006.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 09:41 AM) I don't think that's true. I think if it were it would count as a blown save and he only had 2 of those in his White Sox career. No, it wouldn't be a blown save unless he allowed the game to be tied or lost, as I understand it. If you come in with a 3 run lead, and give up a run and a runner, and the guy behind you closes out the game... I don't think there is a blown save there. Correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, yet again, NOT MY POINT. Just an example. Point is the suggested measure is not relevant for closers.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 09:44 AM) He also was brutal with Boston and doesn't play defense like he used to. Like I said, not ideal. Just seems like a KW type move. And I think Kotsay, when healthy, is more what this team needs. He's also a better option than Owens or Taveras or Anderson IMO, and could be had for relatively cheap.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2008 -> 09:32 AM) There would be a revolt. Kotsay is Erstad revisited. A good centerfielder several years ago. Erstad had missed games due to injuries, a lot of 3 of 4 seasons prior to going to the Sox. Kotsay has had those issues 2 seasons, but his numbers were still decent last year, and he's an OBP machine that Erstad isn't. But in any case, I am not saying its ideal - I am saying I think that's likely to happen. And remember too, Dye came with that injury issue as well. KW likes those types of moves. Erstad was similar, not the same.