JoshPR

Scooter is Scott Flecther not Podsednik

San Juan

I would too, But he's been Hurt

San Juan

Offseason an off season for Cubs, Sox December 19, 2004 BY JAY MARIOTTI SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST We tend to overrate October as a month of baseball glory. Truth be told, pennants are won and lost in December, as both sides of a tormented sports town are realizing again. The weather is turning frigid at a fitting time, with reality kicking in that the Cubs likely are stuck with Sammy Sosa while the White Sox are too cheap to support their new pitching-and-fielding mechanism with necessary pitchers and fielders. In other words, why will 2005 be any different than the previous 96 years on the North Side and 87 years on the South Side? There are megamillions to burn in the industry these days, thanks to a rebound in the game's popularity. But while ballclubs in New York, Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, San Francisco and even Phoenix gather around the hot stove, the Cubs and Sox are in a deep freeze. Neither club is getting much done, other than announcing increases in ticket prices. The Cubs are at least trying to dump Sosa the albatross, but the market for a shrunken-headed, broken-down, sneeze-vulnerable troublemaker is bleak. That is, unless Tribune Co. wants to swallow all or part of the $21.5 million owed him for next season, a scenario less probable than Bob Greene's return to the newspaper. Sosa's continued presence means the Tribsters won't be pursuing Carlos Beltran, who probably is headed to the Yankees anyway as George Steinbrenner welcomes Randy Johnson and pushes his payroll over $200 million. Given the prosperity of the sport and the clicking of the Wrigley Field turnstiles, the Tribsters should be chasing Beltran regardless of Sosa's situation, knowing they'll be done with him after next season. But it's clearly an either/or dilemma, and unless a miracle sucker emerges, Sosa looms as a destructive daily distraction starting in Mesa. We are reminded by a sign in the bar at Harry Caray's that spring training is only eight weeks away. Yet I still see no reliable closer, as big a problem as the dead weight in right field. What's maddening about the Cubs is how they remain stagnant while their chief division and pennant rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, recovered from a major loss with a big trade Saturday. They added a much-needed ace in Mark Mulder, which strengthens the rotation as they lose shortstop Edgar Renteria. Meanwhile, the Houston Astros stand to be weakened. If they don't re-sign Beltran, Roger Clemens won't return. That said, we know the Cubs will be competitive into September. The same can't be said about the Sox, who are in a death spiral because they perpetuate the Reinsdorfian pattern of underbidding for vital talent. Sox are too cheap The latest example is pitcher Matt Clement, who rejected a reported Sox bid of $21 million over three years to sign a better offer --$25.5 million over three -- with the Red Sox. For weeks, all we've heard from Clement is that he wanted to stay in Chicago after his fun Cubs experience. But general manager Ken Williams shortchanged him and failed to sign the only remaining free-agent pitcher capable of major impact. Dare I ask if the Sox intentionally lowball free agents because they have no interest in signing them? It's fair to ask after Williams offered only two years to shortstop Omar Vizquel, the player the Sox coveted most for their radical philosophical change. The future Hall of Fame shortstop quickly signed with the Giants for $12.25 million over three years. Do the math. If the Sox had given Clement an extra $5 million and Vizquel an extra year and $3 million, they would have a quality No. 3 starter behind Freddy Garcia and Mark Buehrle and a fielding wizard to anchor the infield. But because they bid low in both cases, they'll be a .500 team next year. Or worse. And you wonder why I often suggest it's time for chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and his partners to sell the team. They aren't trying hard enough or spending well enough. As the departed Magglio Ordonez said, "They don't care about winning. They only care about making money.'' Allow me to bring in Clement's agent to further prove the point. His name is Barry Axelrod, a respected veteran in the trade, and he was asked by MLB.com why the Red Sox won out over the Anaheim Angels, the Sox and four other teams. "The teams that were still in it were teams willing to pay the price,'' Axelrod said. "I think the overriding factor became where Matt thought the best chance for him was to win for all three years. Boston and the Angels have dedicated ownership and management to have them in contention year after year.'' The Sox do not have dedicated ownership. Or else someone named Jason Grilli wouldn't be plugged in as their No. 5 starter. Can't get rid of this guy Wouldn't it be so tragicomic, so Cub, if Sosa is stuck here next season? The Wrigley Field ivy will stage a protest and refuse to grow. Fans who once exchanged love taps with him will flip middle fingers and hope he trips on his right-field sprint. The dugout cam will ignore him when he approaches it. And his boom box, symbolic of a romance turned sour? Someone will destroy it the first day in Mesa, just as someone destroyed it when he quit on his team the last day of the season. After all the thrills he produced way back when, thrills that now seem artificial and insulting to our intelligence, the Sosa experience has deteriorated into the ultimate Cubbie frustration. Try as general manager Jim Hendry does to dump him, there are no bites and barely some nibbles. Negatives attached to Sosa's image are so weighty -- health, age, attitude and, in the wake of the Barry Bonds/Jason Giambi steroids admissions, his dramatic body changes -- that teams are demanding Tribune Co. pay dearly for their interest. Specifically, the Baltimore Orioles want the Cubs to pick up a stunning 80 percent of the $21.5 million owed him for 2005, which doesn't include the $22.5 million a team would owe him in 2006 if he's traded. Those stuffy Tribsters would rather streak down Michigan Avenue on a 10-degree morning than eat a fortune. So unless some sucker stuck in 1998 decides to bail out the Cubs and absorb the contract, he isn't going anywhere but right field, where an inactive grenade recently was lobbed from Sheffield Avenue by someone who might not like Sammy. And even if a taker was found, the players association likely won't approve a contract restructuring that would provide relief for his team in the second season. Cubdom's fears are confirmed. Sosa's image is so soiled and his reliability quotient so damaged, he's virtually impossible to unload. All of which leads to a sobering outlook for next season. Regardless of the people skills of Hendry and Dusty Baker, Sosa's presence will kill any World Series chances. There are too many frayed relationships, too many wounds to mend with a manager and his teammates and a public tired of his act. Add Todd Walker and Ryan Dempster to the growing list of Sosa critics. How can he possibly come back and save face? They don't have these strange questions in other baseball towns. Only here.

I think we souldn't go that personal with Players. It's a fact tho that Joe well hasn't paned out. Could be he turns in to a Jay Buhner type of player and develops late. Probably won't be for this team tho

Well just as i did too. Scroll by mine then. I didn't like the dips*** calling that's all

Back at ya :dips*** Kenny's dumb trade track record says it all. Scroll by posts you don't like, it's a free country people say what they want. HAVE A HICE DAY

WOW That made me feel better about this season

Add Polanco to the list

Damn Man.. Now ya got me Thinking

I agree on Franco. Still pissed he wasn't brought back for 1995 Devereaux hit .300 for us, played well. Tartabull was a good risk, Sabo Sucked

The June/July s*** is all an Excuse from Kenny. He'll say the same s*** then when Reinsdrof don't wanna make a trade and he'll say they're waiting for the FA Period

At Soxfest: Before you all boo me remember how flexible our salary situation is. We have the flexibility to swoop down and get more salary in June. Jason Grilli is someone that we have targetted for years, and we believe he can be a solid number 3 starter. He has nasty stuff and is a plus guy. We still are working on improving the sox and I vow not to stop trying to make a deal to improve the team. But we will not make a deal just to make a deal. If you want to blame someone for the failure of signing wright and clement, blame the press. If I was allowed to fly under the radar we would have one of these guys locked up

THANK YOU GOD!

I wouldn't mind Miller cheap

Kenny makes that Trade he needs to be Shot. If that trade is made i'm done with this team until Kenny is fired, and Reinsdorf Sells his cheap ass outta town. Either Rotoworld is a Major Bulls***er or Kenny is a FRICKEN MORON

Ohhh Great Another Year of Jason Grilli :puke

HUH!!! Why the sarcasm?? Valentin was all class when he played here. Yes it was time to move on. But i hate when people treat Jose like s***. Maybe he wasn't the best hitter on the Team, but he played hard and with a lot of passion. I for one i'm greatfull for Jose' 5 seasons in a Sox UNI :headshake JOSE

Quiz answer: Jack Mckeon Ooops sorry i was thinking the scout who signed Ozzie.

Yup saw Jenks down here last year Pitch for San Juan, Had a pretty good season. Throws in the high 90's hits 100. Major Headcase like Mike Macdougal. I think it could be an interesting project

Orlando Cabrera?

Don't count on it.

Actually i had a good Change up. Too bad my fastball was one of Doug Jones' changeups

Jagermeister. I'll be drunk even in death