WCSox

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:36 PM) Regardless, they still took a chance on an unproven player. Some sources have said that we are over payroll as well. Why not take a chance on Anderson? How would Anderson ever be able to show you or anyone else that he's a good player if he never gets a chance to play? Sure, but why not have a backup plan in place? Especially when said backup plan only costs the league minimum?

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:35 PM) He was rushed through the minors where he could never develop anything. What are you talking about? It took until 2003 before they gave him more than 16 plate appearances. By my count, he had at least two or three years to develop in the minors. Borchard was given plenty of opportunity and was a royal bust. You can't spin that.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:32 PM) Its about as ideal of situation to break in with a World Champion as you could hope. I think the kid will do fine, if not you deal for a CF when he fails. Guys like Taveras are always available. I agree, but it wouldn't hurt to have a good backup plan in case Anderson doesn't pan out this year. As long as the Sox don't overpay, of course.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:30 PM) The Yankees are contenders every year and have the largest payroll in baseball and even they went with the completely unproven Robinson Cano at second base. We don't even have half the Yankees' payroll so it would make even more sense for us to try the unproven Brian Anderson. That kind of refutes your whole point, doesn't it? They had to go with Cano because all of their money was tied up in old, ineffective pitchers like Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson. They've shelled out a ton of money in previous years for veteran position players via trades and FA (A-Rod, Knoblauch, Giambi, Sheffield, Matsui, etc.). The Sox would have no trouble affording a young CF like Taveras who makes the league minimum.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:27 PM) JoBo was rushed and struggled. No he wasn't. When was he drafted? 2000? 2001? He played 16 games each in '02 and '03. He wasn't rushed at all. He was simply a big, fat, freaking bust.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:18 PM) Robin Ventura was given the starting 3b job with the White Sox in 1990 after hit a robust .178 in 45 ABs with no homers. The White Sox won 94 games in 1990. (1) The Sox were rebuilding at the beginning of 1990 (2) For every Robin Ventura and Frank Thomas, there are several "prospects" who never hit well at the major-league level. How'd our last CF prospect (you know, the one that got the $5 million signing bonus) turn out? For all I know, Brian Anderson could be the next Griffey. Then again, he could be the next Joe Borchard. If the Sox are trying to win right now, it's preferable to go with a player who brings several positives (speed, defense) and isn't a liability at the plate than a guy who may or may not pan out. Of course, the price would have to be right to make such a move.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:11 PM) I've still haven't heard him answer the question. WCSox, Was Mike Caruso a "proven" MLB hitter after batting .301 in 1998? Good question. Is Brian Anderson starting CF material after hitting .176 in 13 games earlier this year? Has he "proven" to be worthy of a starting position on the defending WS champs?

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:08 PM) And those who receive such vicious, humiliating e-beatdowns should just kinda fade away, if you know what I'm saying. That's funny, I don't feel humiliated at all. Perhaps you need to put down that joint.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:00 PM) Because we all know how important JC an FG were to us in the playoffs, and out of the three of them, JV has done nothing for the team since he really cant because there are no games right now. Well, that's fair. Vasquez was mediocre in New York, but so was Contreras. I certainly like Vasquez better in the long run and think that it would be a mistake to re-sign an aging pitcher like Contreras. So, IMO, I'd rather deal Contreras if it came to that. That said, I'd rather not deal ANY of our starters at this point.

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:58 PM) And yet you still ignore the entire post which logically goes against everything you've debated. I'll say it again for you, nice and simply: When shooting for a second WS victory and the need to fill a hole at one position, players who are very good defensively, have great speed on the bases, and are at least adequate at the plate are preferable to players with little or no MLB experience. On one hand, you have a player who has had at least some success in the majors and you have a good idea of what you're going to get the following season. On the other hand, young players who haven't had time to adjust to major-league pitching are big question marks. If they don't make the adjustment quickly enough (or at all), they could be liabilities down the stretch.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:55 PM) i would perfer to see vazquez go out of those three as well. Why?

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:54 PM) what's an that word? Dictionary

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:34 PM) Hopefully my last post in this thread.. its become a joke. Are you blind, or just have a 3 second memory? I hope it's your last post as well, as those who engage in ad hominemattacks are intellectually worthless.

QUOTE(CrimsonWeltall @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 12:53 PM) I guess his stances on every other issue is irrelevant because if you'd like to begin withdrawing troops, you're automatically a far leftist. No, it would mean that you just don't understand or care about the consequences of withdrawing all troops immediately. Murtha's speech was a stupid knee-jerk reaction and I'll bet that one of the higher-up Dems put him up to it. Given his political record up to that point, it didn't sound like his opinion at all.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:21 PM) Why would we trade for taveres to sit him or play him just incase BA doesn't do so well? Because... (1) Anderson has little MLB experience and the Sox aren't "rebuilding." Developing young players isn't a priority this year. (2) Taveras is very good defensively in CF and can play LF or RF as well (3) Taveras can steal 30+ bases, something that this team could really use (4) Anderson is a question mark against MLB pitching, while Taveras has proven that he won't be a liability at the end of the lineup. QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:21 PM) Either way, if the Sox truly are thinking of trading Contreras for Taveras they had also better get a proven reliever like Chad Qualls and a pitching prospect like Jason Hirsh or Troy Patton. Agreed. FWIW, I don't think the trade will happen.

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:11 PM) Exactly. Well put. Again, no knock at Anderson but if the White Sox are sniffing around Tavares it's for a reason. Remember most of the OF was pretty healthy last year. Anderson can play all three OF positions, he'd fit nicely for Dye if something happened to Jermaine. Something to think about, and my guess is the White Sox are doing that. Well put. I find it astounding that I'm getting jumped on for even suggesting that the Sox might want to hold off on Anderson while going for another title. Taveres is very good defensively and has great speed on the bases. I think that the Sox could benefit from another Podsednik-like player. They need more than one person that can be a threat on the bases, especially considering that their #2 base-stealer is now in Philly. If the price is low enough, why not trade for Taveres? If Anderson isn't ready for major-league pitching yet, Taveres is a great insurance policy. If he turns out to be a bust, he can ride the pine (for the league minimum) and Anderson can play.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:05 PM) I suppose Brandon McCarthy should be sent to the curb as well? Why should we let him develop this year either? He's already been booted out of the rotation in favor of proven talent (Vasquez). Thanks for proving my point!

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:02 PM) He would not be effective as a #9 hitter. As a #9 hitter, you get no protection, someone like Taveras desperately needs protection.. What "protection" does Taveras need? Protection from walks? Hell, you WANT to put Taveras on base. He stole 34 last year! I'm not saying that Anderson is going to be a bust and I wish the guy all the luck in the world. But if the Sox could get a CF with more than 13 games of ML experience who is very good defensively, has great speed on the bases, and isn't a liability at the plate, I think they'd be better off. He could bat 9th if needed. It would have to be for the right price, of course.

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:00 PM) AGAIN, were the Astros rebuilding and developing young players last year? They ended up in the World Series with Taveras as their CF for the whole year.. Perhaps you forgot that they started 15-30.

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 01:59 PM) No one, but if Taveras were to hit anywhere but the leadoff spot, that team would have serious issues. WTF are you talking about? Why couldn't he hit 9th?

QUOTE(qwerty @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 01:58 PM) No one is overating anderson. You are the one that does not even want to give him a chance. I'm sorry, are the Sox rebuilding and developing young players this year? I must've missed the memo. :rolly

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 01:56 PM) OBP damn sure means more than AVG for a leadoff hitter like Taveras. Who said that he would replace Pods as a leadoff hitter?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 01:53 PM) You're really overrating Taveras. LMFAO at the homers who are "overrating" a player who hasn't really played in the majors yet.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 01:50 PM) Proven talent? He put up a .291/.325/.341. That isn't a good line at all. And, don't tell me about his .291 BA, because SLG% and OBP correlate much better to scoring runs than BA does. It's such an overrated statistic. You forgot about the 34 stolen bases and the fact that he plays a tough defensive position (CF) very well. And at least Taveras has proven that he can play good defense, run the bases well, and not be a liability at the plate in the majors. Last time I checked, Anderson has proven absolutely nothing. But if you want to think that OBP and SLG mean everything, go right ahead. If that were the case, though, Aaron Rowand would be lucky to be a bench player.

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 01:49 PM) In the first half of the year, his SB% was 83%. In the second half of the year, his SB% was 52%. When did he help the team more, the first or second half? How did the team do back in August when he was injured?