Lillian

Allow me to speculate about all of this with a completely different hypothesis. Consider the following: 1) Baseball is after all entertainment 2) Jerry Reinsdorf is a pretty smart owner 3) There is intense competition between the Sox and Cubs for the Chicago baseball entertainment dollar. 4) There is this MLB.COM reality show being produced featuring the White Sox. 5) Ozzie has always been regarded as a very entertaining personality, and not above theatrics I recall the video of A.J. and the mock fight with a professional wrestler during Spring Training, a couple of years ago, in which Ozzie participated by hitting the guy with a folding chair. What if the producers of MLB.COM suggested to the Sox that they could generate a lot of interest and publicity if they staged a big riff between Ozzie and Kenny? Jerry Reinsdorf, though reluctant to go along, decided it would be worth the publicity. Such a scenario would explain how a smart business man like Reinsdorf would tolerate such behavior without stepping in and firing someone. If this is not an act, then there are a lot of people here who are bigger idiots than we think. Ozzie would have to be an idiot for allowing his sons to cause so much controversy. Kenny Williams would have to be an idiot for not exercising some self restraint, and for allowing Ozzie to usurp his responsibilities and control. Ozzie’s family would all have to be idiots for creating such a scene and jeopardizing Ozzie’s professional career. After all none of this would look good on his resume, if it were real, and if he ever intends to get another managing job in the Big Leagues. If this isn't a publicity stunt, wouldn't you think that everyone involved would be on their best behavior, knowing that it will all come out in the MLB.COM show? Maybe we're the idiots here for falling for this stunt. “I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’‘.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 13, 2010 -> 09:13 AM) I never try my hand at this because I'm no expert on every player on every team but Quentin , Beckham and Teahan for Tejada and Markakis. Tejada only has a one yr. contract for $6 mil. so he can depart after this year. Markasis is signed for a while and doesn't get really expensive till next yr. Trade Buerhle to anyone who would take his salary and plug Hudson into his spot. Not that Baltimore would ever trade Markakis especially for 2 struggling players but its possible for Beckham and Q to become very good players again. Of course next year we'd be looking for a 3rd baseman and a 2nd baseman but Nix ,Vizquel and Lillibridge can play it this yr. Trade AJ for w/e you can get and we get even more salary relief. I know Flowers probably isn't ready but have to get salary relief somewhere. We improve RF and 3rd base D get OBP and consistency from Markakis. A platoon of Vizquel and Nix at 2nd puts up better numbers atm than Beckham does and equal or better D. Baltimore is most likely building around Markakis so I know its silly to think they would trade him but one can dream. Beckham and Quentin is just too much affordable future potential to give up for Tejada and Markakis. Have you looked at the Markakis contract? He's going to be making $15 Million per year in 2013 and 2014. If you're going to spend that kind of money, why not just acquire a free agent and keep your young affordable players?

While anything is possible, winning the division doesn't appear to be likely enough to give up any players who figure in the Sox' future in exchange for some aging veteran or half season rental. That said, there is nothing wrong with adding, as long as it works for the future as well as this season. Even if everyone gets back on track, and starts playing up to reasonable expectations, the one missing piece is that left handed power hitter. The only pieces that this team could trade and still have enough remaining depth are one starter and, or one reliever. They have Hudson to replace one starter and they have enough pitchers who can effectively close to afford them the flexibility of moving one of them. I'd personally favor holding on to Danks and Floyd because of their youth and contracts. But if someone got desperate for starting pitching, and had the money to spend, I wouldn't mind seeing either Peavy or Buerhle being moved. If they could find a taker for Jenks, then Putz or Santos could close, or perhaps they could share the responsibility. Thornton is too valuable as the Southpaw set up man to consider him for the closer role. Either Peavy, Buerhle or Jenks might be enough to get that left handed bat, especially if the trading partner has the money, or if the left handed hitter has a comparably expensive contract.

I posted a similar comment a few days ago, in another thread, but I'll repeat it here. Why not package A.J. and a reliever, perhaps Jenks and trade for Chris Davis? He has the potential to be the left handed power hitter this team is missing. He's blocked by Smoak, and has struggled lately, after a pretty impressive season in 2008.

Viciedo has 6 walks and 44 strike outs in his frist 200 at bats. Please, he's just not ready. There's no rush. The parent team being desperate for help shouldn't dictate his time table. He just turned 21. He's doing fine for this stage in his development, but it's too soon to think of him as a starter at the Big League level.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 7, 2010 -> 01:28 PM) So you want Viciedo to rot in AAA for three seasons? I think that he should be promoted to the Big Leagues when he has demonstrated that he is not a defensive liability, and that he can hit consistently, and draw an occasional walk.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 7, 2010 -> 01:02 PM) Viciedo has been red hot lately in AAA. Yes, he has been hitting, but he also made 3 errors at first base, in one game over the weekend. He is still just too raw, and probably needs a couple more years in the Minors. If he made it to the Big Leagues in 2012, at age 23, that would be pretty impressive.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 7, 2010 -> 12:31 PM) It's not that Teahen and Pierre restrict the team's payroll where we can't afford new players, it's that they are paid well enough where I think KW will give them starting spots (assuming we can't dump their contracts). This directly affects where we could spend any savings to improve our lineup. Assuming we also keep Beckham, Rios, Quentin, and Ramirez, then we are only looking at C, 1B and RF/DH to fill. If you want to infuse some youth into the lineup, we are looking at Viciedo at 1B and Flowers at C. That leaves RF/DH to fill via trade or free agency. Obviously, there's a possibility we move Quentin or Ramirez in offseason and need money to fill one of their positions, but right now I'm not expecting it. I don't think that Viciedo will be ready next year. He just turned 21, and has not yet demonstrated that he has the baseball skill and acumen to be one of those rare players who can contribute at the Major League Level at such a young age. Moreover, he is not nearly ready to play consistently good defense at any position. I'd much prefer a power hitting left handed first baseman.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ May 31, 2010 -> 11:25 AM) We need left-handed power. What we need is left handed-power. Prospects most likely to join the team shortly are Flowers and Viciedo (yikes, though, just 5 walks in 48 games). Kenny's #1 priority during this season and/or the offseason should be trying to acquire someone like Gonzalez or Berkman or someone else. We don't have a whole lot of salary coming off the books and if there's room for just one (relatively) big signing, it needs to be a serious lefty bat. My sentiments exactly. I've been stressing the need for a left handed bat in most of my posts. I'm sure that K.W. is thinking the same thing. The most likely place for that LH bat to play is 1st base. That's why Konerko will not be brought back. Moreover, that's why K.W. should exploit this opportunity to trade him to the Angels. If the Angels don't have a good left handed prospect, then fill another hole, and spend the money on a free agent acquisition in the off season.

This speculation seems to be going around: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/05/how-...ce-morales.html

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ May 30, 2010 -> 03:15 PM) Lets not wave the white flag just as this team is starting to play well. We will win the division. We will win the ALCS. And we will win the WS. Boy I'm glad you're not the GM. You know, that's what I thought before the season started. Unfortunately, watching this team play the first two months of the season has changed my mind.

I noticed today that he has gone back to extending the thumb on his top hand. He presses his extended thumb right up against the bat. He also looked like he was in his deeper crouch. Now if he would just get a little closer to the plate, he would be back to his old stance.

Another thought: If the Angels would like one of our closers, we could give them one plus Paulie, and maybe get one of the better prospects.

Just for the record: I realize that K.W. will not trade Konerko for a prospect, because they don't want to "wave a white flag". However, I still think it's a good idea.

Oh yes, and you can all forget about Trout. That is not going to happen.

How about this guy? http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...&pid=502222 22 years old. Left handed and plays 1st. He's probably 2 years from the Big Leagues. I don't much about him, but I found this: http://www.halosheaven.com/2010/1/13/12489...els-prospect-28

The Sox are likely not going to catch the Twins. The Angels have always liked Konerko. He's a perfect solution for the rest of this year, with no commitment beyond. L.A. is one destination that Paulie would approve. He likely won't be resigned. The Sox would probably not want to offer arbitration, so they'd lose their draft pick compensation. This would be an opportunity to get something worthwhile for Konerko. The Sox could play Kotsay at 1st. Who cares? Ozzie will be thrilled to have his "kid" in the lineup everyday. (what a joke) If the Angels have a good left handed hitting prospect with whom they would be willing to part, please get him. I don't care what position he plays. Forget Trumbo. Not that the Angels would be willing to trade him, in the first place. However, even if they would, he's another right handed hitter. The Sox need a left handed power bat. I keep repeating myself, because no one here seems to remember that. We do not have one single left handed power hitter in the entire organization.

I pointed this out some time ago, but worth mentioning again here: He stopped extending the thumb on his top hand. I've never seen another hitter do that, but he had been doing it consistently for as long as I can remember.

QUOTE (T R U @ May 26, 2010 -> 09:41 PM) the closers job is to come in and get the save, which Jenks has done except one time so far.. and I know Jenks has sucked, but as long as he keeps saving the game even if its close to being blown, its whatever.. when he starts blowing saves on a regular basis im all for getting him out of the role.. May I respectfully ask you just one question? Have you actually watched Bobby pitch?

QUOTE (WCSox @ May 26, 2010 -> 10:11 AM) Mark Buehrle is getting paid an ace's salary and has been almost as bad this year. Where's the indignant outrage over his performance? Peavy won a Cy Young 2 1/2 years ago and was lights-out for us last year. So I don't see where the excessive pessimism is coming from. If you're a GM, you're looking for a veteran starter to help put your team over the top, Jake Peavy is available, your owner gives you the green light, and all that the other team wants in return is Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, and a couple mediocre prospects, you do that freaking deal. If you don't, you're not doing your job. With PK and AJ coming off the books this year and MB and Linebrink coming off the books next year, available funds to re-sign Danks aren't the problem. The problem is that Danks isn't interested in signing a contract extension. In other words, Jake Peavy isn't going to cost us a chance at extending Danks. Yes, now that you mention it, I'm not thrilled with Buehrle either. The difference is that his contract is up at the end of the year. I haven't leveled any criticism at K.W. I'm the first to admit that I was excited when the Sox acquired Peavy. However, that doesn't change my dissatisfaction with Peavy and his contract, now that I've seen what we have with him. Yes, I understand that Danks is reluctant to extend his contract, but one way or another the Peavy contract will greatly inhibit flexibility with the payroll.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 26, 2010 -> 09:29 AM) If Jake Peavy, throughout his tenure with the White Sox, ends up with an ERA of around 3.50 or lower, it will be a good trade. That, at the very, very least, qualifies him as a damn good #2 and really, it qualifies him as an ace pitcher. I'm hoping he ends up with an ERA of 3.25 in his career as a Sox pitcher with about 45-50 wins, but I don't think he's going to be anywhere near as bad as he's been in his 9 starts this season. Oh sure, if he produces like that, and stays healthy, I would think that most of us would be happy. Unfortunately, I don't share your confidence in his ability to do that. However, since no one is likely to take him and that contract, we'll all just have to hope that you're right.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 26, 2010 -> 08:57 AM) Precisely. Aaron Poreda has been converted to a reliever. He currently has a K:BB of 19:21 in 20 innings in AA. Dexter Carter has a put up a BB/9 of 6, K/9 of 8, and a HR/9 of 1.3 in 56 innings for the Padres' A-ball affiliate. Adam Russell is a mediocre reliever. That leaves Clayton Richard as the only piece of the deal that has hurt the White Sox in any way, shape, or form. Considering his mediocre peripherals (1.36 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, 6.6 K/9, all of which fall in line with his career norms) and his unsustainably low HR rate of 0.2 HR/9 (where he is at 1 HR/9 throughout his entire career), I would say that Richard is not only likely but is bound to regress toward his career averages sooner rather than later. Just to prove the point...Clayton Richard put up a 4.65 ERA with the Sox last year and a 4.08 ERA with the Padres. His ERA+ with the White Sox was 100 and his ERA+ with the Padres was 91. That means that, due to ballpark disparities and the general inferiority of the National League, Clayton Richard's 4.65 ERA with the White Sox was better and more valuable than his 4.08 ERA with the Padres. Just wrap your mind around that for a minute. --- At the end of the day, by suggesting you regret the deal, you are stating that you'd rather have Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, Dexter Carter, and Aaron Poreda - 4 very mediocre arms who are afterthoughts in other organizations - than Jake Peavy, who has a legitimate arm and is, at the very least, a generally damn good pitcher. I know which of those two groups I am picking, and I'm not going to let a month and a half of baseball fool my judgment. My response to your post is the same as it is to anyone defending the Peavy trade. It's all about the money!!! He has to pitch like an Ace, not a "generally damn good pitcher". See how you feel in a couple of years when the Sox are obligated to give him $17 million for his last year of the contract, and face either giving him $22 million the following year, or having to buy him out for $ 4 milliion. A contract like that only makes sense for an Ace, or some other legitimate "impact" player. I just don't envision him as that kind of pitcher in the A.L., especially at U.S. Cellular.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 26, 2010 -> 08:55 AM) There is. jphat spent a good 6 months ripping Alex Rios ad nauseum. I get the feeling there's a part of him that hates the fact Rios would get some MVP votes if the season ended today. And now he's turned his attention (IMO obsession) towards Peavy. I have no problem with criticizing Jake's performance to this point. He's been bad. But pining for Clayton f***ing Richard? I don't think so. Jake can go on to be Jamie Navarro the sequel (won't happen), and no logical baseball fan would look back and say "Gee, if only we had Clayton Richard? How much better off would we be?" Any discussion of Peavy should take into consideration the money. At this point, I would just be happy if someone would take him and his contract. The worst thing that can happen to a roster is to have someone being paid a huge portion of the total payroll, who is not performing well. Ask the Cubs about how they feel over the "Big Z" dilemma.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 26, 2010 -> 08:19 AM) Because comparing Clayton Richard pitching in AAAA ball in the best pitcher's park in the league to Jake Peavy pitching in the MLB and in a huge hitters park is completely fair. Richard has actually pitched pretty well on the road, as well. Moreover, just not having to pay Peavy's huge contract would be worth undoing that trade. And we're not even mentioning Poreda or anyone else in that questionable deal. Personally, I really regret that trade.

QUOTE (WCSox @ May 26, 2010 -> 06:35 AM) Exactly. The Sox are stuck with Peavy right now. In light of his performance this year, nobody's going to trade for that contract. And even if he was dealing like Halladay, I think that Kenny considers Peavy a long-term project and wouldn't be interested in moving him. That's all a shame because this guy will be earning an "Ace's" salary for the next 3 years, and I don't think he'll ever be the Ace of the staff. If he does become the Ace, it will probably only be because everyone else is so bad. Danks is the Ace, and has been for two years now. Few pitchers have turned in as many quality starts as he has, over that period. We could use that money to resign Danks to a longer term contract, which he seems reluctant to do.