Dick Allen

If McCarthy is in AAA next season, it would just confirm how much Ozzie and KW screwed up in 2006 and wasted a year of their top pitching prospect's career. Rick Hahn, before McCarthy turned heads in spring training 2005 was mentioning the "king's ransom" Brandon could return the Sox if they wanted to trade him. If he's in AAA in 2007, his career could be off the track. I think its a very slim chance McCarthy isn't in the White Sox rotation. KW has to move at least 1 starter.

Pods has 4 full seasons in the major leagues. His OBP those 4 years is .342. The major league average, and this includes NL pitchers, is .339, so basically this guy is average at best at getting on base. I think a team in a big market, that has sold out season tickets, can and should find a leadoff hitter a little better than that.

QUOTE(TheBigHurt @ Dec 1, 2006 -> 05:58 PM) I generally (although not always) agree with you on things, but you are doing exactly what I've said. YES If the White Sox pitchers pitched in 2005 like they did in 2006, there would be nobody who would have thought Pods was all that great in 2005. The bottom line is he's a very mediocre major league player. It was considered a bad year for him when he stole 70 bases with the Brewers. He doesn't come close to that here. He doesn't score all that many runs which should be his primary job. He didn't bunt well. He couldn't move runners over, he's a bad OF who can't throw with many of the fans fathom has described who scream for him. Basically, IMO, the White Sox would be better off saving the money and letting Sweeney play LF. Eventually, whether he wants to or not, KW is going to have to give out a contract or trade for someone with a contract bordering on insane. The savings on Pods might ease the pain a little bit, especially if you pick someone up at the deadline and only are on the hook for half a season.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 1, 2006 -> 12:09 PM) Some of you guys are amazing. Has it occurred to you that, even if we were to trade they guy, we'd STILL have had to sign him first?! And if we waited for arbitration, it would mean waiting on using the chip. In other words, this means absolutely zero about whether or not Pods is in LF come Opening Day. The chances of that happening have not changed. Its still maybe. I normally agree with you but not on this. If they couldn't find a taker for Pods via trade, if they hadn't have signed him to this contract they could let him walk away. Now they are stuck paying him if they can't get rid of him. I do agree he still could be traded. In fact, I'm going to Holy Name after work to light a candle and pray for that.

The thing is, if you don't sign him and can't replace him from outside the organization, you still have this $3 million to play with. That's money that could be used to pick up a $6 million a year reliever at the deadline.

KW and JR must be in the holiday spirit giving out a nearly $3 million gift. Worst case if they couldn't acquire anyone, I'd rather non-tender him and put Sweeney in LF. This is a waste of $3 million. Too bad they couldn't spend $3 million on the bullpen.

The White Sox pitching staff actually allowed more runs in 2006 than the Cleveland Indians' pitching staff. KC was the only team in the AL Central which allowed more runs, and do they really even count?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 30, 2006 -> 05:52 PM) The White Sox still have a ton of pitching. An ungodly young, quality bullpen, 6 starting pitchers, one of whom makes the minimum, 4 of whom are under White Sox control through the end of 2008. I don't know how the bullpen can be considered "quality" after 2006. Thornton has had 1 good season now. It wasn't long ago that this board was bbqing him after his first outing in Tucson. MacDougal most likely will get injured, he seems to almost every season. Jenks ERA was higher than Todd Jones, and we were all making fun of the Tigers for having Todd Jones as their closer. Aardsma has been given up on by 2 organizations now. He was part of a deal for LaTroy Hawkins, and he got traded for a guy who couldn't get anyone out at the end of his White Sox career in Neal Cotts. Haeger hasn't proven anything yet, and KW was on the airwaves the other day singing the praises of one Boone Logan who for the most part has been a gas can in the major leagues. All 6 of the starters have issues as well. Obviously at least 1 is going to go. I hope at least 2 go. Its amazing how much more highly this pitching staff is thought of after not having watch them throw meatballs up to the plate for a couple of months.

TWIW, but Peter Gammons has reported that KW has been discussing Ramirez with Theo Epstein. If the White Sox have the ability to take on Manny's contract, I can't understand why they would not spend that money on pitching AND a better OF.

Didn't Magglio use a form of shock therapy when he got his knee treated overseas?

QUOTE(Hangar18 @ Nov 29, 2006 -> 02:12 PM) Few people I know are having a schedule conflict, Friday nites being optimal times to wash hair apparently. It was suggested we do a Hair-Washing thing Friday nite, for those who wish to partake I usually reserve Friday nights for sorting socks.

Crede has basically been a dissappointment except for the Sept.2005 thru Aug. 2006. He has a great glove and the Sox would be wise not to move him until they have an adequate replacement. Fields does not fall into this category. He didn't hit all that well during his late season call-up and was a strikeout machine until he walked away from Venezuela. Pitching wins and defense helps pitching. I have no problem dealing Crede, he's apt to hit .240 next year. I am concerned about defense though. A butcher at third would really hurt this team.

I don't worry about what Santana did outside of Anaheim. Those types of splits change from year to year. Michael Young was used as an example with the conclusion he can't hit outside of Texas, but if you look at his 2005 splits, his home and away numbers are almost identical. Frank Thomas had a tough time hitting homers outside of USCF in recent years. He moved to Oakland and seemed to be able to reach the fences with no problem. Santana is a stud. I think the only reason the Angels would even consider moving him is probably concern about his health. He's been compared to Pedro Martinez. If he's half as good as him, he would look very good in a White Sox uniform.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 27, 2006 -> 11:36 AM) The only one of those 3 I can say with strong confidence should be better in 07 than 06 is Anderson. Uribe, I'm just not sure. He's had multiple chances to finally learn how to get his swing under control, take a few pitches, and become "Better". His 2nd year defensively at SS to my eyes was worse than his first year there, although not by much. He has enormous room for improvement, but thus far I haven't seen anything which will convince me that he actually will improve. Pods last season was certainly not acceptable for leadoff. 40/59 in stolen bases, plus a bundle of pickoffs at first, is simply not acceptable, especially not from a guy who's job it is to steal bases, and especially not from a guy who puts up a .330 OBP. He has room for improvement again, but I can't say with any certainty that he'll be healthier in 2007 than he was in 2006 or that he'll get over any of his other problems. Uribe is playing for a big contract. He is the poster boy of players who are most likely to have a huge season under this circumstance. He's very talented, and for one season can put it all together and be a fantastic player. The Sox should keep him, and let him walk if he plays his way to huge money.

Too bad the White Sox weren't as prudent as the Angels and not allowed Freddy to pitch in the WBC. That seems to be what they are blaming his lost velocity on. Will the fastball come back? That is the $40 million question.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Nov 27, 2006 -> 05:39 PM) The Sox only real need in the pen at this point is a long reliever. That's not Shields. If the Angels made Shields available, I'm sure Kenny and Ozzie would find a place to insert him in a game about 75 times in 2007. He would be the best relief pitcher on the roster, and he has a rubber arm. As far as this deal goes, I think Santana is a stud in the making and Figgins is coming off a down year, but is a better player than he showed in 2006. I still think the Sox could get more. If I'm KW, I'm asking for the moon, and if the Angels don't want to give it to me, someone will eventually. If not, wait until the deadline to deal a starter. Make spring training a 6 man race for 5 jobs and the loser goes to bullpen.

Maybe NL pitching staffs realized how to get Pods out in 2004 and the AL staffs realized it in 2006. Anyway you slice it, the guy is below average. If he can't steal 50 bases and be successful 75-80% of his attempts, there is no reason for him to be on a major league field.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Nov 26, 2006 -> 06:09 AM) That's the epitome of intelligent baseball analysis. C'mon, you're better than that. While leadoff hitter is not a defensive postion, it is a position in the lineup. There are two sides to the game, offensive and defensive. You position your players in the field ... 1 thru 9 ... to prevent runs as best possible. You also position your players in the lineup ... 1 thru 9 ... to score runs as ofter as possible. As for Iguchi batting leadoff, he's never done so that I'm aware of, yet you think Ozzie is thickheaded because he doesn't play your hunch that Iguchi would be a good leadoff hitter. My hunch is that he'd be batting out of position. What Pods did in '05 with his very solid 1st half was spark this team to what proved to an insurmountable lead that allowed the to reach the playoffs, which in turn allowed them to bring home the trophy. That's a nice theory but the reality is your leadoff hitter is only guaranteed to leadoff once a game. Pods got way too much credit for his contribution to the 2005 White Sox. He scored a very pedestrian 85 runs. He actually was a better offensive player in 2006 save for the batting average and a few more ks. He drove in more, he scored more, he slugged better, and everyone agrees he wasn't very good in 2006.

Its amazing how bad of a coach Bill Self became to Illini fans when he left Champaign. If he was so bad, why was everyone so angry he left? Charlie Villenueva would have looked pretty good in their line-up.

Uribe is playing for a payday. Keep him around. I think he's going to have a big year.

QUOTE(TLAK @ Nov 25, 2006 -> 08:48 AM) Ozzie put him out there in September against Seattle and if you watched the game you would know that Ross' arm will not allow him to play outfield in the Major Leagues. Chuck Knoblauch threw better. I'm really not too concerned with the LF's arm, although Pods' arm is beyond pathetic. The White Sox had a powerhouse of a team with Raines in LF and the One Dog in CF. Pods throws no worse than either of them. Its the tip toeing to balls that pisses me off. He gets bad jumps and is so tentative, its sickening. Also people seem stuck on finding a "leadoff guy". Pods isn't exactly a great leadoff guy. He doesn't get on a lot, when he does he's prone to getting thrown out or picked off and he whiffs at a pretty high rate for a guy who homers about as often as Ozzie Guillen did. I don't think its necessary to have a guy leading off who may steal 40 bases. I just want someone who can get on base, and maybe even get a bunt down once in a while. Those aren't strong points in Pods' game at this point.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Nov 25, 2006 -> 07:06 AM) Maybe because he was the sox best option leading off. Like I said, the first half he hit .276 with an OBP of .353. Those are decent numbers. I also said he was brutal in the 2nd half, and very tentative for the entire yr on defense in 06. What do you attribute his poor defense to after playing a solid first half of 2005? That sounds like someone playing hurt or trying hard to avoid a re-injury. Instead of using up resources to get an upgrade for leadoff in LF/ Cf this year, i'd like the sox to try and upgrade at SS, someone who would start the yr in AAA. The cost will be less than it would be for someone expected to start the yr in the bigs. The White Sox current SS is a far better player than the White Sox current LF. Pods has never been a solid defensive player. Offensively, as bad as he was, except for batting average, he was a much better hitter in 2006 than he was in 2005. I should say batting average, and taking strike 3 right down the middle, which I cannot imagine anyway being connected to an injury. I guess I just don't buy that he was hurt, and if he was, how is it that it is a given he will be completely healthy this year? Its funny that a board that laughs at a team on the other side of town always assuming their injured players will suddenly be healthy, (and rightfully so), do exactly the same thing with the players on their team. If Pods was/is hurt, and I'm still not buying, what does everyone base their faith on his total health in 2007, a year where the Sox will have to pay him a lot more that the $2.4 million they were paying him for his pathetic performance in 2006?

QUOTE(beck72 @ Nov 25, 2006 -> 06:45 AM) I'd just like to add, Pods 1st half of 06 was decent. What could have happened is Pods wore down in the 2nd half after the offseason surgery, that he probably came into 06 in decent shape after the surgery. But it's hard to fully strengthen and prepare your body after recovering from being hurt. i'm also of the opinion the Pods/ Owens plan is probably the best bet heading into 07. Owens stays in AAA playing Lf and leading off, insurance in case Pods can't cut it. What I'd like to see is the sox get a SS prospect near major league ready who has the ability/ tools to hit leadoff. That way, the sox have another option at leadoff besides Owens and someone who could replace Uribe. Pods was pathetic in April, had a great May and was mediocre to poor the rest of the season. I wouldn't call his first half decent. If he was so hurt, why did a team trying to defend its championship stick with him the entire year, when a guy like Mackowiak was riding pine or playing out of position? I don't buy the injury excuse. If he was so hurt how come he hit .318 with a .443 obp and an obs over .900 in May? Its a weak argument. The guy just isn't very good. He got a lot of credit for stealing bases in 2005. It would be nice to have a SS with the ability to leadoff, but there aren't many of those, and teams with them aren't going to give them up.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Nov 23, 2006 -> 11:17 PM) I'm just not thrilled with the thought of Dave Roberts patrolling LF beyond next season. For a 1yr solution, without quesiton; but not beyond 2007. I'd rather select Podsednik over Roberts if it means one extra season of conditioning a possible replacement (Fields/Sweeney), or perhaps understanding whether or not he's capable of recovering from injury. If Podsednik has a good season next year, they can sign him to a long term deal. If not, we'll let him go and persue other options. You sign Roberts to a 3 year contract and IF he comes up big next season, he can always be traded as long as they don't give him a no-trade. It may be worth the gamble. QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Nov 24, 2006 -> 08:09 AM) pods tends to have a good year followed by a bad year. So hopefully hes due for a good year. I think if he comes back healthy he hits .280 and steals 50 bases. Please. The guy lost his burst. If he can't steal, he's worthless. He hasn't been very good for at least a year and a half.

Pods sucks. He will be too expensive with what he brings to the table. Sweeney at the new major league minimum of $380,000 is a better option. I'm really not worried about who then leads off. Perhaps someone else could be acquired, but the leadoff man is only guaranteed to lead off once a game.