Dick Allen

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:48 PM) If given the choice, yes, you should. Do you think that they would've gone with Jenks had Hermanson not had back problems? Jenks would have been called up, he probably wouldn't have closed, but it is another example of a guy with no major league track record getting the job done. Anderson can get the job done. If he doesn't KW will make a move and bring in someone far better than Willy Taveras.

How is Borchard a bust? The guy hit .417 last year. He has proven he can hit major league pitching.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:41 PM) I never said that they should. I do. Or is there some reason to rush Anderson? Let Taveras start for a year and then think about Anderson as your long-term plan. So the Sox wouldn't be trying to win in 2007 because Anderson would surely be ready by then wouldn't he? Basically what you are saying is you shouldn't rely on guys without major league track records if you are trying to win. Seems to me the White Sox won a World Series with a closer who never pitched higher than AA 3 months before the World Series.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:37 PM) Sure, but why not have a backup plan in place? Especially when said backup plan only costs the league minimum? If it means trading Jose Contreras it is stupid. You get a middle reliever, a back-up plan and a minor leaguer for someone who is ace material. For a team trying to win a championship, it makes absolutely zero sense.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:31 PM) 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. Borchard didn't play a whole lot of baseball until he became a pro. He may be a bust, I hope he's not, but he has a lot of ability. He has a great attitude, and is supposed to be one of the nicest people to ever wear a White Sox uniform. He needs to relax and believe in himself. If he made the Sox or another ML team and got hot for a couple of weeks, I truely believe he could use that as a springboard to a pretty decent career.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:26 PM) (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. Taveras got an opportunity to play with a team that was trying to win, he had 1 career at bat going into last season and his team made it to the WS. The White Sox have potentially a far better line-up in 2006 than the Astros had in 2005. Anderson will be hitting eighth or ninth, not much offense will be expected or needed from him. 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.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:24 PM) Are you serious? The word on the street was that his watch was stopped at 4:20.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:18 PM) ..and you know what, f*** Mike Caruso's 1998 season where he proved to be a .306 hitter. His OBP was a pathetic .331, but unlike Taveras he had a BB/K of 14/38 instead of 25/103. He also stole bases at a better rate than Taveras too. They appear to be very similar offensive players. I doubt Taveras flames out as quickly as Caruso, if I'm not mistaken Caruso spent too much time around a bong and not enough working on getting stronger and becoming a better baseball player. But I'm sure if you asked 100 scouts who they would rather have between Anderson and Taveras, a big majority would say Anderson.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:16 PM) 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? 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.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:14 PM) That's a slight dropoff. After that he didn't play in the majors until 2002 when he had 2 hits in 20 at bats, and that was all for him.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:11 PM) I've still haven't heard him answer the question. WCSox, Was Mike Caruso a "proven" MLB hitter after batting .301 in 1998? He actually hit .306 with 22 steals in 28 attempts. The next season he hit .250 with 12 steals in 26 attempts.

QUOTE(SoxFan562004 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:02 PM) It seems I'm really overrating Prior, even over the O's. I know in Sullivan's article he said O's basically told the Cubs no Zambrano no deal. But with all these names being thrown around I would want Prior out of any of them. Trust me, by no means am I a Cubs fan, but he is younger than Jose and a lot better than Benson or Clement. I think if the Cubs do a similar deal but put Pie or Cedeno in there the Cubs would have the inside track. I agree, but maybe there is concern about his elbow. He wasn't the same after he came back. I also think the Cubs would have an advantage to acquiring him because they are in the NL. If they did this other trade and Tejada came to Baltimore as a Red Sox and hammered Benson and Clement on back to back nights, the Orioles front office would be idiots in their fans eyes, not that they aren't already.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 04:01 PM) i think that is b'mores only reason for not trading tejada to boston, besides money. Contreras would be a good pick up for Baltimore. If he continues to dominate, you know they won't be in contention, they could trade him at the deadline for a slew of prospects. Angelos saves more money to try and sign free agents next year, plus they have some more young players to add to the mix.

That 4 way deal that supposedly is on the table with the Mets, Tampa, and Boston nets the Orioles Lugo, who is a free agent after 2006, Kris Benson who has never been very good, and his wife, while awfully hot, is a pain in the ass and Matt Clement. 2 overpaid pitchers and an average SS who will head to the hills after the season. The Sox if they were to give up Contreras, Uribe and a minor leaguer would seem to be the better deal. Plus, you don't have Tejada making 3 trips into your park every year to rub it in your face. I still think the Orioles would prefer to trade him to the NL.

On the other board someone there claims Phil Rogers said on the Score that he believes Tejada will be traded to the Sox next week. Anyone hear this?

As to Taveras' .291 batting average, didn't Mike Caruso hit .300 his rookie year with the White Sox?

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:30 PM) There were also 16 on Carl Crawford, based on the same site http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=44000 I forgot about that, Carl Crawford for Josh Fields.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:27 PM) All because of a rumor from f***ing mlbtraderumors.com? I was thinking the same thing. We should create a website and make crazy s*** up about the Red Sox and watch the sonsofsamhorn board go crazy.

This whole thread is based on a rumor which most likely isn't true. One thing that isn't mentioned at all is KW's fondness for Brian Anderson. He loves the guy. As KW has mentioned, he would have to be overwhelmed to trade Contreras. I don't think Taveras, Qualls and a prospect is overwhelming. If Anderson is as good as KW thinks he is, Taveras would see as much time as Harris or Timo, virtually none. The prospect probably wouldn't help in 2006, so basically stretching the payroll to cement a new era on the South Side would net you Qualls for Contreras in 2006. It ain't happening.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:20 PM) Keyword there being thought.... the only players that mean anything in his book are the ones he knew for sure. He also thought Clemens was a roider too and Im guessing he thinks other players could be roiders too. Either you know or you dont know and Canseco doesnt know when it involves Tejada. It wouldn't surprise me if Clemens juiced. As big of an idiot as Canseco is, if he thinks you have, IMO, you probably have. Either way, Tejada's never tested positive, so he is innocent.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:21 PM) What makes you think that Anderson will be able to hit anywhere near Taveras' .291? At least Taveras has done it before over the course of a full season. Anderson hasn't done anything in the majors For all we know, he could be Joe Borchard, Part II. Anderson's still a giant question mark. Call me crazy, but I'd rather play the guy who's actually done it at the major league level before... especially when I'm making another run at the WS. He's projecting, just like major league organizations do. Using your logic, Taveras, considering his major league stats in 2004 should never have been given an opportunity by the Astros especially considering they were trying to win a championship to play in 2005. 1 year with a decent batting average, a few stolen bases, and basically crap offensive numbers everywhere else isn't exactly grounds to cancel the Brian Anderson experiment, and pick this average at best player up.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:13 PM) So because Tejada played where the Balco company was located there is a chance he might of used steroids? Im sorry but that is just dumb until you get any proof at all other than he played in Oakland and Palmiero tried to blame him... Canseco thought he used them, and he's been pretty accurate.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 12:48 PM) Not nearly as silly as automatically assuming that he'll be a better player in '06 than Taveras was this year. I don't think anyone's automatically assuming. You are automatically assuming Taveras will be better in 2006 than he was in 2005, and you're automatically assuming he will outperform Anderson by so much its worth trading a #1 pitcher for him. That's not silly, its insane.

WCSox, judging Anderson by so few at bats is silly. Using your logic the White Sox should have replaced Robin Ventura after 1989 when he hit .178 with no homers in 45 at bats. Anderson has talent. Its anyone's guess how he will do in 2006, but if he can't do the job, KW will find a better replacement than Willy Taveras.

Hey AndytheClown, on mlbrumors.com they said their source said the White Sox could go to a $105 million payroll. You think you might be their source?