Dick Allen

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?

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 12:34 PM) His arm is average for a CF. His range is average-to-above-average. His arm is about as average as Lance "one dog" Johnson's was. NL third base coaches dislocate their shoulders waving in runners on base hits to CF when Pierre is patrolling it. He throws fly balls to home plate.

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 12:19 PM) Taking a step back here I find it fascinating the White Sox are always linked with these speedy high batting average CF guys who steal bases. This winter we heard rumors about Gathright, Juan Pierre, and now Willy Tavares. Now no one really knows if there was legit interest in these guys or if it's simply media rumors, but to me it's not coincidence, especially after they landed Podsednik last year. Simply put, Guillen appears to covet this type of player. I don't know about Gathright, but KW did say he never called the Marlins about Pierre. I think its a lot of speculation. Guillen did say he wanted to add more speed. That hasn't happen. If Contreras is the bait, they should do a lot better than Taveras, who like was stated above, really is no more than a 4th outfielder, pinch runner, defensive replacement. He got some hits in the world series, but really isn't very impressive as a player. Considering KW has made pitching a priority, and emphasises it as much as possible, unless its for a player like Tejada, I really doubt he'll trade any of his 6 starters without getting pitching back. I'm not sold on Contreras and Uribe for Tejada, although Tejada obviously would be huge in the Sox line-up, but it would make the White Sox media darlings, and every expert would make them the favorites to win it all again. The days of the White Sox being ignored on ESPN would be over.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 10:57 AM) 2005 OBP... Podsednik: .351 Tad: .342 Rowand: .329 Uribe: .301 Everett: .311 A.J.: .308 Juan Pierre: .326 OBP, .276 BA, 19 2B, 2 HR Considering the generally poor OBP of Sox players last season and the fact that Rowand's measley 16 stolen bases ranked #2 on the team, he'd be a decent #9 hitter at the very least and, given that his OBP wasn't much lower than Tad's, he'd be a viable #2. Juan Pierre doesn't hit for power either and Taveras' numbers are already comparable to his. And I'd take Pierre as my #2 hitter any day. With Taveras entering his second full year in the league, he's bound to get even better. Again, it's pretty short-sighted to call Taveras a "scrub." You do realize Contreras was virtually unbeatable after the All Star break? Why would you trade a #1 pitcher for a guy who even you said would bat ninth? Taveras is not an upgrade over Anderson. You compare him to Pierre, who by all accounts had a bad year last year. KW wouldn't trade Contreras for Pierre, neither would any GM in baseball.

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 09:26 AM) Brian Anderson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Willy Taveras This proposed deal would make no sense to me. Exactly. That's not the type of trade that KW would consider "overwhelming". At least I hope not.

According to rotoworld, Harris has agreed to sign with the Rockies.

The rumor says the Sox are willing to go to $105 million on payroll, and says trading Contreras frees up money for deadline reinforcements. If the payroll currently is at $95 million and they are willing to go $10 million higher, how much money needs to be freed up for deadline reinforcements when more than half of their salaries for 2006 would have already been paid out?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 30, 2005 -> 11:22 AM) Heres a quote about Tejada Tejada plays baseball with passion and drive. He demonstrates his reverence for the game with hard play and vocal leadership. Teammate Brian Roberts told Peter Gammons that Tejada is the best player in the game because, 'He has an uncanny ability to knock in runs... his energy. He is always up, pushing everyone and making the entire team better." Orioles' hitting instructor Terry Crowley said, "This franchise changed the day he arrived." Bear in mind I dont want him here. But making up s*** like him being a cancer in the clubhouse is stupid. Let the cubs fans do that. He didn't say he was a cancer. He said that's what his Cub fan friends thought he was.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 30, 2005 -> 11:17 AM) No it wasnt, it was about his contacts. But still Tejada is WELL known to be one of the best clubhouse guys in the league, a true leader. I know, but his decline the second half was curious, as was his complaining through the press. Maybe he wants out of Baltimore so bad he's decided just to make it impossible to keep him. As I said in another thread, Tejada, I believe, can demand a trade next offseason if he is traded.