TheHolyBovine

FYI: Blog on Dukes by Rob Neyer - http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?...;name=Neyer_Rob

QUOTE (BearSox @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 09:30 PM) Jenks and Everett were not even close as to being in the same boat as Dukes. Sure they had their problems, but Dukes takes it to a whole other level. It's silly to compare Jenks and Everett to Dukes. All three have/had anger issues coupled with substance abuse and female problems. Are they really that different?

QUOTE (R.J. @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 09:15 PM) Uh, yeah. But with Bowden gone, they're dong damage control. There are comments out there from front office managerial types saying how it's ludicrous that they have 5 outfielders, 3 first basemen, and basically no pitching. What I pointed out is that the investment they made in Dukes wasn't a huge one, likely because everyone knows he's a huge character issue. It doesn't hurt us to call them up and see what their feeling is on him. If they ask for Poreda, then no, sorry. If they ask for something similar to what they gave up 2 years ago (a young pitcher from deeper in the system) then roll the dice. And if not Dukes, then ask about Willie Harris. I'm not kidding. Dude hit 13 HRs last year, and had OBP of .344. What CFer currently in the organization is capable of that?

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 09:14 PM) Who started this thread, Elijah Dukes? Tampa got better because tampa got rid of punks like Dukes and Delmon young. no thanks. Play BA. Tampa got better because their talented pitching staff simultaneously gelled and dominated.

QUOTE (R.J. @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 09:04 PM) Dukes is the classic example - you wither care about character and personality in your players or you don't. I think we can all agree that throwing that away, Dukes would immediately become our starting center fielder and make a huge impact on our lineup. He takes walks, he's a power/speed combo player with tremendous upside. Of course he's also a terrible human being. We saw last year that guys who don't mesh with the clubhouse don't last on this team. We saw that guys who don't know their role or clash with Ozzie will not be welcome. I think this pretty much rules out nay acquisition of Dukes. On the other hand, before coming to the White Sox, Bobby Jenks was pretty widely accepted to be a psychopath too. I don't think Carl Everett won any humanitarian awards. And then there's that guy behind the plate, who has a similarly spotty reputation. If you'd refuse to acquire a guy who would be a monstrous upgrade just because he's a prick, then you're making a misjudgment. But we'd be right to remain weary of giving up too much to acquire a player who might cause trouble and eventually warrant his release. It's a classical risk/reward scenario. Great post. And I'll also point out that Swisher and Cabrera, historically speaking anyway, were thought to be great teammates/character guys before they came to the Sox. We all know how that worked out. Everett was a "cancer" everywhere he had been until he came to the Sox. It's impossible to predict how attitudes and personalities manifest themselves in the locker room and on the field. It's probably quite a bit overrated, anyway. Ultimately, talent wins, almost every time (outside of the 1987-1991 NY Mets).

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:51 PM) Willits .391 OBP in 430 AB's in 2007 and Blanco's .366 OBP in 430 AB's in 2008 says otherwise. I'll give you those numbers. However, both are average in the field and have absolutely no power. Sounds like Scotty Pods. Can't we do better?

QUOTE (Jimmywins1 @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:44 PM) Could we just make this the "please start Brian Anderson" thread? Yes, but Ozzie hates Brian. If Wise fails, he'll call up Owens to take his place. Watch and see...

Neither Willits or Gregor add OBP OR power, which makes them sound similar to what we have already.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:39 PM) I'd do Shelby, Russell, and Fernando Hernandez, see if they bite. Works for me. Good initial offer.

QUOTE (scenario @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:37 PM) He's not a borderline bad guy. He's a psychopath. No.... just no!!!!! Well, can we at least agree that we should be talking to them about Willie Harris? If you want OBP at the top of the order, then there you go. Willie Pimp >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wise/Anderson

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:30 PM) If Nick Swisher and Orlando Cabrera can't survive in the Sox clubhouse, then how does anyone think Dukes could? The Sox have a very quiet persona in the clubhouse, and bringing in a trainwreck waiting to happen won't help. He's been completely restrained and calm in Washington, and has performed very well when given the opportunity. He didn't lose his job because of attitude issues; he lost it because the Nationals have their heads up their asses. Isn't it possible that he's matured? If maturity happened to Milton Bradley, it can happen to anyone.

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:30 PM) Ugh. I wouldn't trade a top prospect for that headcase. Guess it depends on how you view Poreda. I think he's relief all the way, but that's just me.

QUOTE (knightni @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:27 PM) Steve's Fantasy Sports advice strikes again. Care to tell me where I'm wrong? You know the Nationals have about 7 OFers on their roster, right? We need a CFer, right? It wouldn't hurt to give them a call. Hell, Willie Harris would be a HUGE upgrade over what we currently have.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:27 PM) Dukes has had some issues, but I'd love to have him. He's immensely talented. Problem is the Nationals wouldn't even talk to us unless we were dangling Gordon Beckham. I think Poreda alone would seal the deal.

QUOTE (Brian @ Apr 7, 2009 -> 08:17 PM) Please tell me this is a joke. HELL NO! Nothing personal, but you know not what you speak of. Seriously. Dukes runs rings around the organization's current OF prospects, and it's not close.

Trade for Elijah Dukes, who has lost his job in Washington. He can play a capable CF. Is he a lead-off man? No, but he's a legitimate MLB player with upside. Wouldn't take a heck of a lot to acquire him at this point... Actually, scratch this idea. KW wouldn't be interested. Dukes has amazing talent, power, and patience. He's not a grindy hack.

Trade for Elijah Dukes, who has lost his job in Washington. He can play a capable CF. Is he a lead-off man? No, but he's a legitimate MLB player with upside. Wouldn't take a heck of a lot to acquire him...

QUOTE(BearSox @ Aug 25, 2007 -> 01:14 AM) now, wheres the post where KW should have traded Contreras after 05, Dye after 06, etc? Apples and Oranges. Dye and Contreras were dominant players at their peak. Garland wasn't.

Garland should have been traded a long time ago, when his value was higher than his ability. KW had the right idea when he tried to dump him in the offseason before Garcia. Even right now, just getting rid of Garland's salary and promoting Gio might aid the Sox in putting together a major league lineup. I'm pretty sure Gio could be average-at-best too. Instead, KW waited a year too late, which is one the defining characteristics of a bad GM. Right Pratt? ...and KW does that often.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 19, 2007 -> 02:44 PM) ...plus he's like 13 years younger and doesn't have a silly name. Wasn't the original Mike Myers (of Halloween fame) from Illinois?

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 03:38 PM) God forbid a player be sentimental about a team he not only worked for, but loved. :rolleyes. Steff - Sometimes your endless sarcastic eyerolling really beats me down.

Plus his bat is already slowing down at 28. He won't really be starting material much longer past 30. Call it Dale Murphy syndrome.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jul 9, 2007 -> 01:03 AM) always believe the opposite of what KW says. Exactly. This is KW's way of letting other teams know that he won't be giving anyone away.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 7, 2007 -> 09:48 PM) Even though I'm mad now, I'll be ok with everything if we get good value in return. We won't. KW will trade him for that no-talent grinder hack Ellsbury, who will make us all wish that Erstad was still around. KW is a moron.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 7, 2007 -> 09:08 PM) When did I say we'd become the Pirates? I'm just saying you can't win a World Series by ignoring the biggest agent in baseball and not giving any no trade clauses. That isn't to say we'll suck, but if we go that route we have to win by drafting well and making a lot of good trades, and although we've done part 2 of that under KW, we have not done part 1. Plus, we're in a pretty good division, so I'm not counting on success unless policies change, and that goes for the GM and Owner. Those 2 could win, but policies must change and 2 men that stubborn don't strike me as types that will adjust to a changing market. You know what's unfortunate? That we won't become the Marlins. I'm serious. The Marlins have one of the best scouting departments in the game, and even though they're owned by a cheap bastard too, they're occasionally brilliant when that young talent matures. Our problem is that we don't have the balls to be a championship franchise, and we don't have the balls to start over from scratch. What we have is an owner who forces (either explicitly or implicitly) his GM to rely on mediocre veteran talent with the hope that we'll get lucky. Sack up, start paying people, or at least have the balls to rebuild like men.