iamshack

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 05:01 PM) ^^^^^ And this is comming from HHJ who is, IMO, one of the smartest posters here. I think it's pretty popular to have an extremely negative viewpoint of things at the moment, especially given the way the team has fallen on their faces this season. I'm not trying to get into the middle of this little catfight going on, but I think this is a case of the optimistic guy getting ridiculed because he's taking the unpopular position at the moment. I, for one, tend to agree with most of the baseball related things WC had to say. It's very easy to take the "know-it-all" negative position though. That's what all the cool kids are doing these days.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 03:41 PM) So the question of course is...is any offer for JD worth more than a sandwich pick and a high 2nd rounder? Only if he brings in a piece that can fill in immediately and produce with some sort of consistency. If he brings in a SS or OF, I say yes, if not, I say no.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 02:42 PM) TIFWIW: I will be really disappointed if the Royals get Hu.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 03:08 PM) There is no past history of the Sox sucking ass and taking the cheap road to try to fix it...? Where you been the last 25 years? Thus the word "analogous." I really don't think there has ever been an offseason in the past twenty-five years in which we have been at a crossroads as we will be in this upcoming one.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 03:03 PM) Agree. However I don't think GP's point is invalid in any way. Past history gives a pretty clear picture of what the Sox will do to try to right the ship. And with ST holders dropping like flies it's way more logical to see band aids being the solution rather than spending money to get the right guys. Kenny - IF still around - will go cheap and on a hunch. Kinda like he did this offseason, IMO. I'm not sure there is a past history that is in any way analogous to our current situation.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 02:26 PM) It should also speak volumes of the move by the sox of not signing him long term. Since he has been on LAAAA he has amassed ERAS of 5.01 3.48 5.11 and 6.72, only pitching 200 innings 2 out of 4 years. He may have peaked in 2002-2003. It's not for lack of trying...don't give us too much credit.

I have to agree with the poster who is claiming we'll have a decent shot next year to be competitive IF we see this starting pitching intact minus Contreras. Add a couple of relatively decent bullpen arms, and you've got the makings of a solid ballclub. Say what you want about the Indians/Tigers/Twins, but I think some of you are sufferring from a bit of the "grass is always greener" syndrome. The Tigers are an excellent team, but they aren't exactly young bucks at every position either. They could suffer a similar falloff to us, considering they have plenty of aging players in IRod, Sheffield, Guillen, Polanco, Ordonez and Casey. It isn't out of the realm of possibilities that a few of those guys could really start struggling at some point in the near future. The Indians have their young core locked up, but I'm not quite so impressed with their pitching staff, especially considering Sabathia could be gone after next year. Take him out of that rotation and they look a LOT weaker. They are playing well this year, but still not really drawing, so it's possible that they could feel a payroll squeeze in the near future as well. I'm just not sold on them being some juggernaut for years to come with that pitching staff of theirs. Minnesota has proven to us all that you can compete with good pitching. Why that doesn't inspire some hope in more posters for our future is beyond me. We absolutely do have our problems, and they won't be easily fixed. But I'm just not buying into this gloom and doom approach that we're going to be terrible for the next several years. We've got the hardest aspect of a successful ballclub nailed already, in that we've got good starting pitching. Sort some things out in the bullpen for the rest of the year, acquire maybe 1 or 2 guys in the offseason, and we are well on our way to at least being competitive. And if it is true that we have no business competing in this division for the next several years, why did everyone want to spend $56 million on Buehrle while we are in our "rebuilding" years?

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 02:11 PM) No, it's not fathom's sources. You can see it in Moneyball, for one. For another, KW was and often is made fun of as a bad GM. And it hasn't got anything to do with anyone on this site. I think you're talking out of your ass. Certainly Kenny was thought of as a little green when he first became our GM, but I think you're just flat out wrong if you don't think he is very well-respected at this point in his career. Not sure he will ever really impress some of the more arrogant strokes such as Beane or Theo, but Kenny is regarded as a bold, decisive GM. Recently, most of those bold strikes have worked out for the better. The other misperception I love, is that Kenny is somehow making these decisions about the quality of players we get in return on his own. As though he is going off only his own personal knowledge. I don't particularly care what some other scouts say about some of the players we bring in via trade or FA. Scouts always have and will continue to disagree on the vast majority of players. For every scout that said Masset and Floyd weren't what we though they were, there are plenty who laughed at us for bringing in Vazquez; plenty who thought Dye was washed up when we signed him before 05'; plenty who thought Contreras was a bad acqusition when we acquired him from the Yankees. Kenny trusts his scouts, and his advisors, and he makes the best decisions he can. Some work out, some don't. It seems like most of the larger ones have though.

This is just one of those situations where you tell them, look, it's going to take something ridiculous, like Wood/Kotchman/Adenhart. Then hang up the phone. If they call back, great, if not, great.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 25, 2007 -> 01:01 AM) The Trib reports the Angels inquired about Konerko. I can't see the Sox trading him though. KW/Ozzie say we won't be going into a rebuilding mode this offseason. It would be a pleasant surprise if we can find a competitive team next year. I was hearing they will consider moving Brandon Wood to acquire a big bat prior to the deadline...

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Jul 24, 2007 -> 09:52 PM) I really doubt that the mlbtraderumors guy knows who Richar is or how well he is playing to earn a shot at 2B. He just sees that Iguchi is in his last year and goes to Cano. Of course we could do a lot worse than having Cano at 2B for years to come, even if it leaves Richar in no mans land. Garland and Iguchi for Cano and Tabata might be interesting. I would vomit twice if we traded Garland and Iguchi for those two. Cano is a nice player, a hell of a hitter, but not someone that makes me deal away my solid innings-eater. Tabata has been overhyped- while he is hitting as an 18 year-old right now- he doesn't project to have the body type that will allow him to hit for a whole lot of power. And he's too far away still. If we trade Garland, as previous posters have said, it has to be a deal where we are taking advantage of a team's urgency to add an impact player for a playoff stretch. It has to be a deal where we are simply bowled over. Cano and Tabata, it seems ok on the surface, but it really doesn't help us all that much. Especially if we have any real belief in Danny Richar. If I am trading Garland, I want a SS prospect, an OF prospect, and a SP prospect. We need to fill holes if we move him, not just add general depth.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Jul 20, 2007 -> 05:39 PM) What the hell do you expect them to say? We quit? His job is to win ballgames. Period. You don't go out and say we're trying to lose to better our trade opportunities. Sometimes I swear you people just have no common sense. WE know they're done, most of baseball knows they are done, THEY know we're done, but Ozze and KW will NEVER say it. They can't. They're trying to cover their asses because no significant offers are coming in right now. So if they do havr to stand pat, because there was nothing available, the fanbase has been forewarned. I'm sure Kenny is looking to move players, even if he delusionally believes this team can get back in it.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 19, 2007 -> 11:58 PM) If the Sox opted to trade two pitchers, than I'd definitely be a fan of picking up Santana and letting him work through this (and my fascination with him has to do with his plus stuff, I could give a s*** what his name is). But the Angels aren't going to just give him up, they got full control of him for a couple more years. They've been trying to move him forever though. Perhaps its because his value was so high at one point, but it always bothers me when a team is trying to pimp one or two players to every other team. Sorta like how I was trying to pimp Dye and Crede before the start of the season in my keeper league...

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jul 19, 2007 -> 11:41 PM) I don't care that we're not going anywhere this season, I hope we sweep Boston. I know too many of their smug fans who I really want to see squirm a bit as their division lead shrinks and shrinks. Tomorrow is huge -- Beckett starts tomorrow, right? -- if we win against Beckett, I think a sweep is possible. Squirm a bit? Hah! You don't know Boston fans then. You should take a peek at the game thread from last night on Sons of Sam Horn. I've never seen some of the things that I saw there a few hours ago...(well, other than our August and September meltdowns in 05' )

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 02:51 PM) I honestly dont see a huge drop off defensively when fields is playing, not to mention the offensive potential. I would NEVER want to put Josh in the OF, his spot is 3B and he is the future for this org at that position. I don't know...I have to disagree. Josh makes some nice plays out there, but he isn't close to where Joe is defensively. Not saying that is Josh's fault- he's young, and Joe is one of the best defensive third basemen I have ever seen. But from a pure performance standpoint, Josh isn't near the same caliber defensively as Joe is.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 05:20 PM) This changes nothing. Now we need to keep Iguchi around in order to attract Fukodome. Do we actually go after Eric Byrnes now? I have this odd feeling that Kenny is going to acquire Andruw Jones by Sunday....

5 years, 100 million? That's absolutely insane. Do you all still think Aaron is going to get $5-6 million? I mean, he is no Ichiro, but this extension only helps Aaron.

QUOTE(G&T @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 04:38 PM) According to the score and ESPN, the deal could be 5 years. Anyone care to guess the amount? 5/70 will be my guess.

Hate to burst everyone's bubble....but... http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7009112

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 03:48 PM) 4 1/2 up isn't much. Even good teams look for marginal improvements. Remember Geoff Blum. If you believe Iguchi would not be a roster ungrade over Graf or Counsel, I would strongly disagree. Platooning Iguchi, which is what I am suggesting, would help the Brewers on a lot of level. If nothing else, it would improve pinch hitter options. Not to suggest the Brewers should or would do it, but they are certainly more likely suiters than the Dodgers, Padres, or Indians. Well, the Padres have the worst offense in the world and Marcus Giles has a whopping .650 OPS, one of the few guys in the league Iguchi actually is hitting better than. While I understand your point about the Indians, Barfield has a whopping .626 OPS. Weeks, on the other hand, is at about .720, and while that isn't anywhere near what he is capable of, Iguchi is at about the same. So even with Weeks playing very poorly, Iguchi isn't really distinguishing himself much from him.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 03:39 PM) Winning now and having Weeks play 2B every day need not be one in the same. They are winning now. He isn't costing them much. They also have Craig Counsel and Tony G over there, do they not? I doubt they would be major players for Tad, unless Weeks still is injured...

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 03:19 PM) agreed. He is talking to someone. I honestly am ready to send Gooch somewhere else and see if we can cheap a 2B to save some cash next season. Richar, although raw, appears to be really hitting the ball well for us. Which of the contenders needs a 2B? Sadly, the Indians are the team I see in most need of one, maybe the Padres... Otherwise, Iguchi would probably be looked at as a bench player acquisition...someone along the lines of a Rob Mackowiak, etc. I just want a SS prospect....please Dodgers, give us Chin Lung Hu! QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 03:33 PM) Weeks is only hitting .212 last I checked for the Brewers. I wonder if they might be interested in Iguchi. Though let's not get on our X-boxes and expect a lot from the Brew Crew. I was thinking that too briefly, but it's probably not a good move to sit him in favor of Iguchi if they really want Weeks to play second base for the future...

Just stumbled upon this over at MLBtraderumors.com. It lnks to an article in the Seattle Times which states that things have changed a lot in the past year in Seattle and that Ichiro may very well likely sign an extension- one that the guy over at mlbtraderumors suggests could be as high as 4/72! Ack! http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 12:59 PM) The way you type it, and the way it was presented to me via PM, are two completely different scenerios. Ok, well, I'll have to take your word for it then.

QUOTE(Steff @ Jul 10, 2007 -> 12:33 PM) His oldest is years younger than 9. On topic, If anyone wants to believe that Kenny Williams made some sort of back room promise to Aaron not knowing at all the atmosphere of this team TWO years later... I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale. Not to mention how ethically and professionally wrong it would be. I'm sure it was not a promise, but more so Kenny telling Aaron when he traded him (and perhaps again later at some point) something to the effect of "we'll do anything in our power to get you back, if something becomes feasible, Aaron." Kenny has referred to trying to get Aaron back, and Aaron has let it slip a bit when asked about whether Kenny told him he would try and get him back. It certainly didn't involve anythng unethical or unprofessional however.