iamshack

Nice post, Beautox. The problem I have with Chris is that he tries to swing at pitches that almost hit him. Now I realize he has pulled a few balls out down the right field line, but it seems the vast majority of times he just fouls those pitches off instead of taking them for balls. I would like to see him go the opposite way with pitches out over the plate like Gordon does. The pitch he was aced on by Mariano Rivera today was a prime example of a pitch he could have taken the other way. If he can make a few adjustments, I think he would really be a valuable player.

QUOTE (dmbjeff @ Aug 3, 2009 -> 12:29 AM) this a fantasy baseball type response. if the phillies moved utley to the OF does he become less productive? No, but be becomes less valuable. Because the league-average offensive output for outfielders is higher than that of second basemen. So they could pay someone less to produce in the OF, and leave Utley at 2b.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 3, 2009 -> 12:18 AM) The question is directed at Kalapse, I know, but his stats are starting to look a lot like Derek Jeter's. That's ok Lost...I value your opinion too. I agree, they are. Although he does seem to hit the ball with more authority than I remember Jeter in his first few years as well...

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 11:52 PM) Oh please Beckham at 3rd base is just fine . All this talk about him being at SS or 2nd base because he's so much more valuable there is nonsense. Will he be a better hitter at 2nd or SS then he is at 3rd base ? Right now Getz and Beckham are doing an excellent job right where they are. No, market prices are based on others at that position quite often. If the league average at 3b is more productive than at 2b or ss, than you can likely acquire or sign a player who adds more offense at a lower market price at 3b than at 2b. You then move Beckham to 2b and voila!

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 10:55 PM) .311/.374/.486/.860 in 207 PA this season .335/.396/.524/.920 in his last 193 PA (remove the first 4 games of his career) .374/.416/.585/1.001 in 138 PA since his walkoff vs the Cubs Kalapse, Who would you compare Gordon to, if you had to?

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 11:01 PM) The thing about Figgins is he can play all over the field, So even if he is signed for 3-4 years we should be able to find a spot somewhere to put him. That doesn't mean we have to pay him $9 million a year to find a spot for him...

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 10:07 PM) Peavy making his White Sox debut on August 27th would be an incredible birthday present for me. Consider it done then.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 09:38 PM) I still think he's a Michael Young type hitter offensively. .300+, around 20 homers, OPS in the high .800s. Not exactly a superstar, but a very, very good player on offense. Defensively, he should be a lot better. Young is terrible. Yeah, Young is a good comparison. However, I think Gordon has a more live bat than Young. Is it possible that Gordon might possibly even have Hanley Ramirez type potential (minus the stolen bases)?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 09:34 PM) Beckham's now got a .860 OPS. I think that should translate to an OPS+ of about 120. His defense has improved as well, his UZR's gone up a point since the last time I checked. Yeah, this kid is ultra-talented. I really could care less about the ROY award to be honest. I am more excited that this kid has handled everything the organization has thrown at him and passed the test with flying colors. No doubt the league will make some adjustments to him...but even the outs he made today. Those balls were extremely hard-hit. He just has such a good bat. There is no doubt in my mind this kid is going to be an absolute superstar.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 09:30 PM) One key is for Ozzie to leave him in the #2 hole after Ramirez returns. In just a few games there, he's shown he's a perfect #2 hitter. If he stays there, he's a lock for ROTY. I don't think he'll move him down. Beckham was slotted into the two-hole before Alexei got injured, and Beckham went 7-19 with 7 RBI in the Yankees' series. Hard to argue he isn't getting the job done...

Gordo is leading all of baseball with a doubles rate of 1 per every 10.76 at bats. In his first 183 major league at bats! After starting out 2-24! This kid is going to be a monster.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 08:22 PM) All while playing gold glove defense. I don't think I'd give him that type of deal but if he hits the open market he'll get it or something close to it, imo. I think he maxes out around the type of contract Teixeira got, but I obviously could be wrong. I just don't see him as being that kind of guy though. I think the Twins will offer him a large contract that will make him rich beyond his wildest dreams and he'll take it to stay in Minnesota. I think he is a very similar guy to Mark Buehrle. I don't think he'll want to go to New York or Boston as long as Minnesota doesn't insult him. Of course, there have been rumors about him and Morneau griping about the Twins lack of impact moves around the trade deadline recently, and those same sentiments were expressed by Johan Santana in the past. Of course, Santana is from Venezuela and was a rule-5 pickup by the Twins. Mauer is a Minnesota kid who was drafter by the Twins and grew up with that organization. I just don't see him leaving.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 08:17 PM) Depends on how much he's looking for. If he's looking for close to 10M a year, then I would forget all about it. If he can be had for 2-3 years 7-8M a year then I would think about it. He's a guy that can play OF, 2B, or 3B and leadoff each game. Jared Mitchell isn't going to be ready for 2-3 years as a potential leadoff man, otherwise we don't really have any leadoff options within my view. If Pods finished off the year hitting .280+ then I'm fine with him being given another shot. He would certainly be much cheaper than Figgins, but not quite as useful. I think there is going to have to be a degree of risk taken with Podsednik. If you offer him a 1-year deal in the $3-4 million range right now, I think he jumps on it, due to the recent trend his career has taken. However, if you wait until the offseason, you may be vulnerable to competition in the marketplace for a leadoff hitter, and may have to offer something in the 2/$9 million range. I think it's worth offering him the 1-year deal now. It's tough to guess where Figgins will come in, but my guess is barring another economic overcorrection in the marketplace that we saw last offseason (think the contracts offered to Hudson and Cabrera), I see him getting something in the 3/$27 range or 4/$36 range. I have no interest in giving that sort of contract to Figgins.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 07:45 PM) The 3 ER in 21+ IP his last three starts....hitting 94-95 MPH consistently in the middle to latter innings....and he controlled the Brewers, one of the top 2-3 offenses in the NL, for most of his SD debut start two nights ago. You could understand why players might feel "sacrificing" 3 spots starts was questionable. Of course, we won Carrasco's spot start (luckily against Mitre) and Torres pitched extremely well compared to expectations coming into that game. And what about the three starts prior to that? I love what CR gave us his last few outings, but let's not forget what he gave us the three outings or so before that. The guy was inconsistent and while he may post some good performances in Petco, there is absolutely no guarantee he would have done so against the American League.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 07:55 PM) Here is the lineup I'm hoping for at the moment. LF: Figgins (Pods second choice) 3B: Beckham RF: Quentin 1B: Konerko DH: Dye CF: Cameron(1 year deal to span Danks) C: Pierzynski(Flowers back-up catcher with DH at-bats, pinch hit at-bats) SS: Ramirez 2B: Getz Palehose, that's great and all but you have to realize your first choice in Figgins is going to need a multi-year deal. Are we really going to need him that much in year 2 of his deal? Years 3 or 4? I just don't think that length of contract fits into our plans...

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 05:43 PM) I'd take Joe over Tex and Tex just got an insane 10 year deal to play first base so I think your way off in your estimates. I think he gets a 10yr 200M offer or something close. I need to see more out of Joe Mauer before I am willing to pay him $20 million a year for 10 years. I understand he is one of the league's best hitters - there is no disputing that - but the power he showed earlier this season has tailed off. My guess is he will resume being a 15-20 home run guy next year and I just don't think he is worth $20 million a year if he is going to be an .870 OPS player. However, should he show he can still hit for the power he flashed earlier in the year and hit for a high average, putting up the 1.000 OPS he is currently, then he is probably worth that kind of contract. As it stands right now, his career numbers to me dictate he is an .870 OPS player. Are you going to pay him $20 million a year while you could pay Flowers a mere fraction of that to post an .800-830 OPS himself? I'm not...

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 01:58 PM) Ya, it's highly unlikely, but that'd be such an infusion of speed and OBP in our lineup, it'd be fantasmic. I really think at this point, signing Podsednik to a 1-year deal fits into our plans nicely. Although he isn't an optimal solution, signing him to a reasonable salary would put less pressure on us to acquire other pieces such as another OFer and possibly a 3b. My feeling is Kenny will push hard for an impact player such as Crawford, but if one isn't available, we'll try to make something similar to what we have going on this year work. I can't see them demoting Getz to a utility player unless there is a clear-cut improvement to be made. I just don't see a real need to sign a guy like Figgins to a 3 year deal when he is going to be a guy that is in high demand due to his ability to leadoff and play multiple positions. The addition of Alexei, Beckham, and Getz has made us much less vulnerable to the station - to - station nature we have been relegated to in recent years.

Michael Kay just described that last play as "Melky came hard; he came hard on his chest." Oh my...

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 06:19 AM) yup and its guna take a lot more than 5/75 Maybe...I guess I forgot about the deal that Teixeira just got from the Yankees. That being said, he doesn't strike me as the type of kid that is going to care about the difference between $17 million a year and $21 million a year. I think as long as the Twins make him a fair offer, and a very rich man, he'll take less and stay there. I really think folks are underestimating the fact that he is a homegrown kid with somewhat simple tastes.

QUOTE (Jeremy @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 04:52 AM) C'mon, you're perfectly capable of reading my posts, including the one that preceded this one: Point #1: Anyone who claims they knew Getz was going to hit .324 in July or .340 after the ASB (notably, in just 47 at bats) is full of it. Point #2: Anyone who insists that Fields wouldn't have improved in June and July is wrong because...we just don't know. Some fans seem to show a strong preference for players that are new to the major league club over players with more experience. To some extent, it's worth remembering that Fields hit .275/.359/.458 in the minors and was a first round pick whereas Getz hit .286/.361/.381 and was drafted in the 5th round. Furthermore, Fields previously showed that he's capable of holding his own in the majors when he put up solid numbers and finished 7th in ROY voting back in '07. Obviously he struggled mightily in '08 and didn't get off to a very good start this season but when people complain about a player to this degree it sounds more like frustration than levelheaded evaluation. Point #3: Gordon had spent very little time at 3B when we called him up and had spent most of his formative years as a middle infielder. The idea that he had to play 3B and couldn't play any 2B at that point makes little sense. Jeremy, I don't know how else to respond. I have tried arguing this from nearly every angle but you refuse to recognize any truth to what I am saying. Maybe you just don't believe there is any, at which point I suggest we simply agree to disagree. In my mind, Josh is at a disadvantage because at his best, he shares a similar skillset as several of our other players. He is almost too redundant and unnecessary. At his worst, he is almost impossible to place in a major league lineup because he does not make contact nearly enough. On the other hand, Getz possesses a different skillset from most of the rest of our roster, and thus, even when he is scuffling a bit, he is capable of doing a few things that our other players, for the most part, cannot. That probably creates a bit more breathing room for him in terms of his performance. Additionally, perhaps the coaching staff saw that it might be possible to make adjustments which could turn his season around a bit, while Josh was never going to considering his mechanical issues. I honestly don't know. My guess is the only reason Josh saw what action he did over the course of the last month was in the hopes that some team would give us a usuable piece for the pennant race.

So what you are suggesting is that we move Gordon Beckham to 2b, now that we have FORCED him to play a position he has NEVER before played in his life, one that he finally is displaying some competency in, and no doubt finally gaining some confidence in, JUST so we can give Josh the OPPORTUNITY to rebound like Chris Getz did, on the mere CHANCE that he may be able to repeat what Getz did, DESPITE the fact that Josh has had PLENTY of opportunities to this point and has CONSISTENTLY FAILED to show EITHER the willingness or the ABILITY to shorten his swing so that he might make contact with a MEDIOCRE major league fastball? Sorry, not buying it.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 12:49 AM) I know he's been great, but I'm not sure how I feel about bringing Pods back next year. I just don't want to take the chance of him going back to his 2006-2008 form. He only hit .267 in July, so his average could very well be on its way down, plus he's been caught stealing an awful lot. The problem is that you're going to have to give another CF (such as Figgins) a multi-year deal. Personally, I would offer Pods a 1-year $3.5M deal right now. If he goes back to sucking, it's not a huge loss. Than you can hopefully plug in Danks in late 2010 and 2011. Otherwise, you have to fit Figgins into CF next year, or at 3b next year (and plan on keeping him there), and move Beckham to 2b. I don't want any part of a 3/$30 deal for Figgins. Not with the kids we have in the pipeline.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 12:53 AM) I read somewhere that Boston plans to come at him hard. No way Minny matches the money they're prepared to throw his way. He can't be stupid and give a hometown discount when he stands to make zillions. I would be shocked if Minnesota did not offer him something along the lines of 5/$75. If he claims he needs 5/$100 or else he'll go to NY or Boston, he'll get raked over the coals by the fanbase.

QUOTE (rockren @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 01:26 AM) What else do we have at 3rd in the organization? Do we dare name Viciedo has our future 3B? I don't see him staying over there as he moves across the infield. I actually believe Beckham will be our guy at 3rd for a long time. I was thinking someone acquired via trade or free agency. Certainly not counting on Viciedo for anything at this point.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 12:52 AM) The Yankees will throw everything at Joe Mauer. Everything. And the Twins will try and lock him up early, and play the fans and public sentiment to their favor. He is a hometown kid. He almost has to sign there unless they don't give him a reasonable offer (which they will).