harfman77

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 25, 2008 -> 09:53 PM) The correct way to do exactly that, and to rest both Dye and Thome...is to DH Dye for a few days and put Quentin in RF for those days. There really are a few options, you can DH Paulie sometimes aginst LHP and put Swish at 1B and Quentin in LF, Dye can DH some against LHP with Quentin going to RF. Give Paulie an occasional day off too and send Quentin to the OF. I think the best thing that this roster has going for it is the flexibility of some of the players to handle multiple positions and fill in gaps when we have an injury or need to rest someone.

The only chance KW has of making a trade is to trade Fields, Crede has less value now than Gooch did last season at the deadline. I think it would be fine if Richar, ramirez, and Fields got some work in AAA to start the season as they are likely 3/4 of the Sox IF next season. Then if Crede hits he gets traded, if not he is benched and Fields is brought up.

QUOTE(SoxWS05 @ Mar 19, 2008 -> 10:56 AM) QUOTE(IowaSoxFan @ Mar 19, 2008 -> 10:50 AM) * I think that lineup finishes First in the division. There I fixed it for you. That is broken

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Mar 19, 2008 -> 10:48 AM) Actually it's the last 13 seasons, their streak of excellence really started with their heartbreaking loss to Seattle in the 1995 ALDS and then the title the next year. But the point is, most of those 13 teams (more likely all) were built with cores that were originally members of the *gasp* Yankee farm system!! They won those four championships with cores of excellent homegrown players. Now, they did sprinkle in important free agents here and there like Paul O'Neill and Scott Brosius, but the vast majority of the important players on those teams were home grown talent. And as the core of the team began to and continued to age, the Yankees didn't try and replenish the roster with home grown players, they bought free agents. Needless to say, they continued to make the playoffs, but didn't win championships because that is not how it works. Only now are the Yankees re-figuring out that winning is about building from within, and it's scary to see because they have quite a few young players that are either already good or will be very soon. As a result, guys like Jeter and Rivera might have one last run of glory before retiring into the sunset. But they did use the kids in their farm system to trade for those players. Javier Vazquez, A-Rod and Abreu are a few of the guys that were acquired using the talent in the system.

QUOTE(SoxWS05 @ Mar 19, 2008 -> 10:22 AM) Are you more concerned with having a good MLB team or AAA team? Don't over value prospects because thats all they are...prospects. I think there's list a mile long of "can't miss" prospects who never made it. If Kenny wanted a good farm system he could have it tomorrow, but he wants the White Sox to compete now our farm system. I never said Fields sucks, I just said Crede gives us a better chance to win in 2008. Thats all that matters. That is such an overused false statement, there are not a lot of pieces on this roster that will back quality prospects. He might be able to jump into the top 20 instead of dead last. Prospects have as much value now as they ever have, look at recent trades. I am more concerned about having a good MLB team, and you do that by developing depth across the organization. When a player goes down, you can reach down to the farm and grab someone to plug in, or someone to trade off to plug the hole. I think the lineup to start the season will be C AJ 1B Konerko 2B Uribe SS Ocab 3B Crede RF Dye CF Owens/Anderson platoon LF Swisher DH Thome BE Anderson BE Ozuna BE Quentin BE Hall SP Buerhle SP Javi SP JC SP Danks SP Floyd RP Jenks RP Thornton RP Logan RP Dotel RP Linebrink RP Masset RP McDougal I think that lineup finishes fourth in the division.

QUOTE(Jim Spencer @ Mar 19, 2008 -> 05:34 AM) I sure wish they would just trade him. He really has put the Sox in a tough position and he really dosen't care that he did. I sure hope he dosen't get his big payday next season. Not sure how he put the Sox in any situation, they chose to offer him arbitration, he is just doing his job. The only way that Field can start the season in Chicago now is if Paulie is dealt. There are no takers for Crede at this point. It is possible that 3/4 of the Sox 2009 IF will start the season in Charlotte - 2B Richar, SS Ramirez, and 3B Fields. At least those guys will get used to playing with each other and Fields, as a former QB, can further develop his leadership skills until Crede is hurt/dealt.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 18, 2008 -> 11:41 AM) If Uribe "Increases his value" then that means he's performing at a significantly better level than what he played at last year, which probably is helping the team win a lot of games. Ergo, he will not be moved in May or June unless a lot of other people implode. I am still not really buying into the pitching staff holding up very well once the season starts, especially 3-5. I am open to being pleasantly surprised, but I think in June you will see one of the starters sent to the bullpen and Freddy Garcia back in a Sox uniform. It will also depend how Richar does in Charlotte to that point, there is no sense keeping someone who you know will not be back next season if you have a guy who is showing he is ready. If Richar struggles, that is another story.

I am going stick with Uribe now as well. You give Danny some time in either extended spring training or in Charlotte to get in shape and bounce back from his injury. In the meantime you get Alexei plugged in as the teams SS next season so he should be playing the position this year and getting as many at bats against American pitching as possible, and that would mean Charlotte for him as well. Hopefully Uribe can show something that will increase his value and we can move him in May or June when someone gets injured and bring Danny back up. Depending on what happens with OCab next years IF will be very young.

The point is though that this team is not in all likelihood going to compete for a playoff spot. They may stilll lose 90 games as the roster is composed right now so why not just do what Oakland is, find homes for your aging talent elsewhere and bring in some young players and prospects to try and fight another day. That means holding on to your current young talent,(IMO Danks, Fields, Ramirez, Quentin and Swisher) and bringing in pieces to support them. Use money that you save by sending out the veterans to sign amateur players and sign veteran players in free agency that fill the gaps to make your team competitive. Instead by staying the course and trying to play for today you just stay in a constant state of mediocrity.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Mar 5, 2008 -> 02:47 PM) What are you really trying to even get at with this post? Are you insuating that Dye would be one of Sox best trading chips? I could think of probably 10 others before Dye, those of which could infact re-stock a system. You can move OCab, Konerko, Thome, AJ, Vazquez and Dye and probably finish no further down in the standings than we will by keeping them. The problem is that we have to find someone who has a whole at these positions in order to make deals and then try to get some quality talent back. A lineup of LF Owens SS Ramirez 1B Swisher DH Fields RF Quentin 3B Crede CF Anderson C Lucy 2B Richar Would be frustrating, but good enough to finish fourth or fifth in the division, and would have potential to grow into something, and hopefully the players that you would get back would provide some depth in the farm system and pick up some additional pitching as well to go along with MB and Danks.

I would rather get poked in the eye with a sharp stick.

You would be lucky at this point to get Fred Lewis straight up for Crede, but Lewis and Sanchez? Thats crazy talk. I think they would be valuable to add, but you cetainly are going to have give up more than just Crede.

OK how bout Fields, Richar and Konerko to the Angels for Kendrick, Figgins, Rivera and Santana Dye, Crede and McDougal to the Giants for Jonathan Sanchez, Fred Lewis, and Eugenio Velez CF Figgins SS Cabrera 1B Swisher DH Thome LF Rivera 2B Kendrick C Pierzynski RF Quentin 3B Uribe SP Buerhle SP Vazquez SP Conteras SP Danks SP Floyd/Santana/Sanchez

I am not sure why everyone is penciling in Dye in RF. At this point in their careers Quentin is probably the better RF. You play Dye in LF this season and move him to DH next season after Thome walks. Thats why I would like Morales back in any deal for PK, he can step in at first base next season and move Swisher back to LF and gives you another switch hitter. Conger would be fine, he is a little injury prone, but has a good bat. I am not sure he will ever be any more defensively than AJ is now though. We could drive up the stakes a little by negoitiating with Seattle. They need a DH and are opening to trading Adam Jones. A package of Jones, Clement, and low level spect would give the Angels something to compete with at least.

I read the first seven pages then skipped to the end, not sure how this thread got to be about Fields and his fielding ability, or lack thereof. Per ESPN The Angels and White Sox pulled off a significant deal in November (Orlando Cabrera for Jon Garland), and now the two teams are discussing another big one, the Los Angeles Daily News reports. According to the newspaper, Los Angeles would get 1B/DH Paul Konerko; Howie Kendrick, Ervin Santana and Chone Figgins are possible candidates to head to Chicago. To me, I want no part of Santana. I would rather take Saunders or a prospect. Santanas numbers away from Anaheim last season - Away 8.38 1 10 0 0 16 14 0 73.0 100 72 68 19 34 65 .325 If you are going to make a deal with the Angels it will likely be a PK and Crede for _____. To me, hopefully that blank is filled in with Kendrick, Willits, and Morales or more likely Kendrick, Figgins, and Morales. Morales can come in and play 1B next season or DH with Thomes contract expiring. The Angels have reportedly said the only way they will trade Figgins is if they receive a third basemen back, so that would put Crede in play. But any deal that would bring back Howie Kendrick would be a victory. A solid young core of Swish, Kendrick, Quentin, Fields, and Danks would give us a solid foundation for years.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 02:26 PM) I'm thinking the Sox will take the best collegiate pitcher available with the #8 pick. I'm going to hope the San Diego pitcher falls to them. Isnt that the KF philosophy every year? Broadway, McCullough, Poreda...? They like the college guys because they have no leverage in negoitiations, it is either sign or play independent ball for a percentage of the money. Fields and Borchard being the exceptions to that rule, but their leverage was another sport, not going back into the draft.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 02:10 PM) You could be onto something. Than again I could also see one of the Sox vets heading for some young pitching. I could see more of Konerko going to SF with Crede for Fred Lewis, Brian Wilson, and Jonathan Sanchez and maybe one lower level guy.

I love this deal. Swisher is an absolute stud. He will be a force for the Sox for years given that he is signed through 2011. If you are going to rebuild, he is a cornerstone to base your rebuilding efforts around. Swish, Quentin, Fields, are good pieces to start from. Then if you can move PK and Dye for so more pieces that would be ideal.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Dec 21, 2007 -> 08:07 AM) If Prior only wants a 1 year deal i think the Sox should at least look into it... That pretty much means that he is banking on that to eventually earn a lucrative contract the following year. Why not take a chance on a guy like this? I think Prior has a better chance at regaining form this year better than Garcia or Colon do... I agree. If I sign Prior though I insist on an option, then if he pans out you can trade him next offseason or before the 09 deadline. If not you both walk away at the end of 08. With the arms that we have returning in the rotation we are going to need someone who can come in and spell one of the starters or likely take one of the rotation spots if someone does not live up to expectations, which is a likelihood between Floyd, Danks, and Contreras. If you can sign him for

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Dec 15, 2007 -> 09:28 PM) JR doesn't spend money; he is only the chairman of a team that has a $100+ mill payroll. Get real people. They spend money, they just have a s***load of bad contracts. What I am saying is that he spent $100 mil on a fourth place team, to fix the team he will have to increase the payroll sustantially if they choose the free agency route. The Sox will not be spending in the $130-$150 mil range. They spend money but not to the level that is will take to compete with the big spenders like Detroit, Boston, NYY, NYM, LAA, or LAD. The Cubs will spend around $125 mil this year. That leaves us in the gap between teams that spend money to be competitive and teams that grow their own talent/trade players for prospects group. With the amount that we spend on payroll we should be at the head of that group, only we dont hang onto prospects and do not acquire prospects when we make deals. We are always in win today mode, something that has taken us out of contention. I think it is almost too late to do a firesale, the value of many of our players is way down and many of them are seen as aging or declining. This team needs to be torn down and built back up and obviously KW is not the guy to do that.

QUOTE(Elgin Slim @ Dec 19, 2007 -> 01:36 PM) How about Uribe for Daniel Cabrera. Another young power arm whom the other team has soured on. Maybe getting out of the AL East would help him throw strikes a bit more. The Yankees and Red Sox hitters are as patient as they get, so maybe getting him into a division with more free swingers would help him be more effective. Why not just straight up for Bedard while you have the X-box out...

PK and Crede to the Giants for Angel Villalona, Fred Lewis, Kevin Frandsen, and Brian Bocock. Then turn Frandsen and a P or two, like Broadway or McCullough to the Nats for one of their first basemen, Young or Johnson. Johnson would fit better because of his LH bat. CF Lewis - SS Cabrera DH Thome RF Dye 1B Johnson LF Quentin C AJ 3B Fields 2B Richar/Pablo/Getz/other Then after next season, move Dye to DH and Quentin to RF and Sweeney to LF.

Prior has had a year of rehad and a contract structured similarly to Erstads would be a decent investment. Give him a year with an option and give him a try out. If he pans out you can deal him next season and net a gain if not you let him walk at the end of this season.

Jermaine Dye and Jose Conteras

If the Whitesox are going to be competitive they have two options. Option 1 - Spend and spend and spend. Go out and acquire top free agent talent to try to compete. This would mean mending fences with Boras and actually pursuing big name free agents. This is a very unlikely option as long as JR owns the team, the Sox cannot spend at the level of the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, or Tigers. Option 2 - Tear the house down and build it up again. Move the veteran players on the roster for youngsters that are not major league ready to maximize the return value that you can receive. Cut the payroll at least in half and use the money that is saved to sign draft picks, international players, and the rule 5 draft. Grow the team from the minor league system and then add in some free agent veterans to plug in holes.