sox-r-us

Small tidbit on Floyd - encouraging http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,6711128.story ------------------- One of the most interesting to follow in ST this year is the 4th and 5th pitching spots....thought it might make sense to follow Danks & Floyd here in one combined thread. If mods feel it is not a good idea, feel free to change etc

If Nick can get the final bullpen spot, that would be awesome since he could serve as a starter option too if one of Danks or Floyd falter..... =============== http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,3843789.story

This only shows how the depth that Kenny has added this offseason will only further help us with using the best line up to win that day. Ozuna/Cabrera/Owens can be used as a platoon in the IF or OF to leadoff; Swisher at 1B, DH and OF; Quentin at RF & LF; Uribe at 2B/SS if he stays with the team etc Same thing on the bull pen front with solid depth, anyone can pitch any given day to carry the BP.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 11:18 PM) 2.How could the Sox even acquire him? What do they have to give up? We could have waited & traded Aardsma for him

QUOTE(daa84 @ Jan 29, 2008 -> 11:38 PM) but hes fast ! Imagine how quickly he can return to the bench after he Ks.

QUOTE(kwolf68 @ Jan 23, 2008 -> 09:40 PM) This organization will be the worst in baseball in 2 years... There is absolutely NO FUTURE in Chicago.... Over-react much?

I do not get the "have to trade Uribe & Crede & even McDougal" crowd....why do you care if the Sox have an extra 10M payroll used as subs/flexibility/depth for the line up? Seriously....how does it matter? If we can trade them, thats cool but by not trading them, it is not the end of the world. It is not like there is a cannot-miss player out there in FA that we can spend on by trading these 2 guys and using that 10M for that player. Fields can be used as DH from time to time; so can Crede (giving Thome rest) Fields can be used as LF from time to time depending on splits against pitchers etc Uribe can be used as 2B and even as a SS to rest Cabrera from time to time .... Swisher can be used to play CF, RF and to play 1B too from time to time (giving Kong rest) Having Dotel, McDougal, Linebrink, Thornton and Jenks gives Ozzie lots of flexibility to play match ups to shut down the Tigers, Red Sox and Yankees when it matters after the 6th inning.... The injury to Crede really sunk us for the 1st half of the year last year....having depth is crucial; it is not like we will stay injury free for all of the season, especially with some of the vets (Kong, Dye, Thome) on this team Say Thome goes out for some games next year....wouldn't you be thrilled to have either Crede or Fields playing the DH spot now? Say Kong goes out for some games next year....wouldn't it be better to try Fields at 1B in that case? Or do you guys really miss the scrubs who were on the bench or starting at some point in the season last year?

I agree with the original post. While it is impossible to predict whether any team is ever good enough to win it all in Jan, I do think we have made some significant upgrades and have endured very little down grades to the major league team in return. I do like how our bullpen, defense and offense will be better this upcoming year, but I also like how we have not really taken on any crazy contract and we will continue to have flexibility to get a player in the coming years to build on this. We have gotten younger, more athletic in general and deeper in the bullpen. I like this quote from Kenny: ''One thing that is being underestimated is we had an awful lot of guys perform below their levels [last year]. We don't need them to perform above their level this year but at their level. Anyone that thinks you can anoint a division winner in January, you would be mistaken. We were anointed in '06, and you saw where that got us.''

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...1,5513219.story Good thing Mcdougal is not going anywhere....I expect a good rebound season from him. If he does rebound, our bullpen will be sick .... and when you can make a game 6 innings long, you should like your chances

Yes, 1 yr 5.1M http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...cs_tab01_layout

If we do sign Colon, do not be surprised if one out of Danks/Floyd/Colon are actually used in the bull pen. We can add one more arm at least to the BP. Pitching is pitching.....the more we add, the more flexibility we get in terms of starting + relief options.

The good thing about Freddie is that we will be the first to know if Freddie is ready to pitch. Ozzie being the father in law helps....

How about trying to trade for this guy? The As are on a fire sale http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=430599

Fletch13 wrote: I am an A's fan 100%, but seeing this news, after the A's traded away Haren, just sucks, BIG TIME. I hope, for Lew Wolfe and Billy's sake, these "Prospects" are the second coming of Jesus, Buddah and Mohammad. I agree with all the posts above, the A's are the AAA team for all MLB. What is the purpose of trading Swisher, he is MONEYBALL and he seemed like he was the clubhouse glue guy, the one who could pull everyone together, like Bill Murray in Meatballs. I guess the only consilation is that he didn't go to the RedSux. Question A's Fans......Are the A's now the AL version of the Marlins? Unknown roster, crappy ball park and a cheapskate jackass owner with no clue. Yep...Oakland Marlins...sounds about right. Wow....this really sucks, but as I say this, why do I have the sneaky suspistion that the A's are not done "tinkering" yet. Help Us Rollie Fingers! ======================== holdin27 wrote: If you are still an A's fan you really have to ask yourself what happened when you were young that makes you seek out abusive situations as an adult. Swisher was my favorite player on that team and now I give up. I don't care if the A's are in rebuilding mode, because they are continuously in rebuilding mode. Maybe some of these prospects turn out to be all stars, who cares? They'll be shipped off as well. ======================== oakland_geek wrote: I can't even come up with something witty to say. I was always a little wary of Wolfe, and I pretty much hate the Fremont idea (those who like it are in an extreme minority). But news like this is just devastating as a fan. I guess this is what it feels like if you are a really big Brittney Spears fan....

Reading some of these comments, I sort of have to laugh. Seems like you guys are ripping your GM for giving away the farm... But our fans here in Oakland are beginning to sour on Billy Beane trading away all our talent as they enter their prime. Nick Swisher is a gamer and despite being basically the only bat in the lineup last season due to injuries on our club, he still stayed within himself and cut down on strikeouts, raised his walk total, raised his average and took more balls the other way for doubles. True without Frank Thomas protecting him, his HR and RBI totals went down, but I suspect that will go up. Plus, with Oakland's cool damp air, it's not ideal for power hitters (especially night games), so I think hitting in your park will help his power numbers as well. Anyway, you'll love the guy and we will surely miss the guy... I just hope these 3 young guys you gave up are good... Posted by: Berkeley Craig | Jan 4, 2008 12:46:50 AM

Based on the explanation general manager Ken Williams offered Thursday, it appears the Sox are left with a "who's on first" routine. "As I told Nick, be prepared to play the bulk of your games in center field," Williams told reporters after trading three minor-leaguers to Oakland for Swisher on Thursday. Swisher played 57 games in center last year, although he is considered a corner outfielder, as is Quentin. "What his versatility allows us to do is give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that spark plug like [scott] Podsednik was a couple of years ago [for a World Series winner]," Williams said. "If he does that, he has a shot to play center field and Swish has a chance to go to left field. If Carlos Quentin shows all the things he can do … we have flexibility to put Swish in center field and Quentin in left field. Maybe a combination of both. "We have Alexei Ramirez to factor into the equation in a variety of positions as well. Swish also gives us a chance to give [Paul] Konerko some time off at first base or [Jim] Thome some time off against tough left-handers at the DH spot, and get Konerko or [right fielder] Jermaine Dye off their legs." The Sox ended last season with Owens in center and Podsednik and Josh Fields in left. Fields has been promised third base and Podsednik has been released. Owens, by far the fastest and best base-stealing threat among the outfielders, has been promised nothing. "A lot depends what he shows us in spring training. What we've decided to do is remain flexible," Williams said. "We have some very good young players with high upsides. They're going to show us which direction to lean toward when the season starts." And what about Anderson, who started in center after Aaron Rowand departed from the 2005 World Series champs? "Anytime you have competition, there's a chance," Williams said. "Whoever shows up ready to compete and shows us they deserve the job [gets it]. Last year we had Gavin Floyd penciled into the fifth starting spot, and John Danks took it. "Brian has further to go, and he knows that, but if I had given up on him he would be gone right now. I'll let him know when that time comes. As of right now, we have some very good possibilities with this team and very good flexibility." Swisher says he is willing to do whatever is necessary. "Competition is something I love," he said. "Last year I got to play a decent amount in center and I got to learn from one of the best in Mark Kotsay. I'm not the fastest guy (three stolen bases) or have the most tools, but from watching and learning. … I'm going to go out and do my best." ====================== I love the fact that with Quentin, Alexei, Owens and Swisher, now we can platoon a lot of these guys day to day and even within a game from start to end. Resting Thome against left handers and starting Swisher at 1B or RF and moving Paulie or Dye to DH is a great example of some of the flexibility Ozzie will have now. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...-home-headlines

I would really like to see Kenny sign Colon to an incentive laden contract....if that pays off, we will be golden. Low risk, high reward....and I know KW loves the guy.... Anyone know of any latest news on Colon? Anything positive regarding his health?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 11:06 PM) Am I the only one who finds it very odd that the White Sox drafting, development, and minor league system absolutely sucks and KW should be fired, while Billy Beane is a God amongst GM's, and yet Beane has spent his offseason collecting guys we drafted? Oh and who has the World Series ring? When Beane wins one, call me.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 10:56 PM) How about: .921 OPS vs LHP in 2007 1.022 OPS @ The Cell (Career)

This is from Chicagosports.com You guys are going to love Swisher - and he's signed through 2011. Billy may have gotten the better on this deal, but you guys got a fan favorite who will fit in well and contribute for several years. Posted by: A's Fan | Jan 3, 2008 2:58:42 PM

Just found out that Swisher's road OPS's (On base + slugging) for the last two years are .889 and .850, exceeding Konerko's career number of .849. That is pretty good given he will no longer be playing in Oak.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jan 3, 2008 -> 10:32 PM) A's Firesale in full swing. I wish we had gotten Haren....that woulda been sweet

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article/comm...3/SP81U8RB6.DTL mystic11 wrote: Nick was my favorite player on the A's. His spirit on and off the field will be sorely missed. The A's have really gone south! This may be the final straw for me. Good bye Fremont A's Yuk! albanyguy wrote: Good grief, I sure hope these prospects were worth it. I have always pegged Swisher to soon be one of the best in baseball. =============== Yeah, KW is a moron

Here's to hoping Kenny is right about the pitching....that is really our only chance to stay in contention with the Tigers. Spring training cannot get here faster now that the Bears are done. One more factor to consider while discussing starting pitching: Kenny & Ozzie have said they are going to try a different approach in ST this year where they give all 5 starters the job all the way through (something like what St Louis did)....I hope that helps us out I actually have lots of optimism for Count....I think he bounces back fine. He definitely had injury/mechanics issues last year which I do not think will be an issue this year. Now if only one out of Danks and Floyd can become a consistent/solid pitcher next year, we have a good enough staff.

I am not writing anyone off. All I am asking for is for Kenny not to say anything....I am fine with the moves and the direction we are going with the pitching staff. I hate to give anything to the Chi media, who love to hate on the Sox when they do not meet what was considered to be an expectation.