beck72

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 12:17 PM) Here is what Shuster thinks the '06 lineup will look like: 1. Podsednick LF 2. Pierre CF 3. Thome DH 4. Konerko 1B 5. Pierzynski C 6. Dye RF 7. Iguchi 2B 8. Crede 3B 9. Uribe SS Wow that does look good. But is KW a super GM? Can he do that? IMO, PK would bat 3rd, Thome 4th, Dye 5th, and AJ 6th. But the players look good to me.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 12:09 PM) With the way Ozzie spoke glowingly about him as his "MVP" the only move I can see Tadahito making is down the order. Of course if we can't get Crede locked up, Bill Mueller could be an option, even though I'd prefer Joe, after the way he came on this season. Of course one last option still is RF. Dye could conceiveably move to 1st, if we can't re-sign Paulie, and that opens up the scenario of signing a #2 hitter who plays RF (Xavier Nady, Bobby Abreu, Eric Byrnes, Chad Tracy, Reggie Sanders perhaps?), and maybe bringing Thomas back as a DH guy off the bench if he wants to come back in that position (although I'd extremely doubt it). Like I said, not many viable options. I'd rather have Iguchi.

QUOTE(GreatScott82 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 11:59 AM) My thoughts- KW goes after an OF with speed. Iguchi's importance to our first World title in 88 years secured himself a spot in '06. I don't see Iguchi as our DH- he's a solid 2B. That being said- I can see KW going after a Pierre type player. But according to Bruce Levine- Pierre won't be coming to the Sox. So who knows? I know the sox inquired about Ichiro and was told he wasn't available. But few OFers would really fit. The Sox shouldn't get an OF with a big contract because of the guys they have coming up the sytem. Pierre would because he only has 1 yr left. Iguchi wouldn't DH. He'd be traded if they got a 2bman for the #2 spot

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 06:28 AM) By the way Pods and Pierre at one and two makes me vomit in my throat... Two of the exact same soft hitting player with no power... They would figure them out after game two... It would be a disaster... Having #1 and 2 hitters w/o power isn't a problem. Esp if they hit close to .300 and have a nice OBP so they get on base for the rest of the lineup.

Before things start flying around, I'm not advocating a deal. Yet with Ozzie's stated desire to add speed and a new #2 hitter, few position players could be moved with viable replacements. Pierre could be an option for CF and to hit #2. But that seems off the board. Anderson should be able to fill Arows role--good defense and some pop down in the lineup. So stick with the kid there. In order to pay big salaries elsewhere, the sox need to add in rookies. Pods and Dye are set, so the OF isn't an option The IF is the only realistic spot to add. Crede and Uribe came up big, esp in the playoffs. While both of their OBP's are bad, they have pop and gloves hard to match by any other options, via trade [of names mentioned who could be available--free agency probably isn't an option now w/ Thome added]. That leaves 2b. Could Iguchi's defense and offense be replaced? I don't know. Right now, only Luis Castillo comes to mind as a #2 hitter who seems to fit Ozzie's wishes and is rumored to be on the block [don't discount the added benefit of having another guy who could hit leadoff--Thome and PK need guys on base to drive in] If he's not hitting #2, he'd be another RH hitter with some pop hitting between 6th-9th. The sox already have Anderson, Uribe and Crede as similar types [though anderson does project to have a higher OBP]. Anderson will K a lot. Though Rowand K'd over 100 times. Tad K'd 114 times. More than likely, the sox stick with Iguchi as the #2 hitter. Still, it was Ozzie who convinced KW to change the style of play. And we all know Ozzie has said he wants more speed and a #2 hitter for 2006..... Thoughts?

QUOTE(JimH @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 03:20 AM) Can they pry Freel away from the Reds, he's the kind of guy Ozzie likes. I'm thinking the other half of the Marlins duo, Castillo

QUOTE(mac9001 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 05:27 AM) I don't really understand how this can be a positive trade? Thome had a no-trade clause and was apparently only willing to accept a trade to the White Sox and Indians, the Tribe didn't want him, so effectively the White Sox were the only team in the running for Thome. It seems to me if Kenny Williams had waited for a few more months the Phillies would have been more desperate and the Sox wouldn't have to part with two top-tier prospects. I see this trade as a lack of patience from Willimas that cost him more than would have been necessary to acquire Thome. The sox wanted Thome and struck a deal to acquire him. Sure they might have waited, and the price might have went down. But the sox are in a position this offseason [based on the added revenue and the added pressure to repeat] to make sure they get they pieces they both need and want. Waiting for the exact right time is what teams like the pirates and devil rays do. Elite teams, teams that expect to contend for the world series, sometimes have to overpay to fill the holes they have.

For some reason, I think Brian Anderson will be the starting CFer. But someone else could be moved from the IF. Ozzie still has his sights set on someone for the #2 spot. And probably could leadoff as well

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 02:11 AM) ..... :puke If Gio was the "real deal" [and by all accounts and numbers, he seems to be], somehow I don't he'd be included in this trade. Something tells me the sox mgmt and scouts see something we fans don't.

QUOTE(JimH @ Nov 24, 2005 -> 12:13 AM) Jason ... put your thinking cap on .... Who else fits besides Pierre? Somebody with speed, can handle the bat, and can function in the #2 hole. That the sox inquired about Ichiro shows maybe the sox are thinking of someone who plays LF or RF and could move over to CF. But barring that, I only see Pierre as an option. Joey Gathright is on the block for TB. But he's too unproven

QUOTE(Sox Hustler @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 10:32 PM) Gio is my fav prospect, but he has had some injury probs. If healthy he can be a good starter. These two prospects don't hurt me as much as Rowand, they are just prospects. Well at least it wasn't Bmac... Gio's size probably was an issue. Esp if he had to be "babied" a little. I realize he's young. But being so far from helping the MLB team, I can see how he could be trade bait.

The only reason Philly would pay 1/2 his salary is because the prospects are good ones. Gio was 2 years away. Haigwood maybe 1. The sox have a window to win the next few years [and even beyond with all the young talent coming on from high a and AA]. Getting Thome, with all the other pitchers locked up, helps the sox offense a lot. The added salary will help pay for PK and another addition somewhere this offseason

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 09:40 PM) ...and your just so quick to assume one of the premere leadoff hitters in the game is just going to give up his spot... ...and is it worth it to make our outfield defense one of the worst in the league for a #2 hitter we don't really need... Let alone we have no idea if a Pods clone will even be effective in the two hole... Ozzie said he wanted more speed and a new #2 hitter. After telling KW he needed new players for 2005 to play his style of ball, and winning the WS, what Ozzie wants, he'll get.

QUOTE(Jeckle2000 @ Nov 23, 2005 -> 09:33 PM) Your joking right... I said Peirre makes us the worst defense in the league... OF at least... Anderson we still maintain one of the best... Helps to actually read what I type... ANDERSON OR BUST!!! ANDERSON IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR CF! Anderson can't hit in the #2 spot

QUOTE(JimH @ Nov 22, 2005 -> 12:46 AM) Not that this means anything (at all) but here is what Scott Merkin of the White Sox website has to say: "I believe Konerko will be back at first base. I also think the White Sox will add some left-handed power to the lineup and try to bring a more natural speed player into the second spot of the order, with Tadahito Iguchi moving down to sixth or seventh, as Guillen stated after his Manager of the Year press conference. Those changes could mean one of the starting pitchers being dealt or even one of the White Sox outfielders moving, especially with the abundance of young talent they have at this position in the Minor Leagues. This group will return as strong as it was in 2005, though. That's a certainty." My thoughts exactly. Esp as Ozzie is the one who called for more speed and a #2 hitter. The only SP being dealt would be El Duque. And Rowand makes the most sense, with him having the most trade value, and with 2 young CFers [young and Anderson] nearly ready to replace him.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 22, 2005 -> 12:27 AM) I dream of Scott Podsednik leading off a game with a single. Then Juan Pierre trying to bunt him over and in the process getting a INF single while he's at it. To cap it off, with no outs, they cause the pitcher so much stress after a double steal and Thome/Dye/Thomas drive them both in with one or two outs. I remember ESPN ranking all MLB players in various categories. IIRC, Pierre was given the nod as the best bunter. Not to mention he's always among the league leaders in IF hits. With a guy like Pierre, the sox and us fans wouldn't have to worry every time Pods stole a base that he'd come up grabbing his hamstring.

QUOTE(JimH @ Nov 22, 2005 -> 12:31 AM) I can't say I've seen this guy play as much as Rowand but I've noticed he does have great range, at least in the games I've seen. If he's got above average range, he'd be fine in the Cell.

No way. The sox don't need Beckett and Lowell. I have a feeling this will blow up in Boston's face, if they land these guys.

QUOTE(Felix @ Nov 21, 2005 -> 09:25 PM) Your realize that speed means nothing if you can't get good jumps, right? I don't know where you get your scouting report on Pierre's poor defense. But I'll take ESPN's view, after the 2004 season: "His defense remains a huge plus at spacious Pro Player Stadium. His range allowed the Marlins to get by with Miguel Cabrera and Jeff Conine flanking him for the first four months. Pierre's arm probably precludes him from Gold Glove consideration, but he never gives up on balls in the gap and makes his share of highlight catches. His resemblance to a young Mickey Rivers remains eerie."

QUOTE(Felix @ Nov 21, 2005 -> 12:18 AM) er.. he had 52 AB's out of the #2 hole in 2003, compared to 616 as a leadoff hitter. That's more AB's in the #2 hole than Gooch had coming into 2005

QUOTE(Felix @ Nov 20, 2005 -> 09:58 PM) I see a #2 hitter who can control his bat to move the leadoff man onwards, while still being able to hit for some power if needed. I like having Gooch in the two hole, and I think that he would be superior to Pierre hitting there. I guess you must have missed Ozzie's press conference when he was named manager of the year saying he wanted to hit Iguchi down in the lineup. And he wanted a new #2 hitter and more speed. That's where most of this Pierre talk is coming from. Your or my likes and preferences matter little. And Pierre has hit from the #2 hole. Esp in 2003 with Ozzie when they won the WS

as far as all the fielding stats being thrown around, comparing Pierre and Arow, most are useless. Andruw Jones was 10th in range factor and 16th in zone rating, far behind guys who are known to be very inferior to Jones. Sometimes scouts and professional coaching staffs have a more accurate gauge on a player's defensive abilities. This time I'll wait on what the sox do with this situation.

QUOTE(mwolfson @ Nov 19, 2005 -> 09:58 PM) I maybe crazy but am I the only here that thinks we could match any deal offered to Paulie and keep in Chicago along with making a trade for Delgado or Thome (to DH and play 1B on Paulie's off days) without increasing the projected payroll that much. I think that we could trade Marte and a few others to either of the Phillies or Marlins for one these guys and they would eat some of the contracts. Imagine 3batting third, Thome or Delgado then batting fourth Paulie... No your not. The Sox could trade El Duque as well in a deal for Thome. That way, the Phills wouldn't eat so much cash on a deal. Paying a middle reliever $4, 5 mill doesn't make a lot of sense

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Nov 20, 2005 -> 12:13 PM) I suppose you have to look at it from the aspect does Pierre's improvements on the offensive end outweigh Rowand's better capabilities on the defensive end. And you have to weigh up who's more likely to rebound to their 2004 numbers as well. With Ozzie's knowledge of Pierre's abilities [and I've read about Pierre being a very hard worker who prepares himself to play], if the sox make a move for him I wouldn't be surprised. Pierre would also have to be a guy who woudl blend in well w/ the team--in the clubhouse and on the field. Speaking for myself, we're uniformed idiots. It's the Sox coaching staff and management's opinions and judgments that count. We'll just have to see what changes are made.

KW has always made fair deals. If Philly gets a decent deal from the sox, Gillick should jump on it. Then he has some financial flexibility to make additional moves, like the sox did with Lee last yr. If the Phils wait for ST, they could be really stuck. With so few options available to the Phils w/ Thome's no-trade clause, this should happen sooner rather than later.