beck72

The sox definitely need a long man in the bullpen, someone who can eat innings, keep the team in the game and throw strikes when he gets in. Bmac makes sense. Esp as he's struggling a bit [in AAA and in the bigs]. Having him around the big league club [working with Cooper, et al, and having success a few innings at a time] could help get him back on track. It might only be a temporary thing. Then again, if it works out, having him up here throwing zeros for the club isn't a bad thing, even if it's from the bullpen

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 07:23 PM) As dominant as Cliff is right now...I just don't want to risk playing with him. We need people to get outs in the 8th just as much as in the 9th. If Cliff is comfortable in his current role...leave him there. He'll probably end up getting 1 or 2 chances to actually close (like in an extra innings game or something), but wehn a guy finally gets his head in the game, you shouldn't mess with his head. If you want to try him in the closer role...that's something to talk about in the offseason. Not right now. Let him start the year off that way if we're really in the need of one next year. That way, he's not starting as the closer in key series against the Twinkies or something like that when we don't have any games to spare. I'm talking about a plan C for closer if Hermy goes down/ starts getting pummeled, and shingo can't regain his control. Politte would be plan C, a better option than Marte. Of the guys who might be available [mesa, Baez, etc] Politte, in his current form, is much better.

QUOTE(JDsDirtySox @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 04:14 PM) You say they don't need another SP right now... but its only June, and I don't want to have to depend on Brandon McCarthy. Why wait until El Duque gets hurt?, or until the Trade Deadline when everyone in contention is going to be looking for pitching? If I'm the sox, and looking to build the roster for the playoffs and the stretch run, adding another SP who hasn't thrown in relief doesn't make that much sense. Esp as BMac can throw every 5th day for August and Sept. if someone went down However, adding a bullpen pitcher who also can start like Sea's Ron Villone [19 starts in 2003 and 15 last year], does make more sense.

the sox don't need another SP. They need a bullpen guy who can go more than 1 inning, preferably who's a lefty

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 04:02 PM) Damn it! And no, Politte can't close. He's said it himself. The way he's throwing, he could do anything he wanted. IIRC, Cooper and the staff have gotten Politte to trust his stuff more, work on his confidence. The "new" Politte could probably close

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 18, 2005 -> 04:03 PM) http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews...ts/11887711.htm Thanks for the link I forgot Eddie opted not to have rotator cuff surgery. That he only throws in the high 80's, and being such a health risk, certainly wouldn't make sense for the sox [financially, taking on his contract, or for trading any decent talent]

I'm still trying to find the link that I saw this morning from a NW paper. But Guardado is throwing with a torn rotator cuff. No matter how well he's throwing, there would be virtually no way the Sox would or should acquire Eddie [unless it was a salary dump, and only had to give up low level prospects]. I hadn't heard the extent of Guardado's injury. But that he can still pitch with it, is pretty amazing. But the Sox would probably want no part of a damaged arm who could break down at any time. The best bet for the Sox getting another bullpen arm would be for a LH set up guy. Hermanson, Politte and even Shingo [if he finds himself] should be fine for closing out games. I'll keep looking, though I think the article was from Friday's papers.

I could see the sox targeting a bullpen guy from japan rather than a SP. Esp. with all the money tied up in the current rotation plus BMac hanging around

QUOTE(Pauly8509CWS @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 09:57 PM) He's what the Sox need. The good eye at the plate especially, coming off the bench and seeing good pitches and giving himself a chance to get on or move the runners over. I like Hatteberg but I think he may make 3-4 mil. which I think is too much for him. Not sure on that but, without money figured in I wouldn't mind him in Silver and Black. He makes $2.45 mill this yr

Hatteburg would be an interesting pick up: he could backup 1b and be the Sox 3rd Catcher, as he's played 369 games there and 417 at 1B; hits well vs RHP [.294/.353/.392]; and has hit well vs Minn. in his career [.349/.426/.494 in 83 ab's] With his $2.45 mill. salary, age [35] and him probably getting to be a platoon player now--hitting only .208/.317/.302 vs LHP], the A's probably wouldn't ask or get much for him. Somehow, I don't think the sox will be able to count on Gload coming back anytime soon. They need someone for 1b.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 01:22 PM) From reading Pittsburgh media, if they decide to trade they'd be looking for corner outfielders and young pitching. They can't expect to get major league ready guys for both spots in a deal for Mackowiak. Kip Wells, maybe. But two prospects--one AAAA guy like Felix Diaz and a decent AA, high A guy like Chris Young, could do it.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 10:04 AM) Mackowiak can play 2nd base. If you don't think he's good enough defensively there, we would also have Ozuna to backup 2nd base. I guess Willie could be moved, but I don't see it during 2005. As far as to Pitt, they have a lot of IFers. Esp 2b with Castillo, Hill and Sanchez

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 09:44 AM) I wouldn't mind going after Rob Mackowiak and their lefty reliever John Grabow. Send them Willie, Borchard, and a pitching prospect like Sean Tracey. Mackowiak is a lefty stick that can play every outfield position. Maybe if we had him we would never have to see OMIT again. Willie could be needed this year. Even if he has to go to AAA in a roster move, Willie could step in if Iguchi got hurt. If Mackowiak stays in the top 5 in NL hitting, he won't go anywhere. Let's hope he goes into a nice slump, that ties in with a Pitt. 10 game losing streak

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 01:21 AM) Unless we get a huge upgrade via trade, just keep the guy. Burroughs doesn't qualify as a huge upgrade. Crede should probably stick around

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 09:24 AM) Does guardado want to be traded? Has anyone seen anything saying so? He might really like seattle and not want to be traded which in other words means he is going no where ( remember that no trade clause). If he wants to play for a winning team he should accept a trade. Sea. isn't going anywhere for a few years, way past Eddie's stay with them. He'd have to believe a team like the sox would be worth going to in order to accept a trade. As far as teams go, with a solid core of players and who will contend for the playoffs, the sox would have to have a decent shot as anybody. Sometimes a player's personal life supercedes the professional though the no-trade clause does limit Sea.'s options. And with less teams bidding for eddie, his price could lower.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 01:18 AM) I would love Eddie on the southside. Can you imagine Every Day Eddie throwing to AJ in the 9th against the Twins?? I was looking at guys on a few different rosters that might have been teammates with current sox players. That way, Kenny could check in with these players to see if the new guy would be a good fit for the clubhouse. Dye with Oak, Hermanson with SF, AJ with Minn and SF. Guardado fits that criteria. Whether he'd be a good fit, who knows. I just think any guy the sox add will be "vetted" by at least one current member of the team who had played w/ them in the past

QUOTE(Al Lopez's Ghost @ Jun 17, 2005 -> 01:17 AM) I agree. I think we should try to strengthen the pen. Guardado for my money. With another yr left on his deal, he'd be worth giving up some good talent

the sox won't be adding a starting position player before the trade deadline. Even though the Sox are near the bottom of the AL vs RHP, the sox have guys on the roster who have hit well in the recent past. They won't upset the makeup of the team with a guy who may or may not get a few extra hits at the expense of hurting the chemistry. This also means Carl will be around as well. If healthy, he can get some DH and OF time, keeping Frank and the OFers fresh. Seeing how he provides the LH power, where he has hit for a .862 OPS the last 3 yrs [only hitting .767 now], the big LH bat won't be coming. The other starters who are hitting poorly vs RHP who have hit them better, aren't being replaced [AJ- currently hitting .250 w/ a .731 OPS, has hit them for a .305 avg and a .803 OPS; Podsednik, hitting .268 with a .658 OPS, has a 3 yr avg of .284 and a .758 OPS; Aaron, hitting .247 with a .695 OPS, far below his 3 yr avg's of .285 and .778 OPS] With these guys bound to improve vs. RHP, the Sox biggest offensive weak area, the Sox can afford to have a Crede hit .240-.260 with solid defense. Seeing how 3b is the only spot to put a LH bat that could potentially get a lot of AB's, only Rob Mackowiak makes some sense, as a bench guy who can play elsewhere--[let's hope the Pirates lose their next 20 games and are in sell mode quickly, which they should]. But no big names will be coming the sox way for the everyday lineup. Probably just some tweaks. That big name hopefully will be in the bullpen

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jun 16, 2005 -> 11:42 AM) Wasn't DJ saying that he was injured or something? DJ was saying he had to have been injured after the way he half jogged to 1st. Though he recently had gotten off the DL, if he was hurt as bad as he ran, he shouldn't have been in the lineup. It's hard to say if he was dogging it. But I wasn't impressed by the way he played that weekend

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jun 10, 2005 -> 12:36 AM) The problem is that Shingo either completely fools someone for a K or gives up a bomb. He fools batters when he gets ahead in the count like he did all of last season. This season, Shingo has been getting behind the first batter he faces 3-0 almost every outing. Then he has to throw a "get-me-over" 85 MPH fastball down the pipe. Those pitches get crushed by major league hitters. Unless Shingo starts consistently getting ahead of batters in the count, he is worthless. Shingo hasn't been able to throw his offspeed stuff for strikes. The only thing he has thrown consistently for strikes is his get me over fastball [which teams are teeing off on]. His slow stuff was his bread and butter. Teams haven't hit that If Shingo can get his slow stuff over [get his trust back in those pitches], he'll be a big force this year. Which I think he can

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 10, 2005 -> 12:10 AM) I do not think the Sox are going to trade from their bullpen. It is not hitting on all cylanders right now with Shingo and Vizcaino underperforming but I don't see them subtracting any bullpen pieces. If there's a trade I see prospects going from the White Sox and possibly a change in bench players. If Shingo goes anywhere it will be to AAA. But if you think about it, even right now he has a role ... mop up. That saves other guys from throwing innings. It is a very low profile role but it's a role nonetheless. Vizcaino is our early innings guy and our extra innings guy. Further I feel the only way we'll see someone from the minors is if there's an injury. Kevin Walker for lefties and Bajenaru for righties. If Marte's bicep problem lingers, Cotts moves into his role and up comes Walker again (not saying I'm a Walker fan but they have no one else doing the job at AAA). Williams is right, it is not a buyers market. Too many teams are still in the hunt and one that is totally out of it is in the Sox' division. Lastly I think Shingo's trade value is right at nada. That's what SF would probably want, guys who can help this year. But I think Vizcaino is coming back. I've seen him throw more than his slider

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jun 9, 2005 -> 11:38 PM) I could see the Giants wanting Vizcaino or Shingo for Feliz but they wouldn't want Timo, nor would they throw in a prospect to get him. I think Vizcaino and Shingo are both worth more than Feliz. That's where the prospect would come in. Timo could work for their OF as back up for all 3 spots [though I don't see the sox getting rid of Timo].

I'm sure glad he's using the slider. Anything to get rid of his hanging change ups. you've got to give Neal props, he's earning every penny he's being paid

QUOTE(nvxplorer @ Jun 9, 2005 -> 10:09 PM) This makes sense, but I have yet to hear why SF would trade Feliz in the first place. He's only an average player, but without Bonds and with Grissom doing awful so far, the Giants would have a hole to plug in the OF. A Feliz for Crede swap next year may be feasable (a wash, if you ask me), but if the Sox have to replace Konerko, I would hope they could do better than Feliz. The Giants now have the rookie Ellison hitting .320, along with Grissom, Michael Tucker and alou for the OF. Not to mention Bonds when he comes back. For 1b, they have Niekro who's hitting .300. They need help and need to make some changes before their season is toast. I could see Luis Vizcaino being wanted by them. Or Shingo. Have them take Timo in the deal, and the sox can get a prospect Feliz should be expendable with his over $2.2 mill contract. His is the kind of versatility the sox could really use, esp. as his two best positions are 3b and 1b. And a power RH bat off the bench

QUOTE(TheDybber @ Jun 8, 2005 -> 09:00 PM) How about Vizcaino from the Astros? They have Mike Lamb and Todd Self who are playing first now and Berkman for the future. He's a switch hitter who can play all the infield positions. Or J.T. Snow from the Giants. They have Feliz, who could play 1B and Lance Niekro. He's a LHH who can only play first, but he would be a great late inning defensive replacement and a doubles hitter. I thought of Snow too. But I don't see SF trading away any of its players with Bonds probably due back. They are in win now mode, as trading two young pitchers for Hawkins shows. Gload might be back before the deadline, which is where SF will probably wait until making any moves Vizcaino is a good name. Certainly not "Arod", but a doable guy who could fit.