beck72

QUOTE(JimH @ Feb 21, 2005 -> 08:04 PM) Sort of related, I expect the Sox to draft a shortstop fairly high this year. Wouldn't surprise me at all. Go for the SS, Uribe could always move over to 2B if the pick worked out. I could see the sox going for a good glove, good OBP guy with speed who can make solid contact. The sox draft a SS #1 and he might be ready by the time Uribe's contract is up in case Juan tests Free agency

From a Q and A with GM Doug Melvin w/ the Milwaukee J/S: Q: The No. 1 trade rumor that has hovered over the franchise the past year or so has been the possibility of trading Ben Sheets in 2005. Can you envision any scenario in which you would trade Sheets this year? A: You hope not. We want Ben to be here and be a key building block for us. It really never crossed our mind. Our thoughts are to get a (multi-year) deal done where we can have him here for a length of time. You know in this game, things change. But at this point, it's not on our agenda, it's not in our plans." Sounds like Sheets could be on the market this yr, if the right deal came along. Hopefully the sox won't be in a position where they'd need him. But you never know.

from Roger Brown in the Cle. Plain Dealer: "WTAM AM/1100 sportscaster David Kelly drew a firestorm from Indians fans Friday when, during a station talk show, he said sources told him some Indians players have used illegal, performance-enhancing drugs. But Kelly is sticking by his comments. "I won't name names," Kelly said. "But I've been told there are four or five [indians] whose play should be watched very closely this season." Interesting. Some big boppers? You'd have to think a guy like Hafner would be suspect #1. But a guy like Blake? Victor Martinez? [He did go from 1 HR in 120+ Ab's in 2003 to 28 in over 500 last yr]

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Feb 20, 2005 -> 01:11 PM) Phil Rogers must be getting senile. Kennedy is recovering from knee surgery and Figgins will take over 2b until he's ready. Ana likes Figgins too much as he can play all 3 IF spots. Kennedy only plays 2b. Neither guy is moving any time soon

QUOTE(YASNY @ Feb 19, 2005 -> 01:16 PM) So has Carl Everett. But Everett's weight loss was fat, due to his injuries. I think many guys will be looked at, esp those who have lost a lot of muscle weight. [Fat is another thing, like Joe Borowski, Adkins?]. I guess that's the nature of steriods. It casts suspicion on everyone

I could see Aaron leading off vs some LHP but not Uribe. Ozzie must be confused

1. Fiction. The sox have guys who are more likely to get 16-18 wins [mb, Freddy] than 20. 2. fiction. Willie will be traded by opening day. A utl guy will be brought in and take his spot 3. Fact. the Yanks let him throw close to 100 pitches in the first games back [i think he went over 100 in his 2nd game] because their pitching sucked and it took a strain on him. He should be stronger in his 2nd yr back from injury 4. Fact. the additions to the pen will allow Shingo to just throw one inning. Lights out baby 5. Fiction. It'll be hard to improve upon his 2003 yr. Yet he should be able to get to over .280 avg and .340 OBP 6. Fact. The Sox will go slow with him to save him for the entire yr. But they'll want him in as many games as possible. They'll also pinch run for hit late in games to rest him, that way they can get him AB's but keep him fresh 7. Fact. the Sox want to keep guys like Dye, Frank, Aaron and Pods fresh. And with Carl the sox only LH power, they'll find him those Ab's. 8. Fact. Both Contreras and Garland will have the opportunity to go deep into games. Both also have the talent to do it. The Sox want to keep El Duque fresh. they won't give him many chances to throw 9 innings [unless its in the playoffs] 9. Fact. The twins everyday lineup has a lot holes, and their pitchers will be hard pressed to match what they did in 2004. They'll miss guys like Koskie, Guzman, and Mientkwitz. Cle. won't progress like most people think. They should stay near .500, though they could pass the Twins.

I found this on Cintron from BA's 2002 Prospect Handbook: #21. With their signing of Clayton and Counsell, it looks like the D-Backs think Cintron is more this UTL guy than the SS who hit over .300 in 2003. If that's the case, then trading him for 2 guys who can make their 25 man roster would seem steep. "After topping this list a year ago, Cintron hit .292 in AAA and even received a couple of major league callups. But he didn't convince scouts he was worthy of anywhere close to top billing again, as most now believe his skills are best suited for a utility role. He has proven to be a tough out w/ outstanding bat control, but otherwise his offensive profile is similar to that of... Alex Cora. Cintron has 13 homers and a .379 SLG in 1866 ab's. He rarely walks and thus possesses mediocre on base ability. He doesn't possess the actions of a natural SS and is outgrowing the position. As his legs get thicker he's losing the quickness to make tough plays in the hole or up the middle. His arm is above average but he has trouble reading hops. The D-backs aren't strong in the middle of the diamond though Cintron doesn't look like he'll be the answer. His ability to put the ball in play and experience at three positions give him a shot at a career as a utilityman."

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 19, 2005 -> 06:21 AM) With the pitching depth the Sox have in the pen...I might make Munoz and Adkins for Cintron...but that seems like the Sox are giving up too much and not getting enough in return, especially considering he would be used primarily as a utility IF. Not sure exactly. I like Cintron a lot...but I'm not sure if we do have the pieces necessary to trade for him, right now, while also getting a fair value in return. I agree. Adkins and Munoz might be too much. Both should be able to pitch in the majors to start the yr on another team. But something along the lines of say Adkins and Ryan Meaux, or Munoz and Matt Smith/ Josh Fields. One guy who'd start the yr in the bigs, another guy for AAA. While I'd like to see the sox part ways with Joe B, and include him in a deal w/ say adkins or Munoz, I'm not sure Ari. would take him [though he could be a decent 4th, 5th OFer for them]

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Feb 18, 2005 -> 09:51 PM) I like Cintron a lot. If he were brought in here, I would be in love with the move. What would it take though? Sounds like a reliever. From CBSsportsline: "The Diamondbacks have some interest in bringing in at least one more reliever, preferably a left-hander, to augment the bullpen, says the Arizona Republic. The team apparently had interest in Astros right-hander Tim Redding, but Houston has been asking for either closer Greg Aquino or setup man Mike Koplove"

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Feb 14, 2005 -> 06:55 PM) That said, I, a White Sox die-hard fan, remain optimistic in 2005. No doubt. I don't think many sox players will be staying up late worrying about what the nat'l media has to say. [this offseason has shown at least 2 guys who worried a lot about the media are gone]. The Sox roster is filled with guys like Dye, Everett, Shingo, Garcia, El Duque, Garland, Frank, Pods, AJ, Aaron, MB who have heard all the doubts about their ability/talent level. It's the underdog attitude they must take heading into the season. Because they must prove to the baseball world one thing, that they can win enough games to make the playoffs

QUOTE(f***REINSDORF @ Feb 14, 2005 -> 06:50 PM) If Hawk Harrelson could ask "Berns and Boerstein.... who the hell are they??" last summer,this Sox fan asks "Ken Rosenthal, who the hell is he??" I'm just using Rosenthal as an example of why a lot of other national baseball people are not picking the sox to do much. The sox win the AL central and these same "experts" will be calling KW a genius.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Feb 14, 2005 -> 06:17 PM) but recent history makes it difficult to make any grand projections as to what this team is going to accomplish. that's why I take most projections with a grain of salt. Yet no one can really blame the national baseball people. It gets boring predicting the Sox to come in 2nd for a 4th yr in a row behind the twins. Cle. looks like they're "up and coming" like KC prior to last yr. It makes for a more interesting article to say Cle. will come in 2nd. But I'm with you. I like what KW has done

Ken Rosenthal wrote a piece on team makeovers and how he viewed the sox as a team that really didn't improve itself. I didn't read the article. Yet when he talked to boers and bernstein this a.m., his view seemed pretty typical of baseball "experts" around the league--the sox seem "desperate" to change its team from one of power to one focused on pitching and defense. Rosenthal doubted this change would work, and seemed sure the sox would be looking for more power come July. From reading the Sox being picked behind both the Twins and Indians in most publications, Ken's opinion seems typcial around the league Most of us would disagree that the sox are "desperate". The changes are long overdue, as we have seen the offense go hot and cold for long stretches [more cold than hot over the last 4 yrs]. Most of these guys only see the highlights or read the box scores [and the HR's from guys like Lee, Maggs and Jose always get the headlines]. When the national guys see the sox making wholesale changes, they naturally see the sox as desperate. Maybe guys like Billy Beane and John Schurholtz [sp?] get the benefit of the doubt from their changes because they've won. Until the sox win, KW's moves will not be taken as seriously as GM's who have gotten their teams to the playoffs on a consistent basis. This is how it should be. The sox haven't won. They need to prove themselves to the league that they can overtake the Twins and go far in the playoffs.

Could Clemens have been a user? Probably. Is it "fair" to be named by Canseco as a possible user? Maybe not. But it's the players fault for letting this get out of hand. Esp. respected stars like Clemens. The guys who were/ are clean should have spoken out a lot sooner when they saw these freaks damaging the game. Clean players should have seen this coming---that some innocent players could be named, and that all players could be seen as suspect. But if stars are using [like Bonds, Giambi, Sosa, McGwire and others possibly like some names mentioned by Canseco], that doesn't give lesser names a lot of room to "go public" or go to the media as an anonymous source and say who they suspect is using. These players may not even know exactly who is using. But the fact that the Yankees removed language about steroid use in Jason Giambi's 2001 contract shows how prevelant steroid use was even back then, and very well known around the league. The players knew it, the teams knew it, the owners knew it. Now all of baseball is suffering because they didn't clean up their acts sooner

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 11, 2005 -> 02:47 PM) I think Oz knew it too, but with the pen they had last year, he really didn't have any choices. With all of the problems he really had to try to use him when he didn't want to. Very true. Ozzie had to bring in Shingo out of necessity. With the build up of the pen in the offseason, Ozzie and KW got the message.

Here are some numbers fr. ESPN: pitches 1-15 [156 ab's]-- .154/.214/.224 ; 11bb, 41 SO; 2 hr's; 4 rbi pitches 16-30 [61 ab's]-- .262/.365/.475 ; 10 bb, 7 so's; 4 hr's; 14 rbi He's lights out when facing a few batters, average when going longer. Remedy--keep him fresh, only face a few hitters, have the ohter guys in the pen work more.

Dye should start the yr in the #3 hole. Through the first three months of last yr, Dye was hitting .299/.355/.533 on July 3rd. I expect him to hit like that as well, with everett giving him some time off, maybe DHing to stay fresh. Frank could come back in the #3 hole when he returns. Dye might go 4th, so the sox could break up Frank and PK. as for gload, he could very well start for a number of teams. Just not for the sox. he'll see some playing time, coming in for pk late in games, pinch running and paying 1b, spot starting and such. But if guys like PK, EVerett and Frank are playing well, there should be few opportunities for him to get in.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Feb 11, 2005 -> 04:08 AM) What could have some bearing for the Sox? Do you mean that if one of the guys in our bullpen gets injured, we could go after Dotel or Baez? What exactly did Levine say about the Sox? Levine didn't mention the sox, only the Cubs. I said it could have some bearing on the sox plans, if these guys are available come the trading deadline and the sox need help [due to injury, ineffectiveness etc]. I think Urbina would be a more likely target for the sox if they needed help. With the uncertainty surrounding Urbina's mom, few teams want to pay a question mark $4 + mill

I think it's more of Shingo getting tired, than hitters figuring him out. Esp. when he had to throw more than an inning, Shingo lost his control, didn't hit his spots and then hitters got ahead in the count and hit him. I remember seeing the stats of how well Shingo did throwing less than 15 pitches, and how he didn't do nearly as well after 15 pitches. Another thing to keep in mind was the longer season in MLB. In Japan they play less games, and the added games he threw could also have affected Shingo. He could have "hit the wall" in August like some rookies are said to do esp in basketball, with the added games from college to the pros. I too agree that the 2005 pen was built to keep Shingo fresh, so he can keep his pitch count and innings down, and only go 1 inning at a time per save. He should be fine

FWIW, Bruce Levine on AM 1000 this am said the Cubs may be interested in Dotel and Danys Baez, both of whom are making a lot of cash and may be on the market, and could use some of the players they've gotten for Sosa and Farnsworth. [it could have some bearing for the sox at the trade deadline, if someone from the sox gets hurt]

After reading the particulars of the Det. deal, they aren't as foolish as they might seem. They are only on the hook for $6 mill in 2005. If Maggs misses more than 25 games due to his knee, the Tigers can void the deal. The $6 mill bonus would then kick in Nov. 2005 if they retained him. For the Tigers who have had trouble getting players to come play for them, it is a calculated risk they could afford. But few other teams were biting on MAggs for anything more than a 1, 2 yr incentive deal at best. Yet the Sox were in the right on this one. Maggs' b****ing that KW hyped his injury is pure BS. That Maggs isn't healthy yet is all the proof anyone needs

QUOTE(qwerty @ Feb 6, 2005 -> 03:13 PM) You are right. When i was originally looking at the list i saw a whole bunch of guys with option year, guardado, looper, izzy, walker, kotsay, etc and was thinking for some reason that they were all free agents. Which they are not. Relievers are much, much deeper next off-season that this past. That is why if we lose takatsu ( don't think we will) i will not be that hurt because of all the good help out there. Relievers was the one area that was better. Though the sox bullpen is set for the next two yrs, with Cotts, Dustin, Marte locked in, and could bring back one or both of Politte and Vizcaino. Hopefully Shingo has a similar 2005 and the Sox will bring him back.

FWIW, someone over at WSI claims he talked w/ Kris' dad. here's the link: http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/vbullet...ead.php?t=44529 If true, he should be back to putting up good numbers. the sox know what he can do when healthy. If he's got his velocity back, he should be in AAA before the end of the yr

Ryan Wagner and Huston Street are two guys w/ "reliever" all over them that were decent moves. If Hansen is a "sure thing", with mid-90's+ stuff, why not. the sox could easily p/u position players and SP's in the next few rounds. Also, the Sox picked up a lot of SP's early in the 2004 draft [gio, wesler, lumsden]. But I do usually say go for the best available