beck72

Here's the link: http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/ds.../pro/181sd2.htm Whether or not his comments are digs or not, they aren't needed. They won't help his case w/ Ozzie. The biggest thing is throughout Rowand's career his numbers scream "PLATOON". Guys like Lee or Konerko had been everyday players for years before they signed large contracts. He's not in the same situation as they are, though they all are in the "suck" category now. Aaron hasn't produced vs RHP and LHP for a full season. He's lucky he has gotten the chance to be an everyday player for this long, no matter how much money he makes.

The Sox wouldn't trade for Aurilia. He's horrible. The article said Aurilia would either be traded by the M's to someone or released. If Aurilia was let go that would leave a spot open for Jose. My guess is the M's will gauge any interest in Aurilia [Cubs maybe, I forgot about the Baker connection] and then decide to let him go or not. That's where the Sox could step in. I agree on getting Winn. He's the kind of guy who seems perfect for Ozzie ball, with his line drives, speed, situational hitting [has a lot of SF + SH over the years], could hit leadoff or #2, and versatility on defense. His name has come up in trade talks since early last year. I think he's struggling in CF in Safeco, filling in for Cameron. If Reed could play CF and Winn play LF, so much the better.

We'll only see Reed if a trade of Jose or Lee is made. Harris and Uribe have earned their playing time. Yet Reed's OBP and bat lower in the order looks great to me. Batting .275 with a decent OBP [.340+] should break up the weak pop ups and K's that we've grown accustomed to. Maybe Harris and Uribe will have some RBI chances for a change.

It certainly won't earn him any points with Ozzie, or his teammates. He would have been better off just going the Billy Koch route, and say "I've sucked". Not a good media quote.

From today's Daily Southtown: "If I was under a three-year contract or a two-year contract, it would probably be a little different. I would probably be playing a lot more than I have been. Whether I'm hitting the ball hard or not, there's not much I can say. It's about results." A slight dig at a few various Sox players under contract getting playing time to work themselves out of their slumps, you think?! It is about results. And players with large contracts that can't be moved will keep getting chances. Yet he should stop worrying about them and take care of business on the field.

Aurilia has 0 HR's, is a liability on defense and is basically washed up. Getting a SS with power now could provide the M's w/ an RBI guy and a decent glove. The M's have to show their fans that they won't go down without a fight. They could still trade Jose by the deadline and get something for him if they languish in last place. They know Jose is a stopgap measure. But better to rid themselves now of a bad contract [i think Aurilia signed for something like $3 mill].

I'm still reluctant to part with Jose. Yet it might be the only way to get Uribe and Harris playing time at their best positions. If a guy like Garcia could be had, it might be worth the price. [Esp. if PK was going]

True. But also in the past, they've been criticized for not making any moves. They have to make some moves to try and salvage the season or fans will sit out the rebuilding. Somehow, Sea. has to do this w/o taking on contracts. Valentin fits this mold, a 1 yr rental. And could be moved by the trading deadline if Sea. still sucks. Lee fits with the younger athletic mold, as a possible successor to Edgar at DH. But a deal like Valentin and PK for Meche and Olerud would probably be to Sea.'s liking. I'd like Garcia but Sea. probably isn't ready to part w/ him yet.

Sea. has to get something else to make up for PK's 2005 contract. Olerud's $7.7 mill makes him unmoveable like PK though. Sea. would likely only take PK as part of a larger deal, and might like guys like Rauch or OFer like Borchard [as the article stated 4th OFer McCracken [?} would likely be released] or even Rowand. A deal like Valentin, PK, + Rauch for Garcia and Olerud. The Sox would be free of contracts after this year but Sea. would be on the hook for $8.75 mill. With eating Aurilia's, and Jarvis' contracts, not something they'd likely do.

In a WA paper today, they talked about changes that should be coming very soon in SEA, to try and salvage the season. Garcia would be moved later. Here's the link: http://www.tribnet.com/sports/baseball/mar...p-5012444c.html They'd probably want Jose. They might want PK, as Olerud is making $7.7 mill[PK for SP Gil Meche and Olerud] They could take Lee and Ibanez could move to 1B. The key to any deal now w/ SEA rather than in July would be to help them wins games now w/o hurting their future. Getting Garcia [who probably won't be signed by SEA] would take someone like Lee who could help now and in the coming years.

If the Sox add a SP, it will probably be for a #4 or #5 guy. #1's and #2's just aren't available. Most teams are still in it. Carlos could probably be moved by the trading deadline for a top of the rotation guy, with some prospects. The only way to move PK is to take on someone else's misfit, in a salary exchange. One of the only teams I can think of that PK might fit on is LA. PK for Jeff Weaver might be decent. Both are owed about the same money over the next 2 years. I think PK and his "bat slamming after another weak popout or ground out" act has worn thin with Ozzie. PK just seems to epitomize what is wrong w/ the Sox--streaky, slow, power hitters who can't hit line drives. Weaver is no panacea. Yet he has more upside than PK at this point and could help give the Sox some innings. I see Benson along the same lines as Weaver. But Pitt. would want decent prospects that I don't think he's worth. Any trading should start with PK. Give Gload a shot full time there and have Jeremy Reed play 1B at AAA in case Gload can't do the job. At least Gload hits the ball where it's pitched, instead of trying to pull a ball a foot off the plate.

Agreed. No one wants Rowand except as a 4th OFer. His role now is in a platoon role at best, a late inning defensive replacement at worst.

I've always supported Rowand, and thought he'd hit well enough to keep the CF spot. Yet if he can't hit .290 or more, he's of little use to the Sox outside of being a solid 4th OFer. As he doesn't walk much, Rowand needs to hit for a high avg to get his OBP up to a respectable level. Rowand might hit. But the Sox need production now. A month and a half has been long enough. I've also been disappointed with aaron's D. He seems a step slow this year. [that or Carlos is two steps slower and aaron has to make up the lost ground]. There was a spell earlier in the year where there were shades of Everett w/ all the balls dropping in front of him. CF is one of the few spots to get a higher OBP guy in the Sox lineup, to mix in with the sluggers. If Willie can play respectable D and maintain an avg. around .300, he'll stay in CF.

I wouldn't mind a Reed callup, provided Lee was traded for a stud starting pitcher. With his speed and OBP lower in the lineup, [say at 8] Reed would break up the feast or famine bottom of the lineup. There would also be less pressure to perform. I don't see Reed hitting .300 right away. Yet .280 with a .350 OBP wouldn't be surprising. A guy like that [which Rowand was expected to be] would be on base for the .300 hitters to drive in. My biggest concern was having another .300 hitter at the top of the lineup, preferably a LH hitter. Yet with Harris in CF and Uribe at 2B, there are the two .300 hitters in front of Maggs and Frank. With Valentin at #2, his .270 avg [tops] and low .300 OBP, Maggs and Frank would often come up with no one on base. With the #1 and #2 hitters on, the power guys will see better pitches when they come up. It's probably a short term fix to the problem, having Willie in CF. But the Sox need to ride out the hot hitting of Harris and Uribe. Then make some decisions.

Delgado is another power guy. The Sox need guys to get on base for Maggs and Frank et al. With guys on base ahead of the power guys, the Sox hitters will get better pitches to hit. Give me a .300 hitter, with some speed, and can hit line drives off of medicore RHP over a high strikeout power guy. With $17 mill in salary, a poor glove and a one year rental, I wouldn't trade potentially great prospects like Anderson and Sweeney for Delgado.

Teams still want proven major leaguers like Lee and PK. How many, that's the question. The key is matching the teams with the need. Yet trading top unproven talent to land top proven talent isn't the worst thing in the world.

I like the thought of an OBP guy like Olerud at 1b rather than a slugger. Yet I don't know how much he has left this year. Ross Gload might do just as well as Olerud at 1B. Whether the M's are looking to salvage the season or play for next year, who knows. I know they want to get younger, and fans don't want a wholesale rebuilding project like Clev. went through. Proven guys like PK and Lee might help with that, and both would only be signed through 2005. If the trade involved Randy Winn [who is signed for 2005 like Lee and PK] instead of Olerud, I'd like that more. Winn is a switch hitter, who can also play LF and CF. He's also a #2 hitter, with a career avg around .300. With Winn in LF, Reed could play CF. Reed would then bat down in the 8th or 9th hole. Less pressure than having to hit in the #2 spot, and it would put an OBP guy for the top of the order guys to hit in. Right now, the Sox have free swingers from Frank on down. Feast or famine. It's famine now.

It's probably too much pressure to put on Reed and expect him to hit .300 right out of the gate. Catalanotto is a vet who performs well under pressure. With his 1 yr deal, it gives Reed time to get ready w/o a long term commitment. If Carlos is too rich for Tor.'s blood, they might go for prospects. Pick 2 or 3 guys from Rauch, Josh Stewart, David Sanders and Borchard. Lee then could be dealt for pitching.

Also, I forgot to mention he can leadoff or in the #2 spot, a career .303 and .309 avg respectively. With Catalanotto at #2, behind Willie, Valentin can drop down in the lineup at say #6. Jose doesn't have the OBP the Sox from the #2 hitter. With Frank on base at a higher rate than the sox other #2 hitters, guys like Maggs, Frank and Pk will get better pitches to hit. With Catalanotto able to hit leadoff, he's good insurance if Willie slumps. The Sox need some of the consistency a guy like this can provide.

The Sox need a LH batter who can get on base vs. mediocre RH starters like Greisinger. This has been a problem for years in the Sox' 'RH heavy, swing for the fences, pop up w/ runners on base' crew. How about a trade for Frank Catalanotto? He's a career .300 hitter, .361 OBP, .466 SLG. He hits well under pressure, .316 w/ RISP [471 ab's], w/ men on and 2 outs [.312, in 247 ab's]. He is versatile plays LF [201 g] RF [59 g] , 1B [92 g], 2B [155 g] and 3B [35 g]. He's hit well at the Cell, .377 avg, .406 OBP, and .525 SLG, w/ 23 h in 60 AB's. He doesn't hit LHP very well [.244 avg], he could be platooned w/ Rowand. He could be used as Jeremy Reed insurance and to give Reed time to develop, and if Maggs doesn't resign. With a 1 yr deal for $2.3 mill, he's affordable and give the Sox some flexibility in getting pitching help. Even though he's 30, he's the type of guy who can play into his late 30's, ala Steve Finley. He's the type of pro the Sox need, the grinder who can get on base for the Sox power guys. The Sox need guys who can pound the Danny Wright's of the world. Catalanotto can do that. Toronto would take Carlos Lee and his 2 yr/ $15 mill deal. With Delgado gone next year, Carlos could play LF or DH and provide a power stick for them to team with VErnon Wells. Toronto might give more than Catalanotto as well Thoughts?

Rowand yes. Wonder when Willie and Juan will start shagging flyballs. Crede is still a big part of this team though.

If all four infield guys continue playing well as solid major leaguers [i include Crede in this category, with Willie, Jose and Juan] there will be interesting choices for the Sox to make come the trading deadline. Trying to get enough playing time for everyone until then will be a chore.

I'm not familiar with Jenny. Too old I guess

I'm not necessarily advocating trading Uribe. But this is the kind of talent that would be needed to land a top tier young SP like Mulder.

Couldn't Jose be back at a lesser salary, say $3 mill? Jose could be around a year or two until a guy like Mike Morse is ready.