beck72

QUOTE (CryptviLL @ Jan 9, 2010 -> 05:43 PM) You really make me want Vlad. Is there any rumors at all that he is coming to Chicago? Or just 100% speculation on our behalf? Just speculation. But there are only so many teams that need a DH, and plenty of DH types available.

The sox almost have to sign Vlad, with his salary being in the $5-7 mill a yr range. While it is true the sox lack a power lefty bat, Vlad can hit both RHP and LHP well--with his hitting better vs. RHP in recent years. The sox are counting on everything going right for the hitters to be a middle of the pack offense. They need Quentin, Rios, Teahen and Lexi to improve their averages and OPS' from '09. They need AJ and Pierre to repeat their high avg's. They need Gordon to improve. They need PK to be consistent. Conservatively, two of these guys won't hit to career norms. AJ is most likely to see a drop off, as he had a near career year offensively. PK is due for another sub career year. Not to mention an injury could occur that would put a lesser bat into the everyday lineup. For the record, I think Rios, Teahen should improve, and Quentin if he stays healthy. Pierre also seems a good bet to produce with his fresh legs thse last 2 years. Yet going into the season expecting all those pieces to fall into place is too much to ask. Getting a bat like Vlad for DH would lessen the pressure on the offense. He can hit for average, power and get on base. I don't see PK as DH--he's almost in a platoon situation with his weak splits vs. RHP. The rotating of lesser hitters at DH such as Kotsay, Jones, Tyler Flowers-should he stick with the club, is a poor excuse under the guise of "flexibility". I can see this argument in the 2nd half in order to get guys some rest. But why have a big hole in the offense for 4 months and try and address the gap via trade at the deadline? Better the Sox spend a little extra cash now getting off to a good start in the standings-which will have more people coming out to the park-than having a little financial flexibility so they can add salary at the deadline.

One thing about Vlad is that he has hit RHP better than LHP in recent years--which is what the sox should want from their DH--a guy who can hit off the best RHP's in the league. Vlad can do that.

QUOTE (striker @ Dec 30, 2009 -> 06:58 PM) What about a non-slugger for DH? Winn anyone? He can run (20-25sb) Plays good defense (16.5UZR in 2009) Switch hits Batted .370 with 2outs and RISP in 2009 (61 PAs) Batted .316/.360 in innings 7-9 (when our offense is normally asleep) Batted .319/.370 with RISP (142PAs) Batted .295/.345obp/.749ops on the road He excelled more towards the bottom of the lineup and I think with a better offense like the White Sox he could drive in alot more runs than he did with SF. He'd cost $2-$5M, 1 year. I do like Winn. Before the Sox acquired Pierre I had talked about Winn being a decent fit, with his good glove in RF and LF, and being able to hit near the top of the order. Yet with the lineup currently constructed, no LH power besides Teahen and AJ, the sox need someone who can hit 20+ HR's and hit well off of RHP.

QUOTE (WHITESOXRANDY @ Dec 29, 2009 -> 05:33 AM) Aubrey Huff makes the most sense to me: 1. Left Handed 2. Won't cost a lot. Probably one year deal for $ 4-5 mil. 3. Still young compared to other guys - just turned 33 last week. Could be part of future as well as this year. 4. Can play 1B, 3B, RF and LF 5. Is a really good hitter and a true upgrade for the Sox. 6. Doesn't strike out a lot. Has never struck 100 times in a season. 7. No Scott Borass to deal with. 8. Still has some mobility. 9. Had a down year last year but a monster year in 2008. Huff does make a lot of sense. Also, IIRC, Kenny has liked Huff in the past. The sox definitely need a LH bat who can hit for some power vs RHP. PK has been horrible vs. RHP the last few years, and the sox wouldn't lose much production with PK taking a seat for Huff.

Maya makes a lot of sense for the Sox. He's likely behind Hudson in the depth chart, but ahead of Hynick and Torres. Without having seen Maya throw vs. MLB hitters, I don't see the sox trading their top pitching prospect. However, I could see a scenario where Freddy would be traded in ST, if Maya shows he can be a SP in the bigs. More than likely, Maya would start the year in AAA, and be ready to step in if needed in the rotation or bullpen.

While we're talking about the sox rotation, this could only help improve it. http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/artic...sp&c_id=cws It's very interesting to note how players go about their offseasons. From Mark's own words, he seemed to rest his arm during the offseason [not throw, etc, but I'm sure worked out to keep in shape]. And maintained a strength program during the season. Mark has gone through many poor stretches where his location wasn't quite there, and wasn't as sharp. And the results were often horrible, where he'd get knocked around like a little league pitcher. Maybe last season's fade has finally convinced him to change his offseason workouts up, where he can stay stronger during the season. It's not like he's going to throw any harder. But a tired arm has led Mark to struggle with his location. I also remember that Linebrink talked about changing up his offseason routine, that he hardly ever picked up a ball. With his 2nd half fades in recent years, he better be changing things up. I find it interesting that with all the research about training available to these players on how to get in the best shape possible for their respective positions [pitchers, speed and contact guys, power hitters, etc] that more aren't putting this advice into practice. Pro players should be more selective with what training advice they listen to, as all trainers and programs aren't created equal.

QUOTE (dmbjeff @ Dec 22, 2009 -> 08:32 PM) I really think Aubrey Huff is the best fit for our ballclub based on what Ozzie is trying to do and what Kenny wants in a DH. Kenny wants a power bat, preferrably left-handed to break up the slew of RH we have and he is an ideal Ozzie type guy with his ability to DH and also by his ability to play the field. Granted, he is certainly not the best fielder, but he can spell PK at 1B, Teahan at 3B or either corner OF spot in a pinch. I also think financially, he will be affordable after a down 2009 season. He had a great 2008 season, and a bounceback to an .800-.850 OPS seems reasonable. I think the sox will get a bargain in a DH/ position player--Huff wouldn't be bad. When guys are still looking for jobs in Jan., the sox will be able to pick someone up for cheap. BTW, I found this on Fangraphs that in Huff's 2008 season, he increased his FB rate to a career high 41%. He could send a lot of those FB's into the RF seats at the Cell. And he does hit RHP well-something PK doesn't do. http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/index.php...rey-huff-and-fb

QUOTE (gatnom @ Dec 21, 2009 -> 04:28 AM) Mark Kotsay can play LF/RF and 1B; Juan Pierre can play LF. I'd bring up stats to compare fielding ability, but Mark Kotsay has only played 34 innings in LF. They also have no control over where they are put in the lineup, so that really isn't a reason he should be getting paid more than Mark Kotsay. He should be batting ninth, not first because if the last four years have shown anything about Juan Pierre it's that he is a below average leadoff man. You could probably make a case that $1.5 million is worth the stolen bases he will provide and the ability to play every day but what about the additional $5 million we are paying him next year? At the end of the day Juan Pierre is what he is, and that is a below average leadoff man. Is that what you want to pay $8 million over two years for? That's what the unknowns are for. These acquisitions may be good and they may be bad, and they may even be bad if the said players perform better than what was expected of them. Neither you nor I know exactly who was available and for what price, but if the aforementioned question marks fail to get back to their better days it won't matter whether or not Omar Vizquel is getting paid to do what our coaches are being paid to be able to do. Kenny is definitely not finished, so it's hard to argue definitively against your points. Let's hope he has something good up his sleeve. This cavern you speak of could be filled with a boulder and a few pebbles as well. Unless you have some sort of inside info, I'm not sure why you are exempt from this "my answers are better than your answers" thing. I mentioned earlier that it's impossible for us to know exactly who was available and for what price, barring your potential inside information thing of course. There is no possibility of "real-world certainty" for somebody who is completely out of the loop in Kenny's office. You have no more proof that they have made the best possible moves than I have that they haven't. Why is it that your opinion is that much better than anybody else's? If you know with "real-world certainty" that these are the best moves, I will gladly concede the point. Looking at what free agents have signed for this offseason, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/features/fre...amp;season=2009 a case can be made that they are good additions based on what the market is paying. *The sox needed a leadoff hitter and what were some contracts players signed--Figgins and his 4 yr, $36 mill deal; the A's are supposedly close to signing Coco Crisp to a $5 mill. deal; Polanco's 3 yr $18 mill deal. Pierre's $3.5 mill. deal this year doesn't look so bad given the context of filling the Sox need. *Bullpen help: Putz getting a $3 mill base salary looks better than a Lyon's 3 yr, $15 mill deal or LaTroy hawkins deal or Rafael Soriano's $7 + mill. deal *Bench: Vizquel [$1.375 mill.] looks better than Alex Cora [$2 mill], Alex Gonzalex or John McDonald. Andruw Jones is cheaper than Langerhans and Jason Michaels. *Infield: I'm not a huge fan of Teahen. But is his deal much worse than Pedro Feliz and his $4.5 mill salary? Not IMO. Or adding Scutaro for 2b or SS and his $6 + mill. deal a yr + losing a draft pick? Personally, I'm content with what the sox have done with the additions of Peavy and Rios during last season and this offseason with re-signing Kotsay, adding Teahen, Vizquel, Jones, Putz and Pierre. I'd like the sox to make a bigger move via the trade front--esp. as I believe the sox need a young LH middle of the order bat and a long term solution to the top of the order. But who knows what is out there. And I don't want to trade key pieces of the sox thin farm system while the sox have so little payroll flexibility [esp. Konerko and Linebrink]. With another year of the farm system improving, the sox may be better able to swing a larger deal next offseason. Rios is a big risk, as the salary contraints could hamstring the sox for years. Yet is Rios any more of a long term risk than Jason Bay or Matt Holliday will be when they sign their huge deals? Will Bay or Holliday have any more incentive to work harder and improve their games after getting their big pay days, than Rios, a former All-star who has been embarrased by knowing that no team wanted him, that other teams, fans and players think he's washed up at age 28? Rios has to show some pride and heart this year. I don't know if he will. But the sox I do like the Sox style of getting players who have been successful for most of their pro careers [including the minors], often at a reduced cost salary wise to due injury/ poor recent performance, and expecting them to perform like they have in the past and improve on their previous season rather than overpaying on the free agent market. [Pods and Dye in 05; Dotel; Thome, Quentin-his work in the minors]. There are some misses--Swisher a big one. Yet even vets need an incentive to put in that extra work to get in the best shape, refine their games, and improve on their previous year-an incentive that goes beyond dollars and cents.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 21, 2009 -> 12:33 AM) If they just owed him the $9.7 million or whatever it is for 2010, he's worth the gamble, but considering how they seem to always be up against a wall with their budget and you really can't count on an attendance spike, especially in this economy, $5 years, $60 million is a crazy committment. He obviously has the tools to live up to the contract, and perhaps even make it look like a bargain, but he also seems to be a threat to be a poster boy for people who just deteriorate after they get the money. It may seem like a crazy committment now, but to truly judge the deal we will have to look at how Rios performs the entire length of the contract. Teams are still overpaying for free agents this offseason, so the $9.7 mill. this year isn't all that outrageous. If the economy turns around some in late 2010 and into 2011, the $12 mill. may also seem in line Williams went out on a limb and is counting in Rios to perform near to what he's going to get paid. If Rios tanks, it's a contract that isn't a killer. But it would keep the sox from spending on other free agents in the future--not that the sox spend money on FA's anyway. This is uncharted territory for Kenny. Maybe after the Peavy deal, he got a little ahead of himself and went to that "take on the big long term contract" well when he shouldn't. But time will tell.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Dec 21, 2009 -> 12:25 AM) The higher attendance in '06 and '07 are season-ticket hangovers from the World Series euphoria. You've kind of touched on what I've said quite a few times here: regardless of how good this team is out of the gate in 2010, it will take a while for people to start really showing up to the park. Remember, they didn't start regularly selling out games in 2005 until the month of August. This is why, when the team sets payroll for the upcoming season, they can't just assume people will show up to cover the amount they've spent. They have to be damn sure people will be there. The 2008 attendance was also poor, even though they made the playoffs, because they were mediocre most of the year, and backed into the playoffs.

QUOTE (1977 sox fan @ Dec 19, 2009 -> 09:39 AM) yes we do need a real hitter . its sad that we can't find a way to spend 6 to 8 mil on a good player . well we could try to trade for Josh Hamilton he is cheap and i believe under team control for a couple more years . yeah he is a risk but he is a real talented player . Hamilton and Quentin have similar question marks about health. The question is would the sox trade one risk for another risk? Would the Rangers?

Maya played with Alexei on the Pinar del Rio team, starting in 2003. Alexei played with them from 2001-2007.

Could he be ready to help the Sox as a SP in AAA, to replace John Ely? If so, at 27 yrs old, he would seem to be ready to step in should someone go down if Hudson is in the bullpen.

He's had good GB/ FB ratios the last two years, in both the minors this year and majors in 08. He doesn't give up many HR's. His K rates aren't very impressive. Dolsi is more likely to contribute this year than Santos. He certainly has better control. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...&pid=451767

The same people who are slamming the Sox for signing Scott Linebrink are complaining that no free agents want to come here. In order to get FA's to come here, the sox have to overpay, just like other teams do. That means offering more money and more years than the next team,despite what the players true "value" is. That usually doesn't turn out very well, as many teams are saddled with huge contracts that they cannot get rid of. The Cubs are the perfect case in point.

QUOTE (striker @ Dec 15, 2009 -> 09:59 PM) Hanley Ramirez for Alexei, Hudson and Morel. You could be onto something, esp. as Hanley starts getting very expensive after this year. Now, would a deal for Hanley around Quentin and Alexei be considered by the Marlins? Would the sox?

I have a real hard time seeing them non-tender DJ. If there isn't a place for him on the sox [prob. because the sox have to pay Jenks, Linebrink, Putz and a raise to Pena, though I think the sox should keep him, it's not my money] he's got value out there in the trade market.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Dec 12, 2009 -> 01:43 AM) let's face it nobody on here can say with certainty if he's the anwer or not. You can't draw any conclusions on his limited time.But, the fact is, he's better than anything we currently have in the leadoff role, which is nothing. Personally, i would like to see what he could do in the leadoff spot for an entire year. I doubt KW gives up anything of major significance for him. Maybe Retherford and lower level pitching prospect with nice potential would do it. Maybe the Yanks take a flier on Linebrink bouncing back.I think there's a decent chance that could happen and the Yankees have gotten rid of Kennedy and Bruney so there's some holes in their bullpen and money is no issue for them. Very true. He is affordable, has tools for the leadoff role, is major league ready, and has upside [probably 1 year or more ahead of Jordan Danks]. IMO, it's a decent bet that Gardner can outperform a guy like Coco Crisp for 1/2 the cost. The Yanks could probably use Carrasco. They haven't gotten prospects in many deals. If the Sox can't afford his arb. raise, him in a package for Gardner would make sense.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 11, 2009 -> 11:06 PM) They'll add another bat. I don't doubt the sox will add another bat. But it won't be a difference maker along the lines of an Adrian Gonzalez, etc. Even if the sox add bats like an OFer such as Gardner/ Crisp/ Winn and a LH DH, the sox offense won't be carrying the team. The bulk of the pressure will be on the pitching to win games--both the SP and the bullpen. The sox offense can be league average. But the pitching needs to be in the top 3rd.

If I'm the Yankees, I ask the Sox for Carrasco in a deal for Brett Gardner. And for all the Linebrink trade talk, he's not going to waive his NTC.

Without adding a difference maker on offense, the sox will need all the pitching they can get. The addition of Putz will help the bullpen. But the sox can't now lose Jenks or Carrasco.

The Yanks certainly don't need him with Granderson so the asking price can't be outrageous. He has decent upside, and can play solid defense. He's one of the few rookie position players to actually see extended playing time in years. Getting Gardner would allow the sox to spend money both on a DH like Matsui and a bullpen arm like Putz.

SoxNet: Sox Reportedly Ask Yankees About Gardner Supposedly, the Sox were asking the Yanks what it would take to acquire Gardner. http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2009/12...news_sox_e.html

FWIW, Bruce Levine says the sox and cubs have been the most aggressive with Putz, and that the sox have offered him a contract. Says base could be $2.5 mill. and with incentives up to $6, $7 mill. If true, sounds like a fair deal, with Brandon Lyon getting a 3 yr $15 mill. deal. Better not to be saddled with extra years than to pay out more if Putz meets the incentives. http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?name=levine