beck72

According to Cowley today, there were rumors that the sox are still trying to acquire a front line SP with Gavin Floyd and minor leaguers. Only a guy like Dan Haren would make sense to include Gavin in a deal. The Dbacks would save $25 mill over the next 4 years, as Haren is owed $49.25 through 2013, and Gavin is owed $24.25 over that same time. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...soxnt25.article

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 25, 2009 -> 12:34 PM) Once again, we're looking at definitely losing Flowers if we traded for Sherrill. I guess you take a good arm (right or left) wherever you can get it, but the White Sox will pay an additional premium because he's a LHP, and the biggest weakness in our pen right now (assuming Jenks is actually okay) has been Linebrink and to a lesser extent, Dotel and Carrasco. Although Pena has shown some flashes, he's been erratic, as well. The O's are said to be looking at a major league ready corner IFer. Flowers I wouldn't do for Sherrill, who is likely their best trade chip. The sox should look at a guy like Scott Downs. He gets groundballs, keeps walks down, and gets K's. With the Jays in cost cutting mode, they should want his salary [$3.75 mill., IIRC] off the books.

Actually, the rotation isn't in that bad of shape. Contreras has been very solid since returning from AAA. He looked good yesterday, throwing strikes unlike his first start after the break. He's a very good #4 SP. Going forward, the sox #5 can probably be filled by one of Richard, Torres or Freddy. Colon isn't fooling anyone, even with his quality start yesterday.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Jul 25, 2009 -> 08:48 AM) The tigers have our number this year. We have most of the twins number, all of the indians, all of the royals, all of the rays, all of the dodgers, all of the angels. Thats all it is, the tigers match up with us better this year and we lose to them. Heading into yesterday's DH, the sox and Tigers were 4-4 vs. each other this year. The tigers lead the series 6-4 now. That's not exactly like the Twins of past years who ran circles around the sox. The Tigers don't impress me all that much.

Ken Rosenthal says that the Sox are looking at the O's George Sherrill, among many other arms on their "radar". Sherrill seems to be a big flyball pitcher, looking at his splits, with 2x as many FB outs than GB. Not sure if he'd be a fit. But the key is that the sox are knocking on a lot of doors looking to the bullpen. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9848430...n-A%27s-Cabrera

QUOTE (forrestg @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 11:00 AM) Victor Garate a left handed reliever for the Chatanooga lookouts. Dodgers picked him up in the aaa phase of th e rule 5 draft I think last year. He has great era 41 strikeouts in 38 innings don't know any peripherals pitches but he is from Venezuela. Victor was born in Maracay Venezuela birthplace of Ozzie Guillen. Just a hunch. I could see Garate as a possible target. He was a starter most of last year, though has been in relief this year. An organization can never have enough LHP's--esp if the sox trade Poreda or Richard.

23 yr old LHP James Adkins could be an arm the Sox would want. Was a 1st rd pick in 2007, had a 5 + ERA in 2008, and has been mediocre this year. Has better breaking stuff, and could be a reliever at worst. Threw 6 IP and only gave up 1 hit yesterday [if the sox were watching]. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...&pid=448266

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Jul 24, 2009 -> 03:39 AM) I could be way off, I really do not know, but I get the hunch for every one of these stories we read, 5 of them don't get reported. I'm sure the Sox have their scouts covering numerous teams. Not saying this isn't news, just my opinion. I agree. But with the deadline 8 days away, every bit of news is a little bigger. Esp. with the Dodgers in need of arms, both SP and bullpen, some deal is likely to go down

Not sure if this was posted anywhere, that the Sox were scouting the LA dodgers AA team the Lookouts [among other teams like ATL, the Cubs, and Mets. Could be the Sox looking to deal a bullpen arm [Dotel?]. Who on their AA team would be of interest for the sox? http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/07/23/groundw...o-get-pitchers/

The boos were loud on Tues. night for Bobby. Why? I don't know. Maybe the fools hadn't checked Bobby's stats lately. Or watched many baseball games and know that all players are going to screw up once in a while. Maybe it was too many drunks like the fool behind me in LF who was making fun of Quentin for throwing wide of home plate, even though Carlos has missed almost two months--obnoxious guys who never had the talent to play the game, but think that they are experts because they have the eyes to watch. IMO, booing is the idiot's version of yelling. It takes a little bit of thinking to yell, "Throw a strike!". It takes no brain power to simply open your mouth and let out a "Booooooooo!"

Sounds like a better option than Bartolo [batting practice] Colon.

If this is true--which it makes perfect sense--Torres would be able to come in to relieve Richard if Clayton needs to be removed early. While Torres wouldn't "start", he'd be available to go 4, 5 innings in a relief role--something Poreda, Carrasco wouldn't. Poreda would likely go down to make room.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jul 19, 2009 -> 12:13 PM) I think they are going to see how Colon does on that July 24th double header before they decide what to do with Poreda. July 21st vs Tampa will likely be make or break for Richard. If he falters once again, I say there is a real good chance Poreda gets inserted into the rotation. Poreda's not stretched out. IIRC, Ozzie, and Coop have both said publicly Poreda isn't an option for the 5th spot right now.

Sounds more like Kenny Williams has more confidence in Poreda than Ozzie. I know the sox need another lefty in the pen. But that's what Richard's job will be soon enough. Then send Poreda down to AAA to get stretched out. Bring in Carlos Torres for a shot. I'd rather try anyone than Bartolo.

QUOTE (chisoxfan09 @ Jul 19, 2009 -> 12:53 PM) Beck, correct me if I am wrong in agreeing with you but even with the upside Danks has he is not as far along in his dev as Beckham was to consider throwing him into AAA for a short spell and then the bigs? Think he is at least another year plus away and better suited to start or crack the line up in 2011. A ST invote for next year might not be impossible if he rakes in AA at BHam but that is as far as I see him progressing. Danks seems closer than 2011. He's older than Beckham [by more than a month ], and he was even hitting better than Gordon at AA before sliding down. Who knows if he's "hit the wall" or coming back down to earth, but Jordan seems to have the tools to be on a faster track than 2011. I was just saying if the sox thought Danks could come up this year and step in [and outproduce Wise / BA] if someone went down, then it made sense not to get another OFer.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 19, 2009 -> 12:51 PM) I imagine the Sox would rather not give up their minor league talent when they may have such players in Wise and Anderson, and potentially even Cook, Kroeger, and Danks (though that is likely a year early), while they may also be able to find a AAA player in someone else's organization for a nobody from the minors. There's really no need at this point to trade for an MLB 4th outfielder. that's really the point. the need may come after the deadline, when only guys with huge bloated contracts will pass through waivers, not young guys who can potentially be part of the 2010, 2011 squad. And Norris Hopper prob. doesn't qualify I'm talking about acquiring someone on another team's 40 man roster, who could contribute basically right away. Listening to the Sox postgame on the score yesterday, Mark Gonzalez said that Kenny gave his scouts orders at the end of spring to search the minors for OFers who could help the sox. So far, no names besides Hopper have come the sox way. [Although Pods prob. qualifies]. The sox don't even have an OFer in AAA who could help them. Unless the sox think Danks could outperform BA and Wise right away [which he prob. could], I have no problem not getting another OFer.

If the sox wanted to only win in 2009 and 2010, sure, the trade makes some sense. But trading Danks [under team control for decade for 1/4 of what Roy will make post 2010, not to mention Alexei], is absurd. I've talked about trading Alexei before. But in the right deal, for a young potential ace, such as to Boston for one, two of their young arms. Not a 32 yr old who'll be making $20 + mill. Granted Roy's a stud. But he's a stud that stands to make 1/4 of the Sox entire team payroll once his contract expires.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 19, 2009 -> 02:52 AM) Two slap hitting outfielders? No thanks. A guy who could have played LF or CF, played solid defense, hit .290, post a .350 OBP, and hit a leadoff should Pods go down, for the equivalent of Brian Anderson and Kyle McCulloch [roughly what Milledge was worth]? Yeah right, no thanks.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 19, 2009 -> 10:13 AM) Key word there is better. If Quentin is healthy and Dye continues to produce, you aren't going to find much better production than the Sox have without giving up a torso along with that arm and leg. Best case is no one gets hurt, and everyone stays fresh, and the bat they get may have to be moved around to see action[as a healthy Pods and Q should outproduce whoever they get]. Yet without adding another OFer who can hit and defend [better than what BA and Wise can give the sox], so the sox can rest Quentin, Dye, Thome and Pods, everything has to go perfect: Q can't re-injure his foot; a 38 and 35 year old [the teams' #3 and #4 hitters] have to keep producing during the hardest part of the season [the heat, playing through minor injuries, being worn down]; the SP has to keep producing; the bullpen can't have let downs; the defense can't get worse than how bad it's been. I'm not saying to acquire an All Star and have the guy as a backup. Or who could outproduce Pods, Q or Dye. But the sox need another OFer who could be a regular everyday player. BA and Wise are not. I liken it to the sox having Uribe last year. If he wasn't around for 3b when Crede went down, the sox don't make the playoffs. Right now, one of the Sox OFers go down, the sox don't have a guy who can step in and play without a MAJOR drop off in production. Someone who can hit .250, play solid defense, and play more than one OF spot would fit my requirements [like I have a say]. If the sox think Jordan Danks can do that, great. He's farther along than most people think.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jul 19, 2009 -> 12:59 AM) Seems like Nyjer Morgan could have been had easily. I was on board to go after him. The sox could have made a decent offer.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 18, 2009 -> 11:02 PM) That was his point. Pods to CF. With Quentin still playing mostly DH, he's still iffy for LF. I can see why the sox might tell Gammons, etc that they don't NEED an OFer, esp with Q coming back. Teams will try and rake others who seem and are desperate.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 18, 2009 -> 07:59 PM) I don't care if you go to church every Sunday or donate to charity. Dukes is a talent. I'd love to have him. Getting Dukes goes against everything the sox have tried to build this decade. Dukes' problems are well-documented and has serious issues.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 18, 2009 -> 07:57 PM) Per Gammons, KW won't be picking up an OF. Link? I don't buy it. If Quentin was going to be fine, I could see putting resources into the 5th starter. But Carlos could go down anytime with the stress of running on his foot. Not having a Plan B leaves the sox open to a huge hole in the OF.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 18, 2009 -> 04:44 PM) Not a big fan of David Murphy. He's a decent player, but he doesn't provide much upside. One guy I've been thinking about is Nate McLouth. I wonder if the Braves will put him back on the block if they fall out of the race. I'm a big McLouth fan, and would love to get, but the Braves would probably be asking for a lot. I would love to get Teahen depending on the price. Also, I'd really try and explore a possibility of a Dotel for Hermida trade. At this point, the sox are just looking to upgrade from Anderson/ Wise. Who wants to have one of those guys starting should the sox make the playoffs? Murphy would be a better option than those two. McLouth prob. won't be available. The Braves gave up a lot to get him and he's under contract for a few yrs. Hermida's been mentioned by the Marlins as available for the last 2 yrs, prob. them wanting a big price for him. I'm not all that impressed by Hermida.

QUOTE (Disco72 @ Jul 18, 2009 -> 04:44 PM) Beck - I wasn't picking on you as much as I was looking at the view that many feel Dye's option is too expensive, but some feel Rios is a good option. Depending on what you believe about the Sox financial situation, all Spring and Summer (until KW's recent attendance comments), I've believed the Sox are in a great position to take advantage of other team's financial woes. If Rios could be had cheaply in terms of not giving up prospects we really like by assuming most or all of his contract, this is the kind of thing that I was hoping the Sox could do. I really have no idea what the financial reality of it is. So far, there hasn't been much (any?) salary dumping going on in MLB which contradicts the conventional wisdom being spewed by sports writers / analysts starting last winter. The Sox M.O. in the past has been to "overpay" in terms of prospects in deals, in order to get cash back or to get better players. What might happen is there might be a lot of action after the deadline as teams will seek to unload contracts through the waiver process. The sox might be able to strike deals that way, with lower level prospects as trade pieces that don't need to go through waivers.