beck72

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 16, 2009 -> 02:05 AM) He offered Fukudome more money than the Cubs did. He offered Rowand 4 years and when SF went to 5 he told Aaron he couldn't go 5. Not foresight. Luck. I don't recall the sox offer ever being confirmed as being the highest with Fukudome. I thought the sox offered $10 mill a yr for 4 yrs, and the Cubs had a higher offer and the extra incentives of playing Rf and being the 1st position player from Japan playing with the cubs. But my key point is luck really doesn't have anything to do with the Sox not being tied down to albatross type contracts. Other GM's are willing to add years or salary for free agents, vastly overpaying for players. Kenny would rather overpay in trades for the right player. Sure, there are some misses [swisher a prime example]. But those trades don't prevent the sox major league club from being competitive. The Sox only "overpay" [ie, paying the competitive, going rate] for their own proven vets, like PK, Mark, Contreras, AJ, Dye, etc. With the sox farm system being vastly improved, the sox will be in much better shape in the years ahead. They can add players with trades. And get contributions from the minor league players [beckham, Getz, Poreda, etc]. Other teams are stuck keeping scrubs on their roster [ex. Luis Castillo, Dontrelle Willis, Pierre, Fukudome, et al], preventing them from upgrading at those spots, when they would have loved to gotten rid of them.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Jun 16, 2009 -> 12:59 AM) It seems that Danks has had a nagging injury the past few games. Might be the reason for his recent "slump". Hopefully he gets well soon

QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 16, 2009 -> 01:00 AM) Probably not yet, but still when it does happen, which will be soon, it will be pretty cool. For both John and Jordan. Plus Jordan's jersey will (hopefully) read: "Jor. Danks" I wouldn't think he'd be coming up. But I'd like to see what he's capable of in Chicago this year.

Danks hopping a plane to Chicago to play CF behind his brother Tues. night?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 16, 2009 -> 12:43 AM) And some good fortune too (Torii Hunter) Hunter, at the sox price, not the price the LAA signed him for, would have been an OK deal. His wouldn't have been the kind of deal that haunts a team like Zito's.

Just say no to Zito! Kenny Williams deserves a lot of credit for not being tied down to horrible contracts like Zito. Many teams around the league have these crap contracts filling up their rosters [just see the Cubs]. I just read today that Dontrelle Willis still has like $22 million due to him thru 2011. Thank goodness KW has had the foresight to not get bogged down in some bad contracts [like Rowand, Fukudome,] when a lot of people were calling for him to open the checkbook.

QUOTE (forrestg @ Jun 15, 2009 -> 04:58 AM) Danks did well in Arizona fall league and so far he is moving fast in our minor league system. I realize he doesn't have Beckhams polish and perhaps he does need a little more seaoning in the minors. If we play Anderson everyday in center we could use a nice lefty bat off the bench or fourth outfielder. In our minor league system we just don't have much I believe a trade could be the order of the day. But I'm not sure who is available for KW. I don't want to say fields as trade bait for another outfielder but that is about all that I would give up . If Danks was called up, IMO, it'd be Anderson who would be the 4th OFer. Brian has just about used up his options as a starting, everyday CFer for the Sox. Danks needs to play everyday, like Beckham, whether it would be in Chi, Charlotte or Birmingham. If Anderson/ Wise don't show much in a few weeks, I'd expect Danks to come up. He could give the sox similar defense with prob. more offense than the Wise/ Brian combo.

QUOTE (RME JICO @ Jun 15, 2009 -> 01:58 AM) Speed? He has 0 SB's an 2 CS. He defense is good, but that's it. He shouldn't be batting 5th and getting 4 AB's a game. He should be a late inning defensive replacement at the most. The speed was from last year. IIRC, he had success there. But before you get the idea that I'm defending him, I said he's a AAAA player. He should not be on the sox, even as a defensive replacement.

I don't blame Wise. He's trying to play with what he's got. What he's got is a game suited for AAAA. But I mostly blame Kenny for not getting a viable 4th OFer option who can hit, get on base, play defense, has speed and can handle the bat. Wise has speed and can play defense.

QUOTE (Crash73 @ Jun 14, 2009 -> 12:11 AM) Just remember there was a time when Rowand was considered the same. Good defense, no bat. Some kids take more time to develop. Except Brian is now 27. Welcome to soxtalk!

QUOTE (WCSox @ Jun 12, 2009 -> 03:14 PM) I'd say that losing 3 out of 5 and being 28-33 in a bad division says a lot more about the makeup of this team than "only losing the three games by 1 run each." The bottom line is that the Sox aren't that good this year, and won't be competitive in the playoffs if they're lucky enough to make it there. If the Sox are back up at .500 three or four weeks from now, I'd like to see Kenny stand pat. But if they fall back further or if Detroit really surges ahead, Kenny needs to put out feelers for Dye, Dotel, and possibly AJ as well (I'm assuming that their NTCs make Paulie and Thome un-tradeable at this point). I agree the division is bad. But making the playoffs is still making the playoffs. And I have a hard time seeing the sox pull the plug on a team that can win the division. Esp. if no other team makes a surge before Aug.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jun 12, 2009 -> 02:46 PM) I'm not a big fan of the term fire sale. Now it would be one thing if KW trades PK and AJ to go along with Dye, Dotel and possibly Thome. But if he trades away 3 expirering contracts, i wouldnt consider that a fire sale. Knowing Kenny, I could see him trading away Dye and Dotel, but still bringing in a legit starting pitcher. I consider "firesale" to mean trading away players with the view that the sox aren't going to contend for the division, but will try to be contenders for 2010. Other teams "firesale" like the Pirates, mean trading away players with the hope of getting better in a few years, such as vets for A ball prospects.

The sox shouldn't be trading away players this year. The Detroit series showed the sox can compete with the "best" of the AL Central. The sox weren't overmatched at all, and lost the three games by 1 run each. If the Tigers are favored to win the Central, the Sox aren't far behind. So trading away key players who would be both 1] wanted by other teams [ie Dotel, Dye, PK, Jenks] and 2] not easily replaced by guys from the minors, would keep the sox from catching Det. It doesn't look like any team in the Central is going to run away with the division. Looking closer at the stats, the Sox, even with their poor showing thus far, match up well with Det. Pitching: Sox: Total ERA 5th, 4.23; Starters: 8th, 4.50; Bullpen: 3rd, 3.64 Tigers: total ERA-2nd, 3.99; SP: 2nd, 3.91; Bullpen: 9th, 4.53 Hitting: Sox: runs-12th, 246; Avg.-12th, .249; SLG: 13th, .392; OBP-11th, .321 Det: Runs-8th, .292; Avg-10th, .259; SLG-9th, .408; OBP-8th, .331 Right now, neither the sox or Det. match up with the Red sox or Yanks. But in order to make the playoffs, the sox just have to match up with the tigers, Twins and KC. Getting hot if or when the playoffs come is the key. Now injuries could play a part in a firesale. But if Carlos can come back, and the sox start hitting with RISP like they have in the past, the young guys [Getz, Alexei, Beckham/ Fields] show improvement in the 2nd half, the offense can't be as bad as it has. The SP should also improve. Contreras would be better than Colon. Floyd and Danks are coming back to life. Richard could show some drop off. The bullpen has been lights out, and a healthy unit should keep the sox from losing games late. They have been showing what the Twins have done so well through the years--holding leads, and keeping their team in the game while they are losing, so the offense can score late runs. The offense hasn't done that. But the bullpen has been doing its job and then some. The sox aren't scaring anyone for sure. [Except the fanbase, for sure] But the overall talent in the Central has dropped. That alone should keep the sox from trading away key contributors in 2009 for prospects who may help in a few years. The sox have enough AA type talent that they don't need to load up on more prospects. The AL Central is likely going to be won by one team going on a winning streak, just like the Tigers did. The sox may be able to become buyers, provided its for a player that would help this year and in the future.

Dotel would net the sox a very good return, esp. as he has closing experience. If they held onto him, they could offer him arb. and get 2 picks for him. Any deal would have to be better than that.

Josh may be a nice guy. But talking like this isn't the answer. He's looked nothing like the hitter he was in 2007, when he hit the ball hard. and he's not hurt like in 2008. I think the sox will go with Beckham as long he gets a few hits, and keeps making contact. Fields should be gone in 2 weeks time.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jun 9, 2009 -> 11:00 AM) They know that they're spinning their wheels this year. Why not call up the youngsters. The sox are right in between being buyers or sellers. They now need to see what some of their young players look like in the bigs, to see who to build around. Poreda could be someone to build around.

I could see him coming up for Gobble. But Colon should be dealt now, when he has some value, before they have to release him. And Contreras take his spot in the rotation.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Jun 7, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) I'm not writing off Beckham. Where the heck did you get that from? I have consistently said Beckham is part of the solution, not the problem. What I'm talking about is waiting and seeing how the young guys [Getz, BA, Beckham] do given extended paying time. Writing them off is only giving them 1/4 of a season. Then, if they don't progress, or aren't ready, more meaningful changes can be made. These changes could involve trading key young prospects to fill a key spot, such as CF. McLouth plays a poor CF, from all accounts. And I agree Beckham is part of the solution. IMO, so is Getz. A guy who can reach base in 86% of his teams games in AAA [a stat you should love], is what the sox need. Give the guy time. I just don't see how you write off a .299 hitter with a .360 OBP in AAA and say this isn't what the sox need. But you do like to argue. Kind of reminds me of Ncorgbl [sp?]

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 8, 2009 -> 01:33 AM) I don't need to be a doctor to see that his head isn't in the game. He had a serious brain cramp a day or two ago letting a throw get past him and then jogging back to get it, today he botched a pop-up, he is swinging at pitches well out of the zone... and normally that isn't his history. Mind you, I think he's got a good future. I like Chris. But its clear that the league adjusted to him, he's thrown off a bit, and needs to get back on track. Well going back to AAA isn't going to get him back on track. The Sox have to see if he can be an everyday player in the bigs. I think he can. He's not like Lillibridge out there, overmatched. And the pop up yesterday probably should have been Anderson's ball. The entire IF was on the edge of the grass. BA had a better look at it coming in.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 7, 2009 -> 04:04 PM) Getz in the Iguchi role (if we had the Pods of 2005, first half) would be more valuable than what he is to this team. We have to give him more time...and he's had a lot of little, nagging injury problems that have kept him from getting on a consistent streak of hitting. As long as he's hitting line drives (DJ had a stat that 56% of line drives end up as hits or something like that) and not uppercutting, he SHOULD be fine. The problem is who do you sit: Getz, Ramirez or Fields? Fields. Beckham is here mostly to play 3b. I also saw an interesting stat today at the game. Getz was on base in something like 86% or 84% of his games last year in AAA. That tells me this kid is part of the solution, not part of the problem.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 7, 2009 -> 10:53 PM) I like Getz, but his head is just not anywhere near where it should be right now. his issues aren't mechanical like Fields', they are mental, IMO. I rarely do this, but, here is my "if I was KW/Ozzie" laundry list of things to happen in the next week... --Getz back to AAA to get his head back on straight --Beckham (who should not have been called up yet, but he's here, so he needs to play) moves to 2B --Fields starts at third, we'll see if he can keep up the improvements --TCQ back from DL --Wise DFA/release --Gobble DFA/release or possibly AAA --Contreras returns from AAA (gonna happen anyway) --If Contreras looks good, then release Colon (who has nothing left), and bring up C. Torres for the pen (and to back up Contreras' slot) --Pods starting in CF (can't believe I am saying that, but, he has been a pleasant surprise), Anderson 4th OF and defensive replacement --Kroeger up from AAA (that makes the bench Anderson (all OF), Nix (3B-SS-2B), Kroeger (corner OF, 1B) and Castro ©, which I think covers everything) --Greg Walker fired (won't happen, and no I am NOT saying he's entirely to blame, but I think its necessary at this point) --Promote Allen, Cook, Danks2, Omogrosso, possibly Retherford to AAA, to be ready to step in if necessary Do these things now, play out June, and see where the team is at. If we can compete, great. If not, you are staged for the youth movement. Fire away. Unless you are Getz' therapist, please stay away from playing doctor. Getz has had two injuries to deal with. He fractured his finger at the time he was hitting over .300 and had an OBP over .400. This kid is doing the right things and is no where near the "mess" people think he is. Did you know Getz is 2nd among AL rookies in hits, despite the games he's missed due to injury?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 7, 2009 -> 07:59 AM) Bottom line, playing 81 home games at USCF, Getz can't be a starter. If he was playing at Safeco or Petco or in the Metrodome, you might be able to hide him in the line-up more easily. He won't kill your offense, but he's a below average player in that regard and he still hasn't learned how to maximize his speed in terms of stolen bases, either. Are you saying that Getz can't be a starter for the Sox because the Cell's a home run hitter's park, yet would be OK in a pitcher's park? IMO, Getz' approach to offense [making contact, hitting for avg, posting a decent OBP, working counts, smart baserunning] helps the sox lineup that is still heavily reliant on the long ball. He's a guy who can score from 2b on a single, or from 1st on a double. The sox have had too many years of innings with needing 3 hits to score a run. The sox have hit a lot of solo HR's in recent years. Having guys on base [which is what Getz has done in his minor league career-both in avg. and OBP], regardless of where the team plays, helps team's score runs. In an ideal world, the sox lineup would feature 9 guys who all have speed, power, patience and can hit .280-.300. Few guys in the league have that total package who can do that, let alone have a lineup full of them. The sox need a blend of power guys and guys who can compliment that power, esp. playing 82 games in the Cell. Getz compliments the current team quite well.

Another aspect to Lucas Harrell's strong outing--he had 17 groundball outs to 4 Flyball outs. For the season, he has a 2.58 GB/ FB ratio.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Jun 6, 2009 -> 08:00 PM) There are several flaws in this logic. First, McLouth didn't cost Atlanta any top prospects. And it certainly wouldn't have cut into the Sox' offering of Richard and Poreda in a deal for another top starter, if such a deal were to materialize. In other words, McLouth was had by Atlanta at the cost of no player who was likely to even play for Atlanta in the near future. Second, by waiting on Danks, the Sox have essentially thrown in the towell on the 2009 season. See my other post on our complete lack of power. This is the worst hitting Sox team this decade. It is worse than the 2007 team that lost 90 games. McLouth could have immediately -- not at some undetermined future point - given us an above-average CF and filled one of the 3 biggest holes on this club. In a year when it won't take even 89 wins to take the division, it is silly not to consider trading for a very inexpensive, young CF who is fast and has lefty power. This is the kind of guy who, if Quentin returns and gets hot, Ramirez starts hitting like last year, and Beckham gets hot, could be a very big boost to an anemic offense -- THIS YEAR. Third, McLouth wouldn't lose any of his value even if Jordan Danks is a superstar immediately -- which is an extremely unlikely prospect. Next year the Sox are going to have to decide what to do with Jermaine Dye, the best hitter on the club. If we keep him, and I think we should, the question is whether he should continue playing RF. McLouth hits well enough to move to RF IF Danks were ready next season, which is a big IF. Plus, it's not like McLouth would have lost any of his value while on the Sox. He's signed for 3 more years. If we have someone better come along, McLouth would have been valuable in trade. Danks may be major league ready, but that doesn't mean he's going to hit well, or hit with power. McLouth does both, and at 27, is still on the upwards arc to his career. Fourth, Jordan Danks, with 3 HRs at Birmingham in 92 ABs, isn't going to solve the Sox power problems even if he were called up this year or next. To win at the Cell, the Sox need power hitters up and down the lineup. Danks might get there some day, but he's not close to being there now. Fifth, Danks doesn't even have the wheels McLouth has. So far, Danks has 3 SB with 2 CS. McLouth's major league stolen base line: 64 steals, 5 times caught stealing. The only edge Danks is likely to have in the near term over McLouth is in fielding ability. And we already have a CF who is a great fielder in Brian Anderson. We need guys who can get on base, run, and hit for power. McLouth could have been that guy. 1st-The package ATL gave the Pirates was decent. The prospects were solid overall 2nd-This team needs help in a few positions. But it's still too early to write off Getz, Beckham and Anderson. All three [OK, maybe not BA] should be able to best McLouth's current avg. and OBP. Yet Quentin is still the key to this team. If he's not healthy, I don't see the sox winning the AL Central let alone going far in the playoffs. This team has to have Carlos hitting or they aren't going anywhere. 3rd-5th points: If McLouth was a key guy to build around, then the sox should have traded for him. IMO, and Kenny Williams', he wasn't. In yours, he probably was. Bottom line, he's a Brave. The sox will make moves. And not going after McLouth was a move and a statement.

Getz is a keeper. He'll be a solid pro, an everyday player. He's part of the solution of improving the sox offense--hitting for avg, making contact, getting on base, speed and smarts on the bases. Josh Fields is likely a trade chip. When you're a major league player and have trouble hitting a 90 mph FB, something's wrong. Nix is a bench guy. Nothing more. For 2009, we'll see Beckham mostly at 3b. Fields will back him up. Getz should see most of the time at 2B. If Gordon can hit and field at 3b, Fields should be gone this year.