beck72

If he can throw strikes, put him in the bullpen. If his velocity is down, few offers will come his way.

Adding a guy like Orlando Hudson at 2b, who can then hit leadoff, would be job #1. Konerko might be traded-if the angels can't re-sign Texiera; the Giants may be a possibility. If PK gets traded, I'd expect a move for a CF via trade, with Swisher at 1b. Taveras from Col. would be a decent fit hitting #9 to inject speed and defense. Or if PK stays, I could see a trade for 3b with less power. I don't think Fields is helping himself with his recent play. I don't know where Griffey fits though.

Wise doesn't seem that bad defensively. Everyone and the coaching staff are confident in Anderson's D in LF and Cf. What Wise does best is hit RHP [.319/.353/.532 in 47 ab's]. Something Brian hasn't been able to consistently do [though he hasn't had a lot of time in the lineup]. Guys like Wise and Anderson must produce in the limited time they get or they won't be around. Wise has been stellar in his role, producing big time. Wise has enough speed to steal bases-6 for 6 isn't bad in only 54 at bats. Brian-not so much. the sox can afford to wait until Sept. 1 to call up Owens to be the PR late in games. Wise can handle it until then. BTW-Wise played with Griff the last two years in Cincy.

Every series is different. This last 4 game set, the sox seemed overmatched. When the Twins were in Chi. last, the Twins looked like a high school team going up against the Sox. The Twins may go back to playing like that H.S. team. They may continue surprising people. But the sox need to take care of their own business. They win each series, they'll take the Central, no matter what the Twins do. The Twins play the game the right way. Gardenhire and the organization want a certain type of player and they keep interchanging them. They are to be respected. But not feared. Ozzie and Hawk do feed into the "Oh, the Twins are awesome and we're lucky to win a game" attitude. That doesn't help the players to hear about all the slobbering those two do about the Twins. But the sox can learn from the Twins model-esp. in regards to not relying on the 3 run homer to win every game. Sure, the sox will always need some big bats. But they also need guys who are fundamentally sound offensively and defensively. The sox helped themselves with the additions of Quentin and Cabrera. Swisher would have to if he hit for his career avgs. I think this offseason Kenny will continue to re-make the lineup. Starting w/ an Orlando Hudson signing.

Lannan makes sense. He could fill in for Jose until he's back. If Jose is healthy and throwing well, Lannan can go to the bullpen. A LHP who can eat 2 innings at a time, and be on the roster in case a SP goes down/ or is sucking, would kill 2 birds with one stone.

If the sox acquired him I could see moving him in another deal. Not much time before the deadline, though. Yet he'd likely be a good addition to the bullpen. Then in the offseason, the sox could move Javy or Jose.

Barring some unseen trade of PK to the West coast [LAD?] I could see some kind of rotation in RF, 1b and DH that gets everyone AB's and rest. Griffey struggles vs LHP and has been very strong vs RHP. PK has been bad vs both-but better vs RHP with a .680 OPS.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Jul 31, 2008 -> 10:45 AM) If he's coming cheaper than we first thought, yet the White Sox still can't get him, what does that say about our minor league system? Street scares me some - I've heard a lot of the baseball "experts" speak on him, and most aren't really convinced with the questions on him. It doesn't bode well at all. Though the A's basically have acquired most of the sox top minor league talent--Gio, DLS, Sweeney, Cunningham, Carter, etc. I guess it comes down to health with Street. Beane won't give Street away. And he could wait until the offseason to trade him. Though if he gets hurt no one will touch him. Tough call.

Seems the sox are making a last pitch for Street, though it would have to be a 3 way deal. With the questions surrounding Street, I'd say he'd come cheaper than we first thought. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...-ssep31.article

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2008 -> 01:37 AM) What's laughable is that some actually mention Lance Broadway as a Massett replacement. The guy has a 6.51 ERA his last 10 starts. I don't know what throwing him into the mix accomplishes unless you are masochistic. Masset's last 10 games for the sox-Monthly Totals: 9.1 IP,18 h,10R 10ER 2 HR, bb 5, SO 5, 1-0 0 sv 9.64 ERA

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2008 -> 01:45 AM) So you are going to throw out this season's results and call him up based on 1 start last September against KC? Massett has pitched some nice games this season and he pitched a nice one against the Cubs in 2007. Broadway is not an option. Masset did start off the year throwing well. But he has done little lately. If the sox can't trust him [which it seems to be the case--he's barely throwing even in blowouts], and he continues to slide, they'll have to release him. If Texas wants him, good luck. What I'm talking about is options in the minors for Masset's spot. Haeger, Egbert, Ohka and Broadway have all thrown in relief this year in AAA. While Broadway may not be ideal, he or another SP in AAA would likely be a better option than sticking w/ Masset.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2008 -> 01:37 AM) What's laughable is that some actually mention Lance Broadway as a Massett replacement. The guy has a 6.51 ERA his last 10 starts. I don't know what throwing him into the mix accomplishes unless you are masochistic. I did. Broadway threw well in his limited time in 07 in that role. My larger point is that the sox would probably get better production from a guy from the minors, ala Broadway, Richard, Haeger than from Masset. Carrasco was tried and has gotten some outs. The same should be tried if Masset is let go.

If the Rangers want him back for anything, the sox should jump at the chance. IMO, Nick should be replaced on the sox roster. Have Lance Broadway or Richard take Masset's spot when Jose returns. With Masset being out of options, if his ERA goes over 5.00, the sox would release him anyway.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 30, 2008 -> 08:09 PM) The reason why they were winning wasn't because Paulie wasn't playing. It was the pitching. Most find it rather obvious that the pitching had to come down to earth at least a little bit. Now they need to score runs. They need Paulie to snap out of it. Its unlikely Wise will keep up the pace he's on, and offensively if Paulie is on his game,he's one of the better hitters on the team. Well said

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jul 30, 2008 -> 08:03 PM) Seriously? Thome has been right up there with CQ and JD for the past 2 months. My bad on Thome. I forgot how far he has come in June and July since coming into June with .183 BA and a .664 OPS.

In. The central has proved itself to be far weaker than coming into 2008. The sox have as good a chance as the Twins of winning the division. the sox just have to get into the playoffs and get hot for 11 games.

Paulie is going to get every chance in the world to snap out of his funk. The sox probably can't make the playoffs w/o Paulie carrying his weight offensively [as guys like Dye, AJ, Quentin, and Alexei will probably see their numbers drop]. Unless these guys keep up their hitting, and Joe, Swisher, and Thome get hot, the sox will need PK's bat. They certainly need a less intense PK, w/o all the bat throwing, and yelling at himself. I don't think PK will sit for long if at all. I could see him getting an extra day off at least 1, 2 times a week though, if he's still struggling.

The sox would have to be considered as a possible destination--esp. for the lefty. Jose and now Alexei, along with Ozzie, would seem to be good ambassadors for guys wanting to play in the states.

I agree just because Kenny is being aggressive doesn't mean he'll add someone. With the prices teams are asking for even potential free agents, I hate to see what teams would ask for decent players who'd be locked up for a year or two. It's safe to say, if the sox don't get their guy [an arm--someone from the AL who has had proven success, who'd be locked up beyond 2008, without getting reamed in the deal], Kenny will stick with the core group. And maybe take a chance on an arm from the minors. I'd like to see Broadway replace Masset, who has no business being put in any game for the sox.

As of Mon. night, Tues 2:00 am, BP states that the sox are the most aggressive team seeking a trade. He points to the sox seeking relief help. That being the case, who does everyone see being targeted? With boone being called out on his ineffectiveness, I see the sox looking for a LHP who can get both RHB and LHBs out. I'd like the sox to get Scott Downs, from the Blue Jays. He gets groundballs, has good control, and keeps the ball in the park. He'd also be under team control, IIRC, for 2 years. I'd say goodbye to Masset and another peice. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7871

Riccardi was quoted here as saying he'd take the 2 picks if AJ left. If the team offered him arb, and he declined, the team would get the 2 picks. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3097618

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jul 28, 2008 -> 08:10 PM) I was thinking the exact same thing. The option in his contract that allows him to become a free agent should prohibit his old club from offering him arbitration since ALL ties to his former club are cut with his opting out. I didn't see anything in the CBA that said this was the case but if you can think of a good player who opted out of his deal in the past few years you can check if that team received comp picks for his departure. Didn't the LAD receive picks when Drew opted out and signed w/ the Bososx?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 27, 2008 -> 04:02 PM) He did say the organization "exhausted" themselves in the offseason to get what they have, so it would be pretty tough to do something in July. I believe he meant the minor league talent which is interesting since previously he became very defensive, almost defiant when he was questioned about the weakness of the system, almost saying that it really wasn't important. The whole thing seemed to me to be KW talking the team up, saying all the right things, apparently all the guys on the DL really didn't HAVE to go on the DL, it was just precaution, and maybe either posturing other GMs that he wasn't going to pay their price or trying to get the fanbase prepared if nothing gets done, saying the team is good enough. Its really hard to take anything away from it, because here's a guy who likes to do things on the sly. What really is he going to reveal on a radio show? Thanks for the info. Kenny has learned from previous years to get back up plans in place prior to the year starting. Teams scrambling now for major upgrades will no doubt pay a huge price in terms of talent. With the trade of his top minor league arm, Gio, though, Kenny has put himself in an odd place. It'll be interesting to see if the sox are forced to overpay for a SP. Or if Richard or another arm from the minors will be able to get outs.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jul 27, 2008 -> 03:56 PM) He said the most difficult part of being a GM nowadays is that there arent many sellers anymore, and to get a good player you have to give up a good player. Crede and Linebrink are on the DL not because they needed to be, but because the Sox want them both healthy for the stretch run. given his choice of players who have exceeded expectations(he was given Quentin, Danks, Floyd and Ramirez) he said it has to be Ramirez because of where he came from and how quickly he adjusted to the game. Thanks for the recap. KW's comments about Joe and Linebrink are encouraging. The sox are at least in the position to tread water now and get those two healthy. I don't think he'd say they were relatively healthy if they weren't. It's easy to see if they come back and help out after they come off the DL.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 26, 2008 -> 07:20 PM) My feeling is that if we acquire a starter, it needs to be an addition, not a replacement. Not nearly as much is gained if we have to take Floyd out of the rotation. I would trade anyone but the top 4 in our rotation. I want a newly acquired starter to bump Contreras out of the rotation, not to replace Floyd who has been one of our strongest starters and leave the mess that is known as Jose Contreras in to lose ballgames. I could see another SP being added that would let the sox give extra days off/ skip starts for everyone except Mark. Both Danks and Gavin haven't completed a full year of 30 MLB starts. And Jose and Vaz seem to be wearing down. If one of those 4 SP's needed to put in the bullpen, or go the 15 day DL for an extended rest, the sox would have the new SP to pick up the slack. Then, in the offseason, the sox could listen to offers for Jose, Floyd, or Javy.