beck72

Contreras' last two outings from the bullpen showed he still has good stuff [and going through 5 innings in 60 some pitches showed he has control as well]. He was hitting 95 mph by some accounts, which tells me he's not hurt. More likely some fatigue, as well as battling some personal issues with his divorce. Jose doesn't seem to be injured ala Freddy. If Jose still has solid stuff, he's more valuable to the sox [as teams won't trade for him thinking they're getting Garcia] than to other teams. The sox would then be faced with one of a couple of decisions-- a] keep Jose and spend close to $50 mill, on the rotation; b] trade Jose for far less than he's worth--basically a salary dump, with the sox getting little help and probably toss in some salary; c] trade a SP [Garland or Javy] to fill some key holes and also lower salary; If Jose is back on track with his control, stuff, and frame of mind, I'd choose "C", with Garland being the trading chip.

QUOTE(Linnwood @ Aug 12, 2007 -> 12:48 PM) As I understand it, it is not a matter if Dye will be resigned, but rather how long he will be signed for. From the sox side, a 2 yr deal with the 3rd year a team option makes sense. Dye probably wants a 3 yr deal. With Thome probably retiring after 2009, the sox could use Dye at DH in 2010 that 3rd year.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Aug 10, 2007 -> 08:35 PM) If the choices are help the Cubs and get some crappy A-ball pitcher in return or keep Pods, I'd keep Pods. The Sox are not helping themselves by helping an in-city rival make the playoffs. The sox would be helping themselves on the off chance the guy they get for Pods might contribute at some point. If it helps the Cubs, so be it. I'm sure Kenny is concerned about helping the sox improve--not worrying or caring if the Cubs would be helped or not. If the sox are going to get rid of pods this offseason by non-tendering him--which is very likely--then Pods should be dealt now when the sox can get salary relief and a prospect.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 10, 2007 -> 08:20 PM) Pods would have no say in the matter, he'll only have 5 years of service time by season's end so if the Sox offered him arb he'd have to accept it. He's not a free agent until after next season. Regardless, the sox will likely non-tender him so they wouldn't be on the hook for the $3 mill. he'll get next yr. To get something now for him makes sense.

The sox will and should trade Pods. The sox won't offer him arb. on the off chance he accepts, so they'd let him walk anyway. They would be getting something of value for him now at least.

It sounds like Cabrera will be a free agent on Monday, free to negotiate with any team. http://www.ohio.com/sports/indians/9080646.html His agent is SFX, with Arn Tellum who the sox work well with. And Cabrera is from PR, so maybe the Cintron, Vazquez, Joey Cora connection will help the sox. Plus, pitching well in a major market like Chicago can help his value. With reclamation projects like Aardsma, Sisco and Masset on board, why not another one. He has more K's than IP in his major league career.

If Jose gives 2 decent starts [it might only take 1], some team will trade for him this month. Seeing how he passed through waivers unclaimed, Jose can go to any team looking to make the playoffs.

QUOTE(Linnwood @ Aug 10, 2007 -> 11:02 AM) So is this for real this time? Didn't Hendry put out a press release a day or so ago saying this rumor was nonsense? Hendy was quoted as saying he hadn't talked to Kenny in a few weeks. If the cubs did claim Pods, they wouldn't have had to talk with him. To work out a deal now, both will have to talk though. the Cubs need someone to play Lf and hit leadoff. They were looking at Stewart. So their interest in Pods makes sense.

Don't get me wrong, I have liked Hu for awhile. I advocated the sox trying to get him before Hu was the futures game MVP. But it was before Richar looked like he's ready for fulltime 2b duty [even that is up for grabs, though]. Yet looking into 2008 for the sox, it's rare that playoff teams have rookies at both SS and 2b, mostly because of the "rookie mistakes" that will be made, all the blown DP's and giving teams 4 or 5 outs in an inning. For a pitching staff heavily reliant on infielders making all the plays, those mistakes will likely cost the sox more games than having a weak hitting Uribe at SS. If Hu is an equal to Uribe defensively for 2008 [few people around here know that--I certainly don't], if he can make the routine plays and not have a big learning curve, that's different.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 8, 2007 -> 05:10 PM) Richar probably won't be considered a rookie if he keeps getting at bats. Anyway, right now, I wouldn't rule out seeing Richar, Fields, Owens, and at least 1 other "Rookie" starting for us next year. Maybe even 2. And at this point, I'd rather have 2 rookies up the middle than 1 Uribe. While Richar might not be considered a rookie in 2008, he's young and still learning to play in the bigs. IMO, if the sox start 4, 5 rookies in 2008, the sox will be looking at 4th place. The numbers Richar, Fields and Owens would likely put up as full time players in 2008 aren't going to impress a lot of people. You add in one or two more rooks, and that's one of the worst offenses in the AL.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Aug 9, 2007 -> 03:25 AM) why the hell not? Rookie or not, Hu would at least be, most likely, an improvement over Uribe. Hu would likely be an upgrade offensively over Uribe. Yet the sox rely on strong defense--esp. up the middle--as their pitchers pitch to contact, and rely on the defense to make plays. Can Hu be reliable with the glove? Can two rookies at SS and 2b be counted on to provide the solid, consistent defense a playoff team needs? Most young players aren't going to be gold glovers right away. There's a learning process. You rarely see an inexperienced double play tandem for a team that wants to win it all. That's all I'm saying. And I know you like Hu. But you don't have to take my doubts about the sox getting him personally like I stole your Lucky Charms.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Aug 4, 2007 -> 01:34 AM) okay, I was looking at some stats, and KW better freaking go out and and Chin-Lung Hu this offseason. Uribe, besides tonight at least, freaking sucks. And the Dodgers don't have room for Hu with Furcal at SS, and Kent, Garciaparra, Tony Abreu, and a few other prospects who can play 2B, so he is expandable. KW, I beg of you to get Hu The sox aren't going to have 2 rookies starting 2008 at both 2B and SS. Esp. if Richar looks like he's a keeper at 2B.

QUOTE(BHAMBARONS @ Aug 8, 2007 -> 06:54 AM) He will be up for grabs. It is a shame that he didn't have the surgery back in March. I believe that is his main problem resulting in his bad numbers this year but that is the risk he took by not fixing it right away. His spring injury was a partial labrum tear to his non-throwing shoulder. I haven't read anything that says he needs surgery to correct it. Quentin's now on the 15 day DL due to a hamstring pull.

QUOTE(daa84 @ Aug 8, 2007 -> 12:58 AM) pignatiello is a providence guy...he played with honel, he was drafted a year ahead though...hes a little old and i dont think he is supposed to have that high of a ceiling. But he does seem to be effective and could step in and help in 2008. He's a soft tossing LHP--more like a lefty Wasserman. Yet the guy can keep the ball in the park and doesn't walk that many. Any guy the sox get who isn't on the cubs 40 man is either an A ball pitcher or an older prospect.

QUOTE(whitesox61382 @ Aug 8, 2007 -> 12:45 AM) Living in Tucson and having seen both play a dozen plus times while in the DBacks minor league system, I can tell you that the two actually have very little in common. For starters, Quentin was a 1st round draft pick and a regular on BA's top 100 prospects. Terrero was considered a good prospect with potential/tools, but was never really considered as a top/can't miss prospect. The biggest difference between the two is plate discipline. Quentin has always been know for his plate discipline and has posted impressive numbers over his minor league career(166BB/178SO) opposed to Terrero who has shown no plate discipline(141BB/603SO). To put it into perspective, Terrero has twice as many minor league AB's yet has 15 fewer BB and his SO rate is significantly higher. I am a firm believer that plate discipline is one of the better indicators of success. Quentin has also hit for a much higher average than Terrero over his minor league career(.313 versus .286). Furthermore, Quentin has much more power than Terrero. In half the AB, Quentin has almost hit as many HR as Terrero(53 versus 64) and has a much higher SLG(.528 versus .453). The one area that Terrero has an advantage is speed, although Quentin does run well for a power hitter. Having lived in Arizona for the past 6 years I can tell you that most people thought that Terrero would be a very good 4th outfielder(with an outside chance of being a solid CF) while Quentin was suppose to be the centerpiece/future AS to build around for the next decade. Quentin's star has fallen a little over the past year and a half, but he is leaps and bounds ahead of Terrero in terms of potential and would be a great low risk POTENTIALLY high reward pick up. Well said. This would seem to fall in line with the sox M.O. It would also seem the sox could pay the price to acquire Quentin

The sox should be able to get one of the best players not on the Cubs 40 man roster for Pods. Such as LHP Carmen Pignatiello. He's not on the Cubs 40 man roster. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/P/C...natiello-.shtml

If Pods has passed through waivers [which is likely] it makes a lot of sense for the Cubs. Pods can step into LF and hit leadoff until Soriano comes back.

Quentin's been hurt this year, starting in Spring training. He had over 150 ab's in 2006 and did well. "Carlos Quentin has a small tear in the labrum of his non-throwing shoulder and will be prevented from swinging the bat for the next 10 days. Quentin can do everything else, but the lack of at-bats figures to keep him off the active roster to begin the season. It's unlikely to turn into a major long-term issue, especially since it's not his throwing shoulder. Quentin is still OK to draft in fantasy leagues this year, though the likelihood of missed time does cut into his value a bit. With Jeff DaVanon also set to begin the season on the DL, Scott Hairston should get a chance to start in the outfield until Quentin returns. Dave Krynzel could make the Diamondbacks as a bench player." Source: Diamondbacks.mlb.com

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 08:54 PM) Those three arms would be waaaaaay to much for Quentin. Before Masset and Aardsma are out of options, and the sox have to trade them for peanuts next spring, why not get an RFer you can pencil in for the next 5-10 years? Masset's never had very good control throughout his pro career. While he may be a 'notch below Jenks', he may not pitch his way onto the 2008 sox. Aardsma's a FB pitcher. Sisco? A throw-in in any deal. While this may be "overpaying" [and it may be, I don't know the price for Quentin], the sox have the arms to get a deal like this done.

QUOTE(bkmoney @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 08:47 PM) http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/stats/...playerID=435041 batting .208 this year in 71G/216 AB... maybe needs a change of scenery? We already have 1 BA...... Quentin dominated the minors while BA did well. He's blocked now by a glut of OFer's in AZ.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 08:43 PM) Well, it'd probably have to be an offseason deal as the majoirty of teams would probably claim Quentin if he went on waivers... Contreras + money for Quentin. It'd probably take more then that however. Of course it would be an offseason deal. I was thinking a deal like Masset/Broadway, Aardsma and Sisco. Both Masset and Aardsma will be out of minor league options next year. A three for one deal or at least 2 pitchers for Quentin minimum for a top quality guy like Quentin. Contreras and $20 mill won't be enough for Quentin.

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbac...ynes-ON-CR.html With Eric Byrnes signing a 3 yr deal, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic believes Quentin will be traded--and was being shopped. Instead of signing Dye to an expensive, 3 yr deal, Quentin would look nice on the south side, and would seem a great fit--He's got power, patience, can hit for avg, and play a decent RF. The question is, what would the sox have to give up? The sox and Arizona have matched up for a few deals, as both GM's seem to work well together. Pitching would seem to be what the DBacks would need. And the sox have quantity, if not quality. Here's a scouting report from 2005. http://diamondbacks.scout.com/2/342031.html Thoughts?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 03:52 PM) Defensively, Wilson may be a little bit better than Uribe. Offensively, Wilson may be a little bit worse than Uribe. And Wilson has both a longer contract and one more expensive. Wilson's numbers are better for avg and OBP. And has hit from the #2 hole, which shows he can handle the bat better than Uribe. If the sox add a decent prospect, they can get the Pirates to add salary. With the sox options at SS limited in both leagues, and their need for an above avg defender, they might need to do a deal like this. By no means should the sox shouldn't overpay for Wilson. Uribe isn't a horrible option if they can improve elsewhere. But IMO, Wilson would be an upgrade over Uribe.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Aug 7, 2007 -> 03:58 PM) Jack Wilson is possibly the most inconsistent defender in the game. He spends about 35%-40% of the season being pretty mediocre in the field, another 35%-40% and the other 20%-30% being pretty average. He's possibly the worst player in the game when you take into account his fickle defense, terrible offense and the fact that he's guaranteed $14.3M over the next 2 years. You must get all the Pirate games then. By all accounts, he's one on the best defensive NL SS's, and scouts said that he was on par with Cesar Izturis defensively. That doesn't seem like a drop off from Uribe.

All three--SS, Cf and the bullpen-- are priorities. But each will have to be addressed in different ways. there are no bullpen guys like Justin Speier [a set up man who can go 2 innings each time out] last year who the sox could target. A bullpen guy will likely have to be traded for like Wheeler from TB. CF the sox can get via free agency with Rowand. I don't know if Dye will take less money and less years that some other team will offer him. SS I'd take a flyer on Jack Wilson. There's a reason why the Tigers wanted to pick him up. At worst, he'd be a good #8 hitter who could handle the bat and play above avg, solid defense. At best, he could hit #2. Otherwise, the Sox might be stuck w/ Uribe.