caulfield12

QUOTE (quickman @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 10:18 PM) Fathom, Payroll will be down this year, see Economic downturn, Cut back in season ticket renewels, Team being re-tooled to go younger and faster. bailey is a good talent that has not produced, right up KW 's alley. He thinks he can catch lightening in a bottle every year. In addition I love freel for a leadoff hitter. That said and we unload Dye and 12 million, is great. next year Thome leaves, the year after that Konerko leaves, and Buehrle might be in there within the next two years. makes perfect sense to me. Have you heard anything specifically about White Sox season ticket renewals and cutting payroll...or just the generic comments about the economy from KW, moving towards a younger and more athletic roster...I think it was the Barry Rozner article about having 75 cents to spend out of a dollar instead of 50 like it used to be.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 08:59 PM) Kalapse, I eagerly look forward to your posts on this site, but let's not turn this into a PhD dissertation. We all understand what mlbtraderumors is, and even for those who don't, it's not like the "real" sources you are referring to are anything more than purposefully misleading leaks, absolute speculation, and/or old news that got distorted as it traveled down the grapevine. The bottom line is that other than perhaps Ken Rosenthal, there simply are no credible sources when it comes to hot stove rumors. Sure, a link to the info posted is always preferred. A link to mlbtraderumors, which is a warehouse of rumors which also contains links to other sources, seems perfectly acceptable considering the currency in which we are dealing. As for me, I'm just lazy...of course all of the stories are links to other stories, that's the lifeblood of that site. You don't go there for analysis from the board operators. While I understand the posting (as an English and History teacher) and the technical correctness about sourcing, I think the most important thing to keep in mind is at least having a viable link to where the information came from... I tend to copy-and-paste a lot, but I don't do it trying to represent it as "my analysis," or I'll put my comments juxtaposed in a different font, bold, italics, etc. I remember in the early days of chisox.com, I had a continual running fight with the infamous "ncorgbl" about what percentage of an article could be copied and pasted...it got tedious. He would even count words in a total article, the words I cut from the original, and then try to report me to mlb.com so I could be "banned" for 3 days. Too funny.

While Mark Teahen is a player of interest for the Cubs, they certainly won't be trading Mike Fontenot and Sean Marshall for him. The Cubs don't consider Teahen the middle of the order bat they require. Royals outfielder David DeJesus also interests the Cubs, but the source has the impression Dayton Moore would have to be overwhelmed to trade him. There seems a good chance DeJesus stays put this winter. The Cubs aren't keen on bringing Jim Edmonds back for 2009. There are no perfect fits for the right field vacancy, and the Cubs are willing to sacrifice some defense to add that middle of the order lefthanded hitter. The Cubs are hoping a market forms for Jason Marquis, and are willing to eat salary "within reason." They would be content with Marquis as their fifth starter if nothing surfaces. I couldn't get any specifics, but the Cubs do feel that they have reasonable options to clear payroll other than trading Marquis. Teams around baseball are wary of certain Type A/B free agents accepting offers of arbitration. Expect the Cubs to figure out where Kerry Wood stands before deciding whether to offer. from mlbtraderumors.com

QUOTE (G&T @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 06:50 AM) I was under the impression that it was common practice to offer a player arbitration under an agreement that he won't accept. And since when was it clear that Cabrera will be offered arbitration? I'm not sure really applies when you have a huge contract ($10 million+), then Griffey would be walking away from a lot more money from the White Sox (and Reds with some money coming to us) than he would have a prayer of getting from any other team.

Cabrera's ego is too big to ever accept going back to the White Sox clubhouse. He's the second shortstop on the market after Furcal...and before Renteria. There's no way he just walks and KW doesn't offer. If he comes back, then you have Cabrera at SS, Alexei at 2B or CF and we're a much stronger team. So it's really a win-win situation. He will get a better deal from another team...Phil Rogers mentioned it in passing and now there's some doubt floating around about what KW will ultimately do. In the end, Cabrera will end up in the NL, probably LA or SF, but quite possibly Minnesota. He was also 2nd in the Gold Glove voting. He'll find a team...heck, Royce Clayton found about five teams after he left Chicago, and he was horrible.

QUOTE (chiguy79 @ Nov 24, 2008 -> 05:04 PM) They have us hostage this year they had to push through the increase now because they probably won't be able to jack prices up again for 2-3 years. If the team doesn't perform this year I think a lot of ST holders will not be renewing for 2010. Well, it's only logical...if they had missed the playoffs, and didn't have the renewals/deposits attached to that...and the "good feelings" from the offseason rather than an overwhelming sense of disappointment and "what might have been" (surrounding Quentin)...then it would have been impossible to pull this off. You have to strike while the iron is not. Heck, even in this economy, the Dodgers will still be asking $90 for some of their ST tickets in the new facility.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Nov 24, 2008 -> 11:54 PM) As a LRP, perhaps. Other than that we've had potential guys state their case in the latter months of the season for the fifth spot, and even that I'm not to comfortable with. With so much money flowing to Linebrink, MacDougal, Dotel, Thornton and now Jenks...paying more than $1 million for someone like Perez is foolhardy...unless it's with the intention he starts quite a few games as the 5th, and provides insurance to Richard/Poreda/Contreras. However, the kind of money he will ask for with a 4.34 ERA isn't going to be worth it...and we also have Broadway, Egbert and Carrasco that could start in a more limited stretch of 2-3 starts (but not hopefully not more) as a band-aid/stopgap solution while KW is trying to find someone better.

Obviously, it seem they won't with Crede, although it wouldn't be a HORRIBLE idea, simply because Boras and Crede would probably never accept it. Crede's the #10 player on some offseason Free Agency lists...but he's no compensation, correct? So that wouldn't make a heck of a lot of sense, especially in view of all the off-season article...the comments by Ozzie over the weekend about disappointment in Crede (Q&A, Trib) for his reluctance to play with pain down the stretch, etc. Second, it seems pretty clear they will offer it to Cabrera and it won't be accepted. It also seems pretty clear that while Ozzie and KW love Juan Uribe, it might be a risk they don't want to take with Uribe (TypeB)...because they already have Betemit in the stable, Fields, Alexei Ramirez, Getz, Beckham and Nix. It just doesn't seem to make as much sense, particularly in light of the Betemit deal to get a little younger and cheaper so we can invest payroll dollars elsewhere. How many teams realistically are going to look at Uribe as a starter? At SS? Could he end up in Los Angeles or San Francisco if those teams miss out on Cabrera, Furcal and Renteria? What about Minnesota? I think if I was GM Smith, I'd rather have Uribe at SS than Punto. However, all signs point to MINN moving Casilla over from 2B. Who would play 2B then? Harris? Tolbert? Uribe could make sense to them if they offered him the starting job at SS or 2B, even if the money was a little less than he'd make with the White Sox (even assuming a 20% paycut, which isn't 100% a certainty). Also, this hasn't been talked about much recently, but do you think there's some kind of handshake or gentleman's agreement that the White Sox will offer Griffey arbitration (TypeB) and he will turn it down? Or would MLBPA argue that he's insane...if he only had to take a cut from last year's huge salary? Not sure what the specific rule is there...they can't really compel someone to accept arbitration.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 01:43 AM) I seem to recall it being the Giants MO for a while to sign guys before the arbitration deadline to avoid paying for 1st round draft picks. ' So the former club (in this case the Tigers) can't simply offer arbitration after the new contract has already been signed but before December 1st and get the picks anyway? "6:00pm: Additional denials have come in via Andrew Baggarly and Derrick Goold. Baggarly says Renteria is the Giants' fallback for Furcal. He notes that the Tigers would've loved to see Renteria sign today, as they're unlikely to offer him arbitration. Goold learned that Meister (Renteria's agent) will double back with the Cardinals before Renteria signs elsewhere." mlbtraderumors.com

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 02:31 AM) I love Alexei as much as anybody, but Cheat brought up a point on his blog a while back...he basically looked back on the fact that it appeared the White Sox had their SS of the future in Juan Uribe, who coincidentally played 2B in 04, and he turned into garbage. Juan Uribe also had a better year in 2004 than Alexei did in 08, though Alexei had a slightly better contact rate. Not predicting doom and gloom, just suggesting it might not all be roses for Alexei in the future, no matter how much fun he was this past season. However, Uribe had hit .300, .240 and .253 in an offensive paradise before that season...his overall numbers were really carried by the first two months of the season, when he was hitting around .400 or higher for most of that period. Ramirez has faster hands and makes better adjustments on breaking stuff. I think he will end up making a lot more contact and getting many more infield hits with bunts and choppers than Uribe going forward. 23 HR/502 AB URIBE (2004) 21 HR/480 AB Ramirez (2008) However, if you look at both of their seasons, Uribe really tailed off at the end, and went back to his .247 AVG, 20+ HR's, 70+ RBI's self for the following three seasons. And that still wasn't bad. It wasn't until after his third so-so season in a row that KW went out and replaced him. But (for Alexei) let's take away the first two months because of the cold (first time playing in it), inconsistent playing time and a general "adjustment period" for a foreign ballplayer in the US without having the advantage of any time in the minors. That gives you 390 at-bats, 19 homers/390 AB's and a much more impressive 70 RBI's in just 390 at-bats....hitting out of different spots in the line-up, some that were not conducive to RBI production. That also pencils out at 117 for 390, or a .300 AVERAGE. Also keep in mind it was his first season in the states, and the season in Cuba is much shorter...he noticeably wore down in August and September (partially because of his smaller/slight frame) and it also led to some defensive lapses as well (IMO). I'm sure you could do this with Alexei as well, but Juan had that MON. game with 7 RBI's, that won't happen again.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 01:38 AM) When has Brignac been linked at all? Who said the Sox were going after him? Just the part in the blurb about the Sox looking for a SS prospect and starting pitcher (young). With the Rays, that means Brignac...Edwin Jackson/Davis/Niemann. KW, I'm sure, wouldn't settle for Niemann or Neimann or whatever his name is...

Are those stats (3rd/6th) just for the American League right? I guess the pitching one is a little misleading...because Contreras won't be a part of the equation, our "old" pitchers in the rotation are now Vazquez and Buehrle. So I think our pitching staff at least is getting much younger. By the way, is that 6th rating counting the bullpen and starting five, or just the starters? I guess by adding Linebrink and Dotel, Thornton's 32/33, and Carrasco, we got a bit older there, too. Out of necessity. Not sure if they are counting Logan/Russell/Wasserman either as part of the average age, because those three would drive it down a little bit. The biggest issue, of course, is the starting line-up and needing to get younger there...losing Cabrera is a start. But Swisher/Crede/Uribe/Hall were still in their primes or relatively close in terms of their ages, so age wasn't/isn't the sole factor. Bringing in Viciedo and Beckham, Poreda, Richard...that will definitely help to lower those averages...along with Ramirez and Quentin, of course.

Well, obviously KW is not going to give Jenks, Dye and Vazquez away like he did with Swisher...seemingly. I guess with the Rays, Reid Brignac has kind of fallen back....as a SS prospect. It's interesting, though, with Ramirez around, why they are trying to acquire a young shortstop? (Besides the obvious fact it's one of the most important positions on the field and Valido and Andy Gonzalez, not to mention Pedro Lopez and Dellaero and Caruso were are flops). But, with Alexei, we should have that position covered for at least the next three years. We also have Beckham, who potentially could play there but whose range is better suited for 2B in all likelihood.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Nov 24, 2008 -> 11:37 PM) I'm still not convinced that the youth movement can't win the division. The Royals are a work in progress, the Tigers are a mess, the Twins will be a tick as always until we scratch them off, and the Indians are trying to rework their entire roster, and will be a dramatically different pitching staff (then in recent years) even with CY Lee. Thankfully, the Indians have lots of holes in their pen. However, if Reyes and Lewis pitch like they are capable of, they probably have the best starting pitching in the division...to go with Lee and Carmona. They don't have a 5th, like us...maybe Laffey, Sowers or Zach Jackson. However, I feel a lot more confident in Danks/Floyd than they probably do about Reyes and Lewis. And Carmona's a real wild card, no telling what you will get with him. DET gets a healthy Bonderman back and Porcello pitches like Bonderman in his rookie season, they have Galarraga too....Bonderman. Willis is the biggest issue there, what to do about him...of course, Robertson was crappy last year and Miner might be back in the rotation. And they have no closer either.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Nov 24, 2008 -> 08:47 PM) It was a very close game this year with a kid making his first ever road start in a really hostile environment. It's a series the home team is winning anymore, and I think Ferentz was stressing it a lot more this year than in year's past. If Iowa rolls into Ames next year thinking that trophy is theirs, they'll get a rude awakening, cause I guarantee it'll get played up here. OTOH, Iowa was still searching for a QB at the time between Christensen (yet another five star recruiting bust) and Stanzi, the much less heralded player coming into spring practice. Iowa's program has a lot of momentum on its side, especially if they can manage to take down a B12 or SEC team in the bowl game. We've beaten Florida and LSU somehow, so it definitely can be done.

Well, if they're raising ticket prices 11% (think how many extra millions that playoff appearance meant, with all the playoff packages and deposits) at a time when Michigan's unemployment rate is soaring towards Great Depression levels...then KW is going to put a better product on the field than Getz/Betemit/Nix at 2B and Anderson/Owens in CF. Just wait and be patient. I'm very encouraged by the Viciedo signing, and the momentum of Armstrong, Beckham, Danks and Poreda generated in the Arizona Fall League. Viciedo is essentially another Top 10 first round draft pick, so we've really managed to become respectable again with our minor league system in the span of 2 seasons, despite trading away Cunningham/Carter/DLS/Gio/Sweeney.

9:24pm: I can't remember a day where so many rumors were floated and then debunked. The latest: Perez's agent and a source familiar with the team's thinking tell MLB.com's Bill Ladson that no multiyear deal is in the works with the Nationals. mlbtraderumors.com I don't even think KW offered a guaranteed one year contract. It was probably 80% based on incentives...and Perez and his agent THINK they can somehow get a 2 year deal, and anything is possible I suppose in this pitching-friendly market. What I think KW is doing is just getting a feel for some of his back-up options/insurance for the 5th spot...the likes of Colon, Garcia, Pedro Martinez, Mark Mulder, Schilling, Odalis Perez, Paul Byrd...maybe Marquis, but I doubt it.

I don't think the Twins have "half" the talent...I think that's very misleading. They've had lots of role players like Tyner, LeCroy, Lew Ford, Denny Hocking, Punto, Bartlett, etc., that have been thorns in our side. However, you look at the make-up of that team, recently...Torii Hunter, Santana, Liriano, Nathan, Joe Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, D. Young, Gomez, Baker, Casilla, Span...I would argue they have just as much, if not MORE talent, than the White Sox. I think this reputation of outplaying us came mostly from 2001-2004...especially when we lost to them head-to-head in 2003. Before this season, that was really our last legit battle with them, as we faded so badly in 2006, it wasn't that the Twins/Tigers beat us, it's just that our pitching staff wore down and the hitting cooled off after a superhot first half when we were 26 games over .500. The players they've brought up have produced...or the ones that they have traded for. I like BA and Owens and Getz and Nix as much as the next guy because I'm a Sox fan, but I don't realistically think that they are the equivalent (Broadway and Richard) of even Perkins and Blackburn. Now Poreda and Fields, I have some hopes for...and of course, down the line, Viciedo/Beckham/Danks/Allen/Shelby.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Nov 24, 2008 -> 06:02 PM) I'm very glad we didn't hire him, actually. And to caulfield, we'll beat Iowa next year. Not too worried about that. Definitely not if Shonn Greene comes back.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122747403752551393.html Very interesting article at the Wall Street Journal which says Texas is facing bad karma this year after politicking four years ago to get into the final game over a more deserving CAL team.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 23, 2008 -> 10:32 PM) With all due respect, that would be the worst trade in Sox history and assure us flip flopping KC in the standings. Dye is one class act! Guillen is one of the most selfish pricks in baseball history. The troubles he had this past year in KC were mind boggling and legendary. He is somebody you do not want on your team, period. He also had slumps as bad as Paulie. Guillen is a disaster. No Sox fan in their right mind would root for that bum. Richard seems to be a good prospect. Dye remains productive. While DeJesus is pretty good, he is no Beltran. He can't steal a base or won't and can't learn at this part of his career. I like him personally and he's the opposite of Guillen personality wise. He'd be OK to have I guess. I predict Ozzie will beat up Jose Guillen before the season is over if we get him. He'll physically kick his ass which is what Hillman shoulda done. Umm....no. Todd Ritchie for Wells/Fogg/Sean Lowe Jorge Bell for Sammy Sosa Jon Adkins for Ray Durham Just in recent memory.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 24, 2008 -> 03:35 AM) Caulfield I understand your loyalty and vouching for him. He was a DISASTER in KC. If you want to say that's because they were a losing team, I call bulls***. He also was not productive at the plate. He was an automatic out for so long as KC fell out of contention then had one very hot period for maybe a month. He sucked again right after the all star break. He was a fricking disaster. You can't write off this season as saying it was simply out of character. I pray he doesn't join our team. He is a clown. If we had a 3rd outfielder who could give us 20 homers and 97 RBI's, I'd be very happy. (If Brian Anderson could do that and hit above .240, everyone in SoxTalk Land would be simply elated). He's like Uribe, he knows how to pick up RBI's. Unfortunately, Guillen is not a CFer and never will be. He's more of a DH than RFer now.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 23, 2008 -> 11:32 PM) With all due respect, that would be the worst trade in Sox history and assure us flip flopping KC in the standings. Dye is one class act! Guillen is one of the most selfish pricks in baseball history. The troubles he had this past year in KC were mind boggling and legendary. He is somebody you do not want on your team, period. He also had slumps as bad as Paulie. Guillen is a disaster. No Sox fan in their right mind would root for that bum. Richard seems to be a good prospect. Dye remains productive. While DeJesus is pretty good, he is no Beltran. He can't steal a base or won't and can't learn at this part of his career. I like him personally and he's the opposite of Guillen personality wise. He'd be OK to have I guess. I predict Ozzie will beat up Jose Guillen before the season is over if we get him. He'll physically kick his ass which is what Hillman shoulda done. I will vouch for him. I was around him every day for one year as the Augusta GreenJackets' Director of PR and Stadium Operations in 1994 and 1995. Guillen is just misunderstood, if you speak to him in Spanish or get to know him... I think OZZIE Guillen could control him, and we have too many veterans on our team, he wouldn't get out of line. He's a leader and he wants to win, period. Yes, I know you're about to bring up the problems he had with Mike Scioscia out in Anaheim, but there's another side to that story which will come out one day about Scioscia's and his overmanaging, overcontrolling methods. The LA Times wrote a great article comparing Torre and Scioscia and why the Dodgers were succeeding and the Angels, not so much. FYI. http://www.latimes.com/sports/columnists/l...,2345712.column

QUOTE (NorthSideSox15 @ Nov 23, 2008 -> 11:27 PM) You barely got any of those countries of origin correct. Contreras and El Duque are from Cuba, as are Viciedo and Ramirez. Ordonez is from Venezuela and Loaiza is from Mexico. Check your facts. Ummmmm...where did I say the weren't from CUBA? I listed a majority of the foreign-born players we've had in the last 10-15 years. I know Loaiza is from Mexico...I saw him pitching in Mexico, in fact. I also met him when I worked for the Pirates....one of my friends (pitcher Francisco Garcia-Luna, formerly of Mexico City Rojos, is connected to him as well). Ordonez and Guillen are Venezuelans. Carlos Lee is Panamanian. I've also been to Panama and lived there in Colombia for one year, I even talked to Edgar Renteria's brother (remember him?) about working together on a baseball camp in Cartagena and/or Barranquilla, home also of Shakira the singer. I don't see anywhere where I said they were or weren't Cubanos. Try reading again please!!! Okay, I see I accidentally typed (PR) next to Loaiza...because I was thinking of Ivan Calderon or the Alomar brothers at the time I guess. Next time I will try to have an interactive spreadsheet with a map and "Where's Waldo?" flags popping up with Sox player locations around the world. Or not.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Nov 23, 2008 -> 10:12 PM) So basically we trade Dye and a bullpen arm for DeJesus, acquire Taveras, and also put Nix/Getz in the lineup. That's a downgrade and I'll be pissed if the Sox sit on Dye's money if they get rid of him. Jackson for DeJesus wouldn't make much sense for me, if I controlled the rights to Jackson. It's one thing to trade Dye (or as part of a bigger package) for a younger player with unlimited potential (like F. Martinez or that kid from the Rangers, Borbon, that keeps getting hyped here, Rasmus, etc.) and we would control his rights for 6 years...but David DeJesus? He's a NICE player, but far from an All-Star and nothing special. Basically, Johnny Damon-Lite. I lived in KC for ten years, and have watched him develop...he's good, but he's injury prone, he can't throw very well, he's not a natural or intuitive CFer and his contract numbers are rising. We're using the same rationale to dump Bobby Jenks, why would we want another player similar to him on the pay scale to take his place, especially not someone who is really what I would call an impact bat?