peteward

I think Anderson will prove to be a better hitter against RH pitching than Gimmy or Tyler. I am hoping that Bryan Anderson makes the team because of his bat but it all depends on his defense. It doesn't matter what he hits if he can't handle the position defensively.

Quintana had a few starts last season where he went deep into the game. However, he also had a few starts where he was roughed up early. Given that, he looks like an adequate although sometime shakey #5 starter. Santiago failed as a Closer and as a reliever. In my opinion Hector does not always look comfortable pitching from a wind-up. He just does not seem to get into the rhythm required of a starting pitcher who wants to have consistency and pitch deep into games. I am not sure what role the Sox want him to fill in 2013 unless it is long relief. Eventually I hope he develops into a consistent #4 or #5 starter and if he can do that this season, then great. At the end of the day, I would sign Kyle Lohse and not rely on either one of these pitchers, or for that matter, on Danks comeback being a sure thing. Too too many question marks.

Your welcome.

Viciedo has already cut down on strikeouts by taking more pitches, accepting Walks, and going with outside pitches, taking them to Right Field. In doing that he became more of a line drive/gap hitter than a one-dimensional pull hitter. I think that will translate into a higher batting average and OBP more that it will to his home run total.

The original post stipulated to the facts about his current rehabilitation and to his history of injury. The question proffered was that, given the above, would it be worth taking a flyer on Sizemore on a one year Contract? Despite the history of ijnjuries, Sizemore is a proven major league talent unlike many of the low end players that have been signed (Lars Anderson, Bryan Anderson) hoping for a reliable LH bat.

A Left handed bat at first is always good, but this guy would be one of the only Left Hand fielding first baseman I can remember. Mike Squires was the last White Sox first baseman that I recall who fielded Lefty. Now Squires was fantastic defensively but just think how hard it would be to field that position for most Left Handed infielders. *If* he can hit and catch ground balls, perhaps he can try to switch to playing 3B in the Minors. The low cost/low risk Lars Anderson deal is similar to the acquisition of Left Handed hitting Catcher Bryan Anderson from the Cards. Both were once touted prospects that barely made it on a Major league roster, then kind of fell off without really getting an extended look at that level. They both have a chance now because we need LH hitting and will need more power after Dunn is gone (which might be this year).

Sizemore is still recovering from injury and is always hurt, it seems, but we all remember how he once shined as an outfielder and a clutch hitter. Since Hahn and the Sox seem to be in the hail Mary / long shot mode signing players and pitchers who are reclamation projects or almost all-out gambles, what about Grady Sizemore? No one seems to want him so I realize that is for good reason, but that said, it might not take much to sign him.

I am one of the many fans to which you refer. What I am hopeful for is not a free agent acquisition (because there is nobody left that would have an impact) but a big trade. The Sox have a duplicative relief tandem with Nate Jones and Addison Reed. Reed was much ballyhooed and could add substantial value to any potential trade package. Then we have the usual suspects like Thornton and Floyd. You can add several more players that the Sox could throw in to make a deal for an impact player and who we probably would not end up missing much.

If Bryan Anderson wins the back-up catcher spot he could platoon with Flowers vs RH/LH starting pitchers. I think Hahn will try to make a big deal maybe even a blockbuster deal before Spring Training. He knows that Sox fans need to be motivated to go to games and to do that the Sox have to field a competitive club.

This is a very thoughtful post that I entirely agree. Among the unknowns is, does Hahn have the trust of Jerry Reinsdorf with big money deals and to what extent? Let's say Hahn has a proposed deal to trade two players plus two prospects to Miami for Giancarlo Stanton, but to make that deal make sense Stanton would need to be signed to a mega multi-year deal. Could Hahn convince Jerry to invest that much money and would Jerry trust his judgment? JR is a proven winner in this town with the Bulls and our Sox. My thinking is that he will continue to pay for big contracts if that can be translated into more wins and attendance numbers. Something was wrong last year with the level of enthusiasm that fans had. What the he11 was wrong with us for not supporting the team and getting out to games as much as we had in the past? The Sox were in it until the latter part of the season. I think the Sox have to be worried that if the 2013 team is in third or fourth place after a few moths, interest and attendance could really tank. Lastly, is Ventura helping motivate players and has he really shown anything special to us in terms of being a winning Manager? He sure did not capture the imagination of Sox fans with his apathetic look and passive emotional demeanor.

Thanks. I love the discussion here. Regarding what some have said about Headley for Peavy et. al.... 1.) Peavy did not burn any bridges when he left SD. 2.) Peavy put down roots in SD and may well want to go back there after experiencing Chicago weather. In short, he probably not be adverse to such a trade. 3.) The relatively short and reasonable Contract Peavy did with the Sox is not beyond what SD could handle, especially if they are losing Headley. 4.) SD want to move Headley because they have Jedd Gyorko Visit My Website a top 3rd base prospect in their system that they want to bring up next season. 5.) Chicago Sox fans and sports reporters in Chicago are growing sick of the loud Country music played in the clubhouse. Re- Adam Dunn, his 200+ strikeouts and lack of clutch hitting with a BA on the Mendoza line are very frustrating for a lot of us. Beyond that, the question presented at this time of year is which players have some trade value and how is that balanced against their value to our team? In Dunn's case, there very well might be a team that is looking for a big LH stick and for NL teams, even a first baseman AND they may be willing to trade for him given the size and remaining time on his Contract. It seems like the PERFECT time to unload Dunn. Last year it was impossible and who after a few months this season, he may once again become virtually un-tradeable and not worth signing here. By that time, we will have Frank Thomas clone Keon Barnum ready to take over at first anyway. Viciedo is a player I personally would keep because of his young age and his upside as a hitter. He made a lot of progress with plate discipline this season and is learning to adjust to baseball and to the US, so why uproot the guy now? DeAza sparked the Sox for most of the 2012 season with clutch hits and lead-off hits, providing us with early leads. His value to our team is far greater than what he would bring in trade. Beckham is probably not worth trading because his trade value is probably Mark DeRosa country...a back-up for any of the top teams like Boston , NY , etc.

Chase Headley solves the third base dilemma and provides the Left Hand power that could be lost when Dunn gets moved. I would offer to trade Peavey back to SD and package Thornton and Beckham with him. On another front I would try to trade Dunn to some National league ball club with the goal of dumping most of his salary. Thorton must be traded on principle alone. Too many blown saves and his refusal to adjust his pitching style, And one shocker I would offer up for trade - Addison Reed. I think Nate Jones has better stuff and Reed may bring the trade value that other pitchers we have won't.