Thad Bosley

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Jan 25, 2010 -> 08:48 PM) the sox didnt sign matsui and johnson bcuz of financial reasons. they would have gotten them if it werent for the money not bcuz ozzie didnt want them. Well, two reactions to that. A.) they both signed for rather cheap contracts, in the 5-6 million dollar range, and B.) if you combine that with Mr. Reinsdorf's assertion that there is still, in fact, some money left to bring in the "right" player, than I think you can easily conclude they could have been had. I don't mean to say that meaning they absolutely could have been had, but it would seem like they could have been had. If that little distinction makes any sense. Meanwhile, on a similar topic, if the only offer Johnny Damon is entertaining at the moment is in the neighborhood of $2-3 million dollars per year, and we aren't there to offer him more to pry him away from the Bronx, then I'd say shame on us. I mean, seriously - Jones and Kotsay. 'Nuff said.

Ok Ozzie, fine. Have it your way. No Thome. No Thome, no Matsui, and no Nick Johnson. All affordable options who, for whatever reason, will not be on the South Side this year. Now, do you realize as a result of not bringing in any of those players your attack now from the left hand side of the plate this year will consist of A.J., Pierre, Teahen, Kotsay, and Vizquel? Are you really ok with that? That's good enough to help lift us from our sub .500, 3rd place finish last year to the promised land? Is that what you are telling us? I remind you, we've lost Jermaine Dye as well. Is Jake Peavy THAT good, and do you for some reason think the AL Central is going to be THAT inferior, that this DH-by-below-average-contributor committee idea is passable? Really? Please explain, because as of this moment I just don't get it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 20, 2010 -> 08:32 PM) Around 1985 he had a pulled stomach muscle and really started hitting the weight room. I thought some of his age-related comments didn't make sense because in a way he was incriminating himself, not that I believe for a second he used steroids. It was well-documented back around 1986 or so, right after "general manager" Hawk Harrelson and Tony LaRussa tried making Fisk a left fielder, that Fisk started hitting the weight room, big time. In fact, there were always many stories about how he would lift weights for an hour or so after each game. And as a result of doing things the 'ol fashioned way by EARNING IT, he did get bigger and stronger, and that ultimately allowed him to counter the wear and tear of catching. To me, he's always been the poster child for going about conditioning the right way. I don't blame him one bit for resenting cheaters like McGuire and the like.

It's almost hard to believe that we are actually even discussing any remote possibility of Omar Vizquel, of all people, DHing. The idea completely flies in the face as to why the DH was instituted in the first place. Why, if Ozzie is willing to let Omar be the DH all in the name of versatility, why not then just go ahead and let the pitchers bat as well. I don't think they would fare much worse than a 43 year-old Vizquel at this point. No, we really need to move off of this silly notion. Finish off this roster by signing Thome and then let's head to Glendale!

For some reason, based on the way the offseason has been playing out to date, I keep thinking that Johnny Damon is Plan A for us at the DH spot, with perhaps Jim Thome representing Plan B. Damon meets the new criteria the Sox have set for the designated hitter, meaning that while he's not great defensively, you can still run him out to the field periodically, which would be consistent with all of this rotating DH business we keep hearing about. He's also a left-handed hitter, which we sort of need to balance the line-up out a bit. And he's a guy who gets on base a lot, which if you'll recall was something both Ozzie and Kenny were clamoring for at the end of last season. I think the absence of any known interest in the likes of Guerrero and Matsui, along with not just signing Thome yet when he's obviously very available, makes me think the Sox are waiting to see how the whole Damon/Yankees thing plays out, and whether his price tag possibly drops into a range we can afford. As for Damon himself, I think a return to the Yankees is still Plan A for him, but with each passing day it seems like he's getting closer and closer to having to turn to a Plan B, or possibly a Plan C. And this is where I just get the sneaky suspicion we might just be hiding in the weeds waiting for a resolution on that situation, and when that happens, perhaps there will be an opportunity for us to swoop in and bring him on board. Don't forget - Kenny did try to acquire Damon once before, meaning he's one of those guys whom Williams covets and eventually gets. And if this scenario doesn't come to fruition, then it's quite simple to turn to Mr. Thome who, for the most part, appears to have no other option but to sit and wait for all of this to get sorted out. Anyway, that is what's been cookin' in my noggin'. Hope it comes true! = D

The idea of a Thome/Jones platoon at DH sort of appeals to me.

No way, no way, no way on Jack Cust. He strikes out way too much, to the tune of almost 33% of the time he's come to the plate over the course of his career. That compares rather dismally to Thome's rate of nearly 25% of the time throughout his career, and that rate is obviously already on the high side. Cust would have to be a guaranteed 40+ home run, 100+ RBI guy to tolerate such an exhorbitant amount of K's, which of course at this point in his career he is not such a guarantee at all. No, we've already added one strikeout machine to the line-up in the form of Mark Teahan. I would certainly hope we don't add another in Cust.

QUOTE (Ranger @ Dec 21, 2009 -> 11:31 PM) Half-priced Mondays, by the way, don't make near the money for the team that they would make on an average night at regular price. Even if they sell considerably fewer tickets on the regular night. Half Price Monday nights seem to draw about 15,000 - 20,000 more fans than what they would have if they didn't offer the half price tickets. And those extra fans obviously don't count the season ticket base, who still pay full price on those evenings. So you still get the full revenue charge from that season ticket base, but even with only the half price of the ticket revenue generated by those extra 15,000 - 20,000 extra fans, you still get the FULL revenue expended by those fans on food, beverages, and all of the extras offered around the ball park. Thus, I'd say they make a hell of a lot more on those half-priced Mondays than they do on an "average night". I mean, heck - why do you think they even have these half-price night offers in the first place!

QUOTE (Ranger @ Dec 21, 2009 -> 06:17 PM) I think people are for more concerned with Teahen than they should be. I'll be surprised if he doesn't have a decent season. I'll wear it if he doesn't, but I think him having the knowledge that he is the guy at third base and the position is his, will benefit him. And I think his tools are better than people realize. You have to forget that he played in Kansas City, which for a lot of people, means a player isn't, or can't be, very good. A "decent season"? Is that what we're shooting for with this guy - a "decent season"? Crimony. All of this concern being spread around about guys like Rios and Pierre who, at least at some point in their respective careers, have registered above-average performances. Teahen, meanwhile, after five full years in the bigs, has yet to even perform at what would be considered league average. Ok, maybe three years ago in '06 he managed to do so, but that was just one time in five years, and even then he barely did so. And I'm sorry, all of this gobble-de-gook about having to play for a lowly team like the Royals and/or having to play multiple positions in the past and/or having to play in Kaufmann Stadium are just lame excuses. Ever heard of Zach Greinke? He played in KC last year, and last I looked he had a pretty decent year playing under similar conditions. Same can be said for guys like Billy Butler and David Dejesus. No, I find those to be rather weak excuses for his continuous below-average performances during his career to-date. But to be fair, I certainly hope he proves me wrong. I hope he magically breaks out and has the kind of season some of you are suggesting he's capable of having. The more wrong he proves me, the better I will like it, because it will be good for the Sox. But so far, unfortunately, he has done absolutely nothing to create any confidence in me that he won't register yet another season just like he has in the four of the five seasons that he's been in the Major Leagues thus far. And sadly, that won't help the Sox in their fight to return to prominence.

Despite Rios' abysmal showing during his time with the Sox last season, I am still at least ten times more confident that he'll be an overall better-than-average performer at his position than, say, Mark Teahen will at his. He's the guy with the history of being a below-average performer in every aspect of the game, and the guy I feel we should be more concerned about. I know a good portion of this discussion revolves around the size of contracts and all, but from a purely performance standpoint. third base concerns me far more at this point in time than does center field.

Have we hit the ceiling in terms of team salary yet? Do we not have enough money left to sign one of the remaining free agent DH types who would easily fill the void we have right now in that part of our batting order? Because obviously Guerrero, Delgado, Johnson, or Thome would be a far better choice to be the DH in our line-up than this absurd Jones/Kotsay/"Vizquel"(!) committee nonsense that is being bandied about right now. It seems like we've hit a payroll limit the way management is acting and talking right now.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 16, 2009 -> 10:55 AM) ...and has been vocal in the past about not wanting to play here. Peavy didn't want to play here, either, at a point in time, but he changed his mind, so I don't put a whole lot of stock in what Carlos may or may not have said several years ago on this subject. I think it makes a lot of sense to go after him if he can be had at a reasonable price and skip trading away the likes of Flowers, Hudson, Danks, etc. Delgado is only one year removed from having a monster year with the Mets, and so if he is healthy, he might look pretty good sandwiched in between Quentin and Konerko in our line-up.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 11, 2009 -> 08:44 PM) If the Yankees get Matsui back, I think I’d give some legitimate thought to immediately offering Linebrink for Bradley and cash. I realize the guy's attitude needs a HUGE adjustment, but my god, he fits about every need we have on this team, and the guy can hit. He’s a son of a b****, but that’s not a foreign concept in Chicago. Maybe, he’ll find an environment worth playing for here, maybe not, regardless, I’m game to try. The Cubs are going to panic soon. The Burell talks have fallen through, interest for him is dying out, we can capitalize in a major way here. If you are suggesting trading for this mess of a player to take up residence in our DH spot, may I kindly counter with one Jim Thome? Bradley doesn't necessarily "hit", per se, from a run producing perspective. He does get on base at an impressive rate, I'll give you that. But he's not a guy who is going to hit a lot of home runs and/or drive in a lot of runs. Meanwhile, Big Jim will give you the same on-base % as Bradley AND he'll also provide the kind of power guy needed in the middle of the line-up. I'm not advocating going out and signing Thome, but I would take him any day over Bradley.

Why is Ozzie making such a big deal out of this rotating DH business? A guy like Matsui is not known for his defense. He's known for his offense, so why would it be so critical to see him lumbering around out in left field? The only way this arrangement could make any sense at all would be if Podsednik ends up in left field, in which case you wouldn't be losing anything defensively. But if you had a guy like Crisp, or better yet, a Crawford or an Upton running around out there, why in the world would you think about rotating a DH-type into that mix? Offense should be the priority at the DH spot, and a guy like Matsui swings the bat more than well enough to adequately fill that role. After that, though, I just don't see why it would be important for him to occasionally put on the glove.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 06:25 PM) How do you know that? I would think stabilization and the fact that he isn't playing for a team with no hope to win might rejuvenate him. Or not. We won't know anything until the season plays out. Well, I cannot see into the future, of course, so I don't know exactly what he's going to do next season. And you are absolutely right - we won't know anything until it's all said and done. However, I think it's perfectly acceptable to suggest his performance next year will more than likely resemble that what it has been in four out of the five years he's been around, including the last three in a row. It would seem this 2006 season from three years ago is the exception rather than the rule. And even if he does return to this over-ballyhooed production of his from the 2006 season, we're still not talking about any great shakes here. Yeah, he hit .290 that year, but he registered fewer than 20 homeruns and 70 RBIs. This is what we're hoping to get out of a corner infielder with no speed and a less-than-glowing reputation with the glove? Oh brother!

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 05:10 PM) I like the deal, because if he hits like 2006 form, its a good deal. Don't like 3 years though...might have preferred 2. And if he hits like he did in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009, which is far more likely, then we are stuck with a below-average third baseman. Ugh. Alright, I've beat this topic like it owed me money. I'll leave it alone for now. I'm going to try and channel the optimism from some of the others here and just hope for the best with this guy. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Teahen hit all of 12 homers and drove in a paltry 50 runs in 524 at-bats last year. That is below average no matter how you look at it. And for me, I am not going to blame that on the home ballpark, the lack of talent on his team, or the fact that he played multiple positions. I'm going to just flat out say he's just not that good of a ballplayer - and now he's our starting third baseman. He's had more than just a cup of coffee in this league now, so I'm not all that sure that this is one of those diamond-in-the-rough situations. Do I hope I'm wrong and that he does magically become a far more productive player? Of course I do. What else can I do at this point. We're stuck with him. All I'm saying is that if I had to bet, I'd say we'll probably see more of the same Mark Teahen that has been featured thus far to date in his career. That's the part that worries me.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 03:28 PM) take a look at mark derosas career.. Their careers are not comparable at all. DeRosa was a utility player for the first few years of his career. It wasn't until he had a chance to play regularly back in '06 that he started to show what he's capable of doing. Teahen has been a regular for four or five years now, and just one look at his stats and all you see is less than average production everywhere you look. I would be ok with having Teahen around in a utility player capacity, given he can at least get by at a lot of different positions. But the thought of watching him get 500+ at bats and turning in the kind of production he has thus far in his career makes me sick - and we have three years of it now coming our way! Oy! I mean, believe me - I hope I'm wrong about this and that he breaks out and is a productive player for us. But he's done nothing to date to even remotely convince me that is going to happen.

QUOTE (striker62704 @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 01:40 PM) I like this deal. I think Teahen is good for 20hr and 80rbi, which is worth $5mil/year to me. Why do you think he's good for 20 home runs and 80 RBIs? What has he done to inspire such optimism? He's had three straight seasons of 500+ at-bats, and the most he's been able to muster is 15 home runs and 60 RBIs. He hasn't even driven in 70 runs in a season yet. Maybe playing in the Cell will help improve his numbers a little bit, but that's certainly not a lock. No, I was not happy when we got this guy in the first place, and I'm even less happy now that he's apparently going to be sticking around for the next three years. There is no part of his game that I would classify as "good". He doesn't hit for power. He doesn't have any speed. He doesn't get on base at a particularly good percentage of the time. He's apparently not so slick with the glove, and he strikes out a lot. What is there to like about him? It would be one thing if he were just a kid, only a year or two into his career, in which case you could expect him to steadily improve, but he's not. He's been around for a full five years now. I am not confident that he's all of a sudden going to bring his game up a level or two. Of course I hope I'm wrong, but like I said, I'm not confident about this guy at all. Not one iota.

I like Carlos, but the thought of Crawford in left flanked by Rios in center is very appealing. They're the same age (28), and so if you could somehow extend Crawford we'd have a relatively young, athletic outfield for years to come. Just get a stop-gap measure for right field until Danks and Mitchell come along, and the outfield would seem to be set for awhile. Interesting.

Throwing out the idea of Jones starting strikes me as more "Pods, we're ready to move on without ya, Buddy, one way or the other" public posturing in order to get Pods to bring down his current contract demands. Somewhat similar to the leaking of the interest in Coco Crisp a couple of weeks ago. This will probably play out for a little while longer, but I think at the end of the day, we'll have Pods back at lead-off and strictly in left field, with Jones serving as the 4th outfielder and part time DH against certain lefthanders. That is based on a not-too-far-out assumption that someone in the Thome/Matsui mode will eventually be brought in to be the DH.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Nov 24, 2009 -> 03:42 PM) It's funny how some people seem more likely to forgive Pods several years of injury plagued awfulness, but wont apply the same optimism to the career of Coco, who is younger...and has been a lot more consistently decent over the years. Coco fits the profile for a bounceback year. Pods toes the line of falling into a downward spiral due to age. Bounceback to what, though? Another year of a .340 OBP and 25 stolen bases? That's his usual level of production offensively, and certainly nothing to get too excited about.

I think the uncertainty of the level of production we're going to get out of Carlos and Rios next year makes acquiring Crisp and his mediocre at-best offense a risky proposition.

If we acquired Crisp, we would then feature in our 2010 Opening Day line-up two of the nine starting players in the Royals' 2009 Opening Day line-up. And by two I mean two of their very mediocre players at that. How do we figure to compete for a championship if we continue collecting the likes of these kind of guys?

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Nov 24, 2009 -> 10:56 AM) This is a tough one because they're were a lot of good offensive players in his day that will be competing against him for the Hall. Answer this with your head, not your heart. Nothing tough about this one at all. Two time MVPs with 500+ home runs and a career .300 batting average go right on into the HOF. No questions asked.