winninguglyin83

don't forget the Jose, Jose, Jose money. And it's a shame we don't have the Carl Everett money to spend. Or one of the five prospects we paid for him. That's why Baseball Prospectus thinks KW is the village idiot I heard KW took batting practice last night. Maybe he's coming back to play RF. He could probably hit better than Borchard.

OUR NEEDS 1. Reinsdorf sells team. 2. Reinsdorf keeps team and spends more money 3. Reinsdorf fires Kenny Williams. 4. Reinsdorf cleans house in farm system.

Sox have 5.1 million other things to worry about much more important than where and when the Twins clinch.

we need upgrades at every infield position outside of Konerko. The clock is running out on Crede's slow bat. I'd be willing to give Uribe a chance. Harris isn't the answer. We need to find a mid-priced free agent who can fill a gap until we have somebody ready at third (Fields or Schnurstein) or second (?????).

I totally agree. Sox should zip their mouths shut and quietly finish the season. Anything they say comes off whiney and stupid. can't wait for this season to end.

And in my opinion, they were much, much too nice. Thoughts? I like the idea of pursuing Varitek. Not so much the idea of playing Everett in RF next year. September 14, 2004 Prospectus Triple Play Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Prospectus Printer- friendly Chicago White Sox Wait Till Next Year: For the third straight year, it looks like the White Sox will finish second behind the Twins, once again out of the race well before the season wraps up Is 2005 the year that the Sox finally get over the Twin Cities hump? Looking ahead to the likely starting roster is a good way to find out. C: Having swapped out young and developing Miguel Olivo in the Freddy Garcia deal, the White Sox are left to choose between the not-as-young and inadequate Ben Davis and picking up the old and inadequate Sandy Alomar's option for 2005. Neither choice is terribly appealing and, aside from passable options Jason Varitek and Damian Miller, nor is the free-agent market. With no players in the farm system who could reasonably be considered, the Sox should consider making a small trade for a high-risk, high-reward player or letting capable backup Jamie Burke take the full-time job. 1B: Paul Konerko has been the best first baseman in the AL this year and, despite concerns over his slump last year, there's no reason to think he won't be very good next year as well. Given the size of the checks he will be cashing, that's a good thing. 2B: Some might call Juan Uribe a revelation. Some might call him a fluke. The truth lies, as it does so often, in between. Uribe's .274/.319/.491 season has been highlighted by 19 home runs and 34 doubles and triples, but his walk rate is still very low and he's cooled significantly after his hot start to the season. With four years' experience, he will head to arbitration where his power output will massively inflate his bargain basement $350,000 salary. With very few better options available to the White Sox (Roberto Alomar notwithstanding), bringing Uribe back for another year to see if he can prove he is not a fluke is a risk worth taking. He is still just 25 years old. SS: Here at Baseball Prospectus, we often point out players whose value is largely tied to their batting average; we also like to point to the high volatility of batting average from year to year. In Jose Valentin's case, however, these lessons do not apply. While Valentin may look somewhat unlucky, posting a .214/.284/.464 line with a solid .250 isolated power, his batting average has declined every year he's been with the White Sox, and it didn't start out all that high. A career .244 hitter with a .321 OBP, Valentin's value is entirely tied up in his power numbers, and at a month shy of 35, he is likely at the tail end of his career. A free agent, the White Sox would be wise to let him sign elsewhere, perhaps picking up one of the many younger options on the market. We would have recommended a one-year stopgap solution while prospect Michael Morse develops, but he was dealt to Seattle in the Garcia deal. Stop us when you sense a pattern. 3B: Third base has become one of the most talent-rich positions in the AL over the past few years. With players like Alex Rodriguez, Eric Chavez, Melvin Mora, Hank Blalock, Bill Mueller and what's left of Troy Glaus manning hot corners around the league, the standard for third basemen has risen. Joe Crede has not. The owner of a .303 career OBP and lacking much power, Crede will be heading to arbitration. His service time and lack of performance will likely keep his salary low, but that still doesn't solve the problem of his being a player who can't hit. LF: Carlos Lee is currently third in VORP for AL left fielders after being fourth and fifth the previous two years. He is locked up for next year at $8 million; while that is not a bargain, it is certainly a good investment in a younger player who's proved himself for several years. CF: Aaron Rowand has been a pleasant surprise for the Sox this season, hitting a robust .320/.373/.559 in his age-27 season. Headed to arbitration, he'll likely command a passable salary that will accommodate both him and Sox. Though a slight downturn from his batting average-induced stardom is likely, Rowand will be a good player in center field next year. RF: With Carl Everett signed for next year at $4 million, the Sox already have a solid option in right as well as capable backups in Joe Borchard and Ross Gload. However, this is another position in which the Sox had a solid in-house option in BP's #2 prospect Jeremy Reed. While much of Reed's value in 2003 was in his ridiculous batting average, he was still a cheap, legitimate option in right that would have given the Sox $4 million to use elsewhere. DH: Frank Thomas is still one of the best pure hitters in the game and still virtually the definition of designated hitter. The Sox's biggest questions, at least in the hitting department, are shortstop, second base and catcher. While the pickings are slim at catcher for free agents, the Sox should be able to scrape up a decent shortstop and wouldn't be terribly ill-advised to stick with Uribe at second base for one more well-priced year. Could picking up a free-agent catcher like Varitek finally put the Sox over the top? Given how little production they've gotten from the position the past three years, that seems like one good way to improve the offense.

it's time for the folks in the minor league system to take a hit. They ain't developing players. get some new instructors in A ball. Teach these guys how to run the bases, take leadoffs, bunt, hit the cutoff man, position themselves, pitch inside, go from first to third. We're dreadful in fundamentals -- and have been for too long.

it's actually more fun in the off-season. Our record is 0-0. we're tied for first. we can still dream about prospects. And we don't have to worry about getting our fannies drilled by the Twins. Can't pull the plug on this nightmare season quickly enough.

JD Drew is Scott Boras. he ain't comin within 500 miles of The cell. wave that off.

excellent post, Jim H. Truly outstanding. As long as we're going to continue to do things on the cheap, we'd better have an edge some other way. Oakland has its system. Minnesota has a different system. We have no plan, no direction. Yes, many teams have prospects that don't work out. But four years ago Baseball America ranked our prospects -- as a group -- as the best in baseball. Precious few of them panned out. Our development people have some questions to answer over that. If we're not going to spend big money on free agents, we'd better be developing more guys who can contribute and will stay around for 10 years. I look at the Twins. It's not the Torii Hunters and Jacque Jones that bother me. It is guys like Lew Ford and Santana and Koskie. Somebody did their job identifying and developing those guys. Other than Buehrle, I can't think of any late draft pick we have who have delivered.

off the top of my head Twins home grown Morneau Rivas Koskie Ford Hunter Jones Mauer Cuddyer Restovich I'm not as certain about the pitchers. I believe Radke is home grown. As are Balfour and Romero. IMPORTS Stewart from Toronto Guzman from the Yankees Santana came through their system, but was part of a complicated Rule Five deal involving the Marlins and Astros, I believe. Nathan is from the Giants. Lohse from the Cubs. Silva from Philly, I believe. Not sure about Rincon. As for us Homegrown Crede Rowand Lee Ordonez Thomas Borchard Buehrle Imports R. Alomar S. Alomar Konerko -- Dodgers/Reds Harris -- Orioles Valentin -- Brewers Davis -- Mariners/Padres Everett -- Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, Expos, Rangers Gload -- Cubs, Rockies, I believe Uribe -- Rockies Garcia -- Astros, Mariners Contreras -- Yankees Garland -- Cubs (that explains it) Marte -- Yankees, Pirates Politte -- Blue Jays, Phillies, I believe Grilli -- Giants, Marlins. Burke -- Angels Takatsu -- Japan Adkins -- As Cotts - As Subtract Thomas and Ordonez and the record is very, very lame.

Actually it does matter -- even if Damon has a year left on his deal. JR certainly acts if he doesn't want any Boras guys around. So I can't see Damon coming to Chicago. Just can't.

agreed. With both the previous two posts. KW does like to see his name in the papers. Reinsdorf never talks so KW fills the vacuum. Also agree that it's time to get away from the washed up vets. We've traded five prospects for Carl Everett -- and now we're probably looking for a way to dump Everett. That's silly. Roberto's tank is empty. So is Sandy's. So was Mike Jackson. The problem we'll have building with young players is we don't have many (if any) ready for the bigs next season. We had nothing at Charlotte except Borchard -- and we know how that has worked out. The position players at Birmingham are at least a year away, the guys at Winston Salem two years away. Unless we're going to get one big money free agent outfielder to replace Maggs, another pitcher and make some wise moves on some less expensive guys, we're not going to challenge Minnesota again next season either.

yes, they do. Just does his job and doesn't run his mouth. doesn't get the pub of Billy Beane or Epstein or even Kenny Williams, but for my money the guy (Terry Ryan) is as good as anybody in the American League. He beat us in 2001 with one team -- and now he's reworked half that team and he's still beating us. Guy lost most of his bullpen and didn't miss a step. I tip my cap to the Twinkies and shake my head at the Sox ineptitude.

Isn't Damon a scott boras guy?

OK, say the payrolls are essentially a wash. They still do a better job of shedding players and replacing them, finding bargain bin pitchers and developing players in the minor leagues. As long as the Sox are going to hardline guys on salary (which is fine with me) they HAVE to do a better job in player development. The washout of most of our top pitching prospects have to end.

I liked it better when they were in Sarasota.

here is what has me down. The Twinkies have no more payroll than us. In fact, for most of the last four seasons, I would guess they have less. They have lost Milton, Mays, Reed, Rogers, Guardado and Hawkins from their pitching staff over the last few years. They have lost A.J., Mienky, Ortiz from their lineup over the last few years. They have survived injuries to Mauer and Shannon Stewart this year. And they still kick our butt -- relentlessly. It's more than talent. It's total superiority as an organization. And what is scary is they have more good young players coming -- and their GM knows how to put together a team. It's hurts to say it, but it's the truth.

i'd rate them this way -- in terms of how quickly they will make it to bigs 1. McCarthy -- we fast track pitchers. 2. Anderson -- older, played at higher level. 3. Fields -- Crede gets one more year to get it together. 4. Sweeney -- Greg Walker loves him. 5. Young -- longest way to go. but if I had to rate them in terms of projecting. 1. McCarthy -- love that strikeout to walk ratio. 2. Sweeney -- Greg Walker loves him and not many 19 year old finish second in the league in hits at high A 3. Young -- love a guy who can run and hit for power. 4. Anderson -- I worry about his string of injuries. 5. Fields -- not a fan of football players who miss important development time and whiff too much.

whose top 50 list? Rauch was once Number One. didn't mean much -- unless I missed something.

CAN He bunt, steal a base and draw a walk?

Is McNeal a prospect at all?

Ozzie did zing Carl for being fat yesterday. Maybe they're going to make him feel unwanted so he won't want to come back. Only way Jose returns is at about half the price. we're going with either Uribe, Valdez or Vizquel at SS, I believe

Todd Walker couldn't play SS at LSU. chronic complainer. That's why the Cubs are either his fourth or fifth team already. Puh-leese fuhgetaboutit

Hard to understand how anybody could say Ryan Sweeney had falled on his face when he was a 19 year old playing in HIgh A ball and finished second in the league in hits. That's dumb. And I think there is one major omission from his list -- Mike Spidale. Showed he can hit, get on base and score runs. if Spidale was in the Oakland farm system, he'd be considered the next great thing.