May 4, 200421 yr For all of those media outlets, sports-talk radio shows, message board trolls (not this one) & general pessimists that were slamming on Kenny Williams for acquiring this guy when the "big names" were still out there: I'd love to hear from you! No doubt this guy can't keep up this torrid pace forever, and hell, he might even go into a funk during this season. But so far in this young season, this guy has won games for the Sox with his bat and glove. He can play 3 different positions and play all with competence. He could be the next Miguel Tejada. He could be the next Tony Graffanino. Either way, I'm just glad he's here. Once again, for every big name trade that KW has been swindled on, there's the Damaso Martes, Estaban Loaizas, Scot Schoenweises, Cliff Polittes, & Juan Uribes that help me keep the faith. Let's keep the magic going.
May 4, 200421 yr Damaso Martes, Estaban Loaizas, Scot Schoenweises, Cliff Polittes, & Juan Uribes makes me like KW a tad
May 4, 200421 yr Once again, for every big name trade that KW has been swindled on, there's the Damaso Martes, Estaban Loaizas, Scot Schoenweises, Cliff Polittes, & Juan Uribes that help me keep the faith. Let's keep the magic going. KW's record is a lot better than that. The Ritchie trade was the only one that he was really swindled on. Usually, its KW who's doing the fleecing. One example of this is getting the budding superstar Miguel Olivo for some relief pitcher.
May 4, 200421 yr KW's record is a lot better than that. The Ritchie trade was the only one that he was really swindled on. Usually, its KW who's doing the fleecing. One example of this is getting the budding superstar Miguel Olivo for some relief pitcher. Relief pitcher was Chad Bradford, who has been contributing very well in Oakland for a couple of years now. That trade was nowhere near as one-sided for the White Sox as you make it sound.
May 4, 200421 yr Relief pitcher was Chad Bradford, who has been contributing very well in Oakland for a couple of years now. That trade was nowhere near as one-sided for the White Sox as you make it sound. bradford is washed up now.
May 4, 200421 yr Relief pitcher was Chad Bradford, who has been contributing very well in Oakland for a couple of years now. That trade was nowhere near as one-sided for the White Sox as you make it sound. You're right. But, having agreed to that, I have to say that I'd much rather have a good young up and coming catcher than a decent to good reliever. It was not a one-sided trade, but in the long run, it should be a positive outcome for the Sox.
May 4, 200421 yr You're right. But, having agreed to that, I have to say that I'd much rather have a good young up and coming catcher than a decent to good reliever. It was not a one-sided trade, but in the long run, it should be a positive outcome for the Sox. Yes, agree 100%. My issue was how Rector made it sound, like Oakland got nothing out of the deal. Which isn't true, but check out White Sox Times, that's his, ahem, journalistic style.
May 4, 200421 yr Uribe will cool off when pitchers give him more breaking balls instead of the heater. Still he deserves to be playin, and why not go with the hot man.
May 4, 200421 yr Uribe will cool off when pitchers give him more breaking balls instead of the heater. Still he deserves to be playin, and why not go with the hot man. It is hard to give him breaking balls if he can lay off of them. The guy behind him makes him will make him a better hitter and therfore Harris the same thing.
May 4, 200421 yr Uribe will cool off when pitchers give him more breaking balls instead of the heater. Still he deserves to be playin, and why not go with the hot man. Of course he's going to cool off. You can't expect him to hit at a .400 clip all year. I'd settle for .380
May 4, 200421 yr You can't expect him to hit at a .400 clip all year. its been 63 years - time for someone - Uribe - to to it again!
May 4, 200421 yr Yes, agree 100%. My issue was how Rector made it sound, like Oakland got nothing out of the deal. Which isn't true, but check out White Sox Times, that's his, ahem, journalistic style. If you have ever read the book Money Ball, that focuses on the way Billy Beane runs the A's, there is a whole chapter about the Bradford and Olivo trade. The whole chapter is basically about how the Sox got taken in the deal, and how Beane knew Bradford was a stud. It makes me laugh. I don't think Olivo gets the respect he deserves because he doesn't have a Great offensive game yet, but everyone around him seems to think he will be fine.
May 4, 200421 yr KW is in the upper half of GMs IMHO. How he handles this mid season will say a lot. I like the pieces he found for last season, let's see what he does for 2004.
May 4, 200421 yr If you have ever read the book Money Ball, that focuses on the way Billy Beane runs the A's, there is a whole chapter about the Bradford and Olivo trade. The whole chapter is basically about how the Sox got taken in the deal, and how Beane knew Bradford was a stud. It makes me laugh. I haven't nor will I read that book. From all the excerpts mentioned here, it sounds like something to massage his ego more than anything.
May 4, 200421 yr If you have ever read the book Money Ball, that focuses on the way Billy Beane runs the A's, there is a whole chapter about the Bradford and Olivo trade. The whole chapter is basically about how the Sox got taken in the deal, and how Beane knew Bradford was a stud. It makes me laugh. I don't think Olivo gets the respect he deserves because he doesn't have a Great offensive game yet, but everyone around him seems to think he will be fine. REally? It says that? Bradford is ONLY a relief righty-specialist. Lefties have hit like .320 off Bradford in his career. He's a righty Kelly Wunsch at best, and I'd take Olivo over either one right now. Billy Beane is an overrated schmuck.
May 4, 200421 yr Billy Beane is an overrated schmuck. I dont see how he can be overrated if his team is been on top of the league in a small market city for the last 3-5 years...
May 4, 200421 yr I dont see how he can be overrated if his team is been on top of the league in a small market city for the last 3-5 years... How can they be top of the league if they haven't been to a world series once under his watch? They've been good, but that's only due to a serendipitous run of starting pitching. Not only did he hit the jackpot by drafting all 3, they were all injury-free until last season. Outside of drafting those three guys, Beane hasn't done squat.
May 4, 200421 yr KW's record is a lot better than that. The Ritchie trade was the only one that he was really swindled on. Usually, its KW who's doing the fleecing. One example of this is getting the budding superstar Miguel Olivo for some relief pitcher. Didn't KW trade Keith Foulke for Billy Koch?
May 4, 200421 yr Didn't KW trade Keith Foulke for Billy Koch? You mean, a one-year rental of Keith Foulke. KW screwed up by not checking into the health of Koch's arm, for sure, but if we get the 2001-2002 version of Koch when the trade was made, then we're probably in the playoffs last year, and we have at least one more win so far this season. Closers aren't worth what the Red Sox paid Foulke, and that's why KW traded him away.
May 4, 200421 yr Beane hasn't done squat. you are rediculously mistaken. Have you read moneyball?? the guy is a baseball genious. his payroll is 40k and he gets 97 wins... explain that. and its not only SP, it's OBP, its balls in play per balls hit, it's obscure stats no one has ever bothered to look at before. Also, Bradford is in fact a stud. He is an awesome specialist, and thats exactly his role. So what if lefties smack him? Having bradford in our 'pen right now would be a helluvan upgrade over say shingo or wunsch or jackson... just read the book, look at his stats. Dont pass judgements about people or things before you know the whole story.
May 4, 200421 yr Didn't KW trade Keith Foulke for Billy Koch? Not only was Keith Foulke a one year rental, but Neal Cotts came over in that deal.
May 4, 200421 yr you are rediculously mistaken. Have you read moneyball?? the guy is a baseball genious. his payroll is 40k and he gets 97 wins... explain that. and its not only SP, it's OBP, its balls in play per balls hit, it's obscure stats no one has ever bothered to look at before. Also, Bradford is in fact a stud. He is an awesome specialist, and thats exactly his role. So what if lefties smack him? Having bradford in our 'pen right now would be a helluvan upgrade over say shingo or wunsch or jackson... just read the book, look at his stats. Dont pass judgements about people or things before you know the whole story. I am not rIdiculously mistaken. It's easy to have a $40 million payroll, when your three best players are all playing for peanuts thanks to their rookie salaries. Their payroll went up to $50 million last year, because one of the pitchers got signed to an extension, and will go up higher next year, and that's when Mr. Genius may have to try and survive without one of the 3 starters. 99.9% of the A's past success is due to those three guys, and some simple moves he made to rent players for the bullpen. He and his scouts did a fine job stocking the organization with young talent. But, apart from that, he's done nothing to warrant any genius label. Scott HAtteberg is still overrated(by Beane himself), Terrence Long was given a ludicrously large contract, He signed Chris Singleton, who was coming off a stellar OBP of .296, Mark Ellis is worthless, etc, etc. He's made just as many stupid moves as your average GM. And calling any relief specialist a "stud" is just plain silly. You'd take a pitcher who can only pitch to righties, and give you about 25 total innings a year, over a catcher with one of the best arms in baseball,. can hit about 15 HR's, and steal 15 bases? I wish you were Minnesota's GM.
May 4, 200421 yr Once again, for every big name trade that KW has been swindled on, there's the Damaso Martes, Estaban Loaizas, Scot Schoenweises, Cliff Polittes, & Juan Uribes that help me keep the faith. Let's keep the magic going. KW has been going for talent all the time, not the high priced talent, though. Just because the price is higher, doesn't mean it better.
May 4, 200421 yr KW did himself good with this one. I honestly thought this deal really wouldn't hurt us. We didn't lose THAT much in trading away Aaron Miles, and just gained a guy that had plenty of potential. Uribe's just surpassed that so far though; to Juan Uribe and KW!
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