beck72 Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 The sox will need the entire offense to step up and replace what Maggs and frank gave the sox, esp by doing the small things like making contact, hitting to the opposite field, bunting, hit and runs, etc. I've really liked how the Sox have gone about their hitting the last 3 wins. Players haven't been trying to do too much. They continue what they've been doing, against good pitchers, the Sox should be OK. Yet OK isn't enough for winning games in the playoffs. The Sox have enough power guys like Lee, PK, Carl, Jose, Crede. What they need is a guy to hit for a high avg. and who has a high OBP. If someone can get on base in front of the 3,4, 5, and 6 hitters, these power guys will see better pitches. I've said it before, but it now makes even more sense--the Sox should do everything they can to get Jason Kendall. He'd fit right in at the leadoff spot, or bat #2 if Harris leads off. He makes Rowand/ Uribe/ Harris better by dropping them down in the lineup; allows the Sox to go with defense in RF with Joe B/ Timo Perez; allows Carl to stay at DH; takes pressure off the middle guys by having them hit with a man on base; could be traded for w/o giving up a lot of prospects; could be locked in for 3 yrs, at a salary of $7-8 mill per, [with Pitt taking on 30-40% of his contract, likley]; and he'd still fit if Maggs or Frank come back late in the year. His salary can fit with the Sox for the next few years. If Pitt can take on 40% of his salary, he'd be owed $7 mill a yr for the next 3 yrs. [More than capable of being absorbed with a team payroll of $70-75 mill in 2005] With the Sox not set at C, Kendall could help now and for the future. Though it would mean not likely re-signing Maggs, Borchard or Brian Anderson would likely be ready to replace his OF spot. The Sox weren't likely to resign Maggs at anything more than $12 mill before his injury. They most likley won't now, seeing how he won't be around for the pennant run, and how other teams will pay him more than $13 mill/ yr. This year, the Sox could make do with a RF of Borchard/ Timo with a .300 hitter like Kendall at another position if Maggs is indeed done for the year. The sox could live with a .250 avg in Rf as long as they get strong defense, provided someone else picks up the higher avg. If Maggs does make it back, the sox are that much stronger. With young position players like Uribe, Harris, Crede, and Borchard not making a lot of money, and the Sox set at SP pitching and the bullpen [shingo and Politte will be due raises], the Sox could spend money at the C position. Kendall shouldn't cost much in terms of prospects b/c of his contract. Which is a big consideration. Sweeney, Borchard and anderson should be kept. But a package like Arnie Munoz, Mike spidale and Ben Davis might be able to land Kendall. Getting guys like Beltran, Finley and even a Frank Catalanotto would probably cost more or better prospects than Kendall. The Sox must continue doing the little things to manufacture runs like they have the past 3 wins. Anyone they acquire must help the sox in this department, someone who doesn't adversely affect the chemistry they have built throughout the year [like taking a position from an everyday player], someone who adds to what the Sox need. No one out there fits that requirement better than Kendall, with his .320 avg and .400 OBP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Everyone can wish about acquiring Jason Kendall, the fact is he has a no trade clause and only wants to play for an NL team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 Everyone can wish about acquiring Jason Kendall, the fact is he has a no trade clause and only wants to play for an NL team. Can you provide me with a link where he's stated this? Pitt has been very eager to shed his salary, even putting Kendall as part of a package for teams wanting Benson [widely reported]. I would think any loyalty to Pitt or the NL wouldn't be a big deal, if the right situation [playing for a good team, the everyday C, being wanted and appreciated by an organization, playing under a sound and stable management team --Guillen + KW] came up. The sox would be a good fit for his style of play under Ozzie Guillen. With the way he's been disrespected by Pitt, if Kendall is the "gamer" he's supposed to be, even changing leagues wouldn't be a big deal. I Rod was even more opposed to changing leagues and he did it in 2003 to sign w/ FLA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Kendall would be a good fit with the Sox, for sure. They might even get Pittsburg to give up Kendall and Benson without stripping our farm system too much because of the bucks involved. This would be a great opportunity for Reinsdorf to step and show that he will put his money where his mouth is. Having said all that, I still think Steve Finley is the perfect player for the Sox needs. He would still be my number one choice of available hitters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 Everyone can wish about acquiring Jason Kendall, the fact is he has a no trade clause and only wants to play for an NL team. If this were true, and Kendall only wanted to play in the NL, I wouldn't want the guy. Coming to the Sox would be one of the best situations out there that he could hope for. If winning, along with being respected and valued for the contributions you make for a ballclub, were most important to Kendall, he'd approve a trade to the Sox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 Kendall would be a good fit with the Sox, for sure. They might even get Pittsburg to give up Kendall and Benson without stripping our farm system too much because of the bucks involved. This would be a great opportunity for Reinsdorf to step and show that he will put his money where his mouth is. Having said all that, I still think Steve Finley is the perfect player for the Sox needs. He would still be my number one choice of available hitters. I think Benson and Finley will be had at very steep prices, ala Freddy Garcia. Teams will definitely overpay for them. At least the sox have Garcia for 3 more years. Finley seems even more adamant than Kendall about where he wants to play. {probably as he only has a few more years left] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Can you provide me with a link where he's stated this? Pitt has been very eager to shed his salary, even putting Kendall as part of a package for teams wanting Benson [widely reported]. I would think any loyalty to Pitt or the NL wouldn't be a big deal, if the right situation [playing for a good team, the everyday C, being wanted and appreciated by an organization, playing under a sound and stable management team --Guillen + KW] came up. The sox would be a good fit for his style of play under Ozzie Guillen. With the way he's been disrespected by Pitt, if Kendall is the "gamer" he's supposed to be, even changing leagues wouldn't be a big deal. I Rod was even more opposed to changing leagues and he did it in 2003 to sign w/ FLA. Q: What are the chances of the Marlins acquiring Jason Kendall? Would the Marlins end up with egg on their faces if he signs for the same money that Pudge was asking? Frank Carnicelli, Melville, NY A: While the Marlins are in need of a front-line catcher and Kendall would fit nicely in the middle of the order, acquring him presents too many obstacles. Kendall's contract calls for $35 million from 2005-07. Even if the Pirates agree to pick up half of it, that's still a formidable financial commitment for a team like the Marlins. The other factor is that Kendall has a no-trade clause and could veto a move to Florida or anywhere else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Found this interesting piece of Kendall too, I just have to respond to Jim Costantino's remarks from last week regarding Jason Kendall being a positive role model. While I agree that he's done a great job improving his catching skills and I'm glad to have him on the team this year, he needs to be held accountable for his actions in the past. First of all, it's not only his large contract that has made him unable to be traded, he has also performed below expectations. He has not performed at the same level as he did before signing the contract. Go look at his career statistics and I don't want to hear the ankle injury being used as an excuse. Additionally, it is well known that Kendall was a negative force in the clubhouse in years past. He doesn't necessarily have to be a leader, but he could have at least been more of a positive influence. His clubhouse antics are also very well known and were reiterated last week in Ron Cook's column on Jack Wilson. Now that Kendall's cronies are all gone (Mike Williams and Brian Giles), he is a man without a country, so he has no choice but to grow up, which I believe he may have done. Also, why is it just this year that he's improved his defensive skills? Shouldn't he have been working on improving over the past few years? No player should ever stop trying to improve. Again, I'm glad to have him on the team this year since it looks like he's finally matured, but his actions in the past are reprehensible. He still has a way to go before I view him as a "great professional role model." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 Q: What are the chances of the Marlins acquiring Jason Kendall? Would the Marlins end up with egg on their faces if he signs for the same money that Pudge was asking? Frank Carnicelli, Melville, NY A: While the Marlins are in need of a front-line catcher and Kendall would fit nicely in the middle of the order, acquring him presents too many obstacles. Kendall's contract calls for $35 million from 2005-07. Even if the Pirates agree to pick up half of it, that's still a formidable financial commitment for a team like the Marlins. The other factor is that Kendall has a no-trade clause and could veto a move to Florida or anywhere else. I know he has a no-trade clause. The question is whether he would stay with Pitt, knowing how much they want to get rid of him [back to the Giles trade where Pitt was willing to pay 60% of his salary to unload him] or go to a better situation if he were presented with a choice. Would he veto a trade to the Sox? Only he knows. But his style of play would suggest he wouldn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I'm just guessing here, but I doubt that the no-trade clause would be much of a factor. A guy has to get tired of losing every year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 Found this interesting piece of Kendall too, I just have to respond to Jim Costantino's remarks from last week regarding Jason Kendall being a positive role model. While I agree that he's done a great job improving his catching skills and I'm glad to have him on the team this year, he needs to be held accountable for his actions in the past. First of all, it's not only his large contract that has made him unable to be traded, he has also performed below expectations. He has not performed at the same level as he did before signing the contract. Go look at his career statistics and I don't want to hear the ankle injury being used as an excuse. Additionally, it is well known that Kendall was a negative force in the clubhouse in years past. He doesn't necessarily have to be a leader, but he could have at least been more of a positive influence. His clubhouse antics are also very well known and were reiterated last week in Ron Cook's column on Jack Wilson. Now that Kendall's cronies are all gone (Mike Williams and Brian Giles), he is a man without a country, so he has no choice but to grow up, which I believe he may have done. Also, why is it just this year that he's improved his defensive skills? Shouldn't he have been working on improving over the past few years? No player should ever stop trying to improve. Again, I'm glad to have him on the team this year since it looks like he's finally matured, but his actions in the past are reprehensible. He still has a way to go before I view him as a "great professional role model." Interesting to say the least. Yet many negative stories have been said about athletes, that not many of us fans know the full truth about. Guys with bad attitudes [on the field mostly but also off] won't last on the Sox. Whether that makes Kendall a good fit for the sox or not, who knows. One thing though. Kendall wouldn't be looked at as "the clubhouse leader" like he was in pitt, after signing his big contract. He's just another piece to the puzzle. Somehow, I see Kendall fitting in with guys like PK, Rowand, Buerhle--hardworking guys who play the game the right way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 I'm just guessing here, but I doubt that the no-trade clause would be much of a factor. A guy has to get tired of losing every year. Esp. for a team that openly wants to get rid of him so they might have a better chance of winning. Pitt's trades last year showed me this organ. is a joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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