December 11, 200421 yr Tigers E-MAIL THIS STORY | PRINTER-FRIENDLY FORMAT White Sox's Guillen: Urbina will show at camp December 11, 2004 BY JOHN LOWE FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Tigers reliever Ugueth Urbina intends to report to spring training even if his mother's kidnapping remains unsolved, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said Friday. Guillen, a friend of Urbina, talked to him this week in their native Venezuela. "He said that he was ready to come to spring training regardless of what happens," Guillen said at baseball's winter meetings. Urbina's mother was kidnapped in Venezuela more than three months ago, and the case remains unsolved. Urbina left the Tigers and headed home as soon as he learned of the kidnapping, missing the final month of the season. The question now involves what team Urbina will join. The Tigers have two prominent reasons to trade him: They aren't sure if Urbina, who has been primarily a ninth-inning closer for many years, will gladly accept his demotion to eighth-inning setup man for Troy Percival, the newly signed closer. And Urbina is due to make $4 million next season, a high salary for a setup man. "Ugie is willing to do anything they want -- that's the business," Guillen said of Urbina's attitude about pitching the eighth. "Hopefully when he shows up to spring training, he'll feel the same way. "When you've been a closer all your life and all of a sudden you change, maybe something happens. But right now he is willing to help Alan Trammell." Trammell, the manager, has no experienced reliever on the roster besides Urbina for the crucial setup role of holding leads in the eighth inning. Although the Tigers are willing to entertain offers for Urbina, they could delay dealing him until they sign or trade for an experienced reliever for the eighth. Unlike a year ago, when he did little if any throwing in the off-season, Urbina planned to begin pitching Friday in a Venezuelan league, Guillen said. "Ugie is in great shape," he said.
December 11, 200421 yr With the addition of Hermanson as a set-up guy, I can't see how we're going to acquire another one in Urbina even though he's great friends with Ozzie. We've got more important needs to fill, mainly a starter and an infielder or catcher.
December 11, 200421 yr Bullpen - assuming we get Flash in the Vasquez trade. Shingo - Closer Gordon - Set up Marte - Set up Urbina - pre setup Hermanson - setup pre setup Cotts and Adkins - Long This looks workable to me. :rolly
December 11, 200421 yr Author i gurantee ozzie telling kenny go look trade with detriot if detriot is looking tade him
December 11, 200421 yr Bullpen - assuming we get Flash in the Vasquez trade. Shingo - Closer Gordon - Set up Marte - Set up Urbina - pre setup Hermanson - setup pre setup Cotts and Adkins - Long This looks workable to me. :rolly You're forgetting Politte.
December 11, 200421 yr With the addition of Hermanson as a set-up guy, I can't see how we're going to acquire another one in Urbina even though he's great friends with Ozzie. We've got more important needs to fill, mainly a starter and an infielder or catcher. Don't say that, whenever i hear the name dustin or hermanson i get real pissed off, combined, im furious. This was a HORRIBLE signing by KW and makes no sense, it also shows what a hypicrit he is. "We've been targeting him for a few years now"-Ya, go pay 5.5 millon for 2 years for a guy that hasnt had an era below 4.45 since the last century. Also, why didnt u get him for nothing after his horrible year with the redsox, that was less than 3 years ago, u couldve gotten him for nothing. Now we have Munoz,JBaj and Diaz-1 or 2 of them should have had relief jobs next season and I strongly believe that ALL 3 of them are better than hermanson. KW, you are a hypicrit and settle for less than mediocrity, this is a very sad day. PS.Don't give me emergency starter crap, we can get an emergency starter for under a million.
December 11, 200421 yr Don't say that, whenever i hear the name dustin or hermanson i get real pissed off, combined, im furious. This was a HORRIBLE signing by KW and makes no sense, it also shows what a hypicrit he is. "We've been targeting him for a few years now"-Ya, go pay 5.5 millon for 2 years for a guy that hasnt had an era below 4.45 since the last century. Also, why didnt u get him for nothing after his horrible year with the redsox, that was less than 3 years ago, u couldve gotten him for nothing. Now we have Munoz,JBaj and Diaz-1 or 2 of them should have had relief jobs next season and I strongly believe that ALL 3 of them are better than hermanson. KW, you are a hypicrit and settle for less than mediocrity, this is a very sad day. PS.Don't give me emergency starter crap, we can get an emergency starter for under a million. Did you see his numbers as a reliever?
December 11, 200421 yr I wanted Urbina before I knew what we had in Shingo. And I was pissed to see him go to the Tigers, because if healthy - he can shut a team down. But now, it seems like too much money for a guy who's going to set up or share closing duties.
December 11, 200421 yr I'll need to tell Neal about this one....he already thinks Steff is a little strange.....
December 11, 200421 yr I'll need to tell Neal about this one....he already thinks Steff is a little strange..... A little.. Good grief.. you all think it's fine to post that hot chicks thread.. but heaven for bid someone thinks a guy is hot around here.. prudes. :rolly
December 12, 200421 yr I'll need to tell Neal about this one....he already thinks Steff is a little strange..... Ask Baj what he thinks of her...
December 12, 200421 yr A little.. Good grief.. you all think it's fine to post that hot chicks thread.. but heaven for bid someone thinks a guy is hot around here.. prudes. :rolly steff, I think it's heaven forbid Heaven for bid is usually on late at night with a toll-free number to call with your credit card for instant salvation
December 12, 200421 yr steff, I think it's heaven forbid Heaven for bid is usually on late at night with a toll-free number to call with your credit card for instant salvation LMAO! And Steff -
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