December 23, 200421 yr In today's Daily Southtown, Joe Cowley finished with this: "Williams might be finished bolstering his pitching staff if the Vazquez talks don't re-open, but the Sox are rumored to be very interested in signing former Anaheim shortstop David Eckstein. Eckstein was not tendered a contract by the Angels earlier this week, making him a free agent. "In an effort to accomplish one more piece of the puzzle, it's better if a I don't comment on any player that could fit into it," Williams said. " -------------------------------------------------------------- Seeing how KW probably has one more trick up his sleeve, who is it? Eckstein? Miguel Cairo? Alex Cora? I can see it being Eckstein, provided he can and be willing to play mostly 2b. He shouldn't transplant Uribe fulltime at SS [though he could play SS vs LHP, with Uribe at 2B and 3B to give Crede a rest]. Ana. was talking about moving him to 2B, even though he only has played 14 games there. Ana's GM Stoneman [sp?] was talking about how Cabrera was a big upgrade over Eck's range and arm. Willie could still have a spot, though seriously reduced. [Reading STL's mlb board, they seem to like him for 2B, but not SS.] I haven't heard Miguel Cairo's name mentioned anywhere. As he can platoon w/ Willie playing vs LHP, and play all 3 IF spots, he's more versatile than any guy out there. He also has some speed, stealing 11 bases in over 300 ab's. This way, Harris would still have room to reach his potential. If the Sox think Willie can improve, signing Cairo would be the best bet. Cora would be decent as well. Though the sox would very well be writing off Willie. With his best spot 2b, and his LH bat, Cora on the sox should mean saying goodbye to Willie.
December 23, 200421 yr guys everyone knows its him lol. Dosent take rocket scentist figure it out lol shh kenny thinks we dont know lol
December 23, 200421 yr guys everyone knows its him lol. Dosent take rocket scentist figure it out lol shh kenny thinks we dont know lol Boy you'd hate it to end up being Alex Cora we sign wouldn't you.
December 23, 200421 yr no, cora would be fine. Thing is ecksteins agent already was contacted by kenny and said sox are in serious intrests with his player. lol
December 23, 200421 yr guys everyone knows its him lol. Dosent take rocket scentist figure it out lol shh kenny thinks we dont know lol HEY! YOU'RE BREAKING UNDER THE RADAR SILENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 23, 200421 yr Author If its Eckstein, it's going to be because he can hit LHP better than Willie. I have no problem w/ either Eck or Cora coming in and taking 2b fulltime. Yet are the sox ready to cut willie loose? With either of those 2 coming in, Willie will likely only pinch run. If it's only to get a guy who can hit LHP who can challenge Willie and be the UTL guy, Cairo seems like the better choice
December 23, 200421 yr I'd like them to keep Willie around as a backup 2B/CF and pinch-runner, but I wonder if he'd sulk on the bench. A younger guy isn't always accepting of that role, even if that role is the only thing keeping him on a major-league roster ( and drawing major-league paychecks ).
December 23, 200421 yr Author The more I think about it, Willie can ride the bench, play 2b vs some RHP while Uribe and Eck move around the IF, and do some pinch running. A few reasons come to mind: *Willie can be good insurance in case someone on the sox gets hurt. Or the Sox can trade him if a 2B around the league gets hurt. His trade value is low now because there a lot of 2b out there. *The Sox have Uribe who can play 3 spots, and have Eck around to move between 2b and SS. Having Willie around to play only 2b doesn't hurt the bench. *Has a low salary, so isn't a drain to payroll
December 23, 200421 yr I would bet the Sox would keep Willie as a utility type guy. He is young and not very expensive and has some good upside. It would be worth it to let him watch and learn somethings.
December 23, 200421 yr Plus if by chance Crede continues to struggle the Sox could move Willie to 2b, Eck to SS and Uribe to 3b....
December 23, 200421 yr Author I'd like them to keep Willie around as a backup 2B/CF and pinch-runner, but I wonder if he'd sulk on the bench. A younger guy isn't always accepting of that role, even if that role is the only thing keeping him on a major-league roster ( and drawing major-league paychecks ). that's a great point. Willie sees himself as a .300 hitter who can steal 50 bases, "easy". Riding the pines won't cut it for him. It might for us fans. But chances are he'd have a problem with that role.
December 23, 200421 yr Plus if by chance Crede continues to struggle the Sox could move Willie to 2b, Eck to SS and Uribe to 3b.... Good point, Jester. Who's that in your avatar? The way she's sitting (or more accurately, kneeling), it looks like she got BACKFAT!
December 23, 200421 yr I have no problem w/ either Eck or Cora coming in and taking 2b fulltime. Yet are the sox ready to cut willie loose? With either of those 2 coming in, Willie will likely only pinch run. If it's only to get a guy who can hit LHP who can challenge Willie and be the UTL guy, Cairo seems like the better choice Between 2nd, SS, and DH I think they could pretty much gaurantee Eck 400 AB's and still get Willie significant time at 2nd.
December 23, 200421 yr Author Between 2nd, SS, and DH I think they could pretty much gaurantee Eck 400 AB's and still get Willie significant time at 2nd. Where will willie get his AB's from? Uribe, Crede, Frank or Everett while Eck DH's? However you slice it, if the sox bring in a fulltime 2B like Eck or Cora, Harris won't see significant playing time.
December 23, 200421 yr Where will willie get his AB's from? Uribe, Crede, Frank or Everett while Eck DH's? However you slice it, if the sox bring in a fulltime 2B like Eck or Cora, Harris won't see significant playing time. Eck over Carl at DH period. Carl can pickup his paycheck from the living room couch for all I care. Anyone who thinks Frank is going to be ready anytime soon is fooling themselves. He was to have his ankle examined two weeks ago, have we heard anything? If there was anything positive from it we'd have heard something by now.
December 23, 200421 yr Author Eck over Carl at DH period. Carl can pickup his paycheck from the living room couch for all I care. Anyone who thinks Frank is going to be ready anytime soon is fooling themselves. He was to have his ankle examined two weeks ago, have we heard anything? If there was anything positive from it we'd have heard something by now. W/ Frank out, I can see PK Dhing, w/ Gload at 1B, and Carl getting AB's there as well. Eck won't sniff DH is my point. The key is, Willie will have a hard time getting ab's w/ two guys like Pods and Eck/ Cora in the lineup.
December 23, 200421 yr Remind me again why Anaheim is done with Eck. Who is their infield? Why do they have no interest in him?
December 23, 200421 yr NOTES: Ryan Gleichowski, the agent for free-agent shortstop David Eckstein, confirmed Wednesday the Sox have inquired about the former Anaheim Angel. The 5-7 Eckstein, voted by fellow players as the major-leaguer who gets the most from his talent, was non-tendered by the Angels at Monday's deadline. He originally was a second baseman and could challenge Willie Harris for a starting spot next season.
December 23, 200421 yr Remind me again why Anaheim is done with Eck. Who is their infield? Why do they have no interest in him? They signed Cabrera as their SS last week and resigned Kennedy last yr.
December 23, 200421 yr They signed Cabrera as their SS last week and resigned Kennedy last yr. Right, but they can't even use him off the bench??? I mean he comes cheap, seems kinda wierd to me.
December 23, 200421 yr W/ Frank out, I can see PK Dhing, w/ Gload at 1B, and Carl getting AB's there as well. Eck won't sniff DH is my point. The key is, Willie will have a hard time getting ab's w/ two guys like Pods and Eck/ Cora in the lineup. I dont know why everyone is feeling bad for willie. f*** Willie, he was a terrible lead-off hitter, cant hit alot of pitching, and doesnt get on base very easily. He is a back-up IF and pinch runner. That is going to be his role for the rest of his career, even if he leaves us for another team. I dont care if he doesnt like it, we tried him last year, gave him his shot, and he did nothing with it. Peace Willie
December 23, 200421 yr Eck over Carl at DH period. Carl can pickup his paycheck from the living room couch for all I care. Anyone who thinks Frank is going to be ready anytime soon is fooling themselves. He was to have his ankle examined two weeks ago, have we heard anything? If there was anything positive from it we'd have heard something by now. As good of a player as we may think of Eck, he is not even close to Everett as a hitter. A good piece for our infield as we have two guys that give us above average defense. He will not DH. Konerko will with Gload at first before Eck.
December 23, 200421 yr As good of a player as we may think of Eck, he is not even close to Everett as a hitter. A good piece for our infield as we have two guys that give us above average defense. He will not DH. Konerko will with Gload at first before Eck. So Kong didn't even like Frank taking a few AB's at 1st while he DH'ed but he'll gladly give them to Gload while he DH's a half of a season? Color me skeptical. In your opinion Carl is better, in my opinion he doesn't belong on the team.
December 23, 200421 yr lets not forget that frank does not rebound well after being out with an injury. it took him a year to get his stats back up last time.
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