March 18th Comcast Sport Net Chicago news:

A guy (Bruce Levine?) on Comcast Sports Net Chicago mentioned something about Jamie Burke being the probable backup catcher and that there is something in the works as far as an attempt to trade Ben Davis. It could be complete BS but it's interesting nonetheless.

 

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

Davis has swung the bat well during Spring Training, hitting .333. The better the switch-hitter looks at the plate, the more interest there could be in him from other teams. That scenario opens up another possibility for Burke.

 

When the idea of trade interest in Davis was asked directly of Ken Williams, the White Sox general manager answered with a very quick "no comment." Williams then expounded on the catching situation.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/team?categoryId=71590

ON THE HOT SEAT:  C Ben Davis has swung the bat with authority during the early stages of spring training, which, ironically, could make him expendable in the next few weeks. Davis signed a one-year, $1 million deal during the off-season, meaning that the White Sox probably would not flat out cut him, and he also presents somewhat of an offensive presence off the bench from both sides of the plate. So, the better Davis plays in Cactus League action, the more interest there could be from other teams in picking up a frontline backstop.

From the March 25th issue of Sporting News magazine:

WHITE SOX C Ben Davis has swung the bat with authority early in spring training and provides offense from both sides of the plate, he could be traded.  The team would be just as happy with Jamie Burke, who became ace LHP Mark Buehrle's personal catcher late last season, as a backup to A.J. Pierzynski.

Edited March 19, 200521 yr by Jabroni

Ben Davis, a frontline backstop?

 

Maybe for the Royals...

I know this probably sounds crazy, but I'd be okay with Widger as the backup.

What could the Sox get for Davis, though? Utility IF? Middle relief? Prospect or two?

Ben Davis, a frontline backstop?

 

Maybe for the Royals...

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Good backup backstop, horrible frontline backstop. I could see the Dodgers wanting him though. They were interested in him a month or so ago. Hell, Davis could start for them.

 

I know this probably sounds crazy, but I'd be okay with Widger as the backup.

What could the Sox get for Davis, though? Utility IF? Middle relief? Prospect or two?

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If we trade Davis, Burke would be our backup catcher because he can also play some 3B. We would probably trade Davis for a prospect.

Edited March 18, 200521 yr by Jabroni

Good backup backstop, horrible frontline backstop.  I could see the Dodgers wanting him though.  They were interested in him a month or so ago.  Hell, Davis could start for them.

 

Not on a Paul DePodesta team, I doubt it.

 

I think he'd go with Ross before Davis.

It's a FoxSports report, probably from that Dayn Perry? guy. I wouldn't take too much consideration of that.

Not on a Paul DePodesta team, I doubt it.

 

I think he'd go with Ross before Davis.

 

But a Pirates team, for Rob Mackowiak, now we're talkin....

Reputations develop very fast around SoxTalk don't they.

Reputations develop very fast around SoxTalk don't they. 

 

I'm sorry, Im new here so I should just not say those things...

I don't know who'd want him to be honest. I know he's a switch hitter and all, but he's never panned out and probably never will be what was expected of him.

I don't know who'd want him to be honest. I know he's a switch hitter and all, but he's never panned out and probably never will be what was expected of him.

My thoughts exactly. If Davis is going to produce offensively it'll be here, but whether or not he gets the chance to do that, I don't think he will.

My thoughts exactly. If Davis is going to produce offensively it'll be here, but whether or not he gets the chance to do that, I don't think he will.

 

At this point, I really don't see the use for Davis on the team.

 

Maybe someone can tell me if I'm wrong, but the reasons teams would want Davis is because he might be able to figure it out vs. righties, as he's done better against righties than against lefties -- and he's alright defensively, but not a defensive star.

 

I'd much rather have Burke up here. He seems like the perfect 'Ozzieball' type of player, with that short, compact swing (whether or not that produces a high batting average is besides the point), plus -- I'm almost certain that he would do better against left handed pitchers than Davis would. I also recall the pitchers really taking a liking to Burke, though that's not to say the same about Davis. And, while Burke isn't a defensive star either, he isn't much worse (if at all) than Davis.

 

And, while he's definitely not your first choice at third base, in an emergency situation, he'd be able to give you time at 3B/1B.

At this point, I really don't see the use for Davis on the team.

 

Maybe someone can tell me if I'm wrong, but the reasons teams would want Davis is because he might be able to figure it out vs. righties, as he's done better against righties than against lefties -- and he's alright defensively, but not a defensive star.

 

I'd much rather have Burke up here.  He seems like the perfect 'Ozzieball' type of player, with that short, compact swing (whether or not that produces a high batting average is besides the point), plus -- I'm almost certain that he would do better against left handed pitchers than Davis would.  I also recall the pitchers really taking a liking to Burke, though that's not to say the same about Davis.  And, while Burke isn't a defensive star either, he isn't much worse (if at all) than Davis.

 

And, while he's definitely not your first choice at third base, in an emergency situation, he'd be able to give you time at 3B/1B.

All signs point to Burke over Davis, but since Davis makes the $1m paycheck, he's going to stick around. He also had the highest ERA of all 4 catchers last season as well.

And, while Burke isn't a defensive star either, he isn't much worse (if at all) than Davis.

 

Burke= cannot hold ball and davis= let ball go past him.

All signs point to Burke over Davis, but since Davis makes the $1m paycheck, he's going to stick around. He also had the highest ERA of all 4 catchers last season as well.

 

Well, I'd hope that what Kenny said about Harris/Iguchi as far as playing time and not worrying about which one makes more money applies to the catching situation as well...

Well, I'd hope that what Kenny said about Harris/Iguchi as far as playing time and not worrying about which one makes more money applies to the catching situation as well...

 

I agree with you and even if kw and whoever else says willie may start i think they are just saying that to say that. Especially with the way willie is hitting thus far. Not saying iguchi is doing much better but i see the contract differential coming into play.

Well, I'd hope that what Kenny said about Harris/Iguchi as far as playing time and not worrying about which one makes more money applies to the catching situation as well...

 

I'm gonna agree with Keith, if I am getting this correctly, that whoever does the better job is gonna get the PT no matter what the paycheck situation is.

It's a FoxSports report, probably from that Dayn Perry? guy. I wouldn't take too much consideration of that.

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I'm not sure but I found a similar quote in the March 25th issue of the Sporting News magazine that I just got in the mail. Here is the quote...

WHITE SOX C Ben Davis has swung the bat with authority early in spring training and provides offense from both sides of the plate, he could be traded.  The team would be just as happy with Jamie Burke, who became ace LHP Mark Buehrle's personal catcher late last season, as a backup to A.J. Pierzynski.

Keep in mind that Ben Davis could still have some trade value. Look no further than the Flubs who traded for an underachieving catching prospect in Michael Barrett. He finally panned out for them last season and it looks like a good trade now. By the way, Ben Davis was the 1st round (2nd pick) of the 1995 draft and Michael Barrett was the 1st round (28th pick) of that same draft. Davis is also a year younger than Barrett.

Edited March 18, 200521 yr by Jabroni

Well, I'd hope that what Kenny said about Harris/Iguchi as far as playing time and not worrying about which one makes more money applies to the catching situation as well...

I do too, but since it seems KW loves Ben Davis so much, I doubt he'll be going anywhere, unless the Sox get a good deal in a trade.

Teams that could use a catcher...

 

Dodgers - They currently have a stellar catching duo of David Ross and Paul Bako and Dioner Navarro is not ready for the majors yet.

 

Pirates - They have a catching duo of 40 year old Benito Santiago and catching prospect, Humberto Cota. They also just released their top catching prospect in J.R. House due to his myriad of injuries.

Edited March 18, 200521 yr by Jabroni

Teams that need a catcher...

 

Dodgers - They currently have a stellar catching duo of David Ross and Paul Bako and Dioner Navarro is not ready for the majors yet.

 

Pirates - They have a catching duo of 40 year old Benito Santiago and catching prospect, Humberto Cota.  They also just released their top catching prospect in J.R. House due to his myriad of injuries.

 

Catcher is definitely not high on the pirates list in my opinion.

Catcher is definitely not high on the pirates list in my opinion.

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Why not? Benito Santiago is 40 and Cota isn't a top prospect or anything. And J.R. House is gone. Do they have any other good catching prospects coming up in their system?

Edited March 18, 200521 yr by Jabroni

Catcher is definitely not high on the pirates list in my opinion.

 

I thought Cota was supposed to be a good one so I didnt expect them to have a wish list for Ben Davis-like catchers.

I thought Cota was supposed to be a good one so I didnt expect them to have a wish list for Ben Davis-like catchers.

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I think they like Cota but he's far from impressive, but then again neither is Davis so maybe you're right.

Edited March 18, 200521 yr by Jabroni

Why not?  Benito Santiago is 40 and Cota isn't a top prospect or anything.  And J.R. House is gone.

Ben Davis - .231, 6 HR's, 16 RBI's in 54 games.

Benito Santiago - .274, 6 HR's, 23 RBI's in 49 games.

 

If Rob Machowiak is expensive for $1.5 million, what about Ben Davis?