Ordonez exit made Sox better

[southsider2k5]

Magglio Ordonez remains a personal favorite, yet it's clear the White Sox made a terrific business decision not to re-sign him at any cost.

 

You can argue about the way they let him go--how general manager Ken Williams hurt his free-agent value by dwelling on the mysterious nature of Ordonez's knee injury and how classless it is for Ozzie Guillen to talk like Ordonez has somehow morphed into Albert Belle, which he hasn't.

 

 

But you can't question this premise: When you have a midrange payroll, like the Sox do, you can't afford to give any player $15 million a year, which was what Ordonez was demanding--and the Sox reluctantly did offer, albeit with a typically Reinsdorfian contract heavy in deferred salary.

 

The Sox have a much better team in 2005 than they did in 2004 because they are spreading around Ordonez's salary.

 

A year ago, Ordonez's $14 million salary represented about 21.5 percent of the overall payroll ($65.2 million). This season, no Sox player is earning more than Paul Konerko, whose $8.75 million salary takes up only 11.6 percent of the overall payroll ($75.2 million). As a result, the mean salary, the point at which just as many players earn more as less, has jumped from $775,000 to $2 million.

 

That's a huge difference, and it has shown in the standings.

 

It's a surprise that the White Sox are 18-7, sure, but it's not a shock they are a better team than they were last year. They have 19 players earning at least $1 million; a year ago they had only 10. That difference shows.

[greasywheels121]

Agreed. What kind of product would we be putting out there, if we put all that money into the shelved Maggs? I can't imagine it'd be very competitive.

[DBAHO]

Thank you Captain Obvious.

[YASNY]

Thank you Captain Obvious.

 

We've been complaining that the media hasn't been considering "the obvious". I was glad to see this article for those that have been reading all the drivel about how the Sox can't possibly be as good as last year.

[DBAHO]

We've been complaining that the media hasn't been considering "the obvious".  I was glad to see this article for those that have been reading all the drivel about how the Sox can't possibly be as good as last year.

Well said, but I think most of us knew in the off-season that this team was going to be better, if most things fell into place, and they have, so in my mind it's a little late.

[YASNY]

Well said, but I think most of us knew in the off-season that this team was going to be better, if most things fell into place, and they have, so in my mind it's a little late. 

 

It's not us that I'm glad he wrote the article for. I know ... horrid grammar, but I couldn't figure out how else to say it.

[Steff]

I don't get how he compared Maggs to Albert...??

 

Did Albert say ONE negative word about the Sox when he left...?? No. Did he talk s*** about the GM...? No. Did he talk s*** about the owner...? No. Did he talk s*** about them not giving him more $$..? No.

 

As a matter of fact Albert praised Jerry Manuel to no end, and talked nothing but good about his time in Chicago.

[YASNY]

I don't get how he compared Maggs to Albert...??

 

Did Albert say ONE negative word about the Sox when he left...?? No. Did he talk s*** about the GM...? No. Did he talk s*** about the owner...? No. Did he talk s*** about them not giving him more $$..? No.

 

As a matter of fact Albert praised Jerry Manuel to no end, and talked nothing but good about his time in Chicago.

 

Pretty lame of Sullivan on that point. Albert brought some baggage with him from Cleveland. Apparently, he's still carrying it on his back.

[southsider2k5]

I don't get how he compared Maggs to Albert...??

 

Did Albert say ONE negative word about the Sox when he left...?? No. Did he talk s*** about the GM...? No. Did he talk s*** about the owner...? No. Did he talk s*** about them not giving him more $$..? No.

 

As a matter of fact Albert praised Jerry Manuel to no end, and talked nothing but good about his time in Chicago.

 

I think he was going for the injured and never going to be the same ballplayer again angle.

[Steff]

Pretty lame of Sullivan on that point.  Albert brought some baggage with him from Cleveland.  Apparently, he's still carrying it on his back.

 

 

 

[Steff]

I think he was going for the injured and never going to be the same ballplayer again angle.

 

 

 

I didn't get that from his comment. No biggie..

[YASNY]

 

What I'm trying to say, is that even though Albert was great for the Sox, Sullivan is attaching the "mean angry Albert" image he had in Cleveland to him. In Cleveland, Albert was portrayed by the media as an angry young man. Sullivan found an easy target and took his shot.

[Steff]

What I'm trying to say, is that even though Albert was great for the Sox, Sullivan is attaching the "mean angry Albert" image he had in Cleveland to him.  In Cleveland, Albert was portrayed by the media as an angry young man.  Sullivan found an easy target and took his shot.

 

 

 

Gotcha.

 

Although I didn't associate anything from Cleveland in there..

 

It's funny how you and I took the comment to mean something along the same lines and Mike took it to mean something relating to the injury..

[southsider2k5]

Gotcha.

 

Although I didn't associate anything from Cleveland in there.. 

 

It's funny how you and I took the comment to mean something along the same lines and Mike took it to mean something relating to the injury..

 

Yeah, the statement was fairly ambiguous. It is interesting how it comes off completely different to other people.

[YASNY]

Yeah, the statement was fairly ambiguous.  It is interesting how it comes off completely different to other people.

 

Yes. But I was right.

[JUGGERNAUT]

Well for some of us who never took to Magglio like the rest of you I was not sad to see him go. If we're talking how better to spend $15M, I was happier to see Garcia & Contreras arrive. I think the money there is even.

 

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I was against the Lee trade but Vizcaino had made me a believer. Like Shingo he really is one of the best 15 pitch men in the league. Pods is not just talented he's smart. One of the smartest runners the league has seen.

I don't know if he'll finish the year w a 280BA but having Iguchi can only help.

 

Though it doesn't show up in OBP, Pods is the best bet to get on from a FC or SH situation. Especially with the Sox having good speed at the tail of the order. That forces a team to make a play to get the lead out. I'll gladly trade that out to get Pods on board every time.

 

What's cool about Pods on a mid-revenue team is that he seems to always do enough to win but never enough to earn big money respect. That should make for a guy who is easy to sign & does just enough to stat-wise keep his starting role.

 

Money wise it breaks down as follows:

05: Dye ($4M), Viz + Pods ($2M), Hermy ($2M)

06: Dye ($6M), Hermy ($3M)

 

It's Dye's availability that made Lee expendable. Offensively Williams was thinking Dye at the Cell could produce similar numbers. Both stars are struggling early.

 

It goes w/out saying on how valuable Hermy has been so far.

 

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As for Valentin I think this is a no-brainer. Which would you rather have:

Val(SS) + Harris(2B) or Uribe(SS) + Iguchi? Money-wise it's about even.

 

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Of course the Sox didn't stop there.

The money they paid to E-Lo & Schow in 2004 went to El Duque.

The money they paid to Alomar, Jackson, & other lesser parts went to AJ.

 

This might surprise many but dating back to 2004 when Williams began to overhaul the team with the Miles for Uribe trade the only moves KW has made that haven't panned out are Dye & paying Davis $1M. He looks like a genius for trading for Everett .. again. The Davis move is over-shadowed by the Widger signing & there's plenty of time for Dye to turn it around.

 

Right now I think it's safe to say both Ozzie & Kenny are early season favorites to win MOY & GMOY awards this year. Let's hope their Midas touch continues to work.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

I like Phil and I don't really blame him for the Albert comment but it is a shame the way that Belle's career has been disregarded. I implore you to name another player in your white sox lifetime that you would have been more afraid to see in a 5-3 game int he 9th with the bases loaded. He was just a doubles and homer machine. He also put together possible the greatest non-Frank season in White Sox history in my opinion. I've written Neyer pleading with him to consider a column on Belle's HOF worthiness (he wouldn't because he doesnt think so) but if you compare his career to a Ralph Kiner then he's worthy. Was Tony Perez better than Albert Belle. No way. TOo bad his career was cut short. Lastly, all of the negative stuff about Albert came after he left and I don't trust it that much. He wasn't going to win TIme Man of the Year but we heard a lot of bad things about him but I don't think he was disruptive or anything. Rant over

[southsideirish]

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ May 3, 2005 -> 02:49 PM)

I think he was going for the injured and never going to be the same ballplayer again angle.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I see how you can get that from his comment but I am reading it differently. I read it as stating that Ozzie is trying to portray him as Albert Belle has been portrayed, as a malcontent.

 

I agree with Steff that Albert Bell is being portrayed as something he wasn't. He supposedly did some silly things, such as supposedly chasing down kids and corked his bat, but he never tried to bash the White Sox organization. He never bashed anyone or any organization that I am aware of at all. I know it has been reported that he was a clubhouse cancer, but how the hell does anyone know this? I have heard former teammates say great things about him and never once anything bad.

 

To me Albert Belle should not be compared to Maggs in any way. Maggs has proven to everyone that he is an ass.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

I don't think everyone here hates Maggs even though some try to paint that picture, for what reason I don't know. The Albert bashing reminds me of Ozzie's badnouthing of Frank in that I just wonder what anyone wanted him to do that he didn't? Aren't/Weren't they here to hit and that's about it? That's what both have done. I almost wonder if the organization gets mad at some fo these guys for not doing corporate things like A-Rod does. Could be one theory

[Steff]

I see how you can get that from his comment but I am reading it differently. I read it as stating that Ozzie is  trying to portray him as Albert Belle has been portrayed, as a malcontent.

 

I agree with Steff that Albert Bell is being portrayed as something he wasn't. He supposedly did some silly things, such as supposedly chasing down kids and corked his bat, but he never tried to bash the White Sox organization. He never bashed anyone or any organization that I am aware of at all. I know it has been reported that he was a clubhouse cancer, but how the hell does anyone know this? I have heard former teammates say great things about him and never once anything bad.

 

To me Albert Belle should not be compared to Maggs in any way. Maggs has proven to everyone that he is an ass.

 

 

Albert, who resides in Arizona near Paul, is still good friends with him and they play golf often in the offseason. Him and Frank still talk all the time also as Vegas is Albert's home away from home. If any of you get a chance to chat with Ozzie.. ask him about Albert. Some of the funniest stories and the greatest admiration from Oz towards Albert. You don't make those kinds of friends by being a "cancer".

 

Yea.. he corked his bat.. so did Sosa. And yea.. he chased kids after they egged his house, something I would do, but the media would bat an eye at... so what..? I don't see the comparison to Maggs running his mouth saying nasty things about the Sox brass. JMO.. but it is biased.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I soured on Maggs when he signed the $29.5M/3 yr deal. I always felt his weaknesses hurt the team more than his strengths helped. His near 1000 OPS at the Cell is impressive but how much did it matter towards winning?

Didn't most players on the Sox excel at the Cell?

 

U.S Cellular Field 678AB .322A .379O .599S

Jacobs Field 92AB .261A .333O .478S

Comerica Park 72AB .306A .359O .403S

Metrodome 88AB .307A .330O .420S

Network Coliseum 51AB .255A .296O .549S

Safeco Field 30AB .133A .297O .200S

 

I just never thought those numbers are good enough against our Nemesis' (Seattle & Oakland) & our division rivals (Minny, Tigs, Tribe) to warrant $15M/yr. When you pay someone that kind of money you are expecting Manny like production. He never showed me that.

[AnthraxFan93]

Couple of things to point out..

 

1. Yes, the sox came out on top so far.

2. YEs, they screwed over Maggs in the FA market..but doesn't he get to go back this year if he doesn't play enough games?

 

3. Can we ever let this die and focus on the team now, not what we could have had.. :banghead

[southsider2k5]

Couple of things to point out..

 

1. Yes, the sox came out on top so far.

2. YEs, they screwed over Maggs in the FA market..but doesn't he get to go back this year if he doesn't play enough games?

 

3. Can we ever let this die and focus on the team now, not what we could have had.. :banghead

 

Actually just the opposite. Maggs hit the lottery with this hernia.

 

Ordonez's hernia surgery was a blow for his career but maybe not his bank account.

 

He's expected to be sidelined until at least July, which means he has less time to experience a recurrence of problems in his left knee. If he is not disabled for 25 days with an injury to his left knee, he'll be guaranteed $75 million over five years with Detroit.

 

Players used to say "you can't make the club in the tub" about recuperating players, but in Ordonez's case you can't get hurt in the tub either.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Trust me, it's not the Maggs defenders who can't let this go. Most of us would just as soon wish him the best and hope we continue to win. Oddly, even though we are in first, it's the Maggs detractors that can't let it go. I think it will stay this way until he comes here and gets booed so that we can close the book on this.