Lee - Pods a rare win - win trade

[Texsox]

Looking at the trade today, it seems like one of those rare trades that both sides could be happy with. El Cabalo is on his way to the All-Star Game and Pods has been very useful at the top of the order. Toss on the balance of the trade and it is one of those rare both sides are happy trades. Especially nice that it involved an NL team.

[DBAHO]

The key was always going to be Pods and his OBP, and he's bounced back beautifully from last season. However, the other aspects of the trade haven't gone down so well for the Sox. Luis Vizcaino has been a bust and shown he can't get out lefties, which was pretty much why we acquired him, and Travis Hinton has no chance of making the team in the future. But we used the money we saved on AJ who's been invaluable, and El Duque who's won 7 games, but the future isn't looking so rosy for him either.

[YASNY]

Last year, Podsednik hit about 10 homers. This year, ZERO so far. That's the key to Scotty's OBP rebound. He just tries to put the ball in play and run like hell.

[DBAHO]

Last year, Podsednik hit about 10 homers.  This year, ZERO so far.  That's the key to Scotty's OBP rebound.  He just tries to put the ball in play and run like hell.

And last year he had a G/F ratio of 1.46, far too low for a speedy put the ball in play outfielder. This season? It's 2.10, .59 above his career average. Almost having an identical BB/K ratio has helped greatly too, 27 BB's, 32 K's. Last season he had only 58 BB's and 105 K's.

[Texsox]

What is shows is how a team is like a puzzle. Lee IMHO is a better player, yet we could take a little away in power to add some speed, and come out ahead.

[CubKilla]

Last year, Podsednik hit about 10 homers.  This year, ZERO so far.  That's the key to Scotty's OBP rebound.  He just tries to put the ball in play and run like hell.

 

Very "Willie Mays-Hayes"-ish

[southsider2k5]

They talked to Kenny about this deal over the weekend, and that was exactly what he said about the deal. Supposedly he talked to Bob Melvin over the last week, and said it was a rare win-win, and that when Kenny made the deal he told Melvin that he was getting an All-Star in Carlos Lee.

[sayitaintso]

Very "Willie Mays-Hayes"-ish 

Another great movie. But just imagine where we would be without Pods. With his 35 or so stolen bases sometimes helped the sox and made the sox win that game. Without him, we could be a completely different team.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I believe most of us fans here at SOXTALK were not surprised. We debated the trade at length & the consensus was that Pods was what we needed. We were woeful in SB's last year & that showed up in our run droughts. If we can't pressure opposing pitchers & defenses they can relax & pitch their best.

 

But at the same time many of us knew Lee was poised to have a big year. What's scary for the Cub & others in the division is that he's not even hitting on all cylinders yet. Most of us remember his long hit streaks of 2004 & how they kept the team in the hunt even after Maggs & Thomas went down.

 

Dare I say that Lee is on pace for a 150 RBI season. Wow! I will always remain steadfast in my belief that we could have gotten Pods for less than Lee. The Brewers were desperate for a HR hitter. If KW says no to Lee the odds are they come back to the table & listen to other offers. We had options at the time.

 

I think Lee is the type of player that would have responded to Ozzie if given the chance. He's not a big ego. He's a high caliber emotional player. This was clearly evident when after the comments surfaced in the paper about Lee being gutless over last yr's dubious slide. He responded big time with an over aggressive slide which put at risk not just the Cub 2B 's health but his own as well. A multitude of things can happen when a man of that size slides hard in 2B. I'm sure the GM of the Brewers held his breath.

 

The trade is over now & though I still wish Lee were a member of the White Sox I am glad he is with the Brewers & if there is no hope of him being a member of the White Sox as a future FA then I hope he stays with the Brewers.

 

I don't know if Kenny was thinking about what Lee being a Brewer meant to the White Sox of 2005 but I think some of us fans did. I stated that Lee's move to the Brewers could cost Min 3 victories because they will play them 6 times. Milw is on a bit of a role & still has that chance. But probably more important than that is the effect Lee will have in the media every time he plays the Cub.

 

If he continues to be the Cub Killa he has always been the White Sox will continue to share in his limelight. The national & local media always mention the trade every time he plays well against the Cub. Again I don't think any other current Sox player could have as big an impact in that respect than Lee.

 

I still do not rule out the possibility of Lee coming back. The team & the player have parted on good terms & continue to say good things about each other. Even Ozzie had good things to say about Lee the last time he spoke about him.

 

Now before you say Lee will never be back, just consider that Dye is no spring chicken. They will both be FA's after next yr. If we win the WS $ won't be a problem. Lee in RF is w/out a doubt an upgrade offensively & at this stage in his career defensively as well.

[thomsonmi]

Lee has a horrible arm. He should never be allowed to play right field for anyone. If for some reason he were to come back to the White Sox, Rowand would move to right, Pods to Center, and Lee in left.

 

But, this ain't happenin' folks. Too much dinero. And, too many cheaper, talented options in the minors.