Score just reported Sox sign AJ

[JUGGERNAUT]

What's really interesting about this is that AJ is coming off a career yr in RBI (77) & yet because of his bad rep his value plummets. It makes me ask what is Sosa really worth?

 

Sosa's rep in Chicago is far worse than that of AJ's. Does that knock him down to less than 10M/yr in value?

[Soxfest]

Solid move for 2005

[babybearhater]

this message is from the twins board:

 

I think this finally takes a little sting out of the Garcia trade for the Southside Cry Babies. They now have a legitimate catcher, which they lost last year.

 

Hopefully all the negativity down there will bring out the worst in AJ's play.

 

That being said, AJ is a difficult guy to root against. I thought he was a really good player with the Twins, and as Jan noted, those 10-plus pitch at bats were great to watch on a first pitch swinging team.

 

AJ's antics, and how much he got into his opponents kitchen was worth some wins against those babies, and I don't like the history of former Twins playing against us. I much prefer them in the NL. Cripes, even Mark Redman has dominated us.

 

Koskie stays and this is a non-issue, but I think the b****Sox just got better. It will take a healthy year from Mauer, and production from the 3-5 in the rotation to keep pace.

[CanOfCorn]

this message is from the twins board:

 

I think this finally takes a little sting out of the Garcia trade for the Southside Cry Babies. They now have a legitimate catcher, which they lost last year.

 

Hopefully all the negativity down there will bring out the worst in AJ's play.

 

That being said, AJ is a difficult guy to root against. I thought he was a really good player with the Twins, and as Jan noted, those 10-plus pitch at bats were great to watch on a first pitch swinging team.

 

AJ's antics, and how much he got into his opponents kitchen was worth some wins against those babies, and I don't like the history of former Twins playing against us. I much prefer them in the NL. Cripes, even Mark Redman has dominated us.

 

Koskie stays and this is a non-issue, but I think the b****Sox just got better. It will take a healthy year from Mauer, and production from the 3-5 in the rotation to keep pace.

 

So angry for the three time defending AL Central champs. But I completely agree with what he is saying.

 

Speaking of b****ing, anyone heard from Anthrax after this signing?

[YASNY]

Great move!  Congrats KW!  He used the bad rep in SF to push AJ into this deal.  AJ was offered slightly more $ elsewhere but no one was offering more than 1 yr.  Given that AJ still as an arbit year left there was no reason for a team to do that.  AJ was over barrel so to speak.

 

KW just landed a former CWS nemesis who happens to be one of the best hitting C's in the game for 2.25M.  The CWS get a full yr to decide whether to offer AJ a multi-year deal to avoid arbit in 2006.  The odds are that AJ's bad rep in SF is going to surface in Chicago.  I don't think it's going to affect Ozzie's clubhouse but I do think enough to where Moronitti & others will decide to write articles about him.  That should be enough to keep him a ? mark & lower his price in the future.

 

 

What you are saying here is that mariotti's BS can be beneficial to the White Sox.

 

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DonkeyKongerko]

I guess the real question is, who would win a footrace? GIDPaul or GIDPierzynski?

[JUGGERNAUT]

I guess the real question is, who would win a footrace?  GIDPaul or GIDPierzynski?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

VS. LEFT: .227 / .544 VS. RIGHT: .283 / .775 HOME: .283 / .737 AWAY: .261 / .720

He had 2 horrible months in Apr & Sep. Not good. But he was mostly facing LH's

in those months. The bottomline is that for 2.25M he's a definite upgrade over Davis.

I don't think he's guaranteed the starting position though. I think Davis can still beat him out in ST.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I just want to add that AJ aside is it not true that SF has appeared as a fester pool for problems & attitudes for years? Before AJ it was Kent. You didn't hear much about Kent when he went to HOU & now he's a member of the LAD.

 

I think those problems in SF are more related to SF than the players themselves. There probably are no saints there but the clubhouse seems to bring out the devil in the sinners.

 

That's never going to happen here. Not with Ozzie at the helm. He just doesn't put up with that crap & he's not afraid to mouthoff at the best of them.

[YASNY]

I just want to add that AJ aside is it not true that SF has appeared as a fester pool for problems & attitudes for years?  Before AJ it was Kent.  You didn't hear much about Kent when he went to HOU & now he's a member of the LAD. 

 

I think those problems in SF are more related to SF than the players themselves.  There probably are no saints there but the clubhouse seems to bring out the devil in the sinners.

 

That's never going to happen here.  Not with Ozzie at the helm.  He just doesn't put up with that crap & he's not afraid to mouthoff at the best of them.

 

 

Damn good point. When AJ was with Minnesota, I hated him because he always got under the Sox skin. That's exactly the type of player the Sox needed.

[hi8is]

I don't think he's guaranteed the starting position though. .

me.laugh.few.second.ago....

me.cave.man

me.smart

[babybearhater]

VS. LEFT: .227 / .544 VS. RIGHT: .283 / .775 HOME: .283 / .737 AWAY: .261 / .720

He had 2 horrible months in Apr & Sep.  Not good.  But he was mostly facing LH's

in those months. The bottomline is that for 2.25M he's a definite upgrade over Davis.

I don't think he's guaranteed the starting position though.  I think Davis can still beat him out in ST.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

sorry i choked on my lunch when you said Davis will beat him out of the starting position. I didnt know that you started drinking so early in the afternoon. Wow, wow, wow

 

[JUGGERNAUT]

Could it be that the Cell is actually working in our favour (for once) when it comes to free agent hitters. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think it is. I think Uribe has a lot to do with that. The players might be looking at the Cell like a spa for hitters now. If you're in need of a boost or a fresh start sign with the CWS.

 

What it means now is that the CWS has more $ to spend on pitchers who are less likely to give up long balls. As I understand it, one of the stats available to GM's in talent evaluation is avg hit distance. It's recorded on hitters & against pitchers. KW should be targeting those guys who are the lowest. Regardless of their FB/GB ratio's or even eras.

 

Unfortunately that's not available to fans, so we have to wing it.

[JUGGERNAUT]

sorry i choked on my lunch when you said Davis will beat him out of the starting position.  I didnt know that you started drinking so early in the afternoon.  Wow, wow, wow

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I said I think! I didn't say I know. That means I have my doubts. I give him a better than 50% chance. KW did not spend 1M on Davis because he thinks he's a bumb.

He did have a solid month last year & ST is about a month long so I think he can do it.

AJ slumped in Sep so that only helps Davis' chances.

 

Hitting alone is NOT going to decide who's 1st string. Defense & pitcher's era will also play a factor.

 

Poo Hah!

[JUGGERNAUT]

Made to pitch at the Cell: Career #s:

GB/FB, BA vs, MOB, SLG vs, IP/HR

MB: 1.25/261/11.4/408/9.05

FG: 1.16/248/12.0/.395/9.01

OH: 0.73/236/11.5/397/7.68

JC: 1.09/.239/12.9/404/6.88

JG: 1.24/.268/13.2/439/7.09

 

Look at the IP/HR numbers & you can see the drop-off in the rotation.

We are all hoping 3-5 improve on that in 2005. If not no post-season.

 

Pen:

ST: 0.83/182/9.1/10.33 - Awesome!

DM: 0.81/217/11.0/9.92 - Pretty Good!

DH: 1.03/265/12.6/7.92 - So-So

CP: 0.84/254/12.8/7.85 - So-So

LV: 0.70/238/11.7/6.08 - Poor

NC: 1.22/255/14.4/5.57 - Really Bad

JA: 1.29/299/14.1/5.07 - Really Bad

 

There's been a lot of talk about the CWS getting Javier Vazquez. I don't want him.

JV: 1.00/260/11.7/425/7.59

 

Yes those numbers are better than JC, JG but they are not good enough for 27M/3.

That's what he would probably cost. They are not better than MB or FG. Unlike MB or FG they are based mostly on NL numbers.

 

I want the top CLE starters!

JW:2.41/277/13.1/413/11.25 - Holy s***!

CS:0.92/247/12.2/394/10.34 - Awesome!

CL:0.72/255/13.3/439/6.52 - No thank you.

SE:0.76/263/13.1/460/5.87 - No way hosea!

 

MIN starters:

JS: 0.74/225/10.9/362/9.61 - Awesome!

BR:1.01/273/11.5/441/7.76 - comparable to El Duque

CS:1.73/297/13.1/439/11 - Pretty Good!

JM:1.27/274/12.8/435/7.60 - Ok

KL:0.91/279/13.3/454/6.79 - No thank you!

 

I don't see CLE parting with Westbrook so I'd like to replace Contreras & Garland with Sabathia & Silva. I think they are tailor made for the Cell.

[babybearhater]

I said I think!  I didn't say I know.  That means I have my doubts.  I give him a better than 50% chance.  KW did not spend 1M on Davis because he thinks he's a bumb.

He did have a solid month last year & ST is about a month long so I think he can do it.

AJ slumped in Sep so that only helps Davis' chances.

 

Hitting alone is NOT going to decide who's 1st string.  Defense & pitcher's era will also play a factor.

 

Poo Hah!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

wow dude wow. You are saying that a career 300 hitter, who we spent 2.5 million on, who was picked up for the sole purpose of starting for the team, who has KILLED the sox in the past, who is known to work well with pitchers, who has more major league experience than the bench warmer, is going to be beat out by Ben Davis-an after thought in the Garcia trade?? That is arguing for the sake of arguing, or you just wanted somehwere to put the words Poo-hah. In fact, if you want to make a wager on it, since you are 50 percent sure Davis will start, those are pretty good odds, I will bet you on this situation. In fact, if you would like, we can bet some tickets. How about cubs/sox tickets to the winner??? put your money where your mouth is

[qwerty]

There really is no doubt that pierz will be our starting catcher to start the year unless he gets injured.

[babybearhater]

There really is no doubt that pierz will be our starting catcher to start the year unless he gets injured.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

apparently JUggs is 50 percent positive that it will be Ben Davis

[Rowand44]

I said I think!  I didn't say I know.  That means I have my doubts.  I give him a better than 50% chance.  KW did not spend 1M on Davis because he thinks he's a bumb.

He did have a solid month last year & ST is about a month long so I think he can do it.

AJ slumped in Sep so that only helps Davis' chances.

 

Hitting alone is NOT going to decide who's 1st string.  Defense & pitcher's era will also play a factor.

 

Poo Hah!

Ben Davis has a 0 percent chance of being the starting catcher this year.

[babybearhater]

IM waiting for JUGGs to put his money where his terrible opinions are............

[JUGGERNAUT]

If Davis out hits AJ & manages a better starters era & W-L record than AJ

in ST are you saying he still has no chance of starting?

 

The CWS has been dividing up the AB's amongst it's C's for years. Do you think that's going to change because of AJ?

 

As for the 50%, I meant that if beats AJ out in ST w both the bat & starters era I think he has a 50% chance to get the lead. Now as to him accomplishing that in ST it probably drops to 10%. I definitely think he has a chance albeit slim.

 

As to your take on Davis' worth remember that KW felt good enough about him to start the season w him. Hermannson talked KW in looking at AJ. So I think KW is still high on Davis even w AJ.

[qwerty]

If Davis out hits AJ & manages a better starters era & W-L record than AJ

in ST are you saying he still has no chance of starting?

 

The CWS has been dividing up the AB's amongst it's C's for years.  Do you think that's going to change because of AJ?

 

As for the 50%, I meant that if beats AJ out in ST w both the bat & starters era I think he has a 50% chance to get the lead.  Now as to him accomplishing that in ST it probably drops to 10%. I definitely think he has a chance albeit slim.

 

As to your take on Davis' worth remember that KW felt good enough about him to start the season w him.  Hermannson talked KW in looking at AJ.  So I think KW is still high on Davis even w AJ.

 

I honestly do not think if pierz hits .051 in spring training and davis hits .321 that he will get the starting job. Also how many games do you thik pierz will start next year if he does not get injured? I think low side 100, high side 120-125.

[JUGGERNAUT]

AJ vs BD

R H HR RBI SB W TB AB ONBASE OUTS OPS

45 128 11 77 0 19 193 471 162 344 .729

22 40 6 18 1 12 67 193 53 154 .603

 

I don't think it's a slam dunk for AJ as much as you do.

AB/R AB/H AB/HR AB/RBI AB/SB AB/W AB/TB AB/OB AB/OUTS

AJ:10.47 3.68 42.82 6.12 491.00 24.79 2.44 2.91 1.37

BD:08.77 4.83 32.17 10.72 193.00 16.08 2.88 3.64 1.25

 

AJ's clearly a better hitter than Davis. But is he a better C? That's what

I think we'll find out in ST & that's ultimate going to decide who the lead

is. I'll agree with you that if AJ proves to be the better C in ST then

he is going to C probably 4 out of every 5 starts where if Davis beat him out in ST Davis is only going to get 3 out of every 5 starts. If they are close AJ will get 3 out of every 5 starts.

[Gene Honda Civic]

Ugh -- I just read through some of this :headshake

 

less is more sometimes Juggs... There's no need to arbitrarily break down everyone's performance by month... Sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees.

 

------

 

So here's some broader numbers that help illustrate why this is a good signing.

        G   AB   R    H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA  OBP  SLG

2004  162  543  76  145  28  2 14  67  37  90 .267 .316 .403

2003  162  529  58  134  30  1 11  55  26  99 .253 .292 .376

2002  162  543  65  129  22  2 13  59  46  90 .238 .301 .352

============================================================

3yr   486 1615 199  408  80  5 37 181 109 279 .252 .303 .377

------------------------------------------------------------

AJ    398 1398 162  412  94 11 28 200  56 143 .295 .338 .438

The first three rows are the collective numbers of the White Sox catchers the last three seasons... Then the their 3yr total of those catchers, and finally those #'s compared to AJ's 3yr numbers

 

 

Defense
 

       E PB  SB  CS   CERA  lgCERA   tmERA

2001  10  4  44  21   4.50    4.53    4.51

2002   3  2  45  19   4.10    4.42    4.18

2003   6  5  46  20   4.15    4.62    4.41

2004   1  9  51  15   4.23    4.44    4.28

 

Finally, here are AJ's Defensive numbers for the past 4 seasons, while he was recieving significant playing time (avg. 1000 innings caught)... CERA is catchers ERA, lgCERA is stolen from BR's lgERA and is an approximation of what a league average pitcher would be expected to in each of AJ's home parks during that season. tmERA is the collective ERA for the team he caught for(non park adjusted)

 

As you can see, AJ's CERA is better than both his team's ERA, and league average(park adjusted) CERA in every year. In short, he's a good catcher -- a good game caller.

[qwerty]

Well that summed that up quite well.

[babybearhater]

SO instead of rambling on out stats that dont matter, and your stupid backpedling, how about you take credit for saying the Davis has a 50 percent of starting, and bet me..honestly...why would you waste the time in saying something like that and not be able to back it up. Come on man, e-mail me your info, and the winner gets complementary cubs/sox tickets this year. There is no use writing something that you dont mean. Otherwise admit that you were talking out of your ass.