caulfield12

The Twins were able to get away with it with Blackburn and Perkins at their 4/5 with the likes of Livan Michelin Man Hernandez getting the majority of starts before Liriano was finally brought back up (too late). I wouldn't go as far as to say that Richard/Marquez are/were similarly regarded, but you can certainly say that most scouts believe Poreda will have a bigger impact than G. Perkins (with the continued development of his secondary pitches, one caveat).

That was the zenith career-wise of all those pitchers...that season. We had Eldred make a huge contribution early on, Wells flopped, Garland was thrown in the mix with Buehrle as well. I think they even tried Ginter down the stretch, taking him off the Olympic team's roster, and Jon Rauch loomed as the best pitching prospect in all of baseball. Biddle, Josh Fogg, Danny Wright and Lorenzo Barcelo weren't far behind.

''Everyone wants to come up with a reason why they believe we will listen to overtures,'' Ken Williams told the Sun-Times. ''Then all of a sudden, I'm shopping someone. If I didn't listen, that would be a sign of incompetence.'' Williams contends he was approached by representatives of several teams about Jenks and agreed to listen. Another team rumored to be asking about Jenks was the Milwaukee Brewers, who are in the market for a closer. ''[Jenks] doesn't throw 100 mph anymore, so what?'' Williams said. ''The short story is Bobby Jenks is one of the best closers in the game. ''I'll never deny that there hasn't been one player in eight years that I said, 'I won't listen to you about him.' Carlos Quentin almost won the MVP this year, and if someone calls, I'll listen. If someone wants to do something stupid, I'll let them.'' The Sox will begin grooming right-hander Jhonny Nunez, whom they acquired from the New York Yankees in the Nick Swisher deal, for a possible closer role, but he might be a few years away -- about the time Jenks is a free agent. ''We like [Nunez],'' Williams said. ''He can factor into the mix at some point this season.'' Pitching coach Don Cooper said he hasn't lost sleep over Jenks' velocity dipping. ''What's not to like about this guy?'' Cooper said. ''If someone out there is trying to cut down my guy, stop right there. He's become a pitcher. He's not out there trying to win Kewpie dolls. ''The strikeouts are down because no one wants to be 0-2 against him and let Bobby have them by the [throat].'' But even with all the love going out to Jenks, manager Ozzie Guillen offered a warning. ''I worry about Bobby being in shape for spring training,'' Guillen said. ''But worry about his velocity? No, because Bobby can still pitch. Sometimes he was not 97 or 98, but he still got people out. He was not consistent, but I worry about him maintaining his shape. Not for me, not for the club, but for him. ''I always talk to him and say, 'If you take care of yourself, you're going to be a rich man.''' And sooner than later. The Sox have a record of avoiding arbitration hearings, choosing instead to negotiate extensions with their players. Talks with Jenks will begin soon. ''Bobby,'' Williams said, ''he's our guy.'' suntimes.com

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 12:13 AM) 2005 Chicago White Sox Scored 741 runs, Allowed 645 runs. 2008 Chicago White Sox Scored 811 runs, Allowed 729 runs Huh, so what have we learned today? I think record in 1 and 2 run games is just as important, if not more important, than run differential. Throw out the 2006 stats and I bet you'll see an even greater spread than 2005 or 2008. For that matter, you can also include 2000 for comparison's sake. Those teams would score 10 runs one night and get shut out the next by an ace, crafty lefthander, journeyman, unknown rookie or someone we'd never scouted before.

According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, the Twins inquired on Rangers reliever Joaquin Benoit. Sullivan says the Twins are willing to trade Boof Bonser. I suppose this could have appeal to the Rangers in that Bonser could be a rotation candidate. Benoit, 31, posted a 5.00 ERA in 45 innings this year while battling shoulder issues. He's set to earn $3.5MM plus games finished incentives in '09 before becoming eligible for free agency. Bonser is under team control through 2012.mlbtraderumors PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE make this move Minnesota. Have they lost their minds? They can't spend money for Furcal/Cabrera, Crede or Blake, but they think Benoit is the answer to their Crain/Guerrier/Bonser/Bass mess from RH set-up. Interesting!!!

Beckham 10% stays at SS in the big leagues, 20% 3B, 70% at second base. I don't think we'll move Viciedo off 3B for Beckham. I think we'll have to figure out 1) if Viciedo's bat is ready to justify a spot in the line-up in LF or RF or possibly 1B and 2) that can't happen before ST.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 12:48 AM) Yeah they did all that.....and finished 1 game behind the lowly Sox anyway. For whatever reason, when the twins suck ass for a month or strikeout 400 times in a game it doesn't mean the same thing as it does for the Sox The Twins still have a better head to head record against us this decade, and one more division crown... Let's put it this way, with all the payroll disadvantages they have, that's pretty amazing. However, both ballclubs have been built to optimize the playing conditions on their home fields. Neither system is "better" and the White Sox certainly have the trump card in the World Series title in 05, but they've played us to a standstill with their system equalizing our talent, especially from 2001-2004. Usually, it's more about pitching and defense and less about offense when you compare these two teams and which one is better on a year-to-year basis.

KW has been consistently saying the same thing. What else can they say, at this point? They can't comment on a player who's not even on their roster. I mean, if they said Lillibridge or Getz would be leading off, that would 1) put a lot of pressure on those two youngsters already and 2) scare quite a few people who only have a superficial knowledge of White Sox baseball and prospects.

He looks good on paper, statistically? Pittsburgh would ask for a ton in return. He's anywhere from adequate/below average to great in CF, depending on who you talk to. I think he received quite a few Gold Glove votes in CF. But it's the same old problem, we're going to have to give up Fields and Poreda (or something like that) to get him. Well, if you're going to spend the money in the FA market on pitching, that's fine, but it also seems suicidal from our new financial-first perspective.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,3670284.story Quotes from Ozzie's PC about "these kids can play version 2"

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Dec 10, 2008 -> 12:07 AM) Welcome!!! Who would you have play 1st for the Sox? Viciedo or Fields??? Probably not Thome. Dye, theoretically.

Not THAT offense, obviously. But not a completely one-dimensional offense either. The fact that you have the ability to manufacture a run and take an early lead was a lot of the psychological advantage of that team, the confidence they had, knowing if they could just score a run or two early, the bullpen and starting pitching were just that good. With our pitching this year, as it looks, not quite as germane or important...but still, we have to evolve away from all-or-nothingness.

Remember when a determined poster here looked up all of Cabrera's steals and showed how meaningless most of those 19 were? I bet if you look at the first 2-3 months of the White Sox offense in 2005...and combinations of times when Pods got on, stole a base or was moved to 2nd or 3rd by Iguchi bunting or hitting to the opposite field and driving a ball deep into the OF, you'll notice something quite interesting. How many games in a row did we score an early run to take a lead? How many of those games did we win by 1-2 runs because of our emerging lockdown bullpen???

I don't know why anyone's surprised we are not going after Furcal. Alexei Ramirez is younger than Furcal and will be making little over $1 million for year to play that "premium" position for three more seasons. Alas, Alexei is not a leadoff hitter (at this point, and probably ever), but KW still has 2-3 months to work on CF and the rotation. I'm "pretty" convinced KW will actually go with Fields at 3B (at least to start the season) and our 2B-by-committee approach instead of trading away any of our top prospects for a one-year Roberts rental (theoretically with Type A draft pick compensation). The wild card in this entire situation is Viciedo, and the possible early breakthrough of Beckham as well.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 06:58 PM) Not when you add in potentially losing our #1 draft pick as well. Well, at least it's only two years. I certainly wouldn't sign Jon Garland to that same contract, even though that's probably what he is asking for, too. I guess the positive with Garland is that he's Type B...but still. And either one of these deals would be better than taking on Peavy's contract. By the way, when is Ozzie's press conference with the media? It was moved back to today from Monday.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....-wood-appe.html Has this become official yet? Kerry Wood to the Indians, 2 years guaranteed, with a "vesting option" for a 3rd?

The Twins have had internal discussions about San Diego’s Kevin Kouzmanoff, Houston’s Ty Wigginton and Florida’s Jorge Cantu. What I couldn’t clarify is if the Twins have talked to these teams here or have scheduled talks yet. All it takes is a phone call to get something going. Cantu is only 26 but isn’t strong defensively. Was told some Twins think Kouzmanoff is fine defensively while others are skeptical. And the Twins were very interested in Wigginton in 2007. There is one report that Nick Punto met with the Phillies yesterday. If that’s true, Punto could indirectly help the Twins because he could be insurance for Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz, who are coming back from surgeries. That might help the Twins’ efforts to pry Jason Donald away. Just my theory. Was told that Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is very fond of Punto. Jack Wilson remains somewhere on the Twins radar, although the Pirates are in no rush to move him and likely would want a couple decent young players in return. And the Twins aren’t the only team grimacing at Wilson’s salary. Ron Gardenhire will meet the press at 6 pm CST. There are a lot of people here who think Twins’ first-round pick Aaron Hicks is an uber prospect. Some still think highly of him as a pitcher - he did hit 97 on the gun as a senior in high school. The Twins drafted him as an outfielder. Boof Bonser has hired a trainer again this offseason and is working out - again. The Twins’ medical staff is being kept up to date on his progress. Several teams have asked about Bonser, who could get another shot to start if traded. Torii Hunter will hold a press conference here at 1:15 pm - with Andre Agassi. The two are hooking up on a youth charity initiative. Can’t wait to see those two bald heads next to each other. startribune.com The market for Ben Sheets apparently is 2 years, $26 million, guaranteed, and the Yankees are preparing to make an offer in that neighborhood. Anyone interested? That's a bigger commitment than we had on the books to Javy for a much better pitcher (when healthy), but one without Javy's durability.

QUOTE (scenario @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 06:41 PM) Cortes is a good prospect. It makes me sick we gave him up for MacDougal. Well, maybe the Royals will get something out of him. They got Greinke's career turned around after he almost quit pitching to mow lawns (it had nothing to do with wanting to be on a winning team, it was http://www.furiousseasons.com/movabletype/...?entry_id=1451), Brian Bannister pitched above expectations for most of the season and Kyle Davies was a revelation after being left for dead by the Braves (along with Horacio Ramirez). Now, if they can only get similar results out of Hochevar and Cortes, they'll be in real business. Of course, Tyler Lumsden was a huge disappointment considering his position in the draft as well.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 06:31 PM) Well he has a better overall package of pitches than Poreda, is younger than Poreda and spent the entire year in AA. The numbers while better overall for Poreda, were not that dissimilar. Cortes also has a solid fastball. Beckham hasn't had a full season in the minors and Viciedo has never played American ball. Based on all of this, it is fair to rate Cortes higher. And no offense, these people have probably seen more of the prospects than any of us, so it is also fair to say they have a more educated opinion. Not saying I agree with it, but it isn't ludicrous. I stand by my original point. It has been 9 years now since a White Sox starting pitching prospect really amounted to something. I guess I'm just waiting for KW to be burned just once in this area (and no, it wasn't trading Brandon McCarthy, as many worried one day late in December).

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 05:10 PM) Our current payroll is about $88M. But essentially, it's less becase of the money coming from Philly still for Thome, yes? So around $82 in actuality? Then $70 million if Dye is traded...

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 03:46 PM) Daniel Cortes is a top 50 prospect in all of baseball and was given up for MacDougall. Well, MLB has him rated ahead of Poreda, Beckham and Viciedo...they have no idea what they are talking about, at all. Clueless.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 02:20 PM) I had heard that the Sox were willing to offer 4/32 to OC Fortunately, Alexei Ramirez is about $27-28 million cheaper. I go back to KW's quotes from Monday...he's past the point as a GM that he's trying to "sell the team," do spin/PR or convince anyone (especially the media or SoxFest) that he's right. We might all have a problem with Kenny Williams, but that's not going to factor into his thinking, ever. It's just not the way he thinks, which is kind of refreshing, to see that kind of trust and independence because of the relationship he's forged with JR and Ozzie.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 02:09 PM) Rasner made his strides last season but is I believe subject to the minor league phase of the Rule-5 draft. If he's back he'll spend next season in Birmingham as a 22-year-old so he's still got a chance. The real Garland was very valuable until he started getting paid eight figures to put up ERA's north of 4.50. He's still a good pitcher and an innings eater and I'd more than welcome him back on a 3 year, $25-27M deal to be a 5th starter, but that's unlikely. He'll get more than that. Same thing with Furcal...who made $13 million and expected 3 years and $39 this time around. Garland made $12 million in 2008 with an ERA hovering right around 5...still, for him to go all the way down to $8.33-9.0 million per season would be a shock. He's 29 and very durable. The other pitchers in his tier (Penny, Wolf, O. Perez, Pettitte, Moyer) all have significant age/injury/inconsistency issues.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 02:58 PM) That's what I've heard about almost every teams' interest in him. I think he and/or his agent made a huge financial mistake rejecting arbitration. Have you sent your personlized "thank you/Christmas" card to KW yet? It shouldn't be THAT surprising though....out of all those guys, only two "middling" relief pitchers accepted arbitration. Cabrera's ego is too big to swallow his pride like that, especially with countryman Renteria getting 2 years and $18.5 million from SFG.

So if they missed the playoffs, the White Sox would have also traded Konerko/Thome, Buehrle and AJ away as well? Up until now, everything that I've seen is pretty logical and consistent with KW's philosophies about getting younger/more affordable/more flexibility without giving up a chance to be competitive in our division this year or into the future. After 2007, it looked like it would be at least 3-5 years before the ballclub could win another division title. I also think we're temporarily forgetting about Poreda, Viciedo (biggest FA signing for an under 21 year old in history), Flowers, Jord. Danks and Beckham looming, not to mention Brandon Allen and all the draft picks in 2009.