macsandz

QUOTE (Friend of Nordhagen @ Jul 29, 2010 -> 09:24 PM) Put me down for this. It's been a pleasure to watch a good defensive team, for once. And one that puts the ball in play, too. Morel's the kind of guy we should be grooming, not trading. Agree completely.

MLB Trade Rumors: White Sox Eyeing Astros First Baseman Lance Berkman By Bob Warja (Featured Columnist) on July 29, 2010 Rebuked in their efforts to obtain Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder, the White Sox have turned to Houston in an effort to bolster the left-handed side of their lineup. The Astros are definitely willing to part with Berkman, who is having a rough season in Houston. The 'Stros first baseman is hitting just .245, though he has an impressive .372 OBP. He has drawn 60 walks, but his power totals are down from his career averages. After averaging 33 homers per 162 games in his career, Berkman is on pace to bag 22 this year. But this is in line with his recent play, as he has hit 29 and 25 the last two seasons, following campaigns of 45 and 35 the previous two years. The White Sox, who look to be on their way to the postseason, may be looking to Berkman for his playoff experience as well as his switch-hitting bat. He has a .321/.428/.566 slash in 29 career postseason games. Berkman has a no-trade clause and can veto any deal. About $5.4 million remains on Berkman's $14.5 million salary this season. The Astros hold a $15 million option for next year, but they can buy it out for $2 million. Astros GM Ed Wade thinks that recently acquired Brett Wallace is their heir apparent at first base to Berkman. Meanwhile, the Sox would likely look to Berkman to be their DH the rest of this season and possibly replace Paul Konerko at first if the free-agent-to-be leaves as expected. Unlike Dunn or Fielder, the Sox could potentially obtain Berkman without having to consider moving Gordon Beckham, who is off-limits now to other clubs. In fact, depending on how much of Berkman's contract they are willing to assume, the Sox may be able to get the slugging first baseman without even having to surrender Daniel Hudson. Another potential target for Sox GM Kenny Williams is Colorado's Brad Hawpe, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Hawpe has a disappointing .259/.337/.439 line. The 31-year-old has about $2.8MM remaining on his contract this year and will earn $10MM in 2011 with a $500K buyout. Of course, it's also possible that the trade deadline passes without any movement from the Sox. While this does not seem very Kenny Williams-like, the asking price on many of the available players has simply been astronomical this year. Berkman to the Sox has legs, and those legs could be off and running as soon as Friday.

Looks like Dunn is more on the block then ever... Rosenthal: Source: #Nationals have yet to offer Adam Dunn a contract extension in any form - not a single proposal. Story coming soon on FOXSports.com.

QUOTE (beck72 @ Jul 27, 2010 -> 11:50 AM) Of the available SP's, who makes sense? Edwin Jackson; Jake Westbrook, if the sox want to add salary. Kenny likes to acquire players that aren't "available" in the traditional sense. I'd love for him to target Nolasco. Buehrle Nolasco Danks Floyd Garcia -- 2011 Peavy Danks Nolasco Buehrle Floyd That's the goods ^ there. Nice.

QUOTE (AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Jul 26, 2010 -> 06:10 PM) scottmerkin As of July 26, the White Sox don't see any trade on the horizon. Then again, they didn't see one last year either and obtained Peavy Plenty brewing, just nothing public.

I still say Dunn signs to stay with The Nats.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 25, 2010 -> 11:14 PM) Anyone remember when Danks struggled after the Sox threw him into the fire? The kid faced adversity and then overcame it. I have little doubt that Dan Hudson can do the same thing. He has the stuff, he just needs the mindset. Hudson lacks what has made Danks a great pitcher. The thing that makes John Danks who he is, is the size of his competitive ego and the cajones that support it.

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jul 25, 2010 -> 10:59 PM) You're acting like he's a 10 year vet who sucks now. He's had what, 5 total MLB starts? No one is going to deny he needs to pitch better, but its completely ridiculous of you to go on this rant because a young rookie pitcher who is making his 5th or 6th MLB start ever has some struggles. And this doesn't hurt his trade value. It doesn't help, but a team isn't going to all of a sudden lose all interest in him because he is struggling like 90% of rookies do. It is not "completely ridiculous" to expect Hudson to step up and challenge hitters once in a while. If you don't think his performance today didn't hurt his trade value, that my friend is ridiculous.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jul 25, 2010 -> 09:46 PM) There are pleanty of routes KW can take to get this done. I trust KW. He's truly one of the best in the game! The only way Kenny lands Fielder is if he involves a third team.

Hudson may have cost the Sox more than one game today. He may also have compromised their chances in the trade market to improve the ballclub. The Sox can't afford to have Hudson to cr.ap the bed like he did today in front of what was assuredly scouts from WAS, MIL and other clubs assessing his value. This was an important start not only for the front office, but also to allow the club to split a road trip that should have already assured them of a .500 finish were it not for one Bubba Jenks and his sudden lack of stuff. Hudson has shown a nice ability to command in the minors but if he can't attack the zone against what is considered a weak hitting Oakland team, how will he fare against real AL hitters? Not just his results, but his lack of control and more importantly, lack of aggression could force Kenny to not only shift focus to replacing Peavy with an acquired 5th starter, but also really handcuff our options to make an impact-bat move this week. Somewhere Dan Hudson just threw a drifting fastball out of the zone again...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 19, 2010 -> 07:57 AM) Even if Washington wasn't asking for the moon for Dunn...No. First point...the most valuable guy in that deal is Morel, who is probably more valuable to us than to most teams...but who is flat out useless for Washington, because he plays 3b. Washington has Zimmerman locked up at 3b and they're not moving him. 2nd point, no, Gartrell and Rodriguez are not viewed by most people as major league talent. That could always change, but they'd be the 4th/5th guys in a deal and are essentially throw-ins. 3rd point...Washington is asking for the moon for Dunn so far. By that, I mean that their demands have started along the lines of Beckham + Hudson. Update via Cowley: Kenny won't quit on Adam Dunn. He has really packaged the system to land this guy: http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Jul 18, 2010 -> 10:14 AM) Pierre LF Vizquel 3B Rios CF Konerko DH Quentin RF Kotsay 1B Ramirez SS Castro C Beckham 2B Garcia P Pierzynski is hitting .414 against Blackburn and will be sitting on the bench...

Morel is raking in AAA and playing stellar defense. This team needs to make the plays behind the pitchers more than they need to season a 21 year old power prospect playing out of position.

QUOTE (J.Reedfan8 @ Jul 17, 2010 -> 04:38 PM) Might have to start a Gordon Beckham watch soon. Don't wanna jinx the kid, but he's been swinging the stick very good the past few games. .347 over his last 15 games and that bomb he hit on Friday still hasn't landed yet. He's back.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 17, 2010 -> 11:02 AM) Jones is 2-20 in his career against Pavano, so hopefully Quentin is back or Kotsay is in RF. Don't count on it. Quentin will not be back.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 16, 2010 -> 05:02 PM) It sure as hell ain't Beckham and Hudson. No f***ing way. Especially now that they're serious doubts that Peavy will ever be the same again. That is ridiculous. The injured muscle, which has now been repaired, is a decelerator. It will have very little to do with effective pitching mechanics. No reason to think Peavy won't fully recover.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 16, 2010 -> 10:20 PM) What the f*** was that Konerko? Terrible effort by him all night. Including the RBI double?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 16, 2010 -> 10:43 PM) I'll take 1-1 after our history in the twinkiedome. The key is splitting this series. Losing 3 of 4 would be bad; winning 3 of 4 would be incredible. A split would be fine. Agreed. A 2-2 split is good enough at this point.

QUOTE (Real @ Jul 16, 2010 -> 10:27 PM) This team is seriously incapable of winning OR losing a game to the twins in normal fashion, i.e. 5-4 no errors, no miscues on defense or the other 20-something things that happened the last two nights They are without morneau and still have no problem scoring runs off of our staff Those runs are the result of crap defense and not the staff.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 15, 2010 -> 08:36 PM) Bunting in the 4th with no outs in a high scoring game? That was a Pierre call all the way.

Beckham has closed his stance and lowered his hands. Looks like he's seeing the ball longer. A VERY good sign.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jul 15, 2010 -> 08:27 PM) A lot of over reaction for 1 bad inning. That's for sure. The Sox will win this game.

QUOTE (Real @ Jul 15, 2010 -> 08:22 PM) man welcome to the second half, its like adversity hits someone on the team like danks and spreads like a virus Who else has it spread to? The rest of the team is playing baseball. You actually think the other 8 guys are standing out there feeling like they can't hit or make a play tonight?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 15, 2010 -> 08:22 PM) I have a feeling A.J. is going to hurt himself while trying to slam his bat down one day. He's gotta stop doing that. Or just stop because it's every kinda wrong to do it to begin with.

AJ's bat-slam tantrums are back from the break in great form already.