Chisoxfn Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 Grilli may be headed to Charlotte; Bullpen Situation By Jason Gage March 29, 2004 FutureSox.com There are reports that the White Sox are talking with the Marlins in an effort to reach some sort of compensation agreement for Jason Grilli. As it stands now, Grilli must be on the 25 man roster all season (or the disabled list) otherwise the Sox must offer him back to the Marlins for $25,000 (Marlins would give that money to the Sox). If the Marlins decline to buy Grilli back, then Grilli is placed on waivers. If a trade can be worked out, then the Sox would likely send Grilli to Charlotte (AAA) where he would be able to get a little more time. Grilli would likely be part of the Knights starting rotation. If this is the case, then Mike Jackson, Jon Adkins, and LHP Neal Cotts would be fighting for what looks to be 2 bullpen spots, as all signs point to the Sox breaking camp with 12 pitchers. Adkins and Cotts have had impressive springs, but Jackson is a veteran and Guillen seems to like the idea of another veteran reliever in the pen. Cotts, a starter, could be an insurance plan if Schoeneweis or Wright struggle in the rotation. Jackson spent last spring with the Diamondbacks before getting cut. He took the rest of the season off, while Jon Adkins spent most of the year with the Charlotte Knights, while making a few appearances in Chicago. Neal Cotts spend the majority of the season in Birmingham, but did collect his first major league win last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 I feel for the guy. The difference between MLB and AAA is razor sharp. There are probably a couple rotations he could have played in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witesoxfan Posted March 29, 2004 Share Posted March 29, 2004 I feel for the guy. The difference between MLB and AAA is razor sharp. There are probably a couple rotations he could have played in. You are exactly right. They don't have a AAAA level for a reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Tough situation here, I wonder what Florida would possibly want in a trade? And Adkins and Jackson should be in da pen, Cotts needs to be startin in Charlotte, not pitchin once or twice a week in Chicago and only pitchin a couple of innings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLAK Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Grilli may be headed to Charlotte; Bullpen Situation By Jason Gage March 29, 2004 FutureSox.com There are reports that the White Sox are talking with the Marlins in an effort to reach some sort of compensation agreement for Jason Grilli. As it stands now, Grilli must be on the 25 man roster all season (or the disabled list) otherwise the Sox must offer him back to the Marlins for $25,000 (Marlins would give that money to the Sox). If the Marlins decline to buy Grilli back, then Grilli is placed on waivers. If a trade can be worked out, then the Sox would likely send Grilli to Charlotte (AAA) where he would be able to get a little more time. Grilli would likely be part of the Knights starting rotation. If this is the case, then Mike Jackson, Jon Adkins, and LHP Neal Cotts would be fighting for what looks to be 2 bullpen spots, as all signs point to the Sox breaking camp with 12 pitchers. Adkins and Cotts have had impressive springs, but Jackson is a veteran and Guillen seems to like the idea of another veteran reliever in the pen. Cotts, a starter, could be an insurance plan if Schoeneweis or Wright struggle in the rotation. Jackson spent last spring with the Diamondbacks before getting cut. He took the rest of the season off, while Jon Adkins spent most of the year with the Charlotte Knights, while making a few appearances in Chicago. Neal Cotts spend the majority of the season in Birmingham, but did collect his first major league win last season. That's the most lucid and informative baseball article I have read since Dave Nightengale (sp?) covered the White Sox. Great job, I wish the papers and comercial sites would write as well as you. I really mean it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted March 30, 2004 Author Share Posted March 30, 2004 That's the most lucid and informative baseball article I have read since Dave Nightengale (sp?) covered the White Sox. Great job, I wish the papers and comercial sites would write as well as you. I really mean it. Thanks for the kind words Tlak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 That's the most lucid and informative baseball article I have read since Dave Nightengale (sp?) covered the White Sox. Great job, I wish the papers and comercial sites would write as well as you. I really mean it. Preach on brother. This site has better writers than both the Trib and the ST combined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Preach on brother. This site has better writers than both the Trib and the ST combined. Are you kidding me? Mariotti's column is what I live for. On a serious note: Jas, and everyone else at FutureSox your writing is fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Are you kidding me? Mariotti's column is what I live for. Even in green that isn't funny. It is kinda like joking about someone's dead grandma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JimH Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Even in green that isn't funny. It is kinda like joking about someone's dead grandma. The first time I heard a joke of that nature, it was 6th grade and we were playing basketball in gym. I get fouled, so I go up to the free throw line, toss up a free throw ... and I completely miss the rim, backboard, net ... everything. I threw it too short and it just bounced off the court with a big THUD. Says a guy, on my own team yet, "My grandma shoots better free throws than you, and she's 6 feet under." And, being the 11 year olds we were, we all started cackling, me the loudest. So the gym coach (ref) TAKES AWAY my 2nd free throw, the cold hearted bastard. So our team starts running back down the court and the same kid says to me, "Get back on D, grandma!!". We laughed about that for weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TLAK Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Grilli disappointed with decision Rule 5 pitcher wants to stay, but will think about future By Scott Merkin Jason Grilli appears to be the odd man off the roster despite a solid spring. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP) TUCSON, Ariz. -- Jason Grilli has run the full gamut of emotions since the White Sox made him a Rule 5 selection from Florida at December's Winter Meetings in New Orleans. For openers, Grilli was excited to get an opportunity to pitch for a team that apparently wanted his services. Then, the big right-hander was encouraged by the praise coming from manager Ozzie Guillen and pitching coach Don Cooper regarding his early Spring Training efforts. That feeling quickly became cautious optimism when talk began to surface that Grilli had all but made the team. But it ended up in great disappointment and confusion Sunday night, when Grilli was informed that the White Sox will be carrying 11 pitchers to start the season and he would not be one of them. "I'm very disappointed, but like I said, the bottom line is who did it? It's my doing," Grilli said of the news that he won't make the White Sox roster, which has not yet become official. "I'm a pawn on a chess table, and the White Sox are positioning the best team they can go with to win. I respect that. "They all talked to me. They would like me to stay here with the organization, but things happen. It's a marathon and not a sprint. If you take away that one bad outing, things would be a lot different I think." Grilli is referring to his start in Peoria against Seattle on March 21, during which he was tagged for nine runs on 14 hits in three-plus innings. As for what it would take for Grilli to stay with the White Sox? Well, even world-renowned mathematicians might have trouble with that one. But the most interesting aspect of what Grilli said is that the team would be taking 11 pitchers as it broke camp for Kansas City. That particular assertion is not one that Guillen or Cooper seem to agree with at this point. "It's coming down to, do we feel like we need the extra pitcher or the extra position player?" Cooper said of his 11- or 12-person pitching staff. "There are some feelings on both sides, so we will let it play out." "We have a tough decision to make and it's between a couple of guys," Guillen added. "The way (Jamie) Burke is playing in Spring Training, we may need an extra catcher and he's making it tough on us. We're going to bring the best (group of) players that are going to make us win games." With Monday's latest round of cuts, the White Sox remain three away from the 25-man roster limit. Figuring in Grilli's departure, that leaves pitchers Jon Adkins, Mike Jackson and Neal Cotts, as well as catcher/infielder Jamie Burke, fighting for two spots. The 24-year-old Cotts made a jumbled situation even more confusing, in a good way, throwing three scoreless innings against Kansas City on Monday. The young left-hander seems to have harnessed the control problems that plagued him throughout the 2003 season in both the minor leagues and during four starts with the White Sox. One school of thought is that Cotts would be better off in the minors, stretching himself out as part of Triple-A Charlotte's rotation if he wasn't going to start. But with a 2.70 earned run average and two walks given up in 10 spring innings, Cotts is fighting to be included in any role. "He can resolve a problem," said Guillen of Cotts. "He can pitch three innings, he can pitch one inning, he can pitch to one lefty or he can go into the starting rotation. As long as he throws strikes, he has great stuff." "If I can help the team up here in middle relief, I would love to be here with the team," Cotts added. "I think I can handle the bullpen. It's a little different situation, but there are some veteran guys down there that I'm sure I can ask some questions." With the 10 Cactus League innings and eight more during intrasquad and "B" games, Cotts feels stretched out enough if he had to step into the starting rotation. But he won't be taking the job away from Scott Schoeneweis, at least, not in the immediate future. Despite a very rough Spring Training and the team wanting to see better results in his next start against Milwaukee on Friday, Schoeneweis received a vote of confidence from Guillen and Cooper. They both believe Schoeneweis is thinking too much on the mound, trying too hard to make the perfect pitch. They talked to him before Monday's game and explained more of what they want in his next start. The left-hander, penciled in to start the Yankees' home opener on April 8, might focus primarily on his cutter, sinker and slider and de-emphasize the changeup against the Brewers. "I'm not thinking the next (start) is make-or-break by any means," Cooper said of Schoeneweis. "It's going to be somebody else to tell me this is his last chance. That's the farthest thing from my mind." About two weeks back, the farthest thing from Grilli's mind was no longer being part of the White Sox. As a Rule 5 selection, Grilli first had to clear waivers after the team didn"t put him on the 25-man roster. Grilli cleared, mainly because of his horrific Seattle start, the young hurler believes, and the fact that he had to be placed on the active roster. Florida has the chance to reclaim Grilli and pay the White Sox $25,000, half of what they paid to select him, or they could denounce his rights. At that point, the White Sox could work out a trade with Florida to keep Grilli in the organization. With Grilli now being out of options, the rare and unusual catch in this situation is that Grilli can become a free agent at any step along the way. It wouldn't make sense for the White Sox to trade for him, only to have Grilli up and leave. Both sides were trying to figure something out by Wednesday or Thursday, at the latest. The best that can happen for the former first-round pick, who is battling back from Tommy John surgery, is to start the season in Triple-A Charlotte. Sound complicated? It was for Grilli by Monday afternoon. "I've got some things to contemplate," said Grilli, who had an 8.36 ERA over four starts with the White Sox. "I would love to stay in the organization, but I have to do what's in the best interest of my career. Is it here? I don't know. That has yet to be determined. "It was a very unsettling thing, and it was a shocker to take in. All the great things that were said about me right up to the end, and then the rug is swept out from underneath your feet. "I won't hang my career on one bad outing, but I respect their decision and have to go by that," Grilli added. "I know they still want me, and nobody here wants to see me go. I know I can help this ball club win." ChiSoxfn had it right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkokieSox Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 ChiSoxfn had it right. Except for the fact that Cotts may very well end up in our pen for the season. I'm not convinced that is such a devastating move. It may have not worked for Rauch, but it did for Buerhle. I don't think there is any rule of thumb for how to bring up starters. This may work out just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Really? Cause I usually tear his writing to shreds....ask him...of course, mine's not any better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 30, 2004 Share Posted March 30, 2004 Really? Cause I usually tear his writing to shreds....ask him...of course, mine's not any better. Yeah I was suprised u didn't say sumthin bad bout his article Alex. U 2 hav been busy the last few days with FutureSox though, keep up da good work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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