thomsonmi Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Small gains on South Side By Bob Foltman Tribune staff reporter May 10, 2004, 11:48 PM CDT Sometimes you can make all the right moves and still have it go wrong at the end. Just ask White Sox general manager Ken Williams. Williams thought he had all the pieces in their proper places last season for a Central Division title. He added an ace starting pitcher in Bartolo Colon. He thought he had strengthened his bullpen with Tom Gordon and Billy Koch and fine-tuned at the midway mark by bringing in Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett. And yet the Sox still finished second after a September fade. Williams went down a different path this season. He let Colon, Alomar, Everett, Gordon and supersub Tony Graffanino leave via free agency, made a few minor moves he hopes will pay off big and put his trust in young players who have been waiting for an opportunity. After 30 games, the Sox are two games ahead of where they were last year. But May was troublesome last year (11-16), and the Sox are 4-5 after dropping three straight in Toronto. The changes from 2003 to 2004 have featured a few pleasant surprises: Juan Uribe for Tony Graffanino So far, this has been a steal for the Sox. Uribe has hit everything and is fourth in the American League with a .368 average. The Sox gave up a minor leaguer (Aaron Miles) and in return got a hitter with power who can play three infield positions and has a gun for an arm. Williams acquired Uribe as protection in case Jose Valentin leaves next season as a free agent, and his play so far gives the Sox a little more leverage in deciding what to do with Valentin this winter. Manager Ozzie Guillen's task is to try and get at-bats for Willie Harris while also keeping Uribe in the lineup as long as he's hot. Graffanino has also done the job in Kansas City, hitting .333 in 78 at-bats. Willie Harris for Roberto Alomar After struggling the first month, Harris has lifted his average to .301. His defense may not reach the level of Alomar's in his prime, but Harris has shown good range. Guillen would like to see him steal more bases. Harris leads the Sox with five, but could be more aggressive. He had a tough Saturday in Toronto, negating two singles by getting thrown out stealing and getting picked off his first two times up. With Uribe hot and Harris struggling, it looked as if the Sox would have to make a decision and perhaps play Uribe every day at Harris' expense. But with Harris hitting better, Guillen has the more pleasant problem of keeping each of them sharp. The fact that Alomar played just 13 games before breaking his wrist and is pondering retirement validates Williams' decision to let him walk. Scott Schoeneweis for Bartolo Colon Schoeneweis hadn't been in a starting rotation since 2001 and he didn't exactly excel while he was there. Colon, meanwhile, is a horse, one of those rare pitchers who takes the mound every fifth day, throws fastball after fastball and often finishes what he starts. Past performances made this perhaps Williams' biggest gamble, but Schoeneweis has made it pay off thus far. He has been the Sox's most consistent starting pitcher with an earned-run average at least a full run lower than any other starter. Plus he's left-handed. The Sox balked at giving Colon a four-year deal. So far it's a decision they can live with. Colon is sporting a 4.09 ERA in 44 innings, compared with Schoeneweis' 3.49 over 382/3 innings in one fewer start. Colon has also allowed seven home runs to just two for Schoeneweis. Cliff Politte for Tom Gordon The Sox would not have been in contention last summer without Gordon, who took over from Billy Koch as the closer and stabilized the end of games. Politte, meanwhile, struggled with the mental aspect of the closer's role in Toronto. Politte has continued to have trouble pitching the ninth inning of games with the Sox, but has been fine as a seventh- and eighth-inning set-up guy. He's younger than Gordon and may throw harder. Gordon gave the Sox another option as a closer, and while the Sox believe Politte can be used in that role, the results have shown otherwise. Still, the trade-off so far seems to be a wash. Aaron Rowand for Carl Everett The Sox have been looking to fill the center-field spot since Lance Johnson left. Rowand is above average defensively and has some pop in his bat, but his average is down to .230. In some ways, the hitting of catchers Miguel Olivo (.300) and Sandy Alomar Jr. (.263) has offset Rowand's low average. Everett hit .301 with 41 RBIs and 10 home runs in 73 games with the Sox last summer but has been hurt this season after signing with Montreal. The Sox are standing behind Rowand, but they know they have Jeremy Reed waiting in Charlotte if they need him. Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomsonmi Posted May 11, 2004 Author Share Posted May 11, 2004 Though its early and we aren't exactly tearing it up right now, Kenny's offseason moves don't look to bad so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsideirish Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Not bad at all, although the Colon decision was made for him. It isn't like we didn't offer him the biggest contract for a pitcher in White Sox history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
israel4ever Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 I can pretty much guarantee that Everett and Gordon will outperform Pollitte and Rowand! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 I can pretty much guarantee that Everett and Gordon will outperform Pollitte and Rowand! It would have taken $15 million a year to bring back Gordon and Everett because we would have had to offer them aribtration, and there is no way they would have take the smaller amounts of money they got, when they could have gotten much more in court Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moneyman6544 Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 So far the only downside is that Rowand is not performing. KW gets an A from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beast Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 Small gains on South Side By Bob Foltman Tribune staff reporter May 10, 2004, 11:48 PM CDT Sometimes you can make all the right moves and still have it go wrong at the end. Just ask White Sox general manager Ken Williams. Williams thought he had all the pieces in their proper places last season for a Central Division title. He added an ace starting pitcher in Bartolo Colon. He thought he had strengthened his bullpen with Tom Gordon and Billy Koch and fine-tuned at the midway mark by bringing in Roberto Alomar and Carl Everett. And yet the Sox still finished second after a September fade. Williams went down a different path this season. He let Colon, Alomar, Everett, Gordon and supersub Tony Graffanino leave via free agency, made a few minor moves he hopes will pay off big and put his trust in young players who have been waiting for an opportunity. After 30 games, the Sox are two games ahead of where they were last year. But May was troublesome last year (11-16), and the Sox are 4-5 after dropping three straight in Toronto. The changes from 2003 to 2004 have featured a few pleasant surprises: Juan Uribe for Tony Graffanino So far, this has been a steal for the Sox. Uribe has hit everything and is fourth in the American League with a .368 average. The Sox gave up a minor leaguer (Aaron Miles) and in return got a hitter with power who can play three infield positions and has a gun for an arm. Williams acquired Uribe as protection in case Jose Valentin leaves next season as a free agent, and his play so far gives the Sox a little more leverage in deciding what to do with Valentin this winter. Manager Ozzie Guillen's task is to try and get at-bats for Willie Harris while also keeping Uribe in the lineup as long as he's hot. Graffanino has also done the job in Kansas City, hitting .333 in 78 at-bats. Willie Harris for Roberto Alomar After struggling the first month, Harris has lifted his average to .301. His defense may not reach the level of Alomar's in his prime, but Harris has shown good range. Guillen would like to see him steal more bases. Harris leads the Sox with five, but could be more aggressive. He had a tough Saturday in Toronto, negating two singles by getting thrown out stealing and getting picked off his first two times up. With Uribe hot and Harris struggling, it looked as if the Sox would have to make a decision and perhaps play Uribe every day at Harris' expense. But with Harris hitting better, Guillen has the more pleasant problem of keeping each of them sharp. The fact that Alomar played just 13 games before breaking his wrist and is pondering retirement validates Williams' decision to let him walk. Scott Schoeneweis for Bartolo Colon Schoeneweis hadn't been in a starting rotation since 2001 and he didn't exactly excel while he was there. Colon, meanwhile, is a horse, one of those rare pitchers who takes the mound every fifth day, throws fastball after fastball and often finishes what he starts. Past performances made this perhaps Williams' biggest gamble, but Schoeneweis has made it pay off thus far. He has been the Sox's most consistent starting pitcher with an earned-run average at least a full run lower than any other starter. Plus he's left-handed. The Sox balked at giving Colon a four-year deal. So far it's a decision they can live with. Colon is sporting a 4.09 ERA in 44 innings, compared with Schoeneweis' 3.49 over 382/3 innings in one fewer start. Colon has also allowed seven home runs to just two for Schoeneweis. Cliff Politte for Tom Gordon The Sox would not have been in contention last summer without Gordon, who took over from Billy Koch as the closer and stabilized the end of games. Politte, meanwhile, struggled with the mental aspect of the closer's role in Toronto. Politte has continued to have trouble pitching the ninth inning of games with the Sox, but has been fine as a seventh- and eighth-inning set-up guy. He's younger than Gordon and may throw harder. Gordon gave the Sox another option as a closer, and while the Sox believe Politte can be used in that role, the results have shown otherwise. Still, the trade-off so far seems to be a wash. Aaron Rowand for Carl Everett The Sox have been looking to fill the center-field spot since Lance Johnson left. Rowand is above average defensively and has some pop in his bat, but his average is down to .230. In some ways, the hitting of catchers Miguel Olivo (.300) and Sandy Alomar Jr. (.263) has offset Rowand's low average. Everett hit .301 with 41 RBIs and 10 home runs in 73 games with the Sox last summer but has been hurt this season after signing with Montreal. The Sox are standing behind Rowand, but they know they have Jeremy Reed waiting in Charlotte if they need him. Copyright © 2004, The Chicago Tribune Saw that, great points, they stole one of my article ideas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CubsSuck1 Posted May 11, 2004 Share Posted May 11, 2004 I can pretty much guarantee that Everett and Gordon will outperform Pollitte and Rowand! The thing about Rowand is that back in 01 when he came up in August or September, he was batting with good power, but even more, he was such a stud in CF. Now however, though he has made some good play, I just dont see him being such a great fielder. Some of that probably has to do with his injury. Most days I'd trade away some of the offense he brings for more defense. MOST days, our offense will be there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilMonkey Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 I think that was one of the more accurate articles written about the Sox this year. I would have to agree with most of i, including on Rowan. I wish he could turn it up just a little bit more, like on '01. I am also glad they are letting Willie swing a bit, instead of trying to bunt every damn time up. He HIT in the minors, and when Manual had him last year, all he wanted him to do was bunt. FREE WILLIE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 I can pretty much guarantee that Everett and Gordon will outperform Pollitte and Rowand! It's all about bang for your buck. Besides, Everett cannot play CF. He's a major liability out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted May 12, 2004 Share Posted May 12, 2004 Wasn't this guy the last Tribune Blackhawks writer? I thought he looked familiar. No doubt Everett couldn't play CF, I think he only bout 13 home runs when he played for us as well, which was 5 less than his 2 months in Texas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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