Start by Signing Corey Koskie

[quickman]

Same old same old.

 

We get it, a thousand times over.  It's been going on for as long as that westsidebill has been a fan, I'm sure he's glad to volunteer it to everyone he meets, 52 years.  He doesn't give a s*** you have 4 full season tickets and pay big $$, he doesn't care about how long I've been a fan and how many games I go to.

 

They have a media guy on there who covers the Sox.  He has insights into the team that we don't.  He has access we don't.

 

Are those callers NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH to figure out that maybe, just maybe, they should ask an intelligent question about player acquisitions, rumors, etc.?

 

I guess not.

 

They are happier to wallow in the b****ing and look in the mirror and say, "I guess I told them" and then wake up and start b****ing again tomorrow.

 

Sorry, waaaaaayyy tired of that.  Pointless.

We will tlak about all this tommorrow.

[Guest JimH]

Ok, here was the ONE tidbit of very important info that came out of that b****fest, err, segment.

 

Scott Gregor recounted a story he did at the end of the season when he interviewed Willie Harris. Harris stated that he'd hit .300 "easy" and steal 50-60 bases "no problem".

 

When shown that story the next day, Gregor said Guillen just laughed. Gregor said Guillen was sold on Harris being a Juan Pierre-type player, but that Guillen knows otherwise.

 

Bottom line here ... problem. Guillen has no or next to no confidence in Harris. Just as many of us have been saying.

 

It matters not if some of us do and some of us don't. Harris does not have the trust or confidence of Guillen.

 

Doesn't mean Harris is going to be traded, or demoted. Just means there is a problem when your manager doesn't trust your, ahem, starting 2B. Tim Raines or no Tim Raines.

 

Gregor said Harris is a "terrible" baserunner ... "not smart". All of a sudden he's going to get smart over the winter? Reality tells me no.

 

I wish Harris the best as a White Sox, I really do. I want him to succeed badly, I am as frustrated as that guy who calls in to b**** after every game.

 

But it is a big problem when your manager doesn't have faith in the second baseman.

[DBAHO]

Eric Young looks better by the day.

[AddisonStSox]

Wow...

 

I just missed out on something, something big.

 

What just happened in this thread?

 

Yikes.

[Guest JimH]

We will tlak about all this tommorrow.

Maybe for 30 seconds, that's it.

 

I get they are frustrated and they have a right to express themselves.

 

I get they may speak for lots of fans. No problem there.

 

What they don't get is, ask an intelligent question, or even a dumb question. Two callers were morons who just wanted to hear their voice on the radio. We are so impressed you can dial a phone and b**** on the radio. And that you've been a Sox fan for 52 years.

[Guest JimH]

Wow...

 

I just missed out on something, something big.

 

What just happened in this thread?

 

Yikes.

This thread is great, two friends bantering ideas back and forth.

 

Others chiming in and adding great points.

 

No animosity whatsoever.

 

Great stuff, what this website should be all about.

[AddisonStSox]

This thread is great, two friends bantering ideas back and forth.

 

Others chiming in and adding great points.

 

No animosity whatsoever.

 

Great stuff, what this website should be all about.

 

Well done gents!

[qwerty]

This is honestly one of the best threads i have seen in months on here.

[Guest JimH]

This will be hilarious, we (quickman and I) are having lunch tomorrow.

 

We are both passionate Sox fans.

 

But we are diametrically opposed in certain areas. He thinks a guy like westsidebill is great for what he does ... gets on the radio, tells everybody (once again) how long he's been a Sox fan ... and b****es.

 

Just like westsidebill does after every Sox loss.

 

Good for westsidebill, that's his right.

 

I would rather call in and ask a Scott Gregor, "hey Scott, I've heard the Sox may be interested in "x" player, is that what your sources are telling you?"

 

Or,

 

"Hey Scott, when was the last time you talked to KW, what did you talk about? Did you get the sense they're going after any FA pitchers, if so, who?"

 

You know, like maybe something the listener might have the slightest interest in hearing about?

 

Just my .02. I know I will hear about this post at lunch tomorrow, can't wait.

 

[qwerty]

Corey Koskie - Toronto have offered him a 3 year $15 million deal, and the Twinkies only a 2 year $7 million deal. Considering he's from Canada, it's a pretty safe bet he's headed to the Blue Jays. Eric Hinske will probably then be moved to the Reds.

Where have you seen that the blue jays have offered him 3years 15 million? I have seen that they were gonna but they have not yet.

 

''Twins free agent Corey Koskie said he hasn't received offers from any other teams, although several expressed interest last week when the free-agent period opened. Seattle and Toronto are expected to be two of his strongest pursuers, and he confirmed that Detroit has contacted his agent.'' From ben maller.

 

This the article but you have to sign up to it to read the rest of it.

 

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress...ts/10209209.htm

[elrockinMT]

Koskie's 2004 splits.

Home -  .235, 16 HR's, 32 RBI's, .322 OBP

Away - .268, 9 HR's, 39 RBI's, .362 OBP

Lots of concrete out there. I just don't like the Twins, OK?

[elrockinMT]

This thread is great, two friends bantering ideas back and forth.

 

Others chiming in and adding great points.

 

No animosity whatsoever.

 

Great stuff, what this website should be all about.

I think we have said that about this web site before.I agree that this is how it should be all the time. That's why I like it so much.

[DBAHO]

Where have you seen that the blue jays have offered him 3years 15 million? I have seen that they were gonna but they have not yet.

 

''Twins free agent Corey Koskie said he hasn't received offers from any other teams, although several expressed interest last week when the free-agent period opened. Seattle and Toronto are expected to be two of his strongest pursuers, and he confirmed that Detroit has contacted his agent.''  From ben maller.

 

This the article but you have to sign up to it to read the rest of it.

 

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress...ts/10209209.htm

I thought I did read that somewhere (possibly in one of Toronto newspapers), but now Seattle and Detroit appear to be intrested. It looks like the Tiggies could easily get one of Koskie or Glaus. Either way it seems to be a given that he won't be back in Minny.

[witesoxfan]

Ok, here was the ONE tidbit of very important info that came out of that b****fest, err, segment.

 

Scott Gregor recounted a story he did at the end of the season when he interviewed Willie Harris.  Harris stated that he'd hit .300 "easy" and steal 50-60 bases "no problem".

 

When shown that story the next day, Gregor said Guillen just laughed.  Gregor said Guillen was sold on Harris being a Juan Pierre-type player, but that Guillen knows otherwise.

 

Bottom line here ... problem.  Guillen has no or next to no confidence in Harris.  Just as many of us have been saying.

 

It matters not if some of us do and some of us don't.  Harris does not have the trust or confidence of Guillen.

 

Doesn't mean Harris is going to be traded, or demoted.  Just means there is a problem when your manager doesn't trust your, ahem, starting 2B.  Tim Raines or no Tim Raines.

 

Gregor said Harris is a "terrible" baserunner ... "not smart".  All of a sudden he's going to get smart over the winter?  Reality tells me no.

 

I wish Harris the best as a White Sox, I really do.  I want him to succeed badly, I am as frustrated as that guy who calls in to b**** after every game.

 

But it is a big problem when your manager doesn't have faith in the second baseman.

Damn this post is scary, isn't it?

 

Harris screws up 1 time at any point and he could be sitting for a week. I don't want that at all. Harris is a solid player, there's no doubt about that...but if Guillen has no confidence in him, I want no part of him on this team. I want my manager to have 100% confidence in every player in uniform.

 

I think Willie could be a Tony Womack clone someday...but not if Ozzie shows no confidence in him.

[YASNY]

Regarding all this speculation about signing Koskie and trading Crede. I like the idea. What Koskie will bring to the table is well documented in this thread and I won't rehash it. Crede does have value and I attribute the fact that there isn't much interest is because he's not considered available. Jeckle mentioned that if we have Koskie, then Crede's value will go down. No way. Crede's value has nothing to with us having a replacement. That does not compute. I think Crede will eventually be a damn good all around ballplayer. It just won't be with the Sox. Just about the time he gets good and starts producing like a quality major league 3B, he'll be gone. Why? ...... Boras. Trade him now before we are over a barrel with him. Sign Koskie for 3 years, which gives Josh Fields plenty of time to get ready.

[beck72]

Ozzie doesn't have confidence in Willie because Willie didn't show a lot of confidence on the field for a good portion of the yr. Sure he talks. But most of the year he was tentative [this showed esp. on the basepaths]. When he was hitting over .300 the first half of the yr, he had a nice approach at the plate--working counts, fouling off good pitches, short stroke. When he went sour, Willie got impatient, looked like he was guessing up there.

 

If Willie was so horrible, the Sox would get a vet like Polanco. Ozzie has made comments about Willie, sure. Yet Willie seems the type who can take it. Crede OTOH, isn't the type who can take "public criticism" [ie, publicly challenging him to get the most out of his abilities] Does it show lack of faith in the players? Or is it speaking the truth and trying to spur on the player, telling them what they need to work on?

 

Personally, as I look back and recall what Ozzie has said in the media, I see Ozzie having less faith in Crede than Willie. Ozzie has made comments saying Joe takes the game too seriously, that he doesn't have fun out there, that maybe people have expected too much out of him, hinting that Joe may never be the .300 hitter he was cracked up to be.

 

I do see a problem with 3 young guys in the IF, that the manager cannot truly rely on going into the next season. If I were part of the Sox brain trust, I'd replace the biggest question mark with a solid vet who they could count on. In this case, I think its Crede.

[jackie hayes]

Maybe I'm missing something here -- so Guillen laughed when Harris said he could easily bat .300 and steal 60 bases in a season. Couldn't Guillen have been laughing at Harris's brashness (the 'no problem' attitude), not Harris's talent? After all, Guillen in his whole career never did either one. I'm not saying Guillen is very confident in Harris, but what does this anecdote show?

[Guest JimH]

Maybe I'm missing something here -- so Guillen laughed when Harris said he could easily bat .300 and steal 60 bases in a season.  Couldn't Guillen have been laughing at Harris's brashness (the 'no problem' attitude), not Harris's talent?  After all, Guillen in his whole career never did either one.  I'm not saying Guillen is very confident in Harris, but what does this anecdote show?

Jackie,

 

I tried to put in every detail of what Gregor said, so I apologize if anything was left up to interpretation.

 

Gregor said that Guillen, upon hearing Harris' comments, laughed as if to say "yeah right".

 

I remember the story being in the Daily Herald right near the end of the season. Guillen was quoted something to the effect of, it's real easy to say stuff like that but you have to have the talent and mental makeup to do it.

 

On the radio last night, Gregor went on to explain that Harris had been sold to Guillen (by Sox mgmt.) as a Juan Pierre type guy. An effective leadoff hitter, great speed, would steal a ton of bases and be a pain in the neck to other teams. Gregor then said Guillen knows that's not the case ... Harris is not in Juan Pierre's league so to speak.

 

Nothing was left to the imagination, some in the Sox org. may have complete faith in Harris but Guillen is not one of them.

 

Interesting also that Guillen was quoted after the season saying something like, "now I know what we have here, they can't pull the wool over my eyes. Last year I didn't know the players and what we have here, now I do. No one can tell me this guy can do this, that guy can do that. I know with my own eyes now."

 

Of course, the quote marks are my own but Guillen did make those remarks. It's clear that Harris was one of the guys he was referring to.

 

Edit: I'm not saying Guillen is right or wrong ... before anyone comes back with "but Harris did this, Harris did that", that's not the point. The point is very simply that the manager does not have adequete confidence in the starting 2B and IMO that's a big problem.

 

As to what will be done about it, who knows. I just found it very telling.

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

Harris can get it done in the field but he needs to start acting like a freeking leadoff hitter if he expects to stay with this team. He's gotta get his OBP up and he's gotta steal some bases. I know the guy can run so there's no reason he shouldn't be stealing at least 40 a year.

[USAF_11F4H]

Harris can get it done in the field but he needs to start acting like a freeking leadoff hitter if he expects to stay with this team.  He's gotta get his OBP up and he's gotta steal some bases.  I know the guy can run so there's no reason he shouldn't be stealing at least 40 a year.

He's a typical case of a guy who can steal up to 20 bases a year because he is fast. Does he have the brains and talents to learn the art of stealing bases? (see: Rickey, Brock, Raines, Cool Papa Bell, etc.) *shrugs*

[NUKE_CLEVELAND]

He's a typical case of a guy who can steal up to 20 bases a year because he is fast. Does he have the brains and talents to learn the art of stealing bases? (see: Rickey, Brock, Raines, Cool Papa Bell, etc.) *shrugs*

That's the rub on Harris. He has the raw talent but not the skill. Big difference. Someone needs to teach him how its done.

[USAF_11F4H]

That's the rub on Harris.  He has the raw talent but not the skill.  Big difference.  Someone needs to teach him how its done.

$10 says that's why Rock was brought on this year....

[beck72]

Koskie's agent is expecting an offer from Sea. very soon. Didn't mention an amount though. Interesting that Koskie has interest in 3 or 4 teams, with Sea being one of them. Toronto probably the other. Would the Sox and Det. be the two others?

 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mari...170_mari19.html

 

A MN paper said the Twins may have upped their offer, from $7 mill over 2 yrs to $7.75 mill. Big jump. Won't be enough if Sea. offers $5 mill / yr though. I'll be interested to see what the numbers Sea is offering.

[Chisoxfn]

Jackie,

 

I tried to put in every detail of what Gregor said, so I apologize if anything was left up to interpretation.

 

Gregor said that Guillen, upon hearing Harris' comments, laughed as if to say "yeah right".

 

I remember the story being in the Daily Herald right near the end of the season.  Guillen was quoted something to the effect of, it's real easy to say stuff like that but you have to have the talent and mental makeup to do it.

 

On the radio last night, Gregor went on to explain that Harris had been sold to Guillen (by Sox mgmt.) as a Juan Pierre type guy.  An effective leadoff hitter, great speed, would steal a ton of bases and be a pain in the neck to other teams.  Gregor then said Guillen knows that's not the case ... Harris is not in Juan Pierre's league so to speak.

 

Nothing was left to the imagination, some in the Sox org. may have complete faith in Harris but Guillen is not one of them.

 

Interesting also that Guillen was quoted after the season saying something like, "now I know what we have here, they can't pull the wool over my eyes.  Last year I didn't know the players and what we have here, now I do.  No one can tell me this guy can do this, that guy can do that.  I know with my own eyes now."

 

Of course, the quote marks are my own but Guillen did make those remarks.  It's clear that Harris was one of the guys he was referring to.

 

Edit:  I'm not saying Guillen is right or wrong ... before anyone comes back with "but Harris did this, Harris did that", that's not the point.  The point is very simply that the manager does not have adequete confidence in the starting 2B and IMO that's a big problem.

 

As to what will be done about it, who knows.  I just found it very telling.

Thats fine, cause to be honest, if Ozzie Guillen was in charge of player personell I think we'd have a team with 9 ozzie's in the field and it would be the worse offensive team in Major Leauge history.

 

I give Ozzie credit for motivating young players at times, but as far as his evaluation skills goes, I think very little of him. I think he knows defense, hard play, and some of the nuances, but in terms of talent and whether a player is good or not, I think he tends to be all over the place.

 

I've long said I think Harris can do it and I firmly believe Ozzie did a s***ty job managing him this season.