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The situation at catcher


Guest JimH

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Now that Kendall is off the board, does anyone else but me think the White Sox will add another catcher?

 

My belief is they'll give Davis a clear shot to be the #1 guy, which isn't the worst option in the world. Ozzie loves Jamie Burke, but IMO Burke is best suited as a 25th man ... filling in at several different positions as needed.

 

It's probably a given the Sox won't get a whole lot of offense from the catcher position, but they do want better defense. Not that Davis and Burke are horrible defensively, but the Sox can upgrade.

 

Henry Blanco is out there and I will go out on a limb and say the Sox will sign him. He turned down a two year deal for $1.8M to stay in Minnesota. He's a Venezuelan native (automatically links him to Ozzie, lol) and is excellent defensively, great arm, and by all accounts calls a great game.

 

I remember Harrelson raving about Blanco, and DJ as well. It's still in the back of my mind the White Sox would love to tweak the Twins by signing one of their players.

 

Blanco adds next to nothing offensively. Even still, he'd be an excellent addition IMO. I can see a situation where Davis and Blanco are 1 and 1A.

 

Several teams are looking for a veteran backup, so Blanco has options. If the White Sox are smart, they get this guy signed.

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We didn't get Kendall..

 

The Sky is falling The Sky is Falling..

No one said the sky is falling, I was pointing out the reality that he's with Oakland now and it was reported the Sox asked Pittsburgh about him.

 

What do you think about Blanco, does it make sense?

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It needs to be addressed, but I dont think there are alot of options out there at the time.  Blanco does need a look, but does that mean we carry 3 Catchers, or does Burke go down to AAA again? Burke hit the cover off the ball when he played, and deserves to be up here.

Tony, Ozzie likes having 3 catchers on the roster so he can do more managing. Obviously, the guy who's the #3 catcher would have to play other positions, and Burke certainly can (1B, 3B, even OF).

 

I like Burke and think he has a role for 2005. Ozzie clearly likes him too. I'm not sure they want to count on Burke as the #2 catcher with Davis being largely unproven. I could be wrong but something tells me the Sox want to add a veteran catcher at reasonable cost.

 

This is clearly not the Sox #1 need but it's something they could do without breaking the bank or trading a player.

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Our first priority has to be another quality arm if not an ace for our rotation. Then focus on the lead-off spot.

 

To be honest I'm fine with a Ben Davis/Jamie Burke platoon at least for the moment. This team has a lot of other holes that need to be addressed first.

 

CWSOX45

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We do need a catch but i could really care less now that mike redmind has become a twin. He was the only catcher i wanted the sox to make a run at.

Interesting.

 

You're a knowledgeable fan, no interest in Blanco, Einar Diaz, Brook Fordyce, Gregg Zaun, etc.? Or Dan Wilson?

 

Out of all those, Blanco is first, Wilson 2nd. I'm happy either way but prefer Blanco because he can shut down the running game.

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I'm one of the few I think who actually likes the platoon situation with Burke and Ben, however adding a veteran who can call a good game and play solid d would be a nice pickup. Dan Wilson comes to mind as he would be a solid guy to have come in and help a pitching staff along. I don't think catcher is a pressing need by any means but I wouldn't mind adding a veteran at all, jmo.

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Interesting.

 

You're a knowledgeable fan, no interest in Blanco, Einar Diaz, Brook Fordyce, Gregg Zaun, etc.?  Or Dan Wilson?

 

Out of all those, Blanco is first, Wilson 2nd.  I'm happy either way but prefer Blanco because he can shut down the running game.

Diaz- :puke Can distribute all the stats and reasons why he blows if you want me to.

Blanco-Great at throwing runners out cannot do much else very well defensively and is terrible with the bat. I know we do not need offense out of our catcher but a .200 batting average is simply unacceptable. His cera is only in the middle of the pack and that is not extremely exciting.

Fordyce - Does nothing well.

Zaun- I like him and would not mind him but he is as good as a blue jay once more i think. They have quite abit of of interest in him coming back and i feel it is mutual.

Wilson- No longer can hit and cannot throw out base stealers along with a bad cera. But he seems to be good behind the plate for the most part.

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The key is getting somebody who can work with a pitching staff and can bring out the unlocked potential in some guys. Very subjective, I know.

 

Blanco is excellent defensively and is a take charge guy. Sox need those.

 

As for Einar Diaz, I haven't looked at stats but I do know he's got a good arm.

Sox need a catcher who can intimidate the running game.

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Now that Kendall is off the board, does anyone else but me think the White Sox will add another catcher?

 

My belief is they'll give Davis a clear shot to be the #1 guy, which isn't the worst option in the world.  Ozzie loves Jamie Burke, but IMO Burke is best suited as a 25th man ... filling in at several different positions as needed.

 

It's probably a given the Sox won't get a whole lot of offense from the catcher position, but they do want better defense.  Not that Davis and Burke are horrible defensively, but the Sox can upgrade.

 

Henry Blanco is out there and I will go out on a limb and say the Sox will sign him.  He turned down a two year deal for $1.8M to stay in Minnesota.  He's a Venezuelan native (automatically links him to Ozzie, lol) and is excellent defensively, great arm, and by all accounts calls a great game.

 

I remember Harrelson raving about Blanco, and DJ as well.  It's still in the back of my mind the White Sox would love to tweak the Twins by signing one of their players.

 

Blanco adds next to nothing offensively.  Even still, he'd be an excellent addition IMO.  I can see a situation where Davis and Blanco are 1 and 1A.

 

Several teams are looking for a veteran backup, so Blanco has options.  If the White Sox are smart, they get this guy signed.

Jim,

 

Although I agree I think we need to address this position, I will also state it is last priority right now. I think another starter, reliever, SS take the priority.

 

 

I also know its a key position but I remember 2000, when we were winning the division then traded for Charles Johnson. I just beleive we need other players first rather than making catcher the priority.

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Jim,

 

Although I agree I think we need to address this position, I will also state it is last priority right now. I think another starter, reliever, SS take the priority.

 

 

I also know its a key position but I remember 2000, when we were winning the division then traded for Charles Johnson. I just beleive we need other players first rather than making catcher the priority.

Sigh.

 

Where on earth did I say it was a priority, they have tons of priorities, I'm tellin' ya.

 

Getting our wives to stop shopping, that's a priority. I think the downtown Naperville economy is safe for at least a month based on today's shopping excursion with wife and her mother.

 

I'm serious.

 

Is it necessary for the White Sox to solve every single problem in order, is there no reason why they can't solve problem #2 or #3 first? Kind of like the choice of going to other places than Red Door? I'm tellin' ya, you're nuts, we stopped in there last night and the first thing the owner says is "quickman was just here, are you lucky or what, you just missed him, I'm serious." :lol:

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No mention of Mike Matheny? I don't think STL will resign him. I haven't heard any teams that are very interested or what kind of money he'll get

Do you think yadier molina is ready yet? I have heard that they are interest in resigning him for a one year deal for about 2-2.5. But that was a while back now.

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Jim, I think we are pretty much as set as we are going to be at the catcher position. Now that Kendall is off the board, I think Kenny is going to ride this one out. He targeted Kendall, it didn't happen, and I think rather than sign a guy he is not crazy about, he'll go into 05' with a Davis/Burke tandum.

 

I would consider both Zaun and Blanco. If he signed Zaun, I think we would have the most likeable catching core in the major leagues. Zaun is one of the best clubhouse guys in the bigs, something Ozzie does certainly care about...but, he may not be good enough to be the answer for the Chicago White Sox. Ozzie is big on Burke, he likes Davis, and I think if he sees offensive progression from Davis in spring training, he'll go that route.

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You guys make some great points.

 

I will still go out on a limb and say they sign Blanco. If they miss out on him, they sign Dan Wilson. I feel strongly they will not go with Davis and Burke #1-#2.

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You guys make some great points.

 

I will still go out on a limb and say they sign Blanco.  If they miss out on him, they sign Dan Wilson.  I feel strongly they will not go with Davis and Burke #1-#2.

They sign blanco i will be breaking things. Many things.

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They sign blanco i will be breaking things. Many things.

Wow, how come? Am I missing something here? Is it his offense you object to?

 

He is great defensively as you know.

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Wow, how come?  Am I missing something here?  Is it his offense you object to?

 

He is great defensively as you know.

He can throw out base stealers but his cera is not great along with the rest of his catching abilitie imo. Others may disagree but i do not think for what he brings to the table is worth over two million over two years.

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He can throw out base stealers but his cera is not great along with the rest of his catching abilitie imo. Others may disagree but i do not think for what he brings to the table is worth over two million over two years.

Fair enough.

 

He is reputed to call the best game of any catcher in the division, if not the league.

 

All I can say is, I was very impressed with Blanco behind the plate. Looked to me like he did everything right. He did a good job in Atlanta for a few years too.

 

But you are right, it depends on the price tag. We'll see I guess.

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