Guest JimH Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 In listening to KW's take on getting someone for 2b who can hit LHP, I looked up a few names of FA's. None are breath taking. The only way this would make sense is if the Sox think Willie can hit closer to .300 than the .260 in 2004 vs RHP. Mark Grudzielanek [will be 35]: hit poorly vs LHP in '04, .220/.281 OBP in 82 ab's; hit .360/.449/. 470 in 2003 in 100 ab's; can't play other spots besides 2B Jose Hernandez [36]: hit .310/.383/.627 in 126 ab's vs LHP in 2004; can play all 3 IF positions; a K machine; no SH's in 2004 Desi Relaford [32]: had a poor 2004, started the season on the DL w/ a pulled hmastring, not sure about any other injuries; was a regular w/ KC but more of a UTL type; can play 3b, ss, 2b and the OF; a switch hitter; hit .300/.409/ .438 in 130 ab's vs LHP in '03 [though hit .393/.507/.518 as a RH hitter-56 ab's]; 5'9", 180 from Georgia [as is Willie and Frank]; can handle the bat and has SB speed. [was 20 out of 24 SB in '03, or '02] Of these three, only Relaford seems to have any upside. Both Grudzelanek and Hernandez offer some veteran ability, and could give some production. Talk about looking for bargains, these guys will come cheap. Good research here. I did not know that Grudz4tfa7ybx hit so poorly vs. lefties. Relaford is an option ... we'd read before they were sniffing around Pokey Reese, what does he do vs. lefthanders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 Good research here. I did not know that Grudz4tfa7ybx hit so poorly vs. lefties. Relaford is an option ... we'd read before they were sniffing around Pokey Reese, what does he do vs. lefthanders? I still don't buy the sox going with Crede, Uribe, Harris / UTL guy, Gload as the starting IF with the $21 mill from "plan A" [RJ-$16 mill, Vizquel-$5 mill] still on the table during "plan B" now. Say $6 mill goes to a SP [Wright] that leaves $15 mill. for C, bullpen and an OFer, not to mention who the sox could get via a PK trade? And KW wanted Vizquel for "lineup balance and leadership in the middle"? Will Uribe suddenly find leadership, or will a guy like Grudz [who hit LH's well leading up to 2004], Relaford or Reese [can't hit much vs anyone] be the answer for balance and leadership? Unless Beltran is part of plan B, I don't see how the IF above improves the Sox. I think the key is finding which players fit in plan B. These RH hitting UTL guys sound like plan x or y. My Plan B [$21 mill, as stated Plan A's cash was to be]: a] sign FA's: SP-Wright $6 mill SS- Renteria $9.5 mill RF-Dye [$5 mill] or a non-tendered AJ Pierzynski for C [$5 mill] b] Wait for things to sort themselves out, and then use trades to improve bullpen, minor league depth, C/ Of Somehow, I think the Sox will get leadership and balance for the middle [cf, SS or 2B]. If that means Renteria or prying away Luis Castillo or Pierre from FLa, something needs to be done for the top of the order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 Plan C : Flying under the radar and standing pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 Plan C : Flying under the radar and standing pat you forgot to add "watching the sox 4th place finish in 2005". I think it's clear to KW that the Sox need to make big changes for the 2005 team. Even if it means a desperation last minute deal right before Spring training, I expect a lot of new faces for next yr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YASNY Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 I don't believe KW has "stand pat" as an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchetman Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 My Plan B [$21 mill, as stated Plan A's cash was to be]: a] sign FA's: SP-Wright $6 mill SS- Renteria $9.5 mill RF-Dye [$5 mill] or a non-tendered AJ Pierzynski for C [$5 mill] didn't plan A include unloading Konerko's salary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 didn't plan A include unloading Konerko's salary? That's a given. If just talking about the amount of salary the Sox would have taken on with new players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3E8 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 How much do you all think Danny Bautista would cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchetman Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 explain the math. i thought plan A was (RJ-Konerko)+(vizquel)=16-8+5=13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnthraxFan93 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 How much do you all think Danny Bautista would cost? Too Much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 I don't believe KW has "stand pat" as an option. I sure hope to God he doesn't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 explain the math. i thought plan A was (RJ-Konerko)+(vizquel)=16-8+5=13 I start off with the sox spending $21 mill on new players in plan A--what RJ and Vizquel would have made if they were on the Sox---[given all the current players signed for 2005--- the roster as it is being everyone except Pk traded, and w/o Maggs + Jose.] Plan A would have filled that $21 mill with two players, RJ and Vizquel. The Sox payroll, w/o PK is near $53.29 mill. [$29.48 mill for all the signed pitchers--sp and 'pen] + $20 mill for lee, Everett and Frank. The remaining $3.81 mill is the rest of the roster's 2004 salaries,[Gload; Harris; Uribe; Rowand; Timo Perez; Ben Davis; Neal Cotts; Jon Adkins; Jamie Burke-- which will be higher as they'll get arb. raises] Add Plan A--RJ $16 mill, and Vizquel $5 mill gets the sox a payroll near $75 mill, w/o counting the raises in arb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatchetman Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 ok. i thought we had a lot more than 53 million tied up. (discounting PK) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beck72 Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 ok. i thought we had a lot more than 53 million tied up. (discounting PK) I actually forgot to include Garland's $3.4 mill salary in the AZ / RJ trade. so the Sox would spend, at minimum, $17.6 mill in new salary in their "Plan A", not $21 mill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
santo=dorf Posted December 7, 2004 Share Posted December 7, 2004 explain the math. i thought plan A was (RJ-Konerko)+(vizquel)=16-8+5=13 (RJ-Konerko-Garland)+Vizquel=16-8.75-3.4+4(Vizquel's money would've probably been deffered. Look at his contract with the Giants) =7.85 million Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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