Mariotti article

[RockRaines]

What is this world coming to? I love this article

 

 

Sox should break bank, sell farm for Griffey

 

August 17, 2005

 

BY JAY MARIOTTI SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

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Just what is Ken Williams waiting for, anyway, another fantastic voyage on Lake Michigan? Let's hope his minor boating injury isn't distracting him too much because, at the moment, his services never have been more necessary in five seasons as White Sox general manager. Ken Griffey Jr. has cleared waivers and says he wants ''to win,'' which means there's a fair chance he'll be traded to a contender very soon.

 

Say, today.

 

This is where Williams, always willing to push the envelope, must stuff it with 88 years worth of perks. He has been sniffing around Griffey for weeks, but when a baseball club hasn't won the World Series since 1917 and is looking at a rare opportunity to end the drought, sniffing around means nothing if you ultimately don't land the final piece. I realize he works for Jerry Reinsdorf, who protects his precious budget like his cigar humidor, but price should be no object when seeking the left-handed power hitter who would answer pressing questions about a sleepy offense as October approaches.

 

If the Cincinnati Reds want the Sox to assume a fat chunk of roughly $40 million owed Griffey through 2008, then pick up the bill. If the Reds are demanding the inclusion of hotshot outfielder Brian Anderson in the trade, along with two minor-league position players, then include him. Do not worry, Ken, about being snookered on Anderson, who sparked a seventh-inning rally Tuesday night with his first major-league hit and might become a star. Nor should Reinsdorf, who has made a fortune in sports and claims to ''dream'' about winning the Series, be in any sort of cost-conscious mode with so much at stake.

 

The ground rules are different for Chicago baseball, a futile state where both teams are nearing an entire century without a world-championship parade. A club can't be concerned about next year or the year after when it has a chance to win now. What I've always liked about Williams is his willingness to stare 1917 in the eyeballs, cuss in its face and vow to bring it down forever. ''We are tired of talking about 1917,'' he says. Well, stop quibbling about whatever you're quibbling about and make the Reds an offer that not even their owner, Carl Lindner, can refuse. Knowing Lindner and the way he has operated his small-market franchise, all he wants to do is dump Griffey's contract. If he doesn't find a taker in Reinsdorf, he will somewhere.

 

Sox need boost for playoffs

 

Better the Sox than the Yankees.

 

''We prefer to do something that makes sense,'' Williams said.

 

Sounds like Jerry-speak to me. And this is not the time for Jerry-speak, not after the Red Sox' boppers pounded Mark Buehrle and Jon Garland in Boston, not as the Oakland Athletics continue to own the Sox and not as the Los Angeles/Anaheim/Mischa Barton Angels look like a better all-around team. When I travel around the nation, I keep my antenna up for Sox chatter. The general conclusion: In terms of being equipped to win the American League pennant, they rank fourth. You might be under the influence of Hawk Harrelson, but for non-homers who analyze baseball at face value, the Sox are vulnerable because their attack lacks punch. Yes, I know leadoff hitter/team MVP Scott Podsednik is out with groin injury. But if a lineup can be devastated by one injury, just how fragile is the bigger cause? The offensive woes have been an issue for some time, and they continued into the wee hours of this morning in a 9-4, 16-inning loss to Minnesota. The Sox have lost 12 of their last 18 home games, not a healthy sign.

 

Smart Sox fans, the ones who don't waste their lives on the Internet, understand that four terrific months don't win a pennant. As we saw in 2000, a regular season of fine work can be flushed away in three games. Remember that sick feeling in Seattle after the sweep? To avoid it again, Williams has to find a big bat. Among others who've cleared waivers are Mike Sweeney, who seems headed to the Angels, and Mike Piazza, who wouldn't be a good fit here. Sammy Sosa also cleared waivers, but there's a better chance of Harrelson being invited to my next party, even if Metamucil is served as an appetizer. Edgardo Alfonzo could help as a backup to Joe Crede, but he's not going to beat the Red Sox at Fenway Park in the ALCS.

 

Griffey has the potential to carry a club in the playoffs. And he has the itch, having participated in only two postseasons way back in his Seattle days. As a player with at least 10 years of major-league experience and five with his current club, Griffey has the right to veto a trade. But when asked by Ohio media if he'd like to stay with the Reds, who haven't reached the playoffs during his injury-marred six seasons in his hometown, he said, ''I'd prefer to win.'' He added: ''That's the main reason why you play this game. As a kid, you don't talk about how much money you're going to make as an athlete; you're always talking about that three-balls, two-strikes walk-off home run in the World Series.''

 

Would he nix a deal? Maybe not. ''If the organization feels they need to make a change with me, then we'll look at it and make up my mind when and if,'' Griffey said.

 

Whether he would join the Sox is a good question, especially if he isn't promised the center-field job as Aaron Rowand mans the landscape like a young Jim Edmonds. Given a choice of Yankee Stadium or The Cell, where would Griffey have a better chance of performing his fantasy during the next three or four years? Clearly, he doesn't need the Sox as much as the Sox need him. Even before Podsednik's disabled-list stop, the loss of Frank Thomas left the offense short-handed. You're putting extraordinary pressure on Buehrle, Garland, Freddy Garcia and Orlando Hernandez to pitch well in the playoffs if you're scratching out runs.

 

Any big bat is a good fit

 

At this point, I wouldn't worry about disturbing team chemistry. Williams, who has done a wonderful job so far in assembling an impending division winner, is too wrapped up in concepts such as destiny when it's still summertime. ''It's important to realize these guys have rallied around one another and have gotten us to the point where we still maintain the best record in the game,'' he said. ''We've got complete faith in these guys here. Whether something materializes from the outside in the next week or so, I don't see it out there. But you never know.''

 

Exactly. You never know until you try real hard. The Reds continue to strongly deny any interest in trading Griffey, with chief operating officer John Allen saying Monday, ''There's nothing to it! There's no trade talk going on! There's no trade! Where do you guys get this stuff? Who promulgates this story is beyond me.'' And then, of course, he refused to say never.

 

''If somebody offers us a No. 1 starter and we make a trade, [the media are] going to say I lied,'' Allen said.

 

Translation: Griffey is available at the right price.

 

Bid high, Sox.

 

Jay Mariotti is a regular on ''Around the Horn'' at 4 p.m. on ESPN. Send e-mail to [email protected] with name, hometown and daytime phone number (letters run Sunday).

[Colorado Sox Fan]

Do the deal, Kenny.

[RockRaines]

is his e-mail [email protected]?

[Steff]

Do the deal, Kenny.

 

 

 

:banghead

[LosMediasBlancas]

''If somebody offers us a No. 1 starter and we make a trade, [the media are] going to say I lied,'' Allen said.

 

Translation: Griffey is available at the right price.

 

 

I wonder if Sammy's translator is available to help Jay.

[Guest JimH]

Well it's easy to say do the deal, or for some sportwriter to trumpet the issue in the Sun Times.

 

I suspect things are much more complicated than simply "do the deal". The Reds ownership is in a state of flux, Griffey is a 10 and 5, the Reds may want some proven talent that now can't get through waivers, etc.

 

Personally my take is, if the deal could've been had for just prospects it would be done already from strictly a baseball perspective.

 

Since there are ownership issues involved from the Reds side, it complicates matters significantly.

[RibbieRubarb]

:banghead

 

Thank you.

 

I think Kenny wants to do the deal and has a deal in place. But it's not in his control right now. (Reds ownership)

[RockRaines]

I know everyone is going to be all negative and s***, saying we dont need this, best record, not going to happen etc. We really need Kenny to sell the farm on this one, we should have claim KGJ in the first place. s***, I would take that contract right now for sure.

[Steff]

Thank you.

 

I think Kenny wants to do the deal and has a deal in place. But it's not in his control right now. (Reds ownership)

 

 

 

And from all reports this morning they are saying he is not moving.

[RibbieRubarb]

If the Cincinnati Reds want the Sox to assume a fat chunk of roughly $40 million owed Griffey through 2008, then pick up the bill. If the Reds are demanding the inclusion of hotshot outfielder Brian Anderson in the trade, along with two minor-league position players, then include him. Do not worry, Ken, about being snookered on Anderson, who sparked a seventh-inning rally Tuesday night with his first major-league hit and might become a star. Nor should Reinsdorf, who has made a fortune in sports and claims to ''dream'' about winning the Series, be in any sort of cost-conscious mode with so much at stake.

 

 

Someone should explain to this idiot how trades work after July 31st

Because NO ONE would claim Brain Anderson from the wire.

[RibbieRubarb]

And from all reports this morning they are saying he is not moving.

 

Yes, I read that too.

 

It has nothing to do with money, either. It's the fact the owners feel their team is worth more $$$ with Junior when they sell it this fall.

[Chisoxrd5]

I know everyone is going to be all negative and s***, saying we dont need this, best record, not going to happen etc.  We really need Kenny to sell the farm on this one, we should have claim KGJ  in the first place.  s***, I would take that contract right now for sure.

 

I would love to have Griffey. I would sell the farm for him. And yes we could use another bat.

 

But will it happen? no...

 

Too much media frenzy = NO TRADE

[kev211]

Smart Sox fans, the ones who don't waste their lives on the Internet, understand that four terrific months don't win a pennant.

Im offended. This just proves that jay does read soxtalk. Shut up Kotex boy were the smart ones.

[bjm676]

Smart Sox fans, the ones who don't waste their lives on the Internet, understand that four terrific months don't win a pennant.

 

I had to chuckle when I read that.

 

''If somebody offers us a No. 1 starter and we make a trade, [the media are] going to say I lied,'' Allen said.

 

Translation: Griffey is available at the right price. 

 

Two words: Do. It.

 

 

I've been agreeing with him the past few articles. I don't know what's wrong with him.

Edited August 17, 2005 by robinventura23

[RockRaines]

I would love to have Griffey. I would sell the farm for him.  And yes we could use another bat.

 

But will it happen? no...

 

Too much media frenzy = NO TRADE

The only person that is public about their being no trade has been called a "puppet" by several fans and people close to the organization. I feel that he has no real authority.

[RockRaines]

Didnt the Red Sox say that they werent going to trade Nomar?

 

I see this as a smokescreen and I can only be positive on this. We need his bat.

[knightni]

Im offended. This just proves that jay does read soxtalk. Shut up Kotex boy we're the smart ones.

If you want a writer to consider us the smart ones, make sure you put the apostrophe in where it needs to go.

[YASNY]

Do it? Trade Buehrle or Garland or Garcia? I'd love to have Griffey in the line up. He's exactly what we need. But not for the cost of one of those three. No way in hell.

[Steff]

The only person that is public about their being no trade has been called a "puppet" by several fans and people close to the organization.  I feel that he has no real authority.

 

 

I have heard nothing but positives about John Allen.

[Flash Tizzle]

How much influence do you suppose the Sun-Times editors had in Mariotti limiting his Hawk insults?

 

When I logged onto Soxtalk several minutes ago and noticed this thread I was expecting another Hawk Harrelson rant. Unfortunately, Mariotti looks classy here ignoring Hawk. I still despise him, but by not prolonging another back-and-forth fued shows where he priorities remain. Or rather where he's forced to pay attention to.

 

I'm sure they'll be a slow news day in the future we'll hear from our bushy eyebrowed friend on Hawk.

[YASNY]

How much influence do you suppose the Sun-Times editors had in Mariotti limiting his Hawk insults?

 

When I logged onto Soxtalk several minutes ago and noticed this thread I was expecting another Hawk Harrelson rant. Unfortunately, Mariotti looks classy here ignoring Hawk. I still despise him, but by not prolonging another back-and-forth fued shows where he priorities remain. Or rather where he's forced to pay attention to.

 

I'm sure they'll be a slow news day in the future we'll hear from our bushy eyebrowed friend on Hawk.

 

This ignorant internet surfing Sox fan says that words classy and Mariotti should never be used in the same sentence.

[3E8]

Someone should explain to this idiot how trades work after July 31st

Because NO ONE would claim Brain Anderson from the wire.

You beat me to the punch. Should we include McCarthy too, Jay?

[S720]

Someone should explain to this idiot how trades work after July 31st

Because NO ONE would claim Brain Anderson from the wire.

 

I can not fathom the idioticy of this well-known sportswriter. If making a trade AFTER July 31st is that simple, KGJ would have been here by now. The moment I read Brian Anderson's name mentioned in his article, I said to myself, "Apparently, this goof does even know that much about baseball, let alone advicing KW how to make a trade!"

 

The Reds management already stated KGJ will NOT be MOVED. Even if we offer the Reds McCarthy AND Anderson, how are they going to make it to the Reds through the waiver line? Other teams in the AL will snatch them up in a heartbeat.

 

Such a stupid and moronic and irresponsible article!

[YASNY]

You beat me to the punch.  Should we include McCarthy too, Jay?

 

Jay Mariotti doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground.

[Leonard Zelig]

Do it?  Trade Buehrle or Garland or Garcia?  I'd love to have Griffey in the line up.  He's exactly what we need.  But not for the cost of one of those three.  No way in hell.

 

Do you think it could ever even get to that? I don't think any of them would get through the waiver process.