You're the GM: White Sox edition

[Felix]

Well the only problem with that is Konerko is making almost 9 million this off-season and with the weak class of f/a coming up he is going to make a lot of money.  Im thinking at least 12 million and I dont know about you but to me Konerko isnt worth that.  Meanwhile go look at Overbay and Tracy's contracts they are making hardly anything.

He's worth that and then some to me, but hey, I'm foolish at times.

 

Furcal's stats dont blow you away but with Ozzie he will have 50 plus SB's probably and he will give you 10-15 HR's.... he would be like what Iguchi is in the 2 hole this year but with more stolen bases.  Having Furcal and Podsenick at the top of the order would possibly the best 1-2 guys in mlb together.  Combined just those 2 will have more than 100 SB's.

The major problem I have with Furcal batting 2nd is ego. I dont really know if he has a huge ego or anything, but if he does, it won't work out. In Ozzie's lineup, the #2 hitter has to give up alot of AB's, something Iguchi has been willing to do so far this year.

 

Mueller is old yes... but he has showed no signs of slowing down so far and what he can bring is worth the risk of signing him to me.  He might show his age but I think he will at least give us 1-2 good years. F/A is all about taking risks and he would be one of them.

In the past 3 years, Mueller's OPS has dropped. Granted, some of his other numbers havent really dropped, but OPS dropping is a bit worrisome. (even though its just a slight difference in the last 2 years)

[GoodAsGould]

Well no offense taken but to me you seem a little bit like a homer and I think we are going to just have to disagree. In my opinion the new team I suggested would be a good offensive team as well as pitching and I think is > our current team. You think Furcal isnt worth the money and Konerko is. And I think you worry too much about HR's but thats your opinion and neither of us are going to switch sides.

 

So agree to disagree on our ideal off-season's.... Ill say this if Crede and Uribe stay hot in the playoffs assuming we do make them.... I might change my mind.

[Felix]

And I think you worry too much about HR's but thats your opinion and neither of us are going to switch sides.

I normally wouldnt worry about HR's, but removing 3 of our top 6 HR hitters and replacing them with people with much less power worries me.

 

If this idea was brought up earlier this year, I would probably agree with you in replacing Crede and Uribe, but now that they are heating up, their previous months are being covered up in my mind. We'll see how they do in the postseason though.

 

For now, I agree to disagree

[fathom]

Two things on Furcal:

- maybe it's me, but he doesn't strike me as the type of player who's going to give you 100 percent after he gets his big contract.

- WE'RE NOT GOING TO WIN A BIDDING WAR FOR FURCAL! The Cubs have made them their number 1 target, he's very close with Aramis, and the Cubs have a ton of money to spend this offeseason.

[BamaDoc]

If the Cubs win for Furcal, would you try Nomar at third?

Edited September 25, 2005 by BamaDoc

[CWSGuy406]

Konerko is, what, 29?  Bill Mueller is 34.  Konerko is in his prime.  Mueller is leaving his prime.  And again, I said I would pay Konerko that if LAAAAA offered $15/5, not right away.  I would originally offer Paulie something like $12/4

 

Your 9th hitter is a second leadoff hitter.  He's not your worst hitter.

Pods has a higher OBP and is far more consistant than Furcal.

 

Konerko will be 30 next year. Being 30 is not in your prime. Prime years = 26-29. Sorry, I'm not comfortable giving a four year contract to a guy who probably won't ever do better than his career best 123 OPS+. He's good, don't get me wrong, but I think you can get more production if you spread that $12 million bucks that you would've spent on PK on a thirdbaseman and another firstbaseman. For example, say, trade for Chady Tracy at first (he was rated very highly in the minors for defense with the D'Backs) and sign Nomar for third. You'd lose some defense at third, but gain a heckuva lot of offense. I'm not saying it would happen, just a suggestion.

 

BTW -- Range factor isn't a very good stat, it's based upon the amount of opportunities. Konerko has little to no range. Damn good at picking balls out of the dirt, but unless the ball is hit right to him, he isn't getting it.

 

WTH are you talking about, your 9th hitter is a 2nd leadoff hitter? Your 9th hitter should be your worst hitter, 'cause he's the guy who will always get the less or equal amount of at-bats to the rest of your team.

[fathom]

BTW, if this team got Furcal by some miracle, I'd put him leadoff, and tell Pods to go hit zero homers in the 9th spot.

[GoodAsGould]

BTW, if this team got Furcal by some miracle, I'd put him leadoff, and tell Pods to go hit zero homers in the 9th spot.

 

 

You really want your leadoff man hitting a lot of HR's or Furcal in the 2 hole hitting them driving in not only himself but Pods too.

[fathom]

You really want your leadoff man hitting a lot of HR's or Furcal in the 2 hole hitting them driving in not only himself but Pods too.

 

Why does it matter where they bat, they're only leadoff hitter once in the game? I've always thought it gives the lineup a boost when the 9th hitter can get on and do some damage, because when the leadoff hitter roles around, there's a sense of danger.

[Felix]

@ CWSGuy406

So is A-Rod not in his prime? Or how about Vlad, since he'll be 30 next year too? Or how about Ortiz, who'll be 30 next year?

[CWSGuy406]

@ CWSGuy406

So is A-Rod not in his prime?  Or how about Vlad, since he'll be 30 next year too?  Or how about Ortiz, who'll be 30 next year?

 

Just because someone isn't in their prime, doesn't mean they aren't good.

 

But typically, with baseball players, the best years of a hitters' career is in his late-20s.

[witesoxfan]

Your 9th hitter is a second leadoff hitter.  He's not your worst hitter.

 

Which is exactly why we've had Ben Davis and Royce Clayton hitting 9th for us in the past, and why in the NL they have the pitchers bat 9th :rolly

 

Pods has a higher OBP and is far more consistant than Furcal.

 

Thanks for making my argument against Furcal for me.

[3E8]

Your 9th hitter is a second leadoff hitter.  He's not your worst hitter.

No, your 9th is your worst hitter. Batting him 9th ensures he will get the fewest AB's over the course of the season.

[knightni]

You get Furcal, you don't need Pods.

[CWSGuy406]

I'm going to say this... Stay away from Furcal.

 

He's going to get at least ten million this offseason. This free agent class is deprived, to say the least. It's pretty much him, Brian Giles, and Paul Konerko (offensively speaking) -- there's others that I'm sure I'm missing, but those seem to be the three biggest names. And, if Orlando Cabrera was able to net a four year, $32 million contract last offseason, I'm pretty sure that Furcal will be able to get a little to a lot more than that.

 

He's pretty much a league average hitter -- 95 OPS+ over his career, only once posting a better than average OPS+ -- 109 in 2003, and without doing the math, he's having a little bit of a worse season than 2003 -- so, I think he'll finish at around 105 this year (bleh). And, he's entering his prime years, so I think he's good to put up some 105 seasons in a row.

 

But I don't know... for a team so offensively deprived, is he worth that?

 

I think you're much better off improving your corner IF spots. Make a strong push for either Chad Tracy or Adam Dunn. Dunn would cost more, but he's worth it -- IMO. Same goes for Tracy, who might just finish with a .900+ OPS this year (he's two points off).

 

I know Arizona has Quentin and Jackson, but maybe they'd have interest in the hometown kid in Brian Anderson?

 

Certainly, there's lots of ways this team can go in the offseason.

[Randar68]

threads like these always bring the kool-aid drinking "don't let me favorite player go or try to replace him" homers out...

 

It was a thread about what you would do if you were the GM... not:

 

1) What KW will or realistically can do

2) How to rehash the Konerko or Rowand arguments

3) How to think everyone on this team is irreplaceable

 

etc

etc

etc.

 

Sheeeesh. I realise this is a "fan" site and "fans" have favorite players, but s***, I wanna win. If that means getting rid of a player I like, F*** IT! Sheeesh. Some people are like 12-year-old girls with crushes on their teachers (players)...

[santo=dorf]

Pick up Politte's option.

Trade for Carlos Delgado and Mike Lowell (If the Marlins insist on taking him along with Carlos.)

Sign Mueller if Lowell is not acquired.

Trade Crede, Marte, Vizcaino, and Garland.

Try to bring back Frank.

[GoodAsGould]

Pick up Politte's option.

Trade for Carlos Delgado and Mike Lowell (If the Marlins insist on taking him along with Carlos.)

Sign Mueller if Lowell is not acquired.

Trade Crede, Marte, Vizcaino, and Garland.

Try to bring back Frank.

 

Wow I hope your dream off-season doesnt happen.

[bumptious96]

The Sox aren't going to have as much spending room as everyone might think. Alot of players are getting raises after the season. Then add in Pauly's contract and Frank's buyout, there's no way the Sox are going to get Furcal.

 

During the trade deadline, when teams were acting delusional, Kenny said that another reason why he made so many moves this offseason was because of this offseason's extremely shallow FA pool. I think that the team is pretty much set for next year with some small moves being made. I see the following happening:

 

1B: Pauly

2B: Iguchi

SS: Uribe

3B: Crede (not going to get that much in arbitration and signing old man Mueller to a 3-4 mill/yr. deal would be foolish)

LF: Pods (ugh)

CF:Rowand (has said he just hasn't felt comfortable w/ his swing all year)

RF: Dye

4th OF: Anderson (will rotate between left and right and play a good amount)

DH: This is the wildcard...Kenny can get creative here and trade prospects for a rising young hitter or go cheap on the FA market for a Durazo like player, which I don't really recommend. Oh yeah...send Everett and Timo packing.

 

Rotation: Mark, Freddy, Contreras, Garland, BMac

Pen: Closer:Jenks then Hermy, Politte, Cotts, Viz, Scott Eyre, and see if you can send Marte packing.

 

With the FA market being so poor, the Sox still aren't going to be able to compete for a player like Furcal. With the skyrocketing prices for players like Rollins, Beltre, Delgado, Clement, and D. Lowe, the Sox just aren't going to be able to fork over the dough. Even with the great year we had in regards to attendance, I see Kenny keeping the team together and firing Greg Walker in hopes to find someone who will fix Rowand and others. I don't think Uribe will ever change, but I can deal with that. AJ had never walked and never will. He has one of the worst pitches seen per AB ratio in the league.

 

Offensively what this team needs as far as personnel is a #3 hitter (Frank?!). However, getting a good one isn't going to be too easy.

As far as hitting philosophy and our approach at the plate, this has been my #1 complaint all year. Its absolutely pathetic how Crazy Carl will swing at everything. And then you have Uribe swinging at the first pitch no matter what in every clutch hitting situation.

Then you have Crede who somewhow still loves swing at pitches away in the dirt after 3 full years in the league.

Podsednik is simply a weak hitter and needs to hit more doubles/triples (he has 0!)

Iguchi=my boy

Pauly=not going to nit pick w/ him anymore...he's really won me over this year.

If Dye is healthy I have no problem with him.

 

But please...TAKE SOME PITCHES....Walk every once in a while!

 

I'm done ranting ...later

Edited September 26, 2005 by bumptious96

[Randar68]

The Sox aren't going to have as much spending room as everyone might think. Alot of players are getting raises after the season. Then add in Pauly's contract and Frank's buyout, there's no way the Sox are going to get Furcal.

 

That is assuming they resign Paul, which is a good chunk of the money most people are saying they'd spend elsewhere.

[Randar68]

4th OF: Anderson (will rotate between left and right and play a good amount)

 

I'm nit sure how many times I have to call this plan:

A ) Stupid

B ) Asinine

C ) ludicrous

 

before people stop saying it.

 

YOU DON'T BRING UP PRIZED PROSPECTS AND SIT THEM. ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CF'ER IS A .750 OPS PLAYER WITH INFERIOR DEFENSE TO THE PROSPECT!

 

Sheesh. Guys, if anyone is going to be the 4th OF'er next year, it's Rowand. Get over it between now and April 1st next year... PLEASE!

Edited September 26, 2005 by Randar68

[Guest JimH]

Anderson is close to ready, if not 100% ready to play in the major leagues.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if he spent 1/2 season in Charlotte though, nor would it surprise me if they traded him. Chris Young is a very good CF prospect who appears to be coming fast and Sweeney is a damn good hitter who doesn't strike out much and can flat out hit.

 

Not saying one is better than the other, just that the Sox have some decisions to make and they may want to take as much time as possible. Contract-wise, the starting OF is set for 2006 anyways.

[3E8]

I'm nit sure how many times I have to call this plan:

A ) Stupid

B ) Asinine

C ) ludicrous

 

before people stop saying it.

 

YOU DON'T BRING UP PRIZED PROSPECTS AND SIT THEM.  ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CF'ER IS A .750 OPS PLAYER WITH INFERIOR DEFENSE TO THE PROSPECT!

 

Sheesh.  Guys, if anyone is going to be the 4th OF'er next year, it's Rowand.  Get over it between now and April 1st next year... PLEASE!

It was a thread about what you would do if you were the GM... not:

 

1) What KW will or realistically can do

[Randar68]

It was a thread about what you would do if you were the GM... not:

 

1) What KW will or realistically can do

 

 

Yes, but that doesn't mean someone's plan to put a prospect on the bench regularly isn't all of the above, especially when they're not upgrading that position from its current level via any other move...

[RockRaines]

I'm nit sure how many times I have to call this plan:

A ) Stupid

B ) Asinine

C ) ludicrous

 

before people stop saying it.

 

YOU DON'T BRING UP PRIZED PROSPECTS AND SIT THEM.  ESPECIALLY IF YOUR CF'ER IS A .750 OPS PLAYER WITH INFERIOR DEFENSE TO THE PROSPECT!

 

Sheesh.  Guys, if anyone is going to be the 4th OF'er next year, it's Rowand.  Get over it between now and April 1st next year... PLEASE!

I have yet to see if he is worthy of a starting job in the MLB. I am still in favor of trading Dye though and starting Anderson in his place. I think Dye is at his peak performance and durability level and it will save us money to sign some FA's.