McCarthy Traded to Texas

[bjm676]

Today's Sun-Times article: Coop thinks the trade was worth it:

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/wh...T-sox27.article[/url]

 

Cooper: Rangers prospects worth trading McCarthy

 

It was Don Cooper's turn to talk White Sox fans off the ledge Tuesday.

 

The Sox pitching coach fully endorses the offseason moves made by general manager Ken Williams, and added, ''I'm not just kissing the GM's ass.''

 

Cooper saw reliever Neal Cotts sent to the Cubs for hard-throwing right-hander David Aardsma in November, then watched Williams send 17-game winner Freddy Garcia to Philadelphia for Gavin Floyd and prospect Gio Gonzalez earlier this month.

 

The deal that seemed to raise eyebrows throughout the South Side, however, came over the weekend, when Brandon McCarthy was sent to Texas for pitching prospects John Danks, Nick Masset and Jacob Rasner.

 

Cooper has not been in Chicago the last week to hear the fallout, but it found him.

 

''I have an idea on why there are people really shaking their heads, rattled,'' Cooper said. ''But the bottom line is we won 90 games last year, and it wasn't enough. We move Freddy, and we have to make up 17 games. McCarthy was that guy tabbed to pick up that slack. Does McCarthy have a chance to be a quality big-league starter? Sure. But there are no guarantees.

 

''McCarthy was our top prospect. Well, we have two of their top prospects now. And White Sox baseball has a nice collection of arms maybe for the next five years. McCarthy basically was unproven. We had some looks at him and he had some great outings for us, but he also struggled at times.

 

''I look at trades like this very optimistically. I like Brandon McCarthy, but Brandon McCarthy last year didn't pitch so well. I still think he is going to be a good pitcher in the major leagues, but trades make the world go around.''

 

Cooper said he spent the last few days gathering film on the new faces awaiting him in spring training, as well as talking with pitching coaches and personnel from both the Phillies and Rangers.

 

''Spring training is going to be very interesting with a lot of new faces,'' Cooper said. ''But I will go to spring training with no preconceived thoughts either way. I've heard nothing but good comments about the guys we picked up from their former organizations. If the guys we got weren't any good, I'd know. I got really high grades from the Texas people I spoke to, and they are people that I absolutely trust.''

 

As far as the notion that Cooper now faces added pressure, he said the bottom line is to try to win a championship every season. New faces won't change that.

 

''Trades like this is what you see down the road,'' he said. ''Not 30 seconds down the road or a few weeks. I'm not feeling pressure. The names are just different now. White Sox pitching has a chance to be good for a long time, and Kenny has more chips to play with.

 

''I can understand the disappointment of losing a Freddy Garcia. Hell, how could you not remember what he did in the postseason? The added thing for us is there is an emotional attachment from the White Sox fans. But their services are no longer needed here. I'll remember them forever, but you move on with some real exciting players.''

Edited December 27, 2006 by robinventura23

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Earth to Jimbo's Drinker:

 

This is a messageboard, people will discuss anything, anytime, for any reason. It doesnt have to be something you can change, just something you can discuss.

 

 

I know it makes me disgruntled knowing we just ruined our chances of a world series. We have no Liriano to step in and take over. I jsut wish this all never happenend.

[southsideirish71]

I know it makes me disgruntled knowing we just ruined our chances of a world series. We have no Liriano to step in and take over. I jsut wish this all never happenend.

 

I was as big of a bmac fan on the site, but trading him ruined our world series chances. Come on now.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

I was as big of a bmac fan on the site, but trading him ruined our world series chances. Come on now.

 

 

We have 3 HUGE gaping holes. Scotty Pods and BA make up by far the worst outfield in baseball, sorry I love BA, but he is not there yet. One of the great parts of last year is we had 6 starters. What do we do when the fossil known as Contreras goes down.

[Kyyle23]

We have 3 HUGE gaping holes. Scotty Pods and BA make up by far the worst outfield in baseball, sorry I love BA, but he is not there yet. One of the great parts of last year is we had 6 starters. What do we do when the fossil known as Contreras goes down.

 

Yeah, but how does McCarthy getting traded ruin our World Series chances? If this trade were somehow reversed, are those 3 gaping holes somehow filled and our World Series chances reborn?

 

If the season starts and not one more move is made, than we all have cause for concern, but I think we all know KW isnt finished tinkering.

[Harry Chappas]

I know it makes me disgruntled knowing we just ruined our chances of a world series. We have no Liriano to step in and take over. I jsut wish this all never happenend.

 

Are you comparing Garcia or McCarthy to Liriano? Who is the Twins Liriano by the way?

[Whitewashed in '05]

The more information coming out from the bmac trade, the more it seems the organization soured on him.

 

Even though he was put into a foreign role, to him, they still think he should have pitched better.

[southsideirish71]

Are you comparing Garcia or McCarthy to Liriano? Who is the Twins Liriano by the way?

 

The twinks dont have a Liriano also for 07. They have are courting the like of Sir Sidney Ponson to add to their rotation that already has Silva in it.

[Jimbo's Drinker]

Im saying if we had a super prospect like Liriano as a 5th starter, the deal would be fine. We have a bunch of unknowns and projects. I still do not like BA and Pods in teh same outfield, puke

[SoxHawk1980]

Danks pitched High-A ball in the California League, at both Stockton and Bakersfield, which is a hitter's paradise. The fact that Danks bounced back from a subpar half season at Stockton with an outstanding season at Bakersfield says loads. He then was promoted to AA, the hardest promotion for a minor-leaguer to handle, at 21, and pitched very well in 2006. In 2005 he was 20-years-old and in AA, so cut him some slack. God forbid he can't dominate AA at 20, the f***ing bum.

I cut him a lot of slack. I think he's a great prospect. Nowhere in any of my posts have I stated or implied that he isn't a great prospect. Being a great prospect doesn't mean, however, that you are a lock to be a good major league pitcher. And, I don't think he is major league ready. He's done very well for being so young. But he is still young and shouldn't be rushed to the majors.

 

For the record, when I pointed out that he didn't "dominate in AA" that was to directly refute the poster earlier in this thread who said that after slow starts, Danks dominated at every level. He didn't dominate in AA. That doesn't mean he stinks. That doesn't mean he isn't a great prospect. I was just setting the record straight. Fans tend to exaggerate about prospects.

And then, at 21, he was promoted to AAA PCL, which is even more of a hitter's league than the Cal League. Some ballparks, namely Albuquerque, I could hit home runs out of. Think Coors Field, no humidor, and then lower the gravity a bit. The fact that Danks averaged less than a hit per innings and a strikeout per inning, for a 21-year-old, is simply outstanding. But if you want to hold him to the standards that he should be turning water into wine, knock yourself out.

You get an A for hyperbole. I didn't say that he sucked in his brief stint in AAA. His overall numbers weren't so good. You interestingly point out his H/ip, but neglect the rest of his stats which weren't so sterling. I do recognize that he got better throughout his AAA tenure. He had a great August-September. That is very promising. But for a 21 year old, I'd like to see more than a good couple of months in AAA. I think he should spend more time in AAA and truly get himself major league ready.

 

And then Cerbaho discussed the rotations of the Twins and Tigers. The Twins obviously have holes to fill and are relying on some very young pitchers. And the Tigers are anything but a lock to repeat their pitching mastery of 2006. I'm not saying that their rotations are necessarily better than ours. What I am saying is that KW has made the 2007 team worse than the 2006 team, in overall talent. I think that is pretty obvious, no matter how great of a prospect Danks is. That will pay dividends in the future. Not so much in 2007 (IMHO). We can all hope and pray for Minnesota and Detroit to implode, but I don't think both of those teams and Cleveland will cooperate.

 

still, *crickets* from our know-it-all fan...

I sure hope you're talking about me! Glad I could help.

Edited December 27, 2006 by SoxHawk1980

[kapkomet]

I sure hope you're talking about me! Glad I could help.

 

[SoxHawk1980]

I salute you, sir.

 

My bottom bottom line is that I hope all of KW's moves help this team both in 2007 and in the future. If enough of our question marks turn out positive in the coming year, we can win the division and do well in the playoffs. I hope to hell that happens.

[LVSoxFan]

The more information coming out from the bmac trade, the more it seems the organization soured on him.

 

Even though he was put into a foreign role, to him, they still think he should have pitched better.

 

So they groom him for years and then sour on him just because he sucked at middle relief?

 

That seems a bit... narrow-minded. Or were there other reasons?

[kapkomet]

So they groom him for years and then sour on him just because he sucked at middle relief?

 

That seems a bit... narrow-minded. Or were there other reasons?

Uh huh... probably.

[southsider2k5]

So they groom him for years and then sour on him just because he sucked at middle relief?

 

That seems a bit... narrow-minded. Or were there other reasons?

 

Reading between the lines, and knowing how the Sox deal, there is no doubt in my mind.

[knightni]

http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/7577/...47/SLM12-30.jpg

 

Sad but adorable.

[RockRaines]

I know this sounds really strange and maybe a bit out there. But I think Danks dominates iN ST and makes a run at the team.

[Gregory Pratt]

That's kind of out there. I mean, it's a major rush, to think that kid makes it. Seems radical in kind of a tubular sort of way, but most of all, it seems out there.

 

--

 

I think it's entirely possible that Danks makes it.

[greg775]

The Trib columnist was saying BMac was a good quote and had a head

on his shoulders and wasn't afraid to speak his mind.

Probably pissed off KW.

I was not a big BMac fan but resigned myself to the fact he was gonna get

his shot next year after the trade of Freddie.

Once we dealt Freddie, BMac should have been given his shot.

[Kalapse]

The Trib columnist was saying BMac was a good quote and had a head

on his shoulders and wasn't afraid to speak his mind.

Probably pissed off KW.

I was not a big BMac fan but resigned myself to the fact he was gonna get

his shot next year after the trade of Freddie.

Once we dealt Freddie, BMac should have been given his shot.

If McCarthy's talking pissed anyone off it was Ozzie.

[Chisoxfn]

If McCarthy's talking pissed anyone off it was Ozzie.

MMMHMMMMMMMMMM. Ie, yep.

[RockRaines]

That's kind of out there. I mean, it's a major rush, to think that kid makes it. Seems radical in kind of a tubular sort of way, but most of all, it seems out there.

 

--

 

I think it's entirely possible that Danks makes it.

I know, its just one of those things that sometimes happens. I just have a feeling.

[SoxHawk1980]

I know, its just one of those things that sometimes happens. I just have a feeling.

So you're saying that Danks will take the 5th rotation spot? That is definitely possible. But the real question is how do you think he'll do? It is much easier to have a great spring and make the team than to actually pitch well in the majors. I think that if he starts the season in Chicago, then he's being rushed. And I don't think that will be good for his development. I doubt he's ready and I don't think he'd pitch well at all for the Sox this season. It would be much better for Danks and the Sox for him to spend a full season as a starter in AAA and work on becoming that ace we all want him to be.

[Gregory Pratt]

I know, its just one of those things that sometimes happens. I just have a feeling.

 

It's out there.

[Steff]

Reading between the lines, and knowing how the Sox deal, there is no doubt in my mind.

 

 

 

Can you use the search feature to locate the thread you and I discussed this topic back in July...

 

If McCarthy's talking pissed anyone off it was Ozzie.

 

 

Ding, ding, ding, ding....