Barry Rozner on ARod / White Sox

[YASNY]

Joe Cowley on the White Sox radio show this morning, some interesting thoughts -

 

He believes Torii Hunter is their primary target and he knows "for a fact" two White Sox players are already calling and recruiting him.

 

Cowley says the White Sox will inquire on ARod but sees it as an extreme longshot.

 

He says MacDougal will be back, says the Sox are going to give MacDougal every opportunity to turn things around but he will be a 6th/early 7th inning pitcher until/unless he proves himself worthy of pitching in the 8th. Says MacDougal's problem is confidence and to make it worse, MacDougal's confidence wavers day to day. Also that MacDougal needs to understand this is not KC, here it's every pitch matters from April 1st onward. Says MacDougal has kind of an "oh well" demeanor.

 

Also says they will definetely explore deals for Contreras and Garland but wouldn't hesitate to bring them back if they don't get the deals they want. Cowley mentioned moving Konerko is a possibility but less likely than trading a starter.

 

On Rowand, Cowley says he talks to Rowand "now and again" and he believes strongly Rowand would take less years and dollars to come back here, in relation to the $84M reports out there.

 

If MacDougal has an 'oh well' attitude, we should say 'Oh well, see ya later".

[NorthSideSox72]

If MacDougal has an 'oh well' attitude, we should say 'Oh well, see ya later".

I was thinking the same thing.

 

Thanks for the update though 29, that was very interesting. Hunter. Hm.

 

[hitlesswonder]

Well, I've never heard Babe Ruth described as "Clutch" have you?

 

Not only unclutch...he's another of those heavy power-hitters that clog the bases. Didn't we learn anything from 2005? You need speed to win and put pressure on the other team. I'll take Pods over Ruth in LF hands-down.

[WCSox]

Um well, players do get paid for the playoffs. They get paid from a pool of money which gets divided into shares. The players vote who gets what kind of share. Timo and Konerko each got paid exactly the same for the 2005 playoffs. They even each get paid a little more for winning the division.

 

That money is negligible in comparison to their contracts so, again, I don't see what your point is.

 

The Yankees weren't paying A-Rod to GET to the post-season. When they traded for him, they had more than enough offensive talent to win their division, or at least the Wild Card, without him. He was supposed to be the guy who put them over the top once they got there.

 

You take a couple of years of ARod in the playoffs and use those as gospel.

 

Uh, no I don't.

 

But he has hit .280 in the postseason.

 

You're heavily weighing numbers from several years ago from a completely different team where his role and the expectations around him were not the same. He's been average-to-bad over the past few years.

 

If he's so awful and a choker, the guy is playing on the biggest stage, a stage where that the ace of the 2005 world champions couldn't handle, winning 2 MVPs with them, under the scrutiny of the largest contract by far of all time, and he plays well enough to opt out and get an even bigger deal.

 

Speaking of "playing on the biggest stage", look at what Manny has done since going to Boston (easily the second biggest stage and not far behind NY) in the post-season. Talk about pressure... those guys hadn't won crap since 1918 when he got there. That was probably a HIGHER-stress environment than NY. Compare what Manny has done for the Red Sox in the playoffs to what A-Rod has done for the Yankees and it's not even close. Do you think that anybody in Boston would trade Manny's post-season numbers for A-Rod's regular-season MVPs? Neither do I.

 

He's no choker.

 

I never said that he was. I simply said that he has a history of having difficulty playing under pressure. That's not the same as somebody who NEVER plays well under pressure.

 

Everyone has tough postseasons.

 

That's true. I'm sure that everyone here remembers how freaking bad Vlad was in the '05 ALCS. He was clearly pressing, swinging at all kinds of crap outside of the strike zone. Sox pitching wasn't giving him anything to hit. But it's not like Vlad had a ton of protection in that lineup. Meanwhile, A-Rod's '04-'06 Yankees offenses were some of the best collections of offensive talent EVER, and it's not like he wasn't getting pitches to hit. What's A-Rod's excuse? Geez, Andy Pettite could've hit better than him in '05 and '06.

 

Look, I'm not saying that A-Rod is a choke or that he's going to be a mediocre-to-bad player in the post-season from here on out. But he hasn't done crap in the playoffs since the '04 ALDS and hasn't been consistently good there since 2000 in Seattle. And this is supposedly the best player of his generation and perhaps the best player EVER? Uh, I don't think so. A-Rod's awesome for sure, but you can't reasonably ask for $300 million and the "Best Player Ever" title with some of the recent post-season performances he's had. From a hitting perspective, I'll take Manny over him in a second.

Edited October 20, 2007 by WCSox

[Dick Allen]

That money is negligible in comparison to their contracts so, again, I don't see what your point is.

Uh, no I don't.

You're heavily weighing numbers from several years ago. He's been mediocre-to-bad over the past few years.

Speaking of "playing on the biggest stage", look at what Manny has done since going to Boston (easily the second biggest stage and not far behind NY) in the post-season. Talk about pressure... those guys hadn't won crap since 1918 when he got there. That was probably a HIGHER-stress environment than NY. Compare what Manny has done for the Red Sox in the playoffs to what A-Rod has done for the Yankees and it's not even close. Do you think that anybody in Boston would trade Manny's post-season numbers for A-Rod's regular-season MVPs? Neither do I.

I never said that he was. I simply said that he has a history of having difficulty playing under pressure. That's not the same as somebody who NEVER plays well under pressure.

That's true. I'm sure that everyone here remembers how freaking bad Vlad was in the '05 ALCS. He was clearly pressing, swinging at all kinds of crap outside of the strike zone. Sox pitching wasn't giving him anything to hit. But it's not like Vlad had a ton of protection in that lineup. Meanwhile, A-Rod's '04-'06 Yankees offenses were some of the best collections of offensive talent EVER, and it's not like he wasn't getting pitches to hit. What's A-Rod's excuse? Geez, Andy Pettite could've hit better than him in '05 and '06.

 

Look, I'm not saying that A-Rod is a choke or that he's going to be a mediocre-to-bad player in the post-season from here on out. But he hasn't done crap in the playoffs since the '04 ALDS and hasn't been consistently good there since 2000 in Seattle. And this is supposedly the best player of his generation and perhaps the best player EVER? Uh, I don't think so. A-Rod's awesome for sure, but you can't reasonably ask for $300 million and the "Best Player Ever" title with some of the recent post-season performances he's had. From a hitting perspective, I'll take Manny over him in a second.

Funny you use Manny Ramirez as an example. Manny hit .056 in the 1999 playoffs. He hit under .200 in the 1997 WS. Using the same philosophy with him you use with ARod, if you were in a position of decision for the Red Sox you would not have signed him.

[WCSox]

Funny you use Manny Ramirez as an example. Manny hit .056 in the 1999 playoffs. He hit under .200 in the 1997 WS. Using the same philosophy with him you use with ARod, if you were in a position of decision for the Red Sox you would not have signed him.

 

So are you trying to argue that what Manny and A-Rod did 8-10 years ago is just as relevant as what they've done over the past few years? If that's true, then I expect Frank to hit .320 this year and be an MVP candidate.

 

In Boston (you know, one of those high-pressure environments) Manny has been overwhelmingly golden in the post-season.

 

Oh, and Manny isn't making $250 million from his current contract either. Nor is Scott Boras asking for $300 million and touting Manny as the greatest to ever play the game.

Edited October 20, 2007 by WCSox

[Gregory Pratt]

Look, you're being silly. Everyone has bad postseasons, whether it's in "HIGH-PRESSURE!" environments or not, from Babe Ruth (the greatest to ever play the game) to Barry Bonds to Randy Johnson. That Rodriguez has had a few rough postseasons against some of the best pitchers in baseball doesn't mean anything at all and shouldn't determine his next contract and won't.

 

I'll bet a few years ago, if someone had mentioned bringing in Peyton Manning, you'd have said, "No! What has he ever done in the playoffs?!"

 

It's like you expect everyone to be Paul Molitor or Geoff Blum.

[Dick Allen]

IN BOSTON (you know, one of those high-pressure environments) Manny has been overwhelmingly golden in the post-season.

 

Oh, and Manny isn't making $250 million from his current contract either. Nor is Scott Boras asking for $300 million and touting Manny as the greatest to ever play the game.

When Manny signed his contract, the biggest in baseball history at the time I believe, he was a career .223 postseason hitter. Hardly clutch. Since, he's been outstanding, although I doubt you would ever hear "ARod being ARod" . The fact is and it is a fact, ARod is a better baseball player than anyone else. Everytime he takes the field, he is the best player on it. There's just as good of a chance ARod hits .400 in the postseason as .150 from here on out. You disagree, and that's fine. Maybe JR should try to sign Brian Doyle and Bucky Dent.

Edited October 20, 2007 by Dick Allen

[WCSox]

Look, you're being silly. Everyone has bad postseasons, whether it's in "HIGH-PRESSURE!" environments or not, from Babe Ruth (the greatest to ever play the game) to Barry Bonds to Randy Johnson. That Rodriguez has had a few rough postseasons against some of the best pitchers in baseball doesn't mean anything at all and shouldn't determine his next contract and won't.

 

If you want to agree to disagree on this point, that's fine. But you're not going to convince me that all players deal with pressure (from the playoffs or otherwise) with the same level of effectiveness. It just isn't true.

 

I'll bet a few years ago, if someone had mentioned bringing in Peyton Manning, you'd have said, "No! What has he ever done in the playoffs?!"

 

I've watched every Colts playoff game since Peyton's been there. Even as a huge fan of him I can tell you that, even considering the typically better defenses that he faces in the playoffs, he has a history of making better decisions in the regular season than in the post-season. Most of his really good playoff performances have been against average-to-bad defenses (vs. DEN in '03 and '04, @ KC in '03), with last year's AFC Championship game being the exception. He has literally given away playoff games at times (@ NE in '03) and his team has even won despite his poor performances in others (last year against the Chiefs and Ravens, for example... and the picks that he threw were incredibly ill-timed, as his team had the lead for the duration of both games). There have also been a couple of times where he's disappeared for a half and been a non-factor (vs. PIT in '05, @ NYJ in '02). As much as I like Peyton, he has a well-documented history of pressing in the playoffs at times and making bad decisions, whether those be picks or checking out of runs and trying to hit Marvin or Reggie in the endzone when he doesn't need to. That's not to say that I wouldn't want him as my QB, but even if he does break all of Favre's passing records, I wouldn't necessarily "crown his ass" as the greatest ever either.

Edited October 20, 2007 by WCSox

[palehose23]

Some people have a difficult time performing in pressure situations. Is A-Rod one of those people? I'm not sure at this point and I wouldn't want to spend $300 million to find out.

 

That's good because guess what, YOU WON"T BE SPENDING 300 MILLION!!! The Sox will

 

Like many have said on this board- what's the harm in having the greatest baseball player that you have ever seen on your team when he breaks the most hallowed of records? I would love to see A-Rod on this team, warts and all. And I know that the rest of you would also.

[Dick Allen]

What's ridiculous is ARod's postseason struggles are based on 29 at bats. 29 at bats have convinced someone that a guy with ARod's track record, can't handle playoff pressure.

[southsideirish71]

Anyone who thinks that bringing the best player in baseball on this team is a bad thing, needs their head examined. You bring him on, and you watch him destroy the competition day in and day out at the ballpark. This park plays like a little league field in the summer with how the ball flys out, his numbers here would be insane.

 

 

[YASNY]

Anyone who thinks that bringing the best player in baseball on this team is a bad thing, needs their head examined. You bring him on, and you watch him destroy the competition day in and day out at the ballpark. This park plays like a little league field in the summer with how the ball flys out, his numbers here would be insane.

 

I can see why some people have some hesitation. Boras is looking for a 10 to 12 year contract for a 32 year old ball player at $30M per year. ARod my be great for 6 to 7 years ... maybe. But beyond that, the odds are that he'd be a major burden toward the end of the contract.

[Dick Allen]

I can see why some people have some hesitation. Boras is looking for a 10 to 12 year contract for a 32 year old ball player at $30M per year. ARod my be great for 6 to 7 years ... maybe. But beyond that, the odds are that he'd be a major burden toward the end of the contract.

I wouldn't doubt Boras will get someone to come up with $30 million a year. I just don't see how he's going to get the length he desires. I don't think there is any team out there willing to commit to that figure for a 40-45 year old, no matter how great of condition ARod is in at present. 8 years and $240-$250 million with escalators is possible.

[WCSox]

What's ridiculous is ARod's postseason struggles are based on 29 at bats. 29 at bats have convinced someone that a guy with ARod's track record, can't handle playoff pressure.

 

I can't tell if that's just a really bad strawman argument or if your reading comprehension needs serious work.

 

Look, I'm not saying that A-Rod is a choke or that he's going to be a mediocre-to-bad player in the post-season from here on out.

 

I never said that he was [a choke]. I simply said that he has a history of having difficulty playing under pressure. That's not the same as somebody who NEVER plays well under pressure.

Edited October 20, 2007 by WCSox

[YASNY]

I wouldn't doubt Boras will get someone to come up with $30 million a year. I just don't see how he's going to get the length he desires. I don't think there is any team out there willing to commit to that figure for a 40-45 year old, no matter how great of condition ARod is in at present. 8 years and $240-$250 million with escalators is possible.

 

I agree that Boras' demands are unreasonable. But then again, there have been stupid owners in past that overpay. Those are the figures that Boras is floating. We'll just have to see what happens here.

[Al Lopez's Ghost]

Generally Boras takes a lot of time before his guy signs. The A-Rod leaving Texas to the Yankees took a lot of time if I recall correctly. That could weigh against him coming to the Sox, because I would imagine KW/Jerry would like an early answer so they can go with plan A, B or C.

 

Jerry has a penchant for the big name guy - they took Seaver in the compensation pool in the '80's, Bo Jackson and Albert in the '90's and maybe he would like to go all in for A-Rod now. In the short term, the next 3 or 4 years, the money part could be worked out. The Konerko and Garland idea (I apparently can't call it a rumor) for Kochman, Figgins and Shields saves a lot of the dough, you wouldn't have Uribe around for his $5 million option, and you'd have a pretty strong lineup with Figgins leading off and playing center, it seems to me. Starting pitching is gonna be a puzzle, no doubt, if they trade Garland.

 

If Arod leaves NY, it just wouldn't shock me to see him with us.

[Vance Law]

Look, you're being silly. Everyone has bad postseasons, whether it's in "HIGH-PRESSURE!" environments or not, from Babe Ruth (the greatest to ever play the game) to Barry Bonds to Randy Johnson. That Rodriguez has had a few rough postseasons against some of the best pitchers in baseball doesn't mean anything at all and shouldn't determine his next contract and won't.

 

I'll bet a few years ago, if someone had mentioned bringing in Peyton Manning, you'd have said, "No! What has he ever done in the playoffs?!"

 

It's like you expect everyone to be Paul Molitor or Geoff Blum.

 

This is perhaps the GP post I most agree with.

[Dick Allen]

I can't tell if that's just a really bad strawman argument or if your reading comprehension needs serious work.

You're whole argument for not paying ARod is based on 29 ABs. You admitted to ignoring his previous success. You also omitted his .267 avg. this year because it wouldn't make your argument look as strong. Once again, despite his horrendous postseasons in 2005 and 2006, he still has a career avg. of .280 in the postseason. Given the small sample sizes each season, he's obviously had some pretty good success other years..330 average in 103 ABs. I know there's its probably 1000 to 1 the Sox sign him. Providing he stays healthy, he will never be a "liability" on the field.

Edited October 20, 2007 by Dick Allen

[Big Hurtin]

Well, I've never heard Babe Ruth described as "Clutch" have you?

 

I'd say there's a better chance of Babe Ruth signing with the White Sox than ARod.

 

[WCSox]

You're whole argument for not paying ARod is based on 29 ABs.

 

OK, I'll try one last time...

 

Players who want to be regarded as the greatest ever and also want ridiculous blockbuster deals need to play well in the post-season. Therefore, those 29 ABs (or actually, all of his 96 playoff ABs in NY) are weighed a heck a lot more heavily in in my book. You think that's unfair? Well, if A-Rod wants a ridiculous $300 million in guaranteed money (or even another $250 million deal), I'm going to raise the bar ridiculously high and demand that he be god-like in the playoffs. If A-Rod wants to $100 million more than anybody else in the league, he'd better be head-and-shoulders above everybody else on the field in October. He wasn't even the best YANKEE in the playoffs.

 

You admitted to ignoring his previous success. You also omitted his .267 avg. this year because it wouldn't make your argument look as strong.

 

Kind of like how A-Rod's "career .280 BA" that you keep bringing up is padded with numbers from 7-10 years ago in Seattle. What's more relevant to A-Rod's projected play as he enters his mid-30's: what he did 7-10 years ago entering the prime of his career or what he did over the past few years on the wrong side of 30? Are you going to try to convince me that Frank's stats from the '90s are a better indication of how he'll play in his 40's than how he's played in Oakland and Toronto recently?

 

In New York, A-Rod hit .245 in 96 playoff ABs. That's not terrible considering the level of pitching he's facing but, again, you can get that type of production out of a player for 1/3 of the cost. Even if we consider that A-Rod has a career .280 playoff average, Jeter (who isn't demanding $250-$300 million) trumps him with a career .309 average (there's your large sample size). Even if I have to move him to 3B, I'd easily take five years of Jeter and somebody like Rowand at a combined $35 mil per over five years of A-Rod at $30 mil per. It's not even close.

 

Don't get me wrong: I agree that A-Rod's awesome and that IF THE MONEY WERE REASONABLE (say, 5/150), I'd love to have him in a Sox uniform. But that's the problem. He's going to want another 10/250-300 deal. The Sox would probably need a $150 million payroll right away to stay competitive with Pay-Rod hawging all of the funds and would have no financial flexibility for the next decade. And even if JR and & Co. COULD swing that, you're putting all of your eggs in one basket with a $300 mil player. If he slumps, gets injured, or his skills decline significantly, you're screwed.

Edited October 20, 2007 by WCSox

[Dick Allen]

OK, I'll try one last time...

 

Players who want to be regarded as the greatest ever and also want ridiculous blockbuster deals need to play well in the post-season. Therefore, those 29 ABs (or actually, all of his 96 playoff ABs in NY) are weighed a heck a lot more heavily in in my book. You think that's unfair? Well, if A-Rod wants a ridiculous $300 million in guaranteed money (or even another $250 million deal), I'm going to raise the bar ridiculously high and demand that he be god-like in the playoffs. If A-Rod wants to $100 million more than anybody else in the league, he'd better be head-and-shoulders above everybody else on the field in October. He wasn't even the best YANKEE in the playoffs.

Kind of like how A-Rod's "career .280 BA" that you keep bringing up is padded with numbers from 7-10 years ago in Seattle. What's more relevant to A-Rod's projected play as he enters his mid-30's: what he did 7-10 years ago entering the prime of his career or what he did over the past few years on the wrong side of 30? Are you going to try to convince me that Frank's stats from the '90s are a better indication of how he'll play in his 40's than how he's played in Oakland and Toronto recently?

 

In New York, A-Rod hit .245 in 96 playoff ABs. That's not terrible considering the level of pitching he's facing but, again, you can get that type of production out of a player for 1/3 of the cost. Even if we consider that A-Rod has a career .280 playoff average, Jeter (who isn't demanding $250-$300 million) trumps him with a career .309 average (there's your large sample size). Even if I have to move him to 3B, I'd easily take five years of Jeter and somebody like Rowand at a combined $35 mil per over five years of A-Rod at $30 mil per. It's not even close.

 

Don't get me wrong: I agree that A-Rod's awesome and that IF THE MONEY WERE REASONABLE (say, 5/150), I'd love to have him in a Sox uniform. But that's the problem. He's going to want another 10/250-300 deal. The Sox would probably need a $150 million payroll right away to stay competitive with Pay-Rod hawging all of the funds and would have no financial flexibility for the next decade. And even if JR and & Co. COULD swing that, you're putting all of your eggs in one basket with a $300 mil player. If he slumps, gets injured, or his skills decline significantly, you're screwed.

ARod hit .320 with an OPS over 1000 in the postseason for the Yankees in 2004. I would also say he's just as good if not better player now than he was when he was successful 8 or 9 years ago for the Mariners. So its really not like comparing Frank Thomas now with Frank Thomas in 1994.

[Chombi]

OK, I'll try one last time...

 

Players who want to be regarded as the greatest ever and also want ridiculous blockbuster deals need to play well in the post-season. Therefore, those 29 ABs (or actually, all of his 96 playoff ABs in NY) are weighed a heck a lot more heavily in in my book. You think that's unfair? Well, if A-Rod wants a ridiculous $300 million in guaranteed money (or even another $250 million deal), I'm going to raise the bar ridiculously high and demand that he be god-like in the playoffs. If A-Rod wants to $100 million more than anybody else in the league, he'd better be head-and-shoulders above everybody else on the field in October. He wasn't even the best YANKEE in the playoffs.

 

If Arod were to stay with the Yankees and demand the money, I'd say they're more inclined to demand "god-like" numbers out of him in the postseason. Why? They are in the playoffs year in and year out. With or without him. He wants to stay? They should demand he steps up since thats why they're paying him. Seeing as they're willing to pay him as long as he doesn't opt out, I'd say the postseason performance is overrated.

 

Now a team like the Sox. We aren't in the playoffs regularly. We would be paying him that money to get us there. So if he isn't performing in the regular season for us, then our team/fans can complain. If he gets us there, he did his job. He will do the financial side with no problem. He'll sell tickets, merchandise, etc. so that shouldn't even be a concern. Whatever he increases in revenue and gives us the ability to attract other players and have more money for them should be subtracted out of his eye-popping salary from the fans/ownership perspective.

 

The A-Rod not being clutch is retarded. The media acts like he has never played well in the postseason. It's really just the last 3 series. It's not like the guy has never shown up for a playoff game. why does it seem like everyone expects him to have these crazy postseason moments because he is potentially the best player in the game, maybe ever. Its nonsense. It's the postseason. Meaning following the season. There is limited time to perform, sometimes your hot (IE Arods first 3 trips to the postseason, sometimes your not, his last 2-3).

 

Guys like Arod can carry a team for a whole season, but if they fail in 3 games, they're less of a player? Not worth contracts? Choke artists? Give me a break.

 

Picture it like this since you used the Jeter reference...Jeter has had basically 5/6 of a season worth of playoff action. Arod, about 1/4. Arod to my knowledge has performed poorly in 3 of the 6 series. Jeter has had his poor playoff years too.. bout 4 of them. He has had plenty of terrible series, which the Yanks won, and got him another opportunity. Things Arod hasn't had. So don't compare the two. Find people with the same sitatutions.

Edited October 21, 2007 by Chombi and the Fungi

[WHITESOXRANDY]

Joe Cowley on the White Sox radio show this morning, some interesting thoughts -

 

He believes Torii Hunter is their primary target and he knows "for a fact" two White Sox players are already calling and recruiting him.

 

Cowley says the White Sox will inquire on ARod but sees it as an extreme longshot.

 

He says MacDougal will be back, says the Sox are going to give MacDougal every opportunity to turn things around but he will be a 6th/early 7th inning pitcher until/unless he proves himself worthy of pitching in the 8th. Says MacDougal's problem is confidence and to make it worse, MacDougal's confidence wavers day to day. Also that MacDougal needs to understand this is not KC, here it's every pitch matters from April 1st onward. Says MacDougal has kind of an "oh well" demeanor.

 

Also says they will definetely explore deals for Contreras and Garland but wouldn't hesitate to bring them back if they don't get the deals they want. Cowley mentioned moving Konerko is a possibility but less likely than trading a starter.

 

On Rowand, Cowley says he talks to Rowand "now and again" and he believes strongly Rowand would take less years and dollars to come back here, in relation to the $84M reports out there.

 

 

Thanks for sharing this. I have to believe that the Sox won't be close to ponying up enough dough to get Hunter. Therfore, I think and hope that they end up with Rowand. There's little doubt in my mind that he would accept a reasonable deal to return to the Sox.

 

I am very glad to hear that the Sox are willing to keep Garland and Contreras next year as I feel that their only chance to win the division is by keeping a very strong rotation and solidifying the pen and the lineup.

 

MacDougal I really can't figure out and don't have a feel for how he might do next year so I guess it would be worth it to hold onto him and see how he does but they need to add another late inning stopper so they don't have to count on him.

[southsider2k5]

Joe Cowley on the White Sox radio show this morning, some interesting thoughts -

 

He believes Torii Hunter is their primary target and he knows "for a fact" two White Sox players are already calling and recruiting him.

 

Cowley says the White Sox will inquire on ARod but sees it as an extreme longshot.

 

He says MacDougal will be back, says the Sox are going to give MacDougal every opportunity to turn things around but he will be a 6th/early 7th inning pitcher until/unless he proves himself worthy of pitching in the 8th. Says MacDougal's problem is confidence and to make it worse, MacDougal's confidence wavers day to day. Also that MacDougal needs to understand this is not KC, here it's every pitch matters from April 1st onward. Says MacDougal has kind of an "oh well" demeanor.

 

Also says they will definetely explore deals for Contreras and Garland but wouldn't hesitate to bring them back if they don't get the deals they want. Cowley mentioned moving Konerko is a possibility but less likely than trading a starter.

 

On Rowand, Cowley says he talks to Rowand "now and again" and he believes strongly Rowand would take less years and dollars to come back here, in relation to the $84M reports out there.

 

Thanks for the notes... a couple of thoughts I have here.

 

-On Torii, I am guessing AJ is one of the guys recruiting him, I wonder who the other one is?

 

-On MacD, How can you have confidence problems, and an oh well attiutude? Aren't those kind of contradictory? If you are having confidence problems you are obviously worrying about your preformance. I am not sure that makes sense to me.

 

-On Rowand, it wouldn't surprise me if some of the Jones and Hunter talk was out there to try to get other teams interested in them while the Sox swoop in on Rowand at a "hometown" discount.