Tigers Sign Damon - 1 yr, 8 mil; NTC

[elrockinMT]

Both of them can, and likely will, play the field at some point during the season, and probably will do so with adequate defense and at a very cheap price.

 

 

No doubt that Kotsay and Jones will play in the field and take turns at DH. Whether they perform to the level Thome might we will have to wait and see. No doubt they add flexibility to the late inning moves and such

[WCSox]

http://baseball.about.com/od/newsrumors/a/09teamsalaries.htm

 

We went from 6th in 2008 down to 12th in payroll in 2009.

 

And if the Sox continue to play mediocre baseball, they may be 18th in payroll in 2012.

 

The White Sox public relations and marketing efforts were basically abysmal or non-existent in the 80's and 90's. The main marketing tool was the new stadium, and we know how well that turned out (especially the immediate reaction and comparisons to Camden Yards, not positive ones).

 

The Sox treated their fans like gold in the mid/late '90s and offered rock-bottom ticket prices, to boot.

 

I don't see how you can argue that we can't stay in the top 10 in revenue when we were 8th in 2008, three years removed from the World Series and following a disastrous 2007 season.

 

Most likely because the Sox MADE THE PLAYOFFS in 2008.

 

It's simply a matter of producing a winning and entertaining product...if we're going to consistently be outspent by the Twins and the Tigers from here on out, that means we have to rely on either trades or our farm system. KW has been great with the first part of that equation, below average with the second facet of running a lower-payroll organization.

 

And that's the rub: If the Sox don't get it done on the field, the fans don't show up. Gate receipts decline, which triggers an automatic decline in merchandise sales, parking, and concessions, which forces a lowering of ticket prices and gives the Sox less leverage in negotiating media contracts.

 

YES, we did win the World Series in 2005 with a $65 million dollar payroll, but going back down to $75-80 million isn't going to cut it. If he wanted to do that, he never should have acquired Peavy and ESPECIALLY Rios anyway.

 

The logic there is that guys like Peavy and Rios are critical to rebuilding a winning team. If that doesn't pan out, those guys (and/or others) will get dealt to drop payroll. It's happened before and it could happen again.

Edited February 16, 2010 by WCSox

[WCSox]

Hitting is still the team's weakness. With the budget the sox have it is near impossible to have an outstanding team in all three areas of pitching, defense and hitting. KW chose to go with a very good pitching staff, an average but improved defense and the weakness in the area of hitting. If I had to choose which order to spend the money i would do the same. Since the sox knew they were going to be weakest in hitting they are going with a "create a run" theory on offense instead of power. Will it work? I have no idea and it is a weakness. But given the choice I personally would focus on pitching as well.

 

That was pretty much 2005 in a nutshell. The only semi-elite hitters on that team were PK and JD, and the latter didn't have anything close to an elite year at the plate. IIRC, only two players on that squad posted a .350 OBP or higher. It's not too difficult to make position player comparisons in terms of projected plate production (Beckam, Crede; Rios, Rowand; Pierre, Pods; Teahen, Iguchi; Quentin, JD).

 

Of course, none of that means that 2010 will be 2005 redux (or anything close to it), but the overarching point of valuing pitching and defense over high-priced, veteran sluggers who don't score runs consistently is important. And that doesn't mean that Kenny is off the hook for not bringing in a legitimate DH (Everett/Frank's role in 2005). This team isn't going to score a ton of runs. But I would MUCH rather than Kenny over-spend on pitching and lack a bat in the middle of the lineup vs. the opposite approach. At the very least, I'll take Teahen over Nix/Getz in a second. And I think that a merely decent-but-multi-dimensional player like Pierre is going to help this team a lot more than an inconsistent, aging, one-dimensional dinosaur like JD.

 

[ptatc]

There's a BIG if if if in your equation.

 

Putz. Because I'm sure not very many people feel comfortable right now with Pena, Linebrink and there's a pretty high amount of trepidation about Jenks as well. Williams? The long man. We have the POTENTIAL to be a great bullpen but more likely we'll be average.

 

Second, it would have been impossible NOT to improve the defense, no matter what moves were made. I'm not sure that we can determine what we have with Jones in terms of his defense until Spring Training comes around and we see what his playing condition is...

 

i agree they are if's. however, I think they are good gambles. The bullpen may not be great but i think with everything you said it will be better than last year.

 

I also agree with your assessment of the defense and it will be an improvement over last year.

 

[macsandz]

If DH'ing keeps Quentin healthy most of the season, I would say rotation is a good thing IMO. Quentin doing what he can do is better than pretty much all of the primary DH's out there.

 

Yo Rock. Any insights on if Damon may sign with the Sox?

[flavum]

http://twitter.com/beckjason/status/9199767130

[chw42]

http://twitter.com/beckjason/status/9199767130

 

I think we should just all forget it.

[southsider2k5]

I think we should just all forget it.

 

I'm not convinced. There is way too much chatter for this to be done.

[RockRaines]

I'm not convinced. There is way too much chatter for this to be done.

 

Cashman came out and said the Yankees offerred 2 years/14 million. So basically Boras didnt think that was a good enough offer at the time, but it now reaching for that contract. There is a likelihood he is trying to at least get Damon that contract from someone which is why there is so much media chatter.

[joeynach]

Cashman came out and said the Yankees offerred 2 years/14 million. So basically Boras didnt think that was a good enough offer at the time, but it now reaching for that contract. There is a likelihood he is trying to at least get Damon that contract from someone which is why there is so much media chatter.

 

If Chipper Jones is restructuring his contract to differ money then this is a direct move to get Damon his 1 Year 7 Mil deal he wants. Rumor has it Damon's wife wants nothing to do with detroit, and if the sox dont go to 6-7M while the braves do, then we will be a brave for 2010.

[NorthSideSox72]

http://twitter.com/beckjason/status/9199767130

In other words, we still have no idea.

 

[macsandz]

If Chipper Jones is restructuring his contract to differ money then this is a direct move to get Damon his 1 Year 7 Mil deal he wants. Rumor has it Damon's wife wants nothing to do with detroit, and if the sox dont go to 6-7M while the braves do, then we will be a brave for 2010.

 

Damon's wife could have 14 Million reasons to live there for 6 months a year.

[Kalapse]

Damon's wife could have 14 Million reasons to live there for 6 months a year.

Given that Johnny's already made ~$100M in his career, I'm thinking $5M-$7M and spending 1 year in Chicago/Atlanta then finding a new home for the 2011 season and another ~$5M is FAR more attractive than $14M and living in that s*** hole that is Detroit for 2 years.

[bigruss]

Given that Johnny's already made ~$100M in his career, I'm thinking $5M-$7M and spending 1 year in Chicago/Atlanta then finding a new home for the 2011 season and another ~$5M is FAR more attractive than $14M and living in that s*** hole that is Detroit for 2 years.

If you go 20-30 minutes outside of Detroit there are extremely nice neighborhoods, you just wont have a nice city nearby. Locations like Grosse Pointe Park are right next to the city and have a lot of wealth, and places like Ann Arbor are under an hour away to Comerica Park. There just isnt really a good place in the city, atleast not for a multimillionaire.

[WCSox]

Given that Johnny's already made ~$100M in his career, I'm thinking $5M-$7M and spending 1 year in Chicago/Atlanta then finding a new home for the 2011 season and another ~$5M is FAR more attractive than $14M and living in that s*** hole that is Detroit for 2 years.

 

Except for the fact that it's probably his last chance to land a semi-lucrative multi-year deal (he'll be 36 in June) and it's a guaranteed $14M. If Damon were to suffer a major injury this summer (like a torn ACL), he might not be able to play again until he's 38. I don't see why he didn't take the (alleged) 2/14 offer from the Yankees.

 

If you go 20-30 minutes outside of Detroit there are extremely nice neighborhoods, you just wont have a nice city nearby. Locations like Grosse Pointe Park are right next to the city and have a lot of wealth, and places like Ann Arbor are under an hour away to Comerica Park. There just isnt really a good place in the city, atleast not for a multimillionaire.

 

^^^

 

If Damon could stand taking a trip to the Bronx every day, driving into Detroit for two years isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

[fathom]

More good news, as it sounds like Indians might be close to signing Branyan.

[ptatc]

Except for the fact that it's probably his last chance to land a semi-lucrative multi-year deal (he'll be 36 in June) and it's a guaranteed $14M. If Damon were to suffer a major injury this summer (like a torn ACL), he might not be able to play again until he's 38. I don't see why he didn't take the (alleged) 2/14 offer from the Yankees.

 

 

 

^^^

 

If Damon could stand taking a trip to the Bronx every day, driving into Detroit for two years isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

I'm sure it's because Boras advised him that he could get more. This is also why this process is being extended. Boras is trying to save face by getting a similar offer elsewhere.

 

Lopez already dropped Boras because he made him salary promises that he couldn't keep by overvaluing him. Now Lopez is just trying to get a job.

 

[Kalapse]

Except for the fact that it's probably his last chance to land a semi-lucrative multi-year deal (he'll be 36 in June) and it's a guaranteed $14M. If Damon were to suffer a major injury this summer (like a torn ACL), he might not be able to play again until he's 38. I don't see why he didn't take the (alleged) 2/14 offer from the Yankees.

 

 

 

^^^

 

If Damon could stand taking a trip to the Bronx every day, driving into Detroit for two years isn't the worst thing in the world.

If he stays healthy this year and puts up good numbers he should be able to land a multi-year deal next offseason, there's a big difference between 37 and 38 in major league baseball. If he takes that 2 year deal it'll be the last of his career, a 1 year pact worth equal annual salary sets him up for an opportunity for one last multi-year deal after proving his worth away from Yankee Stadium in 2010.

 

Of course there are nice neighborhoods around Detroit but living in a place where the major metropolitan area is a war zone is a huge turnoff and I would understand if it were a deal breaker for his wife.

[BigSqwert]

If Damon could stand taking a trip to the Bronx every day, driving into Detroit for two years isn't the worst thing in the world.

 

You're seriously comparing NY to Detroit? That's a first.

[jphat007]

More good news, as it sounds like Indians might be close to signing Branyan.

 

That really doesn't matter. They aren't going to be good enough to win.

[BigSqwert]

That really doesn't matter. They aren't going to be good enough to win.

One less option for our DH is what he was implying.

[bigruss]

If he stays healthy this year and puts up good numbers he should be able to land a multi-year deal next offseason, there's a big difference between 37 and 38 in major league baseball. If he takes that 2 year deal it'll be the last of his career, a 1 year pact worth equal annual salary sets him up for an opportunity for one last multi-year deal after proving his worth away from Yankee Stadium in 2010.

 

Of course there are nice neighborhoods around Detroit but living in a place where the major metropolitan area is a war zone is a huge turnoff and I would understand if it were a deal breaker for his wife.

Hell, for all we know his wife doesnt like going to the cities or it isnt a priority and she is just fine in a suburban area. Really not trying to pick a fight on this topic, just stating that location may not be as big of an issue as stated.

[jphat007]

One less option for our DH is what he was implying.

 

Oh yah I see. We're not getting a DH other than Kotsay or Jones so it doesn't matter in that regard either.

[WCSox]

If he stays healthy this year and puts up good numbers he should be able to land a multi-year deal next offseason, there's a big difference between 37 and 38 in major league baseball. If he takes that 2 year deal it'll be the last of his career, a 1 year pact worth equal annual salary sets him up for an opportunity for one last multi-year deal after proving his worth away from Yankee Stadium in 2010.

 

And if he has a down year in 2010 or suffers an injury, he can say goodbye to that lucrative two-year deal that will be offered in 2011. Coming off of a career-high in OPS+, I take the two-year deal now while I'm healthy and my value is the highest that it's been over the past three years. But that's just me.

 

You're seriously comparing NY to Detroit? That's a first.

 

Oh, the area around downtown Detroit is definitely worse than the Bronx/Harlem/Yonkers. Then again, there are nice suburbs within a short drive of the Detroit city limits. There's no such thing as a reasonable drive in NYC.

Edited February 16, 2010 by WCSox

[RockRaines]

If you go 20-30 minutes outside of Detroit there are extremely nice neighborhoods, you just wont have a nice city nearby. Locations like Grosse Pointe Park are right next to the city and have a lot of wealth, and places like Ann Arbor are under an hour away to Comerica Park. There just isnt really a good place in the city, atleast not for a multimillionaire.

 

Yeah, but those are suburbs. They've been living in NYC, going from that to Birmingham or Grosse Point is quite a step down, almost like moving to the country.