Tigers Sign Damon - 1 yr, 8 mil; NTC

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

And I can tell you that is not the case. An offer was made.

 

Plus with this latest article, making it seem as if DET's offer is 1 year as well... then we're back to what it seems like - Damon is weighing the two one-year offers, and Boras is hoping one of the two teams blinks and ups the ante.

 

Rock later said there was "no news", and that seems bad. Well, given the situation, no news is what I'd expect. The offers are on the table, Boras is hoping for one team to up the stakes, and if not, then Damon will take one of the two offers as-is. Nothing to report, until he takes an offer. We wait.

Not to be a dick, but what is a source for then? I believe the quote was something like "people are running around." Okay, is there an office fire or something? Or are people just busy? Because if they're just busy, then no s***, it's a front office for a Major League team. Of course there's activity, I mean it's reported everywhere that the Sox are in the mix for Damon. Saying there is activity isn't news. I can claim I have a source and say the same thing.

 

Isn't a source supposed to, at the very least, give a clear idea on how things are going, be they good or bad? If a source simply says there's no activity, just silence, then doesn't the entire value of this source come from his or her ability to accurately describe what this silence means? Any source that is that ambiguous isn't a source, it's just relatively informed speculation.

 

Again, not trying to be a dick here, but the reason I said that is because I've seen these source comments before and they all seem to perfectly follow the tide of what is being reported in the national media. Anyone can do that. A source is only supposed to gain validity when it is consistently accurate and when it provides new, relevant information. People give Cowley s***, but the guy has sources. Maybe I've missed where Rock's source has revealed itself to be worthwhile, and if so, I truly apologize.

[scenario]

I'm starting to get the feeling that something like this is what has transpired...

 

Boras talked up a potential (not real) Tiger offer then called KW and asked him how interested he really was.

A combination of interest and not wanting to have him go to a central division rival spurred conversation.

The two sides got together... showing enough mutual interest to get JR involved.

A reasonable but not overwhelming 1-year offer was made as a result.

Boras and Damon said they had to finish their conversations with Dombrowski and would let KW know by this weekend.

Dombrowski and the Tigers made a formal (1-year) offer last night.

Damon will be making up his mind in the next day.

 

If this is the case, our odds are pretty good.

Edited February 19, 2010 by scenario

[fathom]

Rock was dead on with the Viciedo stuff last offseason. If you folllow closely, you'll know what part of the front office his source works in.

[Balta1701]

Yeah, pretty much. And I realize that you can't carry an 11-man pitching staff on every team (e.g., it would've been impossible on the 2007 squad). But I think that this rotation may be proficient enough and, at the very least, eat enough innings to allow for one less bullpen arm. Time will tell.

 

Unless Ozzie or Kenny have indicated otherwise, I don't see Hudson starting the season in the bullpen. If he's going to occupy the 5th spot in the rotation next year, it would make a lot more sense to get him conditioned with as many innings as possible in the minors.

It's worth noting the 2005 format...that year, we started the year with an 11 man staff. We went to a 12 man staff at some points, but only when people got hurt in June or so. We also kept our 6th starter in the minors as a starter, and he wound up being a starter for us several times.

 

The one difficulty with that bullpen style is...you need guys who can give you 2 innings occasionally. The Sox squeaked by a couple times with Vizcaino going 2.1 innings and that cost them at least one game. I don't know if, as that bullpen is set up, there's really any obvious innings-eaters for a game where a starter goes out early or the game goes 13 innings.

[Controlled Chaos]

Not to be a dick, but what is a source for then? I believe the quote was something like "people are running around." Okay, is there an office fire or something? Or are people just busy? Because if they're just busy, then no s***, it's a front office for a Major League team. Of course there's activity, I mean it's reported everywhere that the Sox are in the mix for Damon. Saying there is activity isn't news. I can claim I have a source and say the same thing.

 

Isn't a source supposed to, at the very least, give a clear idea on how things are going, be they good or bad? If a source simply says there's no activity, just silence, then doesn't the entire value of this source come from his or her ability to accurately describe what this silence means? Any source that is that ambiguous isn't a source, it's just relatively informed speculation.

 

Again, not trying to be a dick here, but the reason I said that is because I've seen these source comments before and they all seem to perfectly follow the tide of what is being reported in the national media. Anyone can do that. A source is only supposed to gain validity when it is consistently accurate and when it provides new, relevant information. People give Cowley s***, but the guy has sources. Maybe I've missed where Rock's source has revealed itself to be worthwhile, and if so, I truly apologize.

You're being a smelly butthole. Rock has given out some good info before. Either you believe him or not...no need for negative comments.

[MattZakrowski]

It's worth noting the 2005 format...that year, we started the year with an 11 man staff. We went to a 12 man staff at some points, but only when people got hurt in June or so. We also kept our 6th starter in the minors as a starter, and he wound up being a starter for us several times.

 

The one difficulty with that bullpen style is...you need guys who can give you 2 innings occasionally. The Sox squeaked by a couple times with Vizcaino going 2.1 innings and that cost them at least one game. I don't know if, as that bullpen is set up, there's really any obvious innings-eaters for a game where a starter goes out early or the game goes 13 innings.

 

I'd be willing to keep Torres over Williams, I know it leaves us with only 1 lefty, but merely being left handed doesn't justify letting Randy Williams be in a major league bullpen.

[Balta1701]

I'd be willing to keep Torres over Williams, I know it leaves us with only 1 lefty, but merely being left handed doesn't justify letting Randy Williams be in a major league bullpen.

I would totally go for that, I just don't know if our manager would.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

Rock was dead on with the Viciedo stuff last offseason. If you folllow closely, you'll know what part of the front office his source works in.

I must have missed that then. But if the rest of the board believes him then that's cool. Sorry, Rock.

[WCSox]

The one difficulty with that bullpen style is...you need guys who can give you 2 innings occasionally. The Sox squeaked by a couple times with Vizcaino going 2.1 innings and that cost them at least one game. I don't know if, as that bullpen is set up, there's really any obvious innings-eaters for a game where a starter goes out early or the game goes 13 innings.

 

Yep, that's an issue. My guess is that Pena is the odd man out if somebody like Torres is needed to fill a long relief/multiple innings role (is he still in the organization?). But letting Pena go less than a year after trading for him makes little sense. Jenks has thrown two-inning saves, but as long as he's the closer, he's not going to play the role of Vizcaino. Unfortunately, not only is Linebrink's salary an albatross, him simply taking up a roster spot may become problematic as well.

Edited February 19, 2010 by WCSox

[bmags]

Wow, you're gonna hate him even if the DH situation is resolved by Damon? Call me crazy, but I think Kotsay is pretty great to have off the bench. Besides, who else will back up 1b?

 

EDIT: I can see trading him for a proper CI backup, though. One who can play both 3b and 1b.

 

There was nothing hateful about that statement.

edit: I don't even know who the hell "him" is in your post

Edited February 19, 2010 by bmags

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

God I hope Torres doesn't make the club. If we're taking a rookie LR then take Harrell.

 

Agree with WC on Linebrink. Just him being here is a f***ing problem. Hopefully he has his nice first half and we can dump him before he goes all Linebrink on us again.

[quickman]

Funny half the time people on this board ask Rock to check with his source, now people are crapping on it because its not what they want to hear. I too am personal friends with people in the media, and JimH who you all hate, has some great resources in the media, that said, it seems that unless you are JR, KW, Johnny damon or Scott Boras everyone is shut down for the moment. Lets not trash Rock. If you don't want to believe his source, then don't. This board has the Ranger on it who is part of the media, close to many team resources, and chances are if KW told him something off the record, he wouldn't go and run with it to some internet board.

Edited February 19, 2010 by quickman

[bmags]

Funny half the time people on this board ask Rock to check with his source, now people are crapping on it because its not what they want to hear. I toohave personal friends with people in the media, and JimH who you all hate, has some great resources in the media, that said, it has seems that unless you are JR, KW, Johnny damon or Scott Boras everyone is shut down for the moment. Lets not trash Rock. If you don't want to believe his source, then don't. This board has the Ranger on it who is part of the media, close to many team resources, and chances are if KW told him something off the record, he wouldn't go and run with it to some internet board.

 

you don't have to say people when it's one dude.

[southsider2k5]

Yep, that's an issue. My guess is that Pena is the odd man out if somebody like Torres is needed to fill a long relief/multiple innings role (is he still in the organization?). But letting Pena go less than a year after trading for him makes little sense. Jenks has thrown two-inning saves, but as long as he's the closer, he's not going to play the role of Vizcaino. Unfortunately, not only is Linebrink's salary an albatross, him simply taking up a roster spot may become problematic as well.

 

Pena isn't going anywhere unless he is awful.

[Chisoxfn]

You dont have to believe my sources. Not a big deal. No need to try and make fun of me though.

I'll echo Rock's sentiments Kenny. Rock has legitimate info and its great that he's willing to share what he hears.

[Chisoxfn]

I wasn't making fun of you, I was just saying your sources don't exist. My apologies for sounding offensive.

That is offensive.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

you don't have to say people when it's one dude.

Exactly, it's just me, and I wasn't trashing Rock either. I already apologized for that earlier. I was questioning the validity of his source, not personally attacking the poster. And f*** JimH anyway. I don't even know who he is but trolling message boards and then threatening people over the internet is lame as s***.

[TheChrisSamsa]

Except Toby Hall.

 

:lolhitting :lolhitting that was good.

[Chisoxfn]

Ok, you may know better as you follow the board closer than I do. That said, his source may not be at liberty to say anything and this silence is consistant with the media shutting down on this topic as well. I only suspect that he has two offers and is taking the weekend to decide which one to take. It appears each is different in structure and there are many moving parts including his agent, family, Union and his personal feelings. This is not unlike any other job in life when one has mulitple opportunities that will involve moving, money and lifestyle. A couple of days to think does not reflect negatively on either side of the ledger right now.

Quick...read my post on the silence that is going on right now. The Sox have had discussions and an offer is out their. The ball is in Damon's court and it doesn't sound like the Sox are going to increase anything.

 

However, the Sox are more optimistic than they were a week ago.

[Harry Chappas]

Funny half the time people on this board ask Rock to check with his source, now people are crapping on it because its not what they want to hear. I toohave personal friends with people in the media, and JimH who you all hate, has some great resources in the media, that said, it has seems that unless you are JR, KW, Johnny damon or Scott Boras everyone is shut down for the moment. Lets not trash Rock. If you don't want to believe his source, then don't. This board has the Ranger on it who is part of the media, close to many team resources, and chances are if KW told him something off the record, he wouldn't go and run with it to some internet board.

 

This board used to be filled with folks who had really solid inside information but would be berated to the point that they stopped doing it as Rock should because people seem to feel they need to prove them wrong for some odd reason.

 

The Keith Foulke deal was on the internet by sources from this site on another forum days before it went through. The same person had KW stepping down in early 2003 I believe and when that did not happen the person was bascially lynched.....not becasue they were wrong.....but because this site really wanted KW gone and it did not happen.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

That is offensive.

What's offensive? That, or the comment about his source being Santa Claus? Or both? Because (again) in both situations I wasn't attacking Rock personally, I was saying his source isn't worth anything.

[thedoctor]

Ok, you may know better as you follow the board closer than I do. That said, his source may not be at liberty to say anything and this silence is consistant with the media shutting down on this topic as well. I only suspect that he has two offers and is taking the weekend to decide which one to take. It appears each is different in structure and there are many moving parts including his agent, family, Union and his personal feelings. This is not unlike any other job in life when one has mulitple opportunities that will involve moving, money and lifestyle. A couple of days to think does not reflect negatively on either side of the ledger right now.

 

agree completely.

 

needless to say this is a big decision for damon and his family. he should take the time he needs. if it's us, great. if not, i hope he enjoys looking up at us in the standings all year.

[Chisoxfn]

What's offensive? That, or the comment about his source being Santa Claus? Or both? Because (again) in both situations I wasn't attacking Rock personally, I was saying his source isn't worth anything.

I will stick by any of our loyal posters with information. You have a problem with the sources of a guy that has been great at sharing info with all of us when he hasn't and I'll freaking always defend those guys.

 

I see how ripped to shreds the Chicago Media figures get when they report a rumor and it doesn't come true. You know why, because it is a rumor, talks are going on, it isn't that, oh the deal is done, etc. Plus, as someone that has talked and has contacts as well, I can tell you sometimes a source knows something, sometimes they don't, sometimes what they might hear could already be dead, you have no idea, but when you get the info, its nice to pass it along cause it actually gives you a better eye into what the Sox are looking at.

 

You going off on Rock doesn't make it easy for people with quality info and a proven track-record to go out and talk. We do an excellent job here of vouching rumors when they come out and if they start to look bogus they go.

 

Rock has been posting stuff from his contact for a long long time and a lot of that stuff has been spot on (doesn't mean always a deal goes down as Rock says, but later it comes out that the Sox did consider, XYZ, etc).

[Chisoxfn]

one poster. You didn't need to lecture the whole board.

End of discussion. Lets all get back on topic here...ie, Johnny Damon. If not, I'll throw out suspensions from here on out.

[quickman]

This board used to be filled with folks who had really solid inside information but would be berated to the point that they stopped doing it as Rock should because people seem to feel they need to prove them wrong for some odd reason.

 

The Keith Foulke deal was on the internet by sources from this site on another forum days before it went through. The same person had KW stepping down in early 2003 I believe and when that did not happen the person was bascially lynched.....not becasue they were wrong.....but because this site really wanted KW gone and it did not happen.

 

 

jenks I completely agree with you. Its unfortunate but that is for another thread. I met Rock, he is a solid guy with good resources.