White Sox offer arbitration to Konerko, Putz.

[fathom]

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see another catcher here next year, and the act of AJ is the primary reason why.

 

Agreed, and I'll be totally fine with it. I can't believe anyone would really want the Sox to sign AJP to a 1 yr, 8 million dollar deal.

[chw42]

I'd take my chances with Miguel Olivo before giving A.J. arbitration.

 

Olivo's like a younger, better version of A.J. right now. No patience, no walks, but hits for more power with a better arm.

Edited November 23, 2010 by chw42

[southsider2k5]

This "no one wanted him" crap is simply you making stuff up. You have no proof he was unwanted and you have no idea what Kenny was asking in return.

 

$1-2M is practically nothing especially when it makes our bajillion dollar starting rotation better. The Sox needs this offseason are pitching, defense, LH bat. AJ helps that pitching and therefore the defense by giving the vets someone they can feel comfortable throwing to. IMO it is disrespectful to the game of baseball itself to suggest that what AJ brings to the teams he plays for goes no further than OPS and VORP and all that garbage. If that were true the Miguel Olivos of the world - the next best thing on the market BTW - wouldn't have to play organizational musical chairs every single year. If that were true Tyler Flowers would already have the job because apparently it's so easy for him to replace AJ's production.

 

For once I will back fathom up here... Everything that was said behind the scenes was that no one wanted to take on AJ and his contract, let alone give up a player for him.

[fathom]

This "no one wanted him" crap is simply you making stuff up. You have no proof he was unwanted and you have no idea what Kenny was asking in return.

 

You have no idea about the inside information some people have on this board.

[fathom]

Honestly, I'd take my chances with Miguel Olivo before giving A.J. arbitration.

 

Bill Simmons chatted today about how Red Sox are going to go after Olivo.

[chw42]

Bill Simmons chatted today about how Red Sox are going to go after Olivo.

 

He doesn't fit them at all. They're looking for OBP guys or guys who can at least crack the .300 OBP mark. That's not really Olivo.

[justBLAZE]

He doesn't fit them at all. They're looking for OBP guys or guys who can at least crack the .300 OBP mark. That's not really Olivo.

 

What other catchers are there available?

[fathom]

He doesn't fit them at all. They're looking for OBP guys or guys who can at least crack the .300 OBP mark. That's not really Olivo.

 

I know...I think Olivo is extremely overrated, as Colorado was the perfect place for him to hit due to his inability to hit offspeed pitching. He put up a terrible 211/276/322 on the road last season.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

It wouldn't surprise me at all to see another catcher here next year, and the act of AJ is the primary reason why.

What act? The only place I read about that is here and it's from the same "sources" every time. I don't buy it.

 

AJ shows up and plays baseball. The only thing I care about is putting down the fingers, blocking balls in the dirt, and hitting a little bit. AJ does all three, but I think because he does it with fire and a little bit of flair people ride him harder. It's unfair IMO.

[Balta1701]

What act? The only place I read about that is here and it's from the same "sources" every time. I don't buy it.

 

AJ shows up and plays baseball. The only thing I care about is putting down the fingers, blocking balls in the dirt, and hitting a little bit. AJ does all three, but I think because he does it with fire and a little bit of flair people ride him harder. It's unfair IMO.

No, some of us ride him harder because he spent most of last season hitting like Brian Anderson.

[chw42]

I know...I think Olivo is extremely overrated, as Colorado was the perfect place for him to hit due to his inability to hit offspeed pitching. He put up a terrible 211/276/322 on the road last season.

 

He's still got pretty good power. He showed that in Kansas City. Despite getting OBPs around .300 the past two years, he's put up wOBAs of .327 and .334. Both above average for catchers. I'd take him for a good price.

[fathom]

What act? The only place I read about that is here and it's from the same "sources" every time. I don't buy it.

 

AJ shows up and plays baseball. The only thing I care about is putting down the fingers, blocking balls in the dirt, and hitting a little bit. AJ does all three, but I think because he does it with fire and a little bit of flair people ride him harder. It's unfair IMO.

 

He's just a difficult person to get along with. Even the best man at his wedding told me that no one actually gets along well with AJ. I'm surprised things have stayed so strong between him and the Sox this long.

[southsider2k5]

What act? The only place I read about that is here and it's from the same "sources" every time. I don't buy it.

 

AJ shows up and plays baseball. The only thing I care about is putting down the fingers, blocking balls in the dirt, and hitting a little bit. AJ does all three, but I think because he does it with fire and a little bit of flair people ride him harder. It's unfair IMO.

 

Well you not buying it sure explains you wanting him back.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

No, some of us ride him harder because he spent most of last season hitting like Brian Anderson.

He hit that way in the first half. Saying he hit that way most of the season is untrue. He had poor offensive months in May and July, but everyone has slumps during the year. It was primarily his .169/.229/.200/.429 line in 71 March/April PA that took his numbers way down from his career averages.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

He's just a difficult person to get along with. Even the best man at his wedding told me that no one actually gets along well with AJ. I'm surprised things have stayed so strong between him and the Sox this long.

Even if this is true I really don't care. He's clean and he plays hard. He does his job well. If anyone on the Sox is more interested in getting along at backyard BBQs then they can get the hell off this team. I care about winning and postseason baseball, which unfortunately AJ has probably experienced more than any other Sox player sans Andruw and Omar. I don't care if they all hate each other and they all want to rip each other's throats out after the season. Just win. AJ gives the team the best chance of winning of all the realistic options out there. And if Kenny is concerned about getting along with people then he can go f*** off too, because he can't get along with anyone himself, and he's the one who brought in notorious cancer Manny Ramirez to right a ship that only sunk because he couldn't offer Mr. SuperFriendlyILoveYou Jim Thome a $1M contract in the spring.

[fathom]

Even if this is true I really don't care. He's clean and he plays hard. He does his job well. If anyone on the Sox is more interested in getting along at backyard BBQs then they can get the hell off this team. I care about winning and postseason baseball, which unfortunately AJ has probably experienced more than any other Sox player sans Andruw and Omar. I don't care if they all hate each other and they all want to rip each other's throats out after the season. Just win. AJ gives the team the best chance of winning of all the realistic options out there. And if Kenny is concerned about getting along with people then he can go f*** off too, because he can't get along with anyone himself, and he's the one who brought in notorious cancer Manny Ramirez to right a ship that only sunk because he couldn't offer Mr. SuperFriendlyILoveYou Jim Thome a $1M contract in the spring.

 

Nice rant, but the sentence is bold was definitely not true the past few years. You saw what happened when outsiders came in and caused disturbances in the clubhouse with Konerko, Dye, and Thome.

[Steve9347]

Even if this is true I really don't care. He's clean and he plays hard. He does his job well. If anyone on the Sox is more interested in getting along at backyard BBQs then they can get the hell off this team. I care about winning and postseason baseball, which unfortunately AJ has probably experienced more than any other Sox player sans Andruw and Omar. I don't care if they all hate each other and they all want to rip each other's throats out after the season. Just win. AJ gives the team the best chance of winning of all the realistic options out there. And if Kenny is concerned about getting along with people then he can go f*** off too, because he can't get along with anyone himself, and he's the one who brought in notorious cancer Manny Ramirez to right a ship that only sunk because he couldn't offer Mr. SuperFriendlyILoveYou Jim Thome a $1M contract in the spring.

Preach.

 

If on-field interactions say anything, the players love AJ. I'll take Mark Buehrle's word over anyone talking about hush-hush interactions they had with his best man blah blah.

"My feeling is that A.J. has a better chance than Konerko [to return]," Buehrle said. "I don't know. It's just from talking to Konerko and hearing the stuff he said. I don't know what the deal is with other teams offering money and a better situation for his family. I just feel that A.J. has a better chance of coming back. I'd love to have both back. They have been the core of this team."

 

That's from the most respected member of the White Sox and arguably the face of the franchise. Get out of here with this "you won't BELIEVE what we know from behind the scenes! I GOT INSIDE INTEL."

 

Well, I have published quotes from players who want AJ back, and gauging what is available on the market, give me f***ing AJ Pierzynski. He started slow, but you're getting a guy who can handle all of our pitchers, knows our pitchers, is a huge hit amongst the Spanish-speaking players on the roster, and can hit .275 with decent pop.

Edited November 23, 2010 by Steve9347

[justBLAZE]

On a different note what are the chances Paulie accepts arbitration?

[Steve9347]

Nice rant, but the sentence is bold was definitely not true the past few years. You saw what happened when outsiders came in and caused disturbances in the clubhouse with Konerko, Dye, and Thome.

Thome and Dye were kicked to the curb? I'm missing your point with this one, yo.

[fathom]

Thome and Dye were kicked to the curb? I'm missing your point with this one, yo.

 

Not before Swisher and Cabrera and McCarthy, etc.

[fathom]

That's from the most respected member of the White Sox and arguably the face of the franchise. Get out of here with this "you won't BELIEVE what we know from behind the scenes! I GOT INSIDE INTEL."

 

Well, the only person with 100% legit inside information was the one talking about the Sox trying to trade AJP for anything last season without finding any takers.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

Well, the only person with 100% legit inside information was the one talking about the Sox trying to trade AJP for anything last season without finding any takers.

Please. AJ to Texas was all over MLBTR. You don't have to have insider info to say the Sox are shopping AJ, and you don't need insider info to say "no one wanted him" when the Sox didn't make a deal.

 

I don't get the PK-Thome-Dye NWO Wolfpack thing either. If they had so much influence then why are 2 of them gone with AJ still possibly coming back?

[Steve9347]

Well, the only person with 100% legit inside information was the one talking about the Sox trying to trade AJP for anything last season without finding any takers.

Eh, his teammates like him, and the White Sox will bring him back if the price is right. Speaking of "price is right", Jermaine Dye was on his fake Price is Right thing for the wrestling show; he's beloved by most of his teammates and I challenge you to find a White Sox player speaking out against AJ Pierzynski. This sounds like overreaction and someone running his mouth acting like the big dog and thinking he's Kool and the Gang. You can't lump AJ in with Cabrera and Swisher, it just doesn't fit.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

Preach.

 

If on-field interactions say anything, the players love AJ. I'll take Mark Buehrle's word over anyone talking about hush-hush interactions they had with his best man blah blah.

"My feeling is that A.J. has a better chance than Konerko [to return]," Buehrle said. "I don't know. It's just from talking to Konerko and hearing the stuff he said. I don't know what the deal is with other teams offering money and a better situation for his family. I just feel that A.J. has a better chance of coming back. I'd love to have both back. They have been the core of this team."

 

That's from the most respected member of the White Sox and arguably the face of the franchise. Get out of here with this "you won't BELIEVE what we know from behind the scenes! I GOT INSIDE INTEL."

 

Well, I have published quotes from players who want AJ back, and gauging what is available on the market, give me f***ing AJ Pierzynski. He started slow, but you're getting a guy who can handle all of our pitchers, knows our pitchers, is a huge hit amongst the Spanish-speaking players on the roster, and can hit .275 with decent pop.

Yeah I'm gonna have to go ahead and give this one the seal of approval. Thank you for standing up for AJ in a time of need. I wish more Sox fans shared your courage.

 

BTW Mark Buehrle is still the pulse of this baseball team. He's just like Catfish Hunter dadgummit.

[joeynach]

Really? A 33 year old catcher with a .688 OPS?

Yeah I dont really see AJ getting 3 years....two maybe. Look at what the Rod Barajas, Gerald Laird, and Greg Zaun have recently received. Thats about where AJ's salary lies. Something in the range of 1-2 years at $2-4M per year. And just for the record AJ is about the same age as Barajs, older than Laird, and younger than Zaun.