White Sox offer arbitration to Konerko, Putz.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

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.

THANK YOU

 

Swisher is the lamest, fakest, dumbest, meatheaddiest waste of talent I've seen on this team. If AJ had that much raw talent he'd have an MVP locked up somewhere. And OC is a p****. Nuff said.

[RockRaines]

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.

WHy does it take courage to post something supportive of a player on a message board? Maybe people are just stating their opinions on the direction the team should go.

 

And pitchers arent really the pulse of a team, as much as I like Mark Buehrle, he is the core of the pitching staff, but not necessarily the team.

 

None of this posturing means much anyway. AJP isnt worth what he would have gotten in arb, he may sign a 2 year deal for less per year in the next few weeks anyway with the Sox. His agent is still talking with the Sox, nothing is decided yet, so some of the whining is a bit premature.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

WHy does it take courage to post something supportive of a player on a message board? Maybe people are just stating their opinions on the direction the team should go.

 

Because when it comes to AJ SoxTalk posters seem to love to posting garbage like that stuff above about Gerald Laird and a 95-year-old Gregg Zaun. Or that s*** about Tyler Flowers I read about a thousand times over the spring when AJ started out so poorly. Oh, AJ's OPS sucks, Tyler is going to be sooo much better! It's soooo easy! And then you've got the rest of the board talking about what a meany he is, how no one likes him. Boo hoo. Yeah, it takes the courage of a real Sox fan like Steve for instance to stand up to these people and let them know what's really up.

 

And pitchers arent really the pulse of a team, as much as I like Mark Buehrle, he is the core of the pitching staff, but not necessarily the team.

 

Well, what's the main thing here since Ozzie took over? The main focus, at least publicly? Pitching. And MB is the face of that. He's also the most nationally recognized player on the team by far. This is his team. LOL, I mean, who else's team would it be? AJ or PK's? They're FA. Danks and Floyd are in trade rumors. Peavy can't pitch. Beckham isn't doing anything notable right now. If it's not MB then who is it?

 

None of this posturing means much anyway. AJP isnt worth what he would have gotten in arb, he may sign a 2 year deal for less per year in the next few weeks anyway with the Sox. His agent is still talking with the Sox, nothing is decided yet, so some of the whining is a bit premature.

 

I don't think he would have taken arb. I think that as a soon-to-be 34-year-old catcher he would be looking for the most guaranteed money possible. And with Buck getting 3/$18, and with VMart gone, I can definitely see another team offering him enough to pass on arb - especially a team with a bottom-15 record.

[Steve9347]

I wasn't really standing up for AJ, but was more pointing out the facts vs the "clubhouse rumors" that were entirely BS and the lack of evidence to support "our players" not liking AJ. Our players like AJ, according to direct quotes.

 

Trust me, if AJ was complete crap, I wouldn't want him back. I look at our in-house options and the available free agents and AJ is looking sexier by the nanosecond.

Edited November 23, 2010 by Steve9347

[fathom]

I wasn't really standing up for AJ, but was more pointing out the facts vs the "clubhouse rumors" that were entirely BS and the lack of evidence to support "our players" not liking AJ. Our players like AJ, according to direct quotes.

 

Trust me, if AJ was complete crap, I wouldn't want him back. I look at our in-house options and the available free agents and AJ is looking sexier by the nanosecond.

 

No one said it was the players, but the organization in general. I don't know who, but that could include Ozzie or KW or numerous others. From all accounts, they were beyond eager to get rid of him for a few reasons (salary and diminished productivity being a few of them).

Edited November 23, 2010 by fathom

[Steve9347]

No one said it was the players, but the organization in general. I don't know who, but that could include Ozzie or KW or numerous others. From all accounts, they were beyond eager to get rid of him for a few reasons (salary and diminished productivity being a few of them).

But now you can sign him at a more reasonable rate.

 

I'd still not be opposed to offering him arb and overpaying that one season vs. risking his signing elsewhere.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

I'll bet the sources on this AJ crap are Phony Baloney Oney and his furry friend Joe Cowley.

[RockRaines]

Well, what's the main thing here since Ozzie took over? The main focus, at least publicly?

Ozzie.

 

The rest of your post is fluff. But Ozzie is the focus, always has been, always will be. If you want players that are team leaders, well it has changed by the year. Dustin Hermanson for example was a very vocal leader as was Aaron Rowand. You would be surprised how influential guys like Dye and Willie Harris were on the team. Mark is definitely up there and is one of the longest tenured players on the squad, but so is Konerko as well.

[RockRaines]

But now you can sign him at a more reasonable rate.

 

I'd still not be opposed to offering him arb and overpaying that one season vs. risking his signing elsewhere.

I bet he signs for less per year than arb, but for multiple years.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

But now you can sign him at a more reasonable rate.

 

I'd still not be opposed to offering him arb and overpaying that one season vs. risking his signing elsewhere.

+1

 

If we can't win in 2011 with MB and Edwin on the staff, and with Danks and Floyd still very cheap relative to their talents, and with (hopefully) Peavy back for at least the majority of the season, then we may as well reload it for 2012 and beyond afterwards anyway. Which would mean AJ on a one-year deal doesn't hurt us.

 

IMO, that $1-2M potential overpayment through arb - which BTW is still no guarantee, I mean the Sox can argue against him and his camp - has a much better chance of helping us than hurting us in light of the alternatives. It's certainly not a waste of money like the Linebrink+Teahen+Pierre 3-headed monster of suck is.

[sircaffey]

Lots of anger in this thread over a 34 year old platoon catcher that's not very good.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

Ozzie.

 

The rest of your post is fluff. But Ozzie is the focus, always has been, always will be. If you want players that are team leaders, well it has changed by the year. Dustin Hermanson for example was a very vocal leader as was Aaron Rowand. You would be surprised how influential guys like Dye and Willie Harris were on the team. Mark is definitely up there and is one of the longest tenured players on the squad, but so is Konerko as well.

Oh come on. I thought we were talking about players and then you pull the manager card. If you do that then I'll pull the owner card and say this is Jerry's team.

 

The focus here hasn't been on Ozzie, it's been (supposedly) on pitching, defense, and fundamental baseball. It's the "you don't take donkeys to the Kentucky Derby" stuff that got Ozzie hired. Kenny didn't hire Ozzie because he wanted to be bothered with off-field headaches all day, he did it to win baseball games. MB is far and away the best example of what Ozzie and Kenny set out as their mission statement starting in 2004 and going forward.

[gatnom]

I really want AJ back too, but I realize that in our current financial situation we can't afford to overpay anybody. Sure, it's risky. It's not my fault we're in the situation where we have to deal with potentially undesirable options at certain positions because we don't have any money.

[The Beast]

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

I sure do know what inside information people have on this board. Most of it is crap. If they actually had something legit, they would share it publicly instead of just taking it to PMs.

 

As far as AJ being a jack ass or cancer - whatever. You don't have to like who you work with, you just have to work with them for f***s sake. He does well in handling our pitchers and puts up decent offensive numbers. That's good enough for me. Some days he is one of the only ball players on our team that looks like he gives two s***s about what he does.

 

And if the team had no money...why did the White Sox offer Victor Martinez that contract earlier today?

 

Sounds like he isn't coming back according to NBC 5's interview with him, which is a shame. Hope we get screwed like we did with Thome and everyone cries about him when Flowers is catching next year. And then I'll say PROUDLY, "I told you so!!!"

 

Lastly, I hate that quote: "I want to stay, but I realize this is a business." How about you as the athlete be a bit more straight forward with the stakeholders instead of feeding us the bull crap that your PR specialist told you to say.

Edited November 24, 2010 by MuckFinnesota

[RockRaines]

I sure do know what inside information people have on this board. Most of it is crap. If they actually had something legit, they would share it publicly instead of just taking it to PMs.

 

 

 

And if the team had no money...why did the White Sox offer Victor Martinez that contract earlier today?

Your top point is exactly why PM's are used alot of the time. This board gets national exposure at times when there is inside information, and some people dont want their sources outed.

 

Secondly, who said they offered VMART that kind of money? They do have money and they are going to spend it, but that Vmart story was a great deal of public bulls***.

[The Beast]

Your top point is exactly why PM's are used alot of the time. This board gets national exposure at times when there is inside information, and some people dont want their sources outed.

Then send a newsletter out to members of the community who desire to know this "insider information." If someone squeals throughout the organization, I doubt any of us would rat them out on it since it is good information for us. You know, most of this information is stuff that espn insider probably has, also.

 

I heard this information from 670 earlier today. That's all.

Edited November 24, 2010 by MuckFinnesota

[Dick Allen]

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.

But he has a nice arm. Guys won't steal second with him behind the plate, they will just jog there when the ball gets away from him.

[Dick Allen]

Because when it comes to AJ SoxTalk posters seem to love to posting garbage like that stuff above about Gerald Laird and a 95-year-old Gregg Zaun. Or that s*** about Tyler Flowers I read about a thousand times over the spring when AJ started out so poorly. Oh, AJ's OPS sucks, Tyler is going to be sooo much better! It's soooo easy! And then you've got the rest of the board talking about what a meany he is, how no one likes him. Boo hoo. Yeah, it takes the courage of a real Sox fan like Steve for instance to stand up to these people and let them know what's really up.

 

 

 

Well, what's the main thing here since Ozzie took over? The main focus, at least publicly? Pitching. And MB is the face of that. He's also the most nationally recognized player on the team by far. This is his team. LOL, I mean, who else's team would it be? AJ or PK's? They're FA. Danks and Floyd are in trade rumors. Peavy can't pitch. Beckham isn't doing anything notable right now. If it's not MB then who is it?

 

 

 

I don't think he would have taken arb. I think that as a soon-to-be 34-year-old catcher he would be looking for the most guaranteed money possible. And with Buck getting 3/$18, and with VMart gone, I can definitely see another team offering him enough to pass on arb - especially a team with a bottom-15 record.

 

Or the fake story about AJ kicking someone in the balls. The bottom line is I still think AJ comes back to the Sox. Offering him arb hurt him going to other teams and made it more likely he would accept and the Sox would be on the hook for $7-8 million. As the other options go off the board, bringing back AJ at a lower price is eventually going to make the most sense. Assuming no one else goes crazy and gives him a big payday. JR called him his favorite player. He even said they had the same sense of humor. The stories about AJ being a total douchebag are blown out of proportion. Supposedly he has really mellowed in recent years. I don't understand the AJ hate. Apparently many have forgotten the days of Jorge Fabergas and Ben Davis and Mark Johnson.

Edited November 24, 2010 by Dick Allen

[RockRaines]

Then send a newsletter out to members of the community who desire to know this "insider information." If someone squeals throughout the organization, I doubt any of us would rat them out on it since it is good information for us. You know, most of this information is stuff that espn insider probably has, also.

 

I heard this information from 670 earlier today. That's all.

No, its not information that is on ESPN insider. I dont think thats what you understand. Nobody is getting insider info from the internet.

[The Beast]

No, its not information that is on ESPN insider. I dont think thats what you understand. Nobody is getting insider info from the internet.

Fine, then how do we know that this information is credible? What posters are the ones with insider information? Till there is some evidence then I don't believe fathom that people would just yield this information to only certain members of soxtalk.com.

[lord chas]

who are the teams that have interest in AJ?

[NorthSideSox72]

who are the teams that have interest in AJ?

I'm guessing very few, which is why the Sox are making this move. They will offer him a contract in the $4-5M range, with a 2nd year option. AJ will look elsewhere, and probably not do better, so he'll come back. And if he does turn it down, or he takes too long to decide, the Sox will try for Olivo. If both fail, its Flowers time, or possible some trade we haven't even considered yet.

 

[Jerksticks]

Your top point is exactly why PM's are used alot of the time. This board gets national exposure at times when there is inside information, and some people dont want their sources outed.

 

Secondly, who said they offered VMART that kind of money? They do have money and they are going to spend it, but that Vmart story was a great deal of public bulls***.

 

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. National Exposure HAHAHAHA. You're killing me, trying to make this board sound important. Sources outed ahahahahahahah. Sources like the best man at the wedding? Even if KW himself logged on here and told us about a trade it would still be meaningless. It's a public league, absolutely nothing about a message board would ever have any tangible relevance. We're just fans, not Watergate investigators. Nothing personal man, but cmon, you can't act like this board has street cred or that it's above the common fan; it's not, this is the common fan.

 

Go White Sox.

 

 

[fathom]

Fine, then how do we know that this information is credible? What posters are the ones with insider information? Till there is some evidence then I don't believe fathom that people would just yield this information to only certain members of soxtalk.com.

 

Information is credible because everything that's been told has been accurate.

[Kenny Hates Prospects]

Or the fake story about AJ kicking someone in the balls. The bottom line is I still think AJ comes back to the Sox. Offering him arb hurt him going to other teams and made it more likely he would accept and the Sox would be on the hook for $7-8 million. As the other options go off the board, bringing back AJ at a lower price is eventually going to make the most sense. Assuming no one else goes crazy and gives him a big payday. JR called him his favorite player. He even said they had the same sense of humor. The stories about AJ being a total douchebag are blown out of proportion. Supposedly he has really mellowed in recent years. I don't understand the AJ hate. Apparently many have forgotten the days of Jorge Fabergas and Ben Davis and Mark Johnson.

This is so important. Over the last few decades it goes 1) Carlton Fisk, 2) AJ Pierzynski and then there's quite a drop off to the Sandy Alomar and Ron Karkovice territory. It amazes me how people think AJ is so easily replaceable when everything from year to year stats, the free agent market, the trade market, and our own history seem to refute that at every turn. AJ is not elite, but he's very good. And I can go along with a different direction in the future because eventually we'll have to, but right now there's no way you want to turn this kind of pitching staff over to some incompetent fool.