Paul Konerko Returning to White Sox

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

DHs don't play defense sir, they aren't technically a position player either, and doesn't adding a platoon player/guy who can come in late against LH pitching make them more diverse?

 

The offseason is far from complete, I don't see how upgrading the DH position isn't something that detours them from the possibility of them competing.

Because of PK they will have one less pinch runner, one less defensive replacement , one less LH handed hitter in other words less versatility. You don't strive to have more versatility at DH when you're coming off 99 losses. You strive to updgrade positions. Rationalize it any way you want. This move spells "we are not as embarassed about last year as we previously led you to believe because PK was a big part of that embarrassment." You move to the future by cutting ties with the past not hugging it so you feel all warm and cozy with it.

[Balta1701]

Come on, let's call a spade a spade. The Bloomquist signing is akin to the White Sox signing Keppinger.

And people are more than happy to call the Keppinger signing a debacle/disaster/choose your word. "It's the last guy on the roster" doesn't make it any less wrong.

[witesoxfan]

And people are more than happy to call the Keppinger signing a debacle/disaster/choose your word. "It's the last guy on the roster" doesn't make it any less wrong.

 

How about meaningless? Because frankly, this year, I could not care less about the Konerko signing. I want to see the organization taking steps forward. What the White Sox look like matters only slightly to me, because they are going to be bad. If they were intending on being good, it's a completely different story.

 

They are paying a debt of gratitude to Konerko for almost 15 years of service with the White Sox. It's a classy move.

[Balta1701]

How about meaningless? Because frankly, this year, I could not care less about the Konerko signing. I want to see the organization taking steps forward. What the White Sox look like matters only slightly to me, because they are going to be bad. If they were intending on being good, it's a completely different story.

 

They are paying a debt of gratitude to Konerko for almost 15 years of service with the White Sox. It's a classy move.

You said in the same post you want to see them take steps forward and then congratulated them on looking backward.

[caulfield12]

 

 

Do they really believe this is going to sell any more season tickets or keep existing season ticket holders in the fold?

 

To the tune of a $2.5 million difference? (And possibly more, if it forces Dunn or Keppinger off the roster to the cost of an additional $4-8 million.)

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

How about meaningless? Because frankly, this year, I could not care less about the Konerko signing. I want to see the organization taking steps forward. What the White Sox look like matters only slightly to me, because they are going to be bad. If they were intending on being good, it's a completely different story.

 

They are paying a debt of gratitude to Konerko for almost 15 years of service with the White Sox. It's a classy move.

Yeah that's what I've been hearing this whole off season from the countless ruminations on signing free agents and making trades from all our fans "we want a classy move to hell with getting better or competing."

[LittleHurt05]

Does Abreu speak much English? Didn't he have a translator at the press conference? If they are gonna try to sell us on this "mentor" BS, I hope the two can at least communicate verbally.

[2nd_city_saint787]

Because of PK they will have one less pinch runner, one less defensive replacement , one less LH handed hitter in other words less versatility. You don't strive to have more versatility at DH when you're coming off 99 losses. You strive to updgrade positions. Rationalize it any way you want. This move spells "we are not as embarassed about last year as we previously led you to believe because PK was a big part of that embarrassment." You move to the future by cutting ties with the past not hugging it so you feel all warm and cozy with it.

 

And how often do AL teams pinch hit?

 

How many defensive replacements do you need? Leury or Danks can play CF while ADA shifts to LF in late game situations, where else do you need a defensive replacement?

 

Do you want to fill the bench with LH hitters? Danks very well could be on the bench.

 

I just don't think this is anything to be upset about, like another poster said, would you rather have PK or Angel Sanchez/Tyler Greene?

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

Based on some of the other moves (read: Tyler Flowers re-signed) this is a non-story apart from the sentimental aspect. I don't get the feeling that Abreu will lose much playing time on account of Konerko- although I think Konerko ends up getting more AB than is being advertised at this point, compliments of Adam Dunn going through a stretch or three of unwatchable AB, and Konerko's not being as awful as he was this past season. He's old and he's not hitting 20 HR anymore, but hopefully with more rest and limited appearances at 1B, it won't be as bad as many expect it will be.

 

So: No catcher on the roster = not a competitive team in 2014. Go sign whoever you want for a year as long as he or she doesn't block the development of someone that you think can be a part of the team's future. The only AB Konerko will take away from anyone this year will be Dunn's, and about 3/4 of the team's fans are begging for Dunn to get less AB about a month into the season anyway.

[LittleHurt05]

And how often do AL teams pinch hit?

 

How many defensive replacements do you need? Leury or Danks can play CF while ADA shifts to LF in late game situations, where else do you need a defensive replacement?

 

Do you want to fill the bench with LH hitters? Danks very well could be on the bench.

 

I just don't think this is anything to be upset about, like another poster said, would you rather have PK or Angel Sanchez/Tyler Greene?

 

Sanchez or Greene because they aren't taking away at-bats from the 2nd most important player in the franchise's future.

[Balta1701]

Sanchez or Greene because they aren't taking away at-bats from the 2nd most important player in the franchise's future.

Sanchez or Green (or Leury) because I want Alexei to get a few extra offdays in the first half in order to make sure he stays healthy and hopefully give him time to find a groove that will help his trade value.

[2nd_city_saint787]

Sanchez or Greene because they aren't taking away at-bats from the 2nd most important player in the franchise's future.

 

Adam Dunn is the 2nd most important player in our franchise's future?

 

Sanchez or Green (or Leury) because I want Alexei to get a few extra offdays in the first half in order to make sure he stays healthy and hopefully give him time to find a groove that will help his trade value.

 

Again, why are we assuming Leury isn't on the bench? Or for that matter why not Beckham for ~10 times a year at SS, I don't see the problem there either.

 

oops, didn't see you mentioned Leury....In that case, why can't PK and Leury both be on the bench.

Edited December 5, 2013 by scs787

[Y2Jimmy0]

Do they really believe this is going to sell any more season tickets or keep existing season ticket holders in the fold?

 

To the tune of a $2.5 million difference? (And possibly more, if it forces Dunn or Keppinger off the roster to the cost of an additional $4-8 million.)

 

 

Who do you mean by "they"? Rick Hahn is lying right now. He has to lie. You all know that Rick Hahn was praying to whatever god he believes in that PK would retire. Hahn knows that this is not the best alternative but Reinsdorf was holding a spot for Konerko. What is Hahn supposed to say now? This is a total JR move. But your overall premise is correct caulfield. It will not sell any more tickets. While PK has been a very good player for a long time, he's never been Frank Thomas. I used to attend games "to see" Frank Thomas play. I may go to a game to watch "Chris Sale Pitch". I have never once gone to a game because Paulie is on the team. That's overblown. Sox fans don't care about that. They want to win. It's like the old Seinfeld routine that talks about how we are all just rooting for laundry. In this sense, for most of us, it's absolutely true.

[Balta1701]

Again, why are we assuming Leury isn't on the bench? Or for that matter why not Beckham for ~10 times a year at SS, I don't see the problem there either.

All right fine, because I want an actual backup OF and I don't want to be forced to dump Keppinger's contract at what hopefully is its lowest possible value in order to carry a backup DH.

[witesoxfan]

You said in the same post you want to see them take steps forward and then congratulated them on looking backward.

 

Who did you have in mind for the 25th roster spot? For all we know, this move prevents the White Sox from using Marcus Semien as a utility infielder because Ventura "likes his hustle" or whatever. Maybe they use it on Brent Morel. What difference does it make in the end?

 

This move is meaningless. Anybody the Sox would have used it on is better off getting regular ABs in AAA or AA.

 

Yeah that's what I've been hearing this whole off season from the countless ruminations on signing free agents and making trades from all our fans "we want a classy move to hell with getting better or competing."

 

Again I ask, what is the ultimate effect? Whose roster spot is this affecting?

[Dick Allen]

All right fine, because I want an actual backup OF and I don't want to be forced to dump Keppinger's contract at what hopefully is its lowest possible value in order to carry a backup DH.

Tell me how much better the Sox would be with Keppinger on the roster and Konerko playing golf in AZ?

[Balta1701]

Tell me how much better the Sox would be with Keppinger on the roster and Konerko playing golf in AZ?

Well, given that he's had success in the past as a platoon player, if he were put in a 3b platoon perhaps his numbers next year could return to some semblance of his career numbers. That could either allow him to actually be traded at only a small loss or could help the white sox actually win games.

 

Given that the White Sox are spending $9 million on him the next 2 years, it doesn't make much sense to me to pay him that money to go play golf.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

And how often do AL teams pinch hit?

 

How many defensive replacements do you need? Leury or Danks can play CF while ADA shifts to LF in late game situations, where else do you need a defensive replacement?

 

Do you want to fill the bench with LH hitters? Danks very well could be on the bench.

 

I just don't think this is anything to be upset about, like another poster said, would you rather have PK or Angel Sanchez/Tyler Greene?

How many DH's do you need ? With the Sox defense last year we need all the defensive replacements we can get. Do you want to see PK get a hit in the late innings or extra innings and watch him try to score the winning run ? If the game goes into more innings do you want to have his range at 1st base ? Can he play 3rd base or outfield or catcher when one of our bad offensive players gets pinch hit for ? There's no way you can argue that a team needs more versatility at DH than they do at all the other positions. When you have a team full of offensive and defensive suck yes you need to pinch hit and replace them defensively as much as possible or platoon them in the 1st place . Can PK platoon with anyone but Dunn ? ABreu DH/1st base, Dunn DH /1st Base Konerko DH/1stbase , Viciedo DH/future 1st base . Woo hoo we have a whole team of DH's.

[Dick Allen]

Well, given that he's had success in the past as a platoon player, if he were put in a 3b platoon perhaps his numbers next year could return to some semblance of his career numbers. That could either allow him to actually be traded at only a small loss or could help the white sox actually win games.

 

Given that the White Sox are spending $9 million on him the next 2 years, it doesn't make much sense to me to pay him that money to go play golf.

Again, with wins and losses, what is the difference, if, indeed, Konerko takes Keppinger's spot. You are going on and on about Jeff Keppinger now. Don't ruin your reputation on Jeff Keppinger.

[NorthSideSox72]

I find it amazing there are people who actually think Konerko is going to take significant at bats away from Abreu. Or even more hilarious, that they think Konerko will take over starting time if Abreu struggles in April/May.

 

There is no foundation for this in reality. We are not talking about a Brent Morel, or even a Brian Anderson here - this is a guy with a $63M contract. There is zero chance he sits in 2013. He'll play at least 130 game, probably more like 130-140, maybe even 150. Konerko's being on the team has zero effect on that - that is what would have happened either way.

 

There are plenty of good reasons to dislike the PK14 signing. Irrational fears about benching a guy they just signed for $63M is not one of them.

[Y2Jimmy0]

Again, with wins and losses, what is the difference, if, indeed, Konerko takes Keppinger's spot. You are going on and on about Jeff Keppinger now. Don't ruin your reputation on Jeff Keppinger.

 

 

Dick, would you be in favor of the Sox just cutting Keppinger and eating the salary?

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Who did you have in mind for the 25th roster spot? For all we know, this move prevents the White Sox from using Marcus Semien as a utility infielder because Ventura "likes his hustle" or whatever. Maybe they use it on Brent Morel. What difference does it make in the end?

 

This move is meaningless. Anybody the Sox would have used it on is better off getting regular ABs in AAA or AA.

 

 

 

Again I ask, what is the ultimate effect? Whose roster spot is this affecting?

The who is not the point and you know it . The point is we've been fed garbage about competting and getting younger ,more versatile , more speed , better D the future and now we're getting older, less versatile , slower, bad D and the past. I have no idea what the butterfly-effect could be on this team ,what one move that might have been made can effect other moves. Asking me to predict the future because of this move is a pretty safe argument on your part and not worthy of you.

Edited December 5, 2013 by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

[Dick Allen]

The who is not the point and you know it . The point is we've been fed garbage about competting and getting younger ,more versatile , more speed , better D the future and now we're getting older, less versatile , slower, bad D and the past. I have no idea what the butterfly-effect could be on this team ,what one move that might have been made can effect other moves.

This is complaining just to complain. It's the 25th roster spot. The who is all that matters. You want a young guy who misses an opportunity to actually develop into a decent player sitting on the bench instead? What good does that do?

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

This is complaining just to complain. It's the 25th roster spot. The who is all that matters. You want a young guy who misses an opportunity to actually develop into a decent player sitting on the bench instead? What good does that do?

Oh for f***s sake if you want to bury your head in the sand go right ahead. Excuse me if I don't like getting bulls***ted by Sox management or wanting a better team as quickly as possible. Just delay the rebuild another year who cares, its Paul Konerko. !

Edited December 5, 2013 by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

[LittleHurt05]

I find it amazing there are people who actually think Konerko is going to take significant at bats away from Abreu. Or even more hilarious, that they think Konerko will take over starting time if Abreu struggles in April/May.

 

There is no foundation for this in reality. We are not talking about a Brent Morel, or even a Brian Anderson here - this is a guy with a $63M contract. There is zero chance he sits in 2013. He'll play at least 130 game, probably more like 130-140, maybe even 150. Konerko's being on the team has zero effect on that - that is what would have happened either way.

 

There are plenty of good reasons to dislike the PK14 signing. Irrational fears about benching a guy they just signed for $63M is not one of them.

 

You have more faith in the White Sox organization and management than I do.