Chicago White Sox offseason thread

[Mister Gogolak]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

I just hope Pierz won't be a clubhouse cancer...

I had hoped that

Kenny Williams wouldn't be an idiot
KW would look for a real #1 starter
KW wouldn't trade away every prospect we have
KW would retain El Caballo or replace him with a similar power hitter (It's a hitter's park, stupid!)
KW would be smart enough not to trade Reed and Miguel Olivo (The catcher you really want) for Freddy (A good #3 starter) Garcia.

Welcome to reality.

This guy is killing me. What kills me most about this is that as a kid in the 80s I had a friend who knew KW and introduced me to him when he was a ChiSox prospect. He introduced me to a number of Sox ballplayers and provided me with my most memorable experience at Comiskey outside of DiscoDemolition night. Had I known the karmic cost of doing business with KW, I would have turned and ran screaming rather than bask in the joy of meeting some of my baseball heroes. He's a great guy who is in WAAAAAY over his head.

Here's a challenge. Name one GM that KW has taken advantage of as opposed to being taken advantage of. I can't think of one.

[abailey3313]

Who was the starting catcher before Pierz? Ben Davis?

[eriqjaffe]

Ben Davis or Jamie Burke. Pierz is decidedly an upgrade.

Of course, with Pierzysnki and Podsednik, it's going to cost the Sox quite a bit of coin to make all of those jerseys. Those letters ain't cheap, you know!

[eriqjaffe]

dola,

Scratch Burke. He was just designated for assignment.

[JDOldSchool]

Originally Posted by Mister Gogolak

KW would be smart enough not to trade Reed and Miguel Olivo.

Miguel Olivo sucks. He can't hit right handed pitching. He can't call a game. He can't block a ball in the dirt. He's fast but a horrible baserunner.

I'd rather have Ben Davis.

Of course, he could've traded Crede instead of Reed, so no free pass for KW for that trade.

[Mister Gogolak]

Originally Posted by JDOldSchool

Miguel Olivo sucks. He can't hit right handed pitching. He can't call a game. He can't block a ball in the dirt. He's fast but a horrible baserunner.

Name me a Sox player in the last 5 years who was a good baserunner. Seriously, though, Olivo has a ton of potential. It was my understanding that despite his shortcomings, he was learning how to call a pretty good game. I could be wrong as until a few months ago I was forced to follow the Sox from another part of the country where it was a little more challenging to follow them.

I absolutely agree with you on the Crede front, but Reed was alot to give up for a guy who's a number 3/4 starter. As for Crede: Unrealized potential? Or never really that good?

[eriqjaffe]

Aaron Rowand has agreed to a 2-year, $8.5 million deal, with a "mutual" third option year, according to WSCR radio here.

Kind of a non-move, but something to report nonetheless.

SoxFest this weekend, wish I could go. Ross Gload is going to be there!

[<o>]

Wow, a sizeable raise for someone who has had one good year. Love that Kenny.

[MogulChamp]

Just thought I'd post this. Saw the link on my yahoo home page. Just like I thought. The best home run hitters park isn't going to be played like it...Unreal.


White Sox go with speed, defense






By RICK GANO, AP Sports Writer
January 14, 2005

CHICAGO (AP) -- Ozzie Guillen wanted to transform the Chicago White Sox from a power-reliant team to a club with speed, better defense and stronger pitching.

The second-year manager was filled with enthusiasm Friday at the start of the team's winter convention because most of his offseason wish list has been filled.

``I needed a leadoff guy. We have it. I needed a catcher. We have it. I needed a better bullpen and we got better. I could not be more pleased,'' Guillen said.



Chicago didn't get Omar Vizquel, as Guillen had hoped, but general manager Ken Williams was busy signing other free agents. The White Sox added right fielder Jermaine Dye, reliever Dustin Hermanson, right-hander Orlando Hernandez and catcher A.J. Pierzynski. They also obtained leadoff hitter/outfielder Scott Podsednik and reliever Luis Vizcaino in a trade with Milwaukee for Carlos Lee.

``Do I think we have a better team? Yes,'' Guillen said, acknowledging there are a lot of questions about losing proven run producers in Lee and star right fielder Magglio Ordonez, who was not re-signed after a knee injury shortened his season.

``The only reason we traded Carlos was we needed a leadoff guy. We needed more speed on the bases and need to get on base,'' Guillen added. ``It wasn't easy to trade Carlos Lee, but it makes the bullpen stronger and the leadoff spot better.''

Podsednik batted .314 as a rookie two years ago, then slumped last season to .244, although he did lead the majors with 70 stolen bases.

Lee batted .305 with 31 homers and 99 RBIs last season for Chicago and didn't make an error in left field.

``Carlos Lee was a tremendous asset to this club and did some great things. Comparing his game to my game is kind of like comparing apples to oranges,'' Podsednik said.

Not only are Lee and Ordonez gone, but Frank Thomas still is recovering from ankle surgery. Guillen thinks the two-time AL MVP might not be ready to play until June.

``Right now we're waiting for Frank to get healthy. We need Frank on this team,'' Guillen said. ``I haven't talked to Frank or the doctors or (trainer) Herm (Schneider), that's just my view. I don't want to say Frank will come back in April and, boom, he's not there.''

Paul Konerko, who hit 41 homers and had 117 RBIs last season, acknowledged that the philosophy has changed from three-run homers to manufacturing runs and playing better defense with consistent pitching.

Chicago has what would appear to be a solid starting rotation with Freddy Garcia, Mark Buehrle, Hernandez, Jose Contreras and Jon Garland.

``Losing Magglio, he's one of the best players in the game, there's no doubt that hurts,'' Konerko said. ``Carlos was a clutch hitter and I'm not going to sit here and say losing guys like that doesn't weaken your offense. It's a matter of what these other guys do to step in and the guys who are here, what they do and how they perform. With the pitching we have, we might not have to do as much as in the past.''

[eriqjaffe]

I don't think the Sox are going to be as power-deficient as everybody seems to think. Sure, they lost Ordonez and Lee, but they only accounted for 16.5% of the team's home runs last year - heck, Konerko hit more than the two of them. Sure, they lost Valentin and his 30, but those numbers were deceptive, as he put up an overall stat line worthy of Pete Incaviglia or Rob Deer (.287 OBP).

The Sox will have Thomas healthy again (35 or more), Jermaine Dye should be able to park 30 in The Cell, Pierzynski and Podsednik should be good for a combined 20-25, Juan Uribe and Joe Crede should hit 20 apiece...this team is not lacking for power. What the Sox have moved away from is power-only, which has been a problem the last few seasons.

[Green & Gold Heart]

I agree, that's really not a powerless team.

But, can you really count on a healthy Thomas and a healthy Dye all season?

[<o>]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

I don't think the Sox are going to be as power-deficient as everybody seems to think. Sure, they lost Ordonez and Lee, but they only accounted for 16.5% of the team's home runs last year - heck, Konerko hit more than the two of them. Sure, they lost Valentin and his 30, but those numbers were deceptive, as he put up an overall stat line worthy of Pete Incaviglia or Rob Deer (.287 OBP).

The Sox will have Thomas healthy again (35 or more), Jermaine Dye should be able to park 30 in The Cell, Pierzynski and Podsednik should be good for a combined 20-25, Juan Uribe and Joe Crede should hit 20 apiece...this team is not lacking for power. What the Sox have moved away from is power-only, which has been a problem the last few seasons.

Is Thomas going to be ready for Opening Day. By all reports, it doesn't look good. And I agree that they won't hit very many fewer HR's than last years team, but I also think Kenny is putting a lot of stock in a pitcher who might be closer to 50 than he is to 40, and a pitcher who hasn't done much in the last 4 years he's been in the Majors. They still need a consistent 2B, and unfortunately they still have Carl Everrett.

[JDOldSchool]

Originally Posted by <o>

They still need a consistent 2B, and unfortunately they still have Carl Everrett.

Their 2B isn't the problem. A .343 OBP from the #9 hitter is quite good. It's their LF, 3B, RF, 3-5 starters, and a downgraded bullpen that will hurt them. Oh, and just having Carl Everett on the team makes them undeserving of winning anything.

[JDOldSchool]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

What the Sox have moved away from is power-only, which has been a problem the last few seasons.

dola,

You will never convince me that Podsednik is anything more than garbage and Dye is anything more than overpaid for a mediocre outfielder on the downswing of his career. They've moved away from power only to what? To a "Let's not get on base...ever..." philosophy?

[JDOldSchool]

Originally Posted by Mister Gogolak

Name me a Sox player in the last 5 years who was a good baserunner. Seriously, though, Olivo has a ton of potential. It was my understanding that despite his shortcomings, he was learning how to call a pretty good game. I could be wrong as until a few months ago I was forced to follow the Sox from another part of the country where it was a little more challenging to follow them.

I absolutely agree with you on the Crede front, but Reed was alot to give up for a guy who's a number 3/4 starter. As for Crede: Unrealized potential? Or never really that good?

double dola,

The only real potential I've seen from Olivo is the possibility that he'll be a 17-20 HR guy. He'll never have an high OBP or high average. When he was traded, there were stories about how all the Sox preferred throwing to Sandy because of his game-calling ability. Olivo's playing time with Seattle was a lot less than many expected, mostly due to lack of performance than anything Dan Wilson did (not that he's bad).

I think Crede is the latter of your questions. I think his problems are a lot more than the "flaw in his swing." His defense is also incredibly overrated. He makes some flashy plays, but a lot of those are plays that should be routine.

[eriqjaffe]

In other news, the White Sox will be dealing with Tampa Bay in next season's annual trade-for-Roberto-Alomar:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1968838

[eriqjaffe]

Yahoo! Asia is reporting that the Sox have reached an agreement with Fukuoka 2B Tadahito Iguchi...2 years, $2.3 million per year plus incentives.

If this is true, I wonder what it means for Willie Harris...

Link to article.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by eriqjaffe

Yahoo! Asia is reporting that the Sox have reached an agreement with Fukuoka 2B Tadahito Iguchi...2 years, $2.3 million per year plus incentives.

If this is true, I wonder what it means for Willie Harris...

Link to article.

Wow. Kenny waited it out and got him for a big discount. I heard he originally wanted 3 years and 21 million. Be a good move for Keeny if true. Maybe they could play Uribe at 3rd and Harris at SS.

[Joshv02]

That makes for a pretty solid pickup. At $2mm, he seems better than, for example, Tony Womack.

I think between injuries and Harris's ability to play multiple positions, he should get somewhere on the order of 500-600 PAs at 2B, SS, 3B, and various OF spots.

[eriqjaffe]

Per WSCR, the Iguchi signing has been confirmed by the White Sox.

I guess the Sox will have to make another "gong" intro video now.