Woo-hoo! No more baseball!

by The Cheat on Oct 30, 2007 12:05 AM CDT in White Sox News

I disappeared for a bit there, huh? The least exciting post-season of my lifetime and a lack of even tangentially related White Sox news conspired to give me a severe case of blogger's block. We've got another two weeks before things really start to get kicking on the off-season, which should bring me back in earnest.

Virginia Heffernan, who writes about the really small videos available on the net for the New York Times, unknowingly brought up a good point in her blog, The Medium. Is baseball neccessary?

The answer is obviously yes, but no league is better than baseball at keeping its news on the front (or back) of newspapers on a daily basis in the off-season.

It's a bit ironic, really. I'm a huge baseball fan, but ever since May my interest has waned greatly with the Sox poor performance. I've been waiting, not for the World Series, but for the off-season, the free-agent period, the non-tender deadline (Adios, Pods!), the GM meetings, the winter meetings (yes, they're different), and by the time that's over there's only two or three weeks until pitcher and catchers report. It's not until there's a real lack of baseball being played that some fans (read: me, at least this year) get excited.

* * * * *

The off-season officially began with the handful of players filing for free agency and the first big trade sending Edgar Renteria to Detroit for a pair of very good prospects. Just two years ago, Renteria was run out of Boston in part because of his (poor) defense. Now he's being brought in to displace another short stop whose defense is in decline.

The trade thins the White Sox available trade partners for shortstops, which brings makes the unfortunate Eckstein scenario all the more likely.

This could be a case of one-stop shopping, with free agent Eckstein fulfilling the leadoff and shortstop duties. Eckstein provides a perfect fit with his bunting and hit-and-run capabilities.

Gonzales is talking about of both sides of his mouth here, as he acknowledges the troubling age of the Sox roster in this familiar sounding statement later in the article.

Finances to acquire a marquee free agent might not be a problem, but the Sox already have seven players 30 or order signed through 2009. That doesn't include Jim Thome, 37, whose $13 million option for 2009 will become vested if he stays healthy next season.

* * * * *

Elsewhere, Williams says forget about A-Rod.

"When I heard the number ... put it this way: I heard that number, and I haven't spent one minute thinking about it," Williams said. "For our purposes, we would very quickly run the average fan out of our ballpark ... our economic situation wouldn't allow for something like that."

And he's considerably ungrindy.

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Comments

I wonder if the Phillies...

are obligated to pick up any of that option money on Thome, should it vest in 2009. They've already paid 22 million to the White Sox (to offset a portion of Thome's contract) from 2006 through 2008.

What I'm saying is that I hope the White Sox planned for this eventuality when they traded for Thome in 2005. If not, that 13 million is going to look really bad on the 2009 roster for a no-field brittle DH.

by Stealfirstbase on Oct 30, 2007 1:03 AM CDT reply actions

I remember there being

sort of an unwritten gentlemen's agreement between the two clubs... I don't think it's much, $3-5M, but I think the Phils are gonna kick something in if the option vests.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Oct 30, 2007 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions

57 players...

file for free agency.

Looking at that list, there are a couple of interesting names. I actually wouldn't mind if the Sox took a flier on Jeff DaVanon.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Oct 30, 2007 10:08 AM CDT reply actions

to do what?

Peperony and chease

by colintj on Oct 30, 2007 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Looks like he's been hurt the last two years

If he has an OPS like he did in 2003 (.805), 2004(.790), 2006 (.819 in only 87 games played), he'd be fine. If he puts up OPS numbers like 2005 (.658) and 2007 (~.565), not so fine.

Considering he's going to be 35 next season, I don't think he's a good "bounce back" candidate, and so, IMHO, it's not a good move to even take a flier on him.

I think Ryan Sweeny would put up at least comparable OPS numbers to DaVanon next year, given the opportunity.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Oct 30, 2007 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

I'd just rather...

the Sox bring in a stopgap like DaVanon than spend big bucks on Hunter or Rowand.

I really think this is a bad winter to try to bring in a "name" free agent.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Oct 30, 2007 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions

thats why we have Brian Anderson

Bring Back BA

by marco054 on Oct 30, 2007 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions

You forget we also have Ozzie

So BA wont be playing much in CF.

So long Pedro, hello hard throwing lefty.

by omnipotent grab on Oct 30, 2007 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions

I think its time

to send Ozzie some of that tasty Venezuelan water unless he's immune to it by now

Bring Back BA

by marco054 on Oct 30, 2007 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Look Elsewhere

Any kind of improvement will have to be achieved via trades or from within. The free agent market is a giant box of crap.

David Eckstein is coming to the White Sox. So is Coco Crisp. You can bank on it. I've never been more sure of anything in my life. And when they get Eckstein, I am going to go out and get incredibly drunk because I will have to sit through another playoff less season in 2008.

Harrelson and Jackson will ruin 162 pairs of pants because they will cream themselves over how great Eckstein is. This is why I watch games on mute. I had to hear their Erstad ass kissing second hand from the unfortunate souls that listen to what they say and don't utilize the mute button.

by Max Hammer Dubois on Oct 30, 2007 11:13 AM CDT reply actions

My prediction...

the Sox will make an offer to Eckstein, but someone else will offer more.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Oct 30, 2007 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Doesn't St. Louis want him back?

I thought I read that someplace...

I do think he ends up with the Sox, though...Mark Gonzales says it's a perfect fit.

by hitlesswonder on Oct 30, 2007 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

Uribe

is the starting SS next season. And if that saves us from Eckstein (can you imagine how his mediocre hitting numbers will drop in the AL?), it's not a horrible thing.

by palehose67 on Oct 30, 2007 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Not only that...

but he hasn't played a full season since 2005. It'll be like Scott Podsednik all over again.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Oct 30, 2007 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

But this will be his bounce back year...

Like Erstad's was last year - oh... that's right

by Brush Back on Oct 30, 2007 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

byb bye joey?

cora to pirates?

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2007/10/cora-managerial.html

by larry on Oct 30, 2007 12:39 PM CDT reply actions

One Can Only Hope

The sorry Pirates will be even sorrier. At least for their sakes he can't coach 3rd and manage.

by waitonhim on Oct 30, 2007 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

I wouldn't worry about Eckstein...

He'll be slightly better than Uribe at the plate, and though he is noticeably worse in the field, the Sox strike out so many hitters that it won't matter much.

What? You mean the K/9 rankings are arranged most to least? So the Sox have the fourth lowest K/9 in the AL?

Nevermind. It would be a disasterous signing.

by BridgeportJoe on Oct 30, 2007 2:04 PM CDT reply actions