White Sox GM Kenny Williams: I read SSS and so should you

by The Wizard on Dec 23, 2007 1:12 PM CST in Quotes

Kenny, Detroit got Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis and got better:

"I get that too. There's a flip side to that as well. Let's say we acquire [Miguel] Cabrera and we give up Josh Fields, John Danks, Gio [Gonzalez], [Danny] Richar and a young bullpen guy. There would be just as many [fans] saying we sold out our future for a guy who might be here for two years. Would I have liked Cabrera? Yes, but at a price the White Sox [could afford]. All I can do is the things that make sense to us. You can't ride a wave of public emotion. That can get you into some trouble."

And kenny's comments on Alexei Ramirez:

Williams cannot officially talk about Ramirez until he passes a physical but did say a "player like him could be used short-term one way and long-term in another way." That perhaps could be center field now and shortstop to team with Richar in the future. One scout says Ramirez, at 6 feet 3 inches and with some power and speed, may be best at shortstop. Williams said if Ramirez is signed, he should not be considered a "fall-back" option after losing out on big-name center fielders.

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Comments

You know what, Kenny is right.

As much as people love to rag on him, that was perhaps too much to give up for Mcab. He really hasn't made any bad moves except Linebrink.

www.fratdaddy.blogspot.com

by Raf on Dec 23, 2007 2:27 PM CST reply actions

yeah

I can't remember seeing a single post here that said "damn, if only we could have traded our 4 top young players for Miggy..."

Kenny's right. He would have gotten killed for that.

Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!

by Nordhagen on Dec 23, 2007 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

Who Knows?

Last year almost everyone picked the Sox to at least compete in the Central. Did you you really think they were going to stink it up as much as they did?
Plus can Linebrink be any worse than what our middle relievers did this past season.
At one point we are going to have to come up with some youngsters that step it up.

by phastphil on Dec 23, 2007 3:42 PM CST reply actions

If Ramirez isn't a fall back

then we should definitely not pencil him in as '08 CF. Then again, he's only got to beat out Jerry Owens.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 23, 2007 4:00 PM CST reply actions

With the addition of Cameron,

this could be a pretty decent team.

www.fratdaddy.blogspot.com

by Raf on Dec 23, 2007 4:02 PM CST up reply actions

Definitely agree

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 23, 2007 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

SI ranks Sox' rotation 3rd from last in AL

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_weisman/12/21/al.rotations/1.html

What do you think?

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Dec 23, 2007 7:45 PM CST reply actions

I don't put a lot of stock into it

Lets see Kazmir is elite but Buerhle isnt? Jamie Shields ranks higher then Vasquez?

There are more than a few comps that don't make sense unless he is going by his "gut" feeling. Whatever.

"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Dec 23, 2007 8:14 PM CST up reply actions

Perhaps his funniest line

"Beckett gets elite status thanks to a fine 2007 season and extraordinary postseason, but as recently as 2006 he was below average"

"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Dec 23, 2007 8:25 PM CST up reply actions

I agree -- some rankings are inconsistent

Although I think his overall ranking of the staffs aren't too bad, the methodology is obviously ridiculous. Adding up points for starters in ranked in tiers on gut feeling is less than confidence inspiring. I do think the Sox 3-4-5 isn't strong, so I wouldn't quibble with a low ranking for the Sox.

The Kazmir vs Buehrle and JV vs. Shields ranking are especially odd in that the guy isn't going just on numbers but then isn't going just on "stuff" either as he favors the power pitcher over the finesse guy on one hand and then reverses that with JV & Shields.

by hitlesswonder on Dec 23, 2007 9:32 PM CST up reply actions

I really don't know what to think of 3-4-5

I don't believe it will be as bad as its been betrayed. And I think there are some available options (the kids) if 1 stumbles.

Looking at the other staffs though I see a lot of question marks on quite a few teams. Those teams will probable score more runs though so its not as overblown.

"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Dec 23, 2007 9:39 PM CST up reply actions

lol.. portrayed not betrayed

I guess you could betray the staff......

"Just when I thought I was off the site, they pull me back in...."

"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Dec 23, 2007 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

Spot on

Buehrle and Vazquez probably won't be as good as last season, and Contreras, Danks, and Floyd probably won't either. It's a rotation with two good starters (4.00 to 4.50 ERAs) and three pretty bad ones (6.00 ERAs?). I await being proven wrong.

by hitlesswonder on Dec 23, 2007 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

stupid

by Jbasic89 on Dec 23, 2007 9:01 PM CST up reply actions

Hey thanks...

Well, if everyone has low expectations of my posts hopefully I at least won't let anyone down.

I admit,reading it now, 6.00 ERAs is harsh. So how about this:

Vazquez, Buehrle: 4.00 - 4.5 ERAS
JC, Danks, FLoyd: 5.5 ERAS

I think that's not a crazy pessimistic assessment. And that's not a good starting rotation. Two above average starters and 3 below average starters.

Of course, everything is probability. Maybe Danks learns a cutter and posts a 4.00 ERA. Maybe Floyd figures out what the hell is wrong with his curve and does the same. Maybe Jose stops dropping down...I just don't know how likely any of those things is. I hope they all happen, because it would make the season much more interesting. But if someone ranks the Sox third from last in rotation strength right now, I'm not going to argue.

by hitlesswonder on Dec 23, 2007 9:16 PM CST up reply actions

4.0-4.5 isnt above average

by Jbasic89 on Dec 23, 2007 10:53 PM CST up reply actions

it is in the AL

especially in USCF

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Dec 23, 2007 10:57 PM CST up reply actions

Really?

The average ERA in the AL was 4.51 last year, unless I'm mistaken. Factor in pitching in the Cell and pitching 200 innings or so and I think a 4.00 - 4.50 would be above average. I think only 30 or starters in the AL who pitched enough innings to qualify were at 4.50 or above. I'll admit I don't know what the average ERA for an AL starter was, but I'd be surprised if it were much lower than 4.5.

by hitlesswonder on Dec 23, 2007 10:59 PM CST up reply actions

not to my standards

by Jbasic89 on Dec 23, 2007 11:15 PM CST up reply actions

lol

by 3E8 on Dec 23, 2007 11:39 PM CST up reply actions

Those standards being?

I'll hang up and listen to your answer.

by Hazymania on Dec 24, 2007 3:05 AM CST up reply actions

from BTF anyway:

Dan Szymborski's got both in his ZiPS projections.

Starter - 4.71
Reliever - 4.31

So yeah, you're pretty much right on.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 1:47 PM CST up reply actions

That's league average

for a pitcher who calls Jacob's Field home. League average for the Cell will be higher.

by 3E8 on Dec 24, 2007 1:51 PM CST up reply actions

Is that how he does that?

I never saw him explain. Thanks.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

Hitless

What is wrong with Floyd's curve ball? Are we watching the same games? I think Floyd surprises a lot of you guys this up coming season.

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Dec 24, 2007 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

dude, check that

table that Cheat posted. it outlines pretty clearly, imo, that he doesn't control his curve at all and the results are out of whack with the rest of the league. obviously there are gaps in the data, so it only "outlines" or "suggests" but it's a problem.

on the other hand, you could probably use an mlb tv account to go through his sept starts and show that coop's mechanics changes helped his curve significantly. his early starts though, where he was throwing a bad curve, a hittable fastball and had neither the slider nor the change, should really be no wonder. he had nothing to get outs with.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 1:24 PM CST up reply actions

esp in spring training

He was terrible and I thought we messed up trading Freddy "I give up more solo HR's and anyone ever!" Garcia for him. After his first couple of starts where he got really pounded hard I knew it was all mental with him. I thought for sure this trade blew up in our face. Strangely one early August game changed all that for me. I was in Branson,MO enjoying the 100 degree heat out by the pool when later to go cool off I turned on SC and saw the highlights of Floyd dominating the Tigers. One of the morons hosting the show said the Tigers made him look like Cy Young. After laughing at this comment I saw some of the highlights. He looked untouchable. Now the significance of this story is how he grew mentally... we still had a chance to turn the season around at this point, he took the mound and dominated a hated division rival. Ever since then I have been sold of Floyd and could really care less what some algorithm tells me about his curve ball.

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Dec 24, 2007 1:39 PM CST up reply actions

The algorithm does grouping

it doesn't "say" anything. And what you ought to have noticed was the slider and the changed mechanics. I mean you seriously have no evidence of your charge. At least I've got some.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

Huh

HUH? What is my charge? I was telling a story about how a man and another man fell deeply in love after he saw this man pitch. No honestly what the F&$^& are you talking about? I did notice the slider thats why I asked about a month or 2 ago how many pitches Floyd threw because I was playing MLB 2k7 and notice that slider was not highlighted in the editing section even though I seen him throw it. One of the many nice posters here explained to me that it was indeed a slider that he added. I wish we could all be Cub fans and Believe!

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Dec 24, 2007 1:51 PM CST up reply actions

i'm a nice poster?

gosh, thanks!

by larry on Dec 24, 2007 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

Larry

You and I are like Peanut butter and Jelly, WU is the bread.

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Dec 24, 2007 2:09 PM CST up reply actions

Amazing

SB, you're the one who comes on here calling other people gay?!?!

Time for you to look in the mirror.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Dec 24, 2007 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

re

HUH? What is my charge? I was telling a story about how a man and another man fell deeply in love after he saw this man pitch. No honestly what the F&$^& are you talking about?

LOL! Priceless!

by The Wizard on Dec 24, 2007 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

And here I thought I was overly

wordy and totally beyond comprehension.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

So just so I understand

All five of the White Sox prob starters regress, while what the rest of the league fulfills the avg improvements? I love how everyone of the White Sox it seems will either be hurt or not as good as last year on the team. And yes 6.00s was ridiculous.

"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Dec 23, 2007 9:31 PM CST up reply actions

For me, it comes down to

The fact that there's a big dropoff between #2 and #3 in the Sox rotation. The Sox have 2 starters that I think will be in the top 30 in the AL for ERA in 2008. So, even with my proposed regression for Buehrle and JV, that's pretty strong. 5.50 ERAs for Danks and Contreras actually match what they did last season. And it's not much worse than Floyd's 5.27 -- which is reasonable given his 1.50 WHIP I think. I'm sure someone can look more deeply into the numbers and give good reasons why I'm wrong, but 4.25, 4.25, 5.50, 5.50, 5.50 is not an unreasonable estimate, IMO.

I would rank a lot of teams rotations as better than the Sox since their big dropoff doesn't occur until you get to the #4 or #5 guys.

On the plus side, I do think the Sox bullpen and offense will better than last season. So I'm predicting decline across the board for the Sox.

by hitlesswonder on Dec 23, 2007 9:44 PM CST up reply actions

NOT predicting decline across the board

Sheesh. I so need an edit feature.

by hitlesswonder on Dec 23, 2007 9:46 PM CST up reply actions

I really need to do that Floyd diary

damnit. I think he can throw a 4.25.

But as for Vazquez. His career ERA is a 4.28, so expecting a 4.25 in his age 31 season isn't bizarre, but I'd argue to expect better. He posted the best k/bb ratio of his career and matched a career high in k rate. His bb/9 was better than his career line. His HR rate wasn't ridiculous at all, especially for the Cell. And he solved that weird thing where he randomly imploded, making his still very good peripherals somewhat nullified. And Buehrle's only posted one season with an ERA of 4.25 or worse. Both are good bets to beat your projection.

As for Danks and Contreras, I offer nothing, since I can find nothing especially telling one way or the other. I will say, for his first season in the majors, his K and BB rates were really nice. His change is pretty devastating. But his HR rates were horrible. Plus he's a lefty, so I have no grip on his mechanics whatsoever, nor really the movement on his pitches. Thanks, stupid camera angle! Baseball camera work is the laziest of all sports. Anyway, unless that HR rate drops from 3rd worst amongst pitchers who threw at least 75 inn. Of the first 30 on that list, btw, none are better than average, at least at a glance. And Contreras either needs to find his fastball or learn to pitch without one. I don't like his chances, but I won't pretend to know what he'll do. 5.50 isn't a bad guess though.

So I think we'll have 3 above average pitchers and 2 really shitty ones. But whatever, we've got Gio and Egbert and one of them can be competent.

Yours could easily be right though.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 3:29 AM CST up reply actions

stupid.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 23, 2007 9:10 PM CST up reply actions

Weissman

posted this on Dodger thoughts last week.

He moved Beckett up from a "3" because the peanut gallery objected.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Dec 23, 2007 10:28 PM CST up reply actions

Well, not stupid

but inaccurate.

It's annoying though. Why not just take a good stat that already exists? I just feel like I could have come up with a better list really easily.

"The most weight was given to the 2007 season, but a three-year period was studied. Players were ranked in part by using such stats as ERA+, K/9, BB/9, H/9, HR/9, scouting reports and health history. Again, the ranking system isn't as much about precision then it is about providing an overview of the quality and depth of a team's starting rotation. (Thanks again to the online community that assisted with the research; a multitude of opinions can only help.)"

I mean doesn't that sound like a contradiction? It sounds pretty exhaustively done, but he doesn't care about precision? Why gather so much data then?

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 1:02 AM CST up reply actions

Pitching Problems

Yeah, the Sox are looking for outfielders, but I don't know why either: the rotation is the biggest problem right now.

Lets see Kazmir is elite but Buerhle isnt? Jamie Shields ranks higher then Vasquez?

Yes, and yes. To prove this in your head, imagine the trade: "Rays offer Kazmir and Shields for Buerhle and Vazquez." The Sox FO would be tripping over itself to return that phone call, and well they should! Conversely, the Rays would be insane to make such an offer.

So yes, Kazmir and Shields would make the team better than Buerhle and Vazquez do. It's true right now, and it'll be more true in the future.

ScoutingBook: Top Baseball Prospects, Closers and more.

by scoutingbook on Dec 23, 2007 10:25 PM CST reply actions

Not So, I'm afraid...

The real parallel is if the Devil Rays called and said, "OK, Kenny, you can have Kazmir and Shields in exchange for Buehrle and Vazquez, but you have to pay for all of Buehrle's contract and all of Vazquez's contract, and we'll pay for the contracts of our guys. Deal?"

The answer would be a resounding "NO! Absolutely not."

With their contracts figured into the equation, Kazmir and Shields > Buehrle and Vazquez. In a vacuum, however, and that's how this article was written, durable and effective pitchers like Vazquez and Buehrle with a history of dominance are worth more than the short effective career so far of a guy like Shields and the injury risk of a guy like Kazmir.

Come now, I shouldn't have to explain this to you. For the league minimum in 2008, the better bet of these two sets of pitchers is Buehrle and Vazquez.

by Stealfirstbase on Dec 23, 2007 11:54 PM CST up reply actions

Kazmir is through the injury nexus

and Shields' last 3 minor league seasons suggest he isn't pitching over his head. So in a dollar vacuum, I still take the Rays pair, thanks to age. If we're just talking about next year, they're pretty much a toss up aren't they?

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 4:13 AM CST up reply actions

No -- that'd be a terrible way to compare them

I didn't RTFA, but I imagine this is just ranking the rotations for 2008, right? If so, how would talking about a Kazmir + Shields for Buehrle + Vazquez deal have any bearing on 2008? Of course I'd rather have the D-Rays starter going into the future, but this is just talking about next season. Going by ERA+ the Sox top two were just slightly better than Tampa's two -- Kazmir vs Buehrle was basically a toss-up and Vazquez edged Shields to tip it ever-so-slightly in favor of the Sox' two. VORP agrees with my not-so-scientific look at ERA+, ranking the four pitchers in question at the following (amongst pitchers in all of baseball): Vazquez 15th, Buehrle 18th, Kazmir 22nd and Shields 28th.

Don't get me wrong -- there's an argument to be made to support rather having Shields and Kazmir for next year, but it ain't getting done through your method.

by CWSKeith on Dec 24, 2007 2:13 AM CST up reply actions

BTW -- my response was aimed at scoutingbook

...if that wasn't clear.

by CWSKeith on Dec 24, 2007 2:14 AM CST up reply actions

Scouting book

As CWS Keith has pretty much done the math, If Kazmir ranks as elite than so should Buerhle. If Shields ranks above avg then so should Vasquez. This isnt a question of who you would want moving forward.

The numbers are the numbers. Which by the way are backed for SEVERAL years for the Sox duo. I really don't think this is arguable in the context of the article.

"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Dec 24, 2007 7:25 AM CST up reply actions

fail.

.3949 + .4243 < 12.5 + 9.5

47.2 + 45.4 < 51.1 + 49.3

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Dec 24, 2007 3:57 AM CST up reply actions

I know this isn't a football board but...

this was too funny not to post:

Kyle Orton credited his neckbeard with helping him overcome the cold and windy elements in Chicago on Sunday.
"Certainly with the wind, it was cold, but I have a beard so that helps out a little bit. It's kind of warm in this area," Orton said. As always with Orton, there is a method to his madness.

Source: Chicago Sun Times

by SSH2005 on Dec 24, 2007 10:06 AM CST reply actions

your 670 the score moment of the day

i honestly don't know how people handle listening to this stuff because everytime i flip to it for more than a couple minutes, someone says something idiotic.

whoever was hosting for north today was talking sox baseball. and one of the hosts asked the other if he was happy with an outfield of dye, ramirez, and quentin. now, a sane person would say, "no, i'm not happy, but that's the best we got right now" - or something similar. but, no, this guy had to take it to another level and said "my outfield would be dye, ramirez, and owens." and then went on to opine that there should have been no question that the sox re-upped dye and it should have been done long before it was.

by larry on Dec 24, 2007 10:23 AM CST reply actions

That was probably a poster from WSI...

calling The Score. The gomers at WSI think that Jerry Owens is the second coming of Ricky Henderson and would rather see him starting in LF than Carlos "that guy I've never heard of" Quentin. They also think that Coco Crisp is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Gomers, all of them.

by SSH2005 on Dec 24, 2007 11:27 AM CST up reply actions

no, it was the hosts who said this

it befuddles me that such people get paid to talk on the radio.

by larry on Dec 24, 2007 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

true.

I think many of the hosts just aren't well-rounded enough in their basic knowledge of specific teams' current events. To say that Dye should have been extended a long time ago, suggests the speaker didn't pay attention to 2007.

He probably wonders if Skinner is ready to take over for Fisk.

Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!

by Nordhagen on Dec 24, 2007 12:48 PM CST up reply actions

Bulls fire Scott Skiles...

"Bulls fire coach Skiles; no replacement named yet"

Wow, now that's a surprise.

by SSH2005 on Dec 24, 2007 11:46 AM CST reply actions

Agreed...

Awful time to do it... as the Bulls took heat 20 years ago for releasing Artis Gilmore on the same day.

But. Skiles coaching style worked spectacularly when it was a team of 1-3 year players. But as they acquired more veterans and those rookie players are now 5+ seasons in the league I don't think the style meshed well. I'm glad Pax had the stones to fire a coach that wasn't getting it done this year but took his Bulls to the playoffs the previously couple years.

Interesting move and I wonder who they will hire to replace.

Caulk the wagon.

by rebstock on Dec 24, 2007 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

Remember Billy Reay?

... they fired him on Christmas Eve too, didn't they?

Merry Christmas.

by ruffster on Dec 24, 2007 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

ho.ho.ho

merry xmas, scott.......

by Air Raid Siren Stan on Dec 24, 2007 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

roll it

stacey king should take over

by tbone328 on Dec 24, 2007 12:18 PM CST up reply actions

ROFL

"STOP THE TAPE!.... OK ROLL IT" -Stacy King aka the best basketball analyst of all time period

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Dec 24, 2007 1:13 PM CST up reply actions

Fall guy

I'd fire Paxson first. He hasn't been bad, but he gave Skiles a roster that is poorly constructed. The size of the backcourt and lack of post presence have been problems for years and still plague the Bulls. And Portland's success underscores Paxson's failure in the draft two years ago. That was sort of a crucial moment.

by hitlesswonder on Dec 24, 2007 12:31 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

You can't win in the NBA if you can't score any points. We rely too heavily on out side jump shots. Recently, signing Wallace and trading Tyson killed this team. Tyson is an up and coming Ben Wallace while "Big Ben" is just a big turd that robbed Jerry Reinsdorf. We could have allocated that money for an offensive center like Jermaine O'Neil. What killed this team in the first place was when we traded Brad Miller, Elton Brand, Ron Artest, and Jamal Crawford. This was Skiles fault to an extent but Paxon over valued his team and should have given up Gordon, Deng, Thomas, and Noah for Kobe and Bynum.

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Dec 24, 2007 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

re

You can't win in the NBA if you can't score any points.

dr. phil?

by The Wizard on Dec 24, 2007 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

If that killed the team in the first place...

How is it Paxson's fault? Miller, Brand and Artest were all traded in the final years of the Krause regime. And Crawford was traded for salary cap room as Paxson worked to continue to fix the mess Krause left.

Caulk the wagon.

by rebstock on Dec 24, 2007 1:36 PM CST up reply actions

Just showing

How Krause initially killed the team... and how Paxon killed it by trading Tyson Chandler for J.R. Smith (denver) and PJ Brown (free agent). If he wanted defense he could have signed Big Ben and kept Tyson. Skiles would still have his job and we would be primed to compete for the eastern conference finals. Why the hell did we trade Smith for Krapola anyways?

Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Dec 24, 2007 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

We obtained Khryapa

Through trading the rights to LaMarcus Aldridge, we were able to get Tyrus and Viktor. We spun Smith into Aaron Gray and JamesOn Curry.

But more defensive/rebounding big men with no low post scoring ability is exactly what this current roster does not need. This is grossly apparent when Aaron Gray who is decent around the basket at scoring is able to open up the Bulls offense when jumpshots are not falling.

Chandler was not going to do anything more here in Chicago and that albatross of a contract was weighing the team down.

Caulk the wagon.

by rebstock on Dec 24, 2007 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

yeesh

Aldridge mostly shoots jumpers, doesn't rebound well, has injury problems (including a ticker issue), and boasts a negative plus/minus rating. It's not "case closed," but I doubt you're that quick to judge a baseball player. Thomas has helped win games better than Aldridge in his Skiles-limited minutes. He's just not going to score a lot of points and get the morons who only read box scores excited.

Dubee and Danks and pray for Taco Bell

by hscs on Dec 24, 2007 10:43 PM CST up reply actions

they fired Floyd on X-mas eve

by Jbasic89 on Dec 24, 2007 12:33 PM CST up reply actions

floyd wasn't fired

he quit. it was not a happy quitting, but he wasn't fired. still, bad precedent.

by coffeepac on Dec 25, 2007 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

another christmas eve casualty

joey cora

by The Wizard on Dec 26, 2007 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

Wiz, you know I love ya,

but even Thomas Edison took a 10 minute power nap on occasion.

Grab a chiqua and have some holiday cheer, my man!

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Dec 26, 2007 7:05 PM CST up reply actions

ehh, ok

purdue scored, their qb has 475 yds!

by The Wizard on Dec 26, 2007 9:45 PM CST up reply actions

they kicked a FG and won it, wake up wu!

he finished with 546 yds!

by The Wizard on Dec 26, 2007 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

I saw

Good game to watch, though we suck a lot.

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Dec 27, 2007 6:26 AM CST up reply actions

Thome's 2009 option

[MLBTR]:

Jim Thome - $13MM club option with a $3MM buyout. $10MM for a 35 HR/.410 OBP middle of the lineup monster? Should be an easy one. But say Thome is only healthy enough for 110 games in '08. Do the Sox still go for it?

Big Jim's option will be picked up automatically though if he has a certain amount of at bats, yes?

by The Wizard on Dec 24, 2007 1:10 PM CST reply actions

Per Cot's

"2009 option guaranteed with 600 PAs in 2007 or 1,100 PAs in 2007-08"

He had 536 PAs in 2007. So by my crack team of mathematicians... he would need 564 to make that guaranteed.

Caulk the wagon.

by rebstock on Dec 24, 2007 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

yeah

[cot's]:

2009 option guaranteed with 600 PAs in 2007 or 1,100 PAs in 2007-08

and

[mlb4u]:

$22M of remaining $46M on his contract at time of trade that sends him to CHW is paid by PHI ($5.5M each season in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009)

so, 13-5.5=7.5

by The Wizard on Dec 24, 2007 1:20 PM CST up reply actions

Who says Ozzie overmanages?

Jayson Stark:

"This Is Modern Managing Dept.: In an Aug. 21 game against the Royals, hyperactive White Sox magician Ozzie Guillen used five different pitchers -- in a span of five pitches. We kid you not. Ehren Wassermann got a fly-ball out. Mike Myers gave up a single on the next pitch. Ryan Bukvich allowed a single on the next pitch. Matt Thornton got a double play on the next pitch. Bobby Jenks started the next inning with pitch No. 5."

At least Myers and Bukvich were true to form.

Merry Christmas!

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Dec 25, 2007 10:36 AM CST reply actions