Is Gord Ash in the Phillies front office?

by The Cheat on Mar 21, 2007 8:06 PM CDT in White Sox News

Stop me if you've heard this one before

Freddy Garcia, who has been having "velocity concerns" this spring, topping out at 88MPH -- Who knew he could throw that hard? -- had to be pulled from his latest spring training start with "bicep tightness." He will travel back to be Phil's spring home base to be evaluated further, but initial reports don't sound promising.

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Shouldergate II?

by larry on Mar 21, 2007 9:14 PM CDT reply actions

KW

certainly knows when to fold 'em.

by Ryno on Mar 21, 2007 9:29 PM CDT reply actions

Too early to gloat

but, this is exactly the reason most of us were calling for him to be traded at the deadline last year.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Mar 21, 2007 9:41 PM CDT reply actions

Funny how the trade looks great now...

Hell, getting just Gavin Floyd for one year of $10 million dollar 88 MPH throwing Freddy Garcia would have looked good now. Floyd may never pan out but he's young, cheap, and can at least throw in the 90's.

by SSH2005 on Mar 21, 2007 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Unintended consequences...

From the PHI story:

If Garcia misses significant time, it would deal a blow to Philadelphia's playoff aspirations and make Lieber untradeable, lessening their chances of landing an established setup reliever. It would, however, increase the likelihood of dealing center fielder Aaron Rowand to accomplish this goal.

Noooo! Actually, with Jenks looking a little bit like Freddy, I doubt the Sox will move anyone from the bullpen, let alone Mac or Thornton (the Good Phight blog proposed Lieber&Rowand for Mac,Fields and Logan).

Still, I don't look forward to seeing even more Rowand to the Sox rumors...I think the South Side has maxed out it's allotment of grinders as is.

by hitlesswonder on Mar 21, 2007 10:12 PM CDT reply actions

"Garcia"=Spanish for "Sirotka"

This is a little eerie. When this happened with the Wells-Sirotka trade, things got a little ugly. There was even some talk that the old-school baseball men who were Ash's pals wouldn't deal with the punk upstart Williams, but that was mostly crap. I certainly won't gloat if Freddy is really hurt.

But, c'mon, what was his velocity last year? I remember we had exactly the same concerns last April. We were talking about the WBC, and Freddy's now-you-see-it, now-you-don't bust for grass, and telling each other that Game 4 of the Series wasn't that long ago. Since he was keeping his head above water with his mediocre, dope-slowed stuff, all he had to do was find 4-5 mph more and he'd be darn good starter again. I don't recall it ever happened. He just muddled through the season as an average, although durable, kind of starter who got good run support. If the Phillies were seriously expecting that Freddy could bring it in the 90s, I believe they were misinformed. More likely, there are other symptoms as well and, as Cheat says, they don't sound good.

by Landfill on Mar 21, 2007 11:40 PM CDT reply actions

Meh

Everyone that seriously followed the Sox last year knows that FG is an aging, mediocre innings eater who as he ages is a serious concern to not do the one thing he's good at -- eating innings.

He had that nice turnaround to finish the season, but that doesn't outweigh the overwhelming evidence that said it was time to "sell high" on Garcia.

SABR wise he doesn't have good peripherals, head-wise he's admitted to having motivational problems -- not a good combination in a 30-something guy throwing under 90MPH.

by madvillian on Mar 22, 2007 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Everyone

in Philadelphia was telling me they got us on this trade and the Phils were the team to beat this year. We'll see...

by twoeightnine on Mar 22, 2007 12:00 AM CDT reply actions

I can't understand

why a team with Myers and Hamels would consider Garcia to be such a coup. I was astonished when I saw that he was slated to be the opening day starter.

by jackie hayes on Mar 22, 2007 3:20 AM CDT up reply actions

88 MPH? It may be even worse than that...

From DelawareOnline:

Also, a scout in attendance said his velocity topped out at 85 mph.

by SSH2005 on Mar 22, 2007 12:06 AM CDT reply actions

Garcia

I think it's safe to say that Garcia cannot possibly be a "disappointment", since nobody expected very much from him... except, inexplicably, the Phils.

ScoutingBook: Top Baseball Prospects, Closers and more.

by scoutingbook on Mar 22, 2007 4:09 AM CDT reply actions

I'm late to the party,

but it's good to see all the backtracking at the speed of sound going on re: Garcia. I may vbe way off here but I seem to remember the preponderance of folks saying we got fleeced in the Freddy trade.

KW ain't so dumb after all (for the time being). Time to trade for Rowand - we're on a Philly roll!

(PS It's a joke, by the way.)

by winningugly on Mar 22, 2007 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Batting Splits?

Is there any resource that shows BATTING SPLITS for spring training games?

by ballyb on Mar 22, 2007 6:56 AM CDT reply actions

CHISOX.COM CURRENT ACTIVE ROSTER

Down to 28 we go.

Pitchers
---------
Aardsma
Buehrle
Contreras
Floyd
Garland
Haeger
Jenks
Logan
MacDougal
Masset
Sisco
Thornton
Vazquez

Catchers
--------
Hall
Pierzynski

Infielders
----------
Cintron
Crede
Iguchi
Konerko
Ozuna
Uribe

Outfielders
-----------
Anderson
Dye
Erstad
Mackowiak
Podsednik
Terrero

DH
--
Thome

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 9:04 AM CDT reply actions

5th starter...

...is apparently Floyd (no Danks) and the Eddie Perez Experiment is over.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Does Knucklin' Charlie still have a shot,

or has Ozzie settled on sticking him in long relief?

by Dongfang Hong on Mar 22, 2007 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions

From Merkin yesterday...

...for what it's worth: "...Charlie Haeger dropping out as solely a candidate in relief."

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Charlotte Observer

of today

"Also assigned to Charlotte:

* Pitchers Adam Russell, a 6-foot-8 right-hander whose fastball has reached 97 mph in spring training, and John Danks, 21, who in 12 2/3 spring-training innings has struck out 10 and walked one."

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions

BA

it looks like he will make the final roster. I'm guessing Terrero will be cut plus 2 pitchers.

Go Badgers!

by shaftr on Mar 22, 2007 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Not so fast...

I still think BA will be in Charlotte. Terrero is Ozzie's kind of player, plus Ozzie's said repeatedly that BA only stays if he starts. With Erstad and Pods anointed the starters, there's no room for BA. I think they'll either keep Terrero as a backup or trade for Brady Clark. If the latter happens, I think BA gets dealt as well....

by hitlesswonder on Mar 22, 2007 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Could be.

What about the pitching....I'd be sending Sisco and Aardsma to Charlotte.

by dantesox on Mar 22, 2007 9:51 AM CDT up reply actions

Surprised they sent Danks down.

Still, better to have him making starts in Charlotte than following in McCarthy's footsteps.

by Dongfang Hong on Mar 22, 2007 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions

WTF? Where is Eduardo Perez?

The guy can DH versus lefties (since Thome struggles against them) and he can also backup 1B and play LF in a pinch. He was killing the ball this Spring and even though he got hurt, I doubt it is a serious injury. Stupid move -- we wanted and needed a guy who can kill tough lefties and we leave him off the roster?

by SSH2005 on Mar 22, 2007 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Eddie Perez

He hasn't played in a game since he pulled up lame on the home run trot. Maybe it's more serious than you and I thought.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions

problem with perez

is that we need to move someone from the 40 man to keep him. we're all still waiting for someone to get dumped. hopefully it's terrero. or we can move one of tracey/phillips/etc.

by larry on Mar 22, 2007 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions

My guesses as to the next 3 cuts...

Aardsma
Terrero
Logan / Sisco (this is almost a toss-up)

by SSH2005 on Mar 22, 2007 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions

Logan

is and will continue to be the better pitcher....Sisco should be sent down.

by dantesox on Mar 22, 2007 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions

The chisox.com active roster doesn't count...

NRI guys who are still in the mix.

The current roster is at 33; the guys listed above, plus -

Pitchers
--------

Danks
Russell

Catcher
-------

Gonzalez

Infielders
----------

Perez
Young

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 22, 2007 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Ahhh, good point...

I feel better now.

by SSH2005 on Mar 22, 2007 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

The Observer

reported that Russell and Danks have been assigned to Charlotte.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

So Gavin Floyd is our 5th starter...

like he was set to be the entire time. Haeger might be our longman.

by SSH2005 on Mar 22, 2007 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

let me be the first to say

floyd lasts four starts.

by larry on Mar 22, 2007 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

you and I disagree

and nothing more needs to be said.

by wite on Mar 22, 2007 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

you think the sox

are going to let floyd suck it up for long when they have danks and haeger and sisco and whomever else they want to throw waiting in the wings? this is a contending team. if he doesn't produce, he's going to charlotte. you can say (and have said) whatever you want about whether he will get more chances as a starter in the future but, using the 2004 fiasco as a reference point, ozzie isn't exactly patient with crappy fifth starters.

by larry on Mar 22, 2007 11:48 AM CDT up reply actions

no, because I don't think Floyd will suck

by wite on Mar 23, 2007 3:30 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't see that...

Listed anywhere in the transaction register.

The Sox listed seven names as being sent down yesterday, and Danks/Russell were not among them.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 22, 2007 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Danks/Russell

Neither of them are on the 40 man roster (they haven't needed to be added yet). So that's why they are not listed on the active roster. Haven't seen them being sent down anywhere else except the observer. It would be interesting to see that this was the case considering the Sox have gone out of their way to say Danks and Floyd have 2 more starts to go.

Anyway this brings up another point: If Danks or Perez are added to the 40 man someone needs to go. The only obvious candidate is Paulino Reynoso. So Danks' status could affect Perez' status since the sox may not want to take two people off the 40 man. A trade of someone (Mack?) for a minor leaguer makes more and more sense if Danks wins the 5th starter.

by bhoov on Mar 22, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Other names...

That could probably be dropped -

Dewon Day (really too old to be a prospect of any kind)
Casey Rogowski (AAAA player at best)

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 22, 2007 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions

More...

The Knights roster shows Danks and Ernie Young, but no Russell.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions

I think...

The Knights are jumping the gun. I find it hard to believe the good folks in Charlotte are scooping all the Sox beat writers and every other sports news organization, or that the Sox sent down Danks without announcing it.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 22, 2007 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Damn Carolinians.

The Knights AND The Observer.

It takes two to lie; one to lie and one to listen.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 22, 2007 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

scooping all the Sox beat writers

Like that would be hard. Now if you're talking about rumors or crap-stirring you may have a point.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Mar 22, 2007 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Let's just say...

I'll believe it when I see an announcement from the Sox.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Mar 22, 2007 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Easy Freddy!

You're suppose to save it for "the big games."

Hah!

President - Johnny Dickshot Fan Club

by tailgater on Mar 22, 2007 9:50 AM CDT reply actions

You guys will love this...

Pitching cut could make room for Anderson

''If the season started today, my center fielder is Erstad,'' Guillen said. ''But it's a good thing the season doesn't start today. Hopefully, B.A. will step it up.''

by SSH2005 on Mar 22, 2007 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

"Hopefully, BA will step it up?"

Erstad: .296/.328/.352
BA: .303/.385/.545

Anderson is OPSing a full .250 over Erstad, and his defense is better. Saying BA needs to step it up just doesn't make sense.

On the other hand, Erstad's spring training Grit Over Replacement Player is a shocking 17.3, while BA's GORP is a miserable -3.5, easily making up the difference.

by Dongfang Hong on Mar 22, 2007 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions

This must be a joke

DA has 16 hits this spring. Of those, 13 are singles and 3 are doubles (haven't seen one in person, but I suspect grounders down the 3B line) - and THATS IT! And how many of those AB's are against minor leaguers? In the thin air of AZ on top of it. He's slugging .350, which is exactly what he's done THE PAST FOUR YEARS. What you see is exactly what we're gonna get if he plays. Christ, jab him with a needle or something. This guy makes Pods look like McGuire.

BA is slugging .550. I hope this is all a little game they're playing to motivate BA. If DA starts it's a travesty. I thought I was done crying about this, but I getting worked up all over again.

by ChicagoPete on Mar 22, 2007 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

pardon me - s/b DE, not DA

by ChicagoPete on Mar 22, 2007 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

Pardon Ozzie

Is it still major league baseball if we break camp with Pablo, Pods, Erstad and Terrero?

The Chicago outfield would be just a Jermaine Dye injury away from being inferior to the Charlotte outfield.

Stretch!

by stevegoz on Mar 22, 2007 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

I know, I read that this morning

on the El. A loud "Jesus Christ" escaped from my lips after reading it.

This is going to be a long, frustrating season dealing with Ozzie-cisions.

by chrome on Mar 22, 2007 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh that Kenny Williams

This almost makes up for the "outs" in the outfield. Lame I know, but it's tough to express this much joy over Phil Rogers' getting his way too many Sox-are-cheap columns crammed down his throat. And the healthy, potential-filled, young starters are nice to have too.

by Paxson Jackson @ South Side Sox on Mar 22, 2007 10:37 AM CDT reply actions

fancy meeting you here...

by brianekst on Mar 22, 2007 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Was there ever a doubt

The Whitesox got two very good young pitchers for a guy who the Phillies are going to have for just one year. A guy who's career is quite possible wining down. I have always said this trade was highway robbery. On top of that I love Floyd( sue me). I think his stuff is excellent, better than any of the other young starter. I am very confident he can turn it around.

PS: Has anybody checked Brandon McCarthy's spring stats? Toddy is his fourth start and he's only pitched 8 innings. His ERA is like 7.88. What's up with that? Kenny you sly dog.

by chisox on Mar 24, 2007 7:46 AM CDT reply actions