My top possibilites for next year

by SouthpawsLaundry on Jul 16, 2007 10:14 PM CDT Comment 20 comments

Try to make this as realistic as possible, as much as I want to see A Rod in a white sox uniform, I dont think it will happen. Here are some other options, since there is no way Williams is gonna send out another product this shitty.

OUTFIELD:
What about Kosuke Fukudome to replace Dye in RF? It would broaden the fan base and add an 100 RBI guy to the lineup. Right now hes hitting 292 with 13 HRs and 47 rbis, and a .440 OBP for the Chunichi Dragons.

Corey Patterson will also be available. I personally don't like him, but he is affordable, and better than anyone we could have at leadoff, and also might be on a mission as he was last year with the orioles.

Juan Rivera will be available as well, hasn't played this year yet because of a broken leg (I think), but showed a lot last year, and could come fairly cheap.

Infield:

Resign Iguchi, start Fields at 3B and Konerko at 1B.

SS:
Decline Uribe, even his defense is starting to falter, and watching him strike out over and over again has to be wearing on everyone's nerves.

trade contreras or even garland for any prospect or shortstop that is offered, because this position looks bleak

BP
Other than Jenks, replace as many players as humanly possible with anyone. It can't be any worse. Any players would be upgrades to what we're throwing out there now.

Scott linebrink from the padres will be a free agent, but he might require closer money. Also Chacon from the pirates will be available, and cheap, and probably would be our number 1 option for long relief. Kyle Lohse could also be a guy to pick up for long relief and spot starts.

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Bucky v Southpaw

by SouthpawsLaundry on Jul 16, 2007 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Fukudome

Even if we win 90 games next year, we aren't making the playoffs and we may hamper our long term ability to do just that by spending money and roster spots. The difference between winning 65 games and 85 is none when it comes to a chance at the WS and the fans aren't going to come out anyway next year. Signing more old guys isn't going to chance that prospect.

by colintj on Jul 16, 2007 10:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

if

our bullpen didn't suck and we were hovering 3-5 games over .500, then what would you think?

Bucky v Southpaw

by SouthpawsLaundry on Jul 16, 2007 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

because

with a solid bullpen, thats where I think this team would be.

Bucky v Southpaw

by SouthpawsLaundry on Jul 16, 2007 11:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i don't know if that's right

and i don't think that would make me forget that we have huge holes at critical and difficult-to-replace positions, C and SS.

by colintj on Jul 17, 2007 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i counted last week

(can't remember if it was before or after the baltimore blow-up) that the bullpen was brought in with the lead in the 7th or later 10 times this season and blew it. that's a lot. cut it in half and we're at .500 - probably a reasonable estimate for an average-ish bullpen. of course, if you're the twins or padres bullpen, you'd have probably won 8 of those games. but i don't think that's a reasonable assumption.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 17, 2007 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. We blew, and we blow.

We'd still be out 7-8 games or so, but have a fighting chance. So maybe this is a good thing - no illusions.

Like Midnight Run's Jack Walsh: "Don't get any illusions."

by winningugly on Jul 17, 2007 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know...

90 wins could take the Central next if the division is pretty well-balanced. DET, MIN, CLE should all be very good teams and KC will be much improved. In fact, I would expect a lot (most?) pre-season forecasts to pick the Sox 5th. Anyway, with that many good teams it might be hard for the division winner to get much above 90 wins.

by hitlesswonder on Jul 17, 2007 12:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know part 2

I don't like the idea of packing it in on a season before it starts, so I wouldn't be upset about the Sox bringing in a veteran OF if either a) they were cheap or b) they were good and signed for 3 seasons or so. I doubt the Sox will pay what it take to get Fukodome. The Red Sox, NYY, and Mariners are all likely to be interested (and the Red Sox are rumored to have him penciled in at either CF or RF next season). That being said, I probably like it if the Sox signed him, even though he is 30.

I'd say no to Patterson -- terrible OBP and one thing that would help immensely would be someone that gets on base hitting before Thome and Konerko.

Who would traget for SS?

by hitlesswonder on Jul 17, 2007 12:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Corey Patterson at leadoff?

Patterson would be one of the worst leadoff hitters in baseball, if not the worst. He currently sports a .292 OBP and his career OBP is .296. The highest that his OBP has ever been was .329 in 2003, which was an injury-shortened season. The guy is not a leadoff hitter and has never been one. He would only be a good signing if he came really, really cheap and we had a lot of offensive talent at the corner outfield spots. That way, Patterson could bat at the bottom of the order and still contribute with some power and gold glove defense. But we likely won't have any good hitters in the corners, so Patterson would be a bad signing.

by SSH2005 on Jul 17, 2007 8:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

no

whoever we have been hitting at leadoff is the worst in the league.

Bucky v Southpaw

by SouthpawsLaundry on Jul 17, 2007 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Corey would be almost as bad...

as it's a bad idea.

by SSH2005 on Jul 17, 2007 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Must-Make moves for Sox

The first and foremost thing we need to do in the offseason is SIGN A-ROWD. Not A-ROD. Aaron Rowand is going to be a free agent next yr but i dont know how we could convince him to come back. As for the deals we need to make before the deadline, we should shell out Dye, Contreras, Uribe and prospects for Hanley Ramirez. This guy alone could help us. Although i don't see anyone prying him away from the marlins, it could happen somehow. The bullpen is just a bunch of scrubs besides Jenks. I mean who the hell almost blows a game in which you're winning 11-2 in the 6th!!!!But besides that we need a lot of help. Theres so many players up in the air right now we can't stop the bleeding. Say goodbye to pods and iguchi most likely, plus you have crede still in limbo (not literally obviously).

So right there thats 2 if not 3 outfield positions to address, plus two infield (short and second) and the bullpen???? We have enough back up players on our team (this year proved it seein how everyone seems to be a backup) to be able to worry about getting everyday starters and not young depth. We need to deal and we need to do it now. Get whatever you can for Dye and Contreras because they are both worthless to us after this yr. Then bid like a madman in the offseason and hope to land a big name outfielder and some up and coming talent.

by afrigo1 on Jul 17, 2007 11:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Drink!

by winningugly on Jul 17, 2007 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahahaha

the Marlins are going to trade Hanley? Yeah, I bet.

by colintj on Jul 17, 2007 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hanley?

thats makes ZERO sense. The only way the Marlins would let hanley go is in a contract year in an effort to cut contract, why would they add overpaid guys that are over the hill to replace him? Discount this post.

Bucky v Southpaw

by SouthpawsLaundry on Jul 17, 2007 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Real Possibilities

Lets assume for a second the sox 2008 payroll is 90 Mil down about 6 Mil from this year. The sox have about 79 Mil or so tied up for next year without a 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, and bullpen. NOT GOOD. KW knows he needs much more payroll flexibility if he is going to bring in the players this team needs to turn the corner. If Contreras gets traded thats 10 Mil off the books, if Garland goes too another 12 Mill off. So if the sox trade a pitcher or two thats a total of about $21-33 Mil to spend in the offseason. Now your talking about some money to bring in some new faces.

In terms of in house guys I think you let Fields play 3B or at least back Crede up if he somehow returns healthy. You give SS to Danny Richar from AAA and see what he can do, you also have Pablo and Cintron (proven .280+ hitters there as insurance). You let 1 of your AAA outfielders become a starter; Sweeney, Owens, Anderson, etc.

At 2B you either go after Castillo for no more than a 2 year deal (hes 33) or you simply resign Tadahito. At LF you target either a proven healthy Shannon Stewart or Eric Brynes as long as the price isn't overblown. In CF you see if Hunter can be had for 4/48 if not you try and lock up Rowand for 3/24.

For pitching if you move only Contreras you still have MB, JG, JV, and JD. You add either Massett or a AAA guy to be the 5th starters. You look to sign a quality arm in Scott Linebrink for the pen.

Iguchi/Castillo (4.5 Mil)
Byrnes (7 Mil)
Rowand (8 Mil)
Linebrink (2 Mil)
Total = 21.5 Mil

Your lineup now consists of

Byrnes
Iguchi/Castillo
Thome
Konerko
Rowand
AJ
Fields
Richar
Sweeney

Buehrle
Garland
Vazquez
Danks
Massett/Other

Jenks
Macdougal
Thornton
Linebrink
Logan
Haegar

Cintron
Ozuna
Mackowiak
Gonzalez
Hall

by Joeynach on Jul 17, 2007 2:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No thanks on Byrnes and Castillo...

Both will be 32 years old next season and Castillo has lost his extra-base hit power and most of his speed. We need to get younger, not older. Also, I don't think that Richar can play SS. And Linebrink will be paid handsomely by some GM but I guarantee it won't be by Kenny. He doesn't like spending a lot of money on his bullpens, for better or for worse.

by SSH2005 on Jul 17, 2007 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

byrnes

is most likely going to the giants, and castillo would be a downgrade from iguchi and richar.

Bucky v Southpaw

by SouthpawsLaundry on Jul 17, 2007 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hudson

I agree Tad and Castillo are getting up there in age, but Castillo is at least a model .300 hitter. I would like to see the sox go after Orlando Hudson for 2B. I think he would be perfect top of the lineup guy and his defense is solid.

by Joeynach on Jul 18, 2007 12:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs