I like Griffey a lot. With Thome on the team though there is nowhere he can realistically play for 162 games. (though I still like him better than the in house candidates of Anderson and Owens)

The Sox are nutsy if they don’t offer it to Orlando Cabrera though. If he accepts I would be happy as I think he is a better option for a year than anything else they will have in the middle infield. If he doesn’t (which he won’t) you get 2 picks in the first round.

Falls into the oh shit category, but we can live can’t we. Che back to second?

Or can we trade him after arbitration, and if so, do we eat the salary?

I’m sorry I’m a novice for the business end of baseball

We have to offer OC arbitration….. He won’t sign it…. he hates it here..

2 more picks is just good to pass up…..

Our farm system is looking more and more like it’s on the right track. If we were to add 3 (our pic plus the 2 from OC) more high updside guys to Beckham, Poreda, Dayan. Our future might actually look bright….

Just so long as kenny doesn’t trade it all away…

http://www.cubsfx.com/2008/11/freddy-garcia-injured-in-venezuelan.html

highly recommend reading the whole thing.

ATTN KW: Statistical Analysis of Willy Taveras & How To Fix Him, Read this, then call up Colorado and do the deal right now

Now here’s my thinking. Willy came up in his first full season of ’05 and played relaxed the whole year and that is why his numbers deep in the count, most specifically in the 1-2 and 3-2 counts are so good. He was not thinking about getting on base and fulfilling expectations of a lead-off man, he was just watching the ball and reacting. I cannot believe that the level of pitching in the National League improved so much to cause this, because if it did his other numbers would be affected, which they have not been. Somehow after ’05 the pressure on him mounted and he probably ended up overthinking at the plate. When he went to Colorado, maybe somebody told him to walk more or something, or he felt that he needed to. If there was a stat about called third strikes on 3-2 counts it could be very telling in regards to Taveras.

All Willy needs to be a better player is a manager that will 1) encourage early and often bunting, especially on the slower grass at the Cell that will make it harder on the 3B to come in and will force the catcher to make a throw behind the runner more often, 2) a hitting coach who will take pressure off of him and basically do nothing at all except tell him to NOT worry about the walk and instead be aggressive, especially on 3-2, and 3) a winning environment in front of loud fans who will cheer him for every stolen base or bunt hit and boost his confidence, allowing him to focus on his best skills and forget about whatever it is that is causing him to lose confidence late in his at-bats.

So in all, TRADE FOR WILLY TAVERAS!!! He’s a great buy-low candidate and all he needs is a confidence boost, which I strongly believe he’ll get in Chicago. Don’t wait around, he could end up our next Podsednik, except this one can actually play CF.

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=68880

The Mets remain interested in the free-agent closers Francisco Rodríguez and Brian Fuentes, but they will continue to scour the trade market for relievers before engaging in substantive discussions with either pitcher, according to two people in baseball with knowledge of their strategy.

While General Manager Omar Minaya has had only preliminary conversations with the agents for Rodríguez and Fuentes, he has had continuing discussions with at least four teams about their relievers. Minaya has had discussions about José Valverde of the Houston Astros, Huston Street of the Colorado Rockies, J. J. Putz of the Seattle Mariners and Bobby Jenks of the Chicago White Sox.

In addition to Minaya’s trade targets, the Mets are also evaluating the free agents Kerry Wood and Trevor Hoffman because they will be cheaper to sign than Rodríguez or Fuentes. Rodríguez will pursue a five-year, $75 million contract, and Fuentes could ask for a three-year deal for at least $30 million. Paul Kinzer, one of Rodríguez’s agents, has acknowledged that his client may not secure a deal worth what he is seeking.

As much as the Mets want to stabilize their bullpen, their strategy is to have options in addition to Rodríguez and Fuentes.

If the Mets add a reliever through a trade or by signing Wood or Hoffman, they could still pursue Rodríguez or Fuentes and would have more negotiating leverage.

The Mets want to add one of the top free-agent closers, but if they end up with two relievers from their other options, they seem convinced that they do not have to sign Rodríguez or Fuentes. …

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/sports/baseball/29mets.html

SATURDAY: John Fay got Walt Jocketty to admit he’s talked to the White Sox (nothing is close). Jocketty’s non-denial about the Dye rumor seems to indicate it’s accurate.

Talking to Walt

Posted by JohnFay at 11/29/2008 5:51 PM EST on Cincinnati.com

Walt Jocketty got back to me since the previous post.

He said things have been quiet.

“Most clubs shut it down on the holidays,” he said.

On the Jermaine Dye report: “I’m not going to comment. But we have talked to the White Sox about some players. Nothing is close.” (Blogger’s note: The way tampering rules work, Jocketty can not say he’s pursuing Dye. But, in the case of Khalil Greene, he was comfortable with shooting down the rumor). So there’s probably some interest in Dye. But I’ve seen reports where the Phillies, Braves, Rays and Cardinals may be interested as well. That puts the White Solx in a strong position.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/11/reds-in-trade-t.html

the staccato of my z key could barely keep up.

so that was pretty exciting

Buehrle and Konerko are Park Place and Boardwalk respectively

Willy T in my eyes is clearly better. I can’t think of one thing that Jerry Owens does or will do better.

If Owens were to somehow leadoff and bat 280, steal 50 bases while being caught say 8 times, play above average defense with 6 or 7 assists everyone would go crazy….

Those are Willy’s averages from the last 2 seasons in 230 games….

Oh and he is 10 months younger than Jerry Owens.

Atleast BA plays solid defense (3 errors in his career). BA is a 4th OF

To me Owens shouldn’t even be an option… I know i keep bringing up his age but he will be 28 before the season starts…. and he hasn’t proved anything…. no arm, no pop…. How can people on here honestly think that he is going to learn to bunt right now…. as if at no point in the last 15 or so years he has been playing baseball not one coach thought “Hey, we should get Jerry to work on bunting he’s really fast.”