has an in with the Sox?

nixes this deal.

g-doc here

The Chicago White Sox are on the verge of becoming the coolest team in the game.

President-elect Barack Obama wears a White Sox cap everywhere, and he is not a fair-weather, photo-op fan. At the same time, Kenny Williams defends his title as most proactive general manager in the game.

In trying to keep his team young, Williams has traded two veterans — outfielder-first baseman Nick Swisher and righthander Javier Vazquez — for prospects and payroll flexibility. Do not be surprised if Williams also trades outfielder Jermaine Dye.

Losers in the Ramirez and Teixeira sweepstakes would have to turn their attention to Dye, who has averaged 34 homers and 95 RBIs in the last four seasons. The White Sox would move quickly if they could get a center fielder-leadoff hitter for Dye. Williams could use Dye’s salary of $11.5 million for 2009 on free agents who fall through the cracks.

What happens in Vegas will be felt throughout the game.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=494898

You can’t always whip it out in Vegas.

My iPhone, I mean. Sometimes I won’t be able to take pictures, but where I can, I will. There’s more players here this year – wonder why? – and it’s a more charged atmosphere. Follow the fun of my photoblogging here, at Flickr.

Otherwise, we presented the Dick Martin Award to Brad Henderson and the rest of the Pirates staff. More on this in another post, once we get the pictures.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1120

The blockquoted link, of course redirects to his flickr account where you can find numerous photos of Sterger… I’m sure the one of her in front of wrigley is in there somehwere.

Finally, Maddon talked a little about his honeymoon to Europe, mentioning that he was noticed a few times and only saw one (one!) Rays fan while he was overseas. Curiously, he said there was a lot of White Sox merchandise in England — something that seemed odd until another reporter pointed out that the South Siders are the favorite team of one Barack Obama.

I can’t say for certain that’s the reason there’s apparently so much White Sox merchandise abroad, but it certainly makes a lot of sense.

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2008/12/08/notes-from-sin-city-joe-maddon-dishes-on-rays/

By Mark Gonzales, 7:53 p.m.

LAS VEGAS—"No we haven’t traded Jermaine Dye to the Cincinnati Reds or anywhere else," White Sox general manager Ken Williams told Chicago media members Monday night.

Williams said he spoke twice with Dye recently to reiterate that he hadn’t been traded but confirm that there was plenty of interest from teams, including the Reds.

“We’ll just have to wait and see, and this goes into regards to everyone on our roster,” Williams said. “We’ll just have to wait and see what the week brings us.”

Williams added that recently acquired catcher Tyler Flowers has the ability to hit on the major league level now. Flowers is likely to start the season at Double-A Birmingham.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2008/12/williams-shoots.html

By Hal McCoy | Monday, December 8, 2008, 08:20 PM

While the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White have had discussions about outfielder Jermaine Dye and pitcher Homer Bailey, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said there have not been recent discussions.

A soure close to the White Sox told The Dayton Daily News Sunday that a deal was imminent and could be announced at baseball’s annual winter meetings this week in Las Vegas.

"We’re not close to a deal and while we have talked to the White Sox, there hasn’t been anything this month."

The Reds are seeking a righthanded power-hitting outfielder and Dye hit 34 homers last year. He will make $11 million in 2008 with a $12 million mutual option in 2009 – seemingly an affordable price tag with Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. off the roster.

So, the Reds and White Sox could announce a deal this week, re-visit it after the meetings or not make the trade at all.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/entries/2008/12/08/dye_on_hold_freel_on_the_block.html

Economics played a part in the Reds’ trade talks cooling with the White Sox over Jermaine Dye, Reds manager Dusty Baker confirmed on Monday.

During a session with reporters at the Winter Meetings, Baker said talks haven’t been held with Chicago for a couple of weeks.

“You guys were late on that one,” Baker told reporters. “That was a couple weeks ago there was talk. I thought that those talks were kind of off because of the economics and because everybody wants young players, which we are trying to groom to keep.”

The Reds shot down a rumor on Sunday that they would send 22-year-old pitcher Homer Bailey to the White Sox in exchange for Dye.

Finding a right-handed hitter, preferably a corner outfielder, is a primary concern for the Reds this offseason. Dye batted .292 with 34 home runs, 96 RBIs and a .344 on-base percentage last season.

The 35-year-old Dye will make $11.5 million in 2009 and has a $12 million mutual option for 2010.

“Were we interested in Jermaine Dye? Most definitely,” Baker said. “It’s just a matter of how much it’s going to cost the team. The economics, whether you want to face it or not, is a big issue, and not only in baseball, but in the world. Right now we are in an economic crisis.”

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081208&content_id=3706805&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

Over on the Sox beat, Kenny said he’s talked with right fielder Jermaine Dye a couple times in the last few days out of respect to Dye and to dispel the rumors of Dye being traded to the Reds. It’s still possible the Sox will trade Dye, but Kenny was quick to shoot down the Dye-to-the-Reds rumors.

If Dye goes, Kenny seems to think Carlos Quentin possibly could move from left to right. "There’s no doubt that Carlos’ most natural position is right field," Kenny said. "He plays a good right field. We were not displeased with the way he played left field. He played a good left field."

On other topics: "We like what we have in Jerry Owens. Jerry Owens was acquired to be Scott Podsednik’s replacement. He’s that type of player. Brian Anderson was signed, was drafted, to be an impact type player. We have to find out about these guys, find out who they are and what they are. If you put yourself in a position of payroll flexibility, contract flexibility, then you can have it both ways. You can find out about them. At the same time, you can maybe correct a situation if it doesn’t go as planned and then go out and make a deal to reinforce yourself if it doesn’t work out."

Kenny added that Dewayne Wise would be "in the mix" for the outfield.

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1080

Some interesting quotes re: Dye. The way I’m reading those quotes is that Dye is still very much on the table, with still a decent chance of him landing in Cincy. The more I think about it, the more I think it would be a really nice deal to get another young addition for Dye (even if it’s a question mark like Bailey) while using that available cash to go and find a LFer on the market.

If jermaine should not remain
Is something KW only knows,
We’d lose a sweet swinger with
A World Series ring-er, but that’s the way it goes

It’s Bobby I’d pine over, not a BA or a Crede
Beckham’s too green, and Getz is a Jew,
Not that it matters, I don’t mean to be flip-per
But lets play a guy who won’t take off on Yom Kippur

CC wants to be a dodger according to espn (grain of salt)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3755609

perhaps worth the risk

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/digital-short-j-in-my-pants/866262/

heard it on the score this morning. Sox also interested in bringing back Garland. Ozzie said he would have no problems with that.

Breaking News >> Federal Agents Take Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Into Custody

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/12/source-feds-take-gov-blagojevich-into-custody.html

Too many open/ongoing investigations for a Fitz absence to matter. The wheels are a-turnin’…

linky-poo

We need an OF who can hit, non?
Maybe not for $10 mill/year….especially at age 36….

But still. I like Raul. He good.

CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges of conspiring to get financial benefits through his authority to appoint a U.S. senator to fill the vacancy left by Barack Obama’s election as president.

According to a federal criminal complaint, Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper’s editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

Blagojevich also was charged with using his authority as governor in an attempt to squeeze out campaign contributions, prosecutors said.

Blagojevich’s chief of staff, John Harris, also was arrested.

Has anyone ever done this much campaigning for their own cause…?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3756458

kalk analyzes with pitch fx

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-engima-that-is-javier-vazquez/