Danks Brothers Ditch Boras
by The Cheat on Jun 9, 2008 5:55 PM CDT
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PrintThe White Sox just completed their 4th perfect homestand in team history--Did I hear that right?--about which I'm sure I'll write at some point before I call it a night, but for right now I'd like to focus on a seemingly small item that, thanks to recent events, will fly under the local media's radar.
Vinny Del Negro is the new Bulls Coach. Cedric Benson is drunk, again, and is no longer be part of the Bear organization. The Cubs have the best record in baseball. Even the Sox themselves have the largest division lead in baseball. There are plenty of legitimate local stories today to fill column inches. Heck, even ESPN conducted a chat centered around the Sox and Cubs. So, I don't expect anything more than a blurb from Mark Gonzales on the Danks brothers ditching Scott Boras in favor of Jeff Berry in any of the local dailies.
This is big news. Huge news for the White Sox. The Sox have a long history with Boras, dating back to draft picks Bobby Seay, Bobby Hill and Jeff Weaver before finally culminating in the A-Rod free-agency. Because of those, let's call them talent valuation differences, the Sox have avoided dealing with Boras and his clients at every opportunity.
The Danks brothers switching agents signals two things.- Jordan Danks is about as sure to sign as a 7th round "signability" pick can be.
- John Danks will likely be open to talking about a long-term contract buying out his arbitration years, which Boras is loathe to do.
It interesting, to me, at least, how this all went down. While I have no way to confirm how the changing of the guard developed, I imagine that it all dominoed on Thursday night, Day 1 of the MLB first-year player draft. The Sox, who had drafted Jordan in the 19th round in 2005, reportedly making him an offer in the 7-figure neighborhood, called up the younger Danks to see if he'd be open to signing if picked in the '08 7th round. Excited at the chance to possibly play with his brother, the younger Danks was open to signing. His agent, however, presented a problem.
Boras-represented players often fall in the draft, and they are often directed to sit out a year to increase their leverage (see: Stephen Drew, Luke Hochaver, et al). For Jordan, this would mean returning to Texas for his senior season. It would also mean that he would be far more likely to be drafted by a team other than the White Sox at no guarantee of more money. It appears that the opportunity to play with his brother was a more motivating factor than money for Jordan, who is going to get his money--He'll likely get the second-largest bonus (behind Gordon Beckham) of any of the '08 White Sox draft class. For reference, third-rounder Brent Morel has already signed for $458K.
The elder Danks switch to Berry should help to keep him around long enough to make seeing both Danks brothers on the field at the same time a definite possibility. And given his possible breakout season, his switch is the larger story. I don't know if I can name a high-profile Boras-represented client who has signed a deal to buy out his arbitration years, but you don't even have to look outside the Sox own dugout to find a young, talented, left-hander who signed a Berry-negotiated deal at a relative discount (twice).
Today was a good day for the Sox, and that's even before taking into account what happened on the field.
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It is a big deal where the Danks family is concerned,
but I have a difficult time believing this translates to anything else that benefits the Sox in the long run. Do we think that folks would rather come to the Sox and bag an existing relationship with Boras outside of this event? I think this is an isolated event that bodes well for the Sox relationship with the Danks boys, which is a good thing in and of itself.
CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.
Agreed...
I just think this is a positive for keeping the two Danks brothers around in a White Sox uniform for a long time. They likely did this because the Sox have been great to the Dank family from what I have read. But as far as other players, they could give a hoot about the Sox dislike for Boras and will stick with whichever agent will net them the biggest contract.
Benson got cut?
Is that like if a RB falls after taking 3 steps in the woods, no one notices?
Rusty Longley v 2.0
More good karma courtesy ESPN:
The White Sox hadn’t swept a homestand of seven or more games since Sept. 5-11, 1983.
Winning ugly, anyone?
CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.
ah. The year I've recently to use when talking
people off the Tampa Bay ledge.
Btw, I think I heard that was the 1st 4 game sweep of the Minnies since ‘73.
Harmonic convergence indeed.
When she farts, a little rainbow comes out...
OT, but Sox related:
I bet Detroit is happy to see Dontrelle back. Too bad we missed his 8 run first inning tonight. Maybe they’ll tire their bullpen for us?
Cleveland up 8-0 after 2.
When she farts, a little rainbow comes out...
Boy, they are kicking the snot out of each other
for 3rd place.
CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.
Dontrelle
I felt really bad watching that 1 1/3 innings he pitched. He looked hurt and embarrassed. He always seemed like a likable guy, so it just made me uncomfortable to watch.
another guy i was wrong about this offseason
his release point is atrocious. totally inconsistent. injury or just lost it, take your pick. but the guy cannot hit anywhere near the target on a consistent basis. i think at least 1/3 of his pitches aren’t even close – and i’m not exaggerating. when you can either just stand there as a batter and take a walk or just wait for the cookie down the gut, the pitcher is fucked.
it's time to accept that we're powerless when it comes to the white sox and turn ourselves over to a higher power: KW
i didn't expect big things
but i got into a debate with bhoov basically revolving around, iirc, whether the guy was salvageable. i thought he was. maybe with a better pitching coach and a little more luck (the injury against us obviously doesn’t help) he would be. but the guy looks like he’s completely lost it at this point.
it's time to accept that we're powerless when it comes to the white sox and turn ourselves over to a higher power: KW
They should cut him, and Coop can do his magic
as Detroit eats the contract. Why not take a flier on him?
This may be coincidence, and my chronology might be off, but once he got married, and shortly thereafter arrested for a DUI, he seemed to go downhill.
CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.
by winningugly on Jun 10, 2008 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Giving up and signing him to a very pricey extention are two different things.
Pitching, defense, health and 10 or more runs a game
They didn't give up much for Willis
Cabrera was the dog.
CWS: Slashing negative expectations since May, 2008.
by winningugly on Jun 10, 2008 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions
yeah
it’s too bad (but fortunate for the White Sox). I guess when your windup has so many moving parts, any injury or change can ruin the whole thing.
This division is clearly the Sox' to lose
Never thought I’d be saying that the 2nd week of June. With Westbrook done and Pronk (no more juice?) continuing his incredible falloff I don’t see them having enough to win more than 88-90 games.
Winning 90 games is all I think it will take this year from the central. Detroit is done as are the Twins and Royals.
"Detroit is done as are the Twins and Royals."
Very cocky. on June 9.
Pitching, defense, health and 10 or more runs a game
Tigers are 11 games back and 11 games under .500
They have been ouscored and just lost Bonderman for the year and addition to all the other injuries they are having/had and will have I just don’t see them getting much over .500. At most they rally and win around 86-88. Twins just don’t have a very good team at this point, although like the Tigers I guess they could turn out mediocre and win around 85.
Sox just need to get to 90 and they will very likely take the division.
June 9.
Pitching, defense, health and 10 or more runs a game
Thome, Konerko, Dye, Crede, Contreras,even Q! could go down.
Cleveland isn’t going to pack it in. They have enough young talent to make a deal or 2.
And I never count out the fucking piranhas.
Pitching, defense, health and 10 or more runs a game
cocky
but completely accurate.
it's time to accept that we're powerless when it comes to the white sox and turn ourselves over to a higher power: KW
Gotta paraphrase one of your favorites.
Sometimes, things change.
Pitching, defense, health and 10 or more runs a game
not here
you may argue the twins. but the other two are cooked.
it's time to accept that we're powerless when it comes to the white sox and turn ourselves over to a higher power: KW
Good to know.
Pitching, defense, health and 10 or more runs a game
The one guy I fear most on the Tigers is gone.....
Clete Thomas.
fight! fight! fight!
Teddy Greenstein: Sun-Times colleagues go after Jay Mariottihttp://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/cs-080609-jay-mariotti-sun-times-chicago,1,6132758.columnColumnist Jay Mariotti seems to pride himself on making enemies. He has been called a "pissant" by Jerry Reinsdorf, a "hiney bird" by Hawk Harrelson and much worse by Ozzie Guillen.
A recent poll by the irreverent Deadspin.com Web site tabulated his national approval rating, based on some 8,000 votes, at 6.2 percent. TNT’s Charles Barkley, who called Mariotti a "loser" during a March radio appearance, earned a thumbs-up from 95.6 percent of Deadspin voters.
Now Mariotti is taking body blows from his own colleagues at the Sun-Times. The situation heated up to the point that Editor-in-Chief Michael Cooke stepped in last week to symbolically separate Mariotti from fellow sports columnist Rick Telander, after Sun-Times editors refused to run columns Telander filed for the Wednesday and Friday papers.
...
Telander also believed Mariotti had unfairly impugned his reputation and fired back in a Wednesday column that got spiked, according to media insiders. The paper explained to its readers in a box that Telander was taking the day off.Telander filed an altered version for the Friday paper that, according to sources, mentioned the "bleatings" of "mini-dictators" who are "terrified of accountability."
It also quoted Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski as saying no visitor to the team’s clubhouse need fear for his safety.
Cooke, who declined comment Monday via e-mail, stepped in and decided the piece would not run.
The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.
The irreverent Deadspin?
I’m not a huge Deadspin fan, but I’d much rather read articles from their site than the Trib’s pile of poo.
Rusty Longley v 2.0
by Ozzie Montana on Jun 9, 2008 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah nevermind, I thought it said "irrelevant"
Rusty Longley v 2.0
by Ozzie Montana on Jun 10, 2008 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions
symbolically separated?
huh?
-Jeeves Life in the Cell
Mariotti reference on Cowley's blog
As far as the "fire Ozzie’’ naysayers, they have put their assassin rifles away and crawled over to the next story, looking very foolish right now.
Both feet on the bandwagon.
My favorite from the chat
Philadelphia: Any team that is depending on Gavin Floyd to be a consistent starter is screwed
Jerry Crasnick: Philly, That sounds a little like sour grapes to me. I think if the Phils could have a do-over on that Floyd-Freddy Garcia deal, they might take a mulligan.The SSS motto should be the answer to "What is our deepest fear?". Or maybe just Prozac.
Pudge, Inge to split time at catcher
Brandon Inge became a former Tigers catcher four years ago when the club signed free agent Ivan Rodriguez. Now, they’re basically a catching platoon. Whether Inge becomes the Tigers’ catcher of the future remains to be seen, but it leaves Rodriguez wondering about his future.http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080609&content_id=2879293&vkey=news_det&fext=.jspAfter starting behind the plate on Saturday, Inge was back at catcher on Monday, with Rodriguez out of the starting lineup. That’s how manager Jim Leyland plans to use them for the time being, alternating them at catcher from game to game.
“I’m going to catch these guys every other game for a while,” Leyland said. ...
The greatest trick the White Sox ever pulled was convincing their fan base that "Ozzieball" ever existed.
That's a prety brutal C spot
Pudge and Inge, neither one likely to post an OPS+ north of 90 for the year and both could be under 85 easily.
Not that AJ/Hall is some world beater either but I’d take AJ over Pudge at this point.
Man, ever since Ivan Rodriguez lost all that weight, he just isn't the same hitter he once was...
Maybe he should try to gain some of that weight back.
**crickets**
Jerry Crasnick on Konerko and Lofton...
Robert Septer: Des Moines, IA: What do you think the White Sox will do about Paul Konerko? He has been in this slump for quite some time do you think they will do anything about it now or just keep giving him time?SportsNation Jerry Crasnick: Robert, Konerko has some kind of soft tissue injury in his right thumb that makes it difficult for him to grip the bat. He could probably do with a couple of weeks on the DL, but he’s been sucking it up and playing. It’ll probably be a season- long issue until he gets an extended rest.
Vince (Joliet, IL): Jerry, If the Sox were to add speed where would it be? In center at the expense of swisher, or by moving konerko or thome? I don’t see how they make drastic changes to the roster when its in first, but also see a need for a little more speed when the lineup cools back down.SportsNation Jerry Crasnick: Vince, It’s a lineup that definitely relies a lot on the home run. I think they felt like Alexei Ramirez would have an impact, and he has, but they could use another set of wheels. What the heck, Kenny Lofton is still out there ….
DFA Ozuna and sign Kenny Lofton, plz.
I miss Craig Wilson : (
dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.
Where does Kenny play?
Is he the 5th OF / back up DH ? Anderson is a much better option defensively as a fourth outfielder at this point in their careers, and he’s not starting over Q, Swish or Dye obviously.
by Grinder in Training on Jun 10, 2008 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
BTW
I agree he’s a better ball player then Ozuna, but he’s going to see the same thing I do and see he’s not going to play much. He would probably prefer to keep sitting out until a better opportunity comes up b/c of an injury.
by Grinder in Training on Jun 10, 2008 7:26 AM CDT up reply actions
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