White Sox Mum at Trade Deadline, Still a Factor in AL Central

by The Cheat on Jul 31, 2009 3:20 PM CDT in White Sox News

The Tigers added Jarrod Washburn. The Twins added Orlando Cabrera. The Indians have apparently added a bevy of young talent in the Cliff Lee and (rumored) Victor Martinez deals. Where are the White Sox moves?

Be careful what you wish for. The White Sox were the first of the AL Central teams to make an early deadline deal this year, sending Brandon Allen (a top 100 prospect) to the Diamondbacks for Tony Pena (a middle reliever). Given the price that the Sox have paid this year, if middle relievers cost a Top 100 prospect, then you'd expect the Sox to pay something like a Top 50 prospect (Tyler Flowers) for a position player, and more if that player was actually any good.

Take an honest assessment of the White Sox roster. What are their biggest weaknesses?

In a cruel ironic twist, the Sox have capably filled their glaring holes this year to keep their ship afloat at a game above .500. Gordon Beckham has cemented 3rd base. Scott Podsednik, who's probably not a great bet to maintain his performance, has done more than any reasonable Sox fan could have hoped for. They've had about 4 different pitchers give them quality starts from the back-end of the rotation. Everytime there has been an "Oh, crap!" situation, someone has easily slid in to guard against any more Lillibridge/Betemit-like embarrassments.

Making that irony even more cruel, is the Sox glaring mediocrity. The Sox haven't had their entire club on the field and performing well at the same time. There has always been someone on the DL, underperforming, or just plain in need of replacement. KW has ably filled those holes in a giant game of Whack-A-Mole, but now the Sox are as healthy as they've been all year, and have trimmed most of the useless fat from their roster. It's time for the team to perform.

Sure they could have upgraded with a real center fielder like Alex Rios or found a more dependable back-end of the rotation arm like Jon Garland. But at what price?

I've been preaching taking the Stand Pat approach for a couple of months now. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and suddenly lament Kenny Williams' inability to make my Friday afternoon more exciting. The Sox can (and will) still compete for the AL Central title this year, regardless of their inactivity and the respective moves of their rivals.

[Update by The Cheat, 07/31/09 3:23 PM CDT ]: And maybe they just traded for Jake Peavy. Heyman tweets.

Larry: Word is Poreda, Russell, Richard and Dexter Carter

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Comments

Jake Peavy Dealt To White Sox Again

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/peavy-dealt-to-white-sox-again.html

Pitching (check), Hitting (check), Defense (uh, no).

by ballyb on Jul 31, 2009 3:24 PM CDT reply actions

that's not possible, bally.

you said the time was up.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Jul 31, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

yes!

kenny never disappoints. unreal.

by Andronicus on Jul 31, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions

That's the spirit!

Damn the torpedos and half-speed ahead!
Sometimes the glass isn’t half-full or half-empty. Sometimes it’s just half a glass.

Did you say Peavy?

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:27 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Poreda, Richard, Russel, and Dexter Something

by the_steve on Jul 31, 2009 3:29 PM CDT reply actions

wow

by Hawk is God on Jul 31, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Dexter Something??

The Dexter Carter you mean.

by Grinder in Training on Jul 31, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions

obviously he didn't file that name away.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Jul 31, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

you have a limited readership

by Hawk is God on Jul 31, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

i'm thinking your god doesn't have a limited audience

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on Jul 31, 2009 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes, Dexter Carter - didnt hear the whole name first time through on 670

by the_steve on Jul 31, 2009 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Not Nessie!

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:30 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I am NOT HAPPY WITH THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by homesickalien on Jul 31, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Why? Nice move for next year, maybe beyond, and it cost us our decent 5th starter.

Is it Egbert’s turn?

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:34 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

you must hate

very good, proven, young pitchers

by Andronicus on Jul 31, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Not at all. I was in support of Peavy coming here last time too. Was just hoping for something that could benefit us sooner than later.

by homesickalien on Jul 31, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

no question

we’d all like him healthy, but it certainly makes 2010 a lot more palatable if we fall a bit short this year…

by Andronicus on Jul 31, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone know if Peavy is even going to pitch any time soon?

by Grinder in Training on Jul 31, 2009 3:29 PM CDT reply actions

Recovered or recovering from torn ankle tendon?

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:29 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Peavy is only Great at PetCo

Check out his stats at PetCo (pitchers park) and his stats on the road. He does so well due to playing in a pitchers park. Still a good pitcher, just not great.
vr, Xei

by Xeifrank on Jul 31, 2009 3:30 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks for the excellent insider info.

by Grinder in Training on Jul 31, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

most pitchers have home/road splits that are better at home.

how much more than average are his?

THIS STORY ONLY ENDS ONE WAY

by colintj on Jul 31, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Who was it the first time

Richard Poreda and who?

by Hawk is God on Jul 31, 2009 3:33 PM CDT reply actions

There were a couple players to be named at a later time.

by the_steve on Jul 31, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions

So who pitches tonight?

Cause it was supposed to be Richard, right?

by South Side Expat on Jul 31, 2009 3:33 PM CDT reply actions

Ridiculous conspiracy theory.

But is it possible, that considering what KW said about understanding Peavy at that time wasn’t yet willing to make the move that he knew this was a possibility from the start? Maybe Peavy said.. if no one else offers for me by the deadline, I’ll accept the Sox deal?

by Grinder in Training on Jul 31, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions

Has he approved it yet?

Or is this another marketing ploy?

by the_steve on Jul 31, 2009 3:34 PM CDT reply actions

Even if he says no, why is it a marketing ploy?

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:37 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Makes us feel like hes making a move.

If Peavy rejects it then he can say that at least he tried.

by the_steve on Jul 31, 2009 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Who is "us"? Nobody here expected a deal anyway.

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:42 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

so....

an inconsistent lefty
a guy who can’t develop secondary stuff
Nessie
I’m most upset about Carter

by Hawk is God on Jul 31, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions

If I recall (from Larry), he's old for his league.

Bird in hand and all that…

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:41 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

If I recall (from Larry), he's old for his league.

Bird in hand and all that…

"Baseball is like church. Many attend, few understand."

— Leo Durocher

by Chiburb on Jul 31, 2009 3:41 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

even if HSA charges $5k for 2 in the bush?

by Trooper on Jul 31, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta say

With Peavy being injured, and the “emergence” of Richard at the MLB level and Carter in A-ball, I’m not really a big fan of this. I suppose having Peavy for the next few years (hopefully uninjured) would help. But honestly, I kinda hope he says NO! again. Though I was pissed when he said it the first time.

by kswissreject on Jul 31, 2009 3:36 PM CDT reply actions

The Sox know what they're doing with pitching

Poreda doesn’t appear to have secondary stuff, and Carter is a ways away. Peavy is signed for several years. I’m actually most bummed about losing Richard.

by CWSKeith on Jul 31, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions

richard had good

back to back starts…that’s about it. we just got the youngest of all the available cy young aces out there. where the hell is the down side??

by Andronicus on Jul 31, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions

just the part where colon pitches the next month or more.

which isn’t even an issue if you just call this a 2010+ move.

by Trooper on Jul 31, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

or i guess Torres. I still like it.

by Trooper on Jul 31, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

i'm looking

at that last week of the season when we have minn and detroit at home. if peavy can pitch in those series, i like out chances. i think torres can pitch in the 5 hole….

by Andronicus on Jul 31, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

its official

wikipedia changed his team

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Peavy

by Hawk is God on Jul 31, 2009 3:37 PM CDT reply actions

lol, I noticed this during the perfect game.

Took like 3 seconds to get a whole page of history up.

by the_steve on Jul 31, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

D.J. Carrasco starting tonight.

by South Side Expat on Jul 31, 2009 3:49 PM CDT reply actions

by The Actual El Guapo on Jul 31, 2009 3:51 PM CDT reply actions

i can't believe

KW got them to take Adam “the vulture” Russel

by Andronicus on Jul 31, 2009 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

So the real question is...

… What does his Wife look like?

by South Side Expat on Jul 31, 2009 3:57 PM CDT reply actions

We gave up middle prospects

We still have Beckham, Flowers, Hudson, Mitchell.

I like all four of them more than any prospect we lost. Once I realized the Poreda was 92-93 not 96-97 and he couldn’t develop when we put him with our best instructors I gave up home.
Carter a real old A baller.
Richard was maddeningly inconsistent.
And poor Nessie.

FOR A FUCKING CY YOUNG WINNER

I don’t get how we’re not making a run at 09 either, especially if we get 3,4 starts from Peavy. We only gave up our 5th starter.

by Hawk is God on Jul 31, 2009 3:57 PM CDT reply actions