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Sox re-sign Uribe to 1-year, $4.5 mil deal

Acmilan_tiny by The Wizard on in News

The Torpedo Boat is back:

Shortstop Juan Uribe is returning to the White Sox on a one-year [$4.5 million] contract, general manager Ken Williams said Wednesday. The White Sox needed to decide by Wednesday whether to exercise their $5 million option on Uribe for 2008. Williams said the team re-signed Uribe for a lower salary. Uribe, 28, batted .234 with a .284 on-base percentage last season, but also had 20 homers and 68 RBIs. The White Sox value his defense, and club officials believe that if their other hitters rebound, Uribe will not be an offensive liability. The White Sox considered a variety of shortstop options before re-signing Uribe, including potential free agents Omar Vizquel and David Eckstein. Vizquel is close to re-signing with the Giants for approximately $5.5 million.
Here's the press release.
*****

As colintj pointed out, Kevin Goldstein has his White Sox Top 11 Prospects list:

Five-Star Prospects: 1. Fautino de los Santos, RHP

Four-Star Prospects: 2. Gio Gonzalez, LHP, 3. Aaron Poreda, RHP

Three-Star Prospects: 4. Chris Carter, 1B, 5. John Shelby, CF, 6. Jose Martinez, OF

Two-Star Prospects: 7. Jack Egbert, RHP, 8. Ryan Sweeney, OF, 9. Lance Broadway, RHP

One-Star Prospects: 10. Brian Omogrosso, RHP, 11. Kyle McCulloch, RHP

Just Missing: John Ely, RHP; Christian Marrero, 1B; Jerry Owens, OF

Jerry Owens?
*****

And The Legend wants to return to Chi-town:

"There's no reason why it couldn't happen. But it's a matter of going out right now and seeing what's out there. I'm trusting in my agent [Craig Landis] and hoping everything works out. Obviously, I'm going to be partial to Philadelphia because I played there. There's no doubt about that. I'd be lying to you if I said it wasn't. But at the same time it has to be right. ... I'm just as partial to Philadelphia as I would be to going back to Chicago, but it has to be right."

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so the good news is
no David Eckstein......

by Air Raid Siren Stan on Nov 7, 2007 12:30 PM CST   0 recs

Do you suppose this is
just a "sign and trade" arrangement? I can't believe KW wants to plod through another season with El Gordo at SS.
"I give Ozzie an 'A'... This team has never packed it in and I give Ozzie the credit." - Jerry Reinsdorf

by tailgater on Nov 7, 2007 12:36 PM CST   0 recs

I don't think anyone will be lining up
for one year of $5mm -15VORP SS who has trouble buttoning his pants.
"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 7, 2007 12:46 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

(except the CWS of course)
"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 7, 2007 12:47 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Not true!
His XXXL pants fit just fine.

Can we really count on him being around next year? Who knows when the next shoot out will take place at his retreat in the DR.

"I give Ozzie an 'A'... This team has never packed it in and I give Ozzie the credit." - Jerry Reinsdorf

by tailgater on Nov 7, 2007 1:05 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Oh right
The ones he borrowed from Herm Schneider.  
"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 7, 2007 1:12 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I'm fine with this
Keep him around for another year and make a strong push for Furcal next winter.

If we had signed Eck, I would've puked.

by BustedFlush on Nov 7, 2007 12:42 PM CST   0 recs

I love how we think Uribe is worth $4.5 million...
because all of the other hitters in the lineup are likely to rebound.  What the hell kind of logic is that?  Isn't signing Juan Uribe mostly about Uribe's talents?

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 12:44 PM CST   0 recs

I agree
They're counting on a bunch of guys that didn't hit very well to hit really well to cover for tubby?
"I give Ozzie an 'A'... This team has never packed it in and I give Ozzie the credit." - Jerry Reinsdorf

by tailgater on Nov 7, 2007 1:04 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I like the "value his defense"
comment.  WTF?  Are they watching the replay of the 9th inning of Game 4 of the '05 WS?  Or last years heftier, less focused version?
2010 - the waiting is the hardest part.

by winningugly on Nov 7, 2007 12:58 PM CST   0 recs

I picture Kenny
signing the contract, putting down his pen, putting his head on his desk...and weeping.
"I give Ozzie an 'A'... This team has never packed it in and I give Ozzie the credit." - Jerry Reinsdorf

by tailgater on Nov 7, 2007 1:07 PM CST   0 recs

haha
a half empty bottle of whiskey and loaded gun beside him.
"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 7, 2007 1:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Just for the fact of no Eckstein.....
this is an acceptable move. Eckstein probably would have required 3 years. I'd much rather have Juan for one year than Eck for 3. I was probably in the pro-Eckstein camp for a 2 year reasonable deal until  most defensive metrics had him declining significantly in the field this past year.

Juan is not as great as he used to be, but he's still average to above average defensively. Without being able to make a deal prior to the option deadline they pretty much had to bring Juan back. They don't have anybody else that can even play a passable SS.

by bhoov on Nov 7, 2007 1:08 PM CST   0 recs

Perhaps Juan can present himself
as a professional athlete by dropping 40 lbs. and taking some hitting instruction, so he can stop swinging from his heals and take a walk once in awhile.
"I give Ozzie an 'A'... This team has never packed it in and I give Ozzie the credit." - Jerry Reinsdorf

by tailgater on Nov 7, 2007 1:19 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

He already had personal instruction
When Hrniak helped him out in 05.  Of course, Walk wouldnt have with someone having success on his watch so he undid it in ST of 06 when he adopted the Spread stance that Ozuna uses.  

I am looking forward to Project Uribe 2007 I mean 2008 when they finally get his talent focused.  LOL

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070305/ai_n18726124

I still remember the Angry KW stating how changes will happen around the ASB of last year.  The team looks pretty damn similar to the 90 loss dog that it was last year.  We just keep giving contracts to players from that team, hoping they will all rebound together.  Hope that its warm, that the perfect storm wont strike twice.  Hopefully Kenny has something up his sleeve.  This looks again of an offseason where we have great plans, then we have to adopt option D, the injured retread that may or may not stay healthy.  

Maybe Kennys Market correction will happen, maybe they will remember how to hit again, maybe the above 30 year old players will play like they are back in their prime again.  Maybe its just smoke and mirrors and we are fucked.  

by southsideirish71 on Nov 7, 2007 1:26 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Rotoworld thinks that Kenny still adds another SS
to push Uribe.
White Sox agreed to terms with shortstop Juan Uribe on a one-year, $4.5 million contract.
Uribe has posted sub-.300 OBPs the last two years and he's lost a step on defense because he's carrying some extra weight, but we'd still take him over Omar Vizquel for next season. $4.5 million is a nice compromise. He gets a $350,000 raise over what he made last season, and the White Sox save $500,000 from what they would have paid had they exercised their option. The team is likely to bring in another shortstop option in order to push Uribe. What they want is for him to show up at camp in great shape and prove that he deserves the job.

I can't wait to see Neifi Perez in a White Sox uniform.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 1:19 PM CST   0 recs

Nah, we'll sign A-Rod to push him
2010 - the waiting is the hardest part.

by winningugly on Nov 7, 2007 1:26 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

According to Bruce LeVineLine of ESPN 1000...
the White Sox may offer Torii Hunter a 5-year contract worth $15 million per year.  This would be the biggest contract offer ever by the White Sox.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 1:23 PM CST   0 recs

That just means
That kenny has figured that Hunter will go for more money.  We look like we are going for it, only to come up short.  

Then we can justify the low cost option Ds that will be around after the FA dance.  

Market Correction is just around the corner, LOL.

by southsideirish71 on Nov 7, 2007 1:27 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Agreed, I love when the Sox do this...
Offer a decent contract, but not enough to get the job done.  5 years / $75 million was a good offer a year ago, Kenny.  This way, it looks like the Sox gave their best effort trying to land a big time free agent but in the end, they don't have to spend the money.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 1:36 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Wait a minute...
...so you guys will be upset if we don't sign Torii to a ridiculous 5-year deal?

by JasonC23 on Nov 7, 2007 2:29 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Yes
The idea of paying Hunter $15 mil when he's 36 to play a substandard CF is less appealing than giving the job to Owens in 2008.  Because if Owens sucks in 2008, he won't be around much longer.

Things I would rather do than sign Hunter for five years include:

Signing the younger and more powerful Andruw Jones for five years.
Signing Mike Cameron for a couple of years.
Picking up Coco Crisp, Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, or Cory Sullivan at their current prices.
Signing Milton Bradley or Corey Patterson for a year.
Picking up Elijah Dukes or Rocco Baldelli for squat.
Getting a subsidized Johnny Damon for little return value.
Playing Brian Anderson in center.
Playing Ryan Sweeney in center.
Playing Jerry Owens in center.

Owens is the least palatable of those options, and I'd still rather have him in center than pay for the next half decade of Hunter's career.

by asinwreck on Nov 7, 2007 3:05 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Picking up Elijah Dukes/ Rocco Baldelli for squat
I'm a Cubs fan if they get Elijah Dukes.

Rocco Baldelli for squat? I don't think so.

by ballyb on Nov 7, 2007 3:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Not saying it's likely
....but if the Rays deem the roster crunch warrants letting either the chronic felon or chronic glass skeleton go for little (maybe one of our non-Fautino/Gio young pitchers), I say take a shot.

by asinwreck on Nov 7, 2007 3:16 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Kenny wept
He's already whining that he's getting outbid, and the bidding hasn't even started.  Hey dude it is what it is, MLB revenues are growing 10% a year.  If you can't address talent deficiencies through your minor league system you're going to have to get out the checkbook.  If that's his excuse for throwing Owens out there again as a starter next year I'll, I'll, I'lll... well, I can't become a Cubs fan.
"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 7, 2007 3:13 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Responding to CPete...
It's great that KW whines about the market to the press, and how FA are getting more and more. Yet somehow he always fails to mention how MLB is making more and more every year...same old rhetoric.

by HulkSmash on Nov 7, 2007 3:38 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

CF options...
  • I'd rather have Andruw Jones as well but he is a Boras client and Kenny isn't a big fan.
  • Mike Cameron for two years wouldn't be a bad idea.
  • I don't understand why people like Coco Crisp so much.  Our scouting department is apparently too stupid to like Lastings Milledge. Carlos Gomez is way overrated.  Cory Sullivan is worse than Podthetic.
  • Milton Bradley is good but he is a nutcase and he's always injured.  Corey Patterson is the CF'er version of Juan Uribe.
  • It doesn't seem like any GM will touch Elijah Dukes with a 10 foot pole.  Everyone always says that Rocco Baldelli could be had for squat and yet the Devil Rays haven't traded him for squat yet.
  • It sounds like Damon may start in LF with Matsui at DH and Giambi at 1B.
  • Brian Anderson can't hit for sh!t and will never start for Ozzie.  He is on his way out.
  • Ryan Sweeney needs another year in AAA.
  • Jerry Owens is a fifth, maybe fourth outfielder at best.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 3:19 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Except for Andruw, all short-term contracts.
I would rather have suckage in CF in 2008, a year when the Sox likely will not be serious contenders regardless of what moves Kenny makes, than an ill-considered long-term contract to a 32-year-old outfielder whose defense is already showing signs of decline and whose offensive contributions likely will not match his career year in 2007.  It's a move that could be as damaging to the Sox' future as the Chan-Ho Park signing was to the Rangers in 2001.  

Jerry Owens using his bat like a flyswatter for six months before he's tossed aside is a better option.

I would do 5 years for Andruw.  He's a year younger, entering free agency off of a down year rather than a career year, and has demonstrated much greater power -- and better offense in general -- than Hunter ever has, making him a viable option in a corner spot should he have to move off of CF before the contract ends.  He could thrive in the Cell.  Boras is an obstacle, but we don't know what the market will give Andruw in an offseason flooded with centerfield options.  Boras might be willing to deal.

by asinwreck on Nov 7, 2007 3:32 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Milton Bradley
Tore his acl I don't anyone is going to pick him up.
If you die with your eyes open you deserved it.

by Soulja Boy on Nov 7, 2007 5:45 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I'm not confident on the BA / RS choices
BA still not playing
RS .250 BA in the AFL
AFL Stat
The wrist injuries may be taking longer to recover from then expected.

by Brush Back on Nov 7, 2007 3:21 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Random middle IF news
For the only hitter who showed up in AAA this year and a guy we've spoken about before.

I've heard here's a decent chance that the Sox put Jason Bourgeois on the 40-man roster later this month.  He is listed as a minor league free agent.  But like Heath Phillips last year, I guess the team still has the option of putting him on the 40-man before the Rule V deadline.  If he's not put on the 40-man, he is definitely fair game for any team.

He's playing decently as a CF in Mexico right now and might be a useful bench player as a CF/2B, 2 positions the Sox may have big problems with.  Way more useful than Andy Gonzalez, who is actually a little bit older, and probably better than Pablo Ozuna, who is already 33!

by Bull Pain on Nov 7, 2007 1:26 PM CST   0 recs

Well then explain to me this
Why wasnt he called up in September.  I mean was giving Erstad and Pods all those ABs and fighting to keep us out of last place worth not giving this guy a look.  3 more wins screwed us in draft position, meant nothing for last season and kept players like this from playing a bit.  

by southsideirish71 on Nov 7, 2007 1:29 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Because Kenny and Ozzie are stupid?
I can't think of any other reason that both Erstad and Podthetic were getting AB's late last season.  This has to be the reason.

Erstad is already gone and Podthetic will be non-tendered.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 1:38 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

2 less wins, I think
2 more loses and we'd have the #5 pick instead of the #8 we have now

if my calculations are correct

by The Wizard on Nov 7, 2007 1:42 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

According to larry
stars go about 7 deep or so in the draft.  After that it's more or less league average and worse sorts.

So that could be a big deal.

OK, bring on the Craigslist chick! Bathe her and bring her to my tent! And keep the Valtrex coming!

by colintj on Nov 7, 2007 1:45 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

He could be paired with Richar
and just be a guy to hit lefties in general, since we still have such trouble with that.  If he can play a legit CF, he can hang around for at least a bit on this roster.  He's certainly better, as you point out, Alex Cintron, Andy Gonzalez or Pablo.
OK, bring on the Craigslist chick! Bathe her and bring her to my tent! And keep the Valtrex coming!

by colintj on Nov 7, 2007 1:44 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

southsideirish71, you'll love the photo of Uribe..
at WhiteSox.com.

It's his classic Tasmanian Devil Profundo Spin-a-rooni Corkscrew celebration.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 1:45 PM CST   0 recs

Foghorn will fill our ears
with more fables of the mythical beast that can carry an entire team.  Of course this is the same Foghorn who stated he would take Uribe over any SS in the game at one point.  

by southsideirish71 on Nov 7, 2007 1:50 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Why not?
He's already carrying a refrigerator.
"I give Ozzie an 'A'... This team has never packed it in and I give Ozzie the credit." - Jerry Reinsdorf

by tailgater on Nov 7, 2007 2:47 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

This is exactly what I thought would happen
just at a steeper price.

It would have been difficult to get Uribe to take a pay cut, and probably became impossible when Vizquel signed his deal.

I would say that we can't afford a 4.5M bench player, but we might if Kenny fills the rest of the bench cheaply. Mack and Cintron combined to make more than that last season. If they're replaced by league minimum type players, say, Borghoweveryouspellshisnameous and Owens, another SS isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Nov 7, 2007 1:55 PM CST   0 recs

Added Legend quote
The Legend wants to return!

by The Wizard on Nov 7, 2007 2:29 PM CST   0 recs

Possible Yabuta video
this maybe the RHP the sox had "strong interest: in

look at 0:56 for #20

his stats-page says #20 as well...

by The Wizard on Nov 7, 2007 2:50 PM CST   0 recs

Carrying the team
Maybe Juan can carry the team (3 or 4 games per year) but, given his girth, could the other 24 guys "carry him"?
Canada's finest

by MarkD on Nov 7, 2007 2:54 PM CST   0 recs

Hopefully
away from the pre-game buffet.
"I give Ozzie an 'A'... This team has never packed it in and I give Ozzie the credit." - Jerry Reinsdorf

by tailgater on Nov 7, 2007 3:24 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Bruce Levine -Josh Fields
Just reported that Kenny says Josh Fields is NOT going back to the OF. Worst case with juggling chairs he goes to first.
"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Nov 7, 2007 3:36 PM CST   0 recs

Just heard that...
Bruce LeVineLine with the breaking news.

Levine said that Kenny told him Josh Fields will be a 3B and won't be playing LF in 2008.  This is why Kenny is taking offers on Crede.  I guess this means we could have a new CF'er and LF'er in 2008.  Jerry Owens had better not be at either spot.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 3:39 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Levine also said that...
The White Sox are going to throw everything economically possible at Torii Hunter.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 3:50 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Why?
Seriously, can anyone justify why Torii Hunter is seen as so damn valuable by the Sox?

I've read the assessment of Hunter by a Twins fan over on Sox Machine and it pretty much coincided with my impression of Hunter. He's not a bad player, but he's not great. And I think he's a bad fit for the Sox. He's a low-OBP/high-K player which is what the Sox don't need.

And having a bat like Hunter in CF means that LF is likely to manned by a Pods clone -- a light-hitting speedster. Because the Sox simply have to have a speedy leadoff man. It's the repetition of a repetition of a mistake.

by hitlesswonder on Nov 7, 2007 3:58 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

He's Crede with speed
I know you're not a fan of Crede, or maybe that was JRE (It doesn't matter)...

They were both once the best fielders at their position. Probably aren't anymore. Neither knows how to take a walk. But they have good, but not outstanding, power, and a flair for the dramatic.

Obviously Crede is a bigger question mark, and Hunter's defensive position (even though he'll soon be a corner OFer) and speed make him a better overall player, but they're other skills are pretty similar.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Nov 7, 2007 4:06 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I'm just baffled
Crede was a very good player for a year -- all-star level I think. I don't have a problem with a team carrying good defensive players with pop and low-OBP. But the Sox already have that power/low-OBP combo at several positions. They need someone who can get on-base.

I just don't see why the Sox would break the bank for Hunter. He's just not good enough to justify that.

My best guess is that KW loves the way Hunter bulldozed Burke. And if that's the case, it's another instance of valuing attitude over talent.

by hitlesswonder on Nov 7, 2007 4:20 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Andruw Jones makes way more sense...
But Kenny is jaded by seeing Hunter own us every season.

by SSH2005 on Nov 7, 2007 5:15 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Couldn't have said it better myself
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Nov 7, 2007 4:15 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

yeah
you know they're going to find someone to play leadoff for ozzie. i wouldn't mind owens in left/center if we were going cheap for a year or two. if we're going to sign hunter, though, i just don't get it. since i never posted what i thought our team should look like (with a mix of realism), i'll do it now.

CF owens
LF l. gonzalez
RF dye
3B fields
SS b. hall
2B richar
1B konerko
DH thome

bench
sweeney
ozuna
uribe
t. hall
25th man, has to be league minimum

starters
MB
contreras
danks
floyd
gio

bullpen
jenks
thornton
macdougal
wasserman
logan
journeyman/japanese guy
egbert

yes, i'm a punt on next year and let the kids play guy. only FA is the great luis gonzalez on a cheap one year deal. garland and crede go to brewers for hall (perhaps with miscellaneous parts on either side). javy is auctioned off for prospects. i'd love to deal both jose (instead of javy) and konerko but i don't think it's realistic - obviously i'd be shopping them nonetheless. i'd consider dealing macdougal but i think he may rebound enough early next year that he's more tradable then. bullpens are erratic and i think those schlobs could be league average next year. obiously egbert is there for long mop up duty, which i'm sure will be frequent.

by larry on Nov 7, 2007 4:23 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I know that's not a good team
But I'd be ecstatic if that's what the Sox did. In fact I think what you've posted is the exact approach that I'd take (maybe not Gonzalez -- I'd rather go for a younger scrap-heap OF like Wilkerson or Mench but it doesn't matter).

by hitlesswonder on Nov 7, 2007 4:36 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

you gotta have
veteran presence. at any rate, i just think gonzalez would be cheap and serviceable - and potentially flippable at the deadline for something decent (remember, he's got a ring!). then i'd insert sweeney in right and dye in left.

if someone else comes up (i'd love to have fukodome to put in center but, again, the realism angle) or gonzalez is too expensive, it's not hard to find guys to play leftfield for one year. stewart, lofton, bradley, nixon, on and on. plenty of guys available for a one year rental.

by larry on Nov 7, 2007 4:47 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Wilkerson would be a fun gamble.
A project for Herm, and probably one that would come cheaply.  Might be an Ellis Burks payoff a decade and a half later.

by asinwreck on Nov 7, 2007 4:48 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

as an addendum
since i think bullpens are generally so fungible, i'd be having an open competition for bottom of the bullpen (that's basically read as "other than jenks"). this isn't going to be "nick masset makes the team" or whoever i have on that list makes the bullpen. broadway, phillips, sisco, masset, aardsma, vasquez, haeger, WU's mom, my grandma, WU's second wife, soulja boy, brian anderson, whoever else wants to pick up a ball, WU after he crushes the fantasy campers in january. whatever.

by larry on Nov 7, 2007 4:38 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

+1
OK, bring on the Craigslist chick! Bathe her and bring her to my tent! And keep the Valtrex coming!

by colintj on Nov 7, 2007 4:48 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I enjoy the lineup you postulate
for the reasons you postulate - I still think we are 2-3 years away from contending - but am wondering if you feel this is consistent with what you were admiring the Giants for earlier this month (or end of last month) - keeping fans interested ($ inflows) while rebuilding by having a few marquee players chasing rainbows.  Will Paulie (he of the 0% reality show poll interest), Thomer, MB, AJ, and Dye be enough to keep seats in the seats?

My Mom doesn't have the body type to hold up over 162 games, so I think your grandma, from all I've read, jumps ahead of her on the relief list.

2010 - the waiting is the hardest part.

by winningugly on Nov 7, 2007 5:08 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

read below
it's survival of the fittest. i'll ride your mom until she wears out.

i'd fully expect a decline in attendance. but i also wouldn't be wasting lots of money. i'd have to add things up but that's a decline in payroll from 07. no one should believe any owner/GM next year - not even cashman - who tells you that payroll can't increase rather markedly next year. i know how much money is rolling in. i wouldn't be out there telling the fans we couldn't sign free agents or what have you. i'd tell them the truth: we're looking at our young kids. we're finding out who can play and who can't. that way we know where we need to invest. what's the point of signing a hunter or rowand if dye/sweeney/fields/owens/hall/etc. can do the job? i'd lay out the plan fully. we're banking this years cash. i'd tell them we're going to spend in 09 and beyond. and i'd tell them this will be a fun - although often frustrating - team to watch in 08.

by larry on Nov 7, 2007 5:18 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Why is 2010 so magical all a sudden?
KW hands out short extensions and we're all, "Oh ok, I guess that's a good idea.  No sense signing any long term deals with a team this shitty".  Well, what happens in two years?  Abracadabra now we have young talent?  All these vet contracts come up in two years, there's total jack squat in the minors ready to play by 2010, and in the meantime the going rate in the FA market keeps getting jacked every year. What, the FA market will be more affordable in 2010?

Luis Gonzalez?  WTF, no way.  Management got us into this mess, I'm not buying the BS that they won't pay the freight because the current market is unreasonable.  Go out and buy some major league talent.  Either that or bite the bullet now and unload all this crap and start over.  As it is this mess keeps getting deeper, delaying the inevitable will just make it worse.

"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 7, 2007 5:24 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

It's going to be because
we have the cheapest-ass pitching staff around and will be able to afford it.  Danks, Gio, Egbert, DLS will all be under our control for like 1 million on average.  At least I hope so.
OK, bring on the Craigslist chick! Bathe her and bring her to my tent! And keep the Valtrex coming!

by colintj on Nov 7, 2007 8:28 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

We'll go 4 for 4 on those pitchers in 2010?
What are the odds on any one of those guys being a good, solid 200 IP/yr starter - one in four?  So the probability of all four of those guys making it is 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/4 = 1/256 = 0.3%

So we hang on to the old guys we have for now, and then wait for these young pitchers to be mlb ready in 2010.  Then we say sayonara to all the old position players after 2009, and load up on FA's that winter so in 2010 we can put a fresh new studly lineup loaded with hot FA's to go with this great young (and cheap) starting pitching staff.  Mercy!

If KW pulls this off he truly is a magician.  Unless some miracles happen at the minor league level, we don't have the ammunition to pull off any trades and we don't have Yankee money to go out and buy a brand new lineup.

"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 7, 2007 9:22 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

"At Least I Hope So"
At this point, only Egbert is well through the injury nexus and he's the lowest upside of the four.  Danks is going through it, but he's got something of a violent motion.  So does Gio and he's got a year.  Fautino is in A+ to begin '08.  Nothing is a guarantee.
OK, bring on the Craigslist chick! Bathe her and bring her to my tent! And keep the Valtrex coming!

by colintj on Nov 8, 2007 12:30 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

I hope so too
I wasn't poking holes in your analysis, because I also think that's what KW basing his decisions on.  And I imagine the odds of a staff forming out of this swirling dust improve a little if you include Floyd, Massett, Poredo and Broadway in the mix.  But am I optimistic that abracadabra we have a young contending team in 2010?  Richar, Fields, Sweeney, BA, Chris Carter?  No.
"We've missed a little bit of that grind and edge and we've got to get that back." - Kenny Williams

by ChicagoPete on Nov 8, 2007 6:25 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

You forgot Jose Martinez and John Shelby.
We've got pieces coming into play, a few of which have the chance to be stars.  We just need to get to the point where we're actually feeding the big league club again.  These next two years we're not going to have anything outside of Sweeney and Anderson except maybe Getz coming from our system wrt position players.  Charlotte and Birmingham are depressingly bare.
OK, bring on the Craigslist chick! Bathe her and bring her to my tent! And keep the Valtrex coming!

by colintj on Nov 8, 2007 9:43 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

Also, I don't think Kenny thinks he's done
with acquiring pitching prospects of some kind.  I mean you have to respect the mass and different kinds of pitchers he's acquired in not a lot of time.