Rowand Back to the Sox Trade Rumors Part III

by Option27 @ South Side Sox on Mar 9, 2007 10:57 AM CST

As Chiburb also pointed out, Kenny may try to bring back outfielder Aaron Rowand:

A source indicated that Sox general manager Ken Williams has been in talks with Philadelphia GM -- and good friend -- Pat Gillick about a deal that would send middle-relief help, including left-hander Boone Logan, to the Phillies for former Sox outfielder Aaron Rowand. ... On the Sox end, neither Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney or Jerry Owens have distinguished themselves as leading candidates for the center-field job this spring. Yes, Rowand has a dismal .111 batting average this spring, but hitting coach Greg Walker has always understood his swing. Wizard: But Logan is getting his stuff together. How about Aardsma or Tracey?

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I wouldn't have though this last year at this time

But we actually have too many relievers in my opinion and would be wise to give up one or two of em for Aaron back.

by Option27 @ South Side Sox on Mar 9, 2007 12:16 PM CST reply actions

but boone?

he seems too much for the small offensive improvement from anderson to rowand

by The Wizard on Mar 9, 2007 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

C'mon, Wiz...

...it's the INTANGIBLES. The GRINDIOSITY. The GOATEENESS. And don't forget the ABILITY to go first to second on a ball off the wall in left.

If religion is the opiate of the masses, then I reckon I'm an addict.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 9, 2007 12:23 PM CST up reply actions

Grinder Rating

Rowand's Grinder Ratings is one of the highest that I have ever seen.

by hugh on Mar 9, 2007 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

His 97 totally buries the needle !!!

Makes Scrapiron Phil Garner look like Aramis Ramirez.

by ChicagoPete on Mar 9, 2007 1:12 PM CST up reply actions

yeah

well I look at it as more than just a small upgrade in offensive talent.

I look at it as a boost in defensive improvement even though Brian is nice out there in center field. I look at it as some more good chemistry in the locker room. Also, that little boost of improvement on offense. Any improvement is huge. I feel like Brian is playing a pitcher's role in that 9th spot.

by Option27 @ South Side Sox on Mar 9, 2007 12:26 PM CST up reply actions

Don't you remember '05?

How you'd hold your breath at every ball hit to a gap or deep center? Waiting to see which of several routes Rowand would take ON THE SAME PLAY?

If you watched many games last year it was very clear that BA was better than AR defensively.

Besides, didn't we all agree that trading AR in the 1st place was a great move by KennyGM? Getting rid of our weakest link?

If you're going to package quality relievers, at least make it for someone with an upside.
(Oh yeah... we already have him in BA.)

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Mar 9, 2007 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

The Baseball God otherwise known as Aaron Rowand

Other than the fact that he's five years older than BA, his OPS+ is in a free fall the past few years, he had 30 walks and 120 k's with no power his last full season with us, and he doesn't have enough sense to know he's taken five strides on the warning track - what's not to love about him?

by ChicagoPete on Mar 9, 2007 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

"What's not to love about him"?

I can think of $4.35 MILLION reasons; plus incentives!

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Mar 9, 2007 1:24 PM CST up reply actions

dollar / grinder rating

Brian Anderson: 330000 / 3 = 110,000 per grinder point

Aaron Rowand: 4350000 / 97 = 44,845 per grinder point

Damn, grind for grind, Rowand is more than twice the value of BA.

by hugh on Mar 9, 2007 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

One more thing:

Aren't you the guy who said this:

Rocco Baldelli
I heard Kenny was interested in getting Rocco. I would love for him to be our starting CF! He is 25 and getting better. He is also an Ozzie kind of player.

by Option27 on Thu Dec 07, 2006 at 12:36:19 PM CDT

How can you now be accepting of Rowand II ? The 2 aren't even comparable.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Mar 9, 2007 12:49 PM CST up reply actions

You're right

He was interested in getting Rocco. But apparently, it never fell through and I would much rather have him than Aaron. But if they have a chance to get someone like Aaron for a position we have many replacements for, I say go for it.

by Option27 @ South Side Sox on Mar 9, 2007 1:58 PM CST up reply actions

"someone like Aaron"

Aaron pretty much sucks now, though. We have someone like Aaron, named Brian Anderson, who is younger, cheaper, and probably better defensively. And, if given the chance, he has a pretty good shot at at least matching the kind of offensive numbers Rowand would put up in 2007 (and I don't just mean GIDPs).

by Ryno on Mar 9, 2007 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

i'm just wondering

why we would trade players from a position we have many replacements for to add a player to a position we have many replacements for.

by larry on Mar 9, 2007 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

Especially when

the proposal is to send away valuable "replacements" for more mediocrity.

He shoulda stuck with Baldelli and called it a day.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Mar 9, 2007 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

I can't argue that

by Option27 @ South Side Sox on Mar 9, 2007 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

overrated on defense

i thought this analysis of the phillies defense last year was interesting. if aaron is such a god in center, i'm wondering why their defense was better when he wasn't in there.

http://www.thegoodphight.com/story/2006/9/24/11112/1025#readmore

you just need to read that to figure out why the phils want a refund after one year.

by larry on Mar 9, 2007 12:53 PM CST up reply actions

Rowand

Maybe it took him a full season to adjust to the lights in all of those NL ballparks.

If religion is the opiate of the masses, then I reckon I'm an addict.

by Toonderstrook on Mar 9, 2007 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

Marginal upgrade

I don't see it as defensive upgrade at all. Ithought Anderson was better on D last year than Rowand (although I only saw a game or two of Rowand). Chris Dial's defensive stats agree (I know that's not the last word on defense, but still...). In any case I don't think Rowand's glove is better than Anderson's or Erstad's.

On offense, last year Rowand was terrible in the second half (just a little better than Anderson was). He would be an offensive upgrade on Anderson, but Rowand would probably platoon with Erstad. So you'd be looking around an .800 OPS versus LHP instead maybe .720 or something from Anderson. That is an improvement, but can Rowand handle a platoon role? And what do you have to give up to get him?

If he's cheap, it's fine to trade for him. But when you start talking about sending Logan and MacDougal for him, it's just not, not, not a good idea.

by hitlesswonder on Mar 9, 2007 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

agree

there's absolutely no way you give macdougal for an 50/100 point OPS improvement

by The Wizard on Mar 9, 2007 1:08 PM CST up reply actions

updated the story's title

by The Wizard on Mar 9, 2007 12:29 PM CST reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised

if this happens.

I vividly recall a Mike North interview with KW earlier this winter where Kenny admitted he was trying to work a deal with Philly to get AR back, but it wasn't in the cards at the time.

Any chance they'd put AR in left, keep BA in center and send Pods packing? Or, God forbid, put AR in left, Pods in center and deal BA?

Oh, the humanity!

President - Johnny Dickshot Fan Club

by tailgater on Mar 9, 2007 12:54 PM CST reply actions

From a Jayson Stark chat

Saw this on soxtalk....

frank (allentown, pa)
Any truth the rumors of the phillies trading lieber to toronto and rowand to the white sox for an outfielder and relief help?

JAYSON STARK
There's definite smoke there, in both cases. But we're a long way from anything happening. I can't see the Blue Jays trading Alexis Rios for Jon Lieber. That's one big component. They'd think about it for Brett Myers, maybe. But there are missing pieces on that end. And I can't see the Phillies dealing Rowand for any old middle reliever. They would need someone like Mike MacDougal back. That's a guy the White Sox don't want to give up. So is something up? Yes. Do I see those deals going down as rumored? No.

by hitlesswonder on Mar 9, 2007 1:00 PM CST reply actions

Before they send BA packing...

I don't know what this guy has done to stay on Ozzie's (and I'm guessing Kenny's) sh** list, but let us recall our beloved Joe Crede wasn't an offensive force until just last season...his 4th year playing full-time.

I'm all for dealing someone if you get something in return, but I think we'll be kicking ourselves in the ass if he moves on and thrives elsewhere.

President - Johnny Dickshot Fan Club

by tailgater on Mar 9, 2007 1:03 PM CST reply actions

I now see BA had two hits on Thursday morning's

...B game

[Scott Merkin]

Rob Mackowiak had three hits in the "B" game. Thome, Eduardo Perez and Brian Anderson had two hits apiece.

Maybe he should adopt Thome's "lots of at bats" ST approach?

by The Wizard on Mar 9, 2007 1:27 PM CST reply actions

Rownd vs Anderson

The difference between the two is that Rowand makes the same play look hard and crashes into a wall. Anderson just takes the direct route, is faster and covers for Pods and anybody else in left much better. He is not unlike Crede who people wanted to give up on and now want to slit their wrists if he moves on. Give him his ABs and keep the faith.

by Tim from Texas on Mar 9, 2007 2:53 PM CST reply actions

nicely said

by The Wizard on Mar 9, 2007 3:05 PM CST up reply actions

whalen's take

[Nathaniel Whalen]

I know people are wondering about the Sox centerfield situation, especially after Joe Cowley's story in the Sun-Times that the team is considering re-acquiring Aaron Rowand. Though I have no real source on this, my inclination is that they won't do that. I think the Sox have a lot invested in Brian Anderson, Ryan Sweeney and Jerry Owens and would like to see them all succeed. I think if they acquire Rowand, that would mean all three would likely go to the minors, which could stunt Anderson's growth a lot more than it already has been. It was already hard enough when Sweeney was a September call-up and the team talked him up while Anderson was seemingly in the doghouse for a poor season. Imagine would it might do to BA's mindset and sense of importance - pertaining to the Sox, that is - if they sent him back down to Triple-A. The team wants Anderson to win the job and probably told him so during Friday's sitdown.

by The Wizard on Mar 10, 2007 2:38 PM CST reply actions