Ozzie Guillen feels the need, the need for speed!

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 12:58 PM CDT in Quotes Comment 59 comments

Ozzie wants more speed on the top and bottom of the lineup next year:

"When you have speed, speed is never in a slump unless you get hurt. Speed can make a lot of things happen. You will need home runs, but I think speed and pitching win maybe 20 more games than anything else."

*****

More Ozzie on ¡Profundo!

"He has an opportunity to convince [general manager] Kenny [Williams], myself and our coaching staff we can count on him the way we want him to be playing. And I love the kid. Uribe doesn't know how much talent he has. Uribe doesn't know how good he can be. This kid can be one of the best players in the game at that position. What happened in his mind was RBI and home runs. There are a lot different ways to be good player out of the shortstop position. When you're not stealing bases, you've got to hit 35 to 40 home runs. ... Shortstop is not the same position as when I was playing. You hit .220, you steal 30 bases and catch everything, that was great. The only way [Uribe is] going to do it is to show up and break through that kind of stuff, and I don't know if he can do that. ... I'm going to give Gonzalez a chance to play shortstop. Right now he would need some help. I think Gonzalez could be a great utility player. He can play everywhere in the outfield and infield. ... He knows how to play the game and get good at-bats. Can he play everyday? He did in the minor leagues. At this level, we haven't tried yet."

*****

How did Iguchi do against Matsuzaka in Japan? 31-for-85 (.365) with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.

And a couple more trade rumors: the Red Sox are after Garland, and the Mets like Vazquez but the Sox are trying to send them Contreras.

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I bet they do

Want Garland and Vasquez. Pay up! Reasonable price my ass.

"Find out what you are doing wrong and STOP doing that."

by Tdogg on Jul 19, 2007 1:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Freal

Since when do you get a proven major league starter with a year left on his contract and not get a couple prospects back? This market is annoying.

by colintj on Jul 19, 2007 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I trust that KW won't deal JG or JV

without a substantial return. I thought it was funny that McAdam said the Red Sox were interested in Garland, but would rather have Dontrelle Willis and weren't interested in Vazquez at all. Willis' reputation is significantly better than his performance. I'd rather have Garland. And I'd rather keep Vazquez than Garland. I have to question McAdams' reporting really -- it's like he hasn't looked at the stats for Willis or Vazquez this year.

by hitlesswonder on Jul 19, 2007 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yes

if they have anything like coco crisp for mark buehrle in mind like last year, they can go jump in the lake

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Steve Stone

I know people like to talk about how insightful he is, but he just said that the Sox may only need to get 2 OFs for 2008 because Owens is looking good. He's also optimistic about Masset.

I think I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with that....

by hitlesswonder on Jul 19, 2007 1:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He's absolutely

LOVED Masset since seeing him in spring training. I hope he can straighten things out in Charlotte.

by ballyb on Jul 19, 2007 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Too bad Steve Stone is an awful analyzer...

of baseball talent.

He also thinks that a washed-up Jason Kendall was a great acquisition for the Cubs.

by SSH2005 on Jul 19, 2007 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would guess he probably knows more

about the game of baseball, including talent evaluation, than anyone who regularly posts on this site.

by ballyb on Jul 19, 2007 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure that's true

That doesn't mean he's right about Masset & Owens.

by hitlesswonder on Jul 19, 2007 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No doubt.

by ballyb on Jul 19, 2007 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he may know more about it

apparently, however, he does not apply that knowledge.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 19, 2007 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, 'Ol Stoney is right...

Jerry Owens is going to be the next Kenny Lofton and Nick Masset is going to be an ace for us in the near future.

Steve Stone is a great game announcer but a horrible baseball analyzer. Instead of simply buying into his bullshit, why not watch both Owens and Masset with your own eyes and form your own expectations. Right now, Owens looks like a fourth outfielder at best and Masset looks like a garbage reliever.

by SSH2005 on Jul 19, 2007 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where? In what context?

Just wondering. He could have been flattering somebody or something.

by colintj on Jul 19, 2007 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The more I hear him

The more I realize he's just filling airtime. I know he knows the game, I just don't believe he has as much inside knowledge on what's going on as he tends to act like. Last week he said Charlie's promotion meant Contreras would be gone by last Sunday. I think more of on on air personality these days. (Otherwise why isn't he a GM somewhere?)

White Sox baseball, let the kids learn to play

by Brush Back on Jul 19, 2007 6:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not sure anyone's watching Twins-Tigers....

but I was just going to post how stupid it is for Gardenhire to let Baker start the 7th and then Rabelo starts it with a 3B....

by stanchar on Jul 19, 2007 2:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

How jealous is Ozzie of the Tigers right now?

Detroit Tigers Transactions:

7/19/07: Placed OF Marcus Thames on the 15-day disabled list; Purchased the contract of OF Timo Perez from Triple-A Toledo.

by SSH2005 on Jul 19, 2007 2:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i heard las vegas is no longer taking bets

on the world series winner because of this news.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 19, 2007 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can Timo keep the streak alive...

The Tigers are going all way this year -- great move by Dombrowski. Luckily, the Sox have 3 openings in the OF next season. If KW knows what he's doing Timo's name is already up on the big board.

by hitlesswonder on Jul 19, 2007 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

stark on contreras

[stark]

Don't believe the talk about the White Sox's moving Javier Vazquez or Jon Garland. The clubs shopping at the South Side Pitchers Mart are skeptical that general manager Kenny Williams has legit interest in moving any starter except Contreras.

But there's only one bigger deterrent than Contreras' contract ($3 million-plus for the rest of this year, then $10 million in both 2008 and 2009). And that's the way he's pitching. He's a frightening 9-20 with a 5.35 ERA since last year's All-Star break, with 298 baserunners allowed in 193 1/3 innings. His velocity is down. His splitter is flat. His arm angle is suspicious. So one scout says, flatly: "I'm not sure how healthy he is."

Nevertheless, don't bet against somebody's taking a shot. Remember, says one baseball man, "He was pitching terrible for the Yankees [in 2004] when the White Sox took a chance on him, too. So I'd bet he'll be the biggest chip moved."

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 2:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

In other words...

"the clubs shopping" aren't happy that Williams has no interest in dumping Vazquez and Garland for whatever trash they're willing to deal.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 19, 2007 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

re

or "the clubs shopping" don't want to pay for JG or JV

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right.

To them, "legit interest" means "willing to dump for nothing".

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 19, 2007 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So we can't have a guy hitting .220,

stealing 30 bases, and catching everything at short (like Ozzie) this day and age. Why the hell not? It'd sure be an improvement from what we have now. And I bet the pitchers wouldn't bitch too much.

I'll be dead before all of you

by winningugly on Jul 19, 2007 3:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Would it be?

An improvement, I mean? How much better is Izturis than Uribe defensively? Because he sure isn't an upgrade with the bat.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 19, 2007 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was responding to Ozzie's quote

referenced above. When I say "catches everything" I mean a really good glove - not erratic. I don't like Izturas at all.

I'll be dead before all of you

by winningugly on Jul 19, 2007 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

''South Side Pitchers Mart''

reminds me of 'Stan's Used Vessels' (from Monkey Island)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_(Monkey_Island)

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 3:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I miss Monkey Island. They need to make another.

by colintj on Jul 19, 2007 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How much would South Side Sox.....

posters be willing to eat of the remaining 23 mil on Jose's contract?

I think I'd throw in 6-8 mil in a deal....

by stanchar on Jul 19, 2007 3:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd be fine with that

I'm afraid it might take more cash to move him. There aren't too many teams willing to take a 2@$15M chance on Jose, though. Deep pocketed teams like Boston could.

But of course, the Red Sox keep acting like all we have is junk to trade them. Well, they get to see Javy, Jose, and Garland all this weekend, and I hope they shut their asses down.

Go Alex Cintron!! (and take Uribe with you...)

by Nordhagen on Jul 19, 2007 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My feeling is that.....

Javy and Garland right now are actually pretty much untouchable some out-of-this-world offer to KW.
I know we need a lot of help, but KW would not have to worry much about SP going into next season with Buehrle, Garland, Javy, Danks and then ?????? Having a ?????? for a 5th starter is par for the course in MLB and we at least have a few options to play around with.

Agreed that 6-8 mil probably won't be enough to shed the Contreras contract....then again...if he gets consistent velocity back in his final two starts before July 31 and has reasonable success the picture changes.

by stanchar on Jul 19, 2007 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

and I don't want to hear from Kenny that the payroll is affected in 08 and 09 because we're subsidizing someone for Jose's services.

So if we get a lesser prospect and don't have to kick in as much cash, that's fine.

I don't think we necessarily have to trade Jose by the deadline either. Maybe he has a decent second half, and the FA market is still sky high?? 2 yrs @ 20 mil might look more palatable to other GMs.

Go Alex Cintron!! (and take Uribe with you...)

by Nordhagen on Jul 19, 2007 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And Jose....

would definitely clear waivers in August...

by stanchar on Jul 19, 2007 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bonds has 2 homers against the Cubs today.

by SSH2005 on Jul 19, 2007 3:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Can we get him 3 more at bats?

Bwa-ha-ha-ha!

President - Johnny Dickshot Fan Club

by tailgater on Jul 19, 2007 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i listened to a couple putzes

on the score this morning go on about how bonds should have played more than one AB in the last three games. what a bunch of tools.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 19, 2007 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of Sox cast-offs (TIMO...YES!)

Damaso Marte currently has a 1.55 ERA (29 IP, 18 H, 5 ER, 0 HR, 12 BB, 33 SO)

Jerk.

President - Johnny Dickshot Fan Club

by tailgater on Jul 19, 2007 4:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I read on BTF...

that the Sox scouts are looking at Arizona's AA outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. I like how high he's aiming, but if the Sox bought low on Quentin for Contreras and cash, I'd do that deal.

by CWSKeith on Jul 19, 2007 4:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gonzalez' is struggling, too, though

and he's accomplished much less than Quentin. He's still posting a .200 ISO, but he's halved his walk rate and upped his K rate a bit and managed a sub .300 BABIP.

by colintj on Jul 19, 2007 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting graph

here on how good the Tigers' offense is and how bad ours' is.

by BustedFlush on Jul 19, 2007 4:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

who writes these articles?

and why would you trust anything they say?

Jose Contreras, SP, White Sox
Other teams would probably rather see Sox GM Kenny Williams make Javier Vazquez available, or Jon Garland. But Contreras (5-11, 5.32 ERA) is No. 1 on the block. He's 35 with some injury problems, and his fastball has to speed up to reach into the low 90s. But he's postseason tested (4-1, 3.77 in 12 games), relatively cheap (what's left of about $6 million) and he has no other strings (a free agent this winter).
Prediction: HE'LL GO.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/john_donovan/07/19/griffey.reds/1.html

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 19, 2007 5:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oh good, he's a free agent

good thing he doesn't have strings like 2 more yrs on his contract

Go Alex Cintron!! (and take Uribe with you...)

by Nordhagen on Jul 19, 2007 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Other MLB rumors

Dunn to the Brewers -- from a person I have a reasonable amount of trust in at Soxtalk.

by CWSKeith on Jul 19, 2007 5:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense....

they need help 5-8 in that order behind Fielder.

by stanchar on Jul 19, 2007 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

melvin

denied it

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'd rather have dye

he comes cheaper trade wise, has a good history in the playoffs, and does play better defense

they both have good track records of hitting aginst the cubs, but i guess Dunn has some nice numbers against Zambrano, but thats only 2 starts

by tubesox on Jul 19, 2007 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

With Floyd and Ward down

today because of (slight) injuries, I'd not completely dismiss Dye to the Scrubs. We have a history of dealing with the North Side.

Problem is, who the hell do we want? Theriot?

I'll be dead before all of you

by winningugly on Jul 19, 2007 8:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cedeno?

I don't know anything about him, just heard his name here

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bueller?

i'll still take just about anything for him.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 19, 2007 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jim Belushi and Bill Murray

Great clubhouse chemistry. Belushi is like a younger Smokey Burgess.

I'll be dead before all of you

by winningugly on Jul 19, 2007 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would take Cedeno for Dye...

We need a new SS badly and Cedeno is tearing it up in AAA.

by SSH2005 on Jul 19, 2007 9:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how is his glove?

by The Wizard on Jul 19, 2007 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Decent

I think he was sent down because of his stick.

I'll be dead before all of you

by winningugly on Jul 19, 2007 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

His glove is weird...

Last year, I remember him making a lot of gold glove plays and also completely botch the routine ones. But his glove is supposed to be good.

by SSH2005 on Jul 19, 2007 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO WAY.

they're giving up Cedeno for a few months of Dye.

NO WAY.

by ballyb on Jul 20, 2007 7:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

jon garland for matt karchner, anyone?

i agree it's unlikely. but one problem for the cubs - as shown by the attempts to unload jacque, particularly to florida - is that the cubs aren't going to be allowed, either by bud or the tribune company, to take on much future salary or send money the other way in a deal. their hands are somewhat tied in that regard as to who they can acquire. now, there are plenty of sluggers who are in the final year of their contract - dunn, young, and so on. but other teams who are trading with the cubs should be aware of this.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 20, 2007 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought...

that they dealt Izturis to make room for Cedeno. Is that incorrect?

And didn't they sign Soriano after they knew the team was being sold?

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 20, 2007 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no

sam zell et al didn't purchase tribune until the first week of april or so. they were on business as usual this offseason because, frankly, the cubs weren't a huge part of that deal for zell. when you're being actively shopped as a single entity, however, taking on more debt/liabilities on your own could be a stumbling block - bud selig certainly thought it was, at any rate, and he's who matters.

and if they traded izturis to make room for cedeno then maybe they should actually add him to their roster.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 20, 2007 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't follow...

the Cubs at all - I just assumed that Cedeno would be called up. If not Cedeno, who plays short for them?

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 20, 2007 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ryan theriot was platooning with izturis

and, for now, it looks like he's going to play every day. i'm sure the cubs will call up cedeno before sept. 1 so he'd be available in the playoffs but a call-up doesn't seem imminent.

Free Ehren Wasserman!

by larry on Jul 20, 2007 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs