Ken Williams says let the kids play, Mark Buehrle wants a no-trade clause

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2007 1:03 PM CDT in White Sox News

Kenny says it may soon be the time to 'let the kids play' (Owens, Sweeney, BA):

"If we don't start to make a run really quickly, then you may see for the first-time guys get an extended opportunity, where we haven't had that luxury in recent years -- to give guys extended opportunities, which accelerates their growth, their growth and security at this level. It's difficult to develop at the same time when you're trying to win, but it's a necessary component if you're going to continue to develop a solid core of players to rely upon."

Ozzie's feelings about Sox prospects are well known ("nobody impressed me," none of them is a legit major leaguer) but Kenny is preaching patience:

"I know the people in the stands can't see it just yet because they only have to judge what they've seen out here, but the speed of the game at the major league level takes some adjusting. I'm a developing guy, a scouting guy, a developing guy; I've been through this drill before. Sometimes it takes a while, and I'm patient. ... Jerry [Owens] has all the abilities and capabilities in the world to be a top leadoff hitter at the big-league level.

BA?

"Sure. I don't get down that easily on guys. I probably, at this point, I probably have more confidence than they do."

*****

Buehrle's agent, Jeff Berry, says Mark won't sign if the Sox don't give him a no-trade clause:

"Mark is not going to waver on his desire for a full no-trade clause. If he can't play where he wants, which is Chicago, then he'll re-evaluate it at the end of the year when he is a free agent."

Berry also said that if Buehrle gets traded, he won't sign an extension but will enter free agency. This decreases kenny's bargaining power, yes? *****

In other news, Aardsma was sent down, Whalen thinks Floyd will be called up (UPDATE: It is Floyd), and Jim looks at a potential Mackowiak trade.

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Comments

I wouldn't be against...

a Mackowiak trade, but I've got to think that he wouldn't bring back anything of value.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:08 PM CDT reply actions

who cares?

save money and open a roster spot.

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess...

But it's not like anyone's knocking on the door that Mackowiak is blocking.

Either way, I guess. Mackowiak isn't someone I spend a lot of time thinking about.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

um

to bring up sweeney and BA (not to mention when our geriatrics get off the DL), someone's gotta go.

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe.

I think Sweeney gets called up if and when Dye gets dealt. I wouldn't be surprised if Anderson never puts on a White Sox uniform again.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions

not maybe

players need to be moved for this youth movement to occur (and we all know it's inevitable); we're going to see sweeney before september. i'd bet we see richar, too.

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions

He could bring back

a guy who could end up in the pen, I'd bet.

by colintj on Jul 5, 2007 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions

"nobody impressed me"

Is this the same Oswaldo Jose (Barrios) Guillen of the .264 BA & .287 OBP for his career?

by ballyb on Jul 5, 2007 1:08 PM CDT reply actions

To be fair...

they haven't been impressive this season, no matter who's doing the evaluating.

Owens - .175/.230/.211
Sweeney - .200/.265/.333
Anderson - .118/.211/.176

True, there are sample size issues here, but none of them even looked really good at the plate. Sweeney showed some flashes, but that's about it. Andy Gonzalez (who isn't really a prospect) has been better than any of them.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions

josh fields, anyone?

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I think...

the article was focusing out the outfield prospects, but yeah, I'm pleased with the way Fields is coming around, and I'd imagine that Guillen is as well.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

where do you think fields is going to be playing

next year?

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Probably third base.

I think Crede is done.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

lol

i know you do. but he's not. he'll be at third for at least a couple months - that is, until we trade him or his back gives way.

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions

We'll see.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah, i know. official press release.

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Nah, just speculating...

but I'm thinking that the most logical thing this winter is to non-tender Crede. He's been battling this back thing for some time, and it seems to be getting worse, not better.

Add to that the fact that he's a Boras client, and as such (1) won't sign cheap and (2) won't be around past 2008, and I'm thinking that the slight chance that he'll impress people over a couple of months next year and becomes worth a little something in trade isn't worth the hassle and money involved.

But this is Ken Williams we're talking about, so you're probably right. He likes injury-prone players who have accomplished something in the past (Erstad, Dye, Podsednik). Heck, sometimes it even works out for a while.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:48 PM CDT up reply actions

It

depends on whether they get something worthwhile in free agency. In my opinion, they have to get in the free agent mix this winter FOR REAL...meaning getting an established major league outfielder (Ichiro is my dream) plus AT least one other respectable player, preferrably two, any position(s) will do.

by dantesox on Jul 5, 2007 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions

That's not a whole lot worse

than team average at the time each was up. But it'a a point well taken.

by ballyb on Jul 5, 2007 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Ozzie "Parcells"

Sound like Ozzie's pulling a latino version of Bill Parcells on his young players.

by phastphil on Jul 5, 2007 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions

speaking of official releases

gavin floyd.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=cws

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

good point

"Berry also said that if Buehrle gets traded, he won't sign an extension but will enter free agency. This decreases kenny's bargaining power, yes?"

Probably a smart move by Berry. Kenny's bargaining power has been limited on one side by the fact that there have been NO good offers for Buehrle, and that apparently has not yet been juiced by re-opening negotiations. Now Berry closes it further by saying Mark will only be a rental if traded.

Kenny's waiting for the sweet offer from LA, Boston, whatever, and when he realizes it's not coming, he'll grant the NTC in some way...

Either that, or Kenny will lower his asking price from the contenders in order to avoid caving to Berry, and ship Mark out. In which case, he deserves some animosity from the fans...

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

by Nordhagen on Jul 5, 2007 1:42 PM CDT reply actions

Or...

he'll sit on Buehrle all year, and then let him walk and take the draft picks. I have very little basis for this, but I'm starting to think that this is the most likely scenario.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jul 5, 2007 1:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Floyd = Buehrle gone?

Guillen said they didn't want to bring up Floyd for just one start. I think Mark is gone.

by hitlesswonder on Jul 5, 2007 2:37 PM CDT up reply actions

ozzie doesn't run the team

KW does. and he likes floyd. and he's also good at preventing ozzie from really fucking shit up. the pen got a nice workout yesterday and is likely to get another one today with danks on the mound. couple that with some likely usage during the first game on friday and obviously very likely some more in the second, this move makes complete and total sense - without even getting into possible trades.

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions

trading Mack

for a longshot catching or 2b/ss project wouldn't bother me, not a current top 10, but someone from last years class rounds 15-30 would be a nice addition and open a bit more flexibility

p.s. still looking for the board cocktail on cintron day

by tubesox on Jul 5, 2007 1:57 PM CDT reply actions

MOOOOOOOOJITOS?

by colintj on Jul 5, 2007 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions

What's that mean?

by ballyb on Jul 5, 2007 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Its a drink amigo

Damn Sox

by marco054 on Jul 5, 2007 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

MOOOOOOOO

Milk based?

by ballyb on Jul 5, 2007 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

don't think so

google says

Bacardi Mojito (say 'mohito,' and enjoy!)

An easy mojito recipe to liven up your evening:

1.5 oz BACARDI Rum
12 fresh spearmint leaves
1/2 lime
7 oz club soda
2 tbsp. simple syrup
(or 4 tsp. sugar)

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2007 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions

now, I want one

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

well, I think I have some rum somewhere around here...

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2007 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions

the commercial is also great

Damn Sox

by marco054 on Jul 5, 2007 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, Cheat,

I think liquor ads might work on this site.

by ballyb on Jul 5, 2007 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Appleton is much better than Bacardi.

by ballyb on Jul 5, 2007 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Mojitos

are really really good. Like a Cuban Margarita, but not so sweet.

Let's all start pounding them, pass out and wake up after this godforsaken train wreck of a season is over.

Although...I'm not sure if Grinders drink Mojitos. Someone call Aaron and find out.

President - Johnny Dickshot Fan Club

by tailgater on Jul 5, 2007 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

i think that's what makes

it such a good suggestion

by colintj on Jul 5, 2007 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Be sure to...

muddle your mint!

Out-underacheiving the other guy.

by defensive indifference on Jul 5, 2007 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions

reyes send down again...

link

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2007 2:21 PM CDT reply actions

gomes broke his hand...

link

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2007 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions

idea

can we package jose and jermaine?

I know coletti is looking for a bat, he also lost a pitcher (wolf)

can we do something there?

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2007 2:30 PM CDT reply actions

Electric Shock Treatment for both

and then send 'em off.

by ballyb on Jul 5, 2007 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

if it'll work, start it up!

by The Wizard on Jul 5, 2007 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Is Floyd going

day or night?

by southsider80 on Jul 5, 2007 4:24 PM CDT reply actions

the night game was the TBA

so i'd assume that.

Yeaaah. I'm gonna need you to go ahead and provide me with an official press release on that. OK? Great.

by larry on Jul 5, 2007 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I think night

by omnipotent grab on Jul 5, 2007 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Damn

that's what I thought...I didn't know if alterations were going to be made depending on Masset or Floyd pitching. I'm going to the day game and wanted to Floyd pitch.

by southsider80 on Jul 5, 2007 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions