Paul from Las Vegas is back!

by The Wizard on Jan 14, 2008 3:07 PM CST in Quotes

What do you think about this: Joe Crede to the San Francisco Giants for Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez?

Merkin tries to say 'Sabean isn't that big of a moron' gently:

Here's a statement of fact in my mind: If Ken Williams can acquire Cain for Crede, make the trade today. As I've mentioned countless times previously, Crede was the Most Valuable Player from start to finish during the 2005 playoffs, and he just started to come into his own offensively in 2006. But because of last season's back surgery, Crede's value remains uncertain and Cain or the Angels' Chone Figgins or Scot Shields probably are a little much to expect in return, at this point.

Paul from Las Veags reloads!

There are a lot of rumors out there saying Paul Konerko will go to the Angels for Figgins, Ervin Santana and Howie Kendrick. I love Konerko, but what would this do for us? Will this go down and if it does, will it help us?

and Merkin tries to say 'The Angels aren't morons' gently:

It always amazes me how one somewhat speculative story, albeit from a solid reporter referring to a source, sets off a rumor mill firestorm. One of my friends actually called me on the Saturday afternoon in which the Konerko talk re-emerged and told me he had read on a fan site on the Internet that the deal was done and a press conference was coming. I apparently missed that particular conference call, as did Konerko, Williams and the four or five players the White Sox were receiving in return. ... If it's the Angels, by the way, I would be stunned if Kendrick is part of the deal.

Seems Merkin caught a little bit of the spirit too though:

Who is going to be the White Sox left fielder?

I look for some sort of platoon ultimately to take place between Jerry Owens and Carlos Quentin. That combination puts Swisher in left when Owens is in the lineup playing center field, and an outfield of Quentin, Swisher and Jermaine Dye from left to right when Owens is on the bench.

Why take at-bats away from Quentin and give them to Owens?

***** In other news,

A SoxMachine production: Know your 2008 Sox non-roster Spring Training invitees.
ZiPS projections: Mike Cameron: .254/.341/.447 (OPS+ 102), Mark Kotsay: .277/.334/388 (OPS+ 88), Emil Brown: .257/.322/.376 (OPS+ 86), Marcus Giles: .268/.348/.387 (OPS+ 84), Troy Glaus: .256/362/.456 (OPS+ 112), Scott Rolen: .245/.319.392 (OPS+ 84). BTW, the Blue Jays will send $1.8 mil to the Cards in that swap!
The Rangers DFA'd 1B Chris Shelton to make room to add reliever Kazuo Fukumori.
BA's (Phil Rogers') Sox Top 10 Prospects list. For entertainment value only.
A Pitch F/X Primer by Mike Fast.

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Comments

Ugh.

"I've said before we would consider anything that makes us better," said Williams when asked directly about Konerko. "I have a hard time coming up with something that would make us better if we moved Paul Konerko."

I hope that Williams is just trying to pump up Konerko's value and make sure that Konerko feels valuable.

There are a TON of trades involving Paul Konerko that would make the White Sox better.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 3:02 PM CST reply actions

name them

i haven't heard a single one that was plausible.

by larry on Jan 14, 2008 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

The one that is stated works....

I would take Figgins, Kendrick and Santana.

I think that also free's up some cash.

Plus, you plug Figgins in at CF, Kendrick at 2B and Santana might be a guy that Coop can fix otherwise maybe a reliever. His stuff is good - his head isn't.

No way the Angels do this though.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on Jan 14, 2008 4:06 PM CST up reply actions

I think

"plausible" was part of larry's desired hypothetical. If that was on the table, wouldn't it have happened by now?

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 14, 2008 4:21 PM CST up reply actions

I would do...

Konerko for Figgins plus a "C" prospect. That makes the White Sox better for the short term and gives them a lot more flexibility down the road.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 4:11 PM CST up reply actions

that's nice that you would do it

but would the angels? i'm still trying to figure out how PK fits on that team without the angels making another deal. and, quite frankly, figgins seems a heck of a lot more valuable to that team than PK would be.

by larry on Jan 14, 2008 4:17 PM CST up reply actions

All right then...

I'd do it for Ervin Santana + a "C" prospect. Heck, forget the prospect.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

again, that's nice

but what are the angels doing with PK? slotting him back to catcher?

and that move is horrible for the white sox in 2008, which is KW's main point.

by larry on Jan 14, 2008 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

Konerko...

could DH. He's easily better than Garret Anderson, who seems to be the choice at the moment.

And I think Santana would probably be an upgrade on any of Danks, Floyd, or Contreras.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 4:25 PM CST up reply actions

this is the team that

played darin erstad largely because they were paying him lots of money. they're not sitting anderson. and they're not sitting matthews. unless these get moved, i see no reason why they would add PK. and i don't know why anyone would want those two players.

by larry on Jan 14, 2008 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

I don't know...

Why bring in Torii Hunter if they're not willing to accept the fact that they made a mistake w/r/t Matthews?

Bill Stoneman is the guy who insisted on playing Erstad, and Bill Stoneman is gone. There's no evidence that Tony Reagins isn't willing to eat sunk costs. Matthews is what he is - an overpaid fourth outfielder. I think if the Angels don't have to give up too much in talent, they do a Konerko trade.

And I think that moving Konerko helps the White Sox, even if they don't get a whole lot back.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 4:36 PM CST up reply actions

you sure it was stoneman?

how could anyone outside the organization know? it's equally plausible that arte, like most businessmen, has no problem spending the cash as long as it's doing something. and matthews is fine on that team as a fourth outfielder (although quite overpaid for it, as you point out) considering anderson and guerrero at the corners will most definitely not be full-time outfielders.

if you can tell me how subtracting konerko and inserting owens and ervin frickin' santana helps the sox, i'd sure be interested.

by larry on Jan 14, 2008 4:44 PM CST up reply actions

It gets Swisher out of center field.

I don't care how many times Ken Williams says it, Nick Swisher is not a center fielder.

This is a terrible defensive team as it stands, probably the worst in MLB. Getting Konerko out of the field and someone who can play center out there improves the team.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 4:46 PM CST up reply actions

You're going to have to show

that the run differential made up by defense is greater than that lost to the offense to make that stick. And it's a lot harder to make up runs on defense than it is on offense.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 14, 2008 5:01 PM CST up reply actions

I don't know...

how I can do that, considering that I think any defensive statistic does at all a decent job of quantifying defense.

I just know that Swisher is not a center fielder, and having him stand between Quentin and Dye doesn't make him one.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 5:09 PM CST up reply actions

Approximations

do a fairly good job and are in general agreement. The stats are better than you're giving credit for. The difference in runs between a bad and good defense is smaller than that between bad and good offense.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 14, 2008 6:16 PM CST up reply actions

Again...

I don't trust any defensive stats, so it would be hypocritical of me to try and use them to bolster my argument.

I've seen Swisher try and play center. Putting him out there every day would be a big mistake.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 6:20 PM CST up reply actions

there is no way

that the defensive improvement to owens/swisher from swisher/konerko replaces the offense that the sox lose from replacing konerko with owens. none. i don't need defensive metrics or anything else to make that assertion and you should know better than to even attempt such a joke of an argument.

by larry on Jan 14, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions

I think he assumes

Konerko is traded for Figgins, Kendrick, Santana, or some variation thereof, and is comparing the defense/offense afterwards.

If Konerko is sent for Figgins, then I might be able to see a net gain if Dye moves to 1B, and the OF consists of Quentin/Owens, Figgins, Swisher.

Maybe.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 14, 2008 8:11 PM CST up reply actions

Well

I think Dye should be able to field 1st effectively, and he may have a bounce back year on offense. It's more about how much better Chone is going to be than Owens on offense and defense. I don't know, it's a close one.

www.fratdaddy.blogspot.com

by Raf on Jan 14, 2008 8:58 PM CST up reply actions

if you follow the thread

he's assuming ervin santana is sent to the sox.

by larry on Jan 14, 2008 10:19 PM CST up reply actions

How likely do you think it is

that Santana posts a better ERA than Danks, Contreras, Floyd and Egbert?

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 15, 2008 5:30 AM CST up reply actions

obviously not better than all of them

but i'd say it's pretty likely he'd do better than the collective 5th starter. but not nearly enough to make trading PK for him a good idea.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 10:24 AM CST up reply actions

i'm pretty sure he'd have to be better

than all of them in order to justify that trade.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 15, 2008 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

Ah,

I caught it this time.

I'm not sold on Santana contributing more than Konerko in 08. His injuries really irk me, as well as his splits.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 15, 2008 7:01 AM CST up reply actions

Then get...

someone else to play center. I'm not married to Jerry Owens.

Swisher in center is not a viable option, not if the Sox really want to win in 2008. I don't think they will anyway, so it's no skin off my nose, but Ken Williams asked how trading Konerko could make the team better right now. Getting a real center fielder and putting Swisher at a position he can actually play makes the team better right now.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 10:15 AM CST up reply actions

right

but it's not like CFers grow on trees. i rather doubt there's anything out there which would upgrade the team enough to offset what the sox would have to give up from their major league roster to get it.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 10:42 AM CST up reply actions

Well...

they do have Brian Anderson.

If they're just concerned about 2008, isn't Kenny Lofton available?

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 10:47 AM CST up reply actions

Lofton can't play CF either

by hitlesswonder on Jan 15, 2008 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

lol

if you're worried about defense, i'm not sure you'd think lofton was viable. after the sox decided to not go after cameron (or cameron decided he didn't want to come to the sox, whatever), that was the end of potential CF FAs. and, for me, that was also the death knell of any konerko deal - if there ever was even a possibility of it occurring.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 10:52 AM CST up reply actions

unless you want patterson, of course

lol.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't mind Patterson...

but then again, I don't care if the Sox win in 2008.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

I should say...

"try to win". Of course I would like them to win, I just know they won't.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 11:01 AM CST up reply actions

i have to make this thread wider

by Jbasic89 on Jan 15, 2008 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

where do i sign up for that!!??

............ =\

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 15, 2008 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

To be honest...

I haven't seen much of Lofton's play recently.

In my heart, I know Konerko deal won't happen, and I'm getting ready to seeing lots and lots of opposition extra-base hits this year. I'm just hoping for the best.

Look for lots of "why does Mark Buehrle suddenly suck?" articles in 2008.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

i'm already on the

"MB's 2007 rebound wasn't really that much of a rebound" bandwagon.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

maybe

ozzie will develop a special mark buehrle lineup, where owens is in center because he knows buehrle doesnt strike anyone out.... hahahahahah
you know he loves his "sunday" lineup, so its possible

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 15, 2008 11:02 AM CST up reply actions

you haven't seen Lofton play CF,

but you've seen enough of Swish play CF to know he can't hack it well enough?

To me, I think Lofton may have a slight, very slight edge. Lofton is not a great defensive player. Not anymore, at least.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 15, 2008 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

JRE is on the west coast

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 11:43 AM CST up reply actions

I have.

I live in the Bay Area.

Swisher is a pretty good corner outfielder. He is not a center fielder by any stretch of the imagination.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

The Cell isn't quite as big

as the Coliseum. I can imagine him playing CF. I'm not saying it's going to be great, and I believe he will have his Jermaine Dye/Adam Dunn/Jose Conseco moments out there, but if the other option is putting him in LF and Owens out there in CF all year then I'd have to stick with him in Center.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 15, 2008 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

I guess we'll have to agree...

to disagree. I wouldn't mind an upgrade on Owens, but Swisher isn't a center fielder.

They're not going to contend one way or the other, so it doesn't bother me too much, but I do hate to see the pitchers get punished. This isn't going to help Contreras's trade value.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

I would rather have

Swish in CF and Quentin in LF

than Swish in LF and Owens/Platoon in CF.

The offensive positives of a Swish/Quentin/Dye OF outweights the defensive negatives of a Swish/Owens/Dye OF, IMO.

I don't think I'm the only one who thinks this, either.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 15, 2008 11:37 AM CST up reply actions

I messed up.

That should say, "the offensive positives of a Quentin/Swish/Dye OF outweighs the defensive positives of a Swish/Owens/Dye OF."

In other words, our team will overall be better with quentin, swish, and dye than swish, owens, and dye.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 15, 2008 11:39 AM CST up reply actions

I agree

I'd hate to see Chris Carter traded for Quentin...and then see the Sox give at-bats to Owens instead of Quentin. I am sort of expecting that to happen though....

by hitlesswonder on Jan 15, 2008 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

Well...

that assumes that Quentin is healthy and productive. I like Quentin quite a bit, but he's not really a sure thing at this point.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 11:54 AM CST up reply actions

we should assume

that the sox traded for a player who isn't going to be healthy and productive? i don't think the sox are that incompetent. and, at any rate, if we're measuring productivity at the jerry owens level, it's not an exacting standard.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 11:57 AM CST up reply actions

They signed...

Darin Erstad, didn't they?

And Owens outhit Quentin last year.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

signed

not traded for.

and, come on, i don't care what quentin did last year at the major league level. it's a absolute joke to suggest that owens is a better player than quentin or will be more productive. you're doing a really great job of making me laugh these last couple days.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

isnt this a little ridiculous

time to make up a new rumor so there can be a new thread

by Jbasic89 on Jan 15, 2008 12:12 PM CST up reply actions

I've seen

wider classified ads.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on Jan 15, 2008 12:14 PM CST up reply actions

I just

to see what this will look like.

by palehose67 on Jan 15, 2008 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

Who said...

that Owens was better than Quentin? All I suggested was that Quentin's health and productivity was an issue last year (it was), and there's no reason to think it won't be this year. Quentin was horrible last year, way less valuable than Owens. I'm not making this up. If Quentin was a sure thing, the Diamondbacks probably wouldn't have traded Quentin in the first place, and certainly not for Chris Carter. Saying "lol" doesn't make it not so.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 12:15 PM CST up reply actions

so what's your point then?

quentin has injury issues. we know that. owens has "i'm a really shit baseball player" issues. we know that, too. do we have some reason to think he won't be a shit player this year? quentin is better than owens. plain. simple. i don't need to make that one up, either. owens should not take at bats away from someone who isn't a shit baseball player. plain. simple. there should be no platoon. plain. simple. yes, if quentin's arm falls off, the sox probably shouldn't play him. until that occurs, however, there is no reason to talk about jerry owens starting or question that carlos quentin shouldn't be.

i can "assume" all sorts of things like "nick swisher dies in a plane crash." things that are tethered a bit closer to reality make much better discussion, even if there isn't anything happening in the world of sox baseball.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 12:32 PM CST up reply actions

How is saying...

that Quentin isn't a sure thing not tethered to reality? That seems like the reality to me. Of course, if he's healthy, he's better than Owens.

That still doesn't make Nick Swisher a center fielder, though.

What this really highlights to me is how stupid the Dye extension really was. Dye is becoming a real liability on this team.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 15, 2008 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

hmmmmmmmm

fa;iofja;eoijfa;oeijfa;oifja;oifja;ofija;efoijae;foija;efiojaweio;fjef;oiajwef;aoijef;ijoae;f ija;e ofija;eiof j;aoweij f;aiowejf;aijef;aijoe faio;wejf ;oaiejwf ;aoiejwf;aoef

by Jbasic89 on Jan 15, 2008 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

I have to scroll

to the side now to see all the posts.

But at least they're not scrunched up anymore.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 16, 2008 6:56 AM CST up reply actions

I will be disappointed if Carlos Quentin...

does not get 450+ AB's next season due to Jerry freaking Owens.

by SSH2005 on Jan 14, 2008 3:24 PM CST reply actions

It wouldn't be due to...

Jerry Owens, it would be due to Nick Swisher not being a real center fielder.

To me, it highlights the need to make a move to find a permanent home for Swisher. The current situation doesn't really work.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 14, 2008 3:34 PM CST up reply actions

No sense in getting that uptight yet

Much will probably depend on Quentin. If he can show he is healthy and ready to go, he will get his at bats.

"There is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America."

by Tdogg on Jan 14, 2008 4:32 PM CST up reply actions

So is it Toonder that

keeps pulling these over on Merkin? They're great, but I want to give proper credit.

His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 14, 2008 4:22 PM CST reply actions

I think it's Sista Soulja

doing it, knowing that we'll react to Paul in LV but not to him here.

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Jan 14, 2008 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

Just wanted to chime in

with a vote of confidence for Phil Rogers. He is the preeminent voice of knowledge and reason in baseball today. If only he were the General Manager of the Sox.
Long pause for effect.
And smirk.

Why don't you crack an egg of knowledge all over me, buddy.

by MarketMaker on Jan 14, 2008 11:45 PM CST reply actions

OK

Allright who ever wants to trade konerko for figgins is an idiot. I believe there was rumors last year for Figgins and crede while. i would take that trade now in a heart beat i believe Konerko could bring more than Figgins/Kendrick and Santana. While Kendrick may be the future at second base he is still not near the value of Konerko nor may never be. Trading Konerko is stupid because he is one of your most clutch bats who you can count on. And besides the point i would rather stick Fields at first over dye. I watched Fields make some of the most basic errors at third (like let mike lowel basically steal home becuase he was not watching him)

by mtt646 on Jan 15, 2008 12:32 AM CST reply actions

Mr. mtt646,

what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

by BoKnows on Jan 15, 2008 8:33 AM CST up reply actions

Come on, Bo.

Don't hold back. Let it all out.

Tell us what you really think of the post.

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 15, 2008 8:51 AM CST up reply actions

well played...

Turd Furgeson!

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 15, 2008 9:19 AM CST up reply actions

oops...

wrong show/movie altogether.

For some reason I was thinking about celebrity jeopardy this morning. Billy Madison is such a great movie though, and one of my all time faves.

The bathtub scene is just great.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 15, 2008 9:21 AM CST up reply actions

O'DOYLE RULES!!

Mosi Tatupu! Mosi Tatupu!

by Nordhagen on Jan 15, 2008 9:27 AM CST up reply actions

Huh?

Fat, Drunk & Stupid is no way to go through life, son.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on Jan 15, 2008 10:44 AM CST up reply actions

Definitely a howler monkey.

I was thinking...

If Crede is traded to the Giants, in turn reuniting him with Legend, would the two of them then petition to try and get A.J. back in the Bay Area? I know they hate him out there (and everywhere else apparently) but is the Legend's power and prestige just too much to be denied?

Either way, I hope SF bars all have Journey loaded in their juke boxes and karaoke machinations. At least if they know what's good for them they will...

I'll hang up and listen to your answer.

by Hazymania on Jan 15, 2008 2:29 AM CST reply actions

damn

After rereading this post, I am definitely going to bed.

I'll hang up and listen to your answer.

by Hazymania on Jan 15, 2008 2:30 AM CST up reply actions

How long before Kenny trades this guy?

The kid sounds promising, but then again the story quotes Phil Rogers. Where's the salt shaker? Maybe I'll do a tequila shot while I have that salt out.

http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=7626206&nav=EQlr

by Serpiente on Jan 15, 2008 1:11 PM CST reply actions

As pointed out on Sox Machine

Baseball prospectus has him rated 2nd out of the White Sox prospects. Rogers should have actually probably put him higher then he did.

by Grinder in Training on Jan 15, 2008 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

T-Bone!

kid got genes!

by The Wizard on Jan 15, 2008 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

G-Bone?

theres no G-Bone!

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 16, 2008 7:32 AM CST up reply actions

more from paul

neilmak (Skokie, Illinois): The White Sox need (more) speed. Jerry Owens made a major leap forward in offensive productivity in 2007. He in fact was one of MLB's top base stealers in total and percentage. Yet, Kenny Williams and the Sox just seem to ignore him and are pooling him with other non starters/players competing for just a roster spot! What in your opinion are Owens' prospects this season, for both fantasy players as will as the Sox? Thanks, Neilmak, Mark Stearns Skokie, Illinois

Marc Normandin: I'm not sure Owens is going to do much more than run fast, honestly. Looking at Kevin Goldstein's Top 11 Prospects for the White Sox, he has Owens on the "Just Missed" list behind a few others who are themselves behind two "One-Star" level prospects. That doesn't strike me as someone who should be fighting for a starting job.

I think if he proves me wrong, you should snag him for his steals, but it's probably not worth the pick until he shows you what he's really capable of.

by larry on Jan 15, 2008 2:38 PM CST reply actions

Paul

must be drinking the smart juice. He typically doesn't say anything that intelligent.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on Jan 15, 2008 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

Ervin Santana news...

Ervin Santana struck out nine over six innings in a combined no-hitter in Monday's Dominican Winter League playoff game.
Damaso Marte and Carlos Marmol finished the victory for Licey. Santana is 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA since joining Licey's rotatiton for the postseason.

by SSH2005 on Jan 15, 2008 6:49 PM CST reply actions

well, the opponent had pablo as the DH!

man, that lineup was more than pathetic

boxscore

by The Wizard on Jan 15, 2008 7:09 PM CST up reply actions

Some minor MLB transactions...

Mets sign Jose Valenstache to minor league deal.

A's sign Kirk Saarloos to minor league deal.

by SSH2005 on Jan 16, 2008 9:15 AM CST reply actions

MILB Top 50 Prospect Rankings

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/news/top50/y2008/

Sox look like they are shut out...great. Probably got someone on the top 150 prospect list though.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on Jan 16, 2008 9:51 AM CST reply actions

I

wouldn't bet on that, either. Seriously.

by dantesox on Jan 16, 2008 10:29 AM CST up reply actions

Possibly Poreda. Maybe Egbert towards the end.

by dantesox on Jan 16, 2008 10:31 AM CST up reply actions

poreda is top 150

easy.

by larry on Jan 16, 2008 10:32 AM CST up reply actions

Looks

like The Cubs are gonna sign Lieber. Eh. No big deal. Still waiting for that Konerko/Crede thing to heat up in late February and into March.

by dantesox on Jan 16, 2008 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

Per MLB Rumors

Cubs Sign Lieber
UPDATE, 1-16-08 at 10:45am: Rosenthal confirms the signing; it's a one-year deal. He says Lieber won't have to fight for a rotation spot. That might mean Jason Marquis is headed out of town or Ryan Dempster back to the 'pen (I suppose Dempster could be dealt instead). I guess Sean Marshall is the sixth man if he's not traded.

by Brush Back on Jan 16, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

link?

First I heard of this...probably since they will lose Gallagher and Marshall to the O's in the Roberts deal, if that goes through.

"Jenks, who was never afraid to say "no" to a hamburger..."

by BobbySouthSide on Jan 16, 2008 10:57 AM CST up reply actions

Lieber - MLB Rumors

Lieber_Cubs

by Brush Back on Jan 16, 2008 11:00 AM CST up reply actions

No press release yet - though

by Brush Back on Jan 16, 2008 11:02 AM CST up reply actions

Ken Rosenthal says that the deal is done...

"Sources: Cubs ink Lieber to 1-year deal"

by SSH2005 on Jan 16, 2008 11:04 AM CST up reply actions

WIZ!!!!!!!!

This old man needs some new thread please!

It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Jan 16, 2008 10:33 AM CST reply actions

new thread coming up!

hot from the oven!

by The Wizard on Jan 16, 2008 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

Sources: Tigers sign Robertson to 3-year deal

Ken Rosenthal wrote:

The Tigers have signed left-hander Nate Robertson to a three-year, $21.25 million contract, according to major-league sources.

Robertson, 30, will earn $4.25 million next season, $7 million in 2009 and $10 million in '10. The salary in his final year will increase to $11 million if he pitches 400 innings combined in '08 and '09 or 200 innings in '09.

The Tigers plan to announce the signing Wednesday afternoon.

Robertson was eligible for free agency after the 2009 season; the Tigers bought out his remaining years of salary arbitration and one year of free agency.

by SSH2005 on Jan 16, 2008 11:19 AM CST reply actions

wow

the tigers just keep shelling out more and more money

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 16, 2008 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

I would like to see the Sox take a chance on Colon

He can't be getting many offers and the Sox need to try to catch lightning in a bottle or in this case....a Christmas ham in a Scooby Doo lunch box.

by White Sox Randy on Jan 16, 2008 11:58 AM CST reply actions

Yep, he is worth a $2 million dollar contract...

or so. Mark Prior didn't get much ($1 million base salary with a possible $3.5 million in incentives) so Colon should be cheap. Maybe Kenny can get a 2009 Team Option on him.

Buehrle
Vazquez
Contreras
Colon
Floyd

Danks starts the season in AAA and replaces Colon if he gets injured again.

by SSH2005 on Jan 16, 2008 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

danks doesn't need to go to the minors

go inside the numbers. how does one have a decline in WHIP, increased control (i.e., less BB/9), increased command (i.e., better K/BB ratio) and still have a ridiculous increase in ERA in the second half over the first? bad luck. danks was a better pitcher in the second half than the first. stunting or wasting that growth by putting him in the minors is stupid.

by larry on Jan 16, 2008 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

But what, then, of Floyd?

He, Aardsma, and Masset are all out of options. I wouldn't be against dumping Masset and sticking Floyd in the bullpen, but I don't know if the Sox would do that.

I would imagine in the above scenario, someone gets injured/is ineffective pretty quickly. Danks probably wouldn't spend much time in the minors.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 16, 2008 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

i'm not signing colon

i've already addressed that issue ad nauseum on this board and figured no one wanted to hear it again.

danks should not go to the minors at all. beyond stupid. back your players. look at the numbers and realize what you have. there's nothing danks gains by going to the minors. and demoting him could have adverse effects.

by larry on Jan 16, 2008 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

I'd agree.

despite what some pundits are saying, the Sox have nothing to gain by bringing in a mediocre veteran starting pitcher.

They have lots of mediocre young starting pitchers that can do that job just as well.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 16, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions

I'd be for signing Colon

for a bullpen job.

If he is lights out in the bullpen, great. If one of our starters gets hurt or is ineffective, he can step in.

If he's not effective, then you likely haven't lost anything.

All starters can be effective over an inning or two. that's my opinion, and I stand by it.

If I were Kenny, I'd sign Colon today for the bullpen. Colon makes a flexible option if things go bad.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 16, 2008 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

too bad colon would never do that

by larry on Jan 16, 2008 3:30 PM CST up reply actions

$$$... Money

It makes the world go around.

If I had the choice of sitting around this spring or making money pitching, then I would do the latter. But, I don't have a lotta pride, either.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Jan 16, 2008 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

But he doesn't have to do that anyways...

he will get some money from some team to be a starter, based on his big name alone.

by SSH2005 on Jan 17, 2008 9:18 AM CST up reply actions

That's probably what I would do......

and if they could get a really good set-up man for Crede they might just have a shot.

by White Sox Randy on Jan 16, 2008 12:41 PM CST up reply actions

"A veritable plethora of pinatas"

I think the first 100 games of this Sox season will very much chart the future course for the organization. If they remain in contention for a Wild Card through late July, Kenny will sell off what little is left in the minors for a random Alomar. If they're out of it, guys like Dotel and Linebrink (plus a Thome) will be dealt to plenish (can you replenish a barren system?) the farm teams.

Stretch!

by stevegoz on Jan 18, 2008 11:09 AM CST reply actions