South Side Sox: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

Around SBN: Lowrie Forces Angels To Walk-Off Back To Anaheim Bar-right-arrows

2nd base is an open competition

Acmilan_tiny by The Wizard on in Quotes

Kenny on who'll be at 2nd base:

[W]hile Cabrera has his middle infield position locked down for the upcoming campaign, the same certainty cannot be extended to Richar at second base. "It's an open competition," said White Sox general manager Ken Williams of the battle for second base. "In being consistent with what we are trying to do, we are looking for a player who helps give [manager] Ozzie [Guillen] the best chance to get off to a good start. The player who fits in best wins the job."...Cabrera's arrival moves Uribe into a utility role. It's the same sort of job projected for Uribe when he arrived from Colorado in 2004 and hit close to .400 during the first month of the season, earning the starting nod at second. Cuban exile Alexei Ramirez also counts second base as one of the numerous positions he can handle adeptly.
*****
Say goodbye to the Great Falls White Sox. Say hello to the Great Falls Voyagers!

Why Voyagers:

The principal reason for adopting the new name is to better reflect the team’s association with and commitment to the Great Falls community. An exhaustive study of possible names was undertaken by a special committee. After considering numerous possibilities, Voyagers was chosen because of its connection to Legion Park. In 1950, Nick Mariana, the general manager of the Great Falls Baseball team, filmed two rotating, silvery objects above the ball park (video). The Mariana film is one of the strongest cases supporting the existence of UFO’s.
Great Falls will continue to be affiliated with the Sox. Go inside for a look at Great Falls' new uniforms.
*****
In other news,

Star-divide

[great falls tribune]:

Team officials used a high-tech, multimedia presentation to introduce the new identity, which includes a new logo, a new red-and-black color scheme, new uniforms and a new team mascot to be announced later. Part of the presentation was a video depiction of a reported UFO sighting on Aug. 15, 1950, at the old Legion Park. The event, reported by former baseball club official Nick Mariana, has been the subject of many studies by scientists and UFO buffs.

The Voyager name also has been linked with several space-related events over the years.

Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, twin probes launched by NASA in 1977, are considered by many as the most successful planetary exploration mission of all time.

"Voyagers!" was a TV series broadcast during the 1982-1983 season on NBC. The show featured a society of time travelers called Voyagers.

"Star Trek: Voyager," a popular science-fiction television series, ran from 1995 to 2001. The series followed the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded 75,000 light-years from Earth.

... team shirts and caps will be available immediately on the team's new Web site or through a new toll-free phone number (877-815-1950).

The phone number reflects the Aug. 15, 1950 date of the famed Mariana UFO sighting.

0 recs | Comment 78 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

It would seem that...
a Richar/Uribe platoon makes the most sense for now.

Ramirez should be in AAA, unless the Sox find him a starting position.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Jan 16, 2008 12:41 PM CST   0 recs

You know that in the end
Richar will be on the bench to start the season, with Uribe as the starting 2nd baseman.  Richar will get 4 games through the month of April spaced out at least 5 days apart to prove himself.  Then in the end they will send him away to AAA for his "own good" and we will watch Profundo swing for the fences.  The only good thing in this is that Uribe will have to run a bit further back to the dugout for cakes and pie.

by southsideirish71 on Jan 16, 2008 2:41 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

So its the BA treatment all over again
"I'm not a 6-year-old." -Brian Nikola "Ungrindy" Anderson

by omnipotent grab on Jan 16, 2008 2:53 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I'm not so sure
Guillen is not in love with Uribe. Sure, he has the low OBP that Ozzie prefers but he has too much power. Most importantly, he doesn't steal bases. And Ozzie doesn't appreciate the idea of a portly middle infielder nearly as much I do. I think Richar probably should worry more about Ramirez should he ever sign. It will be an interesting test to see if  the kid starts over a veteran, but right now I think Richar will unless he just tanks in spring training.

by hitlesswonder on Jan 16, 2008 4:24 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

4.5 million reasons for Uribe to start
They didnt sign him to sit on the bench.  Sure they will try to move him, however when push comes to shove Uribe is the 2nd baseman.  Richar will be in AAA by May 1st due to having no ABs.  

by southsideirish71 on Jan 16, 2008 7:20 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

don't worry
when tejada is indicted and deported because, whoopsie, lying to the feds is a crime that gets your green card rescinded, uribe will be traded to houston.

by larry on Jan 17, 2008 4:49 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

that would be so awesome
"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 17, 2008 4:58 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

yeah
but for it to happen the government would have to move quickly. fat chance.

at any rate, methinks baltimore pulled a fast one on houston. everyone was worried about steroids. and they forgot the cardinal rule: you never get caught for the crime; you get caught for the coverup. seems like maybe the orioles were thinking one step ahead of everyone else.

by larry on Jan 17, 2008 5:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

good point
I never heard of that cardinal rule (how many cardinal rules are there?), but given my lifetime of experience, it seems true.

Point Orioles.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Jan 17, 2008 5:19 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

The trade, it should be pointed out
was made day before the Mitchell report was released. So the Orioles pulled a really fast one.

But let's not leave the Astros out of this equation, who should have their f'n heads collectively examined for not waiting 24 hours to pull the Tejada deal. If it was the case that the O's were pressing them to make the trade 'now or never,' even more so of a reason to schedule Astros' CAT scan.  

by HulkSmash on Jan 17, 2008 7:43 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

in my scenario
it doesn't matter. i think the astros assumed/expected him to be named. they just weren't thinking to the next step of "wait, if he was taking steroids, and he told the feds he wasn't, he's fucked." maybe the orioles were thinking ahead like this (i'm obviously giving them a great deal of credit). at any rate, whether good or lucky, it looks like a very nice trade now. the orioles didn't get much in that trade - but how much would they get today? looks like a goddamn steal now.

by larry on Jan 17, 2008 7:49 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I see your point,
but I'd argue it does matter, mainly because the Astros should have been thinking of the next step you mentioned. In post-Bonds crime & punishment awareness, it shouldn't be too hard to connect the dot of steroids to--at least the possibility of-- that of lying to the feds.

Either way, the O's got a steal.

by HulkSmash on Jan 17, 2008 9:46 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

one would have had to have remembered
that he spoke to the feds. i don't even know if the contents of his interview were made public then. asymmetry of information or, at the very least, asymmetry of recall of such information. the orioles would certainly have remembered it more and, if such information wasn't made public, may have known what he told the feds.

by larry on Jan 17, 2008 11:32 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Angelos = attorney, si?
Not that McMullen doesn't have an army of them...
"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 21, 2008 1:45 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

In the larger context of the Steroids Scandal
What kind of justice is that?

Bonds lies to the Feds and everyone just chuckles - as in the Simpsons episode with Frank Grimes - Well, that's our Barry! Seriously, why isn't that guy in deeper shit? What are the chances of him doing any significant time and/or paying significant financial penalties?

Other baseball players / executives lie and everyone either waves their arms and says that there's nothing to see here (a la Officer Barbrady) or says that was a dark moment for baseball and we should move past it so let's not talk about it any more.

Then we come to a dark skinned Latino whose butt may be kicked out of the country for doing the same shit that all these other jackoffs are doing?!?

That seems f uped to me.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Jan 17, 2008 5:17 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Did I really write that? - dark skinned Latino
My bad, that was kind of stupid considering the steroids scandal extends way beyond skin color. People of all cultures and ethnicity are cheats.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Jan 17, 2008 5:21 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

um
so being indicted on multiple federal felony charges isn't deep enough shit for you? you're more of a lynch mob type, i guess.

as for the chances, the answers are "high" and "already paying for it." in case you missed it, his career is likely over. and, you know, the millions and millions of dollars that would have resulted from it.

and, no, all these other jackoffs didn't (apparently) lie to federal investigators.

by larry on Jan 17, 2008 5:23 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I guess I've been hearing something different
Out here in Barry's Love Nest, otherwise known as the gay area, the general line that I've been hearing is that Bond's is going to get a slap on the wrist. Needless to say, it's refreshing to hear a lawyer, presumably knowledgeable of the US legal system ;), say that he will be held accountable.

Also, it was odd to see that recent quote from Eric Chavez regarding him and Barry playing with a team of 19 year-olds. That made me cringe because it suggested Bonds would be playing next year. I certainly hope he doesn't get a contract. I'm not a fan of hubris, especially Bonds style.

I realize that not every jackoff lied to congress by do you think Palmeiro will catch heat for lying to Congress?

At any rate, I think this whole saga with steroids is a great illustration of how to mismanage a crisis. I suppose the reaction to Hurricane Katrina was another great example, but I digress.

Hooray for Bud on his extension!

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

by rhythm on Jan 17, 2008 7:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

palmeiro
hmmm. there's been nothing to show that he did lie to congress. he tested positive after his testimony. and there hasn't been anything that's come out as of yet to say he was using before (yeah, i know, but they need evidence). maybe tejada will sing like a bird to keep his green card and give up everything.

as for barry, even if he does manage to avoid prison, he will have lost probably tens of millions of dollars (legal fees and potential earnings). good enough for me. ymmd.

by larry on Jan 17, 2008 7:19 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

that logo is awesome
i love minor league teams.

by larry on Jan 16, 2008 12:41 PM CST   0 recs

everybody ordered their
#30 jerseys?
Please don't dominate the rap, jack, if you've got nothing new to say.

by Toonderstrook on Jan 16, 2008 12:47 PM CST   0 recs

ill be goin after
the 10 dollar jon garland t-shirt jerseys outside in the parking lot.....
12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Jan 16, 2008 1:07 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

The Legend throwback
Who wore 44 before Rowand? I can't remember.

That jersey needs to be retired. The last three players have all sucked while wearing it.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Jan 16, 2008 3:01 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Yes,
but he was 44 when he sucked.

I skipped koch, who took 44 from Rowand in '03...

Rowand's .293/.385/.431 in 120 ABs in '01 was the last time a #44 had a good season for us. He sucked as 44 (I think) the next year. Then koch took it. Then Anderson. Then Hall. Ugh.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Jan 16, 2008 3:25 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I unfortunatly have the throwback jersey
I was pissed when he gave the number up for Toby FUCKIN Hall and switched to 32 because Toby's a veteran
Bring Back BA

by marco054 on Jan 16, 2008 3:07 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I had a #25 Borchard jersey
although I don't think anyone here but Cheat knew that.  Beat that.

It's been misplaced, unfortunately...  I haven't seen the thing in a year-and-a-half.

by CWSKeith on Jan 16, 2008 3:10 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Not only have I seen the Borch jersey...
But I once OWNED a Koch jersey(later returned it for  a Maggs, those guys at that store were idiots)and right now I have a 44 Anderson, that has been signed.

No more 44's.

by Tony82087 on Jan 16, 2008 4:14 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Jersey's
I am still in position of a #1 Kenny Lofton White Sox jersey that I purchased during the half season he was on the south side, in 2003, maybe? It is my favorite piece of Sox apparel.

by boyonthedock on Jan 16, 2008 7:37 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Not even Chet Lemon?
"Each one of my (off-season acquisition)targets has that edge to them, that go-getter attitude. We need it. We will embrace it." - Kenny Williams (11/28/07)

by tailgater on Jan 17, 2008 12:16 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

remember when john dewan said
his company provides data to the last 4 world series winners?

maybe that explains why kenny signed pods last winter!

by The Wizard on Jan 16, 2008 1:52 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

re
Could the Rangers DFA Jason Botts? (Hat Tip: MLBTR). Speaking of MLBTR, check this out.

by The Wizard on Jan 16, 2008 2:13 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I see
that everyone is drooling over the Sox' young studs.
"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 16, 2008 1:55 PM CST   0 recs

you certainly have a way with words
perhaps a future writing for out magazine?

by larry on Jan 16, 2008 2:01 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Not a great vocabulary.
But I agree, quite a way with the words I know ; )
"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Jan 16, 2008 2:13 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Anybody heard from WU?
Wonder how the old guy is holding up in 59 degree weather?  Hope he's not on the DL already...
It should be called Bill Veeck Park!

by Chiburb on Jan 16, 2008 3:03 PM CST   0 recs

59 degree weather...
at least that gives the guys currently down there a reason for a lack of offense.  Walker should be getting his "perfect storm" quotes ready...

by CWSKeith on Jan 16, 2008 3:09 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

I held up just fine - matter of fact
I only visited the trainer's room to have my glove re-laced after the webbing came loose.  Yet the 41 year olds on our team were in there constantly.

Was at 3rd for all but 2-3 innings of the 10 games we played and was nicknamed (take your pick, they were all used) "The Wall" (since nothing got by me), "Brooks" (obvious), and "Hoover" (because I blew everyone - just kidding, honey!).  My hitting pretty much sucked, though I probably hit a Stan Musial-esque .333.  One legit triple (first in 35 years or so) and a couple doubles.  Kind of a JO OPS.

As Redford says, "God, I love baseball".

"I can't give you a dollar if I don't have 50 cents. Decisions are made awfully easy for you."

by winningugly on Jan 21, 2008 1:52 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Uribe has no platoon advantage
he sucks against both.  He's such a fuckin' joke.  More evidence that he's just a lazy ass.
His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 16, 2008 3:18 PM CST   0 recs

but when he gets hot, he can carry the team
along his oven paddle!

where is that pic?

by The Wizard on Jan 16, 2008 3:22 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

found it
juan swings a mean paddle!

by The Wizard on Jan 16, 2008 3:27 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Well done sir
though I can't imagine that leg making it all the way to the batter's box without at least one bite missing.
Why don't you crack an egg of knowledge all over me, buddy.

by MarketMaker on Jan 16, 2008 4:06 PM CST   0 recs

Should be plenty of meat leftover for a
few more at bats chock full of whirlwind whiffing.
His little smile pissed me off.

by colintj on Jan 17, 2008 11:32 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

colon
[MLBTR]:
The White Sox are still considering Bartolo Colon, according to ESPN Radio's Bruce Levine.

by The Wizard on Jan 16, 2008 9:01 PM CST   0 recs

The Cubs just gave Lieber...
$3.5 million guaranteed, plus a possible $4 million in incentives.

I'm curious as to what Colon will get.

by SSH2005 on Jan 17, 2008 9:15 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

5 guaranteed?
colon's winter ball starts:

regular season

12/22: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 3 K, 24 BB, 4.50 ERA

post season

12/30: 4.0 IP, 24 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 2 K, 2 BB, 2.25 ERA

1/10: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 K, 1 BB, 2.30 ERA

1/15: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 2 K, 0 BB, 5.56 ERA

pablo chased him out of the game tuesday!

[AGUILAS CIBAEÑAS @ ESTRELLAS ORIENTALES]:

Estrellas Bottom 3rd

    * Michael Martinez lines out to right fielder Victor Diaz.
    * Pablo Ozuna singles on a ground ball to center fielder Chris Roberson.
    * Henry Mateo doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Chris Roberson. Pablo Ozuna to 3rd.
    * Joel Guzman singles on a ground ball to center fielder Chris Roberson. Pablo Ozuna scores. Henry Mateo scores. Joel Guzman advances to 2nd, on fielding error by center fielder Chris Roberson.
    * Pitcher Change: Juan Feliciano replaces Bartolo Colon.

    * Willis Otanez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Chris Roberson. Joel Guzman scores. Willis Otanez advances to 2nd, on missed catch error by left fielder Alexis Gomez.
    * Abraham Nunez flies out to left fielder Alexis Gomez.
    * Fernando Tatis singles on a ground ball to center fielder Chris Roberson. Willis Otanez to 3rd.
    * Pete Laforest strikes out swinging.

by The Wizard on Jan 17, 2008 1:54 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

An impressive ERA on
12/30 considering that he gave up 24 hits.

by palehose67 on Jan 17, 2008 1:58 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

i think that's high for guaranteed money
i wouldn't be shocked if the potential value of his contract was more but colon is a higher risk to not make a decent number of starts. remember, lieber hasn't had arm problems since his surgery. colon has had all sorts of them the past three season. lieber is pretty likely to be an innings eater next year. colon could be that as well (and the potential for better is, of course, there) but his arm troubles and his general lack of fitness suggest there's a stong possibility that you'll get less value for your guaranteed money. i'd say roughly the same guaranteed as lieber with a bit more incentive potential.

by larry on Jan 17, 2008 2:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Geez, no trades?
I know I don't always make the most insightful commentary, but here's some stuff I came across:

mlbtraderumors.com

Why are the White Sox not aggressively pursuing any pitching? Do they realistically think that Gavin Floyd and John Danks can hold down the #4 and #5 spots in the rotation on a contender? I believe we need to fill the holes with some veteran pitching such as Livan Hernandez who can eat up innings and possibly add Corey Patterson at center field. - Joel

I was just discussing this with a former coworker of mine.  I can't see the White Sox sneaking into a Wild Card berth with this rotation, but what's the alternative?  I don't like the Livan idea.  I would consider signing a couple of swingmen/injury risk types such as Brett Tomko or Bartolo Colon if he looks decent.  Just a few low risk/OK reward guys with good stuff who could pay off.  There's no place for Patterson in the current Chicago outfield, I wouldn't do that.

Also, Mike Cameron stuff from ESPN:

It might not seem like a significant transaction, but Mike Cameron's arrival in Milwaukee could wind up one of the more underrated moves of the winter. He signed a one-year, $7 million contract on Friday, pending a physical, according to the team's official Web site.

Cameron's career .251 batting average and .786 OPS might not classify him as a fantasy standout, but remember that most of his numbers have been accrued in extreme pitchers' parks, like Seattle's Safeco Field, New York's Shea Stadium and San Diego's Petco Park. The 2008 season will mark his first since 1999 in which he'll play in a park designated even a neutral park. Milwaukee's Miller Park ranked 16th in runs scored (1.011) and 10th in home runs (1.119) on the Park Factor page in 2007. By comparison, Petco, Cameron's home in 2007, ranked 30th (0.755) and 29th (0.685), respectively.

That means Cameron's road rates warrant more attention than your typical team-changing free agent; he was a .261 hitter with a .817 OPS in his road games the past five seasons combined, compared to .243/.773 at home. He's also a .343 hitter with four homers, 12 RBIs and a 1.158 OPS in 10 career games at Miller, so he's clearly comfortable hitting there. Don't count on All-Star numbers from Cameron, but a bump up to near his career-best .268 batting average, with perhaps 25-plus homers and 20 steals, is within his reach. That's third/fourth outfielder material for mixed leagues, incidentally.

www.fratdaddy.blogspot.com

by Raf on Jan 17, 2008 1:11 AM CST   0 recs

As I said before...
and Larry questioned...

If Colon will agree to it, he would make a great addition to the bullpen. If a starter falters, Colon can step in... if not? well, he can contribute to our weak ass bullpen. the only way the Sox lose is if they sign him to a long, expensive contract and he sucks and is never healthy. I think it's a gamble worth taking, if he will agree to it.

"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 17, 2008 1:40 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

Sounds like
Cameron wanted to play in a hitters park, put up numbers above his career averages, and take one more shot at a huge contract.
The Padres also have Scott Hairston in the outfield mix. They had hoped to re-sign Mike Cameron, and interestingly, they had proposed (without making a formal offer) a deal that turned out to be larger than the contract that Cameron signed with Milwaukee. The Padres had talked about a two-year deal for something in the range of $17-$18 million, but couldn't get Cameron off his demand for a multi-year deal for a salary of $10 million a year. After Cameron signed a one-year, $7 million deal with Milwaukee last week, Towers phoned Brewers GM Doug Melvin and told him, "Hey, that's a great deal for you guys."

by BoKnows on Jan 17, 2008 9:13 AM CST to parent up   0 recs

He Is
35 dip shit, I dont think he is going to get another "huge contract".
Toonderstrook's myspace page http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=67492521

by Soulja Boy on Jan 17, 2008 1:11 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Hahaha
Easy there tough guy.  I'll correct myself here.  Cameron has a $10 million club option for '09.  If Cameron were a FA in '09, then easily #2 behind Baldelli.

Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jacque Jones (34)
Mark Kotsay (33)

by BoKnows on Jan 17, 2008 1:27 PM CST to parent up   0 recs

Hellssssss yeah!!
We got 2" of snow!!!! No class tomorrow!! W00T!!! :)
"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