beautox

Just a guess. When the FO says there is an internal debate about Hermida it boils down to this, Dan Jennings or whoever signed him wants him, and Fredi Gonzalez has no use for him and wants him gone. He made that pretty apparent at the end of last season. And you know what, when your manager delivers a winning record and competitive baseball until the last two weeks of the season, and does it was a $22 million payroll, he pretty much is getting what he wants, and if he doesn't it won't be for a lack of trying. I'm sure there's others but let me see...Red, Rays, Cubs, Giants, Rangers and Mariners. Did I miss anyone? (And that's not counting the Phillies and Braves but I can't imagine those trades happening) The White Sox. If the asking price for Hermida is two pitching prospects I could see KW giving up Poreda and Egbert and maybe even a bit more to get his hands on Jeremy. Kenny is a buy low GM, and Hermida has obviously fallen out of favor with Fredi. The Sox want to go young and will be moving Dye in the very near future; thats going to leave two holes in the outfield. alot of speculation is the sox will try and pick up Willy T or let their own Jerry Owens roam CF but that still leaves LF/RF, honestly though Quentin came up as a RFer and as soon as Dye leaves the organization im pretty sure its his spot.

Reggie Willits is a personal favorite of mine. wish the chi sox or marlins would've gotten him

His GEQA is so high, it's not even funny. With the exception of Darrin Erstad, his GEQA is like 2 times higher than anyone in the league... It's sick. :lol @ the erstad quote, his grinder ratting is a sick 110%

Have to agree to disagree and see whos right in 2 years. fair enough :cheers

Do you really see them topping the Yanks or the Red Sox? They are doomed to mediocrity for the forseeable future as long as they remain in the AL East. Honestly yes, even though the yankees have a good farm system now, they're getting very old. By 09 i can see them falling to the middle of the east possibly even this year. Their staff is in shambles and its going to take a while for Huges and company to develop and contribute at the ML level, Wang is a solid middle of the rotation pitcher but he isn't a staff ace, and the book is still out on Igawa. That team by 2009 will be one of the best money can buy, and they won't be expensive. The amount of talent they are stockpiling is absurd. Their line is going to be even better than the mid 90's Indians, and their staff is going to be something to behold. They will have have mid to early picks in the draft from here till 09 only strengthening that amazing farm. My guess would be: C-Navarro 1B-Bankston 2B-Brignac 3B-Longoria SS-Zobrist LF-Crawford CF-Dukes RF-Young DH-Upton Kazmir/Niemann/Sonnastine/Howell/Talbot Older pitchers in the rotation get traded, along with Baldelli. Honestly if the Rays want to contend in both the AL east and far east they're going to have to keep Iwamura. Hes only 28 and plays GG 3B and is relatively cheap and under contract till '10, he could even be extended by 09 he'll only be 30. even though he is on the DL when he comes back i expect him to come back and catch fire again. Longoria has a good arm and is a good defender at 3B, but if you move him to the right side of the infield he becomes a possible GGer. Also 1B is an organizational weakness and i highly doubt Bankston sticks at the ML level for them, he doesn't draw enough walks or hit for enough power to be even a mark grace comp. I think they're going to let Upton iron out all of his defensive issues at 2B since they're not going to be contenders for a season or two, and he'll more than make up for any defensive indifferences with his bat at second base. Brignac is their future SS, Sickels has compared him to Chipper Jones; hes got a chance to be something special at SS. As for Zobrist and Harris, they're simply spare parts or trade bait and they're a bit older. I think they'll DH/CF platoon Dukes and Baldelli in order to keep both their bats in the line up and Baldelli healthy. He is only 25 years old and is signed to a ridiculously friendly contract. Rocco Baldelli of 3 years/$9M (2006-08), plus club options (2009-11) * agreed to extension 11/05 (avoided arbitration) * 06:$2M, 07:$0.75M, 08:$2.25M, 09:$6M club option ($4M buyout), 10:$8M club option, 11:$9M club option ($2M buyout - 2010 & 2011 options must be exercised together) * $4M escalator if Baldelli has 600 Plate Appearances in 2006 o $1.75M in 2007, increasing 07 salary to $2.5M o $2.25M in 2008, increasing 08 salary to $4M * performance bonuses for 2007 & 2008 if Baldelli fails to reach 600 PAs in 2006 * may earn as much as $32M from 2006 to 2011 * 1 year/$0.369M (2005) * 1 year/$0.32M (2004), renewed 3/04 * Devil Rays took $20,000 incentive off the table when Baldelli balked at having his contract renewed * 1 year/$0.3 M (2003) * drafted 2000 (1-6) * $2.25M signing bonus (paid over 5 years for 2-sport athlete) * 1 year/$0.3M (2003) * agent: negotiated extension himself (hired Casey Close to review contract language) (formerly represented by Scott Boras) * ML service: 4.000 As for Sheilds he too is only 25 years old and isn't going to hit ARB till he is 27, if he continues to develop at the ML level like he is, hes going to be a staple in that rotation for a long time. I can see them moving Rocco or Dukes, but he along with crawford and kazmir are the face of that franchise. the only real FA signings i could see them getting in the near future is a someone like Pudge(he has an option left with the tigers for '08) when they're ready to contend to help keep them focused and add that veteran presence as a DH and back up catcher or possibly getting someone like Adam Dunn he would add a very nice dynamic to that line up; Dunn is also a FA entering the '08 offseason.

Devil Rays 2009 rotation: Kazmir/Niemann/Sonnastine/Howell/Talbot? i see Shields sticking, that change up is nasty and he is going longer into games with his velocity. I don't forsee him getting away from the long ball but so long as he isn't walking people infront of said long ball he'll be fine. Hes also been showing a good curve with + potential. hes forth overall in both MLB and the AL in SO 37 in 36IP. this is how i see their rotation shaking out Kazmir/Sheilds/Niemann/McGee/Price and possibly their BP CL ? SU Hammel SU Salas MR Townsend MR Davis LO Howell LR Jackson i think between now and 09 they'll be drafting a fair share of college closers and fast tracking them to the ML level, that or trading some pieces from the farm to get one. there line up is stacked and they shouldn't move anyone unless they get the moon in return. 2B Upton R 3B Iwamura L RF Young R LF Crawford L DH Dukes R SS Brignac L 1B Longoria R C Navarro S CF Baldelli R

John Danks is getting shelled every time he goes out there.hes obliviously not ready for the big leagues. with a red hot Gio Gonzalez down in double A Birmingham and other quality starters in triple A Charlotte like Gavin Floyd and lance Broadway, do you think its time for the white sox to give Gio or Broadway a shot? i know Gio personally and let me tell you he will be ready when he gets the call and he will stay in the big leagues for a long time. Does anyone agree that its time for the white sox to give someone else a chance? Danks has pitched very very well for a rookie 5th starter. McCarthy isn't doing well at all, and going back to Friday the 20th against Detroit, well ill let the cheat break it down. With 2 outs and runners on 1st and 2nd, Danks induced a high pop-up behind short from Magglio Ordonez. Juan Uribe raced under it, waved his arms as if to call off all other fielders, then at the last second he ran away from the ball as fast as he could. The runners were moving since there were 2 outs, leaving runners at 2nd and 3rd, and a tie game. That lone play is the difference between Danks current ERA of 5.06 and his theoretical ERA of 3.31 if Uribe doesn't hear any ghostly footsteps. SSS Hes gone against two of the best pitchers in MLB in Santana and Sabathia, and his offense has only scratched two runs across the board for him while hes on the mound, and the defense has been horrid, now eventually it will all even out, but by years end he will have a era south of 5 and possibly around 4.25; as it stands now he has a 5.32ERA & a 1.45WHIP. For a little comparison of AL Central 5th starters LHP John Danks 5.32ERA 1.45WHIP RHP Fausto Carmona 3.76ERA 1.22WHIP LHP Jorge De La Rosa 3.82ERA 1.21WHIP RHP Chad Durbin 6.65ERA 1.34WHIP RHP Sidney Ponson 8.44ERA 2.06WHIP I've always liked Gio since the sox first drafted him, and i think the organization will give him his shot after this season when mark leaves via FA. the sox are going to be rebuilding, and its a bright future with Danks and Gio in the rotation, along with Egbert, and Russel; Floyd is still relatively young, his stuff has come back to him since being sent over. Ii believe he or Haeger will be the first ones to get the call followed by Phillips then prolly Gio, i doubt they want to start his ARB clock. Is Haeger that knuckleballer? yes, Hough has said he thinks its better than wakes, and as far as development for a knuckleballer Charlie is light years ahead of wake when he picked up the pitch. I'm very high on Charlie and i think he'll have a very long and successful ML career, the Chi Sox appear to be very high on him too from what Cooper and KW have said publically.

congrats mark, my two favorite franchises with the last two no no's

De Aza made a mistake tonight in CF, but so far so good. Uggla will come out of it, i think somewhere between pre asb and post asb '06 is the real Dan, and ill gladly take it. Can't wait to see Hermida out in RF in may, possibly on the north or south side of Chicago. On an off note i can't wait to see how the marlins approach the draft this year scout.com in their first mock draft has us taking 3B Josh Vitters, if were in contention do you think the FO might draft fast track college BP arms that could potentially help us in Sept?

looked sharp, hope he can keep it up through the grind up 162 games

Trading Brandon McCarthy for junk isn't a what the hell were they thinking moment? Acquiring SP not as good as Garcia? Sisco isn't that good either, although I do like Aardsma but moving Cotts makes it pretty lateral, and he continues to block Field at 3B when he should be moving Crede for anything. And quite possibly, the worst thing Ken Williams does is have Scott Posednik as his LF. That's just unacceptable. Williams got phenomenally lucky with the WS. I'll take any GM in his division over him, Beane, Stoneman, Theo, Cashman, and then I'd really have to think about who I hate less, Williams or Riccardi, for the next slot in the AL. McCarthy wasn't traded for Junk, Jon Danks isn't junk, hes a bit younger and his arb clock hasn't started and hes a lefty too boot, add to the fact that at every level he struggles and then precedes to dominate, he will be taking over for Mark after he leaves for FA. Nick Masset is going to be an 1337 BP arm for a long time, hes a tick below jenks in terms of "stuff". The white sox BP is the best overall in MLB in terms of raw "stuff" now its up to don cooper to get them to produce. Garcia struggled mightily last year and only during the second half after he found a splitter did he begin to dominate, he very well could wind up like Loaiza after developing a new pitch. Floyd could very well justify his draft status and turn around his career hes only 23; two other "late bloomers" come to mind(Halladay & Carpenter), and Gio is going to be reunited with JR Perdew and far away from reading; thats huge. Sisco has a ton of potential, people were saying Matt Thornton was junk too, until last season, the only difference is Sisco is 23yrs old and has better secondary stuff, and he was had for a back up 1B blocked by Konerko and Thome, thats a steal anyway you look at it. I'm with you with regards to Crede, and he recently signed with the sox, you can't trade what you don't own. With the angels loosing McPhearson for all of 07 and in need of a GG 3B capable of hitting 30 HR, the sox and angels look to be good trade partners, Aybar and Sean Rodriguez come to mind for crede. Your right about podsednik but players comparable to his skill lvl are making millions more. Williams didn't get phenomenally lucky with the WS, the sox lead wire to wire and won 16 of their last 17 games, going 11-1 in the post season, only one other team comes to mind that did that, the 98 yankees. The sox also hit over 200HR in 05, so it wasn't "small ball".

whats wrong with williams? he drafts safe low ceciling pitchers that add value to his system, and he isn't afraid to throw his hat in the race when it comes to big trades(garcia), hes also very good at addressing undervalued power arms(Jenks, Thornton, and soon to be Aardsma, Masset, and Sisco). I agree with Tswifts top five sans Shapiro. i think Beinfest should've been top 5, and Theo is an over rated GM.

Not a bad deal for the sox just a puzzling one. Ozzie didn't like McCarthy and that has been documented on a couple of occasions. Danks has more upside than McCarthy and hes left handed to boot and hes initially struggled at every level but has gone on to make the adjustments and his ARB clock hasn't started yet. Masset is the difference maker, in the BP he has been hitting 97-98 consistently, and hes a tick below Jenks and a bit ahead of MacDougal in terms of "stuff". With his addition the white sox BP is now incredibly cheap deep and nasty (provided they can find the strike zone) but i think Sisco/Aardsma/Masett will improve greatly under Don Cooper he has a propensity for fixing power arms. As for the 5th starter it appears its going to be a battle royal in ST between Haeger and Floyd being the front runners with Broadway and Phillips having out side shots. I'm very PRO Haeger hes 23yrs old and already has command of the toughest class of pitch, he could very well become as good as the Niekro brothers, it should be a very interesting season on the southside. this also gives the sox a bit of inside when attempting to sign John's brother.

great work

Beau, didn't read somewhere a quote from Ozzie that the White Sox need a fulltime, everyday centerfielder if they expect to win? Personally, Anderson's stats scare the heck out of me. But frankl as I don;t ever y that's all I can go by, his minor league and major league stats remember seeing him play. Yeah Ozzie made a few comments during the course of the season about Anderson, and there was talk of sending him down to AAA, but that never happened. KW was on the score during the season and was asked why both Anderson and McCarthy weren't being used to their fullest potential; he said he was wondering that too. Just recently Ozzie was quoted as saying no more Mackowiak in CF and Brian is Kennys guy, so i don't think he will be traded, not with his glove and all that promise with his bat.

I would be sad to see Brian off the sox, but if he were to goto any team i would hope its the marlins. Hes got a GG in CF and his bat will come around, it started to after the ASB but Ozzie kept putting Mackowiak in CF and throwing him under the bus. Brian IMO has the potential to be as good as Torii Hunter, and no thats not blind homerism; check out there milb track records and rookie campaigns, they're strikingly similar.

I like this deal alot for the ChiSox me too, i'm glad to have the 10mil to spend on a back up catcher or some other moves KW has up his sleeve and if just one of Floyd or Gio turn out to be ML average starters the sox win. Cooper has a propensity of fixing power arms(thornton, jenks, macdougal) i think Aardsma and Floyd will be some of his best work yet. Also Gio is alot like Danks(TX) and hes just 20yrs old at AA. I think reuniting with JR Perdew will go a long way in getting his control back. I'd say a fair deal overall for both teams with the upside going to the sox.

I'm pro Denorifa, his raw tools aren't amazing but his overall package and work ethic are. Hes a very good defensive CF.

LOL Juan acting like its the source awards.

Thanks, I'll take a look. I keep thinking a Sickels or Mayo will publish a list or some enterprising blogger or minor league messageboard poster will, but so far to no avail. I'm sure before the draft one will apear, they always do, although we all understand this year and going forward, the quality of player being left exposed is diminished by the new rules. maybe, but they were saying the same thing after Santana won the CY: that everyone would protect their prospects its apparent it happened again, time will tell, but the new rules do put a bit of a strain on the draft.

I'll admit I didn't read the whole article, so if it mentions this I apologize, but when is the draft? Thanks. Dec 7th

After a bit of research i've come across one person that should be rule V eligible, he had a poor showing in the AFL but his Milb numbers were outstanding but he has repeated lvls,but he hit well(300+) when he got demoted, and hes still young 23. Javon Moran he spent signifcant time in all 3 OF posistions.

I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year. I agree, I'm pro Jacobs for '07. I think were going to see some parts to our BP and our CFer come from the rule V. Then we're going to be in for a long season.

I just say give the kid a chance to play everyday next season .. because if all he can bring in is chris freakin duffy, whats the point? Why not see what Jake can do with a full healthy (hopefully) year. I agree, I'm pro Jacobs for '07. I think were going to see some parts to our BP and our CFer come from the rule V.

Like 90% of teams, they need young arms and BP help.