The trade deadline is looming and the rumors are swirling around players on both sides of town as well as players throughout the league. Dan Haren has all ready been dealt from the D-Back to the Angels in what looks to be purely a salary dump transaction. Arizona is getting a bag of nothing in return as far as talent goes, but it does free up about $30M in the books. They got a couple of low-end prospects and Joe Saunders who had a heck of a year in 2008. He went 16-7 last year, but he was fortunate to receive the run-support that he did to acquire those wins as his ERA was 4.60 and his WHIP was 1.430. On top of that, he’s injury prone so good luck with that Arizona.
The names being mentioned around the White Sox have been Adam Dunn of the Washington Nats, Prince Fielder of the Brew Crew, and as of late Luke Scott and Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore O’s.
Adam Dunn is a younger Jim Thome. He’ll hit more homers than Big Jim and his OBP is nice and high, which I value, but he’s another base-clogger. Sure he’ll get on base, but what’s the point if he can’t score without playing station-to-station baseball. Not only that, but he’s strictly a rent-a-player. The Sox would have to give up a ton of good talent in order to acquire him from the Nats GM Rizzo just to use his services for the remainder of the year. It really depends on the talent they would have to give up to get him because the Sox could definitely use a power bat from the left side of the plate. Since he’s proven that he can hit 40+ home runs in a season (and is currently on pace to due so again) he has been given the pass to strikeout as many times as he pleases, so I don’t want to hear that side of the argument. And the less at bats Kotsay gets, is a good thing. Let’s use him for what he was brought here for, pinch hitting in later innings. His Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games is an abysmal -98.0 and his Wins Above Replacement according to fangraphs.com is -0.8. SO he’s cost the White Sox 80% of a win and hypothetically owes THEM money, $3.1 million to be approximate.
Prince Fielder is obviously a great power bat from the left side as he has proven that he can hit 50 homers in a year (it’s very possible for him to do the same again this year). Imagine the damage he can do at White Sox park; however, the Brew Crew will be asking for the moon in order to send him to Chicago. The likes of Gordon Beckham or Carlos Quentin with Daniel Hudson thrown into the mix. Yes, Prince is an overweight fat-body, but he’s not quite the base clogger that Dunn is. His OBP is up there at a .399 clip and his OPS is .904 and I like the fact that he can score on a single from second. He doesn’t bring much to the table as far as defense goes though, so he’d be a VERY expensive DH who can spell Konerko from time to time at 1B. The other variable to remember is that he’s under contract through 2011, so the Sox would be “borrowing” him for the rest of this year and all of next. I suppose there’s always the slightest of chances that they’ll sign him in the open market after that, but it’s most unlikely because his agent Scott Boras, whom Kenny Williams is not a fan of dealing with, will be asking for Ryan Howard money.
Tune in Thursday from 7 to 9 for a special edition of Cover 3, Monday August 2nd we'll be back to regular schedule.
PREACH
By: Robert Zielinski Jr.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
The White Sox: 3-Game Skid, Vizquel Vs. Viciedo
After going 26-5 in their 31 games prior, the White Sox are on a three-game skid courtesy of their divisional rival Minnesota Twins. What should have been a 4-game series split, ended up as a 3-1 series loss after a tough defeat yesterday. The White Sox reverted to their old ways after winning the first game of the series and began to boot the ball around the infield and make mental mistakes. Dayan Viciedo made a critical error on Friday night on what should have been a 5-4-3 double play and turned into a run scoring, game changing gaffe. It was a fielding error on a hard hit ball to third, so I’m not that down on him especially since the Sox knew coming in that he’s not in the lineup for his fielding. He’s the future first baseman/DH. Which brings me to my next point…Omar Vizquel needs to be at third base as much as possible to shore up the defense. Although both players have the same amount of errors of 2 at 3B, Vizquel has played more than twice as many innings. Obviously he doesn’t have the kind of “pop” in his bat that Viciedo does, but “Defense wins championships” is a sports cliché for a reason! He also seems to have settled down Alexi Ramirez whose Ultimate Zone Rating is a solid 8.6 with a UZR/150 of 15.4 thus far. Vizquel isn’t tearing the cover off the ball, but he’s not exactly being detrimental to the lineup either. He gets his hits as shown by his .265 BA and he can actually lay a sacrifice bunt down to advance the runners. Now I know Viciedo is up in the Majors for a reason and he needs to get his at-bats being a big part of the future core of the White Sox, so I’d suggest making him the full-time DH. I know this isn’t what Ozzie wants as he likes the flexibility of his roster, but this is the circumstance that the Sox are in. What happens when Teahen is ready to come off the disabled list? That’s another blog for another day as I think that day is still closer to a month away. If they don’t want to go that route, put him back in triple A. We’re only about six weeks away from the September call-ups anyway, and maybe he can get more work as an everyday third baseman.
The White Sox lost the series finale at Target Field after going into the bottom of the ninth with a 3-run lead. Big Bobby Jenks didn’t record an out before he was replaced by rookie Sergio Santos who was called upon and asked to do what he’s never done before. He was asked to close out a game, with inherited runners and on the road no less! Needless to say, it didn’t work out. I’m not that down on Bobby either as he had converted his last 15 save opportunities, but this loss was so tough that I’m now skeptical of the whole shorten-the-game idea. Essentially, in order for that idea to work and be properly executed, you’re asking at least three pitchers to have their good stuff on a nightly basis. Don’t get me wrong, it has worked perfectly for a few clubs throughout the years, particularly a bullpen that has been anchored by a future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. I’m just saying my own foundation on that sort of game plan has been rocked and I’d like to hear arguments from both sides.
Tape & Pine Tar
The Cubs won a tough series matchup against the Phillies. The most impressive part was getting the victory last night on Sunday Night Baseball when they defeated the Doc himself, Roy Halladay. They took three of four and really took them to the woodshed the two games they won. Starlin Castro’s bat is really starting to come around and guess who finally joined the party….Aramis “Too little, possibly too late” Ramirez. Even after the series versus the Phillies victory, the Cubs still stand 9.5 games behind the division leading St. Louis Cardinals. Even the Cincinnati Reds are ahead of them by nine games. What a hole the Cubs have dug themselves into, but it’s a rather pathetic remark aimed towards the NL Central as a whole when I say that the Cubs still have a legitimate shot at going on a run to take over the division, or have an outside shot at climbing over seven teams to win the wildcard slot.
Bears training camp is just around the corner. People are making a big deal about the fact that Devin Hester is working out with former Martz-offense receiver and future Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce. In my opinion, it would be a better story if he WASN”T going the extra mile to gain an edge for his game.
As always tune in to Cover 3 every Monday evening from 7 to 9 on sportstownchicago.com
PREACH
By: Robert Zielinski Jr.
The White Sox lost the series finale at Target Field after going into the bottom of the ninth with a 3-run lead. Big Bobby Jenks didn’t record an out before he was replaced by rookie Sergio Santos who was called upon and asked to do what he’s never done before. He was asked to close out a game, with inherited runners and on the road no less! Needless to say, it didn’t work out. I’m not that down on Bobby either as he had converted his last 15 save opportunities, but this loss was so tough that I’m now skeptical of the whole shorten-the-game idea. Essentially, in order for that idea to work and be properly executed, you’re asking at least three pitchers to have their good stuff on a nightly basis. Don’t get me wrong, it has worked perfectly for a few clubs throughout the years, particularly a bullpen that has been anchored by a future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. I’m just saying my own foundation on that sort of game plan has been rocked and I’d like to hear arguments from both sides.
Tape & Pine Tar
The Cubs won a tough series matchup against the Phillies. The most impressive part was getting the victory last night on Sunday Night Baseball when they defeated the Doc himself, Roy Halladay. They took three of four and really took them to the woodshed the two games they won. Starlin Castro’s bat is really starting to come around and guess who finally joined the party….Aramis “Too little, possibly too late” Ramirez. Even after the series versus the Phillies victory, the Cubs still stand 9.5 games behind the division leading St. Louis Cardinals. Even the Cincinnati Reds are ahead of them by nine games. What a hole the Cubs have dug themselves into, but it’s a rather pathetic remark aimed towards the NL Central as a whole when I say that the Cubs still have a legitimate shot at going on a run to take over the division, or have an outside shot at climbing over seven teams to win the wildcard slot.
Bears training camp is just around the corner. People are making a big deal about the fact that Devin Hester is working out with former Martz-offense receiver and future Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce. In my opinion, it would be a better story if he WASN”T going the extra mile to gain an edge for his game.
As always tune in to Cover 3 every Monday evening from 7 to 9 on sportstownchicago.com
PREACH
By: Robert Zielinski Jr.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
NBA Free Agency: Is LBJ to Chicago Possi-BULL?
Well, where to start? Wade and Bosh are signing in Miami. LeBron is making his decision announcement tomorrow night in Connecticut. What? And this just in…..Carlos Boozer is a Bull. It’s a 5-year $80MM deal, which still preserves their maximum salary offer to LeBron James. It puts the cap figure at $13.8MM leaving just enough space to squeeze in LBJ. Hopefully James hasn’t completely made up his mind all ready and the Bulls can use this signing as a ploy to recruit James into wearing a Bulls uniform. It’s hard trying not to read into things as any thing can happen, but I deduce that since the announcement is coming from Connecticut, James will NOT be returning to the Cavs. If he was, why wouldn’t he just do it in Cleveland or Akron? Sounds like he’s seeking a safe-haven in case Akron erupts into a riot. (That may be hyperbolic, but you understand). The Bulls as an organization have said that they have not officially been told “no” in the James sweepstakes. Though that certainly does not necessarily mean “yes” either.
Tape & Pine Tar:
All this NBA free agency talk is coming in the wake of the news that White Sox ace Jake Peavy is almost certainly done for the season with a detached latissimus dorsi muscle. When asked if he’d be out for the remainder of the season….. “I can’t say,” Peavy replied. Well, that’s not good. Even if he does’t return by the end of the season, how sharp could he be? Peavy throwing if he comes back could be detrimental to the team instead of beneficial. Ozzie has yet to speak to Kenny Williams today, so he does not know if the Sox are pursuing a starting pitcher as of right now. Sources have said, however, that the White Sox are “all over” Adam Dunn. There’s no word yet on which players may be involved in a package for Washington, but there’s still three weeks before the non-waiver trade dealine.
As always tune in to Cover 3 every Monday evening from 7 to 9 on sportstownchicago.com.
PREACH
Tape & Pine Tar:
All this NBA free agency talk is coming in the wake of the news that White Sox ace Jake Peavy is almost certainly done for the season with a detached latissimus dorsi muscle. When asked if he’d be out for the remainder of the season….. “I can’t say,” Peavy replied. Well, that’s not good. Even if he does’t return by the end of the season, how sharp could he be? Peavy throwing if he comes back could be detrimental to the team instead of beneficial. Ozzie has yet to speak to Kenny Williams today, so he does not know if the Sox are pursuing a starting pitcher as of right now. Sources have said, however, that the White Sox are “all over” Adam Dunn. There’s no word yet on which players may be involved in a package for Washington, but there’s still three weeks before the non-waiver trade dealine.
As always tune in to Cover 3 every Monday evening from 7 to 9 on sportstownchicago.com.
PREACH
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