White Sox Thinking Out In Left Field
With the Chicago White Sox announcement that Josh Fields will move from third base to left field, Kenny Williams
and Ozzie Guillen have begun to show their cards for 2008.
What this move, if successful , will do is allow Joe Crede to come back as the everyday third baseman in 2008. This is mistake number one. Crede will be in the last year of his contract and is represented by the evil Scott Boras. If Crede can prove to be healthy, the best the Sox can do is trade him by the all-star break and then hand the job over to Fields. The problem is though, if the Sox are back in the race next year, this could be an issue as Fields needs more time at the hot corner to develop his defensive skills. Losing a month of the season to continue to learn that going to his right is part of the job description, doesn't help.
I also don't like the fact the kid will be in a new position and most likely taking his defensive struggles (and ther ewill be defensive struggles, take yesterday in the ninth inning for example) to the plate with him. I think this move totally screws up his development as he has been one of the few bright spots of this dismal season. It also increases his risk of serious injury.
Now the dominoes: The move of Fields to left probably is the death knell for the White Sox career of Scott Podsednik. With the possibility of Darin Erstad moving into the Ross Gload role of utility outfielder/first baseman, and adding Pablo Ozuna, Andy Gonzalez and possibly Ryan Sweeney to the mix, Pods is definitely the odd man out. So, cross him off your list for next year.
If the Sox keep Crede and move Fields to left, the two areas of concentration become shortstop and center field. Knowing how the Sox hate spending money, they may just hand the center field job to Jerry Owens and hope he can develop his offensive skills. I really believe that both Williams and Guillen see no immediate need to upgrade. And if they do, you may see Ryan Sweeney gone in a trade and Owens in some kind of platoon and or defensive arrangement with Fields where he will come in for defense late in the game or as a pinch runner.
The way I figure it, with about $92 million committed to next year already, you have to trim at least $10-$20 million off if you are going to go after a premium free agent like Torrie Hunter (who will command an Ichirolike $18 million per and probably 5/$100 million. That would mean the Sox would have to unload both Jon Garland and Jose Contreras to afford him, leaving the rotation Buehrle, Vazquez, Danks, insert name of pitcher acquired in trade here, insert name of kid pitcher of the week here. This doesn't exactly inspire confidence, does it?
It is most likely, the Sox will try to re-sign old friend Aaron Rowand for somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-$12 million. If they can't do they (I'll bet Rowand gets a boatload to stay in Philly), Owens is the fall back.
At shortstop, the Sox will either trade for a proven one by unloading a pitcher or find one on some organization's scrap heap as they found Uribe in Colorado. I think Jon garland, Jose Contreras, Ryan Sweeney, Lance Broadway, possibly AJ Pierzynski, Mike MacDougal, Matt Thornton and a few other minor league players are on the bubble. The untouchables include Konerko, Thome, Richar, Dye, Buehrle, Jenks and possibly Javy Vazquez. In exchange, the Sox are looking for someone that can add some power, but most important play solid defense on every play, steal bases, handle the bat and add some speed to the lineup. Someone like Rafel Furcal, but younger, cheaper and with a cleaner driving record.
More on this story and these scenarios as they develop.
Lightning Round
and Ozzie Guillen have begun to show their cards for 2008.What this move, if successful , will do is allow Joe Crede to come back as the everyday third baseman in 2008. This is mistake number one. Crede will be in the last year of his contract and is represented by the evil Scott Boras. If Crede can prove to be healthy, the best the Sox can do is trade him by the all-star break and then hand the job over to Fields. The problem is though, if the Sox are back in the race next year, this could be an issue as Fields needs more time at the hot corner to develop his defensive skills. Losing a month of the season to continue to learn that going to his right is part of the job description, doesn't help.
I also don't like the fact the kid will be in a new position and most likely taking his defensive struggles (and ther ewill be defensive struggles, take yesterday in the ninth inning for example) to the plate with him. I think this move totally screws up his development as he has been one of the few bright spots of this dismal season. It also increases his risk of serious injury.
Now the dominoes: The move of Fields to left probably is the death knell for the White Sox career of Scott Podsednik. With the possibility of Darin Erstad moving into the Ross Gload role of utility outfielder/first baseman, and adding Pablo Ozuna, Andy Gonzalez and possibly Ryan Sweeney to the mix, Pods is definitely the odd man out. So, cross him off your list for next year.
If the Sox keep Crede and move Fields to left, the two areas of concentration become shortstop and center field. Knowing how the Sox hate spending money, they may just hand the center field job to Jerry Owens and hope he can develop his offensive skills. I really believe that both Williams and Guillen see no immediate need to upgrade. And if they do, you may see Ryan Sweeney gone in a trade and Owens in some kind of platoon and or defensive arrangement with Fields where he will come in for defense late in the game or as a pinch runner.
The way I figure it, with about $92 million committed to next year already, you have to trim at least $10-$20 million off if you are going to go after a premium free agent like Torrie Hunter (who will command an Ichirolike $18 million per and probably 5/$100 million. That would mean the Sox would have to unload both Jon Garland and Jose Contreras to afford him, leaving the rotation Buehrle, Vazquez, Danks, insert name of pitcher acquired in trade here, insert name of kid pitcher of the week here. This doesn't exactly inspire confidence, does it?
It is most likely, the Sox will try to re-sign old friend Aaron Rowand for somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-$12 million. If they can't do they (I'll bet Rowand gets a boatload to stay in Philly), Owens is the fall back.
At shortstop, the Sox will either trade for a proven one by unloading a pitcher or find one on some organization's scrap heap as they found Uribe in Colorado. I think Jon garland, Jose Contreras, Ryan Sweeney, Lance Broadway, possibly AJ Pierzynski, Mike MacDougal, Matt Thornton and a few other minor league players are on the bubble. The untouchables include Konerko, Thome, Richar, Dye, Buehrle, Jenks and possibly Javy Vazquez. In exchange, the Sox are looking for someone that can add some power, but most important play solid defense on every play, steal bases, handle the bat and add some speed to the lineup. Someone like Rafel Furcal, but younger, cheaper and with a cleaner driving record.
More on this story and these scenarios as they develop.
Lightning Round
- Putting Josh Fields in left field had no effect on the outcome of yesterday's game as the Red Sox once again put up double digits and the horse was way out of the barn when Fields misjudged a popup that led to three additional Boston runs. This is the first time in baseball history that a team has given up double digit losses in every game of a four game series. Still think your team hasn't given up, Mr. Chairman?
- The only team with a worse record than the Sox invades US Commiskey Park this afternoon for a makeup game. The only people that most likely be attending the game are relatives, wives and girlfriends. WGN will air the game, but would get more ratings running a test pattern. At least you get to see Carl Crawford play and fantasize about him being in center field for the White Sox.
- Um boys, you're 1½ games BEHIND the freakin' Royals. Anytime you want to remove your heads from your fannies is okay with me.
- For what it's worth, Ozzie Guillen likes the Red Sox to win the AL Ozzie Guillen likes the Red Sox to win the AL this year. Easy to say when your team gets beat 46-7 over four games.
- In the NL Central, the Cubs can't get over the hump against the D-Backs, the Brewers get swept out of Frisco(and have lost 21 of 30) but I've said it for a month now: Here come the Cardinals.
- It appears that the Dodgers may have reaped a fat dividend.
- The US wins the Little League World Series on a walkoff home run. Maybe WGN should carry this game this afternoon. It will be far more compelling than the game that will be on even if you do know how it turns out.
- It's not all sugar and spice at the Iowa offices of Hillary Clinton. Who says liberals are always nice?
- Much to the dismay of "The Decider", Laura Bush refuses to go down under.
- Honking your car horn at the asshat who is talking on his cellphone and forgets to move forward when the light turns green can cost you $124 in Washington State.
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