Several years ago, I was part of a radio show called "Triple Play" on WJOX, Birmingham.   One night, we were discussing prospects in the Southern League.  I asked Curt Bloom, the long time voice of the Birmingham Barons, who he thought were some of the top names in the league.  Without hesitation, Curt said "Wilson Betemit is a can't miss prospect."

Six years later, we all realize that Curt is a much better announcer than he is a scout.

I bring this up not to embarrass Curt, who is a good friend, but because yesterday Dr. Stangetrade did it again.  For the price of Nick Swisher and a minor league pitcher too insignificant to mention, Kenny Williams has acquired Betemit to play the role of Juan Uribe in 2009.  Without the arm and the defensive skills, of course.

Kenny also picked up a couple of minor league pitchers, both of whom are fairly unknown and unaccomplished.  So, right off the bat, you once again scratch your head and wonder exactly what the heck was Kenny smoking?

Time after time, Kenny Williams makes you look like the crack fiend.  Last year when he acquired Carlos Quentin, most Sox fans (including this one, I admit it) wondered why picking up a fourth wheel for the outfield was necessary.  36 home runs later, we know why.

In this case, a few things were obvious.  Swisher couldn't play center field for the White Sox which is to say he didn't have the range to make up for the lack of range the Sox possess in left and right field.   Swisher is best when he plays first, but with Paul Konerko anchored there for a couple more years, there was no room at the inn. 

There are also some who believe that Swisher's free spirit rubbed people the wrong way and that he got down on himself when he went into a prolonged funk that defined his only season with the Sox.  There seems to be a movement underfoot to rid the roster of all goofballs (the exceptions being Mark Buehrle and A.J. Pierzynski) with the departures of Orlando (Captain Morgan) Cabrera, Toby (Pie Man) Hall and Juan (Ooh Ooh) Uribe.  I think you'll find the 2009 White Sox will be a lot more focused, business like group, more like Konerko and Jim Thome and less like Swisher and Hall. 

Kenny fully realizes in the current national economic climate, he's going to have to shed some salary to add some.  Cutting ties with the under performing Swisher nets him a savings of $22 million over two years and moving both Jermaine Dye and Javy Vazquez opens up even more possibilities. 

I agree with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports who thinks Kenny is just getting warmed up.

I'll miss Nick Swisher's general goofiness and his gritty approach, but if Kenny turns this into a center fielder and possibly a third baseman, I'm good with it.  Swisher was a disappointment last year.  He may rebound with the Yankees and he'll be in an environment where the focus will be less on him and more on teammates Derrick Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.  In that environment, Swisher will be a role player, which seems a position he is well suited for.

In the meantime, Kenny continues to smile, dial and laugh when people like me wonder just what he's up to.

Lightning Round

• Rickhouse is cautiously optimistic on the trade. (Tremendous Upside Potential)
  
• Nick Swisher may ask Santa for a razor for Christmas. (Deadspin)
• The White Sox Blog isn't sad to see Swish go and wonders what else Kenny might be up to.
• The Cheat posts an absolutely BRILLIANT theory on how the trade went down.  Nicely played, sir! (South Side Sox)
• Andrew believes that trading Swisher was a necessary evil (35th Street Review)
• Tom Fornelli is not totally sold on the deal. (Foul Balls via NBC Chicago)
• The Cheat thinks it wasn't Nick Swisher's numbers that got him traded, it was his personality. (South Side Sox)
• Tim Dierkes with reaction to the reaction (MLB Trade Rumors)
• Carl Skanberg immortalizes Nick Swisher in ink (Smells Like Mascot)