steve wrote:I still say they should try to ship Crede (who is probably quite sellable now) and make a play for Clint Barmes or another young guy with promise for the infield.

barmes needs coors field to make him comparable to crede. w/o it, he's not there yet.

i don't know if crede 'has it all figured out,' as al sez. he seems like he does, but he's seemed like it before. i wouldn't trade him right now unless i got more value than he's been worth historically, however. he was too good after he got his finger broke, when it mattered deeply how good he was.

Does Frank Thomas even want to play first any more? He was a better hitter (Bradley R. Weissenberger pointed this out) when he played as well as hit.

it's harder to say this now, all else being equal for him. he hasn't played 1B in the last three years unless totally healthy, which means a lot of his DH at-bats were while hobbled.

i think it's too risky to put the guy in the field at this point. i'd be happy if he could run the bases on that ankle.

steve wrote: I still say they should try to ship Crede (who is probably quite sellable now) and make a play for Clint Barmes or another young guy with promise for the infield.

Does Frank Thomas even want to play first any more? He was a better hitter (Bradley R. Weissenberger pointed this out) when he played as well as hit.

Crede would have no place to play as Garret Atkins (the second coming of Vinny Castilla) has third base on lock down out here.

One scenario that I was thinking of is the White Sox trade Jon Garland and someone else to the Phillies, get Ryan Howard, and use that konerko money on BJ Ryan or somebody like that.

Or they could just resign Konerko.

I say pencil Frank in for about 90 games with the Sox next year.

Did I ever mention that I pass Dante Bichette's old, abandoned steak house every day on the way to work?

-Jeremy

...

I might not be opposed to the White Sox dealing with the Brewers where the main components would be Freddy Garcia for Prince Fielder. Fielder is still “raw” and unproven, but from what I have seen he can flat out hit and would make for a great DH candidate and the money saved could go towards keeping Konerko. McCarthy could then be the 4th starter with Hernandez 5th. I would also consider giving Cotts another crack at the starting rotation and permanently moving Hernandez to the pen. The Brewers would definitely benefit from adding a quality veteran starter to the rotation with Sheets, Davis & Capuano and could then just stay with the fan-loved and better fielding Overbay at first.

Free agent Brian Giles (.423 OBP last year), unless cost prohibitive, might also be a nice fit at DH for the Sox.

Also, a head's up that the Sox have a 3-game series vs. the Pirates in 2006 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. June 27th - 29th. PNC is an incredible place. If you haven't yet been there, it's well worth the trip.

I still say [the White Sox] should try to ship Crede (who is probably quite sellable now) and make a play for Clint Barmes or another young guy with promise for the infield.

Joe Crede is still a relative bargain even if his arbitration number goes to $1.2-1.5 million. Clint Barmes is no bargain at any price once he is removed from Coors Field. Clint Barmes' home numbers are All-Star quality, but his road numbers are mind-bogglingly terrible. While I will grant that the sample size is small based on Barmes' youth and the fact that he missed much of last year, I still would not trade Joe Crede for Clint Barmes. In fact, I would try to work on a contract extension for Joe Crede.

One scenario that I was thinking of is the White Sox trade Jon Garland and someone else to the Phillies [to] get Ryan Howard.

I tend to doubt that the Phillies would trade Ryan Howard for Jon Garland -- or pretty much anyone else. My guess is that Ryan Howard is pretty much untouchable given his first-year performance and contract status (like, say, Huston Street, Rich Harden, Rickie Weeks, Zach Duke or Jeff Francoeur).

But you never know!

Since you mentioned Ryan Howard, that brings up the issue of Jim Thome's availability. The Phillies are dying to unload him. I believe that Jim Thome would be a good risk if the Phillies would eat half to two-thirds of his contract (3 years at $43.5 million), which they seem prepared to do. I hear that the Twins are pursuing Thome in a deal along these lines, and that this deal could include Torii Hunter.

That's funny. That's funny because I have assumed all along that Torii Hunter would be traded to the Yankkes in this offseason. Torii Hunter seems to be involved in every trade rumor this off-season.

Anyway, when healthy, Jim Thome is an incredible offensive player. He's 35 years old with a history of elbow, hand and back injuries, but giving him an opportunity to DH a lot might allow him to stay healthier than he has been in the recent past. I would be very tempted to try and get Jim Thome on my team at the right price.

Free agent Brian Giles (.423 OBP last year), unless cost prohibitive, might also be a nice fit at DH for the Sox.

I recall that Brian Giles, as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, previously refused a trade to the White Sox, but perhaps he would change his mind. Based on what I've read, though, I suspect that he's headed to the Yankkes, particularly if the Yankkes can't get a deal done with Hideki Matsui.

I might not be opposed to the White Sox dealing with the Brewers where the main components would be Freddy Garcia for Prince Fielder.

I have heard that the White Sox will aggressively shop Freddy Garcia in the off-season. I am not anxious to see the White Sox part with a very good starting pitcher like Freddy Garcia, but this deal intrigues me.

By the way, did anybody else notice how many MLB players' wives had children in late September and October? Wtf.

Rick Reuschel wrote:I wouldn't mind seeing Manny playing left in Wrigley though.

Wrigley could use another idiot out by the bleachers.

In all seriousness Manny would fare much better as a Cub than Nomar has. The romance period is gone - Nomar no more. I'll bet he gets off to a hot start again next year and then plays 60-80 games before an ankle, wrist, groin or some other injury sidelines him.

In the meantime Alex Gonzalez did rather well in his brief stint as an Expo and this past season with the (surprisingly good) D-Rays. They're a couple good arms away from being a serious contender. I'm not a fan of theirs, but their outfield was damn exciting to watch this year.

I keep wondering who else the Cubs got in that trade besides Nomar?

I can't believe we're only making predictions for 2006.

I'd like to predict--in this space--that in the 3006 baseball season, Garblox of the Nebular Orion's leads the league (Ursa Majors) in morklocks.

Borglobs Plutonia will pitch nine medagoblites.

matte wrote:

Rick Reuschel wrote:I wouldn't mind seeing Manny playing left in Wrigley though.

Wrigley could use another idiot out by the bleachers.

In all seriousness Manny would fare much better as a Cub than Nomar has. The romance period is gone - Nomar no more. I'll bet he gets off to a hot start again next year and then plays 60-80 games before an ankle, wrist, groin or some other injury sidelines him.

In the meantime Alex Gonzalez did rather well in his brief stint as an Expo and this past season with the (surprisingly good) D-Rays. They're a couple good arms away from being a serious contender. I'm not a fan of theirs, but their outfield was damn exciting to watch this year.

I keep wondering who else the Cubs got in that trade besides Nomar?

Matt Murton is who and he will start in LF next year. Top-notch plate discipline and cheap. Oh, Nomar didn't get off to a hot start last year at all, in fact he was pretty terrible to start the season before he got hurt. The fact is that if healthy and at this point a big if, he's still a lifetime .320 hitter with a .360 or higher career OBP. I wouldn't be suprised to see Nomar in the outfield somewhere else but Wrigley this year. His range has dwindled and he has a good arm. Left field.

The cubs picked up Walkers cheap option. They are pursuing Furcal heavily to play short. Hendry has shown a huge interest in Burnett and it has been reported by multiple sources that Milton Bradley could be non-tendered, if so, he would be a welcome addition to right field at wrigley. The cubs have lots of money to work with this year before raises to Prior and Zambrano are needed to be handed out.

oh and i thought i would ruin most cubs fans day, hendry just signed neifury perezarino to a fucking 2 year contract. since baker is at the helm, cedeno is not going to get a shot. i'm seeing walker and hairston both being dealt this winter now. my stomach hurts.

matte wrote:Alex Gonzalez did rather well in his brief stint as an Expo and this past season with the (surprisingly good) D-Rays.

There are two guys named Alex Gonzalez in Major League Baseball, including the former Cub. There are also two guys named Luis Gonzalez. In fact, there are around twenty guys in the higher levels of professional baseball who have the last name Gonzalez.

And I bet that every one of them has been called "Gonzo" at some point in his career.

This is funny to me because Luis "Gonzo" Gonzalez of the Arizona Diamondbacks strikes me as one of the least "gonzo" people in professional sports. "Gonzo" seems like he would just be a really nice guy:

"While Gonzalez became big-time on the field, he never let it affect him off the field, as he continued to be one of baseball's good guys. With a photographic memory for names and faces, he remembered everyone he met at all the ballparks, from the players and umps to the baggage guys and clubhouse stewards. Gonzalez was considered to be the highest tipper in baseball, sometimes asking a worker's highest tip that year and then topping it by a substantial margin. Known for his ability to socialize with superstars and rookies, he had a reputation for generosity, often picking up the bar tab for lower-paid players, writers, and baseball employees."

In addition to being a nice guy, Luis Gonzalez was one of the best players in baseball from 1999-2003. Of course, before he became a superstar, Luis Gonzalez had played for the Chicago Cubs.

Now who did the Chicago Cubs get for future superstar Luis Gonzalez when they got rid of him? Who was that?

Gonzo, congratulations to you and the 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks for overcoming the Ex-Cub Factor.

From one of the rogue 2006 baseball threads:

electrons wrote:Early predictions

AL:

E: Yankees
C: White Sox
W: Rangers
Wild: Indians

NL:

E: Braves
C: Cards
W: Diamondbacks
Wild: Phillies

I say we go with this one because it came first. I also stand by my predictions.

Opening day, y'all! Got my tix and my raincoat! See me at the rainout on ESPN!!! Let's Go Go Go White Sox!