Link:

Orlando Hernandez's career may be over. He is opting for surgery on his right big toe, which has a bunion. El Duque previously had resisted that procedure because the recovery time could cost him more than a full season.

Scott Reifert wrote an interesting tidbit on his blog:

Laughing before the game, some staff members remembered El Duque's heroic effort in Game 3 of the 2005 Division Series at Boston.  With the bases loaded, El Duque was summoned in from the bullpen ...

"Can you imagine what it was like," someone offered.  "The phone rings in the bullpen and guys are shaking in fear on the bench.  Duque stands and says, 'That is for me." (imagine a heavy Cuban accent)

After getting out of the jam and after the White Sox won that game to advance to the ALCS, Duque offered ...

"Those situations, they are easy," he explained.  "Everyone wants to be the hero, so they swing at anything and get themselves out.  Just throw sliders out of the strike zone."

And what about that final 3-2 pitch to Damon with no place to put him, pretty tough to throw that slider then?

Front door slider.  Probably the only strike he threw during the at-bat.

A piece of White Sox history.

What a ballsy mo-fo.  Thanks for one of the greatest innings in postseason history, El Duque!

It looks like the Uribe to the Red Sox trade for possibly Alex Cora has fallen through.  The most recent rumor is that Justin Duchscherer is just Kenny's Plan C.  Rumor is that Kenny is open to dealing Josh Fields, along with Aaron Poreda, to acquire a starting pitcher.  Here are a couple quotes from posters at SoxTalk.com:

The way Joe Cowley was talking this morning on Mully and Hanley Josh Fields is as good as gone.  He said they want a SP and Duscherer is third on their wish list.  If he is third on the wish list who the hell would be 1 and 2?  It would have to be a big name.

Cowley on the SCORE this morning had Duch at plan C.

He also quoted Guillen as saying he will not say his Justin's last name for fear of how he may say it and get in trouble.

I think one of OC or Crede are signed and if not, than it is possibly 4 picks in the top 40 or so gutting the farm system will not hurt especially with Danks and Beckham if signed.

Remember the A's were thought to have wanted Poreda in draft last year and the Sox took him one spot before Oakland.

Post any and all White Sox trade rumors here.

 

who goes -- Adam Russell or D.J. Carrasco?

Tough decision

The Sox's staff has a pleasantly difficult decision because either rookie Adam Russell or D.J. Carrasco, who saved the bullpen with 51/3 innings in his only game Friday, could be taken off the roster to make room for closer Bobby Jenks when he comes off the disabled list.

"No matter who we send down, who we trade or release, obviously it will hurt," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "Unfortunately, that's a tough part of the job, but I'm satisfied what Carrasco and [Russell] did."

For the Sox to keep him in the organization, Carrasco would have to clear waivers if taken off the 25-man roster. Russell hurt his chances by getting tagged for two runs on three hits in one-plus inning Sunday.

Russell can be optioned to AAA.  Carrasco would have to clear waivers.  But regardless of this factor, who would you choose to keep?

I think I would have to go with Carrasco since he can pitch multiple innings and it looks like the Sox will need it with Contreras falling apart.  Also, I pick Carrasco because Larry likes him.  And that 5.1 inning performance against the Rangers was pretty sweet.

Last year's stats:

.296 AVG  /  .367 OBP  /  .414 SLG  /  .781 OPS  /  105 OPS+  /  7 HR  /  38 RBI  /  23 SB

Has he officially retired or is he still looking for a team?  Does he want a starting job?  Maybe he is waiting for some starting outfielder to get injured so he can join a team's outfield for their playoff run?  In any case, that OBP would sure look good at the top of our lineup and he would make a great bench stick.  If Edmonds could latch on with the Cubs, Lofton should be playing for some team as well.  Obviously, his defense isn't what it used to be but no one seems to believe that Lofton will keep hitting year after year at his age...  yet he keeps proving people wrong.

UPDATE:

The Diamondbacks will officially announce a six-year deal for Chris Young on Tuesday.

The deal will buy out Young's first year of free agency, and there's expected to be an option for 2014. The total package should be worth about $30 million.

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The Diamondbacks are close to signing OF Chris Young to a long-term contract.

Young's new deal is thought to be similar to the six-year, $31 million deal Troy Tulowitzki got. It would keep him under Arizona's control through his first season of free agency. Young has proven he's a Gold Glove-caliber fielder, and while his average should improve, has shown he's a legitimate 30-30 threat.

Source:  Arizona Republic

I know it isn't good ol' MVP Baseball but it's the only damn MLB licensed Xbox 360 game available. Best Buy will have it in stock next Tuesday (3/4) after 2:00 P.M.  I love checking out the new rosters every year (especially the White Sox).  The sucky thing is that Alexei Ramirez probably won't even be in the game until the season starts and Take 2 Interactive releases a roster update.  I will update everyone on the rosters and player ratings when I get it early next week. In honor of southsideirish71 and SSS, my first trade will be Crede, Uribe, and Masset to the Giants for Matt Cain, haha. So who else will be buying the game and for what system?

Richar is starting at 2B tonight so Kenny and the Sox obviously see Richar as their 2B, not SS, for the present and future (if he pans out for these final two months, of course).  So I guess the big question now is:

Will Uribe's $5 million dollar team option for next season be picked up or will Kenny find a replacement at SS?

I personally think it would be stupid to keep Uribe at $5 million on a rebuilding team.  With Uribe's offense being so putrid (.614 OPS), we may as well throw any no bat, all glove SS prospect at the position for next season if Kenny can't trade for a good SS prospect.  I realize that we probably don't even have a good glove, no bat, true SS prospect in our farm system so this leads me to my next commentary:

Last offseason, the Royals acquired Tony Pena Jr. from the Braves for minor league RHP Erik Cordier who was coming off of Tommy John surgery a year earlier.  The Royals really didn't give up much of value and in return they got a SS who is putting up better numbers than Uribe.

Pena is not spectacular, or even good, by any means but he is earning the minimum and he is still putting up better offensive numbers than Uribe.

Tony Pena Jr. (2007 stats):
349 AB / .281 AVG / .298 OBP / .375 SLG / .673 OPS / 1 HR / 33 RBI

Pena's glove isn't as good as Uribe's but how good has Uribe's defense been this season anyways?  And is it worth a $5 million dollar difference?

Obviously, I would like Kenny to aim a lot higher and acquire a true SS prospect like Yunel Escobar (By the way, did anything see Escobar's nice walk and SB last night with 2 outs in the 9th that tied up the game when Willie knocked him in?  That was awesome).  I really like Escobar.  He looks like he is going to be a very good SS.  Anyways, my main point is that even though Kenny may not be able to acquire a top SS prospect like Yunel Escobar, there are still Tony Pena's available out there who will put up better offensive numbers than Uribe and not earn $5 million dollars.

From Buster Olney's blog:

This is one version of what took place inside the dugout and clubhouse thereafter:

Zambrano came walking down the dugout, and started saying aloud to Barrett that he needed to keep his head in the game, while pointing at his own head. Barrett walked toward Zambrano and asked, "Why are you doing that?" Meaning, challenging a teammate in the dugout.

Zambrano persisted, Barrett pointed toward the field and made mention of the fact that Zambrano wasn't having a stellar day, either, and instantly they were pushing and shoving and slapping. Piniella sent Zambrano to the clubhouse, and Barrett remained in the dugout.

But Zambrano continued to shout at Barrett, at one point challenging him to finish the fight. Barrett got up off the bench and walked back toward the clubhouse, and again asked: "Why are you doing this?" Zambrano then fired a punch and began flailing away, throwing "many" punches, according to one version, slamming Barrett against a locker; the catcher apparently is bruised on both eyes, and he drove himself to the hospital for treatment. "It was just crazy," said one witness. "The whole thing is crazy."

All Zambrano got for his actions by the Cubs is a fine, no suspension.  Haha, only da Cubs.

Yes, J.C. Romero was putrid last season but it was mostly because he got raped against righties.  He still did well against lefties last year and he has done well against them over the past 3 seasons...

J.C. Romero (2006 Splits)
J.C. Romero (2004-2006 Splits)

If Ozzie used Romero strictly as a LOOGY and didn't let him face righties which I think he would, I think Romero could have a decent season.  And he was so bad last season with the Angels that he could probably be signed cheaply.  What do you guys think?

Current Bullpen Locks:
Aardsma
MacDougal
Thornton
Jenks

Possibilities for Last Two Spots:
1.) Longman/Mop-up guy: Riske / Haeger / Tracey / Free Agent or Trade?
2.) Second lefty: Logan / Reynoso / Vasquez / Free Agent or Trade?

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Who do you guys think will fill the two remaining bullpen spots?

According to George Offman of WSCR 670 The Score, Kenny may be interested in bringing Aaron Rowand back and there may a deal in the works to acquire Omar Vizquel from the Giants.

Vizquel would make a nice leadoff man and I assume Uribe and a prospect would be going to the Giants as they look to get a bit younger.  I would guess that the Phillies are trying to pry Freddy Garcia from us for a package including Rowand. I hope Kenny gets something better for Garcia than Rowand and prospects. Vizquel makes sense but Rowand doesn't at all. If we are going to acquire a CF/LF, acquire a guy that can at least put up a damn .350 OBP. Rowand sucks now that the roids from 2004 have worn off.  Man, Kenny sure maintains his hard-on for certain players.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/story/461848p-388604c.html

White Sox GM Kenny Williams has long lusted for A-Rod and was the first to come calling last week, letting it be known he'd be willing to give up any one of his three established starters, Freddy Garcia, Javier Vazquez or Mark Buerhle. The Yankees weren't interested. On the other hand, Brandon McCarthy, the White Sox's 6-7 righty with top-of-the-rotation potential, might get their attention. Conceivably, Williams would be willing to include third baseman Joe Crede in any deal in that because, in Josh Fields, he has a blue chip replacement ready for the hot corner. A-Rod's agent, Scott Boras, would probably be interested in that scenario since he also represents Crede, who is up for free agency after next year. The White Sox have told Crede they won't offer him an extension unless he gets a minor operation for his periodically ailing back - which he has so far refused to do.

According to Rotoworld.com:

Jose Cruz Jr.-OF- Dodgers  Aug. 5 - 10:28 pm et

Dodgers released outfielder Jose Cruz Jr.
The Dodgers will end up paying Cruz another $1.2 million-$1.3 million since they couldn't trade him. He should find work as a reserve outfielder elsewhere.

Cruz (2006 vs. lefties):  .313 AVG | .420 OBP | .522 SLG | .942 OPS
Cruz (2003-2005 vs. lefties):  .291 AVG | .392 OBP | .497 SLG | .889 OPS
Cruz (career vs. lefties):  .280 AVG | .363 OBP | .471 SLG | .834 OPS

Cruz could cost as little as $100,000 for the rest of the season.  Bench worthless Mr. Dergan, sign Cruz, and platoon him with Mackowiak in LF -- Mackowiak starts against all righties and Cruz starts against all lefties.  Cruz could also play CF when Anderson sits so we don't have to see Mackowiak playing completely out of position.  It would be nice to have some offense AND defense in LF instead of the butcher who currently patrols the Sox bullpen wall.  What do you guys think?

July 30, 2006
Will's Mill
Another Day, Another Rumor
by Will Carroll

Sunday, 9:15 p.m. ET:  "Think Kenny Williams has been quiet over the last week? Don't mistake quiet for inactive. The White Sox have been involved in several discussions. It's just that nothing discussed got to a point where Williams and his staff felt it would improve the team."

This is at least nice to read.

I read the AL Central Preview discussion at "The Baseball Analysts" that you were involved in.  I was just wondering what you meant by this comment.  Which of Byrnes' numbers do you think that Anderson will produce similar to -- his 2003, 2004, 2005, 3-year splits, or career?  In other words, what kind of numbers do you expect Anderson to put up in 2006 and over his career? Just curious.  I agree that he sure looks a lot like Byrnes, haha.