By the time we found a bar after the Blackhawks game Monday night, Edgar Renteria had already hit his three-run homer, so I hadn't found out until after the game that Aaron Rowand was on deck with a base open.
Chris Rose asked Ozzie Guillen afterward if Cliff Lee should have pitched around Renteria to get to Rowand. He defended Ron Washington until Chris Rose revealed Guillen had first-guessed correctly. After that point, Guillen said that he wouldn't let Renteria beat him. He would rather make Rowand do so, and he stated it convincingly.
It's pretty amazing how far Rowand has fallen. He went from being a key player for a World Series team to being an albatross who could barely make the postseason roster. I probably wouldn't have said that, five years from '05, Juan Uribe would be the far more important player.
But hey, he's still doing Aaron Rowand things (screaming "Yeeeeeeeeeeah!" while miked up on Renteria's homer and getting all affectionate in the dugout), and he has a newer ring than anybody else. Some are luckier than others.
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Our next offseason plan comes courtesy of Dayton, who hasn't (yet) posted here, but is often found on the Sox Machine Facebook page.
Dayton’s 2011 White Sox offseason plan
1) Would you offer arbitration to:
- A.J. Pierzynski? (Type A)
- Paul Konerko? (Type A)
- Manny Ramirez? (Type A)
- J.J. Putz (Type B)
I don't mind A.J. back, but we can do better than that high arbitration figure. Offering Paulie arbitration is offering a pretty huge contract for one season, but I don't imagine he will accept, so it's worth the potential draft help. Manny is a no, Putz is a decent gamble; he might even accept, right? No harm in paying him a little more then his $3 million last year to repeat if he's healthy.
2) Would you pick up Ramon Castro’s $1.2 million option for 2011, or buy him out for $200,000?
That is pretty reasonable for a backup catcher off a career peak season, this is an easy call.
CLUB CONTROL (explain if warranted)
3) One-year contract for John Danks? If not, what would you pay to extend him?
Gotta try, three years, $7M/$9.5M/$12M for $28.5 million? I wouldn't expect he accepts this though, as he seems willing to go to free agency.
4) Would you tender a contract to Bobby Jenks?
To be the beer vendor.
6) Would you tender a contract to Carlos Quentin?
This decision is gonna be made early in the offseason, so with lack of knowledge of how the rest of the market will shape up, you have to offer arbitration. $4-5 million will be pretty reasonable for his age and potential production. If better options become available, he's easily movable.
7) Would you tender a contract to Tony Pena?
No. If we didn't offer DJ Carrasco less to be better at the same role, this would be silly.
FREE AGENCY: WHITE SOX
8) Which of the following impending White Sox free agents would you attempt to re-sign, and at what price:
*Paul Konerko -- I'm sorry, I'm letting him walk. I mean, make an offer ... like $18 million for two years, with an option for a third. See how much he wants to give us a hometown discount. He is going to decline though, and get three years elsewhere. I love the guy, but the fact of the matter is he is going to be 35 next spring, coming off a career year, and really the first year in four he would have deserved the money he is asking.
A.J. Pierzynski -- Looking for one year for $4 million, or two years for $7 million. I would really like A.J. to come back, because the other options out there aren't very exciting and Flowers blows goats.
J.J. Putz -- If he doesn't accept arbitration, I'm not offering him anything more than that. I'd like him back at $3.5-4 million.
Manny Ramirez -- Go away and...
Omar Vizquel -- Same deal as last year, with the understanding that he will play less of a role.
Andruw Jones -- He'll get more than I would offer elsewhere.
Freddy Garcia -- Let Freddy walk. That season was lightning in a bottle, and he will want a raise and a rotation spot.
Mark Kotsay -- ... take Kotsay with you.
FREE AGENCY: OUTSIDE HELP
9) Which positions are in the most dire need of an upgrade?
First base if Paulie goes, closer, DH, right field
10) Name three (or more) free agents you’d consider, and at whatprice.
*Adam Dunn for three years and $33 million. Best bat on the market, will destroy at the Cell, lefty, consistent ... make room for The Donkey. I think this is good value. Contract backloaded a bit: $9M/$!12M/$12M.
*Kevin Correia for up to $2 million. He had good rate numbers last year, but was kinda unlucky. Was very good in 2009. Good Peavy insurance.
*Justin Duchscherer for up to $2 million, an incentive-laden deal. Same basic concept as Correia: Could be great if healthy, fifth starter, longman, etc.)
*Jerry Hairston Jr. up to $1 million. I just like this guy's versatility. He's someone who covers third and the outfield and seems useful with how I am constructing the team. A little bit of speed and pop.
*Derrek Lee, one year, $5 million. He was quite productive after being traded to Atlanta, and plays a great first base. This could be a steal.
TRADES
11) Name a couple (or more) realistic trades that could improve the Sox.
*Mark Teahen to the Cubs for Kosuke Fukudome. Similar contracts in overall value, with the assumption the Cubs give us a little relief this year out of it somehow to balance. Fukudome is a very good right fielder and brings a high OBP. Considering the Cubs want to basically give him away, I want to jump on him. He fits my philosophy. I am gonna assume there is someway to make this not an increase on current year's payroll.
Carlos Quentin to somewhere, for pitching. A young project guy with heat, for the pen this year, who may have the potential for the rotation at a later date. Couldn't really think of who, but CQ should have some decent value to somebody for this. I had to move his salary to make room for my other acquisitions.
SUMMARY
12) Sum it all up in a paragraph or nine, and give a ballpark estimate of the total payroll.
Lineup:
LF Juan Pierre
RF Kosuke Fukudome
CF Alex Rios
DH Adam Dunn
1B Derrek Lee
2B Gordon Beckham
C A.J. Pierzynski
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Brent Morel
Rotation:
1. Danks
2. Buehrle
3. Peavy
4. Floyd
5. Jackson
if Peavy can't make it, Duchscherer or Correia.
Pen:
Chris Sale or J.J. Putz, closer
Matt Thornton, setup man
Sergio Santos
Linestink (couldn't figure out how to get rid of him)
Duke/Correia, long reliever
I kept the payroll basically where it is at, seems to be about 103... where Coz said we ended the season. I'm sure I am not gonna win myself any fans by acquiring two former Cubs, but I like what I did. I think pitching and defense wins championships, and we already had the pitching, so I went for the other element. We were a team that lacked in high OBP guys last year and Fukudome and Dunn will certainly help this. I think our outfield defense will be stellar, as well as the infield, Morel can hit .230 for all I care if he plays third like he did in September. I expect this team to play more like the evil Twins, smart baseball.. Oh and Sale stays in the pen for me, rotation for 2012.
Best Case: Derrek Lee doesn't play like first half of 2010, Rios proves 2009 didn't really happen, Beckham lives up to his potential, Morel hits .275 with 15 to 20 homers in addition to his stellar defense and becomes the new Joe Crede. Peavy is healthy and competes to be our ace. One of those arms runs with the closer role. 95 wins, a deep run in playoffs, a very 2005-style team.
Worst Case: Pierre takes his OBP down with his batting average from last year. Rios hits like it's '09. Lee is washed up. Beckham wasn't what everyone thought he would be. Morel can't hit. Nobody claims the closer role. Buehrle slips a little more. EJax shows his other side. This offense could really suck if things don't go right. 73-89, Ozzie gets fired, rebuilding from scratch starts.
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Arizona Fall League:
- Mesa 15, Peoria 1
- Eduardo Escobar went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Jared Mitchell singled and struck out in three at-bats.
- Charles Leesman gave up two runs on four hits in an inning of work, striking out two.
- Johnnie Lowe allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks in two innings.
