Before the Chicago papers turn their focus entirely on the Cubs after Sunday, we may as well go through some articles of interest:
I like the feistier version of Mark Gonzalez
in his mailbag this week:
Angels GM Bill Stoneman is afraid of his own shadow and has the
personality of a dead cod, so I doubt he'd make a trade. But he
deserves some credit for not making a deal and the Angels still winning
the AL West.
David, I like Jerry Owens. I just get tired of seeing him foul pitches over the third base dugout.
At the same time, he showed some serious restraint with this question:
Mark, I heard a rumor from a Philly fan that Ken Williams and Philly GM have agreed on deal bringing Iguchi and Rowand back. Sound reasonable to you? --Jim Petullo, Reading, Penn.
But this one is my favorite, for obvious reasons. If only this were my question to answer:
Danny Richar has this unusual batting style; he doesn't step or stride into the pitch but instead just lifts his right leg up a very little bit keeping it on the ground. I know this is not the way coaches teach you. Do you know if Greg Walker is trying to get him to hit the proper way? -- Dan Hritsuk, West Chicago, Ill.
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Offseason idea time:Scot Gregor brings up a name I haven't heard mentioned by anybody close to the club to solve the shortstop position --
Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson.
Unfortunately, the idea was a lot simpler when Wilson could've been part of a bad contract swap at the All-Star break. Wilson, who's owed roughly $16 million over the next two years, was hitting .259/.317/.364 at the end of the first half. Then two things happened:
- Wilson hit .357/.408/.573 after that point.
- Pittsburgh now has a new GM, replacing the inept Dave Littlefield.
Wilson's coming off a stretch that is basically the equivalent of a contract year in terms of trade value. Wilson's contract is a beast for a weak-hitting shortstop, but a bargain for one with an-above average bat and a capable glove. Williams would be taking the same risk on Wilson that he'd be taking on Aaron Rowand for his year, except he'd be paying with talent instead of straight cash (homey).
At least it's a different idea.
Meanwhile,
shame on Nathaniel Whalen for bringing up a name I hadn't heard before and hope to never hear again --
Pittsburgh's Cesar Izturis:
The Pirates have a $5.45 million option on Cesar Izturis, whom Guillen
loves. If Pittsburgh doesn’t pick up Izturis’ contract option, the Sox
could make a run at the good-glove, bad-bat ex-Cub.
If Izturis weren't already Juan Uribe without the power and extra notches on his belt, this would make a lot of sense. Alas.