posted on Sunday, October 12, 2008 12:44 AM
by
Jim
Reality bites
Here's a fun paragraph from Phil Rogers:
General managers with shopping lists already are making calls to the
Marlins and Royals (14 arbitration-eligible players) about possible
trades. San Francisco, desperate for a proven bat, is expected to
pursue one-dimensional second baseman Dan Uggla. The Giants also may kick the tires on first baseman
Paul Konerko of the
White Sox and
Derrek Lee of the Cubs, both of whom have full no-trade clauses. They probably would have to deal a young pitcher—Jonathan Sanchez or Matt Cain. They're considered expendable because lefty Madison Bumgarner is climbing fast. …
Instead of "also may" in reference to their interest in Paul Konerko, it should read "will do anything but." If anything, they'd probably be more likely to ask about Nick Swisher, considering:
- He's several years younger than Konerko.
- He's much more affordable than Konerko.
- He's likelier to be a part of the next contending Giants team before his deal expires than Konerko.
- He had success in the Bay Area with Oakland, and still owns a house in the area.
- He'd theoretically be helped by the league shift.
Swisher-Cain would be an interesting trade idea. Though it favors the Sox on paper, both sides would have reason to be skeptical, with Swisher coming off a terrible year and Cain moving not only transferring to a tougher league, but from a pitcher's paradise to a hitters' haven.
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The White Sox official site should issue a pair of rose-colored glasses to everybody who reads
this article about John Shelby. In a nutshell:
The offensive end? Well, that doesn't look like it's needing much help these days.
That's because it doesn't mention Shelby's walks or strikeouts. Already lousy at Kannapolis in 2007,
Shelby's ratio took a turn for the worse this past year at Winston-Salem:
- 2007: 33 walks, 77 strikeouts in 538 plate appearances.
- 2008: 22 walks, 95 strikeouts in 482 plate appearances.
He did hit .295 with 59 extra-base hits and 33 steals, but that's on the back of
a .358 batting average on balls in play. That's not sustainable for anybody with Shelby's lack of patience for anybody outside of
Howie Kendrick, and Kendrick was able to shake doubters because he never hit lower than .342 in any of his minor-league stops above rookie ball.
I want to like Shelby because he has everything going for him outside of that flaw. Unfortunately, that kind of command of the strike zone is a crippling shortcoming.
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Catching up with the Arizona Fall League action:- Peoria Saguaros 5, Peoria Javelinas 3 (Saturday)
- Gordon Beckham doubled and struck out twice in four at-bats.
- Cole Armstrong drew a pair of walks.
- Stefan Gartrell singled and drove in a run.
- Aaron Poreda threw a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one.
- Peoria Saguaraos 7, Peoria Javelinas 5 (Friday)
- Carlos Torres gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
- Peoria 9, Mesa 2 (Thursday)
- Lucas Harrell struck out three and walked one over two hitless innings.
- Derek Rodrgiuez threw a scoreless inning, allowing a hit and a walk.
- Armstrong went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two strikeouts.
- Gartrell had a double, walk and RBI.