http://www.sportsnipe.com Chicago White Sox, Team News, Updates, and Stats from all sports sources, updated continually. http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048982/vizquel-to-sox-ozzie-has-spoken-veteran.html Ozzie Guillen would like to confidently admit that the White Sox are indeed close to signing free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel for the 2010 season, but then again, the manager knows how it works. Making sure the free-speaking Guillen doesn't jump the gun on club business, general manager Ken Williams and assistant GM Rick Hahn have done their best to keep Guillen just on the outskirts of the circle of trust. Guillen did confirm on Friday that both he and the club have spoken to Vizquel about him joining the team, but the manager didn't know how far those talks have progressed. "I hear they are talking,'' Guillen said in a phone interview. "I've talked to Vizquel in the past, but they aren't telling me anything. I just got back from Venezuela, and I guess Kenny and Rick didn't want me running my mouth down there. "I'll tell you what, though, if this kid is on the team there's no way in hell he's wearing No. 13.'' Guillen has worn 13 his whole career, so sorry Omar. On the same day that the Sox took a step in adding a veteran presence like Vizquel, however, talks with free agent Scott Podsednik have taken two steps back. According to a source, enough so that Williams is looking elsewhere for a leadoff hitter right now. "Do we need Pods, yes,'' Guillen said of the situation. "Do we want him? Yes. But we have to make the best deal for this organization. That's not my problem right now. That's on Kenny, Rick and [board chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] to decide.'' Gone camping According to pitching coach Don Cooper, for the first time in his tenure, the club will have a pitching summit in January for a group of major and minor-league pitchers in the organization to come together in Chicago, making sure they are practicing what the club is preaching from their hurlers. "Something kind of new we're thinking about,'' Cooper said. "Bring our system together even more in Chicago. Get the minor-league people and their DNA knowing what we do. Whatever it might be. We're bringing a few guys in for that. We want them to know what to expect at this level. In my mind it's trying to get some guys over the hump. It's trying to continue to reunite our whole pitching system. We're bringing in certain guys on the 8,9 and 10th of January to have a little pitching meeting. "I don't need Freddy Garcia or Jake Peavy to come to this. John Danks might come, but the main thing I'm doing is looking at numbers and formulating ideas.'' Roster moves The Sox did announce on Friday that they purchased the contracts of outfielder Stefan Gartrell and right-handed pitchers Brandon Hynick, Brian Omogrosso and Sergio Santos from Class AAA Charlotte and right-hander Santo Luis from Class A Winston-Salem. With the moves, the Sox 40-man roster is at 37. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1048012/ozzie-guillen-white-sox-have-talked-omar-vizquel.html Ozzie Guillen confirmed on Friday that both he and the White Sox have spoken to Omar Vizquel about him joining the team as a free agent, but the manager didn't know how far those talks have progressed. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1047151/white-sox-close-on-vizquel-one-year-deal-to-be-backup.html White Sox close on Vizquel. One year deal to be backup. Per Rosenthal. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1045273/wood-hosts-event-for-childrens-hospital.html Wood hosts event for children's hospital Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1045272/thome-open-to-return-white-sox.html Thome open to return to White Sox Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1043814/white-sox-for-pitchers-its-be-fit-or-face-wrath.html Paul Konerko made the saying popular in the White Sox' clubhouse in 2008: "'F' feelings. It's about winning.'' Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042808/don-cooper-ready-for-spring-training-quotlack-conditioning-lack-preparation-makes-cowards.html Don Cooper is ready for spring training: "Lack of conditioning, lack of preparation makes cowards of us all. We're going to make sure that conditioning and preparation is getting done.'' Coop tells pitchers it's time to raise the bar Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1042069/coop-tells-pitchers-its-time-to-raise-bar.html Team captain Paul Konerko made the saying popular in the White Sox clubhouse back in 2008: "F feelings, it's about winning.'' Not only has manager Ozzie Guillen made that his personal mantra, but wants his entire organization to eat and sleep it. So if feelings were hurt when questions of conditioning were brought up with several pitchers over the last year, well, it's on those individuals to make sure those questions can't come up again. "Lack of conditioning, lack of preparation makes cowards of us all,'' pitching coach Don Cooper insisted on Thursday. "We're going to make sure that conditioning and preparation is getting done.'' What Cooper did go out of his way to point out, however, was that the rule applies for his entire pitching staff - from the minor leaguers to the likes of veterans like Freddy Garcia. Jake Peavy and Mark Buehrle. Conditioning concerns have been a sore subject since this past spring, when Buehrle felt that Cooper and Guillen were taking shots at him for showing up to camp with very few throws under his wing in the offseason. Then Guillen called out Jenks near the end of the '09 season, specifically that Jenks needed to be in better shape come 2010, leading to the closer expressing some displeasure with the club in an October interview with MLB.com. One of the two seems to have gotten the message. After a first half in which he went 9-3 with a 3.66 ERA, Buehrle threw his historic perfect game on July 23, before the floor then seemed to drop out. Going 2-7 with a 4.78 ERA in 13 starts after that perfecto was enough of a wake-up call where Buehrle is now getting proactive with his conditioning this offseason, specifically a shoulder strengthening program. "Buehrle was physically in good shape last spring,'' Cooper explained. "Where I was wrong with what I said [in camp] was that I needed to consider that every time he picked up a ball in the offseason [his shoulder] was barking. I could see why he didn't want to throw with that discomfort. What he's doing now is looking into a program near his home where he can strengthen his shoulder. "No one said Buehrle was fat, slow and out of shape. We needed to make sure his shoulder was addressed. Things are in place to now do that. That will enable him, as well as how we handle him this season, to stay strong.'' Jenks, well, that might be a different story. Cooper is yet to sit down and talk to the right-hander about offseason expectations, but will soon. Board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf let the players know his feelings on the topic, telling them in a team meeting late in the year that they had better show up in shape. "The players have to take some pride,'' Cooper said. "The best motivation for anyone ready to go in spring comes from inside. "We're asking Bobby to raise the bar. Bobby is a big dude that sometimes may look like he's not in shape. He needs to raise the bar. I tell them all, 'I need you in the best shape of your life come spring training, physically and mentally.' We're challenging these guys. "If we're not looking to improve, what are we doing? We're standing still then. We're raising the bar for everyone. We're not trying to hurt people. The words are 'Hey, we need you ready for the grind.' If one guy is behind the curve ... we need everybody. These words are not to bust chops or hurt you. We want this taken care of, no matter who it is. "Success, everyone has to pay a certain price - some higher than others because they aren't as physically gifted. I fill like the Sox pitching staff has represented itself well over the years, now we're asking them to raise the bar. Plus, you know you're prepared for the season because you pushed yourself to level that you never did before.'' Jenks had been the subject of trade rumors heading into the winter, especially because he stands to make $7-$8 million in arbitration. So he was already under a microscope. General manager Ken Williams has all but put a moratorium on any Jenks trade talk, and Jenks did not return a call on Thursday. So how exactly will this end? "When they all walk through those doors this spring,'' Cooper added, "we want everything behind them, everything. We want one focus, and that's winning the game that day.'' Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1034759/quotwe-signed-our-free-agent-alreadyquot-reinsdorf-says-quothis-name-jake-peavyquot.html "We signed our free agent already," Reinsdorf says. "His name is Jake Peavy." Free agency likely to be prudent for most major league clubs Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1033974/morel-homers-in-afl-finals-preview.html Morel homers in AFL Finals preview Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1032150/inbox-will-peavy-regain-ace-form.html Inbox: Will Peavy regain ace form? Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1031091/pass-orgullo-hirsute-stroll-through-2009-sss-archives.html Hawk was reluctant at first...... but unapologetic afterwards. (P-shop of the year, by thecip) View full size photo » The season is long gone.   The Twins have won the World Series twice since the last time you even saw the Sox take the field.Jerry Owens is still dead.You've finally stopped weeping.The cold winds are whipping off the lakefront (or in my case, the Sound), foreshadowing the lonely, gray, baseball-less days ahead.   Like any respectable armchair GM, you're on your 4th draft of potential 2010 rosters - 3 of which lead off with a guy you may or may not call "Chode" because you like that word and crave context to use it.  The word; not a chode... you don't have much use for those. Anyway, the Sox didn't exceed our expectations this year, but for most of the season, they put on a good show.   We've already reflected on the games that made us proud to be Good Guys, but for this particular stroll down memory lane, I'm going no further than the SSS Archives.  We all know that humor and friendships emerge from the pain and adversity of watching your beloved team collectively crap themselves, so here is an unrefined, uncensored, unclothed (really, you need to take your pants off for this) recap of some of the finer moments for SSS in 2009.   Since I am only one woman and know I've overlooked countless mentionable comments and moments, please add to this with your own favorites (links, please! - ones that open in new windows!) in the comments section.                                                               But This One Goes To 11...Early in the year - Februrary to be exact - Cheat offered larry editorial keys to the site.Some SSS readers rejoiced, while others lamented the taming of the brute, as larry was asked to take it down a notch or four.Despite oft-longing for his jovial old self and the cat-like precision with which he used to pounce on tasty new posters, larry has done us well as an editor.  Best known for keeping our fingers on the pulse of the minor-leagues, it is easy to forget some of the other moments in which larry shined as a commenter.  Including - and I know this will embarrass him because he is usually way too cool for gamethreads - one of the best gamethread performances by a single poster.  He also undertook the role of undertaker, respectfully laying to rest the fallen members of the Sox and certain sandy members of SSS.      Like Peas in a PicklePodsNobody - not even Carl - could have predicted the season that Podsednik gave us at the top of the order. But for every game-winning hit or rally he led, Pods had a baserunning blunder or a defensive DOH! to match it.  He was our hero one minute; our scapegoat the next.  One of Pods' more notable gaffes came in the July 28th game against the Twins - Buehrle's first start after the Perfecto, in which he retired another 17 batters before the devastating meltdown, led by Pods' inability to catch a routine fly ball in left field.   Appropriately, vince had just coined the term "Podspalm" the week before.  And on 7/28 after the blown catch, e-gus and his 1984 TV gave us this: Buehrle is Perfect and So Is My BirthdayHard to pay much lingering attention to the May game in which Buehrle went perfect through 6 innings against the Tigers, when you have July 23rd taking every ounce of the Sox spotlight this year - deservingly so, I might add.  As most of you recall, that glorious day happened to be my birthday, and I was initially thrilled just to have my favorite player on the mound.  U-god even dedicated the Gamethread to me, obviously prior to knowing that MB was actually going to deliver the gift of a lifetime.  And then, as Hawk would say, "HISTORY!!!!" I've watched The PerfectGame a few (hundred) times now. And each time I reflect on it or watch it, I get the same giddy feeling.  I cry every time that Dewayne makes the catch - the 25th out that made my 25th birthday, the best birthday ever.  What a day, Sox fans.  What.a.day.   It's hard to imagine that any other regular season game could provide such joy in our hearts.  The Perfecto is up there in Best Days I've Ever Been Alive - right next to 10/26/05.  And in a way, I shared it with all of you.  So thanks SSS, for helping to make my bday even more magical...because believe it or not, most of these Seattle people didn't give a shit.  The Fateful Night That We Met and Drank SchlitzThe most notable SSS event ever - the First Annual Meet-Up, took place on Friday, the 22nd of May.  Organized by one really awesome long-distance poster, 20 of us gathered and toasted and hugged and hit on Mrs. e-gus and pet colintj's fur and high-fived and made our presence known to all corners of the South Side.   Gavin Floyd came off a shelacking of an outing and pitched a shut-out against the Pirates that night.  This game was significant for the regrowth of Floyd's Big and Hairy, and also because that home stretch in late-May led us into the best month of our season, which included the dawn of the Beckham era.  e-gus's recap here. Miscellaneous Awards and HonorsWord of the Year:  Orgullo  (particularly when spoken by Stone Pony)Phrase of the Year: Just Fuck It / FNS  Innocent Passerby of the Year:  The Prostate Exam Guy Comeback Poster of the Year: Nordhagen, bhoov  SSS Rookies of the Year: billyok, Scotty Ballgame, CarbinerHeated Dispute of the Year: Tdogg vs. The Actual El Guapo, MarketMaker vs WTGTD, WTGTD vs Science Most Improved Poster:  WhereTriplesGoToDie (aka: SouljaBoy, SoB), The Artist Formerly Known As picktoclickNot Here Nearly Enough:  MarketMaker - Look buddy, just because your waitress girlfriend demands your attention, it doesn't mean SSS has to suffer...post more, dammit.   We did get a little gold from him, prior to his balls being snipped.  Fanpost of the Year:  TAEG's Guide to Using Words On Your Computer-Based Internet / thecip's South Side Sox: 20 Years Ago / hsa's Mad Men thread (link not available) ;)Fanshot of the Year: thatshortkid's 2010 Pie Comments of the Year:  thatshortkid's Mystery Boobs / Trooper Would Like To See Pods Jack Off / larry On Sea Creatures /  many more that I hope will be added to the commentsMike Huff Stand-In Moments of the Year: On JD / On White Guys RunningDiscovery of the Year:  The Hirsute Stone PonyMost Fun With Hawk: Hawkless Joe Hawkson / Bacon Gets Bucked                    Notable Photoshops by e-gus:     C/O thecip: C/O Jim/SoxMachine/Who?: Please - Add your favorites to the comments.  Pics, quotes, comments, reactions... Don't be shy!  Create your own award too, if you've got something in need of awarding.  Or suggest a different winner for a category I've already listed.  These are just some highlights to get the conversation going....  Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1023269/bps-top-15-white-sox-prospects.html BP's Top 15 White Sox Prospects Four-Star Prospects 1. Daniel Hudson, RHP 2. Jared Mitchell, OF 3. Tyler Flowers, C Three-Star Prospects 4. Jordan Danks, CF 5. Dayan Viciedo, 3B 6. Brent Morel, 3B 7. Clevelan Santeliz, RHP 8. Trayce Thompson, OF Two-Star Prospects 9. Santos Rodriguez, LHP 10. David Holmberg, LHP 11. C.J. Retherford, 2B Four More: 12. Jhonny Nunez, RHP: Nunez has a 93-95 mph fastball and a very good slider, both of which should fit in a big-league bullpen, though he falls short of being the late-inning type. 13. Josh Phegley, C: The 2009 draftee is the rare college catcher with power and patience, but there are way too many questions about his defensive prowess. 14. John Ely, RHP: Ely has consistently gotten minor league hitters out, but on a pure scouting level, he has merely average stuff and command. 15. Nathan Jones, RHP: Standing 6-foot-5, he's projectable as all get out and dialed up heat clocked up to 97 mph this year; he'll also be 24 in January while having yet to get out of A-ball. ... The Sleeper: While the White Sox are rarely big players on the international scene, they might have found something in 18-year-old Venezuelan catcher Miguel Gonzalez, who combines a good bat with power potential and impressive catch-and-throw skills. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1020887/white-sox-angels-padres-doing-deal-konerko-gonzalez-yahoo-sports.html Rumor has it that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox have had... Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1019981/lot-right-writers-vote.html Years from now, no one will care that Gordon Beckham was fifth in the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year voting. He deserved to be runner-up, though in the scheme of things, you can ask teammate Alexei Ramirez how much that honor is treasured two years into your big-league career. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1019980/fifth-place-rookie-mistake.html Fifth. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1018976/ozzie-guillen-becoming-less-extreme.html Last off-season, prompted by a game in which I perceived the outcome to be effected by Ozzie Guillen's quick hook, I examined the evolution of Guillen's hook. I thought about taking it a step further in the dead time around Christmas again, but in flipping through the 2010 Bill James Handbook, I found they've done the work for me, though using a different methodology.  I was given an an advanced copy of the Handbook in exchange for a review and a few links (full disclosure -- Suck on it, FTC!). Unfortunately, a review isn't forthcoming anytime soon. I'm just too damn busy. But I thought I demonstrate its usefulness by simply presenting Ozzie Guillen's capsule from the managers section. Click to enlarge, and less blurifyThanks to e-Gus for supplying a more readable image. Still missing the last columns, but that's just W-L percentage. I think you can live. Ozzie has become a boring manager. He doesn't seem to have any extreme tendencies anymore. Bold (extra blurry) indicates league leader. Gone are the Slow Hooks, the Long Outings, Relievers used on Consecutive Days, and all those Sacrifices Attempted. The only area where Ozzie stands out now, having intentional walks blow up in his face, isn't directly under his control (unless he stops ordering walks altogether, which, hey, I'm not against). With a rotation of Peavy, Buehrle, Danks and Floyd, and a bullpen that features only two members you can reasonably count on heading into the season, I'd love to see Ozzie fall back into his '04-'06 pattern of letting the starters work deep into games. Key (after the jump) G -- Games ManagedLUp -- Number of different Lineups usedPL% -- Percentage of players who had the platoon advantage at the beginning of the gamePH -- Pinch Hitters usedPR -- Pinch Runners usedDS -- Defensive Substitutes usedQuick -- Quick hooksSlow -- Slow hooksLO -- Long Outings by starting pitchersRCD -- Relievers used on Consecutive DaysLS -- Long SavesRel -- Relievers usedSBA -- Stolen Base AttemptsSacBA -- Sacrifice Bunt AttemptsRM -- Runners Moving with the pitchPO -- Pitchouts Orders# -- Intentional walks issuedGood -- Intentional walks resulting in a Good outcomeNG -- Intentional walks resulting Not in a Good outcomeBomb -- Intentional walks blowing up on a managerW -- WinsL -- LossesPct. -- Winning Percentage Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1017354/beckham-fifth-best-al-rookie.html Fifth. That was tough for Gordon Beckham to swallow. While the White Sox third baseman wasn't expecting to be holding up the American League Rookie of the Year trophy on Monday, he admittedly was surprised that he finished fifth in the voting by the baseball writers. Especially since the 23-year-old's mantle already had AL Rookie of the Year honors by both The Sporting News and the Major League Baseball Players Association sitting on it. He received each last month - as voted on by the players. But there it was in black and white - fifth. Oakland reliever Andrew Bailey won the award with 13 first-place votes with Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus second with eight first-place votes. Ahead of Beckham were Rick Porcello (seven votes) and then Jeff Niemann. "I'm feeling a little bit of everything,'' Beckham said in a phone interview. "I thought I might be a little higher than fifth, but I knew it was an uphill battle for me, getting up [to the major leagues] a little later. I thought I had a great season, but so did those other guys.'' Beckham was the first selection [eighth overall] of the Sox in the 2008 draft after putting on a show at the University of Georgia. He wasted little time making an impact in his first spring training, and by June 4 was on the big-league roster. Playing third base on a regular basis for the first time in his life, the former shortstop ended up hitting .270 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI, as well as recording 28 doubles. He was first amongst rookie with those 28 doubles, as well as 43 extra-base hits, and 63 RBI, while he was second with a .347 on-base percentage, .460 slugging percentage, homers, as well as 58 runs scored and 102 hits. What might have hurt him, however, was an inconsistent August in which he hit just .223, followed by a .266 last month of the season. "It was the first full season for me, not even in the big leagues, but ever, and it probably didn't help I struggled the last month,'' Beckham said. "I won two awards that were voted on by the players. At the end of the day I would want the players to respect me more than the writers.'' Bailey, 25, led all AL rookie relievers with 26 saves and a 1.84 ERA, as well as limiting opponents to a .167 batting average. So what's next up for Beckham? Well, he was already informed that he will now be the starting second baseman with the acquisition of Mark Teahen and the departure of Chris Getz, and plans to enroll in "Camp Cora'' come January, joining shortstop Alexei Ramirez and third base prospect Dayan Viciedo in an offseason defensive workout session down in Miami with bench coach Joey Cora. "I don't think the writers disrespected me, but they had their opinion,'' Beckham added. "It's a little upsetting for me, but that's not my place. Other guys had great seasons.'' Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1017353/more-magic-from-dave-cameron.html More Magic from Dave Cameron Owens has been the focus of scorn and derision from White Sox fans who had to endure Ozzie Guillen?s attempts to make him an everyday player, which he simply isn?t cut out for. However, as a fourth outfielder, Owens is actually a useful player. His defense is a real positive at all three spots and he?s a very good base stealer. He doesn?t have any power, but he?s an excellent contact hitter who is willing to draw a walk from time to time, so he won?t kill you at the plate. For a team with a lumbering corner outfielder who could use a pinch runner/defensive caddy, Owens is a good use of a roster spot. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1016363/path-pros-bobby-jenks.html Path of the Pros: Bobby Jenks Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1016362/beckham-will-settle-for-what-he-has.html Beckham will settle for what he has Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1016361/gordon-beckham-snubbed-in-rookie-year-voting.html NEW YORK—Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan is the National League Rookie of the Year, and Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey is the AL winner. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/1012296/its-roy-day.html More photos » by Mark Duncan - AP Browse more photos »   The Rookie of the Year Awards are announced today, so use this thread to celebrate, or, alternately, plot your murders of those other undeserving rookies and the BWAA members who voted for them. Kenny Williams thinks the National League sucks.   "A guy going from the American League to the National League, no disrespect, but. ... " "There are guys in the American League who go to the National League and don’t do well," Williams conceded, "but there are not too many of them that I can think of." And Phil Rogers declares Brent Morel the White Sox third baseman of the future. I can't say I agree, but 18 months ago when he was drafted, I did like his swing better than Beckham's from their scouting videos. I still like Morel, probably more than most prospect experts, yet I wouldn't go so far as to call him the future of anything. He was blocked this year, when he probably should have received a mid-season promotion. He's still on the utility player track, though his ceiling seems like a Mark Teahen type, albeit with better defense. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/995720/younger-danks-eyeing-major-leagues.html Younger Danks eyeing Major Leagues Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/994726/jim-thome-still-open-to-returning-chicago-white-sox-chicagotribunecom.html Jim Thome still open to returning to Chicago White Sox -- chicagotribune.com Because we desperately need a new thread Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/987023/sbn-baseball-blogger-awards-al-mvp.html Wrapping up the SBN Baseball Blogger Awards with the AL MVP voting. Don't blame me. I voted for Kodos. Results after the Jump, because they'll take up the whole front page Rk Player Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Pts 1 Joe Mauer Minnesota Twins 24 3 1 - - - - - - - 371 2 Ben Zobrist Tampa Bay Rays - 10 6 2 2 1 - 1 - - 172 3 Mark Teixeira New York Yankees 2 3 2 4 3 2 7 1 - - 158 4 Derek Jeter New York Yankees 1 5 3 4 4 2 1 1 2 1 157 5 Evan Longoria Tampa Bay Rays - 2 4 1 2 3 2 3 2 1 106 6 Zack Greinke Kansas City Royals 2 3 2 1 1 - 2 - - - 92 7 Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers - - 3 1 2 4 - 2 - 5 74 8 Kevin Youkilis Boston Red Sox - 2 - - 1 3 1 8 1 - 69 9 Chone Figgins Los Angeles Angels - - - 3 4 1 - 1 3 1 60 10 Jason Bay Boston Red Sox - 1 - 4 2 - - 1 - 2 54 11 Kendry Morales Los Angeles Angels - - 4 - - 1 - - 1 - 39 12 Ichiro Suzuki Seattle Mariners - - 1 - 2 - 1 2 2 3 37 13 Franklin Gutierrez Seattle Mariners - - - 1 1 1 3 - 1 2 34 14 Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers - - - 2 1 1 1 - 1 1 32 15 Felix Hernandez Seattle Mariners - - - 2 - - 1 3 2 - 31 16 Jason Bartlett Tampa Bay Rays - - 1 1 1 - - - - 1 22 17 Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees - - 1 - 1 - 1 - - - 18 18 Roy Halladay Toronto Blue Jays - - - 1 - 1 1 - - - 16 19 Adam Lind Toronto Blue Jays - - - - - 2 - - 1 4 16 20 Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox - - - - - - 1 - 4 1 13 21 Bobby Abreu Los Angeles Angels - - - 1 - - - 1 1 - 12 22 Aaron Hill Toronto Blue Jays - - - - - 1 1 1 - - 12 23 Mariano Rivera New York Yankees - - - - 1 - - - 1 1 9 24 Torii Hunter Los Angeles Angels - - 1 - - - - - - - 8 25 Brian Roberts Baltimore Orioles - - - - - - 1 1 - - 7 26 CC Sabathia New York Yankees - - - - - - 1 - 1 - 6 27 Carl Crawford Tampa Bay Rays - - - - - - - 1 1 1 6 28 J.D. Drew Boston Red Sox - - - - - 1 - - - - 5 29 Jon Lester Boston Red Sox - - - - - 1 - - - - 5 30 Jonathan Papelbon Boston Red Sox - - - - - 1 - - - - 5 31 Robinson Cano New York Yankees - - - - - 1 - - - - 5 32 Victor Martinez Boston Red Sox - - - - - 1 - - - - 5 33 Michael Cuddyer Minnesota Twins - - - - - - 1 - - - 4 34 Shin-Soo Choo Cleveland Indians - - - - - - 1 - - - 4 35 Michael Young Texas Rangers - - - - - - - - 1 1 3 36 Jacoby Ellsbury Boston Red Sox - - - - - - - - 1 - 2 37 Jason Kubel Minnesota Twins - - - - - - - - 1 - 2 38 Alex Gonzalez Boston Red Sox - - - - - - - - - 1 1 39 Nick Markakis Baltimore Orioles - - - - - - - - - 1 1 Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/982830/wrapping-up-gm-meetings.html The GM Meetings wrapped up today, and the baseball writers kept churning out content... Kenny Williams is busy being his usual brutally honest self "It's the same thing every year at this time of year," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said. "There is nothing to report." Williams also discussed the payroll, though without offering any specifics, sticking instead to the marketing and ticket sales side of things, and indicated that the Sox won't be players in free agency until later in the off-season. The White Sox released their spring training schedule, including 5 games with the Cubs and a trip to Vegas. Fangraphs uses UZR to rank Jermaine Dye as the 3rd-worst fielder over the last three years. Just think how much worse that would be if he played the wall like Podsednik, one of the few areas where Dye was actually pretty good. Schadenfreude link of the day: Wilson Betemit will reportedly sign with the Royals. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/980106/williams-remains-vague-on-sox-plans.html Williams remains vague on Sox plans Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/978976/sbn-baseball-blogger-awards-al-cy-young.html Continuing the SBN Baseball Blogger Awards Rk Player Team 1st 2nd 3rd Pts 1 Zack Greinke Kansas City Royals 28 1 - 143 2 Felix Hernandez Seattle Mariners - 17 6 57 3 Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers - 8 9 33 4 Roy Halladay Toronto Blue Jays 1 2 11 22 5 CC Sabathia New York Yankees - 1 2 5 6 Jon Lester Boston Red Sox - - 1 1 Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/975843/white-sox-make-quotnewsquot-at-gm-meetings.html More photos » by M. Spencer Green - AP Kenny Williams: The Newsmaker Browse more photos » Not much happens at the GM meetings. But this year those meetings are taking place in Chicago -- an unnamed hotel near O'hare, actually -- which means the local Chicago rags can afford to send their writers to cover the relative non-event. So we've got a lot to link to for a week after the World Series ended: There was a reason I refused to put Scott Podsednik in the See Ya Later group and called him a cock-a-roach (in my best Tony Montana voice) on Facebook, he's not going to go away that easily. Those talks that seemed to be dead last week, have, according to the ubiquitous sources, "heated up." One player who will be gone, is Jermaine Dye. Some speculated that he might be brought back on the cheap to play DH, but JD, while not specifically ruling out the Sox, insists on ruining some as-yet-to-be-determined team's defense. "There are a number of teams I've heard already that would love to have me,'' Dye said. "I know one thing, I will not be DHing. You can put that down. If a team wants to try me out at first base on an every day basis I'll do that. That's something I feel will be easy to learn. But as far as DHing that's not for me. Teams shouldn't call if that's their plan.'' Bruce Levine seems to think the Sox are going to hang on to Bobby Jenks, and gets the Chicago GMs on the record about instant replay. Kenny Williams echoed my sentiment about Alexei Ramirez: "I personally thought it was terribly unfair, the criticism (Ramirez) got," Williams said. "Of course, the lapses are somewhat frustrating, but I expect those as a young player. I expect those coming from young players. That's part of the development." Williams also joined in raising concerns about the leaking of players names who've been placed on the waiver wire. And Joe Crede still wants to play for half a season. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/975842/gold-glove-fills-buehrles-wish-list.html White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle was fresh off his perfect game in July when he was asked what was left to accomplish for a pitcher who already had a World Series ring, an All-Star Game victory and a no-hitter. Without hesitation, Buehrle said a Gold Glove would complete his career wish list. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/975841/dye-has-been-cast.html Jermaine Dye isn't ruling anything out. After all, at 35 years old and with 14 major-league seasons under his belt, the free-agent outfielder has seen crazier things happen. ''First of all, I could come back to the Sox,'' Dye said in a phone interview Tuesday. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/974168/williams-details-thinking-behind-ramirez-at-short-beckham-2b.html There was no delicate way to put it, so White Sox general manager Ken Williams decided to be blunt. When he shuffled his infield last week, why not move Alexei Ramirez back to second base, where he had been solid in 2008, and return Gordon Beckham to his natural position at shortstop? ''Because Alexei's better than Gordon at short,'' Williams said Tuesday, during Day 2 of the general managers meetings at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport. ''Not that Gordon can't play the position, but Alexei is a special guy. ''What we do have to get Alexei a little bit better on is his focus. That's not unusual for a young player. Gordon would also have some of those defensive lapses if he were in the middle of the field. People really don't understand how fast the major-league game is until you're out there. Believe me, it's not an indictment on Gordon's abilities; it's more praise of what Alexei can do.'' When the Sox took Beckham in the first round of the 2008 draft, he was a shortstop. It's the position manager Ozzie Guillen insisted he would play all the way through spring training. But when a need arose at third base, Beckham made the switch. When Beckham debuted with the Sox in June, Ramirez was struggling at the plate and in the field at shortstop. It seemed a natural switch to return Beckham to short and do anything else with Ramirez. But Guillen, who on several occasions blasted Ramirez for his mental lapses, wasn't budging. And after the Mark Teahen trade meant sending second baseman Chris Getz to the Kansas City Royals, the Sox resisted the urge to make the switch again. They simply moved Beckham to second base, where he spent some time last year in the Arizona Fall League. Williams loves the new look of his infield. And he admitted he was uncomfortable with Guillen's public lashings of Ramirez last season. ''I personally thought it was terribly unfair, the criticism that he got,'' Williams said. ''Of course, the lapses are somewhat frustrating, but I understand those as a young player. I expect those as a young player. That's part of development, that's part of the process. So I was less discouraged by them. Now, Ozzie, I thought we were on the same page with regards to that. But I don't have all the cameras and the questions like Ozzie had on a day-to-day basis, asking him about Alexei and some of the defensive miscues, so I can understand where that frustration level comes from. ''But I can assure you this. In private times, Ozzie has got full confidence in what this guy's about. We can only expect better things from him. And you have to understand, for every error that he made, he got to some balls a lot of people were not going to get to.'' And Williams has full confidence in Beckham as his second baseman. ''He's a leader,'' Williams said. ''He's the kind of guy you want in the middle part of your infield. He will profile offensive, I think, better in the middle part of your infield. And we may have a guy who can be an All-Star at that position versus a guy who would maybe be in the middle of the pack at third base.'' Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/974167/williams-explains-beckham-move-to-second.html There was no delicate way to put it, so White Sox general manager Ken Williams decided to be blunt. When he shuffled his infield last week, why not move Alexei Ramirez back to second base, where he had been solid in 2008, and return Gordon Beckham to his natural position at shortstop? Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/973379/dye-speaks.html Jermaine Dye isn't ruling anything out. After all, at 35 years old and 13-plus major league seasons under his belt, the about to be former White Sox outfielder has seen crazier things happen. "I mean first of all I could come back to the Sox,'' Dye insisted in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. "I talked to [general manager] Kenny [Williams] and negotiations could still go on. Kenny talked to me about the fact that his hands are tied as far as spending money, but you never know, I could sign for less.'' That's classic J.D., being the good businessman and keeping all doors open. Even one as slammed shut as the Sox situation actually is. The club announced last week that they were exercising the $950,000 buyout on Dye, rather than picking up the $12 million option for 2010. Translation: Thanks for the memories No. 23. So while Dye expressed his desire to return to the South Side, he also knows the reality of the situation. The place he spent the last five seasons, won a World Series and played the best baseball of his career is about to become a fond memory. Sure, Williams and Dye are saying the right things, but the likelihood of a Dye return is small and shrinking. "I think Kenny is legit with me and [free agent] Jimmy [Thome] on what he's told us this offseason,'' Dye said. "He's honest. If he doesn't have [the money to spend], he doesn't have it. Kenny and I have a friendship beyond baseball, and he will be real with me. He's not someone that will tell you something and then go behind your back.'' Neither is Dye. Even with a window still open to negotiate with the Sox exclusively, he was already fielding inquiries from other teams. While Dye won't say which, it's no secret that Texas has had him on their radar for years, while Boston - a team that was on his list of no-trade destinations - is also a possibility. "At the end of the day, I wasn't surprised with how this has played out,'' Dye said. "With me being with the Sox as long as I had been, if they wanted to pick up my option or do something else as far as a new deal they would have done it during the end of season. "I have to assume that because they bought me out my services are terminated with them right now. In the future, who knows? That's a place I love and won a World Series. That's a place I'll never forget. Someday I may come back as a player or with another title. My first choice is still there, but this is a business.'' Not a pretty one at times. During Dye's hot first half of the 2009 season, both manager Ozzie Guillen and Dye expressed their desire to get an extension done. A frigid second half in which he hit .179 with just seven homers seemed to all but seal his fate. Just like that, one of the more prolific hitters the last five years was deemed expendable. "I don't think it's fair to label a guy as declining because of two or three months,'' Dye said. "That's just the way my second half was. For me to go through that one time in 13 years, that's pretty good. "People said the same thing about me in Oakland when I came back from the broken leg [after the 2002 season] and played bad. What happened? I played five years of great baseball. I'll keep proving people wrong.'' And also calling his shots. With outfielder Bobby Abreu signing a two-year, $19-million deal last week, the bar has been set. Dye knows that the economic uncertainty makes this winter a bit tricky, but also knows that a .278 average with 164 homers and 461 RBI since 2005 carries weight. "There are a number of teams I've heard already that would love to have me,'' Dye said. "I know one thing, I will not be DHing. You can put that down. If a team wants to try me out at first base on an every day basis I'll do that. That's something I feel will be easy to learn. But as far as DHing that's not for me. Teams shouldn't call if that's their plan.'' So what happens when the offers start coming in? "I won't go back to the Sox and say, 'This team offered me this,' '' Dye said. "I wouldn't do that to Kenny. I'm ready to be patient with this. I'm not in a rush. If a team comes and shows me on paper how we will be, we can compete and win, I'll do it early, but I want to feel wanted first.'' Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/972428/buehrle-corrals-elusive-gold-glove.html Buehrle corrals elusive Gold Glove Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/972427/mark-buehrle-wins-gold-glove.html Mark Buehrle Wins Gold Glove But on Tuesday, Buehrle officially captured an award he had coveted since becoming a member of the South Siders' rotation in 2001. Buehrle took home an American League Rawlings Gold Glove, joining Jim Kaat as the only pitcher in team history to earn the honor recognizing exceptional defense. Buehrle's Gold Glove is the first won by a White Sox player since third baseman Robin Ventura in 1998. Always considered one of the best fielding pitchers in the AL, Buehrle was blocked by previous winners Kenny Rogers (five times), Mike Mussina (three times) and Johan Santana during his past nine years. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/972426/buehrle-wins-gold-glove-award.html Mr. Perfect did it again. White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle captured his first Gold Glove Award. Add this to his perfect game, World Series victory, no-hitter and All Star appearance—and you have as complete a resume as you will find for any pitcher. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/971400/sbn-baseball-blogger-awards-al-rookie-year.html More photos » by Jim Prisching - AP wuz robbed Browse more photos » Larry already posted this one in the last thread's comments, but not everyone is brave enough to venture in there. Rk Player Team 1st 2nd 3rd Pts 1 Elvis Andrus Texas Rangers 6 9 6 63 2 Andrew Bailey Oakland Athletics 11 1 3 61 3 Jeff Niemann Tampa Bay Rays 3 5 3 33 4 Rick Porcello Detroit Tigers 2 7 2 33 5 Brett Anderson Oakland Athletics 5 1 3 31 6 Gordon Beckham Chicago White Sox 1 2 8 19 7 Nolan Reimold Baltimore Orioles 1 - 1 6 8 Matt Wieters Baltimore Orioles - 1 3 6 9 Brad Bergesen Baltimore Orioles - 1 - 3 10 Ricky Romero Toronto Blue Jays - 1 - 3 11 Travis Snider Toronto Blue Jays - 1 - 3 Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/968400/figgins-out-sox-range.html Shortly after saying he's in the hunt for ''that ideal leadoff guy,'' general manager Ken Williams shot down speculation that speedy free agent Chone Figgins is on the White Sox' radar. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/966830/williams-says-no-on-figgins-deal-source-pods-talks-back.html Shortly after saying he is in the hunt for ''that ideal leadoff guy,'' general manager Ken Williams shot down speculation that speedy free agent Chone Figgins is on the White Sox' radar. Discussing his tight finances this offseason, Williams was specifically asked Monday during Day 1 of the general managers meetings about Figgins and said: ''We don't have that kind of money. Sometimes the minor [free-agent deals] are the major ones, in my mind. How many Novembers have you heard that line?'' Along those lines, sources said talks between the Sox and incumbent leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik have heated up in recent days. Podsednik, 33, showed some of his 2005 form last season, hitting .304 and scoring 75 runs in 132 games. Earlier in the offseason, Williams indicated the Sox were willing to part ways with Podsednik, but that stance, sources said, has changed. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/966829/no-figgins-deal-source-says-pods-talks-back-on.html Shortly after saying he is in the hunt for ''that ideal leadoff guy,'' general manager Ken Williams shot down speculation that speedy free agent Chone Figgins is on the White Sox' radar. Discussing his tight finances this offseason, Williams was specifically asked Monday during Day 1 of the general managers meetings about Figgins and said: ''We don't have that kind of money. Sometimes the minor [free-agent deals] are the major ones, in my mind. How many Novembers have you heard that line?'' Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/963834/award-triple-crown-for-beckham.html Award Triple Crown for Beckham? Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/962941/path-pros-mark-teahen.html Path of the Pros: Mark Teahen Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/962940/sbn-baseball-blogger-awards-al-manager-year.html Because we need a fresh thread. That last one was starting to smell pretty rank. Rk Manager Team 1st 2nd 3rd Pts 1 Mike Scioscia Los Angeles Angels 9 8 3 72 2 Ron Gardenhire Minnesota Twins 9 5 1 61 3 Don Wakamatsu Seattle Mariners 6 3 8 47 4 Joe Girardi New York Yankees 2 4 2 24 5 Ron Washington Texas Rangers 1 4 4 21 6 Terry Francona Boston Red Sox 1 1 3 11 7 Jim Leyland Detroit Tigers - 2 4 10 8 Joe Maddon Tampa Bay Rays - 1 1 4 9 Ozzie Guillen Chicago White Sox - - 1 1 10 Trey Hillman Kansas City Royals - - 1 1 Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/960788/sox-williams-have-todo-list.html White Sox general manager Ken Williams heads to the GM meetings with a nice little to-do list, mostly because he has little money for free agency. Therein lies the rub. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/948037/white-sox-show-their-hand-teahen-trade.html More photos » by Pat Sullivan - AP Browse more photos » Two days ago, as the Yankees marched on to yet another purchased World Series title, the White Sox appeared like they could take any number of routes to fill out their '10 lineup. I had planned on writing an SSS Official Off-Season Plan as I have in the past -- quick synopsis: upgrade IF defense by negotiating with the devil. Buy Adrian Beltre, shift the left side of the infield one space right. Find a cheap scrapheap corner outfielder. I was thinking Xavier Nady (also a Boras client) and re-up with Jim Thome -- but Kenny Williams had other ideas, wasting no time in reshaping the '10 roster. Jettisoned (for sure): Jermaine Dye, Josh Fields, Chris Getz; (maybe): Scott Podsednik (I'm never going to write off his return) Returning: Mark Kotsay Newcomer: Mark Teahen We basically knew all those moves Thursday morning, but it still wasn't apparent how the Sox would use Teahen. My own thought was that it would mean an end to our years of having a lumbering, full-time DH on the roster. In that scenario, Teahen would have played 3B/OF and Pods probably would have been back as well, rotating with any number of players through the DH spot. But Kenny erased that notion by naming Teahen the White Sox 3rd baseman of the immediate future. What does it all mean for the '10 roster? The moves leave the Sox with two obvious holes at Designated Hitter and a corner outfield spot. DH is unlikely to be filled anytime soon, as the Sox don't have much to spend and the bottom has fallen out of the defensively-challenged hitter market in recent years. It's likely that the Sox will go bargain hunting as the calendar turns to February, with Williams not ruling out bringing back Jim Thome or even Dye. "I don't think you can rule it out because it's a long offseason," said Williams, adding he might not fill the designated hitter role until the latter part of the winter. "We just got started. Everyone knows I think the world of this guy." The remaining corner outfield spot is a bit trickier. The Sox stand with about $90M committed to their players making above the league minimum (arbitration figures estimated), and an operating budget that figures to come in under $100M. It's unlikely that they can bring in adequate talent at those two premium offensive positions on the open market for less than $10M. This means a trade, of course, is on the horizon; and Bobby Jenks seems like the most likely to leave. Phil Rogers seems eager to remove Paul Konerko's $12M contract, though he never provides a team willing to take on that contract, or how the Sox will replace his production.  No, I suspect Jenks-for-an-outfielder will be the rumor of the off-season; and it's already started courtesy Joe Cowley with a Jenks and Jordan Danks for Carl Crawford postulation on 670 the score. We'll have plenty of time to discuss these rumors over the winter. For now, let's take a look at what it means for the Sox as they stand currently: Beckham moves to 2nd -- In my unpublished off-season plan, I wanted to move Beckham off third not because I didn't think he could play there, but because I thought it was the best way to upgrade both offense and defense at the same time. I don't particularly care which infield spot he gets moved to. Alexei Ramirez committed a number of errors and short, yes; and he was a bit of an adventure turning the double play. But he was solid, and overall a reliable glove in the field. I learned after the 2000 season not to get upset at an adequate shortstop who draws the ire of radio call-in guests with some high profile errors. Every shortstop makes errors, and most of them are of the 'bad' variety. Alexei is no different than any host of major league shortstops. He was the definition of average defensively. He was merely frustrating because he showed plus range and the ability to make some spectacular plays, but negated it by making the occasional annoyingly lackadaisical error, which he seemed to correct as the season wore on. (He was probably one of the top 5 defensive SS in baseball in the second half). I'll take my chances that he's more the second-half Alexei than first-half. So Beckham moves to second base, a position that would seem to be more natural for him, and his predicted destination since being drafted in '08. He should have no trouble making the transition, as we saw him make considerable progress at 3B over the course of the season. My only complaint is that if the Sox had this in mind, there was no reason not to be playing Beckham at 2B over the last month of the season when the Sox were clearly out of the AL central race. As for Teahen at third, um, yeah, that's another story. He's bad defensively. Not quite Josh Fields bad, but close enough that he shouldn't be considered a first option, and isn't the type of player who pushes a franchise player like Beckham to another position.  Offensively, Teahen is living off his reputation from a breakout '06 season when he put up and ISO of .225. In the three years since, he's averaged an ISO of about .135. He has the glove of Mark Reynolds, and the bat of Pedro Feliz. Watching Teahen bat against the White Sox in recent years, you might get the impression that he was a speedy baserunner, as I seem to recall two separate inside-the-park homeruns. And while he did use Kauffman's expansive outfield to pile up 23 triples in his first 4 seasons, he managed only 1 last season. Diving into the Bill James Handbook, Teahen is listed as having a negative impact on the bases last year due to his ability to run into key outs. James also has a measure called Manufactured Runs Created, a measure of the little things (bunts, steals, sac flies, etc.) impact on creating runs. In this category, Teahen ranked among the Royals top 3 at 16 MRC. But the Royals ranked last in the league, and Teahen appears to be marginally above average here. (A full data set was not provided, and I'm not going to draw any conclusions based on a year of data.) Teahen's only under contract for a year, and, thanks to the $2M from the Royals, should only cost the Sox about $2.5M. So maybe he's just a stop-gap, future utility guy, and the Sox have supreme confidence in their 3B depth (Retherford, Viciedo, Morel).  So what did the Sox gain by adding Teahen? Not much in my view. They didn't give up anything of value. Chris Getz is the best player they gave up, and he might be able to post some league average production at his peak (if he can stay healthy). Overall, it was the right idea -- getting a 3B to move Beckham to a more natural position -- but Teahen is the wrong player to take the Sox to the next level. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/948036/williams-sox-remake-begins-teahen.html Chris Getz and Josh Fields are Royals, Mark Teahen is the White Sox starting third baseman, Jermaine Dye is all but gone, talks with free agent-to-be Scott Podsednik have disintegrated, and Gordon Beckham is the new starting second baseman. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/947203/beckham-to-play-second-in-2010.html Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates http://www.sportsnipe.com/main_sportsnews/943990/royals-trade-teahen-to-white-sox-ap.html The Chicago White Sox picked up Mark Teahen in a trade from the Kansas City Royals on Friday, getting a new third baseman in exchange for infielders Chris Getz and Josh Fields and cash considerations. Teahen batted .271 with a 12 home runs and 50 RBIs in 144 games with the Royals in 2009. He made 99 starts at third base, 31 in right field and three at second. Chicago White Sox - Sport Snipe - Team News - Stats - Updates