According to ESPN (espn.go.com) Paul Konerko has resigned with the White Sox for 5 years/$60 million.
So Thome and Konerko as the heart of the order...I can live with that Esp. if the rumblings about trying to get Juan Pierre are true, the speed followed by power could be electric.
Originally posted by piemanI know it wasn't a huge difference in total dollars, but it's nice to see Konerko sign with the Sox for 5/$60 and turn down the Orioles' 5/$65.
As an Orioles fan, I agree though I suspect for different reasons.
I don't want to badmouth Konerko because he's definately a good player. I think 5/65 would have been a bit much even though it's clear that's a "fair" value on the current free agent market. Heck, considering two closers combined for $90 million over nine years and the Cubs aid two middle relievers a total of $25M, this might be a "steal."
It's easy to get wowed by Konerko's gaudy homerun numbers, but Konerko finished only ninth in the league in runs created and OPS last year while not even reaching the top 10 in RBI. In 2004, he was sixth in the AL in RBI but outside the top 10 in OPS and runs created. A good player, but I think he got too much. Of course, he's only 30 so I guess the odds say he's more likely to surpass his expected potential then to decline sharply. Plus when you're the reigning world champs I suppose you have the option of taking a chance on overpaying someone without fearing too much fallout down the line.
Originally posted by piemanI know it wasn't a huge difference in total dollars, but it's nice to see Konerko sign with the Sox for 5/$60 and turn down the Orioles' 5/$65.
As an Orioles fan, I agree though I suspect for different reasons.
I don't want to badmouth Konerko because he's definately a good player. I think 5/65 would have been a bit much even though it's clear that's a "fair" value on the current free agent market. Heck, considering two closers combined for $90 million over nine years and the Cubs aid two middle relievers a total of $25M, this might be a "steal."
It's easy to get wowed by Konerko's gaudy homerun numbers, but Konerko finished only ninth in the league in runs created and OPS last year while not even reaching the top 10 in RBI. In 2004, he was sixth in the AL in RBI but outside the top 10 in OPS and runs created. A good player, but I think he got too much. Of course, he's only 30 so I guess the odds say he's more likely to surpass his expected potential then to decline sharply. Plus when you're the reigning world champs I suppose you have the option of taking a chance on overpaying someone without fearing too much fallout down the line.
(edited by BigSteve on 30.11.05 1721)
Two things about Konerko and why I think he was a better signing for us than he would have been for other teams:
1. USCF effect - he hits much better at home for us than he does on the road. The impact he'll have with 81 games at Coors East is much greater than he would have at a lot of the other parks.
2. We needed him more than the other teams in the bidding for him. The O's need to plug a lot of holes and really don't need to be investing that much in one guy. The Angels would probably be better served going after one more good starter (Millwood comes to mind) when they already have Erstad and Kotchmann. The Sox on the other hand would be looking at a gaping hole in the lineup, even factoring in the Thome addition. They would be left praying that somehow Frank Thomas stayed healthy this year or having the same offensive struggles they had last year, with the risk of them being even worse if Thome isn't healthy. For us he is worth 12-13 million a year because he is a major piece of our puzzle at this time. For the other teams considering him though, the money can be better spent.
Very glad to hear that the chairman was willing to take a payroll leap to make another run. Great news for Sox fans, hope it translates to attendance so they can remain a 'player' going forward.
Just playing devil's advocate a bit, I can't blame the Angels for going after Paulie - not having protection for Vlad remains the big problem there, I gather. For the O's, I think they just were hoping for a big, safe acquisition to get the fan base's mind off last season. That had to be brutal.
Remaining questions for Sox:
So this is it for Frank Thomas as a White Sox? Can they bring him back at any price, without any guarantee of doing more than pinch hitting/occasional start to rest Konerko or Thome? And do they go with one of the kids in CF, or make a pitch for Juan Pierre?
So it looks like next year, the team to beat WON'T be the Yankees, for once. Konerko and Thome now become the new dynamic duo, especially with the inevitable split of Ortiz and Ramirez in Boston. And since Garland, Buehrle, Garcia, and Contreras aren't going anywhere, this club is a major closer signing away (Trevor Hoffman?) from becoming a 120-win team.
Originally posted by TheOldManJust playing devil's advocate a bit, I can't blame the Angels for going after Paulie - not having protection for Vlad remains the big problem there, I gather.
Not only that, but if Vlad self-destructs in the postseason again, there NEEDS to be a backup power bat and Konerko would have fit the bill perfectly. It's looking more and more like Anaheim will put their focus in trading for Manny Ramirez, otherwise this offseason turns into a bust for them with Bengie Molina possibly bolting for the Mets.
Originally posted by TheOldMan[snip] And do they go with one of the kids in CF, or make a pitch for Juan Pierre?
Don't forget that Scott Podsednik plays a mean CF. If you put up with his bat last year in LF, you'd certainly take him in CF (meaning you think of corner outfielders as more power producers than he is).
EDIT - Maybe my memory is fuzzy. The Brewers' beat writer was just talking about this very move, and referred to Podsednik as "serviceable" in CF.
You wanted the best, you got... Out of Context Quote of the Week.
"I have no reason left to live. Now where the hell does this 7 go?" (Spank E)
Originally posted by It's FalseAnd since Garland, Buehrle, Garcia, and Contreras aren't going anywhere, this club is a major closer signing away (Trevor Hoffman?) from becoming a 120-win team.
Uhm, what? You need all kinds of luck to win 116 (which I think is the current standard). So many things can go wrong that it's bloody unlikely. Are they better? Yeah. But not THAT much better.
Originally posted by It's FalseSo it looks like next year, the team to beat WON'T be the Yankees, for once. Konerko and Thome now become the new dynamic duo, especially with the inevitable split of Ortiz and Ramirez in Boston. And since Garland, Buehrle, Garcia, and Contreras aren't going anywhere, this club is a major closer signing away (Trevor Hoffman?) from becoming a 120-win team.
First of all, 120 is a bit unrealistic. Secondly, what's wrong with Bobby Jenks? He looked pretty good in the postseason to me. Seems like he's one of those guys that if you just say "hey, man, you're our closer, go do your thing," he'll be fine.
Yeah, because closers ALWAYS succeed in nonsave situations...not like he walked the guy in etc., should've been a play at the plate or at least lose on a forceout.