Time for Kenny to make a move
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. _ Is Kenny Lofton still available? Hey, what about Tony Phillips?
OK, that’s pushing it a little, but don’t doubt GM Kenny Williams is looking at every available option right now as he tries to solve the leadoff problem that is threatening to drive the White Sox into the ground.
Kenny has made trades in spring training before, most recently picking up Matt Thornton and Timo Perez, and he’s probably close to making another deal for a center fielder/No. 1 hitter.
Forget about Juan Pierre _ he is way overpriced and Kenny has never been a big fan.
Forget Jim Edmonds, too. His best days are long gone.
It’s going to be tough to find a reliable guy at this late date, but Kenny has been known to find them.
There has been a lot of talk about the Sox not having a legit leadoff man since Scott Podsednik.
Yes, Podsednik is injury prone, and he’s having a so-so camp with the Colorado Rockies (.259), but he’s probably still a lot better than Jerry Owens or Dewayne Wise.
No matter what, Kenny needs to make a move. Soon.
Been watching how this guy has been getting better and better ... Copeland from the A's. Not an all star yet but seems definately worth the risk for VERY low money. He is on-base guy and lots of speed. He likely will be put back on waivers if he isn't going to make the squad and Kenny deals well with Bean as we all know.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/12/SP4916EBKI.D...
If the rookie route doesn't suit your fancy, then how about Andruw Jones who will be cut loose soon by Texas? His hitting has dropped big but he can still play defense with best of them. On his worst day he can still outhit Anderson.
Anderson is going to amount to nothing more than a defensive replacement/ pinch hitter for this team and Ozzie and Kenny know it. Have you watched him squander chance after chance for three years now? I have.
And I still expect Kenny Williams to make a move, probably within the next week.
You guys have mentioned some interesting names, both young and old.
I think when Kenny does act, the White Sox will have a more veteran CF/leadoff man. The AL Central looks to be pretty weak this season, and the Sox could easily finish first again if they find an established guy.
Who knows, maybe it wil be Andruw Jones. The main hurdle there, and it's a big one, is Jones' agent (Scott Boras).
Stay tuned on this one. And FYI, Brian Anderson is in the leadoff spot vs. the Giants today.
Hey guys, Braves fan here. Weve got a couple of young guys who can play centerfield and bat leadoff. Josh Anderson is a great defender, and has blazing speed. he will steal you 40 bases easily, id imagine. (also, he is out of options, and blocking jordan schafer, and im sure Frank Wren would like to get SOMEthing for him, rather than lose him on waivers.)
Gregor Blanco is great at working the count and getting on base. He doesn't steal quite as much and his defense isn't as good.
Do ya'll think Kenny would consider one of our guys, or is he looking for someone with more experience?
Leadoff is NOT a position. The Sox need to play the best baseball player they have in CF. That man is Brian Anderson. It's not even close.
Jerry Owens is a AAAA player. Dwayne Wise wouldn't be a backup on most teams. The Sox do not need a leadoff hitter. They have 9 fine position players! Put them in the best order possible and let them play baseball!
What's the point of getting an inferior player just to bat in the first spot in the order? This is a perfectly good lineup:
Ramirez SS
Getz 2b
Quentin LF
Thome DH
Dye RF
Konerko 1B
A.J. C
Fields 3B
Anderson CF
Add the fact that they now have a nice switch-hitting bat off the bench in Betemit who can fill in for Thome, Konerko and Fields and that is a good lineup.
I wouldn't mind Edmonds as the 4th OFer. I think it's safe to say that he's better than Wise. Owens is worthless.
FORGET THIS LEADOFF B.S. , WHITE SOX !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
About the same as gunner Stal..Piernyski will bat 2nd most of the time vs righties and YES Ramirez may end up there most of the time before the season ends. Wise will play some against righties. as long as Anderson is hitting he will be in CF.. Can keep 5 outfielders and Owens may progress better as season goes along. Betimit lighting it up will play a lot at 1st and 3rd..if Thome is out Konerko can DH some.
Kenny doesn't have to make any move now at all...every Spring Training Sox have losing records and turn in the other direction into the season. Sox are in good shape..a lot of teams have injuries and such. Sox are healthy.
Wise is valuable off the bench and partime starting Gunner stahl..proved it last yr.
His best days are certainly behind him but his numbers with the Cubs last year are almost certainly better than what Wise or Owens could put up. I really have no idea what the Sox see in either of them. Wise is a journeyman who can't get on base and doesn't play great defense. Owens has zero power and doesn't get on base enough or steal bases at a high enough clip. As bad as it sounds it looks like Anderson is the best of this awful bunch. My opening day line-up would be this:
Getz
Ramirez
Quentin
Thome
Dye
Konerko
Pierzynski
Fields
Anderson