Thomas on slumping #WhiteSox CF Alex Rios: "He's fighting himself. For me, I would change that stance. We talked about it the other day"—
Scot Gregor (@scotgregor) July 31, 2011
July 31, 2011
Frank Thomas tells Alex Rios what to do
Kenny is looking for pitching
#WhiteSox seeking rotation depth. Traded Jackson to save money, now concerned they're too thin. #tradedeadline #MLB—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2011
July 30, 2011
Kenny probably closes shop [UPDATE]
“Is there a chance that we could have a different look? Absolutely there’s a ‘chance,’” Williams said. “I would say that chance is very, very slim.
“I don’t see anything on the horizon and everything that potentially can be done comes at a sacrifice of the guys that I expect we would need to try to win this division. So, very unlikely.”
UPDATE: Ballantini @ CSN:
Williams also admitted that most of the calls he’s getting from GMs at this point are of the prank variety.
“I’ve got a lot of friends in the game, so some of them are calling just to check in, make sure we are kind of where we are,” Williams smiled. “There’s a lot of rumors out there about us going either way, either being buyers or sellers, so there’s people checking in. Then there’s some of the more smart aleck friends of mine in the general manager ranks that are calling with humorous anecdotes as to what’s going on. It’s just that time of year. I think it’s the most fun time to be a general manager that there is during the calendar year.”
Other White Sox links: U-God writes a pretty awesome ‘Kenny Williams at the trade deadline’ simulator, James says if the Sox decide to trade Carlos Quentin they shouldn’t stop there, Mike looks at the Edwin Jackson/Mark Teahen for Jason Frasor/Zach Stewart trade, and 2011 supplemental 1st round pick Keenyn Walker was promoted to the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators.
Atlanta and Boston would like to acquire Carlos Quentin for a bucket of balls
As we saw before:
#mlb #Red Sox pushing hard for Carlos Quentin and LHP Thornton, but #White Sox would have to be overwhelmed with prospects# tradedeadline—
Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2011
But Atlanta isn’t the only team interested in Carlos Quentin:
#mlb #Braves also strongly in on Quentin, but with #WhiteSox in race, still unlikely they will make move—
Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2011
Kenny must be requesting something good in return:
#WhiteSox asking price on Carlos Quentin is very high. #Braves interested but not optimistic about chances for deal, sources say.—
Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2011
Chuck Garfien says Kenny wants starting pitching:
With the trade deadline coming at 3pm on Sunday, who knows if the current White Sox team will still be intact by then. The hot rumor right now has GM Ken Williams dangling Carlos Quentin to the Braves and Phillies in return for starting pitching.
Matt Thornton is a wanted man
Sources: #Rangers pursuing #WhiteSox's Thornton. White Sox want Holland in return. #tradedeadline #MLB—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2011
Did you say Derek Holland Kenny?
Source: #Rangers would only move Holland for Thornton if #WhiteSox expanded deal to include a starter such as Danks. #tradedeadline #MLB—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2011
John Danks? Kenny just hung up:
#chisox telling teams john danks is not available. makes sense. they are only 2 out in L column. #tradedeadline—
Jon Heyman (@SI_JonHeyman) July 30, 2011
But there is another suitor:
#mlb #Red Sox pushing hard for Carlos Quentin and LHP Thornton, but #White Sox would have to be overwhelmed with prospects# tradedeadline—
Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 30, 2011
You mean the Yankee$ aren’t among the suitors? Well:
Sense #Whitesox have really fallen out love with Thornton, would love move $13M owed '12-'13. #Yankees among teams watching the LHR—
Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 30, 2011
One more:
Dbacks would love LHP Matt Thornton, but source says it "can't happen" given White Sox demand of top prospects whom Dbacks won't give up.—
Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) July 30, 2011
July 29, 2011
Terry Doyle is back!
Dayan Viciedo is getting closer to returning
Viciedo not in the Charlotte lineup again tonight. Was told he took batting practice and is getting closer to a return—
Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) July 30, 2011
Kevin Goldstein talks about Lastings Milledge
Lastings Milledge, OF, White Sox (Triple-A Charlotte): 2-for-3, RBI, 2 SB. Hitting .339 in his last 50 games and .299/.361/.465 overall; just sayin’…
Smells Like Mascot: Batting Stances
Carl’s latest:
http://smellslikemascot.blogspot.com/2011/07/batting-stances.html
And it’s a classic!
July 28, 2011
Trade coming?
sox source: more movement to come—
Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) July 29, 2011
UPDATE:
Keep your eyes on KW; the payroll trim of E Jack City/Teahen deal means it's more likely #WhiteSox ADD payroll than cut in next deal—
Brett Ballantini (@CSNChi_Beatnik) July 29, 2011
Atlanta, Philadelphia willing to give up a lot for Carlos Quentin?
With the Tigers’ loss to the Angels Thursday, the White Sox head into the weekend just three games out of first place in the American League Central.
Could they really trade Carlos Quentin, who is second on the team in both home runs and RBI? Perhaps so, if the return is high enough. And with the Braves and Phillies both seriously interested, according to sources, the return may well be high enough.
The Braves are desperate to add an outfield bat, and the word Thursday was that they were making a big push for Quentin. The Phillies’ wish list, according to Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia, is topped by Hunter Pence, Quentin and Mike Adams. Many people still doubt that Pence will be traded, and people are starting to doubt that the Padres will move Adams, as well. …
As for Quentin, reports on Thursday have the Atlanta Braves seriously interested, with the White Sox having thoroughly scouted the young talent available in return. Dayan Viciedo would be the logical replacement for Quentin, but a sore thumb has kept Viciedo out of action for Triple-A Charlotte since he was pulled in the sixth inning of last Saturday’s game. …
And some Carlos Quentin tweets:
Braves and Phils both very interested in Quentin, and it appears Sox would consider moving him even tho just 3 games out. #tradedeadline—
(@DKnobler) July 28, 2011
Among scouts/execs seems momentum now #Whitesox Quentin will be dealt and team I hear as frontrunner most is #Braves—
Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 28, 2011
Who would Ozzie Guillen bat leadoff if Juan Pierre isn’t playing?
Q: Do most teams have only one bonafide lead-off hitter? Seems like whenever Pierre slumps we have no one else to step in to give him a couple days off.
A: You are correct Chuck. Pierre is the only one. Ozzie said he put together some mock lineups in the event Viciedo came up and on the days Pierre sat, he went with Alexei in the leadoff spot. Not idea but the next best option.
Keith Law’s Zach Stewart scouting report
ESPN’s Keith Law seems to have the same viewpoint of Zach Stewart that the White Sox expressed after acquiring him in the Jackson trade. Here’s what he wrote about him after scouting an appearance by Jackson late last season: “Stewart showed four pitches, pitching at 90-96 with sink and some tail with a tight, out-pitch slider at 83-87 that he threw for strikes, even back-dooring it to left-handed hitters for called strikes. His changeup was the biggest surprise, as another scout at the game told me he hadn’t seen it this good before; it’s mostly straight but has good separation from the fastball at 81-85 and his arm speed is excellent. He also used a fringy curveball with good depth but he didn’t command the pitch as well as he did the slider. Stewart worked aggressively with everything and had good tempo. He stays over the rubber before driving forward with a long stride, although his arm action is a little long in the back and he pronates relatively late in the delivery. I know several scouts see Stewart as a sinker/slider pen guy, but I see four pitches, a good frame, and a pitcher who likes to attack hitters. I see a potential No. 2 starter, maybe a No. 3 if the changeup isn’t always where it was tonight.”
Stewart has failed to take another step forward in 2011 but Law still believes they got a guy who Don Cooper could help turn into a solid big-league starter. Here’s what he wrote on Wednesday after the Jackson trade: “Stewart is a classic sinker-slider starter with great movement on a low-90s sinker that will touch the mid-90s; his control took a step forward this year but he wasn’t getting as many ground balls, which is more a question of his pitching plan than a lack of life on the fastball. His slider is his best offspeed pitch, tight at 83-87 with good tilt, and he commands the pitch well, throwing it to both sides of the plate. He’s got a solid, average-or-better changeup and showed no platoon split this year. With a show-me curveball and good control, he should be given every opportunity to start for Chicago, and I like pitching coach Don Cooper’s chances to turn Stewart into at least a mid-rotation starter if not more.”
Kevin Goldstein won’t agree with Mr. Law:
I've never understood people projecting Stewart as a No. 3 or even better starter. No. 4 or 8th inning guy is more realistic.—
Kevin Goldstein (@Kevin_Goldstein) July 27, 2011
Sox make Adam Dunn available? Think about trading Carlos Quentin,?
Despite reports Wednesday that the Phillies are turning their attention to Carlos Quentin in the wake of their lack of progress on the Hunter Pence front, an NL executive who had spoken with both teams said: “I can’t see that working.” Nevertheless, there has been increasing evidence the White Sox are talking to several teams about Quentin, one of which is believed to be Atlanta. “They would move him,” said an executive of one team that has been in touch with the White Sox. “I wouldn’t say they’re bound and determined to move him. But would they? Absolutely.” Another name we were told the White Sox have dangled, just to see what happened: Adam Dunn.
Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia want Carlos Quentin [UPDATE]
Source: Braves "hot" for Quentin – and #WhiteSox love ATL's young arms. One holdup… MORE #tradedeadline #MLB—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2011
…the condition of Viciedo's thumb at AAA. Would replace Quentin for #WhiteSox. Hasn't played since Saturday. #Braves #tradedeadline #MLB—
Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2011
Red Sox continue to look at starting pitchers, but as of now they're telling teams that focus is a RH hitting OF. #tradedeadline—
(@DKnobler) July 28, 2011
Red Sox would almost certainly try for Quentin, if White Sox make him available. #tradedeadline—
(@DKnobler) July 28, 2011
UPDATE:
#mlb The #Phillies loved what they saw scouting #White Sox OF Carlos Quentin 3 days in Chicago, but Sox remain in race, plan to keep him—
Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 28, 2011
