Post by whitesoxgm on Aug 23, 2011 5:47:42 GMT -5
In a recent article in Sports Illustrated new GM AJ was quoted as saying,
"The Chicago White Sox have been a hitting team for as long as I can remember. Major contracts that have been handed down to Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Paul Konerko have hindered the ability to mold a succesful pitching staff or create any room for prospects. My recent acquisition, or takeover, of the team will lead to a higher emphasis on pitching while selecting more fruitful hitters instead of just random growth spurt types."
Naturally the article, and the quote, was considered controversial. The White Sox have had success under their current strategy recently winning a World Series, however, recently the fans have been feeling that the White Sox have been rather mundane in their activities and that poor decisions have led to a team treading on mediocrity. AJ was brought in to change just that.
"I'm not trying to reinvent this team entirely. I'm not trying to blow it up and make it completely mine. Some of the players in this organization belong here. Some of them are truly the type of players we need. However, others just don't make sense and will be moved. We are not a charity and we will prove that in the coming weeks. Expect a competitive team with competitive contracts."
Living up to his word a recent blog, www.whitesoxnevergetdirty.com has reported that Jake Peavy has been moved for two prospects. While fans seemed to disapprove, at first, of the move they seemed to have warmed up to it and find it necessary in the long run.
"Look, this team is a good one, but not great. To compete with the elite teams in the AL and NL AJ is going to have to do something big. Moving maximum, obstructive contracts is the way to do that. Peavy is a risk every time he goes up on the mound and the fans can live without that."- Alex Johnson Chicago resident
According to other reports Alex Rios, Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn have been on the trade block for a while now. Others include: Mark Teahan, Gavin Floyd and even Juan Pierre though his contract expiring has made his contract slightly more tolerable.
One contract in which fans are hopefully will not be moved is Mark Buehrle although insiders (according to ESPN.com and MLB.com) have indicated that he too has been involved in trade talks.
"No one is "exempt' but there are players I am less likely to move. Mark Buehrle is one of those types of players, but again he is not "exempt." The goal is to win and win big and in order to do that we can not just sit idly by and allow other teams to make big moves. Everyone is expendable, but I will concede some are less expendable than others."
Will AJ be able to turn the White Sox around? Can he bring another ring to the White Sox and unburden them from their atrocious salary demands? So far, it seems likely, but only time will tell.
"The Chicago White Sox have been a hitting team for as long as I can remember. Major contracts that have been handed down to Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Paul Konerko have hindered the ability to mold a succesful pitching staff or create any room for prospects. My recent acquisition, or takeover, of the team will lead to a higher emphasis on pitching while selecting more fruitful hitters instead of just random growth spurt types."
Naturally the article, and the quote, was considered controversial. The White Sox have had success under their current strategy recently winning a World Series, however, recently the fans have been feeling that the White Sox have been rather mundane in their activities and that poor decisions have led to a team treading on mediocrity. AJ was brought in to change just that.
"I'm not trying to reinvent this team entirely. I'm not trying to blow it up and make it completely mine. Some of the players in this organization belong here. Some of them are truly the type of players we need. However, others just don't make sense and will be moved. We are not a charity and we will prove that in the coming weeks. Expect a competitive team with competitive contracts."
Living up to his word a recent blog, www.whitesoxnevergetdirty.com has reported that Jake Peavy has been moved for two prospects. While fans seemed to disapprove, at first, of the move they seemed to have warmed up to it and find it necessary in the long run.
"Look, this team is a good one, but not great. To compete with the elite teams in the AL and NL AJ is going to have to do something big. Moving maximum, obstructive contracts is the way to do that. Peavy is a risk every time he goes up on the mound and the fans can live without that."- Alex Johnson Chicago resident
According to other reports Alex Rios, Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn have been on the trade block for a while now. Others include: Mark Teahan, Gavin Floyd and even Juan Pierre though his contract expiring has made his contract slightly more tolerable.
One contract in which fans are hopefully will not be moved is Mark Buehrle although insiders (according to ESPN.com and MLB.com) have indicated that he too has been involved in trade talks.
"No one is "exempt' but there are players I am less likely to move. Mark Buehrle is one of those types of players, but again he is not "exempt." The goal is to win and win big and in order to do that we can not just sit idly by and allow other teams to make big moves. Everyone is expendable, but I will concede some are less expendable than others."
Will AJ be able to turn the White Sox around? Can he bring another ring to the White Sox and unburden them from their atrocious salary demands? So far, it seems likely, but only time will tell.