Sox enter Soriano sweepstakes
Welcome the White Sox into the bidding for Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano, according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. Ozzie Guillen downplayed the reports and said he doesn’t see a deal happening, according to Scott Merkin. But you have to wonder: If the White Sox believe the Tigers are a real threat to acquire Soriano, and if they believe Soriano makes the Tigers that much better, do they go ahead and try to snatch him partly to keep him out of Detroit?
Jason Beck
The middle of the Tigers lineup doesn’t really scare anyone, IMHO. Yes, we have some professional hitters, but when compared to other lineups, we are lacking. Pudge, god bless him, is not very productive for batting third and hitting .300. 40 some odd RBI’s, at this time of year?
While not wanting to give away the farm, a hitter like Soriano makes the entire lineup better. Hit him third, and drop Pudge to sixth.
BTW, I still like the idea of getting Helton, from CO. Is he not available?
I agree with “scratch” above. The lineup lacks someone who can put the ball out of the park at any time. The Chisox have a couple of those kinds of guys. When the schedule gets tougher, you would like to have the luxury of knowing one swing of the bat can get win it for you or get you back into the game.
We all like the current group of Tigers but we also have to remember that the city is indeed locked in a pennant race. Affections and novelties aside, it is time to get down to the serious side of winning and not just being able to day that the club had a good year and we are all proud of them.
Getting Soriano means we lose a position player, a current pitcher and a prospect. Last I looked there was not a single position player on the deam that is indispensable (except Rodriguez), we have 7 starters on the club (including Maroth and Ledezma), and a prospect is just that. Soriano is a proven commodity. And I would hope they have the sense to sign him if they get him.
The Tigers simply do not get the bat on the ball enough in critical situations. Curtis leads the league in strikeouts and Shelton will pass him soon if he doesn’t get himself “fixed”. Soriano strikes out more than I like too, but this is offset by genuine home run potential and, speed and versatility. I hope they go for it.
Trade Talk- Can we trade anyone for the “right’ guy?
Granderson; No Way
Polanco: No
Rodriguez: No
Ordonez: Better to keep him
Young: Yes
Monroe: Yes
Thames: Yes
Shelton: Tough one to make
Inge: Tough one to make
Guillen: Keep him–all around type player
Infante: Yes
Wilson: Prototype backup backstop
Gomez: Yes
Rogers: Yes
Verlander: No way
Zumaya: No way
Robertson: Possibly
Maroth: Yes
Miner: Definitely
Colon: Yes
Rodney: keep him and groom him
Jones: Please!
Bonderman: No Way
Ledezma: yes
Grilli: Yes
Walker: nice guy to have around
You can’t trade Polanco but you can trade Rogers? Are you kidding me?