http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/dssports/pro/051sd2.htm Sox Notebook About Schmidt? Denial, denial, denial Tuesday, July 5, 2005 By Joe Cowley Staff writer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Both White Sox general manager Ken Williams and his assistant, Rick Hahn, told reporters last week that rumors the Sox were close to acquiring a starting pitcher were false. Still, the rumors won't go away. The latest was an erroneous Chicago radio report Sunday that said the Sox had completed a trade with San Francisco for pitcher Jason Schmidt. There were other reasons not to believe the validity of the report — besides the fact it was false. For one, the Giants believe they're still in the hunt in the National League West and are looking to add rather than subtract. Second, while Schmidt is on a list of pitchers the Sox are scouting, he's not atop that list. When the subject of a trade was brought up Monday, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen reiterated what Williams and Hahn said. "It's not true. We didn't talk to them — as far as I know," Guillen said of the Giants. "Maybe Kenny has a different opinion. Right now, we're pretty far away to make trades at the (July 31) deadline. If we need to, we'll do it. Jason Schmidt is a lot of talk, maybe because we were on the West Coast and playing next to San Francisco (in Oakland). "I had a couple of writers come ask me about it. Right now, we don't have any intentions to get him. If we have a chance and we're going to need it, I guess Kenny will pull the trigger. Right now, we don't have anything realistic going on." A big deal was made of the fact the Sox had scouts at Giants games last week. Two weeks ago, they were Sox supposedly scouting Toronto left-hander Ted Lilly. According to Hahn, the Sox have made it a practice this season to scout every team for more than just one game. "We have people scouting all over the place," Guillen said. "Jason Schmidt has been scouted by a lot of teams." While Schmidt would be a nice addition to the starting staff, he is not the whale Williams has on his telescope. Much like Williams had visions of Randy Johnson dancing in his head both last season and last offseason, a source has said that Williams will first try to see if prying Roger Clemens from Houston is nothing more than a pipe dream. Williams cannot discuss players on other teams because of tampering rules, but Clemens would be one pitcher the Sox GM would put together almost any package to try to acquire. Such a move would help the Sox and would also keep Clemens from the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, two teams that could make a run at Clemens because of their resources. The problem is that Clemens would have to approve a deal to Chicago, which is unlikely. Second, the Astros don't believe they're out of the NL wild-card race. Another point the Sox are weighing is how a new addition would affect clubhouse chemistry. The Sox feel their cohesion is a team strength. "I think we've accomplished a lot of team unity," closer Dustin Hermanson said. "It's something I don't think that can break the rest of this year of what we've built up this first half. I think that's going to continue to carry us through the rest of the season. "I don't think we would let anyone ruin our chemistry. We might put you in a corner somewhere."
Obviously this is a bit far fetched...Clemens going to Chitown that is....BUT......ANY package?????? Granted this would seem a little more palatable if we were still 15 games under .500.....I wonder what we could get from the White Sox for him if this was a possibility.
The White Sox want Clemens, and so does every other team in the league. The man is still on of the most dominant pitchers in the game, and he's staying right here.
I wonder what package of players I could give up from my 5 time defending champion softball team for Clemens. Maybe I should just call Purpura to see if it's possible.
Joke all you want....and I am one who thinks this is a pipe dream (as the article says)...but when the GM of the team with the best (or second best) record in baseball says that they would put together almost ANY package for Clemens, it would be silly not to at least see if what they would consider offering would make us better.
I have to agree. This might very well be Roger's last year. If you could get some talent that'll make your team a contender for several years, you have to consider it. The problem is, we have been playing much better & there's a lot of games left to play. I'd sure hate to be Purpura & have to make that decision. That'd have to be one of those times where you make the owner feel like his opinion counts, & let him make the call.
The nice thing about it is that Chicago is basically in the post-season at this point, barring a huge collapse - so they need Clemens for the playoffs, not the pennant race. It's likely that their interest in Roger will remain all the way through July 31st, when we'll have a better if our recently better play is the result of playing the KC's, Colorados, and Cincinnati's of the world, or if we'll actually be in the hunt. If we're 15 games out on July 31st and behind 8 other teams, explore the trade. Roger wants to go to NY, but if NY is out of the mix (they have a hellish schedule for their next 20 or 25 games), then maybe he'd be open to other places.
I would have to think that the biggest hitch is Roger. He is most likely not going to want to go to Chicago, playoffs or not. Kind of hard to get home for your kids games from 1000 miles away. You think that Ozzie Guillen has shown to be patient enough to let Roger disappear during road series in which he isn't scheduled to pitch? I don't. Roger Clemens will finish the season in an Astros uniform. If he plays beyond this season, it will be in an Astros uniform. Did I forget to mention that the Astros are back in the playoff hunt themselves? Why would they want to give up Roger when they themselves need him for a possible stretch run to the postseason? With this talk of giving up 3 top pitching prospects for Adam Dunn, Roger would be needed even more. If both things happened, do you know who would be next in line from the minors (assuming it wasn't Mark Burhle, John Garland or Freddie Garcia coming back in return)? That's right. Brandon Duckworth. Also, why would they give up the biggest ticket sales draw they've ever had? Heck, I think the National League teams want Roger to stay because of the number of butts in seats when he pitches as compared to any other night.
Chicago does have a few interesting prospects in the minors. LEO DAIGLE (1B) (AAA) He put up some incredible numbers in "A" ball this year. Only 48 K's in 290 AB's. DANIEL HAIGWOOD (P) (AA) JERRY OWENS (OF) (AA) 21 stolen bases. CHRIS YOUNG (OF) (AA) .526 SLUGGING %, 17 HR's, & 15 SB's. A nice combination of speed & power, but strikes out a lot. EHREN WASSERMAN (CLOSER) (A) I'd definitely want this kid. GIOVANY GONZALEZ (P) (A) CARLOS LEE (C) (A) Lord knows, we could use a solid catching prospect. This is just a sample, but there are several others, including Scott Podsednik (LF) (41 SB's) on their active roster. If they called & we've started slipping, we'd have to have a talk with Roger. EDIT: Oh yeah, all of these kids are 24 years old & younger.
