@scottmerkin Thanks buddy. Its my Bday today. Tell all my fans I said I'll catch them next year for sure.
Jermaine Dye, the former All-Star outfielder who remained on the sidelines last season when he did not receive any contract offers to his liking, has formally decided to call it quits, according to a published report.
“It’s time to start my second life,” Dye said in the report by FOXSports.com.
Dye’s last active season was 2009, when he batted .250 in 141 games with the Chicago White Sox, with 27 homers and 81 RBIs. But those overall respectable numbers were diluted in the eyes of possible suitors by a second-half swoon in which he hit only .179.
The Dodgers were known to have interest in Dye in the most recent offseason, but wouldn’t offer him more than the split contract, for a $1 million Major League salary, they eventually gave to another outfielder, Marcus Thames.
Dye, who turned 37 in January, closes the book on a 14-season career that produced 325 home runs and 1,072 RBIs along with a lifetime average of .274. He also won a World Series Most Valuable Player Award with the White Sox in 2005.
Thanks for all your contributions Jermaine and wishing you good luck going forward.
Vernon Wells, Blue Jays: The Sox already got Alex Rios from Toronto, so how about adding Wells as well?The Blue Jays aren’t drawing flies at Rogers Centre, and Wells has a nightmarish contract – $12.5 million this season, $23 million next year, $21 million in 2013 and $21 million in 2014.
Wells has an opt-out clause after next season, but why would he walk away from all of that money?
Other suggestions are Carl Crawford, Raul Ibanez, Daniel Murphy, Chris Iannetta and Jermaine Dye. Where’s Carl Everett Scot?
How about he can’t do it?
Guillen said he “didn’t see any room” for former slugger Jermaine Dye on the Sox’s roster.
I know this comment sounds strange, considering Flowers is pegged as the organization’s catcher of the future. But in my humble estimation, you have to keep Pierzynski for another couple of years. I really think he’s as valuable as any player on the team, in terms of all the intangibles he brings to the equation. He calls a good game, is one of the game’s better catchers on offense and possesses the sort of strident leadership you need in a winning clubhouse.
4. What does the future hold for Gordon Beckham?
Good things – and lots of them. His performance with the Sox last year showed that the team was right to draft him with their No. 1 pick in 2008, and then move him out of the minors after only 59 games. The kid looks like the real deal and should have a terrific future in front of him.
… For a clearer picture what’s in store for him, I did a little digging for comps. Last year, the 22-year-old Beckham posted a 107 OPS+. So, I went to Baseball-Reference.com’s excellent Play Index and did a search for seasons by: 1) 22-year-olds since 1900, who 2) played an infield defensive position (short, third, or second), 3) posted an OPS+ between 97 and 117, and 4) either qualified for a batting title or had 400 PA.
”We can create more runs,” Guillen said. ”In the past, yeah, we could score 10, but all of a sudden, when we need to score one, we can’t. That’s why our philosophy changed.
No doubt, Guillen believes that. But Williams seems to prefer a big bopper in the middle of the lineup.
What has become public is Damon’s round of golf with Pierzynski on Monday at a charity golf tournament in Florida. Hawk Harrelson was also there. Because of wrist problems, Hawk didn’t play, but rode along for nine holes. Speaking with the Sox broadcaster by phone on Thursday, Harrelson said he made his own sales pitch to Damon.
Garfein also says that Atlanta’s 1-year offer to Damon is similar to the one by the Sox and Chipper Jones is the Atlanta’s recruiter.
On the day that Frank Thomas announced his retirement from baseball, he almost overshadowed himself by disclosing the stunning news of another former White Sox player who might retire right behind him.
There’s a video (8:09) of Frank’s interview in the same link.