Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
Cubs centerfielder Jim Edmonds, whose return to St. Louis Friday night was honored by Cardinals fans if not by Tony La Russa, shared a revelation with Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times:
Edmonds would have been traded to the White Sox this past December if he hadn't exercised his right to block such a deal.
Edmonds said he got a call from St. Louis management in the week after the winter meetings in December...
"They told me I was traded to the White Sox, and that I had an hour to OK it, and I told them I needed more than that," said Edmonds, who had asked for a trade closer to his Southern California home after being told he didn't play a big part in the Cardinals' 2008 plans.
"I was sitting on the beach one day with my family, running around with my son, and they told me I had an hour to decide whether I wanted to play with the White Sox or not," he said.
It's unclear what the deal was, although the Cards were said to be interested in Juan Uribe at that time.
"I needed more time, and they kept pushing me and pushing me," he said, "and I said, I can't answer that question today, so obviously I guess I can say no."
The next day he was traded, with cash, to San Diego for infielder David Freese -- a deal he later says he was told by Padres officials had been worked out for weeks.
It seems to me that this story could explain the reaction of White Sox pinhead manager Ozzie Guillien a couple Saturdays ago, after the Cubs had beaten the White Sox, 11-7, in the second game of their series at Wrigley and Edmonds had homered twice in a nine-run fourth inning.
Said the pinhead Guillen after the game:
"He just had a good day..I don't want to promote the guy who's just hitting [.238 and stuff]. He just had a good day. Good for them. I think I'd rather have him out there than [Alfonso] Soriano."
Edmonds shuns the White Sox; Guillen offers a public dig at the first opportunity. Makes perfect sense to me. In fact, I think Chicago fans have seen this movie before.
Finally, speaking of players who wore both Cubs and Cardinals colors, ClassicAthletes.com catches up with one of my favorite Cubs ever, Don Kessinger, a six-time All-Star shortstop for the team between 1964 and 1975. Kessinger was traded to the Cardinals for the eminently forgettable Mike Garman following the '75 season, eventually ending up with White Sox in 1977 and becoming their player-manager in 1979, his last year in baseball.
#1 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
That story also helps to explain LaRussa's idiotic reaction yesterday as well. I know baseball is just a game, but do grown men (who also happen to be managers) have to act like children when things don't go their way? Jeebus, go play in yer sandboxes.
#2 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
Maybe I've been watching too much election '08 coverage, but I can't help but wonder how much of this is PR. I mean seriously, at odds with Ozzie... now La Russa? And let's face it, Edmonds had serious issues with some Cub fans, specifically those "once a Cardinal, always a Cardinal" types.
And when ticket sales are the reward, PR *does* matter. It's not just an afterthought.
And I must say... between his hot streak at the plate and ostensibly hating Ozzie & La Russa... For me, it's working. I consider Edmonds a Cubbie.
__________________________Ryno
http://wolf-report.blogspot.com
#3 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
I think LaRussa knew that this whole thing would cause the papers in both towns to say "LaRussa LaRussa LaRussa LaRussa LaRussa LaRussa Piniella LaRussa" instead of the other way around.
__________________________"Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try." -- Homer
#4 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
A lot of it is PR, no question about it; always happens during Cubs - Cardinal/Cubs - Sox series. But the thing is - Ozzie and LaRussa have been the ones shooting their mouths off at basically nothing, while Lou's been quiet and couldn't care less about issues that have nothing to do with the play on the field. LaRussa also seems to be forgetting that not only does Edmonds still own a restaurant in St. Louis, he still has a home there as well.
#5 More pitchers - FA's
In addition to the usual suspects I mentioned a couple days ago - Meche, Bedard, CC, Wolf, Burnett -
here are a couple more for discussion:
Derek Lowe - at 36, he still has a mighty sinker that would be a terrific in Wrigley. We gave Coletti Maddux - maybe he'd return the favor? FA in 2009
Livan Hernandez - I was at Game 3 against the D-Backs. 'Nuf said.
Unfortunately for the Cubs - ain't much more out there this year.
__________________________Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966
#6 Re: More pitchers - FA's
Didn't Meche say he is not interested in coming to Chicago?
__________________________All right, all right, all right....
#8 Re: More pitchers - FA's
Not specifically Chicago, but as far as I've read, you're correct.
__________________________Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966
#10 Re: More pitchers - FA's
This is the story I was talking about E-Man.
From June 9:
Meche staying put
Right-hander Gil Meche just laughs at those rumors circulating regarding a possible trade sending him to the Chicago Cubs.
“How’s that going to happen?” he asked.
Meche has a no-trade clause in his contract and said he hasn’t been asked to waive it. Furthermore, he has no interest in doing so.
General manager Dayton Moore declined to comment on the rumor, but club officials privately dismissed it. One said, “If we’re going to make a run at this thing in 2010, how are we going to do it without Gil Meche?”
Meche is in the second season of a five-year contract for $55 million. He has struggled for much of this season and enters tonight’s start against Texas at 3-8 with a 5.54 ERA.
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/6568...
__________________________All right, all right, all right....
#11 Re: More pitchers - FA's
OH! Missed this one - thanks, LNL!
__________________________Disappointed by "Cubbery" since 1966
#7 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
here is a trade to beat around
cedeno,patterson,and pignatello
for
a.j. burnett and d. eckstein
eckstein to back up theriot free agent next year
burnett possible free agent.
comments
__________________________rokfish in rockford
#14 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
I cant see Toronto having much interest in Patterson as they have a 2b of the future in Aaron Hill and a load of OF talent. Pignatello at this point is a 26 yr old 4 A Loogy. I imagine in a trade for Burnett the Jays would want a combination of players that fix to sure up the left side of their IF, get a cheap pitcher who can hold down the 5 spot for them next year, a righty for lefty domiant bullpen, or power hitting 1b/DH guy. I could see something like:
Cedeno/Marshall/Ascanio for Burnett
As for backup SS I would rather get Aurilla as I want a solid RHPH more than a glove man out of that spot.
#9 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
Two posts about Jim Edmonds in a week!
__________________________That's Manila with an "L"
#12 Weathers
Does anyone else think that David Weathers would be a decent pick-up, especially if Marmol continues to struggle?
I know Weathers is nothing special, but he has been pretty solid over the last few seasons and may come cheap given that he is a FA after the season.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4718/career;_y...
__________________________All right, all right, all right....
#18 Re: Weathers
To me, Dave Weathers will always be right alongside McGriff as an emblem of the 2001 debacle. Maybe it's not rational, and Ruben Quevedo certainly didn't turn out to be any great shakes, but just the sight of him bothers me.
#13 Buster Olney was just on ESPN Radio
and is reporting the feeling among scouts on teams looking at Sabathia is that he has pitched his last game in an Indians uniform and that he will be a Brewer unless the Dodgers part with Matt Kemp in a deal. Personally I think a Either/Laroche or Hu/Meloan trade would be better than a Brewers deal without 2 of Escobar/Gamel/Laporta/Weeks.
#15 Re: Buster Olney was just on ESPN Radio
I can't believe the fucking Brewers are going to pull-in the big fish this trade season.
__________________________All right, all right, all right....
#16 Re: Buster Olney was just on ESPN Radio
Hendry never quite got his priorities straight. I'd rather have a CC Sabathia than SOREiano.
#19 Re: Buster Olney was just on ESPN Radio
Hendry never quite got his priorities straight. I'd rather have a CC Sabathia than SOREiano.
How is Soriano preventing us from getting C.C.?
This isn't about the cash, it's about the prospects.
Bitch all you want about Soriano (although I disagree), but I fail to see any connection with his signing and acquiring C.C. at the '08 trade deadline. What am I missing?
__________________________All right, all right, all right....
#20 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
Well, that wasn't my point (I was talking about Hendry's screwed up priorities that left us with a hole in centerfield, now filled, and a need for another frontline starter if we're serious about winning the division), but do you really think we'd go to the bother of obtaining Sabathia and then not pay him? -- just let him walk? Knowing Hendry he'd want someone he could re-sign.
And if you recall, it was the glaring hole in center that prompted Lou to try Soriano out there and he injured himself. Hasn't really been the same since.
April 16, 2007
Shortly after rejecting Cubs manager Lou Piniella's offer to switch from center field to left, Alfonso Soriano was forced to leave Monday's game against the Padres with a strained left hamstring.
#21 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
First, correlation does not equal causation. Second, if your quote is correct, why blame Pinella when Soriano refused to leave CF?
#22 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
Sorry you didn't understand anything I said.
#23 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
well CF was taken care of...pie + RH platoon/hitting mate...plans were also made giving e.patterson and cedeno CF time both last year and during the winter.
yes, YOU think pie sucks. big deal.
yes, pie wasn't up to it...yes, something was done to patch it...yes, it's not been much of a hole all year.
this isn't much of a new or unique thing for GMs to move on. hendry's made way bigger mistakes than giving a shot to a .300+ hitting AAA 23 year old and a "vet" backup. so have many GMs. what genius is supposed to move in and make every right move anyway? if you really need the best of everything money can buy there's some teams in the north-east really into that. most of the other teams have to work with payroll, and therefore talent, restrictions.
#24 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
Funny... because it seems like people often don't understand what you say.
So either you are too smart for the rest of us, or you should start making sense.
__________________________Ranting my "assinine" "socialist drivel" on TCR since 2003.
#25 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
Sorry you are not really clear when you write things. The only thing I consistently get from your posts is that you are negative.
#27 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
Negitivator, are you Silent Towel?
__________________________"Enjoy every sandwich." -Warren Zevon
#28 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
The spirit that is Silent Towel left w/ Mark Prior to San Diego, but I wouldn't put it past him if he hitched back to Chicago on the back of Jimmy Edmonds.
__________________________That's Manila with an "L"
#29 Re: Soriano preventing, not about cash, about prospects
Nah... Negitivator = CWTP. He just likes to change his name every year or two.
__________________________Ranting my "assinine" "socialist drivel" on TCR since 2003.
#17 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
Ugh the priority was to improve the offense over the last couple years. Remember the lean years with top free agents and the Cubs coming up with nothing? Yeah we kinda of changed that the last 2 years getting Soriano and Fuku.
And bitch about Soriano all you want, he single handedly put us in the playoffs last year and is a big reason we are 20 games over .500 now. He is an elite impact player on offense. And this team misses his bat in the lineup a great deal.
#26 Re: Jim Edmonds Makes Sense of Ozzie Guillen
Don't forget that the commenter also obsesses with the W/L records on the team's minor league clubs. If a club's doing poorly, then Hendry sucks. If they're doing well, so what?