In my opinion, that short window you referred to has virtually closed.
Is there any real chance that A.J. will be sent to the Rangers, and if so, what would the Sox have to get in return for a guy who personifies the scrappy, beat you any way possible mentality that opponents hate and teammates hate and teammates hate little less, but the blue-collar base of White Sox fans love and appreciate? -- Al B; Montgomery, AL
I think there's a reasonable chance that A.J. gets traded before June 14. But the general manager won't give him away. He'll look to get two major league-ready players.
It's kind of ironic that the Sox play at Wrigley Field the evening of June 13. Can you imagine the scene if A.J. gets traded that night on national television?
I remember during the 2003 trading deadline that San Francisco made a trade for Sidney Ponson during a game at Wrigley Field, and two players were outside the ballpark trying to flag down a taxi while the game was being played.
I think A.J. will get quite a sendoff if he's dealt under these circumstances.
As I know baseball, your best or hottest hitter has always batted third in the lineup, which would be Rios. Beckham should be sent to the minors until he gets his stroke back. Bring up Lillibridge or Retherford. I fear that Quentin will turn out to be a one-year wonder; I hope I am wrong. Try to get Juan Uribe back to put some spark in the team. Teahen doesn't seem to be a good fielder. Don't trade Pierzynski. -- Le Roy Poellot; Rockford
Why not let Nix play second -- his best defensive position -- while Beckham gets his stroke back at Charlotte for two or three weeks?
I'm glad you mentioned Uribe. Although there are some fans who still hate him, there are many Sox players who miss him. More important, Uribe has turned out to be a solid super utility player with San Francisco, and past and present Giants players tell me how much they like and appreciate him on the field and in the clubhouse.
I wish that you would have injected into your latest "Ask Mark" column how Kenny Williams foolishly threw away Aaron Cunningham (no doubt because he lacks the power the Kenny craves in outfielders, just as he also threw away Ryan Sweeney who was of course part of the trade for useless goofball Swisher), for useless Danny Richar, then compounded that mistake by inexplicably trading potential stud first baseman Brandon Allen for equally useless Tony Pena. That's what's killing the White Sox farm system... i.e., reckless ill advised trades, not just trades for guys like Jake Peavy. Sending John Ely to the Dodgers in the Pierre deal instead of sending Josh Fields instead is just another example. Just because Ely doesn't throw 94+ mph, Kenny has no apparent use for him. Forget about the fact that the kids clearly learned to pitch with average stuff ... sort of sounds like a Mark Buehrle scouting report back in the day, doesn't it? I love Kenny's fire to win and propensity to make deals, but there are times when he seems to simply make really one-sided dumb deals just for the sake of making a deal too. Perhaps some Adderal (ADHD medication), could help him to focus more? -- Jack Lucas; Orange County, CA
Cunningham hasn't exactly torched major league pitching. He's currently batting .231 at Triple-A Portland. But Sweeney has developed into a steady right fielder for Oakland. I think Brandon Allen still has a chance to be a big-time run producer with Arizona, but he needed another year of seasoning at Triple-A Reno.
At one time, Pena was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Diamondbacks' organization. But I think he could be no more than a seventh-inning reliever.
Fields already was dealt before the Pierre trade, but you make a good observation about Ely. He does have a very good feel for pitching.
If this team keeps going south, the general manager might need something stronger than Adderal in a liquid form.
It was a thrill to hear "Wimpy" on the radio. He makes the game as fun as Harry did. Is there any chance of him returning for good? -- Bob Pistilli; Chicago
Tom Paciorek showed great enthusiasm getting the chance to fill in. And he got quite the chuckle when a media member in Detroit told him that her mother grew up with Paciorek.
I think Tom would love to fill in on an occasional basis. He enjoys spending time with his grandkids in the Atlanta area.
Which of the Sox's leaders have the necessary credentials to teach young players? It appears they were all mediocre players with little communication skills, and I never see then correcting a player's mistake. If these are the criteria, I am ready. -- Florida Jim; Viera, Florida
If you don't mind the long hours, I'd send your resume to Kenny Williams, in care of the White Sox.
How is C.J. Retherford doing in the minors? We seem to always here great things about him in spring training but never gets mentioned as a possible call up? -- Steve, Chicago
Is there any real chance that A.J. will be sent to the Rangers, and if so, what would the Sox have to get in return for a guy who personifies the scrappy, beat you any way possible mentality that opponents hate and teammates hate and teammates hate little less, but the blue-collar base of White Sox fans love and appreciate? -- Al B; Montgomery, AL
I think there's a reasonable chance that A.J. gets traded before June 14. But the general manager won't give him away. He'll look to get two major league-ready players.
It's kind of ironic that the Sox play at Wrigley Field the evening of June 13. Can you imagine the scene if A.J. gets traded that night on national television?
I remember during the 2003 trading deadline that San Francisco made a trade for Sidney Ponson during a game at Wrigley Field, and two players were outside the ballpark trying to flag down a taxi while the game was being played.
I think A.J. will get quite a sendoff if he's dealt under these circumstances.
As I know baseball, your best or hottest hitter has always batted third in the lineup, which would be Rios. Beckham should be sent to the minors until he gets his stroke back. Bring up Lillibridge or Retherford. I fear that Quentin will turn out to be a one-year wonder; I hope I am wrong. Try to get Juan Uribe back to put some spark in the team. Teahen doesn't seem to be a good fielder. Don't trade Pierzynski. -- Le Roy Poellot; Rockford
Why not let Nix play second -- his best defensive position -- while Beckham gets his stroke back at Charlotte for two or three weeks?
I'm glad you mentioned Uribe. Although there are some fans who still hate him, there are many Sox players who miss him. More important, Uribe has turned out to be a solid super utility player with San Francisco, and past and present Giants players tell me how much they like and appreciate him on the field and in the clubhouse.
I wish that you would have injected into your latest "Ask Mark" column how Kenny Williams foolishly threw away Aaron Cunningham (no doubt because he lacks the power the Kenny craves in outfielders, just as he also threw away Ryan Sweeney who was of course part of the trade for useless goofball Swisher), for useless Danny Richar, then compounded that mistake by inexplicably trading potential stud first baseman Brandon Allen for equally useless Tony Pena. That's what's killing the White Sox farm system... i.e., reckless ill advised trades, not just trades for guys like Jake Peavy. Sending John Ely to the Dodgers in the Pierre deal instead of sending Josh Fields instead is just another example. Just because Ely doesn't throw 94+ mph, Kenny has no apparent use for him. Forget about the fact that the kids clearly learned to pitch with average stuff ... sort of sounds like a Mark Buehrle scouting report back in the day, doesn't it? I love Kenny's fire to win and propensity to make deals, but there are times when he seems to simply make really one-sided dumb deals just for the sake of making a deal too. Perhaps some Adderal (ADHD medication), could help him to focus more? -- Jack Lucas; Orange County, CA
Cunningham hasn't exactly torched major league pitching. He's currently batting .231 at Triple-A Portland. But Sweeney has developed into a steady right fielder for Oakland. I think Brandon Allen still has a chance to be a big-time run producer with Arizona, but he needed another year of seasoning at Triple-A Reno.
At one time, Pena was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Diamondbacks' organization. But I think he could be no more than a seventh-inning reliever.
Fields already was dealt before the Pierre trade, but you make a good observation about Ely. He does have a very good feel for pitching.
If this team keeps going south, the general manager might need something stronger than Adderal in a liquid form.
It was a thrill to hear "Wimpy" on the radio. He makes the game as fun as Harry did. Is there any chance of him returning for good? -- Bob Pistilli; Chicago
Tom Paciorek showed great enthusiasm getting the chance to fill in. And he got quite the chuckle when a media member in Detroit told him that her mother grew up with Paciorek.
I think Tom would love to fill in on an occasional basis. He enjoys spending time with his grandkids in the Atlanta area.
Which of the Sox's leaders have the necessary credentials to teach young players? It appears they were all mediocre players with little communication skills, and I never see then correcting a player's mistake. If these are the criteria, I am ready. -- Florida Jim; Viera, Florida
If you don't mind the long hours, I'd send your resume to Kenny Williams, in care of the White Sox.
How is C.J. Retherford doing in the minors? We seem to always here great things about him in spring training but never gets mentioned as a possible call up? -- Steve, Chicago
