Swisher deal is sweet
GENEVA — Phil Rogers overlooked some very important positives in his review of the Nick Swisher trade (Tribune, Jan 4).
*Swisher is only 27 years old, three years younger than Aaron Rowand and five years younger than Torii Hunter.
*He is signed through 2011 at a cost that saves the Sox about $50 million compared with what they might have signed either of those free agents for.
*Swisher has a better on-base percentage than either Hunter or Rowand, for his career and for 2007.
*He brings a positive, high-energy clubhouse presence, much the same as Rowand or Hunter would have.
*He has more versatility, playing all three outfield positions plus first base, and he bats from both sides.
There is no question the Sox gave up some very promising talent to get Swisher, but the bottom line is Kenny Williams made a deal for a guy who provides a long-term solution to a very real need. Furthermore, he can be used anywhere in the outfield, which is an added plus. I do not share the view that this move sold out the Sox’s future at all.
The Sox, I am certain, will use the freed-up payroll dollars at an appropriate time and are now in better position to compete in ’08.
Think spring!
— Andy Stavrou
Williams gets taken
CAROL STREAM — -So let’s see … Detroit trades its top prospects and in return gets two young All-Star players (Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis) and the Sox trade their top minor leaguers for Nick Swisher, a no-speed, high-strikeout, mediocre player. Sounds like a plan. Which one are we on now — Plan X or Y?
It’s amazing that the other GMs aren’t lined up outside of Kenny Williams’ office to see what other “After Christmas Sales” he has to offer.
I have never seen a GM continuously undervalue his team’s talent and overpay for mediocrity.
So much for adding speed and defense and building up the pitching staff (the bullpen in particular). Next week look for Williams to give away Josh Fields or Joe Crede for some team’s No. 10 prospect.
— Dan Romaniak
Greenstein underrates Kansas
CHICAGO — Every time the Trib’s Teddy Greenstein wrote or spoke of the University of Kansas’ football team this season, he always prefaced or qualified his statement with a remark questioning the Jayhawks’ quality. For example, in his bowl predictions, Greenstein wrote, “Congrats to Kansas for winning 11 games. Now let’s see if the Jayhawks, who got fat on victories over the likes of Florida International and Iowa State, can beat a quality opponent.”
My response: KU 24, Virginia Tech 21.
Anyone who watched the FedEx Orange Bowl had to come away knowing Mark Mangino is well deserving of his Coach of the Year accolades and that KU can indeed beat quality opponents.
— Mike Walsh
Pippen missing right stuff
CHICAGO — -Scottie Pippen might have been right with some of his criticism of the current Bulls (Tribune, Dec. 31), but I don’t see Pippen as a “people person,” one of the traits that goes into making a good head coach. And it doesn’t appear Pippen read any of the books Phil Jackson gave him or listened closely to what Jackson had to say when he played for him.
Jackson was quoted in the book, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Basketball,” as saying, “I like to bring a player to where he can see things for himself, to guide him there rather than have a direct confrontation. I don’t like to hit people over the head with a hammer.”
Pippen seems to want to use the opposite approach and put pressure on his players. And performing under direct pressure was never one of Pippen’s greatest attributes. Pippen was a great NBA player and Michael Jordan’s sidekick for six NBA titles. But when the pressure was too much for him, he developed migraine headaches or sat out for 1.8 seconds.
— Walter Brzeski
Pippen special on, not off court
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — -I enjoyed Rick Morrissey’s thought-provoking column on Scottie Pippen (“Yesterday’s Stars Just a Thing of the Past,” Tribune, Jan. 2). But to make his point, Morrissey glosses over the somewhat obvious issue of Pippen’s credibility as a critic.
Pippen is the guy who refused to take the court with 1.8 seconds remaining in a playoff game because he wasn’t going to get the chance to be the hero. He’s the guy who lost it and flung a chair completely across the court in a hissy fit over a ref’s call. He’s the guy who counter-productively contributed to making Toni Kukoc feel as unwelcome as possible when Kukoc joined the Bulls. He’s the guy who foolishly got hit with a silly weapons charge in suburban Highland Park. He’s the millionaire who found amusement in being known as “No-Tippin’ Pippen” for his inexcusable treatment of waiters and waitresses.
Pippen was a top 50 player. But the way he handled himself as a veteran who was clearly in position to influence younger teammates greatly diminishes the relevance of anything he has to say. What goes around comes around. If his feelings are hurt because nowadays his opinions are widely ignored, it’s Instant Karma and Just Desserts.
— Danny Kramer
Can’t any Bear think?
LAKE VILLA — The Bears’ season began with a mild furor over the alleged comment that Rex Grossman was a “mental midget.” It continued with a number of dubious coaching decisions and comments, and ended with Jerry Angelo sounding as much of a “mental midget” as anyone in assessing the season (Tribune, Jan. 4).
After watching the Bears throughout the season, the inability of the coaches to make adjustments, reduce penalties and not feature potent potential stars such as Devin Hester and Greg Olsen, it seems the “mental midget” tag directed at Grossman may in part be the product of his environment.
If Angelo is as confused about the direction of his team as he appears, he might want to consult with Dennis Green for some help in finding out exactly what makes these Bears ” … what we thought they were.”
— Don Pawl
Orton has earned chance
NEW LENOX — The Bears may already have their quarterback. Lovie, just because the kid looks like “Papa Smurf” doesn’t mean he can’t play. I think Kyle Orton has earned the right to compete for the job.
— Dave Baron
Good riddance, Lance
WEST FRANKFORT — To quote Jack Lemmon’s Shelly Levine in “Glengarry GlenRoss,” Lance Briggs, “I’m done with ya.”
I always thought Briggs was overrated. A tackling machine yes, but a one-trick pony nonetheless and not worth $8 million per year with a huge signing bonus. I hope he enjoys his new mansion in Scottsdale. And his Lamborghini once it gets out of the body shop (but don’t forget your community service).
Briggs wants to be “the Man,” so off he goes. But being the man is more than having a lot of Benjamins, something his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, hasn’t learned either. When I see No. 55 on the Bears I think Doug Buffone or Otis Wilson, not Lance Briggs.
— Mike Klempin Jr.
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