ChicagoSportsBlogs : Non Compete

I was awoken from my train-sleep by MJ's txt message. It was a simple txt message. "Fox is reporting Sox got junior from Reds". I was surprised. This wasn't the move I expected Kenny Williams to make at this year's deadline. I was hoping for a pitcher. I'm always hoping for a pitcher. If you were a betting man, you'd say an extra arm is exactly what the White Sox need. You would have been right on that bet. It's pretty simple. Contreras, Linebrink, and Jenks have either seen the DL or are currently sitting on it. Javi Vazquez hasn't exactly been himself either. Buehrle and Gavin Floyd (nice win yesterday GF) have carried the team since the All-Star break. Danks hasn't been bad, but I just watched him throw a meatball  to Morneau to give up another 4 run lead in Minnesota. (God I hate the Twins) So yea....I think we needed an arm.

That's not to say I don't like KGJ. Junior is a Hall of Famer. He is the most prolific, and most likely CLEAN home run hitter I have seen in my lifetime. He is a stand up guy, who doesn't come with any baggage. Well, he travels to Chicago with empty bags that both the White Sox and the Reds have to fill with cash thanks to an ENORMOUS contract.  The Sox gave up Masset and Richar for KGJ. That's the preverbial "sack of baseballs". Then again, Griffey is 38 years old and there is no place to put him.

You have to ask, does this move make any sense for the White Sox? Does it solidify our position as the team to beat in the AL Central? The answer is resounding NO. I don't understand this move. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. I am sort of indifferent to it. I think my pal Zorio summed it up best when he sent this gem out on our daily email thread:

Kenny Williams was infatuated with Griffey 2-3 years ago and tried to trade for him then. Dude has fallen off considerably since then (substance free). The Reds took him out of everyday centerfield for a reason- because he's in his late 30s. I think it's much ado about nothing. Limited downside, and I s'pose only good can come of it. Williams' mental masturbation becomes reality and he can claim that he "made moves" to improve the ballclub. Griffey can still hit, but he does strike out a lot more- it'll be interesting if Guillen sticks him into front of Dye in the batting order.

And there it is, yet another attempt by Kenny Williams to show he is "active" and still a mad genious. I agree with assesment completely. I don't think we have anywhere to put Griffey. He will most likely do exactly what Z described above. He plays some DH, and maybe center field and Konerko's time is split with Swisher at first. So I'll leave you with a question Sox fans:

Which old man pick up is going to be more important down the stretch? The Cub's Jim Edmonds or the Sox and Ken Griffey Jr. ??

You decide. (and yea, Edmonds just hit another home run as you were reading this)

GO-GO-WHITE SOX!