Paul Konerko

Paul Konerko, Paul Konerko, first baseman for the Chicago Whitesox, will compete for first base. The powerful programming Whitesox just got more pop, with the signing of Adam Dunn (four years and $ 56 million) who also plays first base. However, Chicago general manager Kenny Williams said he hopes to bring Konerko back and have his bat in the lineup right even Dunn.
They would probably substitute the first designated hitter. “Not only is there room for it, this would be ideal from our point of view,” Williams said. “We can not get too far ahead of ourselves.” Paul Konerko was offered salary arbitration on November 23. He is looking for a big increase in its $ 12 million he earned in 2009. Last year, he posted a .312 batting average, hit 39 homers and has produced 111 runs.

Carlos Pena

Carlos Pena, Average sub-Mendoza, Carlos Pena in 2010 did not prevent the Chicago Cubs and to commit about U.S. $ 10 million for the first player.

The 32-year-old hit .196 with 28 homers and 84 RBIs with Tampa Bay last season signed a night with the Cubs.

At one point, the Blue Jays have been reported to be in Pena, even if it does not seem to have much substance.

However, signature does affect the rest of the market by taking the first base opening to other players.

The choice options on the level behind Peña stars Paul Konerko are Adam LaRoche and Derrek Lee.

However, Toronto does not absolutely need to sign a player starting first base that there is some interest in seeing what Adam Lind may be in position.

Another option would be to find a player to sign an agreement for the minor leagues with an invitation to training camp could be insurance if not Lind market.

Someone like Casey Kotchman or Willy Aybar could fit into this category.

This seems to be the Blue Jays plan to the recipient where they continue to explore options for joining the team.

As the Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said Tuesday he is a “priority” to give Triple-A MVP JP Arencibia a chance to win a big league job.

“JP was in Las Vegas two years away, it was a year huge, he has 25 years, we need to know about him,” said Anthopoulos. “And there are many things he needs to learn the major league level and the only way to learn is to read or at least around him. This does not mean it should be the starter.”

In the same breath, GM talked about the insurance position with a veteran, perhaps along the lines of Miguel Olivo. So if Arencibia is not ready to start in spring, the career backup Jose Molina is not the only option in Toronto.

But it does not seem that Montreal Russ Martin, the former Dodger loose cut after a season blighted by a broken hip.

Martin is commissioning would offer, but with the Yankees and the Red Sox two kicking the tires, it might be too costly for the Blue Jays.

As a former all-star who wants to prove he can catch again, 27 years is not likely to be an insurance policy for a 25-years.

In other news, the Angels seem to be blowing up the lead pack for Carl Crawford, but there are reports New York Yankees could be looking at whether they really think Cliff Lee will spin.

Obviously the best case for the Blue Jays would not face their enemy 18 times each year, if this could be the case if the Yankees Lee.

It could be a kind of pick your poison situation.

Camp Lee continues stringing along the talks, trying to make the most of suitors offering said to include the Yankees, Angels and Rangers.

Ron Santo Death

Ron Santo Death, Last night Ron Santo died. There was no other reason for him to spend much of his life attached to it despite living with type 1 diabetes. Not a consecration implored the Baseball Hall of Fame more than Santo, and he died this morning, without honor. For light, the Baseball Hall of Fame, and veteran member of the committee ignored him should be ashamed enormous.

For the decade of 1960, was the third baseman Santo best in baseball. He won the Gold Gloves, hit home runs (342 in his career), and press for the average (0.277). He led National League third basemen all relevant statistics defensive throughout the 1960s. He made nine All-Star Games, and always played with great passion and excitement. Santo, career stats are borderline SDA for the Hall of Fame in comparison with the other ten third basemen have already registered.

This brings him full extent, is that he has done all his health before flying four or five seasons of production. Had he been healthy and able to continue playing, there is little doubt he would have finished his career with 400 homers and 1,500 + RBI +. That would make him one of the two third basemen in baseball history to reach the plateau. Add to that his defensive excellence, durability (11 straight seasons with over 150 games played), and unbridled enthusiasm, and Santo is obvious.

All the guys wanted were the phone to ring with an invitation to Cooperstown for induction, but the veteran’s committee member has ever done that to happen. He, AOS even difficult to guess why. Perhaps four Hall of Fame of a team that never made the series seems excessive for them. Perhaps his best uniform was overshadowed by that of two Billy Williams and Ernie Banks. Maybe they have something against people with diabetes. Who knows?

The Baseball Writers Association of America (where the hell else is an association of baseball writers come from?) Who voted for the room during the 15 years of qualifying players has never been smarter. The threshold is a player to receive votes on 75% of the ballots. Santo received for only 40% in 1998, his final year on the ballot.

Ron Santo will go someday, but he won, AOT be there to experience the thrill of joining this fraternity. Nobody wanted more. And as the best third baseman in the game for a decade, he deserved this recognition. As a man has battled ill health to play first, then describe games for the Cubs, who have worked tirelessly to raise money and recognition for diabetes, it deserved more than this small cabal of men the veteran’s committee member was denied.

Wgn Radio , Ron Santo Passed Away at Age of 70

Wgn Radio, Ron Santo, former third baseman of the Chicago Cubs became a broadcaster for the team of Major League Baseball, died yesterday at age 70.

Santo death was confirmed at the site of WGN, where he worked as a radio analyst on Cubs games. Santo died in Arizona from complications of bladder cancer, he said.

“He loved the Cubs,” Pat Hughes, Santo broadcast partner, told the Chicago Tribune. “The Cubs have lost their biggest fan.”

Santo had a lifelong battle with diabetes, which included the amputation of both legs, but continued to work as radio analyst. WGN said he had been scheduled to return to the broadcast booth in 2011.

“It felt therapeutic attend games,” said Hughes. “He delighted in the right stand at the end.”

Santo played for the Cubs from 1960 to 1973 before joining the White Sox for one final season. At nine-time All-Star, he hit 0,277 during his 15-year career with 342 homers and 1,331 RBIs, and won five gold gloves Price on defense.

Santo is one of the leaders of the 1969 Cubs team that has undergone one of the biggest collapses in MLB history. Chicago led the National League East Division nine games in August before losing 26 of its final 43 games to finish eight games behind the Mets, who would win the World Series.

Radio Rookie

In 1990, Santo joined WGN radio flagship station of the Cubs, as an analyst. He missed several road trips last season.

Listening to Santo on Cubs game was like listening to the broadcast with your grandfather because Santo instinctive reaction, not an analysis of a game, “said Brad Zibung, founder and editor of The Heckler, a satirical publication and Web site primarily focused on sports teams in Chicago.

“I’ve always loved the emotion that came with his broadcasts,” Zibung, 34, said in a telephone interview.

Tom Ricketts, president of the Cubs, said he and his siblings learned from his work Santo radio, long before they bought the team.

“He was known for his passion, his loyalty, personal courage and his great sense of humor,” Ricketts said in a statement on the WGN site. “It was our great honor to know him personally in our first year as owners. Ronnie will forever remain the heart and soul of Cubs fans.”

Santo was up for appointment to the Baseball Hall of Fame 19 times without being selected. It is closest in 2007 when he fell five votes shy of the election of the hall’s Veterans Committee.