Article on Jerome Williams

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

I found this article on Williams and his prospects for the rotation in the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

 

Williams seems to realize that he is not guaranteed a spot.

 

"Hopefully, I can contribute," he said the other day sitting in front of his locker in the Cubs' clubhouse here. "I think we have a great staff and if we remain healthy, we'll go somewhere. I'm not guaranteed a spot in the rotation until I prove myself."

 

Rothschild indicates that Williams spot in the rotation is up to Williams.

 

"He shows us the ability to throw strikes any time in the count," said Larry Rothschild, Chicago's pitching coach. "He has a high level of concentration on every pitch, and that's something we like. Because of his experience, he has an excellent chance to be in the rotation. The ball is really in his court."

 

Nice closing quote here:

 

"I would like to pick up here where I left off at the end of last season," said Williams, who went 2-3 after Sept. 1 but fashioned a 2.40 ERA. "I feel I'm still learning, always thinking and always growing. My goal is just to be consistent, and be healthy."

 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm sure we'd all like him to come back the way he finished the season. That would be 4 pretty damn good starters with our 5th being a future HOFer. I'll take that.

[CoolHandLuke]

How the heck did we get this guy for Latroy?

[goonys evil twin]

How the heck did we get this guy for Latroy?

 

Jim Hendry is the best GM in baseball.

 

 

 

(plus JW was far too young to fit in with his old teammates)

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

I know you are being sarcastic, but he IS the best trading GM in baseball. BTW, don't worry, were aren't trading Williamson for Graffanino. That would be stupid, even for Trader Jim.

[Coach C]

I like this Williams kid. He'd make a good solid 4th or 5th man in my opinion, and that he is young (26 I believe?)

 

I wonder, is this the first ST that he showed up in at least good condition/shape, unlike years past due to personal reasons?

 

Oh, and that one game where he pitched (St. Louis? Can't remember what team it was.), where he had his asthma problems, but somehow managed to pitch six innings, or something like that.

 

That was impressive.

[treebird]

I know you are being sarcastic, but he IS the best trading GM in baseball.

 

i know what you're saying, that's why i was so upset when jim let andy macphail make the juan pierre trade.

[goonys evil twin]

I like this Williams kid. He'd make a good solid 4th or 5th man in my opinion, and that he is young (26 I believe?)

 

24 until December.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I like this Williams kid. He'd make a good solid 4th or 5th man in my opinion, and that he is young (26 I believe?)

 

Even better -- he's only 24.

 

Edit: Dammit, goony!

[jjgman21]

I know you are being sarcastic, but he IS the best trading GM in baseball.

 

i know what you're saying, that's why i was so upset when jim let andy macphail make the juan pierre trade.

 

please elaborate. was there some indication that MacPhail took the GM reigns back for that trade, or are you just being the trickster?

[YearofDaCubs]

I know you are being sarcastic, but he IS the best trading GM in baseball. BTW, don't worry, were aren't trading Williamson for Graffanino. That would be stupid, even for Trader Jim.

Best GM trader in baseball? I highly doubt it. My money would be on Shapiro in Cleveland.

[Tim]

I know you are being sarcastic, but he IS the best trading GM in baseball. BTW, don't worry, were aren't trading Williamson for Graffanino. That would be stupid, even for Trader Jim.

Best GM trader in baseball? I highly doubt it. My money would be on Shapiro in Cleveland.

A strong case could be made for Jocketty with his history of getting guys below market value and then keeping them for a below market price. Schuerholtz has a strong track record of knowing who to keep and who to trade away.

[anemic offense]

I know you are being sarcastic, but he IS the best trading GM in baseball. BTW, don't worry, were aren't trading Williamson for Graffanino. That would be stupid, even for Trader Jim.

Best GM trader in baseball? I highly doubt it. My money would be on Shapiro in Cleveland.

 

That's like comparing apples to oranges. Not that Shapiro isn't a fantastic GM, but he was in a much different situation when he made those trades. Aside from Marte, Shapiro hauled his current lot when he dismantled the team 4-5 years ago. Conversely, Hendry has had to try to make trades while maintainging a winning ballclub. For the most part, I think Jim has made more fantastic trades than not, especially when evaluating based on what was known at the time instead of hindsight hindsight (Nomah).

 

IMO, the GMs who have can juggle maintaining a winning team and making trades at the same time are more impressive. As Tim said, the Schuerholz's and Jocketty's are probably at the top, along with Beane. Then there's the guys/teams who have done great jobs of dismantling teams while ensuring they get great talent in return, that is the Shapiros/Clevelands and the Marlins. I think they are two distinct groups until those in the latter can show they can do both at the same time.

[Coach C]

Ah, 24 years old. Even better.

[Ender]

As a Brewer fan I wouldn't trade Mevlin for any other GM. We seem to get 2-3 guys every year that come out of nowhere and put up solid numbers.

 

Podsednik, Clark, Turnbow, Davis, Kolb, Wise.

 

Not to mention the Sexson trade which has now brought us...

 

Bush, Capuano, Ohka, Jackson, Gross and De La Rosa.

[bmkhawk]

How the heck did we get this guy for Latroy?

 

Aardsma is nice to have as well.