I don't know where to put this.

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:51 pm

The real life White Sox, with their terrible 2007 bull pen, lost Fernando Hernandez in the Rule 5 draft. The IBC Mets, having created and signed him, then released him - signed him again early this morning as it was anticipated that he would get drafted. I have been ragging on the various White Sox blogs about how the White Sox could keep Andy Gonzalez (.185/.298/.247) on their 40 man roster and lose Hernandez.

Kevin Goldstein wrote this about the selection:

Athletics select RHP Fernandez Hernandez from the White Sox. Hernandez was considered the big name in the draft for many, so it was a surprise to see him fall this far. He had a good year at Double-A, as threw especially good for scouts in the Arizona Fall League, as he allowed just five hits in 12 2/3 AFL innings. Like many pitchers already discussed here, Hernandez is another one of those good breaking ball/average fastball relievers, though he does have some polish.

Chances To Stick: Good. The AÃs has a tendency to keep their Rule Five pitchers, although theyÃve rarely worked out for them on a long-term basis. Hernandez has a better chance to do that as opposed to Mike Neu or Jay Marshall.

The selection was a no-brainer. Bryan Smith wrote this yesterday in BP:

If there is one near-certainty for the 2007 Rule 5 Draft, it is that Fernando Hernandez is going to be drafted. After the draft, then, Kenny Williams should be forced to answer why the Sox believed Cole Armstrong or Lucas Harrell were more likely to be taken in the draft. I donÃt want to beat a dead horse, but letÃs reiterate what I touched on last week: good command, good endurance, good change, and a current 20 1/3 inning scoreless streak.

Even Rotoworld picked up on the selection:

Hernandez had a 3.06 ERA and an 84/23 K/BB ratio in 85 1/3 IP for Double-A Birmingham. He then went and pitched 12 2/3 scoreless innings in the AFL. The White Sox weren't thrilled about his arm strength, but he could be valuable in middle relief right away.

I just don't understand Kenny Williams thinking on this ...

Rangers · Post by **Rangers** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:56 pm

I've been curious why you called yourself an unabashed believer in him. He made a couple of pretty good moves, such as being one claim spot ahead of my Rangers for Jenks (and the Rangers were placing a claim), in the leadup to their WS, but I've found so much of what he's done iffy.

Giants · Post by **Giants** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:13 am

Blind faith in thanks of a World Series I think. In the NFL the Bucs are experiencing the same thing with Jon Gruden.

Padres · Post by **Padres** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:14 am

Tigers wrote:I've been curious why you called yourself an unabashed believer in him. He made a couple of pretty good moves, such as being one claim spot ahead of my Rangers for Jenks (and the Rangers were placing a claim), in the leadup to their WS, but I've found so much of what he's done iffy.

Certainly delivering a World Series championship is a large factor ... like most White Sox fans winning the World Series in 2005 was something I relished and something that I thought might never occur in my lifetime.

He has earned my respect as he is a stand-up guy. As one White Sox blogger recently wrote, "One of the things I appreciate about Williams, as somebody who follows the team fairly closely, is that he doesn't lie outright (in matters not pertaining to Scott Boras). At most, he'll be less than forward, and at least that's easy to spot -- he'll leave himself outs the size of his Hummer." In Chicago sports this is a big deal as Chicago sports fans have had to deal with GMs and owners who were not real stand-up guys. Recent examples include William Wirtz - who ruined what was once a great franchise (the Blackhawks) and Jerry Krause (formerly with the Bulls).

I don't agree with every move Kenny Williams makes but I do honestly believe that he is trying to put the best product on the field that he can within the resources that he has available to him. I also believe that he has a "big picture" in mind so I try not to judge individual moves in as narrow a perspective as some critics do. As Kenny recently put it, "We've had a number of years where we've been in striking distance, and I'm disappointed we only won one division in the last seven years. So, I'm really more interested in the message being sent come June, July and August."

Finally, he is a fun guy in person. Some friends of mine come out from Illinois every year to attend the White Sox series against the Red Sox at Fenway. We spend time before every game on Yawkey Way. Every year he has met us prior to at least one of the games and spends 10, 15, 20 minutes with us talking (and listening) about the White Sox and their minor leaguers. It happened by chance once 6 years ago and has continued to occur ... he doesn't need to do that - but he does.

Royals · Post by **Royals** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:19 am

As a Sox fan, I can appreciate that level of gratitude by fans towards a GM who brought them a World Series.

Rangers · Post by **Rangers** » Sat Dec 08, 2007 12:58 am

Mets wrote:Certainly delivering a World Series championship is a large factor ... like most White Sox fans winning the World Series in 2005 was something I relished and something that I thought might never occur in my lifetime.

He has earned my respect as he is a stand-up guy. As one White Sox blogger recently wrote, "One of the things I appreciate about Williams, as somebody who follows the team fairly closely, is that he doesn't lie outright (in matters not pertaining to Scott Boras). At most, he'll be less than forward, and at least that's easy to spot -- he'll leave himself outs the size of his Hummer." In Chicago sports this is a big deal as Chicago sports fans have had to deal with GMs and owners who were not real stand-up guys. Recent examples include William Wirtz - who ruined what was once a great franchise (the Blackhawks) and Jerry Krause (formerly with the Bulls).

I don't agree with every move Kenny Williams makes but I do honestly believe that he is trying to put the best product on the field that he can within the resources that he has available to him. I also believe that he has a "big picture" in mind so I try not to judge individual moves in as narrow a perspective as some critics do. As Kenny recently put it, "We've had a number of years where we've been in striking distance, and I'm disappointed we only won one division in the last seven years. So, I'm really more interested in the message being sent come June, July and August."

Finally, he is a fun guy in person. Some friends of mine come out from Illinois every year to attend the White Sox series against the Red Sox at Fenway. We spend time before every game on Yawkey Way. Every year he has met us prior to at least one of the games and spends 10, 15, 20 minutes with us talking (and listening) about the White Sox and their minor leaguers. It happened by chance once 6 years ago and has continued to occur ... he doesn't need to do that - but he does.

Not to make light of those reasons, but being honest, sincere and fun are traits that I'm more interested in finding in a girlfriend than my major league baseball team's GM. I'd gladly take a boring, lying, shifty guy if he's really good at acquiring players, handling the immense organizational responsibility of running the entire baseball operations of a pro franchise, and putting together a roster.

Also, if we're looking at personal qualities, does the fact that he relentlessly hit on a woman close to his player/employee, then gets crossways with said player over it, bother you?

I will say, anyone who actually brought a WS championship to the Rangers would get a lot of leeway from me, even if luck played a major role. And that is really cool that he takes time out each year to meet with you guys.