RudyLawRules

I knew he played at OSU, but didn't realize he started and set a Cotton Bowl record for passing in 2003. Old, but great article. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/bas...te-fields_x.htm Okla. State's Josh Fields to face tough decision soon Oklahoma State's Josh Fields, center, celebrates his two-run homer against Texas in the Big 12 tournament on Saturday. The Cowboys won 8-2. By LM Otero, AP By Jack Carey, USA TODAY Imagine Frank Anderson's trepidation last fall as he'd watch Oklahoma State quarterback Josh Fields drop back to pass. Anderson was about to embark on his first season as OSU baseball coach, but his concern went beyond that of a fan who just didn't want to see the quarterback sacked. Way beyond. Fields, understand, is Oklahoma State baseball's meal ticket. A third baseman projected to be a high pick in next week's major league draft, Fields is that rare college athlete who not only plays two sports but is among the best at both. So, while Fields was busy lofting touchdowns to All-American Rashaun Woods and helping lead the team to the Cotton Bowl, Anderson was reaching for the antacid. "He'd get hammered sometimes," Anderson recalls. "You don't want to see him go down." Fields emerged upright after setting a Cotton Bowl record with 307 passing yards against Mississippi, so a little more than a month later, he was batting third as the Cowboys opened the baseball season. Now as they begin play in the NCAA tournament, Fields is hitting a team-best .370 and has 10 home runs, 20 doubles and 47 RBI with a slugging percentage of .596 and an on-base percentage of .472. The Cowboys won the Big 12 tournament last weekend as Fields posted a .941 slugging percentage in four games. They open NCAA regional play Friday against Central Florida in Tallahassee, Fla. "Right from his freshman year, he showed things that you don't see from many other kids," says Anderson, who as the former pitching coach at Big 12 rival Texas used to always be wary of Fields' spot in the order. "A lot of teams pitch around him. He's just a great competitor and has a high level of skill." Fields' calendar-clogging double duty, however, might soon be a thing of the past. Baseball America magazine rates Fields as the fifth-best position prospect in the draft. He did not participate in spring football this year after spending the previous two springs working with the football team and playing baseball. "He may have a great opportunity presented to him by Major League Baseball, and we'll defer to any decision he and his family might make," says football coach Les Miles. "We are frankly all for him to take advantage of the best opportunity. We were for that when we recruited him, and that's still the way it is." Josh Fields passed for 2,494 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2003. By Joe Rickets, AP file The Cowboys would turn to Donovan Woods, Rashaun's brother, or Bobby Reid at quarterback if Fields departs. It won't be easy, however, for Fields to cut the cord that connects to the gridiron. "It would be very hard not to play football," says Fields. "But there's always a life to live out there, too. I don't know what to expect, but if everything happens for the best and we think (a baseball contract offer) is fair, I would sign and go out quickly to play. If not, there's still football." Fields said it is unlikely he would play pro baseball this season and then return to OSU for football. "If a baseball team just wants you to concentrate on one sport and give up football, I think they make it pretty obvious they'd want you to do it." The two-sport situation has been with Fields for years, as a dilemma as well as a delight. "One Christmas," recalls his father, Wendall Fields, "he came home and said, 'All I do is go to school and play ball.' But then he looked up and said, 'What else would you want to do?' " Fields started playing T-ball at age 6, but didn't start playing competitive football until seventh grade. "My parents didn't want me to get burned out playing both sports," he says. He starred in both at Stillwater (Okla.) High and was recruited in both by schools such as Oklahoma, Arizona State and Arkansas as well as OSU. However, schools other than Oklahoma State soon began telling him he probably would have to pick one sport. The opportunity to play both pushed him toward OSU, where his mother, Rhonda, a former basketball player, had been the school's first female scholarship athlete. "I didn't really know if he realized, at that level, what it would take to play two sports," says Rhonda Fields, who played at OSU from 1978-80 and now coaches basketball at Stillwater High. "But I know my son, and I know he's pretty determined. "I wanted to make sure he went into this with his eyes open." After he had signed a football letter-of-intent with OSU three years ago, baseball teams shied away from drafting him out of high school. The disappointment lingered, but college gave Fields the opportunity to prove he could excel at both games. Says Fields: "It was always a big deal to me to try and play both sports. It would have been very tough to have to pick one." But playing both has been tough at times, too. "Mentally, it can wear you down," he says. "Football, especially, is so big in Oklahoma. Dealing with the media, dealing with your sport and going from one to the next, you have to clear your mind. "Once you cross the white lines and get out on the field, they're the same games you've always played, but off the field, in college, it's different." There were times he wondered if it was all worth it. "It's real tough with no break," he says. "You'd have a nine-inning baseball game then run up the street, put your pads on and go to practice with maybe a Gatorade in between, and you start to wonder. "It was emotionally taxing." But the rewards of doing both can be most satisfying and uplifting, he says. "They're different disciplines, and that's what I like about both," Fields says. "If I was struggling with my hitting, I could have a good football practice and that would help me have a more positive attitude toward baseball. If I'd throw a couple of interceptions, I could go to baseball and hear how excited my teammates were about what was happening. That would get me excited again for football. So they both helped me out." That's another reason it would be hard to leave one behind. "I've got some big decisions ahead, but I'm trying to enjoy the moment. Because I'm fortunate to be in this position." "He's been up to the task," says Wendall Fields. "I think 20 years from now, he'll really be able to understand what he's been able to accomplish."

Canseco sought investment from Ordonez to keep name 'clear' in book Associated Press http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3211598 Updated: January 24, 2008, 9:52 AM ET Comment Email Print NEW YORK -- Jose Canseco offered to keep Magglio Ordonez "clear" in his upcoming book if the Detroit Tigers outfielder invested in a movie project promoted by Canseco, The New York Times reported Wednesday night. The newspaper cited "a person in baseball with knowledge of the situation" in a report on its Web site and said four people in baseball, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Major League Baseball referred the matter to the FBI. Ordonez decided not to go forward with a complaint, so the FBI didn't open a formal investigation, the newspaper said. Ordonez spoke to Tigers president Dave Dombrowski, who contacted MLB. "I didn't want to press charges against him," Ordonez was quoted as saying. "I don't want any problems. He is probably desperate for money. I don't understand why he is trying to put people down." Ordonez, teammates with Canseco on the 2001 Chicago White Sox, said Canseco didn't specifically ask him for cash. "One of Jose's friends was leaving me messages," Ordonez was quoted as saying. "I told Dombrowski because I didn't know why he was calling me." Canseco told the paper that neither he nor any associate asked Ordonez for money in exchange for avoiding mention in "Vindicated," which is scheduled for publication March 31. "Absolutely not," Canseco was quoted as saying. Canseco said he unsuccessfully attempted to reach Ordonez. Canseco refused to say whether he would implicate Ordonez with performance-enhancing drug use in the book. Scott Boras, Ordonez's agent, filed a complaint with the FBI after Canseco spoke with a Boras employee and said Ordonez would be "clear" if the outfielder invested in the movie project, the newspaper said. Last year, Canseco was reportedly trying to put together a movie based on "Juiced," his 2005 book that implicated Mark McGwire and Jason Giambi, among others, in the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Ordonez was not implicated in the Mitchell report on drugs in baseball or in Canseco's first book. Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

QUOTE(daa84 @ Jan 5, 2008 -> 04:25 PM) the guy from WSI was spot on during the last trade the sox made, he broke the news online like 2 hours before anyone else had...i think it was teh cabrera deal, or maybe it was the quentin deal, i cant rememer which it was Are you referring to Rockabilly? Hmmm.

Does everyone have a friend in a MLB front office? lol. From Rockabilly on WSI...

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 05:11 PM) Well, if we're doing the hole hindsight thing, I'd really love the guy who went 2 picks after Casey Rogowski. Oh mylanta...I never knew that Pujols was taken then. I think I'm going to boot now.

QUOTE(BearSox @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 05:09 PM) well, generally teams don't get 5 first round picks... so it is a bit of a bad comparison... Looking back at the 02 draft, James Loney would be sweet to have right now. True...just amazed at how they hit a homerun with those picks. I see that in 2006 Joba Chamberlain went 12 picks after Kyle McCulloch.

QUOTE(NCsoxfan @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 04:38 PM) or for those of you who are too lazy.... Craig Hansen, Ellsbury, Bucholz, Jed Lowrie, Michael Bowden In the FIRST round White sox just need to reload in a BIG way That's friggin' unreal...ALL in ONE round of ONE year and we have trouble getting a few picks to stick over a 5 year span.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jan 4, 2008 -> 04:07 PM) It's no exact science. Mark Buehrle went in something like the 36th round. I believe when we took Ring we also passed on Joe Blanton. Yep. Joe Blanton is the last of the "Moneyball" players from that draft. Only a matter of time before he's dealt. Would've been nice if KW somehow had him a part of the deal. Of course we had no prospects left to add. lol.

Check the below list to see how 2002 picks stack up against each other at present. It doesn't seem to be a science as we passed up Matt Cain for gulp...Royce Ring. Heck, the Reds had the #3 pick overall and he's in "A" ball still. They passed on Prince Fielder, Khalil Greene, Cole Hamels, Jeff Franceour, Jeremy Hermida, Scott Kazmir. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/draft/2002/Round-1-1.shtml

How apropo that KW puts and end to MoneyBall... http://www.mercextra.com/blogs/kawakami/20...-draft-of-2002/

lol http://www.nickswisher.net/

By raiderjohn (65.168.177.49) on Thursday, January 03, 2008 - 02:23 pm: God, this guy is the difference for a championship team. The guy leaves it all out on the field. He's confident, but down to earth, he'll crack open a beer with you and talk with you like you've known each other for years, he's a regular guy, blue collar, hard worker, says it like it is. He'll go crashing through a wall to catch a fly ball. Having broken in with Kendall and Kotsay, the kid learned to full tilt no matter what and that's why the fans love him. CWS fans got a treat for the upcoming year. I'm thinking play him in CF, given your lineup. Konerko/Thome takes those spots, dye is in right, that leaves Swish. I think he's better off in the corner spot though. Could also be a late inning replacement at 1B....but to maximize his bat, keep him at one spot, preferably the corner OF spot. Great pick up for the Sox.....in a tough division. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ By rayfossefan (75.25.46.108) on Thursday, January 03, 2008 - 01:28 pm: lamest trade ever. swish was a bit streaky but has huge upside and is a fan favorite and a star and face of this organization. are they trying their hardest to destroy their fan base before they move to freakmont?

It's funny how many on both sides say " we got f*cked". lol. Check some of these posts out...WOW. http://www.oaklandfans.com/discus/messages...html?1199401430

Cueto and Votto... http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2007/12/7/16485/6608 http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prosp...res/265231.html "Outfielder Jay Bruce became the first Cincinnati prospect to win Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award. He and first baseman Joey Votto should take up residence in the heart of the Reds' batting order in the very near future, while Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto are the organization's best pair of pitching prospects in several decades."

QUOTE(scenario @ Dec 6, 2007 -> 03:15 PM) I saw a Spanish speaking video of him on YouTube, hitting a homerun. He has that thin wiry Soriano type look about him. They sure like to celebrate HRs.

It's time to dust off the '05 World Series DVDs!! I still get chills watching them and they will help numb the pain.

QUOTE(Soxfest @ Dec 4, 2007 -> 08:31 AM) Sox do NOT have one untouchable prospect not a one, trade what you have to to get deal done! I agree. Heck, Cabrera is 6 months younger than Fields to boot. Ozzie had some strong words today on Miggy: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3140826 Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, who saw Cabrera in Miami on Sunday, said the third baseman "has lost about 15 pounds, maybe a little bit more," according to the Times. "If you see Miguel Cabrera now, you will be surprised." The White Sox and Angels are two teams that have shown interest in Cabrera, who hit .320 with 34 home runs and 119 RBIs last season for the Marlins. He has a career .313 batting average over five seasons with the Marlins, as well as a career .542 slugging percentage. But Cabrera, who was listed at 185 pounds when he was called up to the majors in 2003, played 2007 at about 255 pounds and made an NL-high 23 errors at third. Trainer Sean O'Brien, who has been working with Cabrera, didn't say how much weight he has lost. "But he's changing his body composition," O'Brien said, according to the Times. "He's leaner. He's combining weight loss with an increase in muscle mass." "I told the Marlins he's going to be in the best shape you've ever seen him in," Guillen said, according to the Times. "Whoever gets this guy is going to have a heck of a ballplayer with a different mentality. He's a big man and he has to take care of himself. ... He has the power and talent to be one of the best players ever."

I don't have a problem giving up either of those RPs for Burke. He seemed like a gamer back in '05 playoffs.

Hmmm...interesting how the Phillips blurb is gone now. I took a screen shot.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?...winter_meetings Ready, set, deal posted: Monday, December 3, 2007 | Print Entry filed under: MLB The winter meetings are under way, and there's a growing sense of excitement at the Opryland Hotel, which is a little bit reminiscent of Disneyland without the rides. The sprawling grounds include hanging gardens, rivers and waterfalls, and there are about five lobbies. Every one of them is starting to buzz as baseball folks -- front-office personnel, agents, scouts, league officials and media -- get down to business. Who will be the big winner in Nashville this week? The team that makes the highest-profile signing or blockbuster trade in December doesn't always win the rings in October. Who will fly in under the radar and improve their club most? Follow along throughout the day to find out the answers as our experts share what they're hearing and get the inside scoop on what's happening in Nashville. All times ET 11:44 p.m., from Steve Phillips • The Astros are considering dealing Chris Burke to the White Sox. 11:32 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick • Scott Boras has apparently recovered from the sting of losing longtime client Kenny Rogers. According to two sources at the winter meetings, Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury has dropped agent Joe Urbon and is now represented by Boras. Diamondbacks pitcher Micah Owings also recently signed on with Boras' group. • Agent Ryan Gleichowski said that David Eckstein is "completely open" to playing second base or shortstop with his next club. But Eckstein might have missed an opportunity when he failed to jump on a four-year offer from the Mets. With Mark Loretta on the market and Houston looking to trade Chris Burke, there are cheaper second-base options available. And teams in search of help at shortstop have the option of dealing for the White Sox's Juan Uribe, who's under contract for $4.5 million in 2008. Even Jack Wilson, who is owed $14.35 million from the Pirates over the next two seasons, could make less than the deal Eckstein reportedly wants. 8:28 p.m., from Amy Nelson • The Red Sox are interested in Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes, and Colorado could ask for Jed Lowrie in return, a baseball source says. Lowrie, a 23-year-old second baseman in Boston's system, was the 45th overall pick in the 2005 draft (out of Stanford) and has been rumored in other trade discussions. • The agent for Johan Santana was on the same flight from New York as Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Mets GM Omar Minaya. All that was missing were Twins GM Bill Smith and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein to hammer out a deal. 7:35 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick • The Phillies and Rays both spoke with Damon Lapa, the agent for free-agent outfielder Geoff Jenkins. It's not a strong year for left-handed hitting corner men -- with Trot Nixon, Shawn Green, Cliff Floyd, Brad Wilkerson and Luis Gonzalez as the other main options -- so Jenkins is getting considerable play. "We expect multiple multiyear offers," Lapa said. San Diego and Texas are among the other clubs keeping tabs on Jenkins. • Barry Praver, the agent for free-agent starter Carlos Silva, arrived at the Opryland this afternoon after attending Silva's wedding in Venezuela over the weekend. Now Praver and his partner, Scott Shapiro, will try to negotiate a four- or five-year deal for Silva for more than $10 million annually. Silva and Kyle Lohse might have to wait for the Johan Santana, Dan Haren and Erik Bedard sweepstakes to play out before teams start getting serious. 7:12 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick • The Reds need pitching, but they don't have a lot of money left after signing closer Francisco Cordero to a five-year deal. So Cincinnati is talking trade with a bunch of teams here in Nashville and using some of its young position players as bait for a starter. Jay Bruce is out of the question, and Joey Votto would be tough to get, but the Reds are listening on third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and center fielder Josh Hamilton. The Cubs are a natural fit for Hamilton, but Sean Marshall isn't likely to get it done. One possible fit for Encarnacion: the Giants, who may need a third baseman if incumbent Pedro Feliz declines the team's salary arbitration offer. • Chris Capuano-for-Scott Rolen trade talk is alive and well at the Opryland Hotel. But the Brewers are wary of Rolen's medical reports, and they would have to pick up a significant chunk of the $36 million left on Rolen's contract over the next three years. Given the hard feelings that exist between Rolen and St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, Rolen probably wouldn't be averse to waiving his no-trade clause. "It hasn't gotten any better," one person with the Cardinals said of the Rolen-La Russa dynamic. 6:27 p.m. Jayson Stark • Free agent Marcus Giles has attracted interest from the Rockies and Mariners. Colorado is trying to sign Mark Loretta to replace Kaz Matsui, and Giles is one of their fallback options if they lose out on Loretta. Seattle would be interested if it trades Jose Lopez. 6:18 p.m. • The White Sox will play the Mets in the second annual civil rights exhibition game on March 29 in Memphis at AutoZone Park, home of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. 6:16 p.m., Jayson Stark • The Reds have asked the Marlins about Dontrelle Willis. But a deal between those two teams is unlikely. The Marlins are still placing a high price tag on Willis, so they no doubt would ask the Reds for their best young pitcher, Homer Bailey, plus one more player. And the Reds have little interest in moving Bailey. One baseball man who spoke to the Reds described their interest as "tire kicking." 4:25, from Keith Law • The Rays have traded Elijah Dukes to the Nationals for a player to be named. 3:09 p.m., from Steve Phillips • The Pirates and Indians are talking about a potential Jason Bay trade. Pittsburgh would get catcher Kelly Shoppach and left-hander Cliff Lee for the two-time All-Star. • It seems more and more likely that Erik Bedard will get dealt. Suitors are lining up for the ace left-hander. • Japanese hurler Hiroki Kurada is getting a lot of attention from clubs as they hear the desires of Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva. 2:56 p.m., from Amy Nelson • A baseball source says 10-12 teams have inquired about Jason Jennings, who is recovering from elbow surgery. He will be throwing by spring training and be ready to pitch by the beginning of the season. • Steve Finley wants to play another season. The 42-year-old outfielder is in Nashville shopping his services and hopes to catch an opportunity. 2:12 p.m. • The Diamondbacks are close to trading Carlos Quentin to the White Sox for minor league first baseman Chris Carter, MLB.com reports. Carter was drafted out of Sierra Vista High School (Las Vegas) in the 15th round by Chicago in 2005 and is ranked among the White Sox's top 10 prospects by Baseball America. 1:33 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick • Now that one of Houston's free-agent targets, Randy Wolf, has signed a one-year contract with San Diego, the Astros could step up their pursuit of Jon Lieber. Ed Wade, Houston's new general manager, was in Philadelphia when Lieber won 17 games for the Phillies in 2005. Agent Rex Gary said eight or nine clubs have expressed interest in Lieber, who went 3-6 last season while making only 14 appearances because of a foot injury. • Don't be surprised if Washington general manager Jim Bowden moves one of his top relievers, Chad Cordero or Jon Rauch. There's a scarcity of closers on the market, and one agent who talked to Bowden recently said, "You can tell he's itching to get down to Nashville and do something." 1:15 p.m., from Jerry Crasnick • The Dodgers could be a player in the Andruw Jones market. One source in Nashville said Los Angeles has a two-year, $32 million offer on the table to Jones. Agent Scott Boras is believed to be seeking a deal similar to Torii Hunter's five-year, $90 million contract with the Angels, but that could be a challenge after Jones hit .222 with 26 homers for Atlanta in 2007. The Dodgers are interested in both Jones and Aaron Rowand, but only as relatively short-term signings. Barring a change of heart on the part of owner Frank McCourt and GM Ned Colletti, that probably means three years, max. • There are indications the Phillies might be willing to go to four years on Aaron Rowand -- or at least three years with a vesting option. Rowand, who hit 27 homers and drove in 89 runs for Philadelphia this season, is looking for a five-year contract. The Phillies offered Rowand salary arbitration to assure themselves of draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere. But Rowand is generating enough interest on the market that he'll almost certainly decline the offer. 1:08 p.m., from Buster Olney • There are whispers that the Twins might decide to hold onto Johan Santana. With a healthy Francisco Liriano alongside him in the rotation, Minnesota would have a fearsome 1-2 punch. If the Twins do some big things in '08, they could find a way to re-sign Santana. If not, they could move him in July, as long as he decides to waive his no-trade clause, but that is no guarantee.

I like this deal. A few short years ago, Quentin was all the rage in the Dbacks system. After scouring news sources, many around the league considered him an attractive part of any deal involving the Dbacks getting a quality pitcher at the meetings. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-h...o&type=lgns IMO, Chris Carter won't become the next Chris Young.

Appears the Dbacks were considering Quentin a possible chip in the Santana sweepstakes. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/103265 The D-Backs’ primary trade chips are right fielders Carlos Quentin and Carlos Gonzalez, who also played some center field at Double-A Mobile last season and is considered their best minor league prospect. It’s not that the D-Backs have grown weary of Quentin, nor are they uncertain of Gonzalez’s future. More than one front-office type believes both will be quality major league players. It is just that right field appears closed following the promotion of 20-year old Justin Upton, and the D-Backs have shown an aptitude for trading from surplus to address a perceived area of need.

I wonder what we'd have to give up for Bay. He had an off season last year by all accounts as he was on the verge of becoming a stud based on 2004-2006. Only makes $3.5M for now.

Losing Hunter, Sanatana and Nathan in the same off season possibly? No matter what young players they get...can they compete? http://www.twincities.com/ci_7575321?sourc...;nclick_check=1 Nathan on the block next? SHOOTER CHARLEY WALTERS Pioneer Press Article Last Updated: 11/27/2007 10:24:18 PM CST It will be surprising if the Twins, after losing center fielder Torii Hunter to the Los Angeles Angels, don't trade closer Joe Nathan, perhaps to the Milwaukee Brewers, in the coming weeks. The Twins also are expected to trade two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana before long, as well as lose starting pitcher Carlos Silva to free agency. Nathan's future in Minnesota became clearer last weekend when the Cincinnati Reds signed free-agent closer Francisco Cordero, formerly of the Brewers, for a guaranteed $46 million for four years in a deal that includes a $12 million, fifth-season option. Cordero is 32. Nathan, who can become a free agent after next season, turned 33 last week. Cordero had 44 saves for the Brewers last season; Nathan had 37 for the Twins. And it doesn't appear there will be an abundance of save opportunities for Nathan next season if he stays with Minnesota. Nathan is signed for a bargain $6 million for next season. But at his age, it's highly unlikely that the budget-conscious Twins would be willing to extend his contract for at least four years for $40 million, which appears to be his market value. With Milwaukee in the market for a top closer and apparently willing to pay $10 million a season, trade talks with the Twins could begin soon. The Twins would be expected to replace Nathan with Pat Neshek or Juan Rincon.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...6/monday.scoop/