SoxFan562004

QUOTE (dpd9189 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 08:05 PM) We'll agree to disagree. Pinerio is 9-9 this year, Lohse hasn't been very good and Wellenmeyer flat out sucks. I'd take anyone on the Cubs staff over Pinerio too. Thought I'm not fond of the Cubs, I'll give them their due when it comes to starting pitching....they're pretty good and that staff has kept them in it when they weren't hitting for over 2 months. They really should be about 10 games out because of their season long power outage. As impressive as the DeRosa and Holiday moves were for the Cards O, they still have major pitching concerns. Aside from their top 2 and Franklin as their closer, nothing else is impressive. They're very similar to last years Brewers. They got a squad that can get to the post-season just not very far unless they get some more pitching help. Like I said with the Cliff Lee trade I think the NL is a one horse race right now. You can have your Dodgers, Cards, Cubs, Rox, whoever....Philly is head and shoulders the best team in the NL and maybe the league. ? win loss records often don't reflect how well a pitcher is throwing.

watching MLB Network, they're stressing that this deal likely won't be finalized until tomorrow because Knapp currently has a sore shoulder (as noted in the content of the first post), so the Indians might want a little extra time

Fedor update.... more reports from M-1 saying a deal isn't close and the LA reporter who made the initial report on his Twitter said they are still in heavy/complicated negotiations and if it gets done probably won't be by Friday. Fedor has a teleconference in a few here to speak about his future... I would guess it will be pretty generic since it seems like they're working on things... would be suprised, but not shocked, if he says he's fighting onthe Strikeforce card in a few weeks against Werdum

Thank God Lee is out of the division and the American league

QUOTE (JDsDirtySox @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 01:32 PM) If Thornton is back... Colon is headed to the DL. Richard is back in the rotation... and Williams is the second lefty out of the pen. Man we need to make some moves. I don't care if we buy or sell... I would prefer to sell... but just don't keep what we have going on here. yeah, this year is a little unique though since the Sox have a lot of money coming off the books and a better farm system than they've had in awhile. I think the org will stand pat and hope Q produces and the pen turns it around because the Twins and Tigers are not very good either.

if the team really thinks it is a transition year hopefully they'll hold tight because leverage for trades goes down in the offseason when FAs are out there

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4362115 update on the Phils, look like they're going hard after a pitcher with Lee as their 2nd option. Kind of known, but it's an update on their pursuit

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 11:13 PM) Yep, i continue to believe that even if we come out of next week without Dye and/or Konerko we're still in the race till the end of the season. I agree. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the Sox are some great team ready to bust out, I think all 3 teams are extremely flawed and incapable of running away with the division

QUOTE (onedude @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:52 PM) LOL, Yes....with that logic, we should start a hot streak sometime at the end of August.....but we'll be out of the race by then. Not with the Twins and Tigers

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:51 PM) The season is going full circle; now we're blaming Walker again. I've never stopped.

SI.com reporting with a quote from a M-1 official saying they are not close to a deal Also, appears Ben Rothwell will fight at 103, he was scheduled for the Affliction card

what a completely odd game, Cubs lose 11-6. If they don't win the next 2 they are wasting a golden opportunity because the Astros bullpen is completely done. I wouldn't be shocked if the Astros starter goes 7 innings no matter how bad he gets lit up

should have been how it was from the beginning. Hopefully Richard gets slotted back in as a starter. Any chance KW pulled off a trade and they will dump Colon off the 25 man?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:22 PM) Good news, Colon scratched for tomorrow Jose going to go? As awful as the D and the relief pitching has been, the offense is in a death spiral right now, and Walker just keeps getting free passes

usually I'm down for trading prospects, but this season I really hope KW just sits back. I mean in this division they'll still muddle around and contend. There's no reason to mortgage this teams future, especially with Danks, Floyd and MB signed or under control for a few seasons

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:16 PM) Really, really want to see Thome gone, and I also think Dye's not likely to return. That's 70 homers you have to replace, but we can potentially upgrade our outfield defense while getting solid production for half the cost. man, if Holliday wasn't a Boras client, I would love to see him in a White Sox uniform next year

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:15 PM) It's Ozzie though yeah, but KW puts together the team, and he's got Thome and kept PK and Dye around, I think he gets that you need power in your lineup in that park. Wise needs to go, his ABs are a complete joke, I can't believe Nathan and Mauer wasted 3-4 pitches tonight trying that outside FB

terrible road trip so far, but that shows how terrible this division is that the Sox have lost a grand total of 2 games over this stretch. The more I see of the Twins, Tigers and Sox, the more I'm convinced these teams will mill around each other for the rest of the year

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:10 PM) If you put him at 2nd, Beckham at SS, and sign Chone to play 3rd, then you're putting together an Ozzie style offense. Also, who else thinks KW will go balls out to get Carl Crawford this offseason? If you play 81 games at the Cell you cannot get to speed happy and need to focus on the power. I'm not against getting speedier, but they need to keep boppers in the middle of the lineup

QUOTE (MHizzle85 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 05:22 PM) Our dreams have come true...Fedor, UFC Finalizing Deal. promising news, but about 2 years ago many outlets were reporting a deal was done and he was going to be announced at a PPV, sounds promising, but like I said, with the history of these two parties, I'll wait to I see the conference. The countdown show with all his PRIDE footage hyping that fight will be epic

the top 3 teams in this division are so flawed, especially with Slowy out for the Twins. All three teams will hover around each other the rest of the year

I've never heard something more overstated than what was reported. They had some words, but it wasn't major. I have a great deal of respect for AJ. He has caught so many innings since he's been here and done a solid job. I think the two throw outs a few games ago proves he can be at least average in that aspect if the pitchers give him any chance and for a catcher his offensive is OK.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 08:55 AM) its been a while since i've gone on my NL is terrible tirade, but watching the cubs play the Astros, Reds, and nationals.....the NL (specifically the central) really really sucks. The quality of players is just horrendous....i still can't believe geoff blum gets as many ABs as he does exactly what I was thinking after watching the Cubs get hot since the All-star break. The NL is a very bad league. I actually thought the Reds were an OK team, but their offensive approach is one of the biggest jokes I have seen in years and now Harang and Cueto have 10+ ERAs in their last 6 starts. Without Berkman the Astros lineup may be one of the worst lineups I can remember seeing in years. With that said, the Cubs are doing a good job of taking advantage of beating the bad teams, which they have to do. I caught some of the St. Louis game last night, and that lineup is very tough. It will be those two at the end in the division since I just can't see the Crew or Astros doing anything. If I'm the Phils I sacrifice to get Halladay, they are already the favorite in the NL, Halladay would make them domininate

QUOTE (103 mph screwball @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 08:21 AM) Today is the self imposed Halladay trade deadline. If there are not at least new rumors added to the "Halladay Superthread" today, then I'm guessing Halladay keeps paying Canadian taxes. I'm leaning towards that too. However, I wouldn't be shocked if he goes to the Phils, it seems like the two teams have had heavy conversations. If I'm the Phils I move Drabek if that's what they want, the NL is so terrible right now that if the Phils add Halladay they are the clear cut favorites in my book.

I voted for nothing. I think they'll be around 3-4 games out, so no dumping, but it sounds like the org is saying this is a "transition" year and won't risk a bunch of the farm to make a run