Chisoxfn

Saw on bottom line that Barry Bonds agent indicated that the odds are slim that Bonds will play this season. It sucks cause he definitely is good enough to help numerous contending teams. I still think the Angels/Dodgers, who both could clearly use a legit power bat in there lineup, are fools for not at least considering bringing in Bonds.

Thats right, its rumor time and everyone's favorite forum has been brought back for what should be yet another interesting deadline. Please post all trade speculation (whether rumors or suggestions) within here.

http://mlbtr.blogs.sportsline.com/mcc/blogs/view/8691437 If the Sox don't want to make a trade and are concerned with Contreras or how the young arms will hold up down the stretch, Garcia would be the best option. He's scheduled to throw off a mound towards the end of this month which means you are talking about a late August return. Again there is a lot of risk in such a signing given that you still don't know the status of his health (until he pitches, you don't know jack, imo) plus your talking about at least a month rehab.

Jenks gave up 3 singles in his one inning stint throwing 18 pitches (11 strikes).

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 08:43 PM) Let me start off by saying that I'm in the middle on this guy. His OBP is around .380 and his power numbers are obviously there, but his BA obviously is horrible. I heard this on 670 the other morning around 9 so I'm not familiar with who said it because I don't like listening to that dopey station. He is a FA after this year and Thome may be gone due to I'm not sure he'll reach 1100 plate appearances or whatever. I'm not so sure on bringing Dunn in (another reason) because I think he'll want too much per. I just want to see what you guys thought about him possibly DHing for us next year given the fact that he doesn't want a huge amount per. I should also point out that he'll get 12-16M per year if I were to guess. He's clearly not a complete ballplayer (poor defensively, can't hit for average, strikeouts a lot) but he gets on baseball with the best of them and obviously has about as good of power as any player in the majors. He's also still young so you are talking about having him for what I'd consider a good chunk of his "prime". I also don't consider him a major injury risk.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 08:43 PM) Let me start off by saying that I'm in the middle on this guy. His OBP is around .380 and his power numbers are obviously there, but his BA obviously is horrible. I heard this on 670 the other morning around 9 so I'm not familiar with who said it because I don't like listening to that dopey station. He is a FA after this year and Thome may be gone due to I'm not sure he'll reach 1100 plate appearances or whatever. I'm not so sure on bringing Dunn in (another reason) because I think he'll want too much per. I just want to see what you guys thought about him possibly DHing for us next year given the fact that he doesn't want a huge amount per. If Thome stays healthy, his option will vest. As big of a Dunn hater as I am, I wouldn't have a problem signing him if the Sox made some other wholesale changes to the roster (ie, getting rid of Konerko, Crede, Contreras, Cabrera, etc) and getting one more starter (and relying on a youth movement in the infield). If the Sox got rid of Konerko and Thome than I'd say Dunn would be a must sign (having that presence in the middle of the lineup is necessary).

I'm not going to lie, Wrigley could be a pretty cool place for an all star game (the HR derby could be cool, ie, would we see a rooftop shot).

He didn't blow the whistle on anything. Everyone and there brother knew the company was in trouble, the problem was it wasn't going bankrupt. He put information out there which put concerns on the going concern of the company to the point that people put a run on the bank and they weren't able to cover that run and thus the liquidity issues put em under. It may have eventually happened, but the company should have had the opportunity to save itself from some bad business deals it made. The company wasn't committing fraud or anything along those lines, it was just getting hammered because of the Alt A loans they had on there books. Again, no one is going to convince me they don't go under a year from now or 2 months from now, but the senator prevented the business nature of that to happen and instead created an unneeded panic that put a run on the bank (no different than what happened in the great depression to the banking industry, except this was tied to just one bank). Hell, this isn't the first time the government has grand-standed and screwed up businesses. Just ask everyone who ever worked at Arthur Anderson or talk about the BearSterns disaster. Worse yet there is a lot of speculation that there was a large contingent of investors from New York (with significant funds) who were shorting IndyMac and saw a great windfall so there could be some shenanigans involved with this (although it is more likely some New York grandstanding at its finest, kind of like that jackass Spitzer did in numerous public suits which really didn't help anyone, rather just drew up publicity).

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 07:25 PM) The most memorable HR derby performances in recent memory for me was Big Mac in Boston, Sosa in Atlanta/Milwaukee, and the entire HR Derby at the Cell. I think Hamilton's will be one I don't forget though. Completely agree with you. I remember Mark hitting those bombs over the coke bottle. This will easily go down in the same breath as those derby's.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 08:17 PM) You had me until the bolded. He's been playing for over 3 months now, it doesn't take THAT long to get back to being comfortable playing. The players who voted Crede in also voted Jason Varitek and his .218 batting average and .653 OPS into the game too, so that doesn't matter. It's possible Crede is just in a slump of course, but anytime he slumps with his back history, people are going to wonder about it and I think that's a fair concern. Ever seen Adam Dunn during one of his hot streaks? Batting average is the most overrated mainstream stat in baseball (if not the most overrated stat in general period), outside of wins for pitchers and ERA's for pitchers out of the bullpen. Wow, Dunn on a hot streak. Dunn is a great 5 hole hitter, anything more than that and I'd say he's over-rated. The amount of money he will get will be far too much too. Average is not at all over-rated, its probably become as under-rated a stat as there is in baseball. What's next, people are going to start telling me ERA is underrated too. The object of hitting is to get hits and the object of pitching is to prevent runs. Obviously that is a bit simplistic of an approach and peripheals are important in evaluating what guys is more productive or who is more likely having a fluke type season but the reality is that is a hitter's job (and by hitting for an average you are likely going to be able to drive in runs, although there are obviously exceptions to that philosphy and again that is why OBP and OPS are definitely important, but if you can't hit for average, you can't play on a team I'm running, unless you are a shutdown catcher).

I was writing in another post and talking with my old man tonight and we were talking back about our visit to Yankee stadium when I was 16 (went on a roadtrip on the East Coast for my 16th and we saw Cooperstown, Old Tiger Stadium, Toronto, Philly, Pitt, Cincy, Cleveland, Yankee Stadium, Fenway, and Camden Yrads) and it made me think, why do I love baseball so much. The more I thought about it, what makes me love baseball is that its one of the things that has been the glue of my relationship with my dad (and grandpa until he passed away). I remember going to game after game with him and taking road trip after road trip with him as a kid to see new stadiums and various things (going to Cooperstown was one of the most amazing things I'll ever remember). Than I thought back to 98 (what a season for baseball, steroids or not) and all the Sunday night family dinners we'd have watching Sosa and Big Mac hammer homers (while putting up with Morgan/Miller). On top of that, the joys of actually seeing some baseball milestones. A perfect game (El Presidente, Dennis Martinez against the Dodgers), a no-hitter (Mark Langston/Mike Witt combined no no thrown by the Angels), Henderson's 3000th hit, Bonds tying Aaron, and Henderson breaking the all time runs scored record. Man I love baseball (from all the joys of playing it, to all the great memories I've had watching it).

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 07:15 PM) To be honest, I completely forgot Abreu's 24 HR round when they brought it up again. But don't you remember the derby where Sosa went off or say McGwire (98 was an amazing season). I'd honestly say that was the single greatest season of baseball in my memor (obviously 05 was special cause of the Sox winning it all, but in terms of pure baseball, 98 was as special as it got). I remember exactly where I was when the record was broken and the fact that I was with my dad and grandpa (my grandpa, who was a Cards fan his whole life and a HUGE Big Mac fan and has since passed away) makes it even more special to me. In fact, I think more than anythin else, what makes me love baseball is that its one of the things that has been the glue of my relationship with my old man. I remember going to game after game with him and taking road trip after road trip with him as a kid to see new stadiums and various things (going to Cooperstown was one of the most amazing things I'll ever remember). Man I love baseball (from all the joys of playing it, to all the great memories I've had watching it).

As much as I hate the Yankees and the propoganda ESPN spews out from time to time, you have to tip your cap to the legend that is Yankee stadium. More historic events have occurred within that stadium than practically every other stadium in the history of baseball. Your talking about a ridiculous amount of World Series decided there, plus legend after legend that has played there. Its also an amazing stadium, just cause of the ora that exists when its there. I'm looking forward to seeing all the old-timers at tomorrow's game and again, I will say that was the most impressive derby performance ever and I do think some will remember that about Yankee stadium, but it won't be in the top 100 things that has happened there over that stadiums legendary history.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 08:11 PM) I love watching him play, but I don't think it's a feel good story when he was a hardcore druggy. That's something he brought upon himself. Sorry. I agree he brought it to himself, but I also think its very inspiring to see someone able to pick themselves up and make something out of there life after they went crashing down. Obviously its more inspiring when people redeem themselves from something that was out of there control, but you still have to tip your cap to Hamilton for fighting the addiction and making it back and inspiring many others who found themselves in a similar spot in life (this includes another former top pick, Jeff Allison). I won't put him as high as I rank Lance Armstrong in terms of inspiration, feel good stories (and regardless of whether Lance juiced or not, still amazing to see someone battle back from cancer and dominate the sport of cycling like he did).

IT was a phemonemanl performance but I'll stop at saying that Morneau should have done the honorable thing. They are competing out there and Morneau hit enough of them when it counts. Now if you want to make the format all inclusive and count all 3 rounds, I have zero problem with that, but thats not the way things were set up and Justin won. Doesn't take away from what a tremendous story Hamilton's resurgence has been and I hope he inspires a lot of people around the world that even though they are at the gutter, with hard work they can get themselves back and turn there life into something they can be proud of.

Favre's quick release and ability to scramble and move the pocket would make our oline look a hell of a lot better. The problem is the Bears have s*** at the RB spot (in the sheer sake that we are going with a completely unproven guy, albeit one with talent, and have no viable backups) and an even worse WR corp (sorry, Marty Booker is the only guy to ever prove himself at the WR position in the NFL and now he's at the twilight of his career). In fact, I'd go as far as saying that entering the season this is as bad of a WR corps as I've ever seen the Bears have.

Hell of a show by Hamilton and congrats to Morneau.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 07:21 PM) Pipe dream They might have interest in Uribe/Richar/Broadway. That again may not be enough, but if the O's want some pitchers that could potentially turn out the Sox could even offer up to of there AAA arms and I think those guys would have some value (not enough value to land a legit front line pitcher, but enough to land a guy like Cabrera who has good stuff but has never put it all together at the major league level). He's also an ideal Coop project. The Sox could even acquire him with the idea of using him in the pen early this year while Coop works with him and than plan on having him make a few starts as the season goes on to help get Jose/Danks/Floyd some extra rest. Cause I'm assuming Jose won't be gone. Of course if the Sox acquired Cabrera, I'd immediately put Count on the block (I assume the O's would have zero interest in acquiring Count and only a team desperate for a starter that is in contention would go after him).

I'm just glad Jenks pitched. I put in a question with our contact at Winston Salem to see how he looked.

Seeing Josh Hamilton makes me wonder about what could have been with Doc Gooden or some of the other amazing players who let other issues get in there way of there ridiculous physical abilities. That was the most unbelievable performance I've ever seen in my history of watching baseball.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 05:44 PM) Yeah, that 318 down the left field line is much further than the 314 down the right field line. I'm still taking Braun. You and your facts....

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 05:18 PM) I'm taking Braun. No one seems to be talking about him. He has just as much power, if not more, than anyone else in the field. Yankee stadium's short porch to right means a lefty will win. At another stadium, there is a good shot I'd have backed Braun.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 05:18 PM) Alright, so after digging through Williams-Gate, here's whats going on. Chicago and Ottawa are in heated discussions. Seabrook is not one of the names mentioned to me, Sorry Lee. What I am hearing however, is that Skille and Barker would be comming back to ottawa in the package. This is snowballing VERY quickly and I hear that the kings are VERY involved. I've been told to not be suprised to see Vermette, Neil and Andrej moved, in a deal that could swing 8-10 players between the 3 teams. I heard of something big on Friday, this might be it? http://the-sens-outsider.blogspot.com/ I wonder if its a three team deal and will involve Khaby?

Is Mass Effect a solid game to rent and just hammer out in a few days?

Pulled from another forum: The Sox have clearly had an interest in Cabrera in the past and unlike Justin D., this guy would scream of the typical Ken Williams transaction. You are getting a really good, live arm, who could make a high impact and be gotten for less than his talent would indicate. Obviously he's not as young as he once was and wasn't able to make a break-through under Leo Mazzone, but you are still talking about a guy with a world of talent. He's also made some progress this season, posting the following numbers: 6-5, 4.33 ERA, 129 INN, 126H, 57B, 71K Personally I'd be all for a deal involving a couple of AAA guys and no top prospects. I'd do Broadway/Richard for Cabrera (don't know if the Orioles would or if they'd have interest in other guys). Statistically his numbers aren't much better than Contreras but he has a very live arm and stuff and would be a refreshing addition.