Chisoxfn

QUOTE (dasox24 @ Jun 3, 2008 -> 06:47 PM) I hope he doesn't go that early. I want him to come to UT to play QB, and he'd be fun as hell to watch on the baseball diamond. The UT baseball team is needing some talent. Oh, and if we draft Cashner, that would be a terrible pick. We already have Closers tearing it up at, like, every minor league level anyway. You don't draft a Closer with a Top 10 pick. I would be so happy if we got either Smoak or Posey/Skipworth. Posey falling to the Sox is better than Alvarez falling to the Sox. Thats how much I like Posey. The Sox should be thrilled if he lands in our laps. As far as drafting a closer goes, it should be noted most scouts believe he'll transfer from the pen to the rotation (and he possesses some plus plus pitches). Risky pick, but his arsenal is very good (according to scouts).

I saw that on TV too and was wondering what was going on. Dick is probably right but who knows.

Matsusz would be a very good value pick at 8. I have some questions about him ever developing into an ace, but he has the clear cut makings of a mid-rotation starter with an upside of being a front line starter (just not an ace). There is a risk/reward area and I think Matsusz would be a similar pick as the Wallace pick. I don't think Wallace will ever be an MVP, but I think he's the type that is very likely to be a good major league player and there is a solid chance he makes at least a few all star games. I feel similarly about Matsusz.

QUOTE (DBAH0 @ Jun 3, 2008 -> 12:07 PM) Wade for Hughes and the 1st. Would anyone do that (would be fairly close cap wise)? Hinrich Wade Deng Gooden Noah The Bulls could try getting a trade exception from dealing Gordon also possibly. I suppose the lure of having Hinrich and Wade in the same backcourt, Wade would be ballhandling a lot from the SG spot. I'd do it if the Bulls could than move Gooden and Gordon to the Clippers for Elton Brand (possibly include the trade exception). Hinrich/Wade/Deng/Brand/Noah (TT/SEF/Noc off the bench).

A New Candidate Emerges: Flip Saunders By Jason Gage ChiSport.com

What is up with this holding Wade out for another season? Didn't the Heat shut him down late to essentially assure he'd be 100% by seasons end? I don't follow the heat religiously, but am I missing something. Did he reinjure his shoulder or anything along those lines?

QUOTE (Cubano @ Jun 3, 2008 -> 10:19 AM) Angels 1B/outfielder switch hitter Kendry Morales will look good in a White Sox uniform. He should not be in the minors. His minor league numbers are better than Casey Kotchman. Two years ago, Morales almost broke the Dominican winter league HR record. He blasted 14 balls to the stands. He also won a gold glove there. He may be getting out of minor league options soon. http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...&pid=434778 Morales is a guy I've long wanted to pick up. The big problem with him is that defensively he's in a tough bind because he doesn't possess the typical power of a 1st baseman (although he has good power, I wouldn't consider it great power). That said he possesses a very natural swing and I see him capable of posting a .300, 20 HR type of season with a solid OPB and good slugging numbers. He's also major league ready as far as I'm concerned. I'm not sure how much the Angels have soured on him, but if the club wanted to make an adjustment and was able to move one of Paulie/Thome, I'd have no problem turning to the Angels and offering them a package to acquire Morales (who would clearly be available given Kochman's performance at 1B).

TCSN: Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock By Mario Scalise Chisport.com

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Jun 3, 2008 -> 08:37 AM) From 2004-2007 Konerko is 8th in the majors in RBI, but you don't consider him a top run producer? I consider very few guys top run producers. Just as I consider very few guys legitimate aces. There are a lot of guys I consider front of the rotation pitchers though. Ortiz/Pujols/Manny/Bonds/Vladdy are what I consider top run producers. That said, I believe Konerko is an above average run producer.

Gages Take: Bears Holdouts and Bulls Rumors By Jason Gage ChiSport

Talk to the Hand, Cause the Face Don't want to see it

Cubano, I just want to say welcome aboard. Its great getting to see this sort of perspective about the Cuban league's from someone whose closer to the action.

I'm going to be a stop to this right now. Sox are going to win today!!!! The thread will also be closed!!!!

Whooo, too late for me to post last night, but freaking sweet. Titans storm back and win and are hosting the Stanford Cardinals this upcoming weekend in the Super's. Hell of a job. Stanford swept the Titans in Palo Alto to open the season and have dominated the Titans the past couple years. Here's to hoping the Titans put an end to that domination and start a nice streak of there own!!!!

QUOTE (TCQ @ Jun 3, 2008 -> 06:30 AM) What did you guys think about the Tribune talking about maybe bringing Eldred up, mediocre average but the powers there. He won't be any different than Jim Thome. Sure he'd cost a bit less, but long-term, I'm sure Thome would do far far better this season.

I would like to point out that I believe that Konerko is best suited as a #5 hitter (and he's a damn good one when healthy). He did a good, commendable job in the middle of the Sox offense for a number of years, but the reality is he's not in the league of top run producers. He's also clearly a main culprit (including Thome/Swisher) for the Sox horrid offense and you have to put the blame squarely on those guys shoulders (as they are all being paid to producer, where as a guy like Uribe is being paid to field for the most part). Konerko at least has a legitimate excuse (hand injury) and right now I think the Sox should consider DL'ing him or basically letting Thome/Swisher/Konerko have two spots in the lineup most nights (with Anderson getting a steady dose in CF, although there will obviously be the ocassional night where all three of the guys play). Go with that approach until guys start hitting and who knows, Anderson has shown a lot of signs of maturation. He's got a better approach at the plate and nothing would be better than having him develop (if he did, you'd have Quentin/Anderson penciled into your outfield for a long time). That said I'm not about to say that Anderson is a better option than any of those guys (if in fact they were producing), but he has "upside" and plays a tremendous CF and is producing respectably enough to get additional playing time. Anderon's big thing is he needs to show more opposite field and up the middle power. He obviously possesses it but he has a knack for grounding out (typically hard, but grounding out) to 3rd base and I think thats because he's a bit pull happy at this point in time (probably to an extent because he's pressing, albeit, this pull-happy version is the best version of BA we've seen at the major league level to date).

QUOTE (Cerbaho-WG @ Jun 3, 2008 -> 05:47 AM) Because you take the best person available and Silverio is actually 20. On top of that, middle infielders tend to be the premiere athletes on the field, which means, if come AA or AAA time you have 3 top middle infield guys, you can always opt to trade one of them or consider a move to 3B/2B/CF as they should be able to easily handle any of those positions (and in most instances they'll have the ability to become plus defenders at those positions, assuming that they are an "athletic" SS and not a "David Eckstein").

Screw Beckham, I have fallen in love with Crawford out of UCLA. He has all the ability you could ask for out of a SS. He possesses a short, quick swing that generates good power. On top of that he has a f***ing rocket-ship for an arm and very good range out at shortstop. He was one of the top players in the country entering the year and like many of the Bruins they had trouble handling the pre-season accolodes but he's came on strong as of late and is VERY VERY projectable. If this kid is there in the 3rd round the Sox better take him (even if they took Beckham in the 1st). I am absolutely convinced he'll be the 2nd to 3rd best SS in this draft, possibly even the best (although the Beckham's are both rock solid as well).

Alright Gavin, be the stopper!!!

There would have to be more to that trade than just that, because stand-a-lone, that would be the greatest move the Bulls ever made (well, maybe not better than drafting Jordan, but it would be pretty close to as good). I'd have to think the Bulls would be giving up some of its core, in addition to the #1 pick (and again, I'd have zero problem doing such). Hell, Beasley may turn into 5 times the player Rose is in the pro's (afterall, he was 5 times better than him on the court for the ENTIRE NCAA season). I have no problem taking Rose, but in no way shape or form am I that in love with him that I wouldn't move the pick down to get a guy like Wade (health issues be damn, he's already proven he can carry a team to a title and the Bulls, even with a trade of some of its talent, would be plenty good (I'd imagine you'd be talking about Gordon/Hinrich/#1 for Wade/#2 (no brainer in my book).

QUOTE (BearSox @ Jun 2, 2008 -> 09:20 PM) Well, the only thing I've read about Retherford talked about his athleticism, how he could play anywhere on the field, and his baseball smarts. First name that popped into my head was Inge when I read that about him. I have a hard time seeing him become a major force with the bat, but with his athleticism, baseball IQ, and ability to play everywhere, he can make it as a bench player, IMO. I doubt anyone here has ever really seen Retherford, so any prediction I make is as bold as any prediction anyone else makes. You are probably right on Retherford. I think a lot of us here base things on reports read and than some sort of statistical analysis. In the past I could say I'd seen a very large chunk of our players play, but less now than before (as I haven't seen any of the Sox affiliates play in the past 2 years). The extent of what I've seen is guys in college/highschool, youtube clips, and the ocassional MILB game I watch (that and the ocassional emails I shoot out to some people I've met in the organization based upon past minor league visits I've made. So you definately aren't in the minority. Heck, aside from the big boys at BA, most anyone writing about the minors haven't seen the guys play more than a couple times (and often times your opinion is largely dependent on how that guy was doing in very limited action, which isn't exactly indicative of a good asseessment necessarily).

I thought the Rangers resigned Jagr? Or am I mistaken and they are still in talks for an extension?

I should add that despite a lot of my negative nancy posts, I fully believe this team is capable of winning a division. I also fully believe Thome/Konerko are capable of having productive seasons (or seasons from this point on). I just believe it is key for Kenny to notice the flaws in this lineup regardless of the outcome and to hopefully address such flaws in the off-season (he started this off-season and I'd like to see him continue this upcoming one). Maybe they'll be able to make a move in season to correct the flaw to an extent (ie, a leadoff hitter or something; but maybe Alexi develops faster than expected) but anything more than that will be very difficult (given the lack of top notch talent in the high minors which could come up and make an impact or the top notch talent which can be dealt to get guys who can make the impact). I fully believe Swisher, Konerko, Thome will all finish the year above .250 (maybe not much more above it, but I think they all will, barring one of these guys being seriously injured).

Bear, I want to point out, that its hard to have any sort of intuition on anyone without at least seeing them play or reading scouting reports (stats are not something you can really infur off of, unless you are going strictly by the cover and stating guys over such and such OPS are good, guys with a WHIP of X are good. Not saying anything is wrong, just saying sometimes you may want to gut check some of the ballsy statements (or just preface it by stating its based on nothing more than a gut feeling). That said, I love your enthusiasm when it comes to the farm and it spurs some very good debate/discussion on here. Plus, as anyone whose been here for a while knows, I've made my fair share of bold, completely based on gut posts (see practically every guarantee I've ever made regarding who I think the Sox will trade for, LOL). I know for me, I stated my opinions on Fields and get bold but I try to back them up based on what I've seen (mixed in with the fact that everyone on these boards has come to realize I hate guys that hit .250 and strike out 150 times (no matter how many freaking hr's they hit, well, if they hit 50 plus, I'll put up with it, LOL). Or If I haven't seen a guy and I'm basing it off what I've read, I try to include that information. Anyway, enough of these, lets figure out who the hell the Sox are going to draft and hope like hell he's going to be a superstar (and hopefully we get plenty of good players in the remaining rounds).

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 2, 2008 -> 07:52 PM) Thome for Crisp and Masterson Thats a deal I'd do. I don't know if the Red Sox would, but given Ortiz injury and there financial state (ie, plenty of money) it could be a move that makes sense for both sides. The reason I'd be excited with the deal is it gets the Sox Masterson who is a tremendous arm.