Chisoxfn

I think there is a decent chance you see Egbert make a few starts this year or at the very least pitch out of the pen a lot. I am puzzled/surprised that Donny Lucy wasn't promoted to Charlotte. I expect him to be given every opportunity to succeed and I wouldn't be shocked if he's the Sox backup next year (with Hall being moved) and if he isn't the backup it will be because the Sox are hoping he can make enough strides with the stick to replace AJ as the starter.

QUOTE(BamaJason @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 09:17 PM) Heard a rumor tonight at the Barons game that Honel retired today. I don't know if it is true or not; has anyone else heard this? Well I wish Kris the best of luck. He was once one of the org's top prospects and he battled around and busted his butt to come back numerous times.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 05:55 PM) Yet, if Garland is traded 12 million is free to pursue major league talent. In addition to whichever package of prospects/MLB players are collected. I don't regard Contreras' salary as an albatross next season. We'll still have a payroll around 90 million. I much rather have 12 million available + players from Garland deal rather than 10 million available + box of crap from Contreras deal. What exactly are we doing the next several seasons that it matters whether Contreras is gone? I'm still extremely pessimistic about our immediate future. If we're looking for talent, we'll have to surrender talent. And even though Williams is too proud to ever begin a complete rebuilding process, we can't rebuild our farm system with Tadahito Iguchi and Jermaine Dye trades. He'll have to take a risk, eventually. Flash...you are nuts...10 million is gonna be a kick in the nuts considering how many holes this squad will have in the outfield and potentially the middle infield (plus a vet reliever or two hopefully). The Sox need to give up Jose for anything and anything at all...take the money and run as the great steve miller would say.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 09:02 PM) Don't get your hopes up, my friend. We're stuck with Jose. s***...I didn't realize he bombed another game. If he really is healthy I guess we got tos tick with him at this point hoping somehow he shows something. That or DL him, have him come back in September and hope to hell he has a fresh arm that peaks some teams interest so the club can unload his s***ty contract in the off-season. God I don't want to be stuck with Jose Contreras. I'd rather deal Contreras in the off-season for another terrible outfield contract who could at least be of value to the Sox (since they need outfielders anyway) or someone like Julo Lugo's massive contract (since again that would at least fill a need).

QUOTE(frankie5angels @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 08:59 PM) We ain't gotta snowball's chance in hell of anyone biting on Jose. I'm hoping the guy just ups and retires, maybe he has some pride and won't want to be embarassed anymore and just quits. He'll likely clear waivers immediately, which means at that point the Sox are free to negotiate with any team IIRC. I'm not saying it will happen, but all it takes is one or two good starts or him to find ihs velocity (yes its not likely, but it is possible) and at that point you can still get a good prospect or two for him (of course this prospect would have to most likely not be on the 40 man roster because otherwise he would have to clear waivers to get to Chicago, albeit there aren't many teams worse than the Sox).

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 31, 2007 -> 12:56 PM) The Mackowiak trade saves about $916K this year I would love it if we took some of that money and threw it at a couple tough signs from this years draft as well as pooled up some of it for potential international FA's or next years draft (going to some guys that would be drafted later on in the draft yet being offered well above slot money). Thats at least what I"d do with the money from the Iguchi/Mack deals. Plus we added two prospects (and yes we have no clue whether these guys will be good but I never expected more than A ball guys for those two). I am extremely pissed that we didn't move Dye but I Got to catch up and see what the offer was that Kenny inevitably turned down (i will s*** a brick if the Sox don't offer Dye arbitration though...oh my god I will s*** a brick). Right now I'm a dissapointed fan, but I can't comment more than that until I see what the hell was not done (by Kenny). If he didn't get a fair deal I understand and I now expect Sweeney to play a boatload from here on out (and I'm hoping we can maybe slide a guy or two through waivers and move them soon enough...wink wink...Contreras). Plus Dye probably makes it to some of the lower level teams in the race (which means you still have an outside shot at moving him, but clearly he doesn't make it to the Red Sox or any NL team).

Don't count out the Rockies.

Interesting stuff. If the Sox are giving up a prospect it better be a low talent type guy.

That would be freaking stellar.

Plus it has had some good drama thrown in as well.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 07:27 AM) I liked that movie when it was called "Rounders" or ten other movies... But like most s***ty movies, the director calls in Chris Walken at the last minute to bail the movie out. Poolhall junkies was fanastic and most of those guys weren't actors they were pool players (or at least thats what I remember hearing).

Knowing the holes in the Sox outfield, I would have no problem bringing back Dye but that would also mean the Sox move other parts still. Hell the Sox have 3 holes in the OF if Dye leaves so I consider that a major issue (and maybe have 1 solution in the minors...Sweeney which leaves the club still needing at least 2 guys).

Damn this season has been entertaining as hell thus far. A lot more fire-house scenes and just a s***load of laughs.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 08:07 PM) So what happened to his speed then? 9 SB and 4 CS? He's going to have to start hitting some doubles if he's not going to steal any bases. I said that he has lost a step. I was at that point talking in general (about what I want in a leadoff hitter).

I don't see anything wrong with Castillo, but he won't be on the Sox next year. Castillo is a solid player though, a fantastic defensive 2nd baseman (albeit he's aided by the turf). Nowhere near as good as he once was but again, I could give a s*** about his OPS when he's at the top of a teams order. Give me extra speed and good baserunning instincts over a ton of extra base hits and a lack of speed (not saying I wouldn't take those extra base hits, but I want a leadoff hitter with some wheels but he also has to have some other skills).

Wow, what a move. Dusty becomes a 3 and gets a year or two of experience and the Bears get a guy that starts on damn near every team in the NFL (and is considered the best DT on a handful of teams). Geeze the Bears have gotten a s***load better the last week (adding Briggs back into the equation and signficantly upgrading the Dline).

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 07:48 PM) Bourn's fast, that's about it. He had a terrible OPS his last year and a half in the minors. If we got him in a deal for Dye or Contreras, that's one thing. But no way should he be the main player in a deal for Garland or Vaz. I don't understand...who gives a f*** if a leadoff hitter has a good ops or hits a ton of extra base hits. If they can draw walks, hit for an average (and yes singls are still hits) and steal some bases while playing decent defense than they are a f***ing asset at the top of the order. Hell, I'm actually semi interested in watching Owens finish out the season (because he has some tools...albeit his most important one is speed). I still think he's a 4th outfielder at best, but no one thought Figgins would be as good as he is (and all of you that ripped me for my Figgins infatuation (LOL) just know I'm crying everytime I see Figgins hitting so well cause I think the Sox could have gotten him cheap).

I really would be a fan of getting Pena and I wouldn't mind Masterson (seems like a guy who could garner some comparisons to Garland). The only thing that makes me leary about Pena is the fact that he's not signed and could walk after next season, IIRC). If I knew we could keep him anonther few years I'd be way more about it (still I wouldn't complain). I'd be thrilled if they could get a 3rd guy thrown into the mix or find a way to expand the deal for the BoSox to take Contreras off the Sox hands and the Sox to take Lugo off Boston's hands (because I think Lugo is a better player than he has been for the entire season; of course he has also been playing better of late).

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 07:39 PM) I think a more likely deal would be Garland and Dye for Kershaw, Hu, and Meloan. The Dodgers aren't trading Kemp. If Kemp isn't a part of a deal than I'd demand Ethier or Loney.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 07:38 PM) The reports that the Phillies want Vazquez worry me, as those two teams have no problem finalizing trades. I was hoping with the Phils having so many injury issues that we may get them to take on Contreras (But would they take on another pitcher that has lost his stuff like Jose has???).

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 07:32 PM) Give me Kershaw, Hu, and Kemp/Ethier for Garland and Dye and I'll probably wet myself. That is the exact package I want. I think Kemp has to be a part of any deal that involves one of our front line starting pitchers, plus another pitching prospect (Billingsley or Kershaw and I'm assuming they'd rather part with Kershaw). From there I'd try to get Hu.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 07:19 PM) Lets hope this person knows his s***. What was that sentence in regards to (Garland or Dye to the Dodgers??)

I thought it was a poor move by the Twins (but than again I am not scouting those other playesr nor am I that familiar with them). Still, based on what the Twins got for a superior 2nd baseman (because the guy that Sox have at least has an arm and while he's a reliever he has at least something to work with) plus he freed up a roster spot. I was pleased with the Iguchi deal and am now more pleased with it based upon the Castillo deal. Hell, I think in all my Iguchi trade proposals I never asked for anything more than an low a guy with some sort of upside (and this reliever is potentially that, plus I guess the Sox are going to move him into the rotation).

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 06:56 PM) Another oddity with Las Vegas, Tony Abreu - their regular 2B - is not in the lineup tonight but rest easy, Ben Davis is behind the plate. Abreu is a pretty good prospect in his own right.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jul 30, 2007 -> 06:57 PM) Blanton is cheap and producing in the American League. If it's bewteen him and Garland, Kershaw will be in Oakland. I guess it's up to Williams to make sure that doesn't happen. Garland > Blanton, imo. But you are right about the younger and cheaper thing however I don't think that matters to the Dodgers.