Chisoxfn

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 05:41 PM) Who would seriously want this job though? The only person I can think of is Jim Fassel, and judged by Kyle Boller's performance today, he may have had enough of that situation there. Fassel is a good coach and would make a good hire. Boller may not have played great today but he played really good the previous two weeks and has all the tools. If I were a GM and Boller were available I'd definately consider him. At the same time, Fassel would be right near the top of my coaching list. He's a very good offensive mind and was a pretty sucessful coach.

I so f***ing hope no one snags Ferentz. He just signed a nice contract extension at Iowa, but his son graduates this year and he could leave. I hope he loves Iowa City and stays there for as long as he wants. I really believe he's going to eventually bring a national championship to Iowa.

Nothing official, but I'd be shocked if he is back. The stuff being talked around out here on the West Coast is that he doesn't want to be with the Raiders. He will be a highly coveted offensive coordinator and will probably land a gig with an experienced team. Speaking of job openings, you can't forget that Sherman is reportedly a potential firing in Green Bay. This could be a year without about as many coaching vacancies as I can think of. Plus a couple of them are pretty good teams (Kansas City and potentially Dallas and I think a healthy Packers team is still solid).

Ya, I think they will eventually turn the reigns over to Dan Reeves. If he doesn't get the job I expect him to be very involved with the organization. One good candidate is the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator (was the DC in Miami until Saban took over). Obviously Greg Blache and the Bears Rivera will be contacted as well. Speaking of job openings, I tend to think Norv Turner and the Raiders will mutually go there seperate ways. I don't think the Raiders want him back and I honestly don't think he wants to be back with Al Davis and the Raiders.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 12:58 PM) Diamondbacks have so many great offensive prospects. They are a little thin pitching wise. Plus, their starting rotation is pathetic and their bullpen is horrible. They won't ever contend without fixing the pitching even with the potential for one of the best hitting teams in the future. Stephan Drew and Upton up the middle is going to be lethal. I drool over Stephen Drew. He's close to being major league ready despite some struggles in AA. Once they are out of it, I'd have him up at the major league level. He's gonna be some kind of all around hitter.

Who cares. We are going to the playoffs.

Benson was supposedly going to play but looking at gamecast he's yet to get out there. Jeff Blake is also supposed to see some action today.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 11:14 AM) INteresting. I would have thought with a decent curveball, that they would have tried to add something with some sideways motion instead of adding another up to down pitch. Hopefully it works for him. One nice thing about having a similar pitch with downward action is that he'd really be messing with you. He can throw his changeup with downward action, his curve with more sharp downward action and than if he threw a harder 2 seamer/splitter with some downward action he'd get the same action out of the arm but it would come at ya a lot quicker. I really think that would have guys off balance. I think we'll see him develop into quite the young star. The maturity of Mac is just so impressive.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 30, 2005 -> 09:44 PM) That's what I fully expected him to be working on too, but the report said it was a 2 seamer/split finger pitch of some sort that he wanted to work on. I do think a split finger/2 seamer makes sense though, at least as much as a cutter, simply because the kid is freaking tall, and he'd really be able to get on top of that thing and push it downwards, just like JG. (Imagine JG with BMac's changeup...he might give up 3 hits all year) That was the talk a while back, but the Sox have also been really leary on messing with him. They feel so positive about him that they don't want him to lose his release point mixing with other stuff. I can't say what he's working on right now, but I know it was talked around and Coop had mentioned it in a few interview that they'd likely toy around with another pitch. The main thought was a 2 seamer (not sure about a splitter but I could be wrong) but a cutter is obviously in the relm since the Sox have been teaching it to quite a few players recently.

QUOTE(Felix @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 02:39 PM) Then how do you suggest evaluating players during the offseason? There isn't magic crystal ball which shows how good a player will be, but stats give a good indication of how players will do in future years. Yea, its not a sure thing, but they give an indication, and without them, one wouldn't know the difference between Joe Borchard and every other outfielder unless they watch every single game for every single team in every single level of play, whether it be A, AA or AAA. Its called mixing in stats and tools. Not just relying solely on how a guy hit or what his obp is or his ops. You can't tell me how great a player is (unless they are a .300 hitter with 30+ HR and 100+ RBI based solely on stats. You need to at least watch a guy, know how he plays defense, know the type of speed he has, how old is he, is he going to improve, what type of flaws does he have in his game, can we fix these flaws. There are so many things you have to take into account. For example, people throw out Taveras numbers and say he's a bum. You don't hit .290 or so on accident. The guy obviously has some ability to hit for an average and when it comes to evaluating a top of the order guy its nice if they can get on base. Obviously his OBP wasn't too impressive but in the minors he showed pretty good patience and most young players thrown into a leadoff role struggle with this (but should improve over time and historically his stats show that). You also know he's a guy with pretty quick hands and who uses all fields. Factor that in with him having a pretty solid arm for a CFer and plus range (although I can't tell you how good he is at getting jumps, I haven't seen enough Astros game) and I can see a guy who could develop into a .300 hitter with a .360 OBP or so that can steal 40+ bases at a high percentage all while playing good defense. That doesn't sound too bad to me, especially when you factor in that he'll be cheap and under the Sox control for a long time. Will all that happen, I don't know, but you saying how he doesn't hit doubls makes him crappy or that he doesn't have extra base hits, well that doesn't matter. The Sox wouldn't be looking at him as a run producer. Now you can talk about his low OBP and I understand that, but not a ton of Xtra base hits isn't a major reason not to get him since he's going to be here (if the Sox got him) because Ozzie wants more speed and a slap hitter in the 2 hole (not xtra base hits, those are just a plus). Pods wasn't getting many xtra base hits, but he was a very effective leadoff hitter (although he did really struggle in the 2nd half at stealing bases) but as a whole he did a very good job (had a nice OBP and came up with some hits (he stunk at driving in runners, but that wasn't his job, he was a table setter, so that stat isn't important).

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 02:30 PM) I think Anderson will post a line somewhere around .250/.315/.420 next year, which isn't great, but he's not going to be relied upon as far as offense. I assume that his defense is very good, which very well could be wrong on my part. But, I'm giving KW the benefit of the doubt -- afterall, he was comfortable enough with Anderson to trade one of the best defensive CFers in all of baseball and (so far) give the reigns to BA. In both cases, I say, isn't that what Jerry Owens is for? I know everyone is saying that Owens needs some time in AAA, which I agree with, but I don't the difference in who he'd be facing in AA/AAA is all that great. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the jump from A-ball to AA seems much tougher than the AA to AAA jump. I'm sure that, as a collective group, Mackowiak/Borchard/Owens could hold down the fort if one of SP/BA/JD went down. Beck, mainly, I don't think your proposed deal of Taveras/Qualls/SP prospect is "overwhelming" (the exact word from KW, IIRC) by any means. I don't see a matchup with Houston. None of their prospects are that great, or so it seems. I keep going back to the Dodgers, but they seem to be a great matchup. Something like Guzman (Crede's replacement in a year or two) + Elbert (rebuild our SP depth) + Brazoban or Broxton (a player who could help this year, albeit in a minimal role in the bullpen) would seem to be a good start. Pods and Owens can't be in the same outfield cause both suck defensively. However, I'm not a proponent of making a trade. Find us a reliever and call it quits.

Going with Salmon tonight and some rib roast or something tomorrow. I'm doing none of the work, but I'm gonna eat and watch lots of football. I can't wait till tomorrow.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 11:27 AM) Most important part. I want Bron Bron on the Bulls. The guy is the best player in the NBA, imo. He has the rare ability to make people around him better. Its a skill Kobe lacks and Garnett lacks and only the greats have it. Michael was able to do it and early on it looks like Lebron is as well. Of course he hasn't had the talent around him (and he still has some work to do himself) to make it far. He won't get there this year either, but the kid is the best player at his age that I've ever seen.

This is the 1st game I'm not watching in a long long time. I decided I'll use this week as a bye week. I originally thought the game was going to be on TV but they changed it (rightfully so) to the Skins game (playoff implications). Hopefully the Bears win, but I just want them to stay healthy. I have the gamecast on and Orton's numbers don't look good but I know you can't tell s*** from that so I'd defiantely appreciate occassional updates on whats going on (for those that do have the game).

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 02:10 PM) Its called depth. DEPTH. Right now, the Sox dont have much of it a AAA. Having 6 guys who are capable of winning at the major league level is a must IMO. As for the Taveras thing, I really expect big things out of Anderson, and obviously brining in Taveras would mean at least 1 more year of Anderson on the bench, which im not sure he needs. However, like Jas said, Taveras could replace Pods at the top of the order in a few years could work out. Count is a tremendous talent. If we trade him, I dont care who we get, there will be a big part of me upset to see him gone. However, trades dont always have to be equal in talent, ie-Carlos for Podsednik. If we could get Taveras, a good bullpen arm like Qualls, and a pitching prospect ready to make the jump into the big leagues by mid season or next year, I would think about it. I'm not a huge fan of the deal, but if they get a really good pitching prospect, a starting centerfielder who should grow, and a good reliever than I can see the move helping the club. However, I'm not much of a fan of giving up Contreras. I think he turned the corner last year and if he pitches like he did over the 2nd half of the season for all of next year (or at least a major portion) than I think he'll be the runaway Cy Young award winner. The guy was freaking nasty and best of all he was consistently nasty (something everyone was waiting for from him). To me he's shown no signs of slowing down so I have no problem going with him and than hoping we can sign him during the season or next year for another 2-3 years. If we can't we'll have time to negotiate him before we release him (or so I assume or however his contract works out) or we can always do something. Plus if he walks away, so what, if he comes close to being the Cy Young guy that I think he'll be next year than he'll benefit this club enough and Brandon can slide into the rotation. If he ends up signing long term, than the Sox can move one of there other starters (probably Freddy or Vazquez) and finally move Bmac into the rotation. Either way the Sox are in the drivers seat and I wouldn't make a trade just for the sake of making a trade. Aside from the bullpen (which I think could use another good arm) I think this team is ready to go out and defend their title.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 06:42 PM) ESPN is reporting that this may turn into a gigantic, 4 team mess involving the Devil Rays, Mets, Orioles, and Red Sox, with Manny and Baez going to the Mets, Julio Lugo and Clement (and I think Benson?) going to Baltimore, Tejada going to Boston, and a few other guys including Andy Marte going to Tampa. I think it just looked like way too big of a mess to ever happen, especially with the dollars the Orioles' would be taking on. Baltimore has never had any problem taking on contracts so I don't look at that as a major road block. However, when this many teams get involved the odds of everyone being happy are slim.

QUOTE(beck72 @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 02:01 PM) Do you like the possibility of having Joe Borchard take over on an everyday basis? That's all I'm saying if BA is given the everyday job, and someone goes down from one of three spots. Pods went down last yr, Dye has gotten hurt over his career, and expecting a rookie to play 162 games at a high level may be a bit much w/o a clear backup plan. Pods would slide to center and you'd see Makoviak be the everyday outfielder along with Jermaine Dye. Its not pretty, but if someone went down for an extended period of time (ie the season) than I'm sure Kenny would go out and find himself a capable replacement via the trade front.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 12:30 PM) Well, if that's true, it sure isn't showing up in the stolen base department. Harris has had an 80% success rate, while Taveras' has been only 76%. The two players are very similar, but I'd probably take Harris, seeing as he can play CF and 2B. Ya and throw out the fact that Taveras was the starting CFer on a world series team. The guy hit .290 at the major league level as a rookie (who skipped AAA). Thats pretty darn impressive and I don't get why people don't think he can build on it. This guy will likely get better and he should improve his eye as he gets better aclimated to major league pitching. I'm not saying this is a great trade but I laugh at everyone who is calling Taveras crap. The guy is a better defensive player than you give him credit for he and brings a lot of things to the table. I also have to keep reiterating that a lot of you people are dreaming in what you expect Brian Anderson to do in his first full season. I don't know what Brian Anderson you were watching, but he's got a long ways to go from the guy I saw at the major league level for a very small sample of at bats (but he looked freaking TERRIBLE during those Ab's). He basically had one game. The tools are there, but don't expect Anderson to put up the numbers a lot of you expect. I wouldn't expect much more than a .250 avg, 100 plus strikeouts, not too many walks and 15 Hr's. He will not have a .330 OBP, maybe I'll be wrong, but if he's going to do any better than that he'll have had to make a pretty big stride from the level of play he was playing this past year.

QUOTE(Felix @ Jan 1, 2006 -> 07:51 AM) But even if you look at minor league numbers, Brian Anderson had a higher carrer minor league average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, and looking at Taveras' minor league numbers, he's never been a guy who gets XBH. Who gives a s***. If your at the top of the order thats not your job. If the Sox feel they need a #2 hitter to help get them to repeat and in a few years that 2 hitter (ie Taveras) could replace Pods at the top of the order than I think this move makes sense. I don't know what Kenny's thinking but I could see him thinking along these lines. I'm sick of a bunch of people throwing out a few stats to make there case. I got news for people, you can throw stats out for whatever the f*** case you want. There is no definitive stats unless your talking about a superstar. I remember everyone who b****ed about how Paulie couldn't hit on the road. Sometimes you have odd splits certain years while other times you'll have the exact opposite splits. Didn't Crede or someone hit way better on the road than at home? How could that happen since everyon thinks that just because your hitting at the Cell means you'll be far better at home as opposed to the road.

Happy New Years Everyone

QUOTE(SnB @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:07 PM) all you have to do is get jason to reply and we'll cancel each other out.

QUOTE(shawnhillegas @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 03:57 PM) all ive learned in reading this thread is that WCSox has a man crush on willie taveras and that juan pierre and sammy sosa have the best arms in baseball. And of course that Arnie Munoz is the best prospect in baseball or thats what were all passing on to the Orioles

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:42 PM) the only time he played more than 15 GAMES for a minor league team was in 2002. He missed all of 2001. No, he spent all of 01 ripping up the Southern League putting up awesome numbers with the Barons. The Baseball Cube just doesn't have his 01 stats in there.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:30 PM) The Yankees are contenders every year and have the largest payroll in baseball and even they went with the completely unproven Robinson Cano at second base. We don't even have half the Yankees' payroll so it would make even more sense for us to try the unproven Brian Anderson. That kind of refutes your whole point, doesn't it? Technically I thought Womack was going to play 2nd (or maybe they planned on him playing in the OF) but he stunk and Cano eventually replaced him. Cano didn't start the year as the starter.

QUOTE(sayitaintso @ Dec 31, 2005 -> 02:24 PM) Are you serious? Ya, it was one of the big reasons he gets ripped as much as he did. The kid had talent, lots of it, but he refused to work and was hitting the bong all the time. He thought he was great and wasn't willing to go out and do the things it takes to become a good ballplayer.