Chisoxfn

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:56 PM) I would sooner trade Brian Anderson for Pierre than Chris Young, not that I'd want to trade either of them for Pierre. I wouldn't deal Young for him, and I'd be hesitant to deal Anderson for him but if thats what Ozzie wants I'd have to live with it and hope they are right. Personally I'm happy standing pat and finding a platoon guy and maybe trying to find another good reliever.

QUOTE(That funky motion @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:55 PM) Saw this on MLB trade rumors. Carl Crawford On The Block? A source close to the Devil Rays' scouting department filled me in recently on their outfielder extravaganza. It's well known Joey Gathright is on the block. If you're looking for a scrappy player with no power who runs real fast, Gathright is your man. It's unknown whether Gathright can make his on-base skills shown at Triple A Durham translate to the big leagues, but some team besides the Rays will find out soon enough. I'm not yet able to narrow down the list of his suitors to a single digit number. Infinitely more interesting than Gathright is the possibility (albeit slim) that Carl Crawford could be dealt. Crawford was "a little shocked" by Rocco Baldelli's deal, and rightfully so. After all, where was Baldelli while Crawford was busy being the 10th best LF in the game in '05? 2006 could be the year Crawford busts out and hits 20 HR. According to my source, the Angels are hot on the trail of Baldelli, Gathright, and Crawford. The Rays are quite enamored with 22 year-old righthander Ervin Santana. Santana had a solid rookie season in '05, winning 12 games for the Angels. Another team in the running for Crawford is the White Sox. They're not entirely sold on Brian Anderson in center field for a defending World Champion, and the Devil Rays are asking for Brandon McCarthy and/or Josh Fields. McCarthy pitched with a vengeance in September and October of 2005, tossing 43 innings of 1.69 ERA ball. He led the Minor Leagues in strikeouts in 2004. Third baseman Josh Fields is in the Sox's top ten prospect list for sure. However, he was just OK at Double A Birmingham in '05, hitting .252/.341/.409 in 477 at-bats. Fields is a hard worker, but still needs plenty of seasoning in the minors. Someone pinch me, I'd deal Fields and a guy like Tracey for Crawford in a heartbeat. Fields is talented, but he's far from a sure thing and Crawford is a pretty talented individual who would fit into Ozzie's style (plus I think he has room to grow). Whats Crawford contract like and when does he become eligible for FA?

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:52 PM) It's not just the park. It's the fact that he was in the weakest division in baseball (one of the weakest I can remember), and his numbers weren't that great. The AL Central is just a little better than the NL West, I'd have to say. He's getting older, too. And I think Clemens' success had a lot to do with the NL, too. He'd still be good in the AL, but he didn't magically get better when he left the AL. Oh ya, cause Clemens wasn't pitching in a total hitters park? What Clemens did was downright amazing last year. The guy pitched his ass off, there is nothing you can do but tip your cap. Why not give the man the credit he's deserved. I laugh at how you guys think guys like Clemens would have been mediocre if he were in the AL last year. Let me guess, so would Chris Carpenter. Hell, I didn't see Curt Schilling's ERA skyrocket when he went from the NL to AL (from the Dbacks to the RedSox) and not only did he go to the AL, but he went to pitch in Boston (a hitters park).

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:37 PM) He had a 3 ERA in the worst division in baseball, in a gigantic pitcher's park, and now he's moving to the AL. I expect his ERA to be roughly 4. Man a lot of you people seem to really think the Al is that much tougher than the NL. It doens't have much of an effect at all on really good pitchers. I could see park factor, but its the fact that this guy is the 2nd best closer of all time (behind Mariano) that I have no reason to think he can't pitch sucessfully (as long as the stuff is there). I laugh at everyone that thinks someone like Dontrell would see his ERA jump a point if he were to leave Florida or that Carpenter or Clemens wouldn't have kicked butt in the AL. Sure there are different factors and in general the AL is a tougher league to pitch in because of the DH, but at the same time, its going to effect mediocre to poor pitchers a lot more than front line guys.

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:30 PM) You nail it here, and as for the money ... I haven't received the final budget figure for the 2006 White Sox, has anyone else? They will stretch the budget as necessary in order to get players they want. That said, I think the Dodgers and Giants are both very attractive to Mueller. Plus Mueller always seemed to like his days with the Giants (I think thats where the Cubs got him from...for Worrel IIRC).

If they somehow landed Billingsley and Guzman plus Bradley than the A's would be totally heisting the Dodgers. That said the Dodgers are in win now mode and they have a payroll to the point where they can afford to trade prospects (evne though they are supposedly going to be lowering there payroll into the low to mid 80's. If they get Zito, I'd look for them to deal Odalis Perez pretty quickly to free up some payroll cause Perez isn't going to stick around.

QUOTE(MurcieOne @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:29 PM) I think Paxon likes his starting backcourt the way it is, ditto with Skiles... i think ur gonna see Ben get traded, he's really not a typical skiles player... i love ben, but Hammerhead is right, he's hurt the team at times this year. I think Ben Gordon and Tim Thomas could get the Bulls something pretty damn good. I still would love to put together a package to get KG including those two players and than some. I just don't know whose available via trade. I'd love a good center, but I don't know of any on the block.

Sammy doesn't mention that these are independent league teams and the Japan league Although Minaya is interested. He was the scout that originally signed/recommended Sosa to the Rangers.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:18 PM) Just based on last year, I have trouble saying either one is better. Hoffman: 43 saves, ERA = 2.97, WHIP = 1.11, BAA = .235 (in the NL) Wickman: 45 Saves, ERA = 2.47, WHIP = 1.26, BAA = 2.47 (AL) Hoffman had better numbers other than ERA, but that was also in the NL. Wickman did give up 9 home runs to Hoffman's 3 (How many of those were Dye and Konerko?) My theory was simply because I think career wise Hoffman has always been great, Wickman has been good and really seemed to revamp his career last year. Now financially I'm not saying its a good move, but next year they should stay lateral. Honestly I think I like Hoffman's chances of holding up and repeating last years numbers more than Wickmans chances. Wickman hasn't exactly been a model of health either. In 2004 he had an ERA over 4 (in just 30 games) and he missed all of 03 (well pretty much, he was just in the minors). Hoffman on the other hand since 1996, Hoffman has had just 1 season with under 60 appearances and his highest ERA was 3.43 during that same span. He is a yr older though, but I'd say Hoffman has the greater shot of holding up next year and in years beyond. I think 2 years would have been wiser. But money isn't going to effect them next year and I think its a good move for next year (hell if he pitches good next year they could always move him and the remaining two years to some other team).

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:03 PM) Please Tribe, give 38 year old Trevor Hoffman a 3 year deal. Thats a lot of years to give him, but Hoffman is still one of the best closers in the biz. I don't know if his hip (I think he has a bad hip, but I may be confusing him with Percy who I know has a bad hip) but he could definately wear down (plus he'll be 41 for cripe sake). That said I think he's an upgrade over Bob Wickman.

QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Dec 4, 2005 -> 12:51 AM) The Reds should trade for and extend Marquis. They could use a GB pitcher in that park That makes way too much sense for the Reds.

Going to merge this with the Juan Pierre thread.

The Dodgers would be the one team that would be able to offer him a starting job at his normal position and rumor is the Dodgers are interested in him.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 05:04 PM) There is NO WAY its just Bradley for Zito, no way. The Dodgers have some stud prospects. I don't think Joel Guzman would fit there (since they have Chavez locked up) but I would definately be thinking that Beane would be going after some of the Dodgers top prospects (all of which were in AA last year or well the vast majority were). Bradley and two top prospects would be a good move by the A's, imo, and there isn't a system I'd rather be getting a prospect from (I think in terms of high ceiling prospects they rank amongst the best in the biz right now).

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 08:06 AM) Yeah, thank God we found that out before Soxfest, I am going to try to get my Bmac jersey done this year. Maybe now I'll be the first Bmac-55 on my block I'll be sporting my original, old school 41

QUOTE(JimH @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 09:56 AM) Speaking of DJ, I hope the people in charge tell him to KEEP the "uh oh" call. It was so dorky off the get-go and then it became kind of like a cult classic. It seemed like he dropped it though. I loved it, but than again I'm a big DJ fan.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 03:34 PM) At least you guys can get goalposts down. ISU is setting a new standard for mediocrity in all sports lately. I suppose we have that women's gymnastics team... By the way, just cause you brought up wrestling I had to point out that Iowa won that match.

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 02:35 PM) Pittsburgh is the early favorite by 4. I'll take the points and say Pittsburgh 24 Chicago 13 137-54 this year for me. Not too bad for myself. Ummm...but you lost the one that mattered

Hell I should say my opinion is totally uneducated. Honestly best thing I could suggest is to meet the people your wife is meeting and talking to. Try going to there church on a Sunday (or whichever day is the big worship day in that religion) and try to see what its all about. I'm not educated on the issue and because of that I have my stupid stereotypes that may not be correct.

I'd take a shot at Price. He was once very good. He hasn't done anything in Dallas though nor in Atlanta (and they need WR help, although Roddy White is looking solid).

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 02:48 PM) Too bad they'll be at the Outback Bowl. Might say something about Hawk fans, however. Sorry, sick as a dog today. I just know they are playing in Florida against Florida. Now to come up with a good sig for you to flaunt around for a month

Just want to point something out. I dont' know what you guys were watching, but I was watching ESPN News and the hotlist just now and they had a long segment on the Sox and Kruk and Reynolds both seemed like they liked the move. They said it improved the offense and that they needed to make sure they could find a left handed bat to ensure the investment they just made in Konerko. Than they went to Gammons and that tool Steve Phillips. Gammons raved about Anderson, Owens (said how much Ozzie likes him) and than Chris Young and said how strong the system was that they have 3 top notch CF prospects (plus they traded Reed away in the Garcia deal). Phillips went on to say thats a credit to the Sox and thats how you got to do things, ocassionally developing in house guys and trading from a strength (which they did). It was a pretty good segment from what I could tell.

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Dec 4, 2005 -> 03:09 PM) look at strength of schedule. Look at the fact that Michigan travels much better than Iowa. A lot of that is what is selected for going into these games. And the Outback Bowl is still a pretty good bowl game to get into. Ummm...I'm not doubting you on Michigan travelling better than Iowa, but when it comes to football, I guarantee you Iowa fans will be packing it in at the gator bowl.

QUOTE(White Sox Josh @ Dec 4, 2005 -> 02:46 PM) they don't even deserve to go. They have no place in a Major Bowl Game. I am sorry but that is the truth. We just blew the game to you guys. Gimme a break, get off your homer glasses and start watching things from a neutral perspective.

QUOTE(southsideirish @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 02:39 PM) There is another cultish thing they push. Always pushing that the end of the world is near. I have heard that they have made many false prophecies as well. When I told my wife about this she asked her Bible study person and she had a legitimate answer for all of them. False prophecies are supposedly the work of the devil, correct? I always know they go around whining and saying your the devil for celebrating halloween and all that stuff too. It seems like they are too damn concerned with everyone else and what other people do for joy.