Chisoxfn

I remember liking the Benson pick. I too was a big Derrick Johnson supporter, but I think I said if Braylon was there I'd take him. Aside from that I can't complain with the Bears taking a RB. I long said Williams would be a TE.

Alex get excited...CU is getting killed. :evilgrin

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:41 PM) Pierre's decent in CF. He's not the worse. He's just middle of the pack defensively. Would he be a downgrade defensively from Rowand or Anderson? Yes. Who'd of thought we'd agree on something.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:40 PM) As you said, "Does Hawk play CF? No one needs to play center to tell you whether there are swirling winds that effect the ball. I didn't say Hawk had to get a read on the ball did I? I know there are...I've seen numerous quotes, as Rowand44 mentioned, Andruw Jones had a hell of a time with those winds (in fact I think Jones event commented on that and in case you don't know 04 was after the renovations that you claim made the winds blow straight out everywhere). Ask all the Cfers that have played CF at the Cell. Its long been known and is still known as one of the toughest places to play CF.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:37 PM) The wind blows straight out. Not in center. What your saying is dead wrong. CF still has swirling winds. Hell, send Hawk an email, maybe than you'd listen.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:35 PM) USCF made Andruw Jones look like an idiot in 04, I think that's all anyone needs to know. Nah nah, there is no wind in Chicago

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:30 PM) The wind at the Cell doesn't swirl anymore. It hasn't for two years. It goes straight out which is why the park has become a HR hitters ballpark. Are you playing in CF. They still talk about winds swirling out there. There aren't many balls hit out to dead center. Usually the additional hr's have came from the short LF porch. Thats not saying the renovation changed the winds some, but I have still heard the same things about the wind since the renovations (specifically in CF).

I for one hope Marte is back. I don't see any other replacements out there.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:27 PM) Beltre had one great season in a contract year. Last year Beltre hit .255 with 19 HR and 87 RBI's. I would venture to say Crede would match the RBI's if he hit in a 3-4-5 hole. Just end it...Beltre >>> Crede All being equal, salary and everything else and its not close. Beltre had a down year last year and sure he had a career year. Thats not to say it wasn't the best year ever by a 3rd baseman. I'm not some homer and I don't just have this strong opinions unless I have a damn good reason behind em. In this case I know I'm right, most of the time I think things are debatable but the things your talking about aren't. Ask anyone in baseball in regards to any of the things were debated and they'll give you the answers I've been giving you (and no I'm not some baseball expert of front office exec, I'm far from it). That said I'm not gonna sit and just look at foolish post after foolish post where people slam Aaron's defense or say Crede is god.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:25 PM) What are you basing this on? Kotsay is good in CF, but ranked well behind Rowand in Zone Rating (used as a % of balls gotten to, rather than RF, which is based upon opportunities), Rate2, and Fielding Win Shares. Really, all you have is your "opinion" backing you that Kotsay is/was better defensively than Rowand (or equal). I'm just sick of seeing people continously knock Rowand and say he lets a million balls fall in front of him Keith. Of course he has nothing to base this on.

Keep rushing that ball.

2.25 mill is a bargain for Marte. Lets not forget Marte is still better than Scott Eyre and most other lefties in the biz. Sure he had a rough season, but he was still solid and he's signed to a very affordable deal.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:19 PM) Crede and Beltre are equal to each other. Beltre has a stronger arm and that's pretty much it. More range too. But I'm a big time Beltre backer (as am I a Crede backer). Beltre is a pure stud when healthy. Two years ago, he put up the best season ever by a 3rd baseman (as far as I'm concerned).

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:12 PM) Size has a lot to do with how tough it is defensively to get a read on the ball. Put Aaron in Oakland and he doesn't get to as much balls as he did last year. Put Kotsay in CF for the White Sox last year and I'd say he gets to as much if not more. Size doesn't have anything to do with getting a read. Playing nooks and crannies of your park, that deals with knowing the field and how the balls bounce. Getting a read is getting a read, big part or small. Now when your having to factor swirling winds into the park, that effects how well you can get reads. You know a park is huge, you still get your read and have to go get the ball. Whether its going to stay in the park or not, you have your read. Are you positioned different in a huge cavernous outfield...sure, but that doesn't effect your read.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:13 PM) Defensively: Rowand > Cabrera, Ramirez, probably Rolen if his injury flares up again. I agree with you. Crede is the best in the biz next to a healthy Rolen, Beltre, and Chavez. Oh and another guy I'd take in a heartbeat and the guy who I think has a shot to be the best 3rd baseman in 05 would be Adrian Beltre.

8 point game.

I slept till 10:30, it was great.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:10 PM) I'm keeping Crede over anyplayer not named Chavez. Cabrerra, Rolen, Aramis Ramirez...all better than Crede. There are guys better than Joe. I love Joe and I don't even know why I'm discussing it. He's going to be back on the SouthSide and I think he's going to have a good year. .270ish with 30 Hr's (he's gonna do it this year).

Except Fresno State is much better, but this is a rivalry game. Nice, Aggies stop Texas with a loss. Looks like another punting situation

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:08 PM) Kotsay played in the spacious Oakland OF. I'd say he's better. No...size has nothing to do with tougher place to play (at least not if you have good range). Getting good reads on the ball in US Cellular is way tougher. When it comes to going and getting balls in a big park, Aaron has long shown there isn't a guy better than him at it (outside of Jones and Hunter). Aaron can flat get jumps and go get em. He showed that in New York (a very very spacious CF).

QUOTE(bmags @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:06 PM) well, i was still living off of his 1st year stats (fields) which were pretty terrible...so those were more promising... schnursteins numbers were very nice...didn't he get stalled because of fields thou? Ya, but its not a big issue. Micah and Josh will probably be together in Bham for a while, so I'm guessing one will be moving positions for a short time. I can't recall for sure, but I remember hearing some rumors of Micah switching positions (I can't remember where too, SS is what I keep coming back to, but I can't picture him playing there, especially since Valido will probably be in Bham). Well Josh could be in Charlotte next year since he had a full season in Bham, but I'd give him more time in Bham myself.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 12:02 PM) I'd say he's not Mark Kotsay or Vernon Wells either. He's in line with Jeremy Reed and Jim Edmonds. I'm not saying Rowand sucks or anything, but Anderson does have better tools defensively than Rowand. A lot of people are idiots for thinking that Rowand is so damn great defensively and can't be replaced...yadda yadda yadda. I can name a bunch of people with better tools. Facts are facts and Aaron is one of the best defensive centerfielders out there. The only one that I'd possibly say is better than Aaron (outside of Hunter and Jones) is a healthy Mike Cameron. Kotsay is pretty good but I'd say him and Aaron are so similar, but I give Aaron the heads up because he plays at a tougher park to play CF. Vernon Wells = Laughable. His laziness gets in the way. I didn't say his defense can't be replaced. A certain poster (YOU) said that Anderson is better than Rowand defensively. That is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Get a clue. I'm all for debating, but this is something that can't be debated cause its so laughable. Have I ever said Anderson doesn't have good tools? Nope, don't recall ever saying that. I haven't even said Aaron is'nt replaceable, but Anderson will not be as good as Aaron Rowand defensively this year (he will make some really nice plays in the OF though and will be a good defensive CFer). I've long said that Anderson's upside is Torri Hunter (both offensively and defensively).

QUOTE(Texsox @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 11:59 AM) I've become very disenchanted with developing talent. So many can't miss prospects, miss. It seems more luck than anything else. And I was thinking of the Sox history at 1st base and almost forgot about a big guy from Auburn they drafted back in the 80s. He's one of the reasons the Sox haven't really ever made any high draft choices when it comes to the 1st base position. I know major league depth shouldn't be a factor, but its hard for it not to be when you had a guy like Frank Thomas. That said they really have had absolutely nothing lately. Than again, you can typically move a prospect from another spot later on and its a position not many teams seem to really go after (in the sense of drafting a 1st baseman really high, they'll draft good hitters that eventually need to slide into a position, but rarely are 1st baseman super high picks as opposed to other positions).

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 11:34 AM) You're 100% correct.... If only Rowand had been playing shallower on these two plays A bunch of idiots keep talking about all these plays that dropped in front of em. I'd just ignore em, they are flipping fools who continually show there lack of baseball knowledge .

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 25, 2005 -> 11:23 AM) When you have the ability...getting the perfect jump is something you can learn. Most people here have said that Anderson gets good jumps, has great speed out there, and has a throwing arm vastly better than Rowand's. That's a good combo to build off of. I totally agree. I just laugh at people that think Anderson is going to come in and win a gold glove. People forget that Chicago (US Cell) is supposed to be one of the very hardest places to play centerfield. I've heard that numerous times from former major leaguers and its been quoted many places. CF has swirling winds and it makes it a very very tough place to play CF. A lot of people are idiots and its those that are hating on Rowands defense and thinking its easily replaceable (I'm not talking about you Balta, but its something that pisses me off and its so laughable but these people are essentially convincing other people). If you know baseball you know Aaron is one of the premiere defensive CF'ers in the game. He's not Andruw Jones and he's not Torri Hunter...he's possibly at the front of the next class though and is a top 5 defensive outfielder.