Chisoxfn

2005 Charlotte Knights Season Preview By Jason Gage April 12, 2005 The Charlotte Knights are revamped for 2005 with the two best prospects in the organization a-top the roster (Brian Anderson and Brandon McCarthy). Charlotte failed to make the playoffs last season, mainly in part to injuries to their veterans that left the club in a pinch down the stretch. In fact, injuries got so bad at one point last year, that rarely did they have more than two players available in the pen. MORE

I was quick...I was reading through the rest and realized I was a moron. I was reading hte post going, how be damn, I didn't realize the Giants played the Sox this weekend Don't worry steff, give it a day and I'll open myself up by saying something else dumb

Is that the Jason Johnson whose with the Tigers? I'm assuming its a rehab start?

Its going to be a major shakeup. Lopez probably won't go anywhere but some cuts are going to be made. Becker was on the chop list but he probably got himself off it with his good play as of late. Diaz is another guy they will have to make room for. Some big changes will be made and I'm thinking Bham is pretty happy with their roster on the most part.

QUOTE(giantsfankev @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 08:02 AM) Hi guys, Giants fan here, living in Chicago. Hope you guys are enjoying AJ...we don't really miss him! :-) I have two questions: Would I be better off buying tickets for Saturday's game online, or at the ballpark? Also, the website lists the parking at $17...That seems like a lot. Are there other lots nearby for less? Any help would be appreciated. Kevin If you live in Chicago I'd take the l. I also know the Sox worked out some deals where if you work in Chicago you can park at the stadium really early and take hte L in and not have to pay for parking in the city. But ya, unfortunatley parking is quite expensive. I'd say the demand could be high (but tickets will be available day of). I'd just get them on Ticketmaster and pay the fee. But if your around the stadium you might as well go that way cause you can get a better pick of the lot usually (then just picking seats online).

Once April roles around I get to the point that I just want that damn draft to show up. Looking forward to it, two weeks from now the day after my bday

QUOTE(YASNY @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 02:10 AM) But Dusty is such a wonderful "player's manager" !

I saw something today saying 4 weeks on the tribune. Was that a late story or was it an update?

QUOTE(Palehosefan @ Apr 11, 2005 -> 06:44 PM) Hey Jason were there ever rumors of Adrian Beltre on steroids? He seems to be the perfect candidate to have taken them, with the muscle he amassed in one offseason and the kind of year he suddenly had in a contract year. I wonder if he's lost any mass this year and if his numbers will reflect it. I also wonder if they Dodgers were worried about that at all and that factored into their not re-signing Adrian. He had an insane stat jump last year, almost .100 points gained in the average and a 25 homer 41 rbi jump, and maybe the most controversial, his slugging percentage went up over 200 points. Boy, thats alot of wondering for one night, I need to take a break. Nope, none. He's always been a pretty good size guy and is still insanely young. The only time he lost any weight was after his emergency appendectamy during like his 2nd year which damn year cost him his life and pretty much made him terrible for a full season (he played but wasn't near 100% strenght). Beltre's long been a stud waiting to happen and he'll do nothing but excel in Seattle, imo.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2004 @ Apr 11, 2005 -> 07:29 PM) Will agree to disagree. I put both of those on Hinrich. You could sense that when we went up 8 he was gettin cute out there. Fair enough. I know one thing, I'm glad this happened now so they can have this memory in the back of their mind come playoff time.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2004 @ Apr 11, 2005 -> 07:24 PM) True. But the two turovers by Hinrich kept the Pistons in the game. And it's not like he was pressured, he was gettin cute out there and it cost us. If Curry is the one he puts that ball into, you got 2 points. He had tremendous position and just didn't go after it. I'm not blaming one of those turnovers on Hinrich. It was all Davis not taking the initiative and instead waiting for the ball to hit him in his hands (he didn't even reach out for the ball).

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Apr 11, 2005 -> 05:38 PM) Ya, Gotay is their 2nd baseman, I personally think he's going to be a good player, he didn't really put up great numbers in the minor leagues but he's got a short and quick swing and a live bat. I think he's going to be a good player but that's jmo. He looked amazing on Sunday in Anaheim. Had 4 hits one of them a BIG TIME Bomb. Colon was shaking his head wondering who the hell he was, lol.

May we be the underdogs in the division all year, up until the day the Sox clinch it

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2004 @ Apr 11, 2005 -> 07:21 PM) I said they "both" f***ed it up. But I expect more of Hinrich being the pg. I expect AD to be a good passer considering he's been in the league for how long now. He made an awful decision and through into triple coverage. I have no idea how that is anyones fault but Davis'. At the same time the Bulls didn't make shots in the end and just plane got out of rhythm. Davis made a mistake, but the game shouldn't of been that close at that point anyway. The Bulls backed off and didn't execute offensively after getting up 8 in OT and it bit them in the ass.

Hinrich made a mistake or two, but when he had the ball and brought it up court I thought he did just fine breaking the press. He also made a nice pass into the low post to AD but Wallace made a hell of a defensive play to knock it away. Of course it wouldn't of came to that if Davis went to grab the ball instead of let it hit him with his hands at his side. Still, as long as the Bulls learn from this I'll be alright with the loss.

Davis with two poor plays in the last minute to help them lose the game. At the same time can't really complain all that much. I only saw the end of the 4t hand OT, but hey, they played with Detroit and should of won without Eddy. Hopefully we meet Detroit in the Conference Finals

For those tieing the Cubs to steroids...Piedra was a former Cubs farm hand I Remember seeing a post somewhere on this board with people talking about all the Cubs farmhands that had been suspended the first go round.

I thought the exact same thing...in it being Gene. All I know is that was a White Sox Winner

To be honest, Munoz probably belongs right where Diaz is because both are similar. I still see more upside in Munoz but both have had up and down sucess and are a little battered about. Of course Munoz is still just 22 and that curve is wicked. Like Dan says though, if he struggles in Charlotte he's pretty much into the midst of the Adkins/Diaz/Walker which is being a back of the end reliever at best, imo.

The reason Hansen is in Kanny is most likely because he's more of an organizational guy. Latter round pick without much upside, but you never know. If Francisco and Lucy were together they would be fighting for playing time and that would be detrimental. I still firmly believe you won't see Lucy get many AB's down in WS and that he's essnetially an extended spring training type of guy, but his college experience could make him ready for WS I guess. They say he's supposed to be a stud defensively. Offensively is where he's semi overmatched at this point, but he's a hell of an athlete for a catcher.

I noticed I never finished Gio's up. I only got about halfway done so I'll have an update up tomorrow with info on Gio's stuff. That update will go along with the final list.

I've long been a Crede backer, so count me in.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 11, 2005 -> 08:16 AM) The sad thing is that no one is mentioning the excellent defensive play that should have resulted in the CS at 3B of Torii Hunter by covering his line to the base. Hunter never got his foot on the bag, (as Joe had it perfectly blocked) and Crede had the tag down, but the ump just flat out missed it. That was an awesome play. He also made a nice play on a slow grounder fielded it and made the throw and Joe Morgan was showing the replay talking about how thats exactly how its supposed to be done.

I gotta feeling he's just listed there, but he hasn't gotten any ab's or anything yet. I heard he was in extended spring but maybe they want him up there just working with some of the pitchers in the pen while taking BP with the team because there really isn't much of a reason for him to skip Kannapolis, unless of course they want him in Winston Salem because they feel he's more ready to be rushed than Francisco. Problem is Lucy didnt play well last year.

Good call on one of them. My guess is Young would be the one to go down, but it could very well be Owens as well.