Chisoxfn

Have her tell the rest of the baseball team that he's much better then Cotts, lol.

First off, just want to say welcome aboard Bryan. Want to clarify something on your comments about Rodriguez and Orionny Lopez. Their was a reason they were promoted, these type of promotions happen all around the minors and in every organization. It was an organizational promotion in a sense, but it also deals with the fact that Charlotte is completely and utterly banged up. They went through about a two month period, where they were lucky if they had 2-3 guys available in the pen to pitch in relief. During the final week they needed some spot starts because the Sox called up Munoz, Grilli, and eventually Baj (Wilson Valdez too, but that was when the season ended). Obviously they needed guys to come up and your not going to mess or promote a guy from Bham, considering they are in the playoffs and you don't mess with chemistry. Winston Salem is also in that same position. Remember, these minor league teams want to win and have attendance as well and if you mess around they or any other minor league team wouldn't want to be affiliated with your organization. As far as Honel goes, sure he threw innings, but the Sox were always quite careful with him and you have to look at pitch count as well. He started his career in 2001 with rougly 74 innings. Plus he had pitched in high school. Then in 2002 he pitched roughly 158 innings. Thats definately a jump up, but when you mix in his high school innings it really isn't. The Sox also limited his pitch count and were careful with him. In 2003 he actually pitched less innings at 145. Their is no reason to say the Sox had him throw too many innings. When you look at Bmac, your looking at a juco pitcher. He has had time for his arm to build up. While this is his first full season (instead of short season) he still threw 101 innings last year with Great Falls and 78 innings the year before with Arizona. But he also pitched in games prior to the start of the season in "extended spring training". Sure he's thrown more innings this year, but the Sox once again watch his pitch count. He has great control and hasn't shown signs of arm trouble (knock on wood). No reason to hold a guy back simply because the innings are there. Its all the babying around that creates problems. Shut him down, why don't you ask him if he'd want to be shut down. This is a guy working his way up and doing what it takes to reach the majors. He isn't a bonus baby as you happened to mention and is gonna bust his ass to get their and has done a hell of a job thus far. Now in regards to Sweeney, Idon't have the numbers in front of me, but I can say pretty confidently that he hit over .300 in the 2nd half of the season, and I'd think its more around .320 to .330 in the second half of the season. No one and I mean no one expected for him to hit with power. What he did, as one of the youngest (I think he was the youngest at one point, not sure if he still is) players in high A ball is supurb, imo. The guy did nothing to fall on his face. He also played impressive defense and flashed a good arm making himself the top RF prospect in the Sox organization. Now lets talk about trades. I'll be the first to say the Sox traded away some prospects over the past few years. HOWEVER, I look and see what they gave up compared to how many they gave up. This is off the top of my head Scott Dunn - Called up to Anaheim when rosters expanded Bittner - may have a shot to be a back of the pen reliever (extreme if, although the angels seem to like him) Josh Rupe - probably the best of the bunch..pitching wise John Rauch - nothing...headcase, arm troubles, blah stuff Gary Majewski - I like him, good fastball, good slider, closers mind Mike Morse - doing good down in AA for the Mariners. May have a shot, but despite the numbers has a long long way to go. Francisco Rodriguez (Rangers) - definately has a power arm, but no one and I mean no one would of thunk he'd do what he did this year. Webster - doing solid, may have a shot (very overrated though by BA). Jeremy Reed - has a shot, but I doubt will be a "special player", not many guys are and its not a knock on him. I like Reed a lot. Ring - Don't think much of him Edwin Almonte - Ehhh Joe Valentine - last I looked I thought he was like the 5th starter in cinncy now, converted from a reliever. Still..I doubt he'll amount to that much Tim Hummel - waived and then claimed by Boston (I think). What I'm saying is, I don't see any real LEGIT prospects that would all of a sudden make this system amazing. Remember, every year your also bringing in more prospects, plus Kenny got guys like Cotts, Pacheco (albeit he was a huge dissapointment this year), Ruddy Yan, Edwin Valdez, etc via some trades. Haven't really looked at the top 10, but a quick one off the top of my head would be: - BMac - Brian Anderson - Ryan Sweeney - Josh Fields - Felix Diaz - Gio Gonzalez - Arnie Munoz - Sean Tracey - Tyler Lumsden - Wes Whisler I don't have Borch on there anymore.

Hah, I was just going to email these two articles to see if you saw them

Wow...that was bad.

Isn't that what it says in the article? Or at least thats what it said when I just went their, but you may of edited it. He was hitting .326 on May 1st. He was down to .291 at the end of May. While that wasn't awful, it was definately during May where his struggles began as his wrist injury really started to flare up.

Charlotte Knights: A Year in Review By Andrew Dunn September 7, 2004 FutureSox.com The Charlotte Knights finished off a disappointing year in the International League South finishing 4th in their division with a 68-74 record after going 74-70 the previous season. It was a disruptive season all round for the Knights. Numerous player changes throughout the season made it difficult for the Knights to build any chemistry....MORE

Happy Bday to the two of ya

August 27: LHP Byeong Hak An sent to low A Kannapolis; catcher Cipriano Garcia activated from the DL August 30: SS Pedro Lopez sent to AA Birmingham; SS Andy Gonzalez received from AA Birmingham; P Jose Mieses sent to AAA Charlotte Sept. 4: OF Ricardo received from low A Kannapolis; P Fernan Hernandez received from low A Kannapolis; IF Chris Amador placed on DL Sep 7: OF Tom Brice promoted to AA Birmingham Does that help you out Rex, or do you need a little more info?

Thomas Brice Will Replace Anderson in Bham By Jason Gage September 7, 2004 FutureSox.com The Birmingham Barons playoff run begins on Wednesday when RHP Brandon McCarthy takes the hill against the Mobile Bay Bears (in Mobile Bay). However, the Barons will be without the familiar face of star outfielder Brian Anderson, who was placed on the disabled list on September 1st and is out for the season...MORE

Oh, I think I have the dates for the DL and what not. I have a list of their roster moves as well. Let me tell ya that in a sec. Just putting up an article on Anderson/Brice

He is definately out for the season...the hernia thing is not yet their official announcemnt, but that could very well be the problem. Rex is usually dead on

Posted it in the other thread, but figured its easier to find in a seperate thread. 25 Man Roster: Pitchers: Fabio Castro Brad Murray Jose Espinal Fernando Hernandez Ehren Wasserman Dwayne Pollock Sean Tracey Tyler Lumsden Brian Miller Kenny Ray Wes Whisler Paulino Reynoso Catchers: Wally Rosa Cipriano Garcia Gustavo Molina Infielders: Tommy Nicholson Josh Fields Andy Gonzalez Josh Shafer Casey Rogowski Brian Becker Outfielders: Darren Blakely Ricardo Nanita Ryan Sweeney Peanut Williams (he is a player/coach)

25 Man Roster: Pitchers: Fabio Castro Brad Murray Jose Espinal Fernando Hernandez Ehren Wasserman Dwayne Pollock Sean Tracey Tyler Lumsden Brian Miller Kenny Ray Wes Whisler Paulino Reynoso Catchers: Wally Rosa Cipriano Garcia Gustavo Molina Infielders: Tommy Nicholson Josh Fields Andy Gonzalez Josh Shafer Casey Rogowski Brian Becker Outfielders: Darren Blakely Ricardo Nanita Ryan Sweeney Peanut Williams (he is a player/coach)

At this point, I think he's replacing Anderson on the roster, but I'm waiting for verification.

Rex, I got the answer, also want to note that Brice was sent up to WS today. I don't have time to type in all the names cause I'm running a little late for a meeting. Once I get back, I'll post up the roster

I gotta run, but I got the question answered on WS's roster. I also want to add that Brice was promoted to Bham today. I'm hoping Rex knows whether he's on the playoff roster or not, if not, I'll find out later today and get up an article.

Emails been sent. Also asked some other questions for a story I'm writing up. So I'll post when I get back from my meeting later today Rex

The good thing about Bmac is he was able to add muscle over the past offseason and should be able to do more of the same. As far as Gio goes, he's still in A ball, lets see what happens as he moves through the system. I know Rex isn't writing him off, but your right, at a short stature the odds are definately stacked up against you in terms of durability, especially as a starter. Doesn't mean he won't make it and remember, very few guys are legit potential #1's. Thats a term that gets thrown around way too much if you ask me. Like some have mentioned ,their aren't more then 10 or 15 true #1's, if not less.

Springfield, to be honest, I have no idea where you ever heard Bmac being talked about as a flamethrower. He's always had a tremendous strikeout to walk ratio, but the only time he was really talked about prior to this year was on these boards and FutureSox.com and I know that I never talked him up to having a blazing fastball. This year I started mentioning the fact that he's added velocity to his fastball (he's also added weight to his frame) and a year ago, I mentioned he was projectable, but I don't know where you got where he threw mid 90's. I also should tell ya, if your reading BA's prospect books, sure they are good, but they got some flaws. For example Jesse Foppert hitting 100 MPH, well he ain't even close to that at the MLB level. Then their is the White Sox's Brian Miller throwing "easy heat" around 95 MPH and that ain't happening either. Sometimes guys get a velocity labeled on them from the very best they've ever hit or what not or they could be getting clocked on a loose gun at the time. I think WS's stadium gun is a little too high. I saw Castro hitting 95 MPH and I don't quite think he hits that. The best thing is for people who have the ability to watch the guys a few times, to chart their gun readings and roughly take the average. Still, if a pitcher has good movement and good command on a few pitches, he should have a sucessful career. BMac has made some tremendous strides this season and some of the bigger prospect reports are starting to catch eye.

If thats what it takes, fine by me.

He's doing what he can to end the argument. Remember, personal attacks aren't welcome here. I'm doing my best to get the dispute ended respectfully. I don't like showing up one party or another. I'd much rather see the topic get back on track with civilized discussion where you talk about the points at hand rather then the poster or what not.

Ya, it will be AFL and thats it. Now I'm guessing/assuming that Munoz will pitch in the winter league. Personally I think he should just stop as he's had a ton of pressure on his arm, but I'm guessing it will be a personal decision and what not (I don't have any inside info on this).

Lets end the cheap shots. That type of stuff doesn't have to be said. I'm going to counter. While you can say the Red Sox are all thats right in baseball, its my personal opinion that a >125 million payroll is still way too much. While they aren't the Yankees, they certainly aren't what I call whats right in baseball. Would I like to see the BoSox catch the yanks in the division, heck ya, but thats just cause "TO ME" they are the lesser of two evils, plus I like the way the BoSox play. But if I was going to say whats right about baseball, it was last year when the Marlins kicked the crap out of the YANKEES and won the world series. The Fish are coming on strong again and have their shot and as much as I hate to say it so do the Twins. To me those two teams are two teams that exemplify whats "Right" in baseball.

I'm sure you've made assumptions about Cub fans or another teams fans as well. He wasn't make the comments like you. Every team has die hard fans that don't whine and what not. Its typically the casual fans that create that so called "image". I ask that you all respectively disagree and move on, to me thats the best thing at this point.

Val is the other one correct? As far as Gary goes, I don't know where Cerb stands, but I think he's got a shot to be pretty good. He's really got a great attitude and good stuff to boot. He's still got to work a bit on his control and what not, but he's definately got the frame of mind to suceed and to me, he's got the arm as well. I've long been a fan of Majewski's and I wish him all the best in Montreal.