Chisoxfn

Anyone want to tell me what is the big deal? Maybe they are complaining because he looks funny in the suit, but anyone in the suit would look funny.

I'm a huge Sean Tracey fan

Interesting, probably just a way to say the Sox aren't sitting back. Hopefully KW is working on making a good deal to help the Sox even more

The question is what starter and I think the Sox are best going all out for a guy like Leiter or Johnson or instead looking at a guy that not many teams are looking at. Maybe even a player that could help the team this year and continue to get better the next few years. I don't know who all is on the block, but quite often guys get moved where you go, didn't know he was on the market, that type of pickup may be the best, cause KW won't be bidding it up with other teams, just one. Hell Steve Traschel may not be too bad of an idea. He's not great, but he has done a solid job this year with an ERA in the mid 3's. Paul Wilson - Reds - Done a great job this year, Reds will possibly look for a prospect or two. He's got a winning record, decent stuff, and good numbers in a hitters park. 9-2 with a 3.84 ERA. Of course Levine mentioned Lidle as a possibility, but maybe the Sox instead inquired about Wilson. Livan Hernandez - Expos - Puts up good numbers, postseason experience, Sox have a good working relationship with Minaya. 7-10 with a 3.86 ERA Zach Day - Expos - Young, puts up good numbers, don't know if he's available, but should be due for arbitration. At least worth trying. 5-9 with a 3.77 ERA Tony Armas - Expos - Young, but makes decent money. He's coming off some injuries, but when healthy he is a very good pitcher. He has had a good month of July and is 2-3 with a 3.97 ERA on the season. Opponents are hitting just .234 against him. Kip Wells - Pirates - May just be able to get him, although it could cost a good amount. Young, good arm, good pitcher. Miguel Bastista/Ted Lilly - Blue Jays - Both are veterans, having good years. Don't know if Toronto is going to give up either of them.

I didn't hear that...KW was reported as talking with a GM Before the game? I'd throw out the Dbacks as a possibility. I think in the end, the Sox may make a pretty hard push at Johnson and/or Bautista.

If the Sox add someone like Catalanato and another starter to push Scho to the bullpen, then I'll be really excited. I think those two moves would be able to be done without mortgaging the farm (hopefully) and would give the Sox some nice chips for the stretch run.

I'm not saying the Sox could get them, but why not push up the price tag, kind of like the Yanks always do to the Red Sox.

Catallanato and a pitcher.

Not that drastic, usually its about a .3-.5 increase and that is me over-estimating. At the same time, he plays in a division with some pretty good offenses. Not saying he's an ace, but at 29, and when healthy he is pretty solid. I just don't write him off as a nobody pickup by the Twins, if it does happen. At the same time he coudl choke under pressure, get hurt, or what not.

I'm not saying Cooperstown, but he has been pitching pretty good. His velocity is up and he's healthy. Other then Randy Johnson, he's the best pitcher on the market. If the Sox could find a way to add him and Kendall, and their have been reports Benson could come cheaply if included with Kendall, then I think the Sox would have to think long and hard about it. Payroll wise, it would add a lot this year, plus Kendalls long term deal, which I'd hope the Pirates would be willing to pick up (around 25-35%). The Sox are losing Maggs anyway, but those two, could really put the Sox as the frontrunner to win the division, plus it keeps Benson out of the Twins hands, which is huge, imo. Right now the two teams are incredibly close to even (with maggs and Frank gone) and the way the Twins play, they win out if both teams are even talent wise (as of this point; Sox execution is still pretty crappy, imo). If they get Benson, then to me they go one up.

Mild Concussion. He wouldn't of played today anyway, Davis typically catches Garcia.

For those that keep talking about Benson and being bad (I was once one of them), I'm going to post Benson's stats. 8-8, 4.22 ERA, 132.1 INN, 137 H, 83 K, 44 BB Now those are good numbers, but you could make a case that he gives up a few more hits then innings pitched and what not. However, bust out the splits and if you take away the month of May, in which he had a 8.10 ERA and the guy has been awesome. Minus May, his worse ERA between April, June, and July is 3.31 (June). He had a 3.23 in April and a 2.08 in July. That is pretty impressive and to be honest, with the Twins about to get him, I wouldn't mind if the Sox came in offered Scho and a prospect or something along those lines to snag him (not saying it would do it, but I'd try, cause Benson on the Twins makes them a lot tougher). Now I'm going to go one tougher and give his ERA against the better teams in the NL: Atlanta - 2.25 ERA - 1 Start (Its not counting the latest start he made against them) Chicago - 1.46 ERA - 2 Starts Florida - 2.16 ERA - 1 Start Houston - 7.11 ERA - 2 starts Cardinals - 6.30 ERA - 3 starts - 2 of them were in May, where he was awful Anaheim - 1.13 ERA in one start - This is a great hitting AL Team Not too bad against the better teams in the NL, plus one good hitting AL Team.

He will be pitched to. The Sox are in this to win and beaning the leadoff batter is not what I'd call effective or wise. I do think you could see a brawl in tonights game though.

I can add to this a bit, but in yesterdays game he topped out at 96 MPH, so his velocity is definately increasing rapidly as he continues to add wait. I think eventually he could end up being consistently in the 94-96 MPH range, we'll see if I'm right though. I'm assuming the 96 MPH was an outlier at this point and that he is still consistently in the 93 MPH range. However, the fact that he got it up their says a little something in terms of him gaining MPH to his fastball. With his control, he could be pretty nasty with a plus fastball and the curve/changeup. Hell, he's already nasty, but I mean even nastier!!!!

Fox Sports Net

Well it must not be official, because Mient is still with the Twins, of course he isn't playing, which should be evidence enough. The Twins announcers are talking about it and how he's expected to be moved shortly.

According to the LA Times Hunter went ballistic on a fan in the game. According to Hunter a fan told him he was going to kill him or something.

Your pretty right on. This team is really going to have to step up its play and execute. The key is execution and they haven't been doing that the past 2 weeks or so. They can't not execute and win without having Maggs and Thomas. It was hard enough when they were healthy. I also think they need to make a move. The flaw is the system is getting rather barren at the upper levels, which is typically what teams are interested in acquiring. The Benson move is a great pickup. He is pitching like he was pre-injury of late. Plus, Mient wasn't doing crap and Morneau is a hell of a player, imo, now he has a position to play.

Happy Bday Pastime. Hope its a good one and that the Sox win

He still makes them better. I'm guessing Mient and a prospect.

Johnson has always been a quiet guy. I'm going to go out and say this is just pure speculation and bs from the papers.

Right now he gets as high as 93 MPH, but I have a pretty firm belief that when he finishes filling out he could be up in the 95 MPH zone. His fastball has decent movement and like has been mentioned many times, he has amazing control of it. He's around 200 pounds, maybe a little more, although the Sox site lists him at 180 (This is incorrect).

Unfortunately its true. Prayers go out to his family.

From some of the things I've read about his condition, I think their is probably a less than 50% chance that he comes back at all this year. It also sounds like this condition could have a long term effect on his career. It supposedly leads to arthiritis and other things that can limit mobility. I guess it all stems from his collission with Willie Harris. I know Harris has also been complaining about his leg hurting, although Ithink with him its an ankle. That injury also stems from that collission.