Chisoxfn

Happy Bday CWSguy. Hope you have a good one

Rex, I do assure you I'm gonna get my ass out their sooner or later though. Maybe right at the end when Fields/Anderson get called up.

I think John Hurd or another one of the Sox picks last year also had a knuckleball. He mixed it with a pretty good fastball if I recall. Hurd is the name that sticks out, but I confuse him with a couple other pitchers drafted by the Sox last year so I could be off on the name.

Ya.

Kip Wells would be the pitcher I'd want (although I'm thinking something is up with him cause his numbers have went funkist). However, it still brings in a big long term contract and if the Sox have Elo/Freddy/Maggs all as potential walkouts then I'd hate to see Kendall as the reason all of them leave or something along those lines. I like Kendall, but I think their are other more important needs at this point and other cheaper, better defensive options (Schnider).

He'll be a Padres, book it. He loves San Diego and he'll say its the only team he'll accept a deal to so he can go back.

As much as Kendall, Benson, Mesa would be helpful I wouldn't do that deal. Their are better ways to spend that money and PItt would have to give them to us for free (player wise and salary wise) for it to make sense (whose to say they won't). I'm just not a Kris Benson fan although he has had a couple of good outings as of late.

The only comments I really take into account are the fact that these playesr really seemed to think Garcia was a frontline pitcher and thats something I love to hear.

If Elo is willing to sign a contract similar to what Buehrle got then I think he stays. Personally I think Maggs will probably be gone at the end of teh season and that the Sox will reup with Elo and Garcia. They will then look to add a quality reliever and of course another bat or two (left handed). I could see them resigning everyone pretty much if this team goes deep in the playoffs and fan support keeps growing. However, I think at the very least Jose Valentin's bat will be replaced by Joe Borchard (who will be playing OF) with Harris and Uribe up the middle and Valdez on the bench as a utility man.

Morse has some talent, but I still think the stars have to align for him to make it at the major league level.

Good stuff Dan and s*** Bmac doing his thing.

For once you don't hear me b****ing about Valentin...and that says something I'd still like to see him cut down on his k's though.

Personally I think any of the guys I mentioned would be good pickups. Personally I like Zaun or Schneider because they are better defensively and both are solid offensively. Zaun could possibly be had relatively cheap though and who knows maybe Schneider could be too cause he's due arbitration. Plus both are left handed bats (well Zaun is switch) which is nice.

Agreed, u know me, I'm not one to ever saw a GM went back on their word. For all we know KW is saying this for leverage. Ozzie said it yesterday, we plan on keeping Maggs and they will stick to that line. Why, first off, because they don't want it to look like he's gone because he may have to play here and they don't want to ruin relationships for future contract negtotiations. Plus, if they are trying to make a trade, you gotta make it seem like you don't want to deal them and the Sox can easily say hey, Maggs is our star, give us a s***load for him or don't get him at all. Were a very good team with him. GM's gotta say things to keep the players happy and what not at times. Plus, I think almost all Sox fans love Maggs and would hate to lose him (myself included, even though I"m more then open to the idea of dealing him).

I posted that quote as well in one of the threads. To me its a pretty bold statement and sure it can be BS, but for whatever reason, I'm gonna take Kenny's word. He's sometimes said if the right offer came along we'd have to accept, but I don't think he'd be out their actively shopping him. If a deal goes down with Atlanta, look for it to be a deal that puts the team over the top, with the Sox keeping Maggs like Jim and SSirish have suggested.

Jason Kendall: .317, .396 OBP, .781 OPS, 2 HR, 30 RBI. He's thrown out 34% of would be base stealers which is good compared to his career numbers. Owed big bucks for another 3 years. Johnny Estrada: .338 AVG, .388 OBP, 4 HR, 44 RBI He is throwing out just 19% of would be basestealers which is downright AWFUL. However, in an extended period of time in 2001 he threw out .35% of would be base stealers. I think he is still a year away from being arbitration eligible (He has played parts of 3 other seasons in the majors) and a few years off from becoming a free agent. I'm not sure if two of his years count though, so he may still be under control by the team that has him for a bit longer. However, Estrada is hitting .381 vs. righties. Greg Zaun - Switch Hitter .312 AVG, .401 OBP, .820 OPS, 2 HR, 15 RBI He is throwing out 46% of would be base stealers, although his career numbers indicate he should be a bit lower. He is hitting .297 vs. righties this season (.413 OBP) and .333 vs lefties. He has more at bats against righties on the season. Brian Schneider - L .251 AVG, .301 OBP, 8 HR, 21 RBI. May not be great offensively, but he is a stud behind the plate. Throwing out 53.3% of would be base stealers. Last season he threw out 52.9% of base stealers and in 2002 it was in the upper 40%'s. He also only has two passed balls this year, which tells me he does a good job blocking the plate. If you ask me a deal with Schneider and Livan Hernandez/Zach Day/Tony Armas could be interesting. Another option: Benito Santiago. He is out 6-8 weeks with a broken hand, but is expected back at the end of July. Who knows, he could be a waiver deal as well. Has postseason experience and would be a hell of a leader down the stretch.

I know he did pretty well in winter ball last year or something along those lines. Don't know where he his this year, I'd guess he's still pitching somewhere. Man what an arm that kid had.

I'd say most likely this is just an old rumor being rehashed by the times. Kenny wouldn't deal Jose unless he was getting another left handed bat in return, possibly even in a 3 team deal. I also heard the Angels aren't likely to be active at the deadline.

Well, Willie . And of course GLoad and Timo off the bench.

I would say no, unless the Sox are about to acquire J.D. Drew as the left handed bat. Then the Sox can go with Willie and Juan up the middle and Crede at 3rd making Jose expendable. I think this deal is pure speculation on the Angels part because I can't see the Sox making that move. However, lets not forget the Angels could potentially put Adam Kennedy (who is struggling) or Eckstein in the deal to make it interesting. Usually I'd like the idea of Kennedy (a lefty bat) but at this case in point it wouldn't make sense. I'd say this deal is pretty unlikely at this point, although I'd like Ramon Ortiz on the southside.

If the Sox give up CHris Young for Jason Kendall...ICK is all I can say. However, Kendall would be a good fit on the southside if the Sox end up paying him 5-6 mill a year for the remainder of the contract. If the Pirates eat that much of the contract, then they can have a Jon Rauch caliber prospect and one lower level prospect, but I wouldn't give up anymore then that. Its still a big contract to take on, however, at 5 or 6 mill a year (what the Sox would owe) they could keep him this year and then once again consider movnig him. Heck Rauch and Ben Davis may be enough to get him depending on the amount of contract the Pirates would eat.

Awesome article

Valdez looks like a quality prospect. I'm looking forward to seeing him play in a week and a half or so. OF course he is old for a prospect but he's supposed to be solid defensively, has good speed and seems to hit for average in AAA.

He's on the DL, but he could always make an entrance.