Chisoxfn

Only sport I do thats expensive is snowboarding. So when it comes to me, I'd rather go to the mountains then go paintballing. s***, water wars were the best though. We'd go crazy on my block when I was a kid. We had allies and s***, and built forts...it was CRAZY.

YES. I think what I'd like to see is Olivo in the 2 hole, but yes, Reed is going to be a sweet 2 hole hitter. He's so Erstad like to me...but hopefully healthier.

Ya, when teams can pick up salary you can get guys. However, I don't think Roy is going anywhere. And if he is, I don't even want to think of what it will cost whatever team. He has a pretty affordable contract if I recall. I wouldn't want Randy Johnson, I really believe he is done and his contract is awful.

This probably isn't the thread but during the break I turned the Cubs game on and Jimenez is up and he's got like a .450 OBP. I love his swing.

Going opposite field is pretty easy for good hitters. The key is for them to recognize the pitch coming and to know what to do with it. Its just human nature that they can greedy because they have the ability to belt the hell out of the ball. Overall I think Sox hitters have done a good job of it this year. Konerko when right does as good a job as anyone at it and Carlos and Maggs are usually pretty good at it. Frank is pretty much a pull hitter these days and Willie is a pull hitter, but when he's hitting the ball he goes more up the middle and even towards short and 3rd. And Olivo is solid at it. If Olivo hits .270 this year with some pop and RBI's it would be awesoem and a huge improvement. I already think that harris can finish the season with a .340 plus OBP...yep you heard it here first.

They also have Hudson, Mulder, Zito, Redman and Harden...makes things just a bit easier. And of course Chavez and Jermaine Dye (the rejuvanated and healthy Dye). But point is well taken.

You know whose freaking sick..speaking of range is the A's second baseman, Spattaro. Earlier this week he made what has to be the play of th year (threw the ball with his mit like 10 feet across to Crosby who barehanded it and they turned a DP). Last night he made two fantastic plays and another very good play and is hitting in the mid to upper .300's thus far. I don't know who the heck he was before this year, but the A's have found themselves a heck of a middle infield combo in Crosby/Spattaro (I may have his name wrong).

Super Soakers...that takes me back. Paintballing is ehh...definately not worth the money in my book.

Not going to say anything yet, but I like Uribe. I think the Sox will get him 450 AB's this year and then next year he'll be pushed into a starting spot. He's a very good, very versatile player with TREMENDOUS upside. I was very happy when the Sox got him and so far he's looking good.

; Thats how it should be.

I agree with you. I also think Itzuris has tremendous range. You can count the 2 or 3 errors Jose makes above an average shortstop, but I think you can count a whole lot more balls that Jose gets to that an average shortstop doesn't or the DP's he helps turn that almost no other team would turn.

Definately a HOFer, but he was brutal last year with the Sox. I don't care what anyone says, he wasn't as good as Jimenez was. Now just having his name may of sparked some players, but I believe it was Jurassic Carl that helped spark this team.

Agreed, I'm assuming right now he's in a rut mechanically with his arm. But usually he hits a streak where he is awful and then goes on a really good streak. Although he's already taken away quite a few plays this season.

Let me say one thing about that article...Valentin was way better then Eckstein defensively last year. Eck has horrible range and is piss poor at turning a double play.

Oh god Brando, I saw that and just thought ah cripes...now I have to hear you talk about Jose I agree with kev that defensively Vladdy may be a little overrated, but he saves a whole lot of runs with his arm. I've seen numerous times already in the early part of the season where with any other outfielder the runner goes, but with Vlad they sit their and it saves the Angels a run. He definately makes errors, but he also has good range for a right fielder and does a lot of things. Overall I give him a nod over Maggs. And when healthy, he is a stinking stud offensively. Holy macoral he hits the ball hard. Hit another bomb last night and his homers are just screaming line drives. Plus, I don't think Maggs has had one season with a .1000 OPS or higher and Vladdy has had three. He's also had a career .322 AVG, and he's had seasons of 40 and 37 stolen bases. RBI wise, maggs has had some years just as good as Vlad, but also has had a ton of weapons around him. Vlads got protection this year and I think he will have his best year EVER.

Good stuff, wish I caught it. Reed is going to be a fine ballplayer.

Right now its too early for any promotions, imo. As far as McCarthy goes, he's got great control and good movement on his pitches. His velocity is average right now, but he projects well. With his size as he fills out, I could easily see him adding 3 MPH on that fastball.

Damn, shows where my memory went. I always rememered him being more finesse when compared to Chuck FInley who was a strikeout machine. Than I'd really agree with that assesment on comparing him to Langston.

Ya, Langston was a heck of a pitcher. I loved watching him, Finley and Abbot down in Anaheim. I think Cotts will be a mix of Finley and Mark. More of a strikeout pitcher then Mark, but less velocity then Chuck. Still, if he's anything like the two of them, we as Sox fans should be happy. Cause him and Buehrle would give us two good lefties. Neal =

Its all good Tex. I thought it was from your avatar but when I got the email I looked and you had already changed it.

Last night I had the Devil Rays feed and they were comparing Langston and Cotts. At first I thought no, but I watched Mark pitch a whole lot and they definately are similar pitchers. Of course, Mark had pretty good control and wasn't the k machine that Finley was or what Cotts minor league numbers say he will be. Either way, I thought it was interesting. I really like the way Neal has pitched though. He's looking more comfortable each outing and his control has been much better. Its only a matter of time till he joins the starting rotation.

Tough loss for Bmac, but still solid game with 10 k's. And Castro adding another 3k's. I also see Young's average is a little low, but damn the guy has some serious power potential too. If he could put it together, you never know, he could be like a Vernon Wells type. Speed, solid arm, good defensive range, and pop in the bat. Tough comparsion to make this early in Young's development though.

I'm with you mn. I think the Sox need to realize offensively he's awful. Then again they talk to him and work with him every day so the coaches may see the issue being something other then physical (like Rex says) and if he really is immature and whiny, then he'll fail miserably as a pitcher. Still, he's got a dynamite arm. I think part of Yan's woes are him having a hurt shoulder. He's got speed and is a solid slap hitter, I think he could be a guy that pans out, but he'll progress slowly in the minors, imo.

Diaz has been outstanding thus far. Very good to see that.

I know I've seen it, but its being pulled and is costing the person whose server it is on extra bandwith, so I just need to figure out whose it is and i'll transfer the image over to Soxtalk's server.