Chisoxfn

One difference. The Padres are a pretty good organization and Kevin Towers is a pretty smart GM. The Pads have quite a few good, talented young players and the Pirates never had that. Guys like Nady, Khalil Greene, Sean Burroughs, etc. I know I'm leaving out a few names. They also plan on adding another hitter (Probably Matsui or Tejada) and then they'll move Greene to 2nd (just a guess). Pitching wise Peavy seems very good while Eaton and others have flashed potential.

Used to collect baseball cards. Don't collect anything now, other then the Souvenir Cups from the different stadiums I've been too. Those things come in handy with all the juice I drink.

It felt good getting back, seeing all the buddies from college I didn't see over the summer and more importantly seeing all the hot women wearing their scandilous summer outfits . I swear that and the weather is the best part about California. Schedule seems pretty good thus far and I got a comedian as my Geology Teacher (I put off the GE stuff, namely the Scienes as long as I can). Guy is freaking cracking jokes instead of talking about Rocks which is a plus. Then my Accounting teacher...milf. My buddy and I were stunned when we walked in. Business Law seems interesting (Only cause I'm interested in Law) while my psychology class seems pretty cool. All my teacher does is make fun of people and he gets pissed if you don't make fun of him back. Only thing that sucks about him is I already got a quiz on Friday. No idea how my Bus Writing class will be, but its 3 freaking hours long, so I'm not looking forward to it. Hope everyone has is having fun now that they are back in College. I don't know about you guys/gals, but I plan on milking the college experience as long as I can. Its nice going to school, compared to working 50 or so hours a week. Plus, summer break, 6 weeks off for Xmas, whats not to like.

Imo, I'd pick Loiaza or Hudson depending on who does better down the stretch.

We got those laws out here in Cali. Luckily they all seem to think my buddies and I are 21 at the establishment we got to every Sunday during football season. Also, Welcome back. Hope the new house and highschool are cool.

It was something the Sox did to get them in now. The players wanted to wait until next season to start, but the Sox were like hey, come on over, then finish up and you'll play again next year. I think its great for the player (He gets a few months experience, which is basically what short season is for) and then he can go back get his degree and make it back out next year knowing what he needs to improve on, etc. Plus the Sox had planned on bringing Sweeney up anyway...it was in his contract that he would play with Great Falls eventually this year.

I'm with you. I'd have Cleveland, Texas, Anaheim, Cubs, and San Diego all pretty high.

You don't know how much I love reading that type of quote. I can't say I've ever known the Sox to be this agressive. They really seem to want it all and even if they fail, at the end of the year I can say, s***...this team could of done it. Not many times can I say that when it comes to a team I love.

Way to go Corwin. Hopefully you can get yourself some confidence down the stretch and once again start the season on Birmingham, knowing if you pitch well, you'll quickly be on your way to Charlotte.

These deals reak of KW's agressiveness and I have a lot of confidence in the man. I hope this team goes out and wins it all and becomes a dynasty

Perez is a top notch prospect. This isn't a horrible move when you consider it from the financial standpoint. move makes sense for both teams, although I'd think the Pirates could of got more. Had Nady been in the package, I'd of said they did pretty damn good.

Scho is arbitration eligible for one more year (And he doens't make much as it is, nor is he inline for a big raise). Sullivan has a 3.5 mill option (Or 3 mill...I forget). As far as fair market value for Robby, I'd say roughly 4 or 5 mill. That may be a bit high too, but I don't know if someone will pay more because of his name. I'd give him like a 2 year 5 mill deal with some incentives.

I'm gonna give him a little more time. I know he had poor stats, but I want to know what the gun readings were and how much movement he had.

The only time I was in Yankee stadium, some guy had the other teams hat on and they took it and passed it all the way up and threw it on the field. Their fans can be real jerks. But still, the guy probably provoked it or at least I hope he did. I wouldn't worry, represent the Sox gear and if they give you s***, just tell them we saved you guys from seeing Bartolo in a Red Sox uni.

This is a solid move for their offense, but I still wonder when they are going to get a front line starter. If I were their gm, I'd be finding a way to get John Thompson from the Rangers. He's on the market, has a very little payroll and is the best pitcher in the American League since the All Star Break.

Well in the Sox case all their affiliates are within an hour to three hours of eachother except the Barons who are in Birmingham and the Great Falls ® team which is in Montana. The teams bunched together are on the east coast, so that wouldn't be too close to Detroit (Which is where the Sox will be when Koch is up). I think the big thing is they want Koch to get out there. Fact is he's still facing minor leaguers that have flaws and I'm sure he could help out Charlotte when he's there. Remember the Barons and Warthogs are also in a race. So you'd have to send him all the way to Kannapolis and I really don't know how having him pitch there would really be of help to him, cause he'd still have to go up to AAA before he'd really know if he had proven anything caus at least there you have more veteran players and hitters that will make you pay for your mistakes. Seeing flyball Koch pitch in the bandbox known as Charlotte has to be ugly though cause it don't take much to send one out.

Dang, I hope the game gets in. I'm all excited to see the Sox play the Yanks.

Makes some sense to me. He's had numerous arm problems this year and I think he had some in the past. Since he came back off the DL, his velocity was never there, nor was his performance. That usually says a guy isn't healthy.

I'd say Hummel is a good prospect. Take away last year and most people would be calling for him to be the 2nd baseman of the future. Lets remember that it was two years ago when everyone was talking how he was raking through the minors and was going to replace Durham. Not Harris...not Jimenez (Neither were in the system at the time of the talk, then Harris came and later on Jimenez). Last year he struggled early on, surged late, and exploded in the AFL. He's been very good all year this year so other then his first year in AAA, he's been a hitter wherever he's been. Sullivan is a proven reliever that is awesome. The Sox gave up someone at a position of weakness and added something at a position of weakness at the major league level. I'd make the trade in a heartbeat, but I do think Hummel will make it to the majors. I do agree with your assesment that he'll likely become a utility man, but he is patient, has a nice stroke and can play 3 different positions. The guy will get a lot of playing time during his career, imo. As far as the good prospects the Sox have given up this year. I'd rate Rupe and Ring as the best ones given up and then Hummel/Webster in a solid prospect class. Rupe and Ring are high ceiling guys, as is Webster (Without the Power) and Hummel is a productive type guy. I'd say getting Everett, Alomar, Colon, and Sullivan was worth that. Especially when you consider that the Sox, if they lost these guys would get draft pick compensation for Alomar/Colon (I'm confident in that) and their is a good chance they could get it for Everett (If he keeps hitting the way he has been) and Sullivan. Of course this depends on whether the Sox are willing to offer arbitration. Now I don't think the Sox will lose all these guys, but sure, some of them were only playoff run fixes. But if anyone can tell me that renting these guys going for it all and taking the chance isn't worth losing one or two prospects (Considering Sox have the shot to get a couple studs with the draft picks) then I wouldn't want that person as the GM. A GM has to put his team (When it has the Shot) in the position to win it all and I can confidently say that this year Ken Williams did his job.

The major league team does care. Yes they care more about player production, but they want their affiliate happy. I'm sure the Sox felt that Koch would be semi sucessful there or they hope for him to be. The Sox are also in a playoff chase and their concerns are definately #1 priority. But the reason some prospects don't get called up late in a season (From like Kann to Winston Salem) is because if Kann were in a playoff race, they wouldn't want to hurt that teams chances. Now if the Sox needed a player, then they'd do it in a heartbeat.

Damn, 6 K's.

Heads was doing some work and one of the things caused that problem due to wrong executions. He got it solved though

Hope you had a blast and Welcome Back.

Yanks typically beat up on young pitchers, especially ones that don't throw strikes so I won't expect anything too much. But I know if Cotts is on, he'll shut em down.

If they weren't good players you couldn't be dissapointed. I think that statement says it all: They have to be good players. If a nobody from the minors comes up and sucks, your like oh well, he's a nobody. But when COlon or Koch does it your like damn, they are a good pitcher and they don't have it. In regards to Colon, I don't have stats on me, but I'd guess over his last 20 starts he's been pretty damn good overall. He hasn't been as good as he was last year, but he's still been pretty damn good.