Chisoxfn

Damn what a game by Jeremy.

I can only hope we acquire someone pretty soon that can be our future shortstop. Hopefully Freddy Sanchez.

Man what a blast the game is. I got tons of pictures and some footage of all our players in MPEG form. First time i ever used a digital camera so I got to learn how to upload it. I'm going to try and set something up tonight and get things put together. Damn was I impressed with Honel. Watching him warmup in the pen was sick. He can cut his fastball both ways and s*** what a knuckle curve. I also felt he had a pretty effective changeup. I tried to get a picture of his grip on the knuckle curve but it didn't turn out too well. It was so sweet.

Jimenez and Almonte because Rauch has more trade value and you could package him with someone or keep him as a starter or convert him to a reliever.

The Red Sox have some pretty good middle infield prospects that are rated better then Sanchez. Sanchez gets a lot of action while Fossum is a reliever. Thats why I think they'd give them up if the offer was right. In all honesty though, there are way better middle infield prospects then Freddy, but he seems like he could be had and the Sox and Red Sox seem to be good partners as do the Sox and Giants and even Angels.

Garko was just a 3rd round pick by Cleveland. He was a senior this year. Went undrafted as a junior. Damn, shows what I know, lol. I swore he was a junior that went undrafted and was going to come back next year.

I'd say that pitching was the strength, but this draft really got the Sox a ton of good position players. They also got some good arms, but those arms are tough signs, so it will be interesting to see how it plays off. Still, to me before I classify arms as super studs, they got to hit AA, unless they are just moving through the system super quick. I think if the Sox are picking high up next year, they should go for a great catcher if there is one there or take a stud college pitcher.

No catchers that will blow your mind. I'd like to see them take Ryan Garko (may of spelled that wrong) out of Stanford.

Behind the plate we don't have much, so I'll have to say Mike Rivera is number one on that list. Lisk isn't bad and I think its too early to judge the guys we just drafted. Pitching: Kris Honel Ryan Wing Neal Cotts Royce Ring Jon Rauch Felix Diaz Emencio Pacheco Arnaldo Munoz BJ Lamura Quite a few pitchers I'm high on like McCarthy, Haigwood, Miller, Rupe.

The guy I really want along with Sanchez is Trot Nixon.

Alternative Idea. If Sox are out of it, they may want to move Daubach or Carlos Lee. Well if Lee for Ponson doesn't slide, I think one guy I'd like is Guillermo Mota, although I wouldn't do that trade straight up. Now if they wanted to do Daubach for Mota, that would be sweet. Supposedly Mota is the one guy they would move on the roster if it was for a trade. They'd also move Beltre of course, but they want a lot for him. Just another random idea.

Depends if your price is right. I know Cerbaho and I always mutter about being a GM combo. He's the stats guy, I'm the scouting type guy. I figured it be a great mixture. But I'd make sure to get you involved some how. Still, I do think GM's don't get near as much credit. Their are a ton of things they have to do that I'm sure most of us have no clue they do or just don't think about. If their job was simply trading and putting together the 25 man roster, I'd say it was easier, but they have a ton of things to do. Thats why they work 24/7 pretty much.

I'd be willing to do that. I think the Sox need to do what some teams do. With your top prospects, have them all hyped, but use the hype to pawn the ones you don't like as much on other teams for their top guys that you like more that fill another need. It would of been sweet if we ever did that with Corwin Malone. I still wish the best of Malone and hope he can put things together. He may be one of those guys that comes up on a major league team when he's 28 and people wonder who he was and he just dominates after learning for a long time.

Whose the Boss?

Oh damn, I forgot about Fossum. He could start or relieve. If he starts then you bump Wright to the pen, and I know many here think he'd make a hell of a reliever. That makes the pen a bit stronger then I first thought of. The team would have a chance, imo. But there is no guarantee those trades could be made.

I was most surprised not to see Honel. I also am assuming that they want to get more teams involved. This game is televised right?

The thing is, if these guys aren't the ones helping the Sox, then why are other teams going to give us really good pieces for them, especially considering they have high salaries. Those guys won't bring much anything of value in return, imo. Only shot of getting someone good is maybe for Jose if you pick up his salary. It may be best letting Jose walk and hope you get a type A compensation for him or at least 2nd round type stuff.

Think of it this way. You move Rauch and Jimenez and a prospect for Castillo. To acquire Sanchez (An Idea I like) you'd have to be giving the Red Sox Koch (They do need a closer) or Colon or a package of both or a package of Colon and Flash. Then I believe you could get Fossum, Sanchez and Nixon in return. There is some doubt that the Sox could get all this from Boston. Aaron Rowand may be included, etc. Next you package Valentin to the Cubs for whatever you can get. I'd try to find one of their power arms thats not as highly touted. Still, while trading a prospect in Rauch you'd replace him with Fossum (Plus, right now I don't really know if Rauch is one of the best Sox pitching prospects in the term of "upside"; although he is one of the closest to being ready). You have Harris to play center so you have no worries there (Harris is going to be a starter next year, I can almost guarantee it. I really see him figuring things out every game now and he's only getting better; with his speed that is an incredible asset). Then the Sox try to move Carlos Lee or Paul Konerko if they can get something of value for them. Either way you got a hell of a top of the lineup and the Sox have quickly went (From basically 2 trades) from a slow team to a fast team that can play defense. 2nd - Castillo cf - Harris 1st - Thomas rf - Ordonez DH - Daubach LF - Nixon 3rd - Crede C - Olivo ss - Sanchez Another option is hitting Nixon in the 2 hole with Harris and Sanchez in the back of the lineup. Olivo, Nixon, Sanchez, Castillo, and Harris all have plus speed. Ordonez has good speed while Crede, Thomas and Daubach don't, but none are Konerko. Bench: Konerko or Carlos (If its Carlos you'll see him get a lot of playing time; I'd move Carlos for someone like Sidney Ponson as a replacement for Colon; Sox may have to add someone), Graffy, Alomar Jr (Next year Rivera), Rios (Don't like him though, so late in the season they may call up Borchard and put him on the playoff roster, if they make it). Rotation Loaiza Buehrle Ponson Garland Wright Not quite as good, but still good. The biggest flaw is the Sox would of lost a reliever, but Ginter or Ring could come up as could Munoz, imo. I don't know if the team could do it this year, because there would be some weakness in the pen, but it would be built for the long haul and they would of cut payroll to the point that they could go with this team on the most part next season.

Heck, he could win multiple triple crowns. He's just such a dominant player. I'd say if Bonds numbers slide down until he retires, then Pujols could have a shot in the next few years. Still, its tough to gage things a few years into the future.

Damn, I'm much more confident after reading this article. The Sox seem really antsy to get him signed, as it is going to cost them a similar amount to their first round pick, although it will be way worth it. Sweeney is a great athlete and I really trust Shaffer and the rest of the Sox scouts. Like I've said a few times lately, the Sox aren't cheap in the draft and they also seem to have a very good understanding on guys that fall in the draft and if they really are signable or not. They've done that with quite a few players over the years and they really did it in this draft. While Veal and Moviel haven't signed, there are even indications that the Sox may be able to pull one of them out as well as sign Sweeney which would be huge.

Hill didn't have the option to go to college like Sweeney has. I also think that Sweeney has much higher upside then Hill.

I'd agree. I think it would of been awesome for the Sox, because we would of held onto Kip and if Kip pitched the way he did with the Pirates we would of been huge winners. But who knows if Kip would of came through under Cooper. Garland can still turn into something good. He also could land us something good via trade.

The amount of salary added would be miniscal considering its the end of the year and you only have him for the stretch run. Teams like the Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees, and even A's are almost always willing to add payroll late in the season. In the A's case, I think Beane figures in some late acquisitions usually. Plus Castillo is one of the top 2nd baseman in baseball (Right behind Soriano) and that alone should command something in return. I'm unaware of their asking price of Castillo, but I'd have to think it would be less then Lowell who they are asking a ransom for. I think whoever acquires Castillo will be getting a steal, because I don't think the teams bidding on him are going to have a ton of guys to offer or will be the A's who tend to win a lot of trades, while the Cubs are very leery on giving guys up. Heck, I could see the Sox getting Castillo for Jimenez and Rauch and possibly a throw in. And in all honesty, I wouldn't be against it if they could sign Castillo for a reasonable contract (Something around what Jose made the past few years). This would be difficult to do, but I Think with salaries falling you got a shot. Only if they could sign him to a reasonable deal would I want the Sox to acquire him. I also like Willie Harris a lot, so I'm more then happy with him eventually moving to 2nd. The only thing is I'm not convinced if Jimenez (One of my favorites) will be capable of handling short. I do think DAngelo has good trade value and we could move him and a middle of the line prospect for a quality young shortstop.

Being in the Anaheim area, I've got to see Darrin play a lot and I've always felt he was rather over-rated. Offensively he's a good player, but he's not special. When the Angels gave him a contract worth 8 mill a year longterm I thought they were fools. That being said, Erstad is an awesome player to have on your team and for him being over-rated offensively, he's awesome defensively and is a team player. He also is great in the clutch and is willing to do the little things. Because of that, It would be tough to have him on the list. He's a fun player to watch, thast for sure.

Magglio Ordonez