Chisoxfn

Does anyone know if I can watch mlb.tv via my PS3?

QUOTE (qwerty @ Apr 6, 2009 -> 12:07 PM) It is unfair to say carmona was a fluke. He had a damn solid minor league career and was touted pretty well during that span. He was higher touted than say laffey, who some expect big things out of. I just think it is too early to put a label on carmona's 2007 season, we do not have enough of an mlb track record to work off of just yet. Last year he just had massive control issues, nothing like he has experienced in the past. His periphs in spring training were alarming though (Carmona's). I look at his periph's from spring training since he had a small sample size of a season last year due to injuries. Bottom line Carmona didn't show much this spring but I agree its far too early to write him off, given how dominant he looked two years ago.

Develop your own or turn other guys coal into diamonds, that is really the way to do it for the most part. Sure, every once in a while an ace becomes available (see CC) but the number of years you have to go make the contracts so damn risky.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 6, 2009 -> 01:28 PM) Didn't they have a really good run in 2006? But I don't think anyone ever could have legimately given them much of a chance to reach the end all be all goal.

Look, a team rotation full of Lance Broadway/Jack Egberts (ie, guys who might be big leaguers, might not) is going to be a bad major league baseball team.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Mar 31, 2009 -> 09:57 PM) Anyone else really impressed by the job Billy Beane's done this offseason? The guy seems to be able to overhaul a roster faster then anyone in the majors. Even for a great GM like KW, it'll take him, two or three years, while for Beane every action just seems to be another piece in the puzzle. Have you seen there rotation? Have you seen them do anything the past 5 years. I know Beane isn't given much in the terms of budget but he's just a cocky GM (much like Kenny) who thinks he's smarter than he really is and that he can just create new teams every year.

Well Fullerton didn't exactly do there thing this weekend. UCI will certainly be shooting up the rankings.

So the HD quality is really good? If so, I might cancel it on my cable and switch it over. Do I need an HD compatible computer though or is it okay as long as the TV Screen I hook it up to is HD? Also, have they fixed the buffering issues and all that. I have a connection that is way faster than necessary for the premium but always seemed to have problems (I'm over a wireless internet).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 6, 2009 -> 01:10 PM) Unless something remarkable happens with the Rangers, I agree that division will be decided by whether or not the A's young pitching can come out hot to start the year, and with a bunch of 21 year olds, it's hard to expect the world. Not to mention I think most experts would agree that most of the A's young pitchers aren't necessarily upper echelon pitching prospects. They have a nice collection of talent, but I'm not overly impressed with what they have.

Given that TO has zero off the field issues and the fact that he'd clearly be the focal point of the passing attack, a Cutler Owens combo would have been the fantastic stop gap necessary for the Bears to get things turned over to Hester/Bennett (if in fact they believe in that duo). I expect them to surprise us and get in big with Holt, just too good of a fit. And I think the more Holt things about things, he'll see that there is more potential for him to put up numbers in Chicago and truly be a savior as opposed to Tennesse where he'll be playing with a far worse QB (no knock on Collins, just pointing out how good Cutler is). I'd also argue the Bears would have a strong chance at making the superbowl since they would be playing in the NFC as opposed to the AFC, so Holt might just have a better chance to win in Chicago (however, the Titans obviously have already proven very recently how good of a team they already are).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 6, 2009 -> 01:04 PM) Well, it's plausible they could suffer at a couple positions. Vlad may finally be starting to show some age related creakiness. Figgins has been hurt 1/4 of each of the last 2 seasons and is now 31. Torii Hunter isn't a spring chicken any more either. Their lineup may be healthy for now, but you never know how it will play out. They need a couple of Morales, Kendrick, Wood, Aybar, etc., to step up. I've been called an Angels apologist in the past, but look at there track record, the people they have, and there ability to develop players and I'll say they are pretty much the next generation of the Braves organization (which is a tribute to former GM Stoneman, who was a Schuerholtz disciple). Plus its pretty given around here how much I like Kendrick, Morales, and Wood. Kendrick has health issues every year though so its hard to count on him, but I like Morales fitting in and Aybar has one hell of an arm and plus range. Plus they took the division by 20+ games IIRC, its not as if a slight slipup would have much of an effect on them and no one in the division significantly upgraded, imo. A's made some big moves but there rotation seems to be completely up in the air and come July will be dealing Holiday and Cabrera.

I think it is Nathan Jones. I'd look it up but some sites are blocked at my new job. Heck, I probably won't be on much in general anymore, but today is a pretty introductory day. He's going to be repeating his level (I think it's either Bham or Winston Salem). I overheard the story between one scout and another as I watched Jones pitch last week, basically saying how the scouts called up Buddy Bell after seeing him whiff the side in two straight innings. The scouts basically said, who is this guy, and why exactly isn't he in the majors. Buddy responded with, check out his numbers and asked if he was throwing strikes, which the scout responded, well he is today. I also was reading something the other day and discovered that Baseball America ranked him as having the best curve in the org and after seeing it I would completely agree. The day I saw him his fastball was nothing special, but apparently he had pitched the day before and was consistently in the upper 90's, topping up at 99.

What are the conditions supposed to be tomorrow, still cold I assume, but no chance of snow or rain?

Not going to lie, Contreras being where he is right now is impressive and I tip my cap to him.

Bottom line Wasserman isn't very good. He might pop up somewhere and have a good year or two but it will be on a bad team where he'll get every opportunity to get hot for a season or two. I wish him the best but he isn't a good fit here, especially with guys like Link, Long and Omogrosso who have such better stuff and project to be pretty good relievers as well as a guy like Derek Rodriguez who has a really nice arm. In fact, keep an eye on a game named Jones down in the minors, plus plus curve and an interesting FB (clocked between 88 and 99MPH). Yes, I said 99MPH. This spring he was unhittable one game and pedestrian another (although his curve was filthy) and scouts were puzzled at the fact that he looked like an all world major leaguer and than a minor leaguer. Either way, Buddy Bell is aware of him and the Sox are watching to see if they can figure out a way to get him to consistently throw in the upper 90's. Location is another issue with him (his delivery is not what I'd call pretty nor did he have any consistency with it, hence the command issues). In addition to the names above, there is Adam Russel, Jack Egbert (both with the ability to go a batter or 3 innings) and obviously Aaron Poreda (who I ultimately peg as a plus reliever as opposed to a good starting pitcher). I think Poreda could excel as a setup man in the bigs or closer where as a starter I don't see him being more than a 4th or 5th which is why I ultimately see him settling in the pen. Now if something changes in regards to his secondary stuff we might be talking about a guy that quickly moves up (plus good sinkerballers can end not needing too much in the way of additional pitches to actually excel as a major league starter).

QUOTE (Reddy @ Apr 6, 2009 -> 11:50 AM) i actually think you're wrong. The A's have the potential to be a very solid team - and VAfan is right about the weak LAA rotation, and their lineup is weaker than in the past. Tell me how you think they're going to play at a 100 win pace this season. Oh and even without Lackey and Santana to start the season (although both are expected back and do not have a history of extended health problems) they still have Saunders and Weaver whom are both solid starters and a guy like Escobar coming back, prospects like Adenhart and the ability to acquire players (and additional payroll). The Angels also have the best manager in the game (and its not even close) and play above average defense. If the Angels were in the Al East or Central I wouldn't call them locks, but in the West they are a sure thing.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Apr 6, 2009 -> 11:50 AM) i actually think you're wrong. The A's have the potential to be a very solid team - and VAfan is right about the weak LAA rotation, and their lineup is weaker than in the past. Tell me how you think they're going to play at a 100 win pace this season. How is the Angels lineup weaker than in the past. Tex was there after the Angels were already dead locks to make the playoffs and now they have added Abreu for a full season and have primarily there entire offense heatlhy. They will need to see who steps up at closer but regardless Shields and Arrondondo both have a ton of talent. The A's did add Holiday, but they also have an atrocious starting rotation as evidenced by there consistent attempts to try and figure out who the heck is going to be pitching for them. I don't buy the A's one b it. Texas is the 2nd best team in that division.

I initially thought immigration as well in regards to Francisco. I know the org has really soured him too though.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Apr 6, 2009 -> 10:24 AM) I vote boom. As long as he's healthy and out of jail, he's proven to be an above average NFL WR so I'd say boom.

I think Floyd is the best pitcher in our rotation. I love Floyd.

Your freaking nuts if you don't think the Angels have the best chance of any team in the majors to repeat as divisional champs. The rest of the AL West is a joke. The Sox have serious questions at the top of the order (easily the worse leadoff hitter in baseball) and in the back of the rotation, plus potential health risks from 2 of there 4 relievers (Dotel/Linebrink) and two pitchers who have only one good season under there belts (Danks/Floyd). I'm not writing the Sox off, but they have a lot to prove. All of there competition also has holes too, but there is no way with a straight face I could say the Sox are favorites to take the division (I'd say them and Minnesota are the front-runners though).

Phenomenal.

I'd go Link but the Sox might go with Russell or Wasserman since they are more familiar.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 4, 2009 -> 01:22 AM) Are you sure Allen should be so low? From the times I saw him in ST, I liked him a LOT more than Flowers in terms of his approach, and that's not even taking into consideration Flowers' defensive deficiencies currently as a catcher. Plus, Brandon's left-handed, and we don't have any other significant power-hitting prospects other than him on the horizon. I think Jordan Danks really is going to need to prove a lot more b4 you can put him at #4, same thing with Flowers, who has had one really good "A" season followed up by an impressive AFL performance. To me, it looks like he needs to get on a strength and conditioning program and gain another 10-15 pounds of muscle. Then again, Alexei, you could say the same thing about him...and yet the ball just jumps off his bat even if he only weighs 155-165 pounds. Poreda is undervalued unless his highest upside is as a reliever. Danks has great tools across the board with the only questionable one being power potential and I've heard some scouts and read some articles talking about how he's turning on inside pitches now and driving the ball with much more authority. I believe his power will come (20hr type pop). I believe I said that I see Poreda has nothing more than a reliever and give him a very small chance at making it as an upper end starter which is why I believe his best value is as a premiere reliever as opposed to a back of the rotation starter. I like Allen a lot but Flowers is at a position that is hard to fill and because of that he gets bumped up a bit. Allen is at first so he'll have to rake and rake and rake (he's done it to an extent and has the tools but he has a lot more to prove cause it isn't easy to be able to hit like a 1st baseman, imo).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 07:09 PM) Marquez doesn't register? Nope, I'm not impressed with Marquez at all. His upside is as a fifth starter, other guys on that list have higher upside.