CWSGuy406

Link The draft is what, a month away? I'm really looking forward to it. Craig Hansen might be a decent pick at #15, but I'm not sure how they'd feel on taking a reliever in the first round. I'd assume that Hansen is one of those Huston Street/Chad Cordero types who makes it to the big club within a year or so?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ May 23, 2005 -> 04:19 PM) 100 mph fastball and a killer curve-not to mention nobody can hit him and he is racking up saves. He may need a year or two, but its hard to deny his stuff is electric. Jenks isn't close to ready for the show. He's gotta show a bit more control before we annoint him as Eric Gagne.

QUOTE(Fotop @ May 23, 2005 -> 02:39 AM) I agree with you on the fact that production is the first thing you want out of 1st base, but having a superb defender there can make a world of difference. Look at Derrek Lee, he basically saved the game today on that liner double play. His ability to stretch for balls also save the team a few outs. Add in the fact that he makes Aramis Ramirez look like a decent 3rd baseman (even though aramis has improved), and his impact on the defense is paramount. Also, the 3-6-3 double play is a tough play to make, but pays high rewards in the fact that a first baseman can turn two outs on one play. I know it sounds like I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too here (production AND defense), but with the amount of payroll flexibility we may have in the off-season, plus the fact that our team is focused on pitching, speed and defense makes me feel as though defense is key when it comes to deciding who our first baseman will be. Either way, an above-average defender at first would be a great luxury. Oh, definitely. If you can get the excellent defender along with the good bat, than you gotta go for it. Unfortunately, there isn't a Derrek Lee available in the offseason. And, looking at the other guys -- JT Snow, Konerko, Durazo -- Durazo is probably the best offensively. Then again -- thinking about it a little more -- if this organization is confident in Casey Rogowski, they might just want a one-year stopgap guy like JT Snow to fill in for a year, if he'd accept. But, I'm not sure where they stand on Rogo. If he's able to repeat or come close to his numbers of last year, I think we got ourselves one helluva future firstbaseman...

BTW -- Durazo is playing first tonight for the A's, Sunday Night Baseball. Has anyone watched? I don't think that first base is that much of a key, as far as having a superb defender at the position. If the guy can make up for his lack of range with his bat, then I guess it's not a huge deal -- to me, at least.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ May 23, 2005 -> 02:04 AM) Misunderstanding. I apologize. No harm, no foul.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ May 23, 2005 -> 01:57 AM) I didnt make it seem like he was bad at the plate, I only said that he isn't very good against left handed pitching and that for a World Series contending team he should not be the starting first baseman mostly because of how poor he is defensively. You said: I'm just saying, he's a fine middle of the order hitter. No, he might not be a good defensive firstbaseman, but offensively, he is. I'd tend to think that he'd make up for his defensive problems with his bat, but Oakland fans have told me otherwise.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ May 23, 2005 -> 01:49 AM) He is significantly worse against lefties than he is against righties over his career. 37 at bats this season aren't going to change my mind to the least. Not only is he too injury prone, he is a terrible first baseman. He should not be considered for the starting first base job for a World Series contending team, he just shouldnt. Well, you made it seem like Durazo is bad at the plate. He's not a good fielder, but he's perfectly fine as a middle of the order hitter, whether you choose to recognize it or not.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ May 23, 2005 -> 01:29 AM) - Podsednik should and will stay in left. - Durazo cannot play first base nor should he be relied on in the middle of the order considering he can't hit lefties whatsoever. - Kevin Millar may be a freindly guy in the clubhouse but for his production or lack there of I wouldn't want any part of him, and this is coming from a Red Sox fan. He's a great guy, but hes nearly worse than Curt Schilling in terms of him trying to be some larger than life celebrity. To be honest, I would love to see Lyle Overbay in either a White Sox or Red Sox uniform. His swing in Fenway would be to die for, and the same can be said for US Cellular. With Prince Fielder on the rise, he could very well be expendable. He's a perfect fit. He has a career 129 OPS+. He must be doing something right...

QUOTE(Jabroni @ May 22, 2005 -> 10:00 PM) One with no arm maybe? Who the hell cares? As long as we would be dumping s***caino and getting Polanco for Cruddypopsitup. I said it sort of half-heartedly, but Polanco should give you .285/.350 each year, and I don't think he strikes out a whole lot either. He plays a pretty good 2B/3B, and SS too (IIRC). It wouldn't be a major move, but it's a nice thought... I hope Kenny is looking there.

QUOTE(qwerty @ May 22, 2005 -> 09:50 PM) They had a large whole in their rotation unlike us ( at this point anyway). Burnett only made four starts for them that year and someone had to fill in for him and he was lucky enough to get the call up. I mean he only had four starts in double a. I must say, I'm starting to like the idea of McCarthy being in the 'pen for this year... If he's better than Vizcaino, then there's no reason to keep him in Charlotte.

I really would have liked to see Baj up here rather than Walker... Eventually, this organization has to see what he can do, because he has done just about all he can do in the minors. EDIT: And Jason, how about Polanco for Crede and Vizcaino... Or, Polanco + a reliever. Alright, I hate making up trades, but I still like Polanco.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ May 22, 2005 -> 06:38 PM) I have a feeling it's going to be a long day with Prior............. Gotta get to that bullpen. Make Prior throw 120+...

This year, I've grown to liking a lot of teams in the NL. Marlins -- I love the way Willis, Beckett, and Burnett go about there business. I've heard Burnett is a jag in the clubhouse (true or not?), but he's got nasty stuff. Ditto Beckett, and Willis is one of the funnest players in the game. Cardinals -- I can watch that lineup all day. Pujols-Rolen-Walker-Edmonds is the best four hitters in a row in all of baseball. Plus, they were the first team that I ever loved, yes, before the beloved Pale Hose -- so, I've kind of liked them since I remember... Brewers -- I dunno, I've just grown to liking this team over the past year or so, and the Carlos Lee deal sealed it. Overbay, Sheets, Lee, Jenkins, Hardy, and in some years, Weeks and Fielder. Plus, if I get into Marquette, I'm going to go see them play a lot. And, finally, the Dodgers -- Mostly because I'm a DePodesta fan, but JD Drew is probably my favorite OF'er in all of baseball, and I like Valentin/Penny/Lowe/Brazoban.

QUOTE(chi-guy2 @ May 22, 2005 -> 02:03 AM) still dont have the game and dont plan on getting it Thanks for sharing, I'm sure everyone cares...

I'm always going to think that we could have gotten more for Lee -- and, I'm talking about talent-for-talent, not what we did with the money we saved. I wasn't a big advocate of the trade then, but Podsednik has been super. I didn't believe the whole thing about him trying to hit homers, I just thought it was a copout for a season that was in line with what he'd been doing in the minors. However, he's been awesome at the plate, working counts, drawing walks, stealing bags... So, I really can't b**** about it, and I don't plan on it.

Dan, any idea on how Diaz pitched for Charlotte?

Carlos Lee steals a homer away from Jacque Jones. Awesome play...

QUOTE(chi-guy2 @ May 22, 2005 -> 01:01 AM) a stud at giving up runs Yeah, that's it... :rolly

Full count to Lee... He's fought off some good pitches. FAIR BALL!! TWO RUN DOUBLE!!!

Jesse Crain is pitching -- he's gonna be a stud in their bullpen. He's another guy who hasn't allowed an ER this year (along with Hermy). But, Brady Clark leads off the inning with a single. EDIT: Runners at the corners, nobody out. The Brewers can seal the deal right here.

QUOTE(DukeNukeEm @ May 22, 2005 -> 12:13 AM) If the Sox fell off the face of the earth, id be a Brewers fan. If I attend Marquette (which is a good possibility), I'm definitely going to become a Brewers fan. With all of those kids coming up, Fielder, Weeks, etc, it's gonna be hard not to like that team...

One out in the bottom of the sixth, no one on base, 4-0 Brewers.

Damn. Brady Clark hits one hard at Morneau, but he makes a nice play ranging to his right. There was a runner on second, too, so he saved a run. Still 4-0 Brewers, and Doug Davis looking real good.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ May 22, 2005 -> 12:00 AM) I had my sister starring and laughing at me. I was swearing f***ity f*** f*** cause I thought Patterson had it and than when the ball fell out of the mitt I started screaming and going nuts. She gets more laughs from me during the baseball season than any other time of the year That and I tend to talk to myself during a Sox game You're not alone. I was jumping up and down, going absolutely ballistic when the ball trickled from his mit. I was thinking to myself right before Konerko got the hit, "Man, this has been an awesome game, really electric crowd". And, you heard the Sox fans at Wrigley chanting "Paully, Paully" and it just added to the fire. It really was one of those special moments during a baseball season. Rooney's call on it was a classic.

QUOTE(Jabroni @ May 21, 2005 -> 11:56 PM) That is a really good pic. Yep. Almost captures what I was feeling when I saw that ball pop off of Patterson's mit...