CWSGuy406

But this isn't even about analyzing the trade. It's more a comparison of the two players, Reed and Borchard. The Reed backers (I consider myself to be one) think that he will be a very good, maybe not a superstar, but a very good player. He should be a very good number 2 in a few years. Probably a .280-.310 hitter, .350-.400 OBP, anywhere from 10HR-25HR a year kind of a guy. The Borchard backers (I consider myself to be on this side too) think that Borchard can really be a superstar if he gets his s*** together. He's got a lot of power, just needs to make more contact, etc etc.

What's that supposed to mean? You have nothing to say he's an 'average' runner and an 'average' fielder. I go by stats. I go by people's word firsthand who've seen the kid play before. Stats show he has good SB numbers. So either he gets good jumps, is quick, or is pretty fast. The minor league gurus on this website, before Reed was traded, even said he wasn't a speedburner, but an above average runner who could play all three outfield positions above average.

Well - give me a blip, something written not backed up by your opinion, that says that Reed is an average runner, and an average fielder? Because I guess me and Brando and SoxAce must be reading/hearing different things then you are...

Just letting you guys know: Over at WSI, they've set up sort of a partnership with the Philly fans - they vote Thomas, we vote Abreu. So - it's the Philly Fans/Sox Fans/Possibly the Red Sox Fans/Baseball Smart people/Computer Geeks who really like Thomas vs. Japan/NY Nation/Cubbie Nation/Anyone pro-Yankee.

I thought Roberson was a junior last season? Did he go into the NFL Draft?

Hmm - Then complete the equation: Reed : Kotsay :: Borchard : _________?

I'm not warrenting grabbing Robbie back, I'm just saying he isn't the reason we lost the division. He improved our team at the time. We had bigger problems (manuel, manuel, and manuel ).

See - that's just saying stupid things. Have you seen the kid play, and can tell me he has 'average' speed and an 'average' arm? Because I've heard above average in both catergories - nothing spectacular, but above average. And if you have the numbers in front of you - what doesn't impress you about a .400 average in a pitchers park at AA? And hitting .270 with a .370 (IIRC) OBP at AAA battling TWO ailing wrists? People say Borchard is a better prospect because he has 'tools'. Too many times have I heard that...

? What did Robbie do wrong last year? He provided stability to the top of the order, and he played very good defense. He's not the reason we didn't win the division.

The difference about Reed hitting .260-.280 and Borchard hitting .260-.280 is that Reed's OBP will be at the very least, at .350, while Borchard will be, at best, .340. And no, guys with plate discipline as good as Reed aren't a dime a dozen. If you find a player like that, congrats to your scouting depo.

But in most cases, a good batting eye translates better from minor league to major leagues than power. The difference between Reed and Borchard? Reed has it (the good batting/patience/whatever eye), Borchard doesn't. Borchard has improved upon it, but it's still not as good as Reed's. And - what is wrong with Reed's AAA numbers? Like I said, he still had a higher OBP than Borchard did, and just about an equal average. Plus, two ailing wrists. So - if this is Jeremy Reed at his worst, I think that he is going to be, at worst, a solid major league ballplayer. Take it FWIW.

Yeah - I went against popular opinion early on with liking the 'Cats. The lovefest for the Illini was too kissy/kissy ( ) for me, so I went with that other team from Illinois. Plus my father is a 'Cats fan, so, unlike the baseball preference, I went along with him. Anyways - the Wildcats were the first team I actually followed real closely. Back in 1995 IIRC, when the Cats went down to Orlando for the Florida Citrus Bowl, my family and I followed them down there. Yeah - it wasn't pleasant, we happened to buy tickets right in the middle of the Tennessee section, so we got a lot of hillbilly yap about Payton Manning this, Payton Manning that. And of course, Payton dominated that game. But of course, that was a fun year. Darnell Autry was one hell of a back for the Cats. And then I sort of stopped following them, till about 1999-2000 when Dwayne Bates, Napolean Harris, Zac Kustok, Damian Anderson, Pat Durr etc etc, among others, came along. And here I am today. Well anyways - we got to get back to a bowl. Losing to Bowling Green left a sour taste in my mouth, but hopefully we can fly under the radar, like the Cats always do, and maybe even contend for the Big 10 Title.

Reed is definitely not the left-handed version of Aaron Rowand, I can tell you that. Ehh - tools do nothing for me. Baseball isn't a game about who can run the fastest, throw the hardest, bench the most. It's more mental than physical, well, IMO. I just don't understand the lovefest for Borchard. I mean, people say that he's doing great at Charlotte, yet he's only hitting right around .270. I love the guy - I think he can be awesome. But .270 at the bandbox at Charlotte? Once again, leaving the argument of 'he's got the tools' out of it, why do you think Borchard is going to be one hell of a pick?

Jeckle - I've yet to say one insightful post on this board from you. Just a bunch of knee-jerk reactions and jumping on/off the bandwagon.

I just saw it (MLB Extra Innings)! Gagne had a two run lead - struck out the first guy, gave up a single to Hillenbrand, Gonzalez doubled, Chad Tracy singled. 5-5 The streak is over!

Jeckle, do you care to back that up with anything? Absolutely anything at all? :dips*** :headshake

Meh - I'm kind of in the middle on the argument, but your theory/thoughts don't hold. First - I hate it when people say that Reed was overhyped. He hit .400 in a pitchers park. That is amazing, IMO. And this year, struggling with two bad wrists, he still managed to put up a .270 average with a .350+ OBP. Next - no, Reed doesn't have blazing speed or gold glove defense. But he's an above average outfielder, with a servicable arm, and maybe not great speed, but great on-base instincts. IMHO, stealing a base isn't about speed. It's about quickness and eye-legs coordination (i.e. getting a good jump) and being smart about the pitcher (knowing his pickoff move). Like I said - Reed has two ailing wrists yet is putting up very solid numbers, equal to and better than (in some categories) Borchard. Reed is putting up about equal numbers to Borchard, yet is what, two, three years younger? That is much younger, in terms of developement. No, Reed probably won't be the star that Borchard 'has the potential' to be (I put that in quotes because I think Borchard has talent to get there, but probably won't.) . But he was EXACTLY what this team needed - a table setter who, when he's not hot with the bat, could still draw a walk and get on for people like Frank, Lee, Konerko, etc etc. Plus, IMO, Reed was a one-of-a-kind player. Anderson is more like Borchard than he is like Reed.

Well, Royals - you guys better lay down like this when we play you.

IIRC from watching S1, Green Goblin's bombs are orange as well.

Rock on Dan! Rock on! Hopefully Noah Herron (sp?) will be ready to take the bulk of the carries, and Basanez can have a great year! Either way, I'll be cheering on the boys in purple and black all season! Go Wildcats!

Oh - the funniest part of the telecast was when Podsednik (sp?) stole second. Chip was like 'Scott gets an awesome jump, the throw, on a hop, and he's safe.' And the Stone was talking about it, and he was like 'Podednik didn't get a very good jump, it was just a bad throw.' Chip's a f***ing moron.

Yeah - I could do without the flying shirts between innings, but hey, whatever gets fans to pack the Cell.

Sorry If I'm making a big deal out of this, but the new Sox Pride are marketing Frank Thomas; and I love the idea. In the commercial, it says '14 Seasons, 1 Uniform'. And that's awesome . Brooks is a smart guy, he seems to know what we as fans want. I find the idea excellent, and the same thing should have been done with Maggs, but with his uncertainty for next year, I can understand why they aren't doing it. Well - anyways, keep up the good work Brooks! EDIT: I also wanted to add that Thomas, to the casual fan, is greatly underappreciated, and I'm glad the Sox took the initiative and started to market him.