SoxAce

I guess Sqwert was alittle too excited as his user name suggest. Boo that man off the stage. Happy Early (Regular B-Day when it comes) B-Day Mike.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 11:04 PM) His UZR/150 in CF in 628 INN was 15.4 and he was a +9 in plus/minus and his arm rated as a +3, these are well above average numbers. Not sure what metrics he's looking at. I guess he could be using the ol' "eyes" argument, though I won't make too much fun of that as your eyes don't lie with what you see at times.

Beckham hopes they find a leadoff hitter.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 10:20 PM) This has become the thread about the misperception that Rios playing RF makes his contract a bad one. Having him play RF justifies his deal more than anything else. I'll write it again....RIOS IS AMONG THE BEST DEFENSIVE RF'S IN ALL OF BASEBALL -+60.5 UZR in RF over the last 6 seasons. Most are well aware with his UZR rating in RF, but whose to say his +8.2 UZR rating in limited appearances in CF won't jump next season? Did you know that Rios had a +23.8 UZR in only 59 starts in CF for the Blue Jays last year (technically 08 last year) which I believe was his second highest total? Whose to say that Quentin won't go back to his stellar defensive RF ratings from the D-Backs/minors/Stanford? Rios was a natural CF before the Blue Jays eventually moved him to RF as he was blocked. Any way you slice it, Alex Rios is a superior defensive OF wherever you put him. I'd rather have my best defensive OF manning CF personally and take my chances on a guy who was ranked as one of the best defensive RF's in the minors (not to mention had + UZRs in RF with the D-Backs) in Quentin which is his natural position as well. Gardner is also good defensively supposedly, and has some LF experience. Didn't do too bad in 15 games he was out there in 08. I'm willing to give him that chance for more opportunities down there if we did get him.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 03:18 PM) If I had to guess, it would be Deng. He was mad during the Kobe rumors, upset with the non contract extension, had beef with BG because BG was the man on the team apparently, and Rose last year because of all the fame and hype he was getting. Deng seems like a malcontent. A quiet one, but still one. Noah was the first name that popped into my head. He is always very outspoken (tells it like it is attitude), and is basically the leader of the team.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 09:40 PM) Just like Juan Pierre. I was thinking Carlos Gomez when I first saw that quote personally.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 08:41 PM) Also on Wiki it said he played some LF for the yanks so i could see CQ goin to right and puttin brett out in LF keeping Rios in CF......i also think youre wrong, rios is a stud and would have value in left. This is what will probably happen and I agree with. Rios will not be moving over to RF. Sure he will play some games there, cause of the rotation with the OF and DH, but he is our starting center fielder whose contract and value looks alot better in CF with jphat illuded too. Plus, IMO, Rios will probably be a better defender at the position. Put Gardner in LF (he was always a favorite player of mine, though I'm 50-50 on him being a full time player, but he will certainly help our OBP problem, was just ridiculous in the minors as an OBP guy) and Quentin in RF (much better in the past at his natural position in RF) and suddenly your OF defense looks 1000X better than it did last season.

You guys were this board huh?

I'm sure this will probably eliminate the Jenks rumors unless the Rays trade Burrell (freeing up money), or they feel Soriano is better suited as a set-up guy (or Jenks) and want to spend more money on the bullpen.

Preliminary agreement: Lowell to Texas for Max Ramirez Texas continuing to be aggressive this offseason. More than likely this will open up an Adrian Beltre signing to Boston which has been linked for a while now. Lowell will probably be a 1B/DH for Texas (since they moved Micheal Young to 3B) This is Max's fourth team he'll be traded to, and it seems that the 24 year old has been around forever.. Geez.

Here is Sickle's Top 20. *Albeit subject to change of course*

Pretty interesting Alex. And of course only you would find something like this out. I'm basically like Peavy, though I'm not THAT blind without glasses/contacts.

QUOTE (SockMe @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) D-Backs get the best of this deal IMO. Ian Kennedy AND Edwin Jackson! IF.. IF, Kennedy pitches like he should. Like I said earlier, if he pitches like he's projected, the Diamondbacks can be really, really good this comming year (Haren, a healthy Webb, Jackson, Kennedy) and Ian going to the NL certainly helps his chances to develop for them. I've seen various reports that the D-Backs feel they traded two relievers (Scherzer they feel is a future reliever cause of his mechanics and Schlereth) for two starters. That is quite a risk they are taking with Max regardless, cause he is definitely the better pitcher based on potential alone than Jackson/Kennedy will be. Poor Edwin Jackson. His third team in three years now, but man he's gotten better every year the last couple years so you gotta love his chances with the D-Backs. It would not shock me at all if he becomes the ace of that staff this season. Not saying it will happen... but it would not shock me. Really looking at this deal again, it isn't AS bad as some think for the D-Backs.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 08:21 PM) We tend to leave it that way as it is pretty popular. That being said, we don't actively try and compress and merge single subject threads like that unless it really makes sense. If you have a question or anything like that, start a new thread. I love when you make your admin authority like that...

Good to see one of my favorite players on the Hawks get the GW goal.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 07:24 PM) i love the Harden signing for the Rangers. if Feliz and Holland establish themselves in that rotation they'll be filthy together. Absolutely. Gotta love what Texas is doing in the off-season. They need pitching, and though Harden is a risk (though at one year, is not bad at all), when he's on and healthy, he is as good as anyone. Now if we can somehow pray Smoak away from them.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 08:49 PM) BTW, this team is better off losing and getting a high pick then gaining like 3 more wins for nothing. It could be good and bad honestly. Let's say the Bulls finish in the bottom 5, but somehow win the lottery again and draft #1 overall again? You draft John Wall (who most think is Derrick Rose or will be even BETTER than Rose, and so far is more advanced in college [Calhoun called him the best PG to come in since Jason Kidd 15 years ago]) and actually think of trading the homegrown Rose who will probably command a ransom or a young stud SG/PF/C/SF? You trade the pick (basically trade Wall) for something? (I won't even say passing him up because you cannot pass up Wall I'm sorry, even though I love Favors) and perhaps move down to draft whoever else? I mean it could be good in a sense that your getting another very good young player or trading for a very good young player and perhaps entice a Wade/Bosh, but it can also tell those coveted FA that even with a Rose/Wall and whatever, we are still not looking good and that's not to say VDN will still be the head coach either. Again this is just hypothetically speaking on my part as far as the lottery.

My goodness what a well informed piece that was.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) Crisp is light years better than Pods defensively. His arm is still better than Pods if Greg wanted to go that route. I believe there was an article/posts out there who said there's only a handful of guys that have a weaker arm than Scott Podsednik. Damon, Pierre just to name a couple.

Hawks playing the Rangers tonight. Over/under: 2, as in the number of fights/scraps some of our guys will be in with Sean Avery?

QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 03:33 PM) 30bps meaningful, but dont discount the fielding ... Matsui is toast, JD's numbers would increase if he was simply DHing like Godzilla, and most importantly, is not nearly as sexy. Hell, even if you count the fielding, which both are terrible, but Matsui actually sucks less than JD does. And I'm not sure how "sexy" JD is from Matsui, but I'm sure both are good, happily married men.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 02:46 PM) So, we'd have Rios, Crisp, Matsui, and Quentin battling for 3 spots? More or less rotating which is what the sox want. I'm sure Matsui would probably DH more-so than Quentin/Crisp.

As long as he keeps his attitude in check, I'm sure he'll be gladly welcomed.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) He was also a serviceable player back then. Now he is just baggage, especially as he offers little as a backup. Maybe the Nats can record tapes of him (since he probably won't be ready in 3 years) when Bryce Harper (who they will probably pick) is ready to emerge to learn a thing or two? I don't know.

QUOTE (qwerty @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) Great read from tango here on position switch, from the defensive stand point. When and when not to make the switch. It's currently done wrong way more than it should be. Probably no one will read it, their loss http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/...on_adjustments/ Very nice. I'll finish reading the rest of it tonight. Thanks A.J.