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QUOTE (YASNY @ Jul 16, 2008 -> 05:16 PM) A beanball, by definition, is a ball to the head. If you say someone should be beaned, you are saying you should throw at his head. If that's not not what you mean, use different terminology. Exactly

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 16, 2008 -> 04:45 PM) I took this as a slam on Joe. If it wasn't one then I'm mistaken. I commented that he was a class act, that's all. You're mistaken. It was just my reasoning for not being all that excited about see Joe Crede in the All Star Game (which of course makes me a bad fan.) You apparently took it as an attack on Joe Crede's character which frankly, perplexes me. I'm sure he's a great guy and I've never said anything to the contrary.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 01:58 PM) Are trades generally avoided during the break? Has there ever been an all star traded over the break? Just curious '07: 0 (there were 2 small trades made on the first day back) '06: 2 (Huff was dealt the day after the ASG and that big Nats/Reds deal was completed during the final day of the AS break) '05: 3 (all 3 deals were made the day after the ASG, only decent players were involved, no one special) '04: 0 (first trade came 3 days after the break) '03: 3 (1 deal on the day of the HR Derby and another 2 on the day after the ASG) So no, trades aren't avoided during the break though I'm sure Major League Baseball purposely puts off the announcement of trades so they don't take away from the All-Star Game. At least in the last 20 years no All-Stars have been dealt during the break.

Jesse Rogers was just on with Mike Murphy (ugh) and insinuated that Josh Hamilton was using a corked bat during the Derby yesterday.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 01:40 PM) At one point a few years back when Maddux won 300, the only 2 other SPs to be on pace (at that time) were Sabathia and Buehrle. I wonder if that is still working for Mark... 10 straight years of 18 wins starting this season won't even get Buehrle to 300.

Can he top 261-150, 57 CG, 23 SHO, 2731 K to only 770 BB, 3.70 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 5 time AS, 6 times finishing in the top 5 of CY voting but no wins and 6 gold gloves? Because this guy probably isn't getting in and I'd say they're going to have fairly similar careers. I'd say Mark has a less than 1% chance of becoming a hall of fame caliber starter.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 11:50 AM) He's booted a few grounders, but actually, I don't think that's his problem area. I think he'll do that about 10 times a year anyway, as will most thirdbasemen. What Joe has consistently struggled with, and is hard to watch, is his throws. Any time he gets a play that isn't bang-bang, he seems lost - his feet, his body angle, his throwing motion all look awkward. And then me make a sidearm throw that sails off target. I really think that's a technique thing - he isn't just throwing instinctively anymore, he's thinking too much. That's something he'll probably get past pretty quickly. Well he's already booted at least 12 grounders this season (9 of which have gone for errors) so he's already well ahead of the pace on that one. And I actually agree with you on his throws which is one of the reasons why I didn't mention them, I think that aspect of his game has been well covered on here.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 11:42 AM) Saying a hitter should get beaned does not mean he should take one to the head... http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/beanball That's the definition I'm familiar with.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 11:31 AM) Like I said, others were more deserving. No argument there. But saying things like, he's been the worst defensive regular at 3B this season, to me, are exaggerations. I just don't think he's nearly as bad as you and some others are portraying. Perhaps it just comes from watching a ton of baseball but you often see thirdbaseman make diving stops to either side as Joe Crede has done well this season. These same 3B are also capable of adjusting to the tough hop something Crede has failed to do time and time again this year. It seems like if the ball is only an inch higher or lower than Crede expects it to be he's going to boot it, he really should have at least 20 errors already but he gets the benefit of the doubt on any ball that catches him in between. Hell Hawk and DJ talked about it after he misplayed a ball in Texas, Michael Young was given a basehit on a ball Crede should have had with ease. When you have the reputation that Crede does for being one of the best in the game you need to make the tough plays hit right at you look easy, you can't just live off diving stops.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 10:59 AM) While I agree that Crede wasn't the best choice - Longoria should have been voted in - I think you are being a bit harsh. Crede is not having a spectacular year, but a .253/.325/.466/.791 line isn't exactly horrible, especially when its a low point (he's been a lot higher at other times this season). Plus he's hitting .287 w/ runners on, and .280 w/RISP. And I don't think he has permanently become a bad fielder either - just hasn't gotten a rhythm yet. He still has made at least as many plays that most 3B's don't make, as he has errors. Mike Lowell is having a vastly superior season in every facet of the game. His OPS is 70 points higher, he's played well in the field and he's hitting .319/.391/.652/1.043 w/ RISP, .314/.455/.657/1.112 w/ 2 outs & RISP and .447/.490/.723/1.214 in Close and Late situations; yeah he's been clutch. If doesn't really matter if he's going to be this bad in the field for the rest of his career or not, the fact of the matter is, he's probably been the worst defensive regular in the AL at 3B this season and his offensive numbers are nearly good enough to offset this. Hell, Adrian Beltre is having a better season considering the park he plays in and how great he is in the field. In my mind Crede's had a pretty disappointing first half and shouldn't be representing the AL in AS game, especially when a couple of his teammates were MUCH more deserving. I don't particularly enjoy watching him play in the games that count so getting to see him take a couple swings in an exhibition game doesn't exactly have me doing cartwheels.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 02:09 AM) Krush there's two sides to every story. Hopefully the media will ask Oz his side. Texas has beat the piss out of the Sox in Arlington for a while now. The Sox should bean the leadoff hitter in the series in The Cell. So Ian Kinsler needs to take a ball to the head for what reason?

For what it's worth George Offman mentioned on Sunday that the Phillies will be on the hook for half of Jim Thome's 2009 option. He seemed pretty adamant about it. If they pay exactly half, then the Sox would be on the hook for $6.5M of Jim Thome's 2009 salary. If he finishes out the year strong, I don't see how they could pass that up, hell they'll be paying Jermaine Dye $5M more next year if this is the case.

Perhaps if he actually deserved to be there things would be different. But yeah I'm psyched to see him pop out to second in his 1 AB. Good for him though, I'm sure he's having a gay old time in New York.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 12:48 AM) Beltre won't be on the M's after July 31, most likely. He won't be on the Sox either. Seattle would tell Kenny to take a hike if he demanded that they take Kong. They just dumped their Konerko clone in Sexson and I doubt that they want another. Based on what? 1 Minneapolis Star-Tribune article that said the Twins made a call? The Mariners don't even have a GM right now and have yet to decide on what direction to take the club next year (this mainly having to do with the lack of a General Manager.) They won't begin dismantling that roster (sans Sexson) until a new GM is hired (which will not be happening any time in the next 2 weeks) and even then they might just go for it again next season considering how much they've invested in that rotation. I'd say there's a much better chance they hold onto Beltre through the end of the season.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 15, 2008 -> 12:36 AM) I haven't seen major progress yet. His ERA has improved by over a point thus far, but there hasn't been anything drastic that has changed amongst any of his peripherals. He could end the year with an ERA below 5, but I would bet a good amount of money that it's closer to 5 than it is to 4. Mediocre K/9, BB/9, H/9, his GO/AO isn't anything special at 1.65 (opposed to 1.56 last season), HR/9 has stayed about the same...I'd suggest he's been lucky to have his ERA where it is rather than a pitcher progressing. Splitting hairs aside, I agree with you - the Orioles have no reason to give him up whatsoever. If they were flat out sick of him, I could understand it, but he has put up a good ERA this year (whether it sticks remains to be seen). The Sox really shouldn't have much interest in him outside of the phone call in to see what they're looking for. I was kind of going from memory on that one (it wasn't really a main point to my argument), I remember reading an article some time in early June on how much improved Daniel Cabrera's control had been this season. And looking at his gamelogs right now it appears during the first 2 months of the season he was keeping his walks to a minimum (for him at least); sporting a 3.35 BB/9 over his first 13 starts. That wildness is definitely back though since then he's walked 25 batters over 43 IP which is a BB/9 of 5.25.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 12:41 PM) I agree average is a volatile stat and I'm not going to say that Hall is better than Swisher (That would be ridiculous as you still have to look at peripherals). However, I would argue that those two singles would be more important than two walks. Lets say the single comes with runners on 2nd and 3rd. That single drives in two runs where as a walk wouldn't drive in any runs. Or if a runner is on 2nd, the single could drive in a run, where as the walk puts guys on 1st and 2nd. Bottom line I still think it is important for a player to get hits and I will not consider anyone a great player that hits under .250. Well no s*** a single is more valuable than a walk, no need to sell me on that point. It's just your insistence that if a player doesn't hit for a high average then he can't be considered a highly productive ballplayer. A .380 OBP that's anchored by a .300 AVG is certainly stronger than one that's paired with a .250 AVG but these players aren't exactly plentiful. Nick Swisher is not going to hit for a high average but he is going to give you a high OBP and pretty solid SLG, which is exactly what he's done over the past 16 games leading me to proclaim that stretch "awesome" for NICK SWISHER. If Jim Thome puts up those same numbers over the same timespan I'd say it's a disappointment. It's all about expectations. We'd all love a lineup full of Derek Lee's (.306/.372/.508/.880) but that's just not realistic.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 10:47 PM) I should also point out that he'll get 12-16M per year if I were to guess. He's clearly not a complete ballplayer (poor defensively, can't hit for average, strikeouts a lot) but he gets on baseball with the best of them and obviously has about as good of power as any player in the majors. He's also still young so you are talking about having him for what I'd consider a good chunk of his "prime". I also don't consider him a major injury risk. When you run through Joe Crede's negatives do you list "pops out to SS/2B in 50% of his ABs"? Because I'd seriously like to know what the difference is between a strikeout and a lazy popout to a middle infielder.

*cough*loser*cough*

Right now the Orioles have absolutely NO reason to deal away Cabrera unless they're completely overwhelmed. He's 27 years old, is under their control for 2 more seasons following this one and has shown some major progress this season. They're not just going to give him away, it's going to take a substantial package of players. (assuming Angelos/MacPhail will even entertain offers)

Josh Hamilton is good at hitting baseballs.

Josh Hamilton is launching some baseballs right now.

Holy f*** this is unwatchable.

Isn't Peter Angelos in love with Daniel Cabrera and refuses to let him go for anything short of a king's ransom? Cabrera's also 27 and 2 years away from free agency so Angelos is probably justified in his demands.

QUOTE (knightni @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 06:12 PM) I think that they should have extended Garland more years than for what they did, and allow Contreras to become a free agent. They were using their budgetary contraints at the time. They signed identical contracts but Contreras had another year left on his previous deal so his didn't kick in until '07. I don't think budgetary constraints had anything to do with giving Garland a 3 year contract, they and Garland just didn't want to go 4 years. If I'm Jon Garland I wouldn't take a 4 year deal, that's just 1 more year away from my BIG payday. Guarantee yourself $30M and hit free agency as a 29 year old - rather than a 30 year old - sounds good to me.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 14, 2008 -> 06:10 PM) IIRC, weren't the two pitchers offered basically identical deals? Yes, Garland agreed to a 3 year, $29M contract in December and 4 months later Contreras signed an identical deal.