Kalapse

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 11:25 PM) AL Most Valuable Player: David Ortiz AL Cy Young Award Winner: Jon Papelbon AL Rookie of the Year: Jon Papelbon AL Manager of the Year: Terry Francona AL Comeback Player of the Year: Mike Lowell tied with Gabe Kapler AL Biggest Surprise: Red Sox AL Biggest Disappointment: Red Sox AL Game of the Year: Any Red Sox/Yankees game shown on ESPN NL Most Valuable Player: Nomar Garciaparra NL Cy Young Award Winner: Pedro Martinez, Bronson Arroyo NL Rookie of the Year: Hanley Ramirez NL Manager of the Year: Grady Little NL Comeback Player of the Year: Nomar Garciaparra NL Biggest Surprise: Dodgers NL Biggest Disappointment: Red Sox NL Game of the Year: Red Sox sweeping the Mets with Coco Crisp making the greatest catch in the history of the game Sox specific categories: Best Hitter: Manny Best Pitcher: Papelbon Most Valuable Player: Papi Biggest Surprise: Alex Gonzalez Biggest Disappointment: Seanez/Taverez Game of the Year: Red Sox @ Yankees or Yankees @ Red Sox Favorite Moment: Mirabelli getting police escort to catch Wakefield. SO AWESOME!!!!! You lose points for not having "WICKED AWESOME!!!!!". QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 11:27 PM) How does he take the cake? One player 26/29, another 24/25... That is far from being dramatically 'better.' Through half a season one has blown 3 saves and the other has only blown 1, I never said BJ was dramatically better but he has done a better job at closing out games.

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 11:07 PM) So Griffey by himself makes this a "huge" deal? A waning great who gets injured every single year? Only to ESPN. I personally think it would be a pretty big deal.

G IP SV SVO H R ER HR HBP BB SO SLG OBA Papelbon: 40 46 26 29 25 3 3 2 1 8 47 .224 .200 Ryan: 39 42.2 24 25 21 4 4 0 0 9 54 .162 .197 I'd say it's just about a toss-up as to who the better pitcher has been overall but when it comes to doing what a closer is expected to do (close games) BJ Ryan takes the cake.

Just to set the record straight here, Papelbon does in fact have 3 blown saves, not 2. TEX, PHI and CHW all blown saves. I'm not sure where this 2 BLSV thing is comming from. It is true though that BJ Ryan only has 1.

QUOTE(quickman @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 09:09 PM) I thought we were talking about pitching. Andersen is very good defensively but not ready this year.Thats not bad just factual. I think you need a better than 200 hitter in center field if you want to win this thing. Doesn't mean we can't keep andersen, just means maybe we might want to get somebody better for the next two months. In addition, I do think if we can get schmidt without giving up andersen or mcarthy we should damn right do it. Our starting pitching has not been good and maybe its because we pitched alot of innings last year, who knows, but schmidt would be nice to have. QUOTE(quickman @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 09:16 PM) You know what, if he hits 250 from here on out, thats all that is needed. Rowand hit like 265 last year. Andersen just has to stop being an easy out. He cannot be hitting like a pitcher especially in NL parks. That would mean two players who hit less than 200 and thats a problem. If he can get it together than that would be great, problem is we are running out of time and we are in it this year. If we weren't so close it would not make a difference, but the Tigers will improve with a player or two, and so will the yanks and even teams in the west.The sox have three holes right now. Bullpen, a hitting center fielder, and starting pitching (unless these guys get there asses together) This post makes it sound like he's still struggling as we get closer to the trade deadline and it's making for tough decisions for KW. As does the next quote QUOTE(quickman @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 09:26 PM) not sure I understand, but this is a trade thread talking about a rumor. hey jackie, I actually don't think I am doing that. I think that if he hits 250 from here on out, than we will be ok, but time is not on our side. KW will need to make a decision on that within a month. If the guy was hitting 250 already this would not be talked about and we would be concentrating on the bullpen. QUOTE(quickman @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 09:44 PM) actaully this may sound strange coming from me, but let me set the record on a few things. The first is I like andersen in the field. I think he is already better than Rowand and I do think andersen will one day win a gold glove. Now that has no bearing on this year. When you have a chance to win the whole thing, take it. I am not advocating Andersen or mcarthy to leave this team. i suggest we use other chips, but I do believe if andersen continues to struggle than we will continue to struggle in the long run as well. I am not saying he is an MVP just that we need a better hitting approach from him. as far as the minors are concerned, I don't care too much for these guys because I think 1 out 10 make it. The ratio is probably worse than that. In addition free agency has completely changed the game and a team can fill in pieces with those types of players if need be. I do think there will be a time in the future where the sox will fail and then sell off there parts to rebuild. At that time I will look to folks like yourself and the futuresox people to determine if we are getting good value for our major league players we are trading. Right now though I am thinking pennant race and world series. QUOTE(quickman @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 09:57 PM) keep posting what? I am responding to a trade thread. What part are you having an issue with? The part that says I don't want to trade him? the part that said I think he needs to bat 250 from here on out? The part that says he is better defensively than rowand? The part when I stated he will win a gold glove? The only thing remotely negative to what I stated, apparently repeatedly, is that I would like to see him hit 250 and I don't think we will win this thing with a 200 hitter in centerfield. I believe in all these statements. Your right he is batting much better. Hope he keeps it up, if he batted like this earlier than we wouldn't be talking about any of this. again I didn't bring up this rumor, and its just a rumor, and this is a internet board that discusses bulls*** like this. No need to get defensive. The way you word your posts it sounds like he's still struggling to hit major league hitting at this point in time, which just isn't true. It seems that over the past month it has finally clicked for him and he's now turned it around. It may be more of the general feeling around Anderson where people look at his .192 batting average and just assume that he's still hitting like s*** when that is just not the case. Not saying you're doing that per se but it's just the tone that most Sox fans seem to take when talking about him. After Uribe got hot and lifted his batting average it seemed people just forgot about how bad he had been, now Brian has hit his stride and is getting all his numbers up and yet you still here similar talk to what you did before. The fact of the matter is, he has been hitting at a very reasonable pace for quite a while now, no matter what his overall numbers say.

QUOTE(hammerhead johnson @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 08:02 PM) Liriano is 10-1 with the AL triple crown (ERA/WHIP/BAA). He's blowing Papelbon right out of the motherf***ing water. It ain't even close. That is why I said he is not even in the discussion, and anyone who thinks otherwise just doesn't know their baseball too well, quite frankly. Okay, then who will? Johan Santana? It's a two man race. I can't see where Halladay enters the discussion, either. If you really examine the numbers (BAA, WHIP, Strikeouts, etc), he can't even begin to f*** with Liriano or Santana. I have some serious man love for Doc Halladay and his Super Sinker of Doom™

QUOTE(quickman @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 09:44 PM) actaully this may sound strange coming from me, but let me set the record on a few things. The first is I like andersen in the field. I think he is already better than Rowand and I do think andersen will one day win a gold glove. Now that has no bearing on this year. When you have a chance to win the whole thing, take it. I am not advocating Andersen or mcarthy to leave this team. i suggest we use other chips, but I do believe if andersen continues to struggle than we will continue to struggle in the long run as well. I am not saying he is an MVP just that we need a better hitting approach from him. as far as the minors are concerned, I don't care too much for these guys because I think 1 out 10 make it. The ratio is probably worse than that. In addition free agency has completely changed the game and a team can fill in pieces with those types of players if need be. I do think there will be a time in the future where the sox will fail and then sell off there parts to rebuild. At that time I will look to folks like yourself and the futuresox people to determine if we are getting good value for our major league players we are trading. Right now though I am thinking pennant race and world series. I don't really understand why you keep posting this when he's not even struggling right now. He's been pounding the s*** out of the ball and in turn his numbers have begun to skyrocket a .333 BA for the month of July is pretty damn good and it's gotten his overall average up to .192. He hasn't "struggled" for quite a while.

Brian Anderson is hitting about .270 over the past month as well as .333 in July with an .840 OPS. He is hitting right now and has been for quite some time now.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 08:12 PM) I've never been a fan of Pods, but his OBP is actually higher this season than last. He has driven in more runs. He has hit for extra bases a lot more often. He is on pace to score a lot more runs than last year. He is fanning a little more, and his defense has regressed to a few notches below Ralph Garr, but offensively he is a much better player this year. I wouldn't mind KW trading him for another LF, sort of like the Bernazard/Cruz trade in 1983. He's also in a MUCH better lineup this year.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 05:41 PM) I think Fenway helps Manny out quite a bit. Well, if for the sake of this argument you keep things to strickly HR/RBI production which is what I was talking about right there. Manny has more HRs and RBIs on the road than at home, was nearly equal last year and did have more HR/RBI at Home in '04. But yeah, if you're looking at BA/OPS and such the numbers are higher at home but for whatever reason, so far this year Hafner has been much more productive at home than on the road.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 05:32 PM) It's close, but Hafner has put up better OPS+ numbers the past two seasons, which is as good as comparison (park adjusted) as I care to use right now. Maybe their VORP numbers show something else, but I know they both have been healthy and mashing with plenty of PA's, so I'd guess they are probably similiar in VORP too. Their pure offensive production numbers (HR/RBI/etc) really aren't even close.

QUOTE(Colorado Sox Fan @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 05:22 PM) I didn't say you can't discuss it. I'm not one of those people who says you can't criticize players or the team. In fact, I said I'm not a big fan of his either. All I'm saying is that it's hilarious how everybody is piling on. Next game, he'll single, steal second and score the winning run and everybody will be in love with him. There's also a reason Pablo is 32 and has never, ever been a regular for any major league team. And, a reason Mack is 30 and has never nailed down a regular spot in someone's lineup. If Kenny can trade for Chone Figgins or Crawford and not get robbed, God bless him. Seems a bit of a stretch that the Angels or Rays would trade those guys. The part is red just isn't true, atleast for me it's not. Also, if there's one thing you shouldn't be using in this discussion is the second part, Podsednik spent 10 years in the minors jumping from organization to organization and finally stuck somewhere in his late 20's. There's a reason for that as well.

QUOTE(Damen @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 05:28 PM) Sorry...I meant the AL. I forget the NL is still in the major leagues sometimes. Manny Ramirez Kicks the s*** out of Travis Hafner. QUOTE(daa84 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 05:28 PM) Here is what i have a problem with....Everyone seems to want to say papelbon for cy young, and why? ESPN hyped up papelbon so much that the popular belief is that hes been the best reliever in the league, when the fact of the matter is that BJ Ryan has been every bit as good...Ryan has 1 more ER, but more Ks, and 1 fewer blown save, lower WHIP. If you ask me Ryan has the better #s....but why does everyone think papelbon has had the best year....espns bosox bias Papelbon is 26/29 in save oppertunities Ryan is 24/25 with his one blown save comming against the White Sox.

QUOTE(chitownsportsfan @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 05:22 PM) I think Albert Pujols just puked a little in his mouth. And strained his oblique. If you just go strickly based on HR/RBI and not even take into effect AVG/OBP/OPS which Pujols kicks Hafner's ass at. You get 116 HR and 316 RBI for Pujols, Hafner with 86 and 291. It's seriously not even close.

QUOTE(redandwhite @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 05:14 PM) If the season ended today, He'd win one of the two, if not both. He's been the best reliever in baseball, period. BJ Ryan is right there with him and has 2 less blown saves, why don't you include him in this? Johan Santana, Francisco Liriano and Roy Halladay are the 3 names right now that I'd put up there for midseason Cy Young.

QUOTE(tealeafreaderii @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 04:34 PM) um just comparing him to some other closers... (innings pitched) Jenks 42 Papelbom 46 Cordero 42 Nathan 36 Turnbow 38 Saito 42 Lidge 42 Putz 42.2 Rivera 46 Ryan 42.2 FRod 37.1 Isringhousing 40.1 Ray 36.2 Jones 34 (he was on DL I think) Wickman 26 Julio 41.2 Wagner 40.2 Hoffman 35 Otsuka 38 Street 38.2 Gordon 37.1 average of 39.2 innings pitched... (the .2 meaning 20% of an inning and not 2 outs) Here's the rankings: 1.) Mariano Rivera - 46.0 IP 2.) Jonathan Papelbon - 46.0 IP 3.) BJ Ryan - 42.2 IP 3.) JJ Putz - 42.2 IP 5.) Brad Lidge - 42.0 IP 5.) Chad Cordero - 42.0 IP 7.) Bobby Jenks - 41.1 IP 8.) Billy Wagner - 40.2 IP 8.) Ambriox Burgos - 40.2 IP 10.) Jason Isringhausen - 40.1 IP 11.) Ryan Dempster - 39.2 IP 12.) Huston Street - 38.2 IP 13.) Derrick Turnbow - 38.0 IP 13.) Akinori Otsuka - 38.0 IP 15.) Tom Gordon - 37.1 IP 15.) Francisco Rodriguez - 37.1 IP 16.) Chris Ray - 36.2 IP 17.) Joe Nathan - 36.0 IP 18.) Mike Gonzalez - 35.2 IP 19.) Trevor Hoffman - 35 IP 20.) Brian Fuentes - 34.2 IP 21.) Todd Jones - 34.0 IP 21.) Joe Borowski - 34.0 IP

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 04:14 PM) Can someone please explain to me why a team that is 2 games out of the lead in their division and is sporting one of the best starting staffs in the AL might be looking to sell? I honestly have no idea but there have been published reports stating his availability so I mentioned his name in regard to a direct question.

QUOTE(scotty22hotty @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 04:04 PM) Stop bashing Pods Untill we trade for Carl Crawford... Hes the best we can put out there. Mack and Ozuna are bench players and I doubt their stats would remain impressive while playing everyday. Plus he's much cuter.

QUOTE(Greg Hibbard @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 04:03 PM) The issue is not with Scotty's baserunning. It's that 100+ points of OPS (and that's factoring in Ozuna's average dropping to .310 or so) is going to mean much more offensively than stolen bases. What are all of those players respective OPS. And how many times have they been caught stealing/picked off.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 03:52 PM) LOL. Give me a break, Kalapse. I know you don't believe for a second Ozuna could do what he's doing now if he was an everyday player. You hate Pods. You make that clear every single day. You'd have D.J. give up the booth to play LF if you could. I really don't know what he could do as a starter, no one has ever given him a chance to play even semi-regularly. I never said he'd hit .400+ as an everyday starter but to say that you know for a fact that he couldn't put up some pretty solid offensive numbers while displaying better baserunning than podsednik seems pretty silly. Unless you're some sort of freaky deaky psychic, I'm not really sure how you can make these definative statements. I do not hate Podsednik, I just don't think he's very good. I don't really carry grudges and hate on players for no reason.

Chone Figgins appears to be available, he can put up similar offensive numbers to Podsednik while playing much better defense with an excellent arm and bring some great versatility to the team.

QUOTE(Greg Hibbard @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 03:45 PM) What is the reason why Ozuna is necessarily a bench player? The fact he has never been given a chance in his career to ever start? Honestly, who knows what we are missing out on with this guy. Yep, he's been passed over for most of his career mainly due to inconsistency and poor defensive play. I don't think anyone really knows what he could be capable of if he were given a starting job and the backing of management.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 03:41 PM) Except Mack is not, nor should he ever be, a starter. And it's easy to slobber over Ozuna while he's hitting over .400. Ozuna is a bench player, that's it. If he were to start playing as much or close to as much as Podsednik, he would be exposed. Also this is all opinion, not fact. The only way to see if this is true, would be for Pablo to begin a platoon in LF which more than likely will not happen. But remember, until there's any actual proof this is simply opinion being displayed as fact in some cases.

QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 03:35 PM) he has improved greatly, and I'm extremely happy for his progress... problem is, there were more than a few people on this board that wanted Owens starting in front of Pods or Anderson when he was below the Mendoza line. If Pods beat Ricky Henderson's sb record, people around here would still b**** about him.... Thinking Pablo or Rob Base would do better for us defensively in LF is ludacris....... how many passed balls on dives would it take, doubles turned into triples, for this theory to actually make sense to some?? HAHA, Rob Mackowiak is a very very good corner OF with an excellent arm, Pods isn't even comparable to him. Don't let the fact that he's mainly playing out of position this year confuse you, he's much better defensively than you've seen.

QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 03:28 PM) I suppose you think Juan Pierre is one of them too.... :headshake Pods will never get respect on this board, oldest news around. I'm am STUNNED someone has not brought up Jerry Owens name and the fact that we needed to call him four months ago. Nevermind the fact that Pods increased his average by over .150 points over the course of the first half. No, I dislike Juan Pierre as a baseball player and always have, here's a post of mine from another thread. QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 8, 2006 -> 01:58 AM) This is a list of all the leadoff hitters in baseball, the ones who are better than Scotty Pods are in bold. BAL - Brian Roberts BOS - Kevin Youkilis/Covelli Crisp NYY - Johnny Damon TB - Julio Lugo TOR - Reed Johnson/Alex Rios CLE - Grady Sizemore DET - Curtis Granderson KC - David Dejesus MIN - Shannon Stewart/Luis Castillo LAA - Chone Figgins OAK - Mark Kotsay/Mark Ellis SEA - Ichiro Suzuki TEX - Gary Mathews Jr. ATL - Marcus Giles FLA - Hanley Ramirez NYM - Jose Reyes PHI - Jimmy Rollins WAS - Alfonso Soriano CHC - Juan Pierre CIN - Ryan Freel HOU - Craig Biggio MIL - Ricky Weeks PIT - Jose Bautista (I really don't know) STL - David Eckstein ARZ - Craig Counsell LAD - Rafeal Furcal SD - Dave Roberts SF - Randy Winn So there's like 3 or 4 teams in baseball who have a worse leadoff hitter than the White Sox. (and yes I do give a damn about defense) And just because Pods sucked at the beginning of the year then got hot, cold again and now appears to be warm does not mean he's good.