Wanne

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 05:03 PM) Kevin Butler? The Kicker? I'm still trying to understand the 2005 part.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 04:44 PM) Cabrera should hit in the #2 hole, which would push Fields down to a #6 spot. Another overlooked plus.

Judging by some responses on Angels boards...they're not thrilled with this trade. My favorite response was: "Let's see...we trade for a ground ball pitcher and give them our Gold Glove shortstop?..." Or something to that affect.

QUOTE(PAUL KONERKO 14 @ Nov 19, 2007 -> 03:49 PM) I'm not a huge defense stat-head, can you show me the stats that suggest this? Here's a big one... Cabrera-2 Eckstein-0

Paves the way for the Halos master plan of bringing Eckstein back.

What a cookie-cutter analysis. Dated 11-12...and he only lists the Sox with Eck. Way to do your homework numbnuts.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Nov 10, 2007 -> 02:01 PM) are you kidding me? when i see the hat i just think Tuberculosis.

That's too bad. Easily the DRays were probably my favorite uniform and color scheme besides our own. Now to this:

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 06:05 PM) Whether some folks here like it or not, JO did actually put up numbers during his 2nd stint at the big league level and during his time in the minors last year that suggest he wouldn't be the worst option in the world as a leadoff hitter. Post All Star Break, which is for all intents and purposes his 2nd call-up (there were a couple games beforehand), he hit .278 and put up a .340 OBP, and was 27/33 in stolen bases (82%). It is also worth noting perhaps that his walks/PA trended up, and approached 1 walk per 10 at bats for the latter 2 months. If, for a moment, we do not care about the slugging...if all we care about is whether or not we'll have a guy on base who can score when the boppers come up...right now there is no better option on our roster. And given that a .340 OBP is right around average for major league leadoff hitters, it may well be that there are few better options available and even fewer available at a price and quality of defense that would interest us. Richar's OBP's last year by month for Aug & September are .290 and .294. While I expect those to improve as his work with the bat improves, it is worth noting that with the exception of his 1 year in AA, he has never had a BB/PA matching what Owens gave us in the big leagues last year (including his time at Charlotte), nor has he been nearly as consistent at taking walks and getting on base as Owens has at any level. In terms of getting on base, he may well find himself, even fairly soon, being an ideal number 2 hitter, as he does get on base somewhat, but in terms of patience at the plate he has not in his career been at Owens's level and his OBP is entirely going to be vastly more determined by his ability to get base hits than for JO. Furthermore, one of the Knocks on Danny has always been he's streaky. We saw some of this in September, where he was putting up an OPS of over 1000 or so for like 2 weeks, then finished the month with a .752. While these are good numbers for a rookie, making the minimum, and at 2nd base...I really don't think streakiness is a quality we want defining a top of the order hitter. It might work in the #2 spot, because he could spend time when he's not getting base hits moving runners over and the pre-Thome fastballs might help him out of slumps quicker, but that is another issue worth considering. If we went solely on potential alone, right now on our roster you put Owens leading off and you basically have your choice of Uribe, Richar, Fields, and Pierzynski hitting 2nd, with Richar having the best chance but it all depending on his development. Both of them can provide OBP, both of them can provide hits, both have the ability to score from first on doubles, and both can steal bases to get themselves in scoring position and force people to give Jim fastballs. And IF these guys put up numbers like they're capable of doing, then we actually have a fairly solid top of the order already. But if either of them struggle or take longer to develop in their 2nd year, then we have a big problem. Nice assessment Balta. But going on your last sentence...you mention BOTH of them...but does that mean having both in the lineup? I really don't think that can happen. It's going to have to be one or the other. Lot's of variables...but in my mind (which isn't saying much)...you go with Richar in your lineup at 2nd instead of Owens in the OF. If Owens is there it means that: Kenny didn't get Hunter or Rowand (or do the PK trade for Figgins and Kotch). Credes's not healthy and Fields isn't in LF. I don't like that scenerio.

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 05:17 PM) I'm with you there. I do think the choice here is Crede or Fields, and it has nothing to do with Owens. I don't see Josh in LF next season. I do see him at 3B with Owens in LF, unfortunately. I'd rather have Richar at 2nd and leading off than have Owens as an everyday player.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Nov 8, 2007 -> 02:58 PM) If we dealt Jenks we would have to go after Cordero to shore up that spot. I don't know. I just feel that Jenks is probably the Sox most "untouchable"...him leaving would leave such a gaping hole.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 7, 2007 -> 08:31 AM) Yes. Fields is one of the in the organization that would have real value to Flordia. A deal of Fields/Gio/DLS would certainly be something Flordia would have to listen to. One or the other with Gio or DLS...but not both IMO. And I'm not sure which one I'd rather keep...but I lean towards DLS. Hopefully include Broadway or Floyd instead.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Oct 31, 2007 -> 12:05 PM) There needs to be some major work done with his swing before he'll even be a respectable hitter. Gee...and who's job is that to help with and correct?!? Paging Mr. Walker...Mr Greg Walker....please answer the white courtesy phone.

QUOTE(The Ginger Kid @ Oct 30, 2007 -> 05:54 PM) who cares? he was an awful draft pick. KW should be ashamed of hanging onto him and letting CY go. How can you possibly say he was an awful draft pick? That's a friggin ridiculous statement. Comment from MLB '03 draft board: COMMENT: Five-tool palyer with Major League body. Quality bat potential. Feel for wood with light tower power. Agresssive in all areas of game with plus instincts. Plus arm, plus range. He was lauded as one of the top minor league prospects quickly. He's given the starting CF job after Kenny traded away Rowand. So he's a bust after one year?!?...he's given ONE YEAR to prove anything. I love this thinking....IT'S GREAT!!! If that was actually the case that the DBacks actually wanted Anderson instead...Kenny called tails and it was heads. Who knew. I wouldn't give up on Anderson. I can see why he's pissed....but he should just shut his mouth and go out there and improve. He'll end up leaving and blossoming somewhere else since the bridges seem to have been burned already. Pretty stupid IMO. But to say he was an awful pick...no, he wasn't.

If he ends up on the Red Sox...I very well may never watch MLB ever again.

Huge win tonight for ASU. HUGE game next week at Oregon. Personally...not sure ASU can pull it off. If they can stay close in the first half...maybe. But their secondary is so young...I have a feeling Dixon will have a field day. All I know....if they get through this 4 game stretch at 3-1...they're sittin' pretty. I got my USC/ASU tix!!!!! btw...Kenny's boy Kyle with the TD that iced it in the 4th. He's a pretty damn good returner as well.

Sanchez Gets the Nod Over Ailing Booty Classic!

QUOTE(Heads22 @ Oct 26, 2007 -> 10:19 AM) God, f*** the NCAA. ISU starting SG Lucca Staiger is ineligible for his freshman season because the club team he played on in Germany had two paid players that the team signed. Staiger did not get any compensation. What a dick move. And yet they'll probably give Sampson and Indiana a little slap on the pee-pee for blatently breaking the rules....AGAIN. Myles Brand will be ripped a new one if Sampson and Indiana get off scott-free. Anyway...another team that won't be nearly as bad as they usually are....ASU (Illini's first opponent in Maui). Harden, McMillan and Boateg (Duke transfer)...to go along with Polk and Pendergraph. Not a bad team and will surprise some people in the Pac 10 this year IMO.

In other news.... BUKVICH Bukvich elects free agency; Crede, Ozuna reinstated Mark Gonzales, 2:32 p.m. The White Sox took a step toward retooling their bullpen Friday by outrighting reliever Ryan Bukvich to Triple-A Charlotte. Bukvich, 29, who had a 5.05 ERA in 45 appearances, elected to become a free agent rather than accept his assignment. The Sox also reinstated third baseman Joe Crede and utility player Pablo Ozuna from the 60-day disabled list. With the moves, the Sox's 40-man roster stands at 39. Crede played in only 47 games last season because of lower back surgery, and Ozuna missed the final four months after fracturing his right leg.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Oct 22, 2007 -> 10:43 AM) Thanks for the notes... a couple of thoughts I have here. -On Torii, I am guessing AJ is one of the guys recruiting him, I wonder who the other one is? If I recall it was mostly Dye that was pushing for him to come here.

MLB really needs to do something. This is goddamn ridiculous to still be playing baseball at the tail end of October (Just saw that if it goes game 7...NOV 1ST!!!!) What's the weather gonna be in Colorada at the end of October?...probably 35-38° at night. Regardless what it is.... But I guess it's that way in basketball too. By the time June rolls around...isn't everybody pretty much sick as s*** of basketball.

QUOTE(Gregory Pratt @ Oct 21, 2007 -> 09:46 PM) Manny's the obvious one. I don't care for JD Drew. Youkillis' game I have no problem with but I hate the sight of him. Lugo is, unless I'm mistaken, a wife-beater (please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he was arrested or sued or detained for it -- it came out somewhere). I don't like "Big Papi" for reasons I can't get into here but that I imagine you can surmise. I don't like Varitek. I like Lowell. I don't like Francona. I don't like Gagne. I do like Papelbon a lot. But overall, it's just not a group I care for. I can't stand the Red Sox in general....much less their fan base. The ONLY thing I like about the BoSox is Pedrioa...but that's because I'm pro ASU and saw him his whole career. You always knew he'd be successful at the next level. I'd never seen a hitter like him at ASU...and I've been out here 23 years and have seen a bunch out here (including Bonds, Mike Kelly, Travis Buck, Larish (who was the Tiger Minor League POY). Pedroira just stood out....

QUOTE(Athomeboy_2000 @ Oct 19, 2007 -> 11:34 AM) A-Rod >>>>>> Uribe My dog >>>>>> Uribe

QUOTE(WhiteSoxfan1986 @ Oct 16, 2007 -> 12:46 AM) LOL at Melvin letting Drew swing away. It looked like they had Corpas on the ropes for a second. Melvin was badly outmanaged in this series. If Ozzie pulled some of this crap two years ago, I don't know what I would have done. I still think the winner of the AL wins it all. I'd be SHOCKED if Melvin gave him the green light. I really don't think he did......but if he didn't...he did a damn good job of keeping his poker face on...and will probably talk to Drew later....OFF CAMERA.

I love how these guys put the shift on guys like Hafner...then pitch him outside.