Jake

Dunn doesn't move quickly enough to get hurt.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ May 18, 2012 -> 11:57 AM) I can't read threads sometimes, which I know means I should not post...but stop me if this is a misread of the situation: Konerko was thought of very highly as a young-young player, in part due to his catching, and was drafted in the first round. When Viciedo was young-young, every team had a shot at him, and he did not command a giant initial contract....thus him developing into a Paulie would be quite the shock down the road. But also not as much was known about him. So imagine Paulie's draft status if everyone knew he'd someday be an immobile first baseman. Everyone looked at Dayan and realized he wasn't quite a shortstop anymore, lol The fact that he seemed destined for corner OF and perhaps even 1B/DH hurt his value. Very hard to differentiate yourself from lots of other big, strong 1B/DH types without just hitting at the big league level.

Sarah Kustok

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2012 -> 11:03 AM) Prospects can have incredible value due to the uncertainty as to what they will ultimately become...the possibility that Viciedo could become the next Adrian Beltre, in a cost-controlled environment, can make him incredibly valuable. If he shows a glimpse of that at the MLB level, it may be enough to convince another scout or GM. But if you honestly don't believe he will become that kind of player, say, you think he ultimately resembles Wily Mo Pena more than Adrian Beltre, than you trade him while there are still other GMs that believe he will become the next Adrian Beltre. This isn't a difficult concept to grasp. It's merely trying to sell high on a stock you think will inevitably be a dog. Now many of you are arguing that the stock is going to be a winner, and not a dog...and that's fine, and a completely different argument. All I'm saying is I think the stock is a dog, and I want to sell it before that becomes apparent. But at the same time, you're telling me the rest of the market is looking at the stock as a dog too...and not really explaining to me why that is... I see it this way...no one is looking at Viciedo like he's going to be a flop. But, since he has started out slowly...they can get on the phone with KW and say sure, he's talented but we aren't sure he's going to pan out. They have some evidence to back up what may ultimately be a complete bluff. You're always trying to convince the other GM that you don't think their piece is very good (or as good as the player's GM thinks he is) --- sometimes there is little evidence to back this up. In Dayan's case, you have a slow start to back up that claim. Imagine the Angels calling about Beckham. Scioscia supposedly loves Gordon Beckham and we'll assume he thinks Gordon would be a fine player if he could just coach him. When the Angels call, they aren't going to say that to KW. They will remind KW about all of that non-production we've gotten from GB. It's like playing poker. With a prospect, none of your cards are showing. The cards on the table look good, good enough for a royal flush. But what do you have? They don't know, but they know you're excited enough to bet your future on this player. A veteran is like having your cards showing -- we know what that guy does in the MLB. Dayan is in between. You see a card, but not all of them. This may only make sense in my mind....

All my Cub fan friends are telling me horror stories about Dunn killing them back in his NL days

Meyers Leonard is going to need a strong coach, which is why I hope he ends up with the Bulls (there's no way this happens without a trade or something obviously). If left to his own devices, he's going to not hustle enough, not get in the paint enough, get caught sleeping on defense, basically be Amare Stoudamire. But the dude has mega-talent. He has post moves and is awesomely athletic at 7 foot tall, 250 pounds. He is just an attitude change away from being an elite defensive player and already is at least a decent offensive player. Sullinger > May. I don't know how good Sullinger is going to be, but he's taller and more athletic than Sean May. I couldn't believe anyone would waste a draft pick on Sean May.

Okay, taking bets. Who has a better weekend at the plate: Brent Morel or the pitchers?

I can't believe the mock draft I just looked at had Meyers Leonard at 17...I would take him on the Bulls in a heartbeat.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 18, 2012 -> 09:52 AM) WTF? Wood is announcing his retirement after the game and will be available to pitch today.

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 18, 2012 -> 09:41 AM) No, you're right, he doesn't...but if he goes on a hot streak for a prolonged amount of time and starts raising awareness, he could certainly be valuable by the trade deadline. Part of what you guys are saying though is humorous to me...Viciedo doesn't have all that much value on the market, but you'd be crazy to trade a guy with these kind of skills! Well which is it? Why is his value what it is on the market? If he is such an incredible hitting prospect, why do the rest of the scouts not see it? Just to clarify: this is all based on the premise that DV won't be a very good player, right? Or at least, not the player that his prospect status suggests he will be.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ May 17, 2012 -> 10:28 PM) Just re-sign AJ. If he doesn't cost much, I'm not against it, at least knowing what I know now. He would still likely have some trade value next year if things don't work out or we have someone pushing for time in the minors.

I'd still rather see Escobar out there than Morel. Escobar: -lacks 500+ AB's of bad offense (yes, I'd rather hold out for his ceiling of .260 and no power) -plays fundamental baseball (wow! bunting and stuff) -swings like he isn't afraid to hit something -generally carries himself with some enthusiasm, like he isn't afraid every AB is going to get him demoted Morel: -sucks

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 17, 2012 -> 09:55 PM) He needs to produce above a sub -.600 ops when he's not on a "hot streak." We don't know what the "usual" Dayan Viciedo is. The minor league Viciedo seemed to be a ~.300 BA, 25 HR, 100 RBI guy in a 162 game schedule. That was a young man in a new country, so I have to wonder if his ceiling at this level is even higher as he gets older and better at baseball. You sure as hell aren't going to acquire someone with more physical tools. You guys are going to have to get off the nuts of the OPS stat, btw. Don't know why that is the foundation of comparing offensive players.

It was so dumb for LeBron to not go to Chicago if all he was worried about was winning titles. I think Derrick has pushed guys like LeBron, Dwight away. Superstar in his hometown takes the spotlight away too much.

I don't think we've seen what DV is capable of yet, not at any level. It will be beautiful when we see it, though.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 17, 2012 -> 08:33 PM) Might not be a big 3 next year. After what they did two summers ago, to be ringless two years later is unacceptable. If they start unloading (this may be premature as there is a lot of Miami-Indiana basketball left to play) the Bulls can't spend a bunch of time in a rebuild mode. The Eastern Conference will be there for the taking.

The Heat are good for the NBA. And I think the less they win in the postseason, the better. They can milk this "when will the big 3 win?" thing for at least a couple more years.

I think we're seeing that Zimmerman made the stupid move of pursuing Trayvon, probably assuming that he'd scare the kid away with no trouble. Trayvon fought (or fought back) and Zimmerman got scared and used his firearm. Perhaps the racist in him assumed that the black kid would be packing...maybe not. The media coverage of this was pretty bogus though.

This is fun to watch.

The only way I'd advocate a trade of Dayan Viciedo is if I was trying to get Kenny fired

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 17, 2012 -> 07:17 PM) And I still say let him get hot and then move him. Why would you trade Dayan Viciedo? The best you could hope for is a Viciedo-in-waiting.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 17, 2012 -> 01:00 PM) If this team plays .500 or better ball, this is a good thing. It's not happening unless the struggling part of the pitching rotation steps up, the young guys in the bullpen step up, and some out of Beckham/Morel/Viciedo/Lillibrige/Flowers step up. And they found their leadoff hitter for the next few years in De Aza, and Dunn and Rios continued playing pretty well. Meaning, if this team plays well against NL teams and pushes up to .500, they've actually set themselves up surprisingly well for next year, because Peavy and AJ's contracts clear, saving $28 million ($5 million or so of that spent on the Danks extension already). That means the Sox could be legit players in FA for someone really big, like Hamels or Hell even Hamilton, as long as it starts with an H, and that could well push this team to be a legit player next year. I hadn't thought about it much, but it's feasible that with the right players coming around this year we could be a few FA signings away from a favorite-esque team.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 17, 2012 -> 12:56 PM) I just don't see how that 25% of the electorate that's STRONGLY anti-Obama is going to be even more induced to vote... They're already motivated. It's always the independent voters who decide elections, and despite the overall unpopularity of many current issues (handling of economy, gas prices, which can't be directly influenced over a matter of days and weeks, the health care mandate, gay marriage, Wall Street bailouts), Obama continues to run 20-30% ahead in terms of the enthusiasm of his party. (Charles Blow wrote a column on this in the NY Times yesterday). Then you have the huge divides in the women's and Hispanic votes that were opened up in the GOP primary process and will be very tough to walk back. By all past measures, with the state of the economy being what it is, Romney should be 5-10 points ahead at this juncture, but it's basically dead even and most betting folks are still putting their money on Obama. While winning independents typically wins elections, Bush Jr. lost independents twice yet still won two elections (well, one...kinda). Rallying the base has worked for Republicans in the past. QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 17, 2012 -> 02:02 PM) STOP GOVERNMENT SPENDING FIX OUR BALLPARK

The real question is...who cares?

QUOTE (flavum @ May 17, 2012 -> 06:33 PM) Me too, because his bad is baaaaaaaaad. You must be unfamiliar with Brent Morel