Punch and Judy Garland

Your right, that's why I feel that they would backload it. I think their legal expert will have a better handle on their chances in the coming months, and I think Beltran will be a free agent on February 1st no matter what.

I predicted that the Stros would resign Beltran BUT if the Yankees legitimately feel that they will be able to void the last $82 million on Gimabi's deal, then I expect a moster contract handed down by the Yanks. The first year might be lower due to the Giambi fiasco but I bet they'd spend that money. Were it not for the Giambi predicament, I feel he would have stayed in Houston.

I mena that I think that statistics don't always accurately portray eveything there is to know. I think that flyball pitchers can still do okay in a homerun park if they can avoid getting hit too hard. I think that stats are a useful tool but might not be as successful describing enigmas like Vazquez. I look at Matt Morris, a guy who got pounded for 35 homers and pitched in a park where homers aren't impossible to come by. You would think that a guy giving up the gopher ball would pitch better on the road if his home park isn't a big pitchers park but that isn't the case with Morris. I know I'm going off on a tangent but I just wanted to use Morris as example of a guy with other types of issues. I think Vazquez could fall into that category. I try not to call numbers people stat geeks in exchange for not being condescended to about being "deceived by my eyes". It works out as a nice trade.

I don't want AJ at all. This has less to do with his Twins association and more to do with teammates hate him. I'll pass. I would take on Javy Vazquez were the Yanks to pay part of the salary. I don't always believe in g/f to be honest so that ratio doesn't bother me that much. I have a hard time passing judgment on a guy's numbers who's mechanics are so out of whack. To weigh in on Edgar, 4/40 is a little steep but it's not the WORST contract you've ever heard of. He's a [retty lcutch player that will probably be a hall-of-famer when it's all over (he'll have a high hit total if he plays undtil he's 38-40). He would fill a major hole and could even hit leadoff when we face lefties. I am more inclined to be on board for Wright and Edgar as long as we don't trade away a lot of thump to get thsoe guys. I'm still of the mind that we can try to add guys without subtraction if we do it smart.

I think Hudson could go to FLA for Luis Castillo. THat's if you believe the rumors about Flordia being very interested in him.

We had Delgado at the deadline until he rejected moving outside toronto. I would have doubted it but given that there is past interest I guess you never know for sure.

I hadn't heard anythign about a Sox trade. Now this is fairly meaningless but I did like that we weren't listed under insider as having interest in Russ Ortiz. I think we probably do but hopefully we've had a change of heart.

This is going to be so interesting because while they don't HAVE to trade the Unit now, I can't see how a reasonable person could think they'd get more than Javy/Halsey/Duncan and cash in July. I think they have to move by February to max out. Otherwise they have to deal for essentially a One uber-prospect package or a bunch of slightly lesser ones.

try espn.com. This (unless it's a tactic which it very may well be) might inspire AZ to move towards persuading the Unit to go to a team that he doesn't yet want to go to. The stark article said that the Cards and Angels are both fading from contention and Gammons said earlier that a package from the Saxw would not be enough. THis leads me to believe that the D-Backs would turn DOWN a Garland/Konerko/BA package as their asking rpice is a king's ransom. That doesn't scratch the no-trade surface. Things are going to be pretty interesting. HOWEVER, Texas did this same ploy after the trade breakdwon last year and then shipped him to the Yanks a short time later. we will see...

I hate Sosa enough to where I might have to stop rooting for the sox as much if they got him. I'd rather they send a convicted felon out in RF than Sosa (Tequila bottle love not leading to a felony conviction).

Yeah Gammons is pathetic Addison, hopefully he'll lose the tv and newspaper gigs to become a more reputable and distinguished message board poster like yourself.

I kind of doubt Duque would be that cheap. I bet he'd make at least 5-6 between big teams like NY and Boston taking a lon look at him. I would rank them 1. Odalis 2. Duque, and 3. Clement. I put Duque ahead of Clement because it would be a shorter deal, he has been the only big game stud amongst the bunch, and I don't like clement's inconsistency. This all despite the notable age and health concerns.

those angry with maller should redirect their anger. He doesn't really report rather he collects, kind of like Drudge.

I have to go back about ten pages to cover the person who said that the Sox have to deal Lee instead of Pop Up Paulie because then we'd have 4 OF. There is a lot of noise around the team this year about Lee being a potentially steallar first-baseman. Second, there are a lot of guys who start out string in the bigs and then don't improve on their regression any time soon. Joe Crede and Eric Kinske come to mind in that department. I'm surprised so many people were against the Sox landing the Unit via BA but have not problem grabbing Scott friggin' Podsednik. I liked having Scott on my fantasy team but I don't want to deal away good players for him. Lastly, someone cited Rowand, Thomas, Konerko, and Crede as our power sources if this trade goes down. Shoot me if Rowand and Crede are going to bookend our 3-6 spots. I don't understand why people think that if we didn't win with power the last few years then we should dump our pwer hitters to win in 05. It's poor logic.

I think saber teams will value Jose's defense a lot more than those who watch him a bit more. That said, they probably won't like his obp but he does sock 'em. I wish him well and I think Sox fans will treat him well in his visits.

I don't care for the trade, although it seems I'm in the minority. Ehich Podsednik are you going to get? Will he get on base more than last year? I don't think anyone has the answer to that. I do like that Castillo's SB % rebounded last year. I am not crazy about what we are giving up. I like the signings though were they to occur

I'm sorry as I'm not a stat guy so I don't believe GAB is a pitchers park.

I like the idea of signing Jaret Wright. I expect Odalis to sign for 3/21 or more. If we can get Wright for between 3/15 and 3/18 then I'd be pretty pleased. Will he get hurt again? Nobody knows so it's really not worth getting too excited about.IF we want to be positive (do sox fans ever really want to?), we now would have a solid 1-5 while keeping Lee-Konerko-Thomas in tact with a little money left over for more moves. I'm in favor of the signing. Would this impede a RJ deal? Has KW given up on that dream? OR is this his fallback plan to trading Garland w/ Konerko?

I bet Shingo's save % will be higher than Dotel's this year. I like Dotel's arm but there is something Koch like about him. He has not made the leap all the way to a real closer yet, IMO>

I hate ND but this is the University of college football and if you can't win then you don't deserve the job. That said, Ty could turn around illinois in about 2-3 years.

How does Ty to Illinois sound? Just a thought. In my opinion, and I am as liberal as they come, I feel that he wouldn't have even made it this long were ND not hesitant to fire a black coach. Not sure if anyone will agree with me on that but I that's my opinion.

I'm not quite convinced that Bradley is all that great. If he were a decent guy then I'd have him but he is not the offensive player that Guillen is. I'll grant he put up a .420 obp in a limited work in 03 but he has yet to show anything more than solid power or speed. He also strikes out a lot for a guy that only hit 19 homers (granted in LA). I just don't think I'd do it. He has an Artest factor in my opinion that leads me to believe that there will be more incidents and bigger ones at that.

Hillenbrand has never drawn 26 walks in a season. I don't believe in obp. as a key stat (I follow more like the Angels and Twins) but I'm sure a lot of people would be upset with having a guy with no walks. Hawk and DJ wouldn't be upset though.

At this point if I had to bet I'd bet they are both back and we sign a 5th SP but that could certainly change. Kenny showed last year that he wouldn't trade the boppers for less in return and I'd imagine he'll feel the same this winter.

00. Just one year behind him. I didn't know him besides having met him but we had a bunch of mutual friends. I met his mom at the videostore I worked at and she was really nice and liked to hear about people following Todd. I see that you go to Champaign and I went there for 2 1/2 years. Good riddance to Ron Turner