sircaffey

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jan 11, 2008 -> 07:36 AM) Fields was on pace on 40 hr this year, his first season. If he stays just as good, he will put up those numbers. Most likely he will improve. More than 40 HR in his first full season? That is quite the lofty goal considering Arod, the Babe, Hank Aaron, Griffey, Pujols didn't even accomplish that. More recently, Prince Fielder didn't even do that. If Josh is a 40+ HR guy, we better keep him because he's going to break the HR record. I'd say, be happy with 25-30. From a quick search, players to accomplish 40+ HR in their first full season were Cecil Fielder, Mark McGwire, and Ryan Howard. Not sure Fields can hold a candle to those guys' power.

QUOTE(spiderman @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 11:32 PM) I think he's satisfied though with what he has. Is Kenny ever satisfied?

QUOTE(spiderman @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 11:11 PM) I think Kenny is too vested in this upcoming season to trade one of his big run producers. Remember, Kenny has already addressed the top of the lineup now with Cabrera and Swisher so he's probably pretty excited with the top 5 in that lineup. Kenny has also been yearning for a leadoff hitter for years. I think he'd love to swap some power out for one ala Pods/Lee.

QUOTE(CanOfCorn @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 10:48 PM) If the Sox trade Kong before the season, it's to win in 2008. If the Sox trade Kong anytime after that, it's to rebuild. Pauly becomes a 10/5 player in a few months. If we don't trade him before this season, we likely won't trade him period.

QUOTE(flavum @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 07:49 PM) Barring a trade or injury, the Sox order will be Vazquez, Buehrle, Contreras, Floyd, Danks. Not that it really matters, but I got to believe Buehrle will be the Opening Day starter.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 05:28 PM) In 2006, his first callup before he got hurt last year, here's his numbers in 166 at bats: .253 .342 .530 872, 9 home runs. Here's his career minor league numbers: .312 .427 .526 953 You guys will be amazed at what this kid does if he stays healthy. 9 home runs in 166 AB's is a 35 home run pace on a full season. Takes a ton of walks, slugs like crazy. His numbers are to die for. The only question is his health. I know he's very talented, but how many young players have come up recently and put up a .900+ OPS in their first full season? Howard, Braun... Even Fielder didn't.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 05:26 PM) You have some big time expectations for Quentin there. I like him as well but not expecting a .900 ops season out of him this year. I love Quentin too. I think he can eventually become a .900+ OPS hitter, but maybe in 3-4 years. I think we should all be very satisfied if we get a full season of .800 OPS out of Carlos.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 05:22 PM) Quentin should be also, if healthy. He's been a 900 OPS guy his whole way through the minors. You're expecting a >.900 OPS from Quentin next season? You are expecting him to out produce Konerko? Wow. That's pretty lofty.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 05:09 PM) If it works right, our offense shouldn't be built around those 3 any more than the Tigers are built around those 2. We should have added to >900 OPS guys to the lineup this year, who should just be generating all sorts of offense, and we hopefully have a couple better hitters and more distributed power as well. With a reasonable amount of health, our lineup would hit 220 home runs if a lot of guys had bad years. Come on now. Pudge is the worst hitter in their lineup. With reasonable health, how many of those 220 HR will come from Thome, Konerko, and Dye? Near half. Those 3 are the heart and soul of the lineup. Who's the 2nd .900 OPS guy? Swisher and...?

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 04:04 PM) Thome is 1.75 years younger than Sheffield. Dye is 2 years younger than Rodriguez, Konerko is 5 years younger than Rodriguez. If we're worried about Thome's age, then they should be 5x as worried about Sheffield's age. IF we're worried about Dye or Konerko's age, they should be 8x as concerned about IRod's age Yes and no. The difference being the Tigers offense isn't built around Sheff and Pudge. Our offense is built around Thome, Dye, and Konerko. Not saying I'm worried for this next year, but there is a difference.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 02:57 PM) I-Rod is getting up there for a catcher. So he will more than likely not improve. Sheff is old, without PEDs, so he is either going to be about the same or decline some more. Also, do you believe Ordonez will have another 1.000 OPS season? Is Granderson going to maintain his +.900 OPS, which was an increase of .140 OPS? Polanco also saw an increase in OPS of .153. More than likely, these 3 will come back down to earth and be closer to their career norms. So that is 5 starters who will have a good chance of declining. M-Cab is going to rake regardless, but how about Renteria? Is he going to be the .860 OPS guy from the NL or the .721 OPS guy from the AL? Guillen will more than likely have a better season, then lastly you have J.Jones/Thames in LF. Sheff also raked at a .950+ OPS in the first half last season until experiencing shoulder issues the rest of the way. He's still a hell of a hitter. I don't expect Pudge to improve greatly, but I don't expect a dropoff either. It's hard to get much worse than he was last year. I don't disagree with the others except for Granderson. Also, you can't ignore the impact Miguel Cabrera has on a lineup. He should make those around him better.

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 11:33 AM) Detroit has the best lineup, but could have the biggest drop-off from guys like I-Rod, Sheff, and Maggs. No one from the Sox really had a great year last year, so we will hopefully see some rebound. I don't know how big of a dropoff you'll see from Pudge or Sheff. Each had their worst seasons of their career. Personally, I think we'll see a better season out of Sheff. As far as the Sox, Thome and Cabrera should have some fall off. I think the difference between the Sox and Tigers are the players that will likely see an increase in production, and not necessarily a dropoff.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Jan 10, 2008 -> 01:23 PM) Which is possible, but there is probably about a 5% chance something gets done with this deal RIGHT NOW. There is about a .5% chance you see a Konerko-Crede trade in ST. That is a franchise changing trade for both teams, and with both these teams trying to win in 08, the rosters are pretty much set by late February. A Crede swap alone could happen in March, but any deal in it with Crede alone in the deal will be a very minor one. Agreed, which makes the end of January a logical time period to see if Crede has any setbacks.

QUOTE(Vance Law @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 03:54 PM) They didn't know about the Orlando for Garland trade, the Quentin for Carter trade, or the Swisher trade. They knew about stuff like the pursuit of Hunter, which Kenny himself trumpeted, and they managed to speculate, "well if not that center fielder, the Sox would likely be after some of the other ones The Sox pursued Hunter and M. Cabrera with earnest. Both of those were well documented. I didn't mean that the media knew every move that the Sox were going to make. What I meant was that he media hasn't reported anything this off season that hasn't turned out to be at least modestly true regarding the Sox (when it comes to deals that may be "close" to completion). Therefore, I tend to believe that there has been talk w/ LAA regarding Konerko, and I don't believe KW when he said there hasn't been any talk.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jan 9, 2008 -> 02:15 PM) Trades? I can remember the Garcia trade (when we acquired him from Seattle) being talked about beforehand....other than that, they usually are rather unexpected... Not that there was specifics, but it was reported that the Sox were after Quentin and Vazquez numerous times in previous seasons. Those trades ended up happening. It's also been reported that the Sox have been after Figgins and Shields for a long time (not just sprouting up this off season), but that hasn't happened...yet. If the past is any indication, at least from what's reported in the media, KW usually gets his guys at some point or another. Also, the media has been pretty "on" with regards to what the Sox have been doing this off season so chances are there probably have been talks with LAA about Konerko regardless of what KW says. It's sad, but I'll tend to believe the media more than KW in this case.

QUOTE(max power @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 06:38 PM) Who are the slow guys? Do they even start? Paulie, Dye . . . ? Pauly, Dye, Thome, AJ, Crede (if starting)

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 03:27 PM) They finally went to commercial. Perhaps there will be an update after the break... Nope.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 03:26 PM) It probably was never said then. Thank you though. They finally went to commercial. Perhaps there will be an update after the break...

QUOTE(JFields27 @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 03:20 PM) where did you get that information anywhere in that link? .. some guy made up some offer that he would like. He also said the Angels would give up Kotchman, Santana, Willits, and a spec ... why did we bring the Orioles into the deal if the Angels could have just given up Kotchman, Santana, Willits, and a spec for Konerko and Crede anyways like i said thats more then likely not the deal so lets not speculate over it plus in order for it to actually be a 3 way each team has to get something from each team *Speculation* Something like the Angels getting Brian Roberts, Konerko, Crede Orioles get Kotchman, Richar, Conger(why not) Sox get Kendrick, Figgins/Willts, Santana, GMJ You got to love my speculation, and thats probably not goign to happen, would be fun to see, but just an example of how a 3 way would have to go We would bring in the Orioles because we want Bedard and we don't have what it takes to get him. It's a three way because the Orioles want Kendrick, but don't have the big bat that the Angels want to get him. Hypothetically, it makes sense. Realistically, well that's another story...

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 03:18 PM) I think it's probably BS, but I am at work and cannot listen to the radio right now, so I figured I'd ask if they actually stated that on the Score. I've been listening for 20 minutes, Boers and Bernstein haven't stopped talking about steroids so there hasn't been a sports update or anything. No breaks yet.

I guess it would make sense if Roberts was either being involved or being shipped elsewhere as Kendrick could be what Baltimore really wants.

QUOTE(iamshack @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 02:49 PM) Has anyone heard the Score reporting that a three-way deal between the Angels/Orioles/White Sox is brewing? I was alerted to a post on an Angels forum that the Score has reported such this afternoon.... http://www.angelswin.com/forum/forums/thre...=14&start=1 www.670thescore.com I'm listening to the live stream right now. They are talking about helicopters. I don't know...

If Pauly alone can net Bedard in some strange way...all hail Kenny.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 8, 2008 -> 01:38 PM) No, I can't place a value on Swish in CF, but it sounds iffy at this point. According to BP: "Swisher's not exactly a quality center fielder." CF is certainly Swisher's worst position. I don't think he'll be a long-term answer out there, and in fact (if the rumors have merit) might not even see CF for the Sox.

QUOTE(2nd_city_saint787 @ Jan 7, 2008 -> 07:49 PM) if kong is traded there better be a SP involved or imma be pissed Your signature is JInormous.