Rex Hudler

Here is part of your answer..... From Josh Boyd's Live Chat Friday. I forgot to post this earlier. Q: Rex from Birmingham, AL asks: How legit is Jeremy Reed? He is having a monster year, yet can't make the "Moving Onto the Charts" list regarding BA's Top 100 nor was he selected to the Future's Game. A: Josh Boyd: We like Reed, but he was a college player lighting up a Class A level before his recent promotion. That is no knock, but we're not ready to put him on the Top 100 yet.

Charlotte loses again; Miles keeps hitting; Adkins victiim of 6 unearned runs PAWTUCKET (8) AT CHARLOTTE (4) PAWTUCKET AB R H BI CHARLOTTE AB R H BI A French CF 3 1 3 0 A Miles 2B 5 2 2 1 A Brown PH 1 1 0 0 T Hummel 3B 4 1 0 0 A Santos 3B 5 2 1 2 R Gload LF 4 0 1 1 L Collier LF 5 1 1 0 J Borchard CF 3 0 1 0 C Mottola DH 4 1 0 0 J Burke DH 4 0 2 1 A Abad 1B 4 2 2 3 M Rivera C 4 0 0 0 T Coquillette 2B 4 0 1 1 R Hankins 1B 4 1 1 1 C Crespo RF 4 0 0 1 S Morgan RF 3 0 0 0 K Dransfeldt SS 4 0 0 0 J Nunez SS 4 0 1 0 B Haselman C 4 0 2 0 TOTALS 38 8 10 7 TOTALS 35 4 8 4 PAWTUCKET 000 240 002 -- 8 CHARLOTTE 101 001 100 -- 4 E--J Nunez, J Adkins, R Hankins. DP--CHARLOTTE 1. LOB--PAWTUCKET 4, CHARLOTTE 7. 2B--A Miles, R Gload, T Coquillette. HR--A Miles 1 (9) (off B Arroyo), R Hankins 1 (2) (off B Arroyo), A Abad 1 (5) (off J Adkins), A Santos 1 (5) (off J Meyer). SB--A Santos 1 (9), A French 1 (25). IP H R ER BB SO HR PAWTUCKET B Arroyo (W,7-4) 6 2-3 6 4 4 2 3 2 K Tolar 2-3 0 0 0 0 2 0 J Brown (S,1) 1 2-3 2 0 0 0 1 0 CHARLOTTE J Adkins (L,4-4) 6 9 6 0 0 3 1 J Meyer 3 1 2 2 1 3 1 HBP--J Borchard by B Arroyo. SO--PAW: K Dransfeldt 2, A Abad, C Crespo, L Collier, T Coquillette. CHA: S Morgan 3, J Borchard, J Nunez, R Gload. BB--PAW: A Brown. CHA: S Morgan, T Hummel. T--2:40. A--2,696.

I look forward to continuing to seeing him pitch. He is one of many excellent pitchers that have run through Birmingham in the last few years and has as much upside as any of them. By the way, are you done with spot starts yet? Seems those are the only thing that is hurting your stats. And didn't I see that you went 6 innings in one game on the trip, only to come back and pitch out of the pen two days later? Let's see if we can't stop the rainouts so you can stay in the pen where you seem to have found your groove.

Sounds like GM-speak to me.

His ability to play CF in the Majors seems to be the biggest question about him. I have not seen him play so I can't really offer up an opinion either way. I can say that he has only played 2 or 3 of his 11 games with the Barons in CF to this point. Has played mostly RF.

It's the same situation I alluded to with Neal Cotts. The Sox would not be real smart to call Reed up in September unless they felt he could make a real contribution. The sooner they bring a guy up the sooner his service time clock starts ticking. So a courtesy call up this September means he is eligible for arbitration a year or two earlier than need be and a free agent as well. Big League clubs have to consider this. So unless there is a NEED for Jeremy Reed to make a significant contribution in Chicago, you won't see him this year.

That's exactly what we can't have Jim. LOL Tell him so slow down a bit, will ya? We need him for at least a few games at the Met. By the way, nice job on the trip so far Jim. Keep up the good work. You'll be back in the 'Ham sooner than you can imagine.

I'm not so sure why the need for this thread. We are finally playing well and everyone wants to make a trade. I don't have a problem with trying to better yourself, but why try to come up with wacky trades from out in left field? If a guy becomes available, and he makes sense, then fine. But let's let this team play and see what happens.

We tried to get Giles once before and got stuck with only Todd Ritchie. With what we gave up, we should have gotten Giles too.

Cotts isnt that great. Im not a minors expert but I believe hes has no control. If its Lawrence, a proven MLBer, for Cotts, a minor leaguer with no control, Ill take Lawrence. Reed could be good but hes still not a proven MLBer like Lawrence is... roman, don't kid yourself..... watch Cotts pitch once or twice and then tell me he doesn't have top of the rotation stuff....... Brian Lawrence could certainly become a good MLB pitcher, but why would San Diego want to trade a young, cheap pitcher with lots of upside??

Pacheco was not highly regarded. Even this year, when the season started he was considered bullpen filler and was not seen as a key guy on the Barons staff. He was borderline making the Barons or going back to Winston-Salem from what I understand. Obviously, he has changed some opinions with a very impressive year so far. But Colorado needed a catcher and Pacheco was not considered a prospect, so the trade was not that bad at the time. The Sox didn't even expect what they got from him so far.

So why is Loaiza's season a fluke, but Ponson the real deal?? Could El Sidney also be having his career year?

Why would we trade approx $1 million in players to take on $4 million in salary, especially when the $1 million includes your best starter to date and a guy who will continue to give you innings? On your first idea, Boston would never trade for Borchard because he doesn't walk enough. Epstein is of the Billy Beane mode in that regard. Plus, it is still too early to give up on Joe. I don't see Loaiza bringing in much Major League ready talent and since he is so cheap ( yes, that should make him worth more) why not keep him and plan on having a solid 1-2-3 for the playoffs?? Now Rios you could trade for a bag of balls if you can find a taker.

Hey Jim, is the 2/3 year requirements for the 40-man roster new? It used to be 3 for college guys and 4 for HS draftees. If he indeed must be put on the 40-man this year, then a callup is much more likely. My understanding was that he wouldn't have to go on the 40-man until after 2004. As far as pitch counts and going deep into games, I noted that he was limited because of coming off the DL. But do you not agree that 100 pitches in 5 innings (as he was near in earlier starts) is too many? Even if he is striking out 10 guys in 5 innings, when he gets to the Big Leagues he will have to go deeper into games than 5-6 innings. If he cuts down on his walks (which he seems to have lately) than this is a non-issue as it will take care of itself. But to be successful in the Majors, 5 inning stints won't keep you in the rotation long. I know they are being careful with him and that he probably could go 120 pitches occasionally, but the only weakness I can see in him is that very issue. Walks and the ability to go deeper into games. If he solves those issues, then the sky is the limit for him. There is no doubt he knows how to pitch and has the quality pitches to pitch in the Show.

LOL. I was just about to comment that Jeremy Reed was NOT STRUGGLING. Thanks for the laugh, maybe we'll see Jeremy up in Charlotte soon?! CWSOX45 Hey, let's get the guy to Birmingham first! He still hasn't played at home yet, so I haven't seen him.

After going 5 for 5 tonight, he is now at .463. Hopefully he will figure out AA pitching soon.

Actually Loaiza has been a pretty solid innings eater pitching for some not so great teams. My suggestion for you roman, is not to expect an all-star performance nor an embarasssing one. Loaiza was a great pickup and I have preached that from Day 1 (no, I didn't expect this kind of success). He will be a solid pitcher for the Sox and will keep winning games. Will he be 11-2 in the 2nd half of the season? It's highly doubtful.

As I said, if they feel he can make a real contribution, then they could call him up. But both Rauch and Adkins are on the 40-man and may get shots first. Before you scream ADKINS?, look at his last 6 or 7 starts. He's on fire. Rauch has been solid as well, just not spectacular. But it happened with Buehrle, it happened with Wells, so it could happen with Cotts as well.

I have generally found USA Today to be the quickest. But for some reason they never posted the boxes of those games last night. They usually have AAA and AA boxscores within an hour after the completion of the game. Class A boxes are usually midnight or later (for west coast scores). Probably not a lot of difference between the two.

Thanks for picking up my slack, MSF. USA Today still doesn't have box scores up for those games and at 4 am, I wasn't waiting any longer last night. LOL

Doubtful, here's why. Cotts was drafted in the 2001 draft. He does not have to be put on the 40-man roster until after three full seasons which would be after the 2004 campaign. Unless the Sox really feel they need him, they will not likely call him up until they have to. A September 2004 callup is more likely (if he isn't already in the big leagues), but even then it might not be the smartest move. As soon as a player is placed on the 40-man roster and called up to the Show, his service time clock starts ticking. Which means that arbitration and free agency get here sooner. If the Sox feel he is ready to make a solid contribution, then they will call him up regardless of all of the above. But a courtesy September call up is not a very likely move.

Is this better?? White Sox 9th Juan Cruz pitching: Magglio Ordonez: Ball, Strike looking, Ball, Foul, Ball, Ordonez walked. Carlos Lee: Foul, Foul, Ball, Ball, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul, Ball, Foul, Lee flied out to deep right, Ordonez to second. Mike Remlinger relieved Juan Cruz. Jose Valentin: Ball, Ball, Strike looking, Strike swinging, Valentin struck out swinging. Tony Graffanino: Intentional ball, Intentional ball, Intentional ball, Graffanino intentionally walked. D'Angelo Jimenez: Foul, Jimenez singled to center, Ordonez scored, Graffanino to second. \ End of Inning (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)

Yeah the Sox scored a run to win 7-6.

I agree that lineup would be better with Jiminez batting 9th. But I would bet that you are right on with the players.

I can't believe I am saying this, but....... Brando, the voice of reason???