RockRaines

QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 01:26 PM) From mlbtraderumors.com I dont see this having alot of legs at this point at all. I think it was an older report before yesterday.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 01:13 PM) I just don't think you can automatically assume that Borbon would come in and be a starting CF'er for us in 2009 from the get-go. Bobby Jenks alone could probably net you 2 top 10 prospects at least. Poreda's got #2 starter upside, and we've seen from Danks and Floyd how valuable good young pitching is. Ding ding ding.

He can block balls with the best of them, this "stat" is pretty useless. He cant throw anyone out, but calls a great game and does all the little things.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:55 AM) No, he's the type of player (unlike Swisher and Cabrera) who would fit in perfectly with our current clubhouse. Best pitching prospect? Well, recently, that's been the likes of Lance Broadway or Adam Russell. The jury is still out on Mr. Poreda. I hope he makes it as a starter and becomes the next Scott Kazmir and we forget about Porcello for a week or two. But I'm not counting my chickens until they're hatched here. The jury isnt out at all. No scouts talked about either of those guys like they talk about Poreda, its apples and oranges once again, which seems to be your best technique to make your point. Stop it with Borbon, its not gonna happen and is a terrible trade for us. We could get a ton more value for Jenks and Poreda.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:50 AM) Once again, I want someone to give me a legitimate option for CF and leadoff...and what you'd realistically give up to get that player. Rivera is a Guillen type of player... If by Guillen type of player you mean someone he would bury on the bench, then ok. And KW will give you a legit answer within the month, so stay tuned. I bet it wont be Julio Borbon for a top closer and our best pitching prospect though.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:45 AM) Because of his 2006 season. Click on link. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4956 When he's been healthy, Rivera has been a VERY productive player. And let's face it, KW signs players like this before he goes out to spend money on a Dunn, Ibanez, Burrell or Abreu. That's just not Kenny Williams. Signing Rivera is, because he would sign for only two years and he would be a very affordable option. Who would our internal candidates be for LF, if we traded Dye? Fields or Viciedo? We don't have anyone but Owens and Wise that could play at the big league level. I don't care where Borbon is ranked...that doesn't matter to me. If it did, Iowa football would never win a single game based on their recruiting, except for possibly Northwestern on occasion. Quentin wasn't even going to make the team, and Alexei Ramirez was a combination of Ramon Santiago/Mario Mendoza and Miguel Cairo. Poreda is only REALLY valuable if he's going to be a starter. Adam Russell was also one of our top prospects and he's worth nothing not. Of course, Poreda is left-handed and throws a tick slower than Thornton, but there's a very mixed sentiment about his abilities as a starter. As I said, don't make the trade if you feel he can develop a 3rd pitch that's at least something that can be used 10-15% of the time to keep hitters off your fastball. Apples and oranges. Quentin was a top prospect, much higher rated than Borbon. Trading Jenks for him is very stupid. Rivera is not good. He is 30 years old, has been declining, and isnt much better if better at all than what we have on our club right now.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:37 AM) If I'm giving up Jenks and Poreda, I want Carlos Beltran not this Borbon prospect (who I've never even heard of until now). Thats because he isnt all that good. Nor is Rivera. That scenario may pan out on OOTP or XBOX, but it doesnt make sense in the league today. KW is looking for young talent yes, but he is also shopping for some major league talent to add to this "younger" team.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:22 AM) Here's my scenario. Sign Juan Rivera for 2 years at a reasonable contract for LF (there's your other bat). Move Quentin over to RF. Trade Jenks, Poreda and Owens/Anderson for J. Borbon from the Rangers, solving your leadoff and CF problem. Trade Dye for a young starting pitcher and possibly a second prospect (could be Jackson, Bailey, etc., whoever KW has his eye on) Keep Konerko and Thome together for one last season. Get ready to sign a veteran FA pitcher for the 4th/5th spot. Go with Fields/Viciedo/Betemet at 3B and Lillibridge/Getz/Nix/Betemit at 2B. I think I just puked on my computer. Rivera=terrible. If I wanted a sub .300 OBP and a sub .800 OPSfrom a corner OF'er, why wouldnt I fill that from within? Jenks Poreda and Anderson for Borbon=an awful trade. Why would we trade one of our top spects and a good closer for the Ranger's #8 spect?

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:11 AM) I don't, but I do feel Alabama is the better team. They rose all the way to the top for a reason. Yes, because they were voted there from winning 12 games and losing none. I dont see an "Impressive" victory in the lot though. The best team they played and beat is #16 Georgia by 11 points, the same team that Fla beat by 31. They also outlasted LSU in OT, of course Fla beat them by 30. Fla had ONE close game and it was a one point loss to Ole Miss, Ala had a very close game with them too. The difference that I see is that Fla blew out every other team they played.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:12 AM) I think they need to get a pitcher and Cfer as things stand right now. If you move Dye, than you need to get a pitcher, Cfer and another bat. That CF better fill the top of the order too. At that point I can live with giving Getz/Lillbridge/Nix the shot at 2B, Ramirez SS, and Fields/Viciedo/Betemeit 3B. Getz should win the 2B job and be a perfect #2 hitter for us with his OBP and ability to make contact. Right now as it stands we are looking for a leadoff guy in CF, or we will be moving Alexei to CF to make way for a SS that can hit leadoff. You get that and a good arm in the rotation and you call it an offseason.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 11:01 AM) There's always a difference between "bad" attitudes and "Poor fit" attitudes. AJ Pierzynski had a horrible attitude before he came to Chicago. Manny was believed to be an excellent teammate in L.A. The question with him though is how much of that was him trying to work towards a contract and how much of that was the way Torre ran his clubhouse. Manny's attitude is alot like Swish's, not a good fit.

Utah ranked ahead of Fla shows how awful that poll is, Utah barely beat Michigan and hasnt played anyone at all. Utah couldnt win the big ten.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 10:58 PM) Why does everyone think the #1 team in the nation is going to get ran over by an overrated Florida team? So you think ratings are more important than the talent on the field? I dont think Ala is very good, that is all.

QUOTE (Felix @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 10:58 AM) I don't think anyone else watched Minnesota/Virginia last night, which is a true shame. They missed some awesome defense. Oh I watched it. Pretty good game, but i thought it was more a lack of offense than great defense.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 10:46 AM) Well they sure as s*** aren't giving a huge pitching contract to Sabathia, let alone any pitcher, so if we're going to guess a big FA signing, then I'll go with Manny. You dont think there is an arm on the FA market that is going to go for 3 years with an option? KW just got rid of bad attitudes in the clubhouse and you think he's going to bring one more back in?

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 10:29 AM) Up until a few hours ago, I thought the Sox were looking hard at Furcal and Hudson. However, after reviewing these recent moves, we have so much "depth" with regards to middle infielders that it wouldn't make sense to sign one of these guys. I dont think they were looking at Hudson after Beck's AFL performance and the report of his price tag. They will make an FA signing to fill a hole though.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 10:14 AM) And questions about whether or not KW's interested in competing in 2009. I swear there's some posters on here who'd rather have a highly ranked farm system than a competitive major league team. KW's improved the depth in this organization, but now it's time for him to start collecting legitimate 2009 MLB starting players. It has nothing to do with stocking the minor league system, but more in line with having a younger team core develop together and then using the extra money to fill those holes with FA acquisitions. To be able to do all of that we needed to get younger on the MLB team and more talented in the minors.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 09:59 AM) Not many did. I expected him to play like this early next year... Thats about what I thought. I think he has figured out that he is physically more talented than most other guys he faces, so his confidence grows every time he steps on the floor.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 09:49 AM) Via trade or FA? There are two holes that need to be filled currently. One is a lead off hitter, the other is another "proven" starter for the 4th spot in the rotation, most likely a RHP. One of those acquisitions will be a FA and the other via trade. Now its just down to mathematical elimination of targets. Of course the trade is most likely one that hasnt been reported yet.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 11:07 AM) D-Rose is so awesome that he transcends having an easily misspelled first name. I forgive him for it. I really didnt expect him to be this good this soon.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 12:12 AM) Nice win by the Buckeyes over my Canes tonight. While McClinton being stupid hurt big time, we still had a 14? pt lead at the break. Bad second half perimeter defense killed us but OSU still had to make the shots and they did. Plus OSU still made shots while up 1-3pts in the final minutes, on the road which isnt easy to do against what I still think is the 3rd or 4th best ACC team. Gotta give credit where its due and OSU showed a lot tonight and was impressive. I thought we were finally gonna pull away at 48-40 but those f***ers kept answering. Congrats Rock. Chicago's own Evan Turner pretty much put the team on his shoulders, im glad McClinton did that because OSU needed a win like this for some confidenc, the team is simply extremely young. I think Miami will be a terror in ACC league play this year, they looked very good even without their best player. Having the fastest guy on the court running your point is always a plus.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 09:41 AM) They are going to move Dye and sign Manny. You really think a bat is what they are after when there are two glaring holes in the rotation? One of those holes will be filled.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 09:04 AM) I read in one of the articles that Lilli played two seasons of CF at Washington, so it would not be that much of a learning curve for him. I dont think that the Missile is a good option for CF, he never really looked comfortable out there, he was more confident and fluid in the IF. Lilli is a plus plus defender at SS, KW acquired him in this deal in case Alexei cannot handle SS full time. I wouldnt think KW would move Lilli to CF.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 08:32 AM) Cowley was on the score earlier and said he has to believe that this is a precursor to another move...didnt really say what it could be, but he thinks it got done before the winter meetings for a reason, so that KW can go there and execute some sort of plan Cowley gets alot of his trade info from message boards, Im pretty sure he got that from here.

No, its not.