BrandoFan

Ramirez, Sheffield, Chipper, Helton, Griffey just entered their prime at that age and Sosa, Lois Gonzalez, Edgar, Giambi, Sosa, Walker, Thome and Bonds were even older when they became what they are now. 26 ain't s***.

True, he was always the best at maintaining composure under pressure, reading the pitches well, picking up movement early, having excellent idea of the strike zone, unreal hand-eye coordination and massive strenght you mentioned to take the ball to opposite field because most pitcher's pitches were on the outer part of the plate. Ever since 98, they started busting him in and umpires decided that giving him benefit of the doubt on every call inside won't do. Long story short, Frank adjusted once, in 2000, but since then they just overmatched him inside. It's no secret that the only way to considtenly hit inside pitches is to have a great batspeed and I feel Frank's pretty slow for such a huge HOF'er...Plus his confidence or lack thereof messed up his timing. There is no reason why Jim Thome had OPS a whopping 350 points higher than Hurt last year...unless Hurt is washed-up. That's all I am saying. If on the other hand, his bat is as fast as it was in 94 and his "eye" is actually improving (as it should with all great hitters in their 30s), I guess he is due for 1200 OPS-type showing this year considering the line-up protection he has. I hope I am proven wrong and made eat my words.

Granted the trade proposal was for s***s and giggles...but I disagree with the above vehemently. The only reason why Cubs wil even think about making this trade is the fact that Sammy makes 3 times as much as Thomas, but then again, outside of Bonds he draws the most fans and revenues, so the difference is more than made up. That's it- otherwise you are getting a guy who is almost guaranteed 1000 OPS in Sosa, the guy who can still play adequate left with srong arm and is hell a lot faster than Hurt. With this line-up Sosa would have 150-160 RBIs. Meanwhile there is no DH in NL, lol Valenzula is Cubs' Zuleta until proven otherwise. Ginter is a nobody. Colon is going to demand 12-14 million after this season whereas Clement may only ask for 6-7 and he is not a significant downgrade. Sosa will outproduce Hurt and Hurt is almost certain to want out at the first opportunity. We know JR is tight with money and there is no way something like this will ever materialize, but outfield of Sosa-Borchard-Maggs looks promising even if only in a pipe dream.

What about hated teams? 1. Cubs 2. Twins 3. Tribe 4. Yankees 5. Dodgers

Back to batspeed? Has it slowed down compared to 1993-97 or not? If not, then how do you explain the decline in his numbers even as overall offensive output went up throughout baseball? Afterall, Frank's legendary "eye" is only supposed get better with age... It has to be something in the swing itself from the look of it. Mayne I am wrong. And, yeah, as much as I hate him, I'd LOVE to have Sosa bat 3rd in the next 2-3 years.

I wouldn't mind a Hurt/Colon/Valenzula/Ginter for Sosa/Clement trade. Would you?

I am not saying he is terrible, but he ain't old Frank and hasn;t been one in the 4 f the last 5 years, 6 if you include this one. I think his bat has slowed which mean he can no longer afford to practically follow the pitch into a catcher's glove before hacking at it and will have to "cheat" more and more, something that 90% players not named Bonds/Ramirez/Thome/Pujols/etc must do to survive. If he puts up 1000+ OPS and 130+ RBIs (with this line-up he betta), my girlfriend will run down the street butt naked.

Yeah, especially when he saved 45 out of 46 games at Fenway Park one year. You can hardly call 93-96 mph fastball "average"

Does Hurt have any batspeed left, or is he pretty much good for walks, occasional single and maybe once in a blue moon a crushed mistake? When someone like Sheffiled or Bonds or Delgado or Manny Ramirez or Sosa stays back on a pitch little longer, they can afford it and can adjust and catch up with a pitcher's pitch because of ungodly batspeed. Frank Thomas's bat is slow- he fouls pitches right down the middle off and misses them way too much. Sooner or later pitchers will stop being afraid of him and won't walk him nearly as much. What's wrong with the dude? Why can't he be like he was in '93? He is only 34, the same age as Lois Gonzalez who is thriving. Edgar is 40 and Bonds is 39 and Palmeiro is 38 and yet their bats are as potent as ever. Sosa would hit 80 homers with the line-up protection Frank gets. It's embrassing.

I am actually glad he did. That way Marky-Mark will try that much harder to win a lot of games early on so that he won't have to defer until last game of the season. Also, since he is pretty much set on leaving the Sox very soon, he first needs to win 20 games for AL team before crossing over to NL- you know, for "the history books" I hope Colon goes 19-4 with a ton of no decisions that our bullpen wins. so he will have the incentive to want to come back next year and "finish the business" before going to the Yankees.

Bobi Kilty Bernie Williams Mike Cameron Garret Anderson Palmeiro Thome I think the list should be occupied by Cubbies, Twinckies and players who suck against other teams but kill us like Randa And Hawk&DJ should be prohibited from saying "Ichiro" more than once a month.

substitute "little megalomaniacal punk" for "man" and "goldigger" for "ex wife" and you'll find your answer.

Let's all hail Alomar and Jimenez!!!

What you think Konehead would have driven him in? Getarehea!

You will be benched for tomorrow's thread.

Actually it was Carlos Lee pinch-running for Jose. It makes sense that way.

WTF just happened?! It's only 2 outs.

Yeah, Jose, that guy is not clutch at all. It's an old wives' tale.

All I know is that the Sox won every.single.close game in 2000. Or it seems like they did,. Subbsequently they lost those games in 01-02...It should even out hopefully.

See, I almost got it right.

Konerko! Bravo.

You mean "2 out Tom Gordons" are killing us.

hit by a pitch...off the bat

Ball 2

Ball 1.