BrandoFan

Rowand's at bat was awful. No eye, no patience, timing out of whack. Bring aggressive is one thing. Swining at heater in and chest -high is another. He'll be ok, but goddamn it, I want him to be good.

It's sad that you even had to explain this. I think Political Correctness is great, but not when it comes to sugarcoating the difference between those who "know" or are "able" from those who have lots to learn and/or are full of s***. I can relate to this as well; I would love for them to simulate the Big Bang in the "tunnel" but that doesn't mean I understand all the theory(ies) and mechanics involved.

I love Cobb's quote, though.

I dunno, Edgar is tough to beat.

Crede should work on quicker release -- takes too long to load up.

After finishing dead last in 2003, he has improved this year.....to the tune of 20th out 25 MLB first basemen.

No kidding. We have 4 infielders with exceptional range: 2004 ZR (Zone Rating): Valentin: 919 (leads all ML SS despite 4 errors, so it should improve) Uribe: 900 (4th) Crede: 833 (6th among all 3B....good) Harris: 856 (7th among all 2B....will shoot up toward top 3 by year's end)

Thursday GoG: Magglio Ordonez

Ignorance is indeed bliss.

I am sorry, but this man is obvisuoly on THG and growth hormone agent and lord knows what else. 1900 OPS in a pitcher's park, with ridiculously bad line-up protection? 36 walks to 6 K's? There is just no way.

Unless Carlos is traded for pitching, NO to Reed playing this year. We don't need him. He will not be good. Restovich and Cuddayer put up numbers in AAA that dwarfed Reed's and yet they are sucking it up against superior ML pitching. Ditto for Zuleta and Willie Harris. And literally thousands of others over the years. Obvisouly there is a HUGE difference between 800 OPS in AAA sandbox and 800 OPS in the majors. Few have the mentality to come in a make an impact right away. Is Reed's wrist even ok? He looked bad in Spring Training. Why waste a year of ML service if he likely won't put up better numbers than Rowand who I feel will still end up with 770-800 OPS? Play Aaron against LHP and 50% of the RHP and see what Timo can do.

Quit yer

Where I come from they raid the 'hoods and catch "kids" like him with large fish nets and a shocker. Sometimes literally. Then, in the 2 years of mandatory military service, his less idealistic peers beat the 'tude out of him. Good times.

2 in the 5th and another in the 7th. Kipster is lookin' gooood.

Moishe Collins

The guy will be 27 next January. No power. No patience. Speed but not necessarily smarts on the pads. Why should the Sox give up the farm for him again, when we have Uribe?

I was thinking more along the lines of testosterone boost therapy. Working so far.

See, I was under the impression that Sox had actual plans of being one of the only 2 teams that make it to ALCS, and as such are gonna have to put a wholalot of '0's up on the board......against all kinds of line-ups in all kinds of pressure-cooker situations...over the next 5.5 months. But now that it turns out that our pen favorably compares to that of the scum of ALC/ALE, I feel much better.

That's what they said about Edgar who is almost 2 years older; up until he broke his foot in late August, Edgar was probably even better than Thomas in 2003 when you adjust for Safeco-USCF difference.....Palmeiro is far from done -- this year anyway, which is what we're talking about. Again, so far this year, he hasn't missed a beat. I could care less what he does after 2004. And where did you get the "just might part"? Lee hasn't come close to those numbers -- and history says Carlos is already as good as he's going to get, a career year notwithstanding. Lee is no longer a liability in LF and on the pads, you say? That's great, but last time I checked Jeremy Reed would kick his ass in both departments. So, basically, Lee's biggest asset to the Sox and other teams (who'll still try to convert him to 1B if they can) is AT THE PLATE. I dunno about you, but 9 Mill in 2005 and lord knows how much after that.....that's too much for a player who MIGHT or might NOT be a late bloomer......if you're a budget-tight team like the Sox, anyway. Ideally, I would love for Carlos to stay and for Konerko to be the odd man out, but we both know it's NOT going to happen. The Palmeiro idea doesn't work for many reasons listed in other posts, not the least of which is the fact that Baltimore has NO need for Lee. None. But Sox DO need pitching badly. You won't get a Shilling/Hudson for Caballo, but you might just get Washburn as your #2-3. You still have to get a legitimate ace at the ASB if you're in contention, but that's another story for another thread.

1) You're right, although at the Break, you always have to overpay and Palmeiro would probably want the O's to get some great prospects in return ala his trade veto last year When O's are out of it, why on earth would they want Caballo and his 9 Mill in 2005 anyway? They're fine with Gibbons at league minimum. Instead, they'll probably offer to pay Palmeiro's remaining salary in exchange for Borchard, Sweeney and Honel, or some such......Thanks, but no thanks -- the dude IS knocking on 40, afterall, and he ain't exactly Bonds. 2) I dunno, the prospect of padding his stats (which is all he cares aboutr at this point) on ALC pitching might be tempting. 3) Konerko as Salmon's replacement? Hmm.....Washburn + Erstad = 5 mill more than what Kong makes in 04 and -1 mill in 2005. On oe hand it's clear Garland and Show can't be counted on for s*** so SOX need a #3 anyway. I don't think #2 takes place because of #1 and #3. Konerko's salary. O's not needing Lee. Sox not willing to give up the farm for an old slugger. Etc.

F that. You only live once.....bring on the orgasmic hiiiiighs and the devastating looowwws....Bring them all on!!! ....... :puke ..........

As long as validity and reliability of your approach is not compromised. Watching "between the stats" (ie putting more weight on clutch/momentum-changing plays and overlooked, often unquantified factors) and making close call decisions using purely subjective reasoning is good -- even necessary. Falling prey to the "a walk-off single is > a 3-run homer in the 1st" type thinking, however, is not. So far, you've managed to avoid the sentimental traps and conventional wisdom fallacies, but the season is 6 months long. That's why you were wise to create this thread -- people may catch something which you didn't and challenge.

Man, did Detroit tattoo the donut-chaser today or what!!

Yeah but it was his fault the runner was on in the first place. This is the second time you give Koch AoG because he didn't suck badly and his future is vital to the Sox. Should we start giving BoG to Willie because he gets a couple of infield hits - afterall HE is just as important as Koch? I just think it's strange that 1 scoreless inning is more important than 2. If Mike Jackson had given up Loaiza's runs and then pitched screless innings, then maybe I could see it. I am fine with Koch instead of Action Jackson in this case, so I withdraw the challenge......,But, again, in the FUTURE beware of the temptation to reward a "feel good story" player over a low-key one who may or may not deserve it more.

C3 It's nice to see Botch's cousin finally getting recognized. E-Lo gets spanked, KC is looking to feast on our weak pen. Mike Jackson comes in and throws 2 scoreless innnings, retiring Berroa, Beltran, Sweeney, Stairs and Santiago. Allows a 2-out hit, but no damage done. Then comes in Koch. Walks a runner, another runner Ks but is safe on a wild pitch. No runs score, though. Why are 2 scoreless innings that basically squashed any hope red-hot KC bats had of coming back any less important than 1 scoreless inning?