whitesoxfan101

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 06:08 PM) I can't believe other teams out there, like the Dodgers, couldn't top this. You wonder if Harden is either hurt (which is possible with how his stuff looked Sunday) or if Beane is just paranoid Harden could get hurt at any moment and he'll get nothing (which is also possible with Harden).

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 06:01 PM) I can't believe I just heard Dan Plesac say Harden will eat up innings. The media is going to be creaming themselves, so get used to it. It's worth the risk for the Cubs, and it could be a great deal, but Harden is such a health risk that you can't say it for sure. I wouldn't trust Billy Beane when it comes to the health of pitchers (SEE: Koch, Billy and Mulder, Mark). The Cubs HAD to make this deal though, they needed a couple more arms and with what Oakland was willing to take, had to do it. The fact they got the A's to throw in Gaudin was huge, because instead of an epic risk that could completely bomb out, at least they got a pretty decent arm in Gaudin in case Harden gets hurt, which is probably a 50/50 chance.

If this is all it took to get Harden, we probably could have come up with something if we really wanted to. But with our starting pitching/pitching in general, and our lack of system depth, it obviously wouldn't have been worth the risk.

Gallagher will be better than Gaudin by the end of the year IMO, that's the one thing I disagree with you on Jason. However, I look at this trade in two parts: Gallagher/Harden Murton, Patterson, Donaldson/Gaudin The trade will truly be evaluated based on how part 1 goes, but part 2 could be very important too. Jason is dead on in that Murton and Patterson could help the A's, but they wouldn't have really helped the Cubs. As I can get my brain to work more clearly and look at this deal, I can see why both sides did this and it could work out for both of them.

The one thing I will say, I remember when Oakland gave up Mark Mulder and got Dan Haren (and Daric Barton and Kiko Calero) and people thought St. Louis got a steal. Obviously, they didn't get as much here and also gave up Gaudin, but Oakland seems to know when to deal pitchers before they get hurt and/or fall off. I believe if they want to, the Cubs would have control of Gaudin and Harden through the 2009 season (although Harden's is an option).

It is a horrible trade by the A's if Harden can stay healthy. Problem is, he can't. Gaudin could be pretty good in the NL though either way. I have no idea if Josh Donaldson is any good, but giving up Patterson and Murton shouldn't haunt them, but Gallagher could be a very good pitcher. This trade could go in a lot of different directions, but it seems like an odd trade by Oakland. I wonder if something is wrong with Harden, between this deal and the fact that Harden looked really bad on Sunday. It's a big risk by the Cubs, but I guess when you haven't won in a century you might as well try it. Overall, this is a risk for both teams, but could be looked at as a risk worth taking for both teams. This trade will be proclaimed as the steal of the century by the media, but really it could go either way. I'm very surprised and not sure what I think right now to be honest.

It's done. Harden and Gaudin to the Cubs for Gallagher, Murton, Patterson, and at least one minor leaguer. And maybe somebody else. It sounds like a bad deal by Oakland to me, but then again Billy Beane is smarter than I am.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2008 -> 04:28 PM) Gload was all hype...he made a few very costly errors over there. Swisher made a lot of plays look easy that PK wouldn't have gotten to. I never understood the Gload hype either. He was one of the worst defensive outfielders I've ever seen, and his 1st base defense sucked too.

I'd say they probably still are. This trade hurts the Cardinals the most, as I think they are now clearly the 3rd best team in that division, whose runner up is going to get the Wild Card.

NIU got a commit from a 3 star quarterback recruit named A.J. Hill from downstate Illinois. It's not a surprise, as his brother Nick was a standout QB for SIU and played under our now coach Jerry Kill, but still a good get. We don't get a ton of 3 stars, and A.J. is supposedly better than his brother at this stage by all accounts.

It's generally believed (and accurately IMO) that the Cubs could use one more starting pitcher and one more reliever. Well, this is where the Juan Pierre trade is biting them in the ass. Sergio Mitre is hurt and out for the year I believe, but the Marlins have two guys they received in that deal that the Cubs wish they still had. Lefty reliever Renyel Pinto has a 2.94 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 49 innings and only 38 hits allowed (he walks too many, but he's still been pretty good overall). On the other side, righty starter Ricky Nolasco is 10-4 with a 3.74 ERA, a decent strikeout rate, and less hits allowed than innings pitched. And both of those guys are only 25 years old. That was a REALLY bad trade by the Cubs, and they could really use those pitchers back right now.

PK can clearly hit triple a pitching, it's too bad we didn't have him around for interleague play.

I have no idea. This is something you'd address based on how our guys are throwing at the beginning of October if we get there IMO. The only thing I'm sure of is I'd want Danks and Buehrle both in the 4 man, and broken up with a righty in between them.

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jul 7, 2008 -> 09:20 PM) what kind of message does that send to Fields if you get blake for insurance at 3b? 1. We don't trust Crede and his back, especially on defense. 2. You are still starting next year, Blake is more of a utility guy. 3. We are trying to win now. 4. If we cut Uribe when PK is activated, we could use another reserve IF anyways.

I found this interesting. It's a video of a Carlos Quentin home run for the Diamondbacks in May of 2007. His crouch is nowhere near as deep or pronounced as it is now, and he appears 10 to 15 pounds lighter than he is this year. Maybe Walker deserves some credit for working with him, because his stance is noticeably different now.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 7, 2008 -> 12:46 PM) Into the Friday's restaurant...that was just a BOMB. I've never been to a game there, but I went to Phoenix in the offseason not too long after that stadium was built, and we visited that Friday's and sat right near where they ball landed. That is just incredible how far he hit it.

Boy it feels dirty rooting for Boston. Ah well, they got it done tonight, hopefully they keep it up.

We could use another infielder, so Blake is not a bad idea. Not sure what exactly we can do besides that though, our pitching is great and our everyday lineup is pretty well set with Paulie coming back. Just have to hope this current group is good enough.

If you haven't seen Justin Upton's homer for Arizona today, try to do so. It was incredible, right up there with Thome's against KC a month ago for the longest one I've seen all year.

Crede in and Dye having to try and be the last man in is a joke. Varitek in and A.J. out is an even bigger joke. The all star game with it's flawed rosters deciding World Series home field is the biggest joke. Can't stand this system, and seeing how awful it is makes it more and more annoying every year.

The post is good, but the premise that history is relevant is wrong IMO. I have learned to ignore the term "beware of history" since 2005. Now that I've gotten that pet peeve off my chest, your point that the biggest threat to the Sox playoff chances is the Sox is 100 percent correct. We are clearly the most talented and best all around team in this divison, but that doesn't mean we will win the division. Still have to play well, and if you want to use "history" as an example that the best team doesn't always win the division, the 2003 Sox are a good place to look. The good news is the Twins have 5 more road games left than we do, and are starting a stretch of very difficult schedule tomorrow in Boston.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jul 6, 2008 -> 10:32 PM) Lucky or not, the Twins aren't going away. They clearly aren't going away, but they have some things going on that will not continue. We are still a better team than them, and it'll show. Hopefully Detroit falls off, as I'd take my chances in a two horse race with Minnesota. I know we had bad luck with that in the past, but this year is different. I am starting to at least think they are a bigger threat than Detroit though, which I would have never guessed even a week or two ago.

This trade doesn't affect the regular season much IMO. The Brewers and Cubs were both going to make the playoffs before this trade, but this just assures it (Cardinals have proven to be pretty good, but they will finish 3rd). Question is, who will be the Wild Card and who will win the Division. However, the Brewers better make those 5 draft picks in the top 35 work next year, because LaPorta is going to be really good and Sheets and Sabathia are both gone after this year. I just hope Sabathia signs with an NL team, or else this joy is temporary, but I'm glad he's gone from the AL Central for good (I think). This move is all about October 2008, and the Brewers hope Sheets can stay healthy. Sheets/Sabathia is the best 1-2 punch in the NL obviously, with Webb/Haren not far behind if Arizona can get in. The Brewers are taking a HUGE risk though, they could end up looking awfully smart or just incredibly stupid. Their lineup and rotation are top of the line, but their bullpen still blows. It is funny that Cubs fans thought they would get C.C. though, and now they think the A's will trade them Harden even though the A's are in the race and have an option to keep Harden next year. I wish the Cubbies luck with getting Randy Wolf and hoping Rich Hill turns it around though, as I don't think they have enough to get even A.J. Burnett or Erik Bedard. Cubs fans would lead you to believe their system is good, and they'd be very wrong.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jul 6, 2008 -> 12:41 PM) AJ should be the starting C. Danks should be there but doesn't have the sexy W's, so Gavin probably should. Crede? Boras' gotta love that. I forgot about A.J. So Crede is our 7th most deserving player, and to be honest if he makes it over some of the other guys on our team, that's just not right.

Who knew that all a guy struggling mentally needed to get back on track was a change of scenery to that place where the fans are so friendly, Philadelphia?