heirdog

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 02:22 PM) True, but we also don't know the full details about those discussions. Perhaps the hang-up is that the Sox want more if they're to be eating salary or assuming a bad contract like Ryan Freel, while the Reds feel that to give up more they'd have to get more. On paper, Gorkys is a much better prospect than Dickerson, Roenicke, and Maloney who have been mentioned by Reds fans, and Morton may be a safer bet to become a good pitcher in the big leagues than Bailey is. Bailey obviously has the highest ceiling, but it's very possible that Kenny wants to get back a couple of players as sort of a safety net. I wouldn't call it quantity over quality, but it's possible Kenny is looking for a good player who is a safer bet along with another player with bigger potential, and that guy can be the wildcard of the deal. Kinda like getting Massett (who was supposedly just a tick below Jenks) as the safe bet along with Danks in the McCarthy deal.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 9, 2008 -> 02:20 PM) Well we need a #3 starter, I wonder if we can get Vazquez? Apparently Vasquez pissed his pants during the BIG press conference and Atlanta has already soured on him so we can get him + Gorkys for JD.

What's the 411 on Jo Jo Reyes and Charlie Morton? Are they middle of the rotations ceiling guys or more? I don't think we trade JD for anything but an "ace" type prospect. I'd rather have Brian Anderson in CF with JD in right than have a young unproven CF (Jordan Danks could be up in a couple years) and Jo Jo Reyes instead of Marquez or a FA 5th starter.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 7, 2008 -> 09:27 PM) My totally inaccurate and spur-of-the-moment Sox starting lineup for 2009 is: 1- Furcal SS ROBERTS 2B 2- Ramirez 2B ABREU LF 3- Quentin LF RF 4- Thome DH 5- Konerko 1B 6- Abreu RF RAMIREZ SS 7- Fields 3B (IF FIELDS TRADED, then BETEMIT or VICIEDO) 8- AJP C 9- Taveras CF That line-up looks nice but I would have 3 changes: 1) Flip Abreu and Ramirez in the line-up. Abreu would be a solid 2 hole hitter and Ramirez could be more of run producer in the 6-hole without sacrificing at-bats 2) Quentin in RF and Abreu in LF. Quentin came up as a RF and this will allow him to move to that position. At this point in time, Abreu is probably less of a liability in LF than RF. 3) THE BIG ONE: Replace Furcal with Roberts and move Alexei to SS. Furcal would want 4 years and at least $48 million. That would block a guy like Beckham for too long. Roberts will provide what Furcal does and while he will cost prospects, we have accumulated quite a few through the draft and trades. Its nice to have all these prospects but they all can't play at once (if they all pan out) so might as well get a stud piece for next year (and draft picks after that) to make the team competitive and get value for the prospects that may always be blocked (Fields, Anderson, Poreda (I think he'll be Matt Thornton 2.0), Shelby).

QUOTE (scenario @ Dec 5, 2008 -> 12:27 PM) Well... then I hope he likes Sushi. After one taste of sea urchin, JVB will be shaggin' fly balls in LF in no time.

Brian Roberts + single A pitcher for Fields, Poreda, Shelby and Anderson.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 05:59 PM) They finally break down and sign CC! No way we carry 4 lefties in the rotation. Buehrle, Danks....richard/poreda...and CC?!?

A little late to the party. Most of these (the somewhat substantiated ones any way) have been discussed ad nauseum in other threads.

Josh Fields could be Jorge Cantu with more power but he'll strike out a lot more and likely not have as high an average. Most importantly, Josh Fields can play 3B and DH and likely 1B. You have Thome/Konerko and guys like Brandon Allen, Viciedo (if he can't keep his weight down), potentially Flowers, etc. all who are/can be DH and 1B. Cantu can play 3B, 2B, 1B, OF and is a known commodity (at least .270 AVG, 20+ HR, 75+ RBI) and only a year or less older than Josh. If it were just Cole Armstrong for Cantu, why wouldn't you take a shot and have Cantu play LF if Josh shows something at 3B. This allows for flexibility in trading Dye (Quentin to RF) or Konerko (Cantu, Fields, etc playing 1B) and getting another young, potentially stud pitcher for the rotation or a lead-off man/CF such as Figgins. With Buehrle locked in the rotation for a few years along with Danks and Richard, you might see a package of Fields, Poreda/Richard, Shelby and Anderson going to the Orioles for Roberts. It'll make us competitive this year and then give us two picks at the end of the season, in which to replace the value (Poreda/Richard and Shelby) that we gave up.

Cantu is already a finished product with 25 homer power, avg. speed, Ks a lot and butcher defensively. Its similar to Josh Fields (although Fields projects to have more power). The big difference is Cantu can play multiple positions including the OF. He used to be the Rays starting 2B a few years ago and came up as SS, I think.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Dec 5, 2008 -> 08:16 AM) Bobby Cox: "I consider Javy an elite pitcher, really a national league pitcher." Translation: "He is good for 4-5 innings and then he can be pinch hit for before he gets knocked around in the 6th..."

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 5, 2008 -> 12:15 AM) hmm, and of what relation are you? Hahn is a native of Winnetka, Ill. and a graduate of New Trier High School, the University of Michigan, the Harvard Law School and Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He and his wife, Jean, have two children, Jake and Charlie. The family resides in Glencoe, Ill. http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/cws/team/e.../hahn_rick.html Its clear Bucket-o-suck is implying he is married to Rick Hahn's sister (or cousin...or niece). In any case, if Thunderbolt can dig up some details on the "Ladies of Hahn," then we can confirm the true identity of Bucket-o-suck. I always find it odd how relatives come out of the woodwork and offer inside details when the team (KW) is on a supposed "gag" order. Why put your family relations under duress to share info that people will likely be skeptical of any way. Is it helping the team? Its nice to get the info but we all take it with a grain of salt and most won't believe a word so unless there is someway you can prove to have inside info (highly unlikely), its best to leave it alone...or simply defend your brother-in-law if people are taking unnecessary shots at him (never happens on this board as Rick Hahn is a GOD here). With all these trades, draft picks and signings, we have built decent depth in terms of youth. KW will either hope that at least 2 or 3 showcase the talent and get a spot in ST or per KW's modus operandi, he will package some of this talent to get other decent, young talent that is MLB proven (i.e. Swisher-type, with hopefully better results). I do, however, think Tavares is headed to the Southside as his name has been linked to Kenny for far too long over the years.

I, too, think that Abreu would be in our plans to play right/left and bat 2nd. He was a potential target around July 2007 (for Dye nonetheless) and I can see KW keeping track of him and grabbing him when he gets a chance (i.e. Vaquez, Griffey et al). We would still need a CF that could lead off (Tavares?). I know Abreu isn't the base stealer he once was nor is his power the same as in the past, but as a 2nd hitter, he could be great. The top 3 with CQ at #3 and #9 hitter (Getz?) sets up a nice group of non-base cloggers that will be followed by our base cloggers (thome, kong, aj). At least we have Alexei and Fields in there who seem less base-cloggy.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 12:43 AM) Dye's value just went down. Abreu, Burrell, and Dunn will not cost draft picks. Ouch. I hope none of these guys were in the Reds plans and we can still get Bailey and whatnot. If Dunn was in the plans, he would still be there. They are looking for RH hitter so that leaves Burrell or Dye. Burrell may command a long-term deal and not sure the Reds want to go that route. Dye has been far more consistent of the two over the past several years so don't think this news will change anything in the deal.

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 26, 2008 -> 05:42 PM) Don't argue with heirdog, Rock. He's out there looking at the guys all the time, so he knows what he's talking about. A man defending another man's honor...sounds like a Peter Cetera song.

Why in the world do the Reds want Dye? Compensation picks in the future? Flipping him at the trade deadline when teams are desperate? Bailey seems similar to Floyd in terms of hype without results at the current time but we traded a worn out Garcia for him. We are talking about a All-Star caliber player here in Dye who is still producing big-time numbers so not sure Bailey and a throw-in works for me. We would need another high end prospect at the very least.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 03:27 PM) Ehhhh, all sources point to their ages being accurate. If you are telling me you really believe Alexei's frame and face is indicative of a 32 year old, then I will have to tell you to get out of the house a little more. I should have put my post in green as it was said in jest. However, your point about frame and face are way off. There may be the "prototype" 32-year-old in your mind, but if YOU actually got out of the house a little more, you would know there are plenty of guys in their early to mid-30s that have baby faces and slight frames and look like they are in their mid- to late-20s (Alexei is 27 apparently )...not the norm but very possible.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Nov 25, 2008 -> 02:36 PM) I'll bet he doesn't. He's 19 years old. Most guys that are 19 are playing in rookie ball, not even in class A. Maybe the kid is a phenom, in the mold of Andruw Jones and Miguel Cabrera and is ready to play at the age of 20. But bear in mind most US kids who are drafted out of high school at the age of 18 take at least 3 years to make the bigs. Most college guys drafted at the age of 21-22 take at least a year, usually two. I hope I'm wrong, and this kid is ready to play, right away, but I'll be very, very surprised. Besides, you say alexei didn't play because of Uribe, well maybe viciedo won't play because of Betemit...even if he is ready That is if he is really 19. I bet he's closer to 24. Next thing you're gonna try and tell me is that Alexei is 27 or 28, whatever he's listed at. The guy's probably 32 but he's still good so I'll take him for another 3+ years.

I think a Konerko for Figgins + prospect is the move KW will look to do. Figgins will play 3B and lead-off and Fields would move over to 1B. Getz/Nix will play 2B and bat 2nd. Betemit will be the super utility player. I'd look for an Owens/Anderson platoon in CF. If KW can get solid prospects for Dye, he may look to do that as well in order to open the spot for Viciedo if he feels he's ready or else, Dye will be there again this year.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 19, 2008 -> 09:16 AM) Either that or the Dbacks are playing possum to try to talk his value down. By "claiming" he can be had for a low contract, aren't they making him more attractive to several other teams. I would think that if they were playing possum, they would err on the high end...not the low end.

QUOTE (MAX @ Nov 17, 2008 -> 05:17 PM) I find it annoying when someone refers to a grown person as a kid. It screams ego, as if to say, "I am more experienced than this kid. I've been through it all before" when really no one really knows anything about life. We are all the same amount of clueless. Go ahead and tell me exactly: How did the universe begin and why? Who created it? What happens after we die? Is there a heaven and what is it like if there is? What is it like to be free from aversion and desire? What does one base their actions on having attained enlightenment? Then you can start calling other people "kid". Then again, if you were that wise, you wouldn't. Wait a minute...are you a MAX Weber disciple? I mean your waxing philosophical on us there, kiddo!

Does that mean he made an out as in ground out, strike out, fly out etc? And if so, do double plays count as 2 outs? What if he is the runner that is doubled up, does that count as 1 for him too?

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 11, 2008 -> 03:31 PM) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA H AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA H AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I wish. I think Reyes is a 3-line "HAHAHA" player but Wright, on the other hand, is more of a 4.67 line "HAHAHA" guy. If the Mets are serious about winning, then getting a Vaquez, Dye and Jenks which fills so many holes for them with proven all-star type talent (Dye/Jenks), the cost may be Reyes...gulp...and prospects.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 8, 2008 -> 04:52 PM) Guys it's the beginning of the offseason and the GM is Kenny Williams. This is like trying to predict the career field of a 3 year old. Just don't bother. If its a 3-year-old of someone in the White Sox management/coaching staff, then its safe to say they will be baseball players...drafted by the White Sox between rounds 7 and 36.

QUOTE (Steff @ Nov 4, 2008 -> 04:38 PM) So what if he didn't. He's an adult and capable of going out for a night with friends. Good grief... if it was up to some these poor guys would be living the life of a monk. Wait...I am in agreement with you Steff. That was the whole point I was making. I was also saying for those that think these guys should live the life of a monk, that we don't know if in fact, he is still working hard and also going out, which is completely fine and I think therapeutic after a long season.