SSH2005

LF Scott Podsednik 2B Tadahito Iguchi DH Jim Thome 1B Paul Konerko RF Jermaine Dye C A.J. Pierzynski SS Alex Cintron 3B Pablo Ozuna CF Brian Anderson -------------------------- P Mark Buehrle CF Juan Pierre 2B Jerry Hairston 1B Derrek Lee 3B Aramis Ramirez LF Matt Murton RF Marquis Grissom SS Neifi Perez C Henry Blanco -------------------------- P Greg Maddux

I think Thome has to reach 500 homers to get into the HoF.

Another reason they cut Nelson loose is because Josh Hancock, whom they claimed off waivers from the Reds, is also pitching lights-out this spring. He's younger (27) than Nelson (39) and will earn less money than him. The Cardinals just didn't feel like paying Nelson $800,000 when they had a younger alternative who is also having a great spring... http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/ml...t=.jsp&c_id=stl

Well, I definately think they are only going to keep one of Logan and Lopez. The runner-up will serve as backup insurance in the minors. With McCarthy in the bullpen, it really isn't a big deal that Nelson is only a one inning reliever. McCarthy can pitch multiple innings and Cotts can pitch two innings. I guess I just like the idea of adding a veteran reliever to the bullpen. Politte is just about the only veteran reliever in our bullpen. Another guy who might be worth a look is Steve Karsay, who is currently with the Indians. It seems like the Indians are leaning towards Danny Graves for their last bullpen spot and Karsay will probably opt to become a free agent if he doesn't make the team.

Eh, I still think that Nelson will have a better season than Thornton. He's the main guy I want to replace with a better reliever. Logan at least seems to throw consistent strikes. Thornton is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. A contending team shouldn't have Matt Thornton in its bullpen.

I posted that to show that it made no sense for you to say that Nelson isn't worth much because he can't get lefties out. Vizcaino couldn't get lefties out either last season. Would you not want Vizcaino right now because he couldn't get lefties out? It was my response to this post...

Last season, Nelson was pretty good -- 36.2 IP, 3.93 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .237 BAA. He was bad in 2004 but he was good in 2003 -- 55.3 IP, 3.74 ERA, 1.35 WHIP. But you trust in Thornton and Logan? Thornton has been terrible in both two seasons of his career and Logan has pitched a grand total of 5.1 innings at Single A. How could you question Nelson's ability but be fine with Thornton and Logan? I can actually show you that Nelson has had good seasons in the recent past. You can't actually show me that either Thornton or Logan have had good seasons to prove that they are better options than Nelson. By the way, here's another reason why it makes no sense to bash Nelson's inability to get lefties out... Luis Vizcaino (2005 stats vs. lefties): 28.0 IP, 1.82 WHIP, .321 BAA We did just fine with Vizcaino even though lefties shellacked him all last season.

I'll take actual production over the possibility of upside any day of the week. Nelson has had good seasons recently. Thornton has never had a good season in his career and Logan is an unproven, barely Single A pitcher. I guess we just have to agree to disagree.

So you would rather have Matt Thornton, Boone Logan, and/or Javier Lopez in the bullpen than Jeff Nelson?

Can't rip on Josh Fogg when your team has Matt Thornton in the bullpen.

Actually, Nelson was good last season. Meanwhile, Thornton can't get anybody out. He walks the world. There are a lot more righty hitters than lefties in the MLB. Why are we carrying a LOOGY like Logan or Lopez then? A guy who can dominate righties has much more value than a guy who can dominate lefties. And I sure hope that Ozzie doesn't play Ozuna at 2B when Iguchi sits considering Cintron is better than Ozuna.

Cintron can also play 2B and I would use him there before Ozuna. The only thing that Ozuna provides that Cintron doesn't is his speed. The first guy I would dump is Thornton but he seems to be Cooper's project and is likely here to stay. I'm assuming that Thornton is going to be bad this season (not a bold prediction). Regardless, a good reliever like Nelson would help us win more games than having Ozuna on the bench.

Which is a shame. Ozuna will barely see any playing time with Mackowiak, Cintron, and Gload on the team. I'd rather have a good reliever than a pinch runner on the team.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...tesox-headlines

Neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox appear to have any room for Nelson in their respective bullpens... Yankees Octavio Dotel (not 100% healthy yet though) Aaron Small / Scott Proctor Tanyon Sturtze Ron Villone Kyle Farnsworth Mike Myers Mariano Rivera Red Sox Jon Papelbon Lenny DiNardo Rudy Seanez David Riske Julian Tavarez Mike Timlin Keith Foulke But I guess it's the Yankees and they will probably grab any reliever they can get their hands on.

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/ml...t=.jsp&c_id=stl

Keep it in your pants.

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb...t=.jsp&c_id=cws

Sign.him.now.Kenny.

Well, I guess it doesn't matter much what either of us think. It seems like the Sox like Logan more than Lopez right now but I guess that could change. I do wish Logan was striking out a few more batters like you mentioned. Logan could still get shellacked in these last remaining ST games and Lopez could get the call instead. Let the best man win.

ROFL... Nelson is just oozing with veteran goodness. He held all batters to a .237 BAA last season (.196 BAA vs. righties). Like you guys already noted, use him against mostly righties and he's a stud.

^^^

But he's giving up many of his hits to lefties (3-run bomb to Eric Chavez). I know Chavez is a great hitter but that's not good for a LOOGY. Those are the tough lefties we will need him to get out, especially with all of the good lefty hitters in the A.L. Central. So far, Logan is looking like he's really deceptive to lefty hitters. He also has better stuff than Lopez. If Logan bombs, bring Lopez up from AAA.

But Lopez is also giving up a lot of hits (13 H in 12.2 IP), and many of them to lefties. If he starts walking guys, he's screwed.