Jim Fainter

If they unload Kendall, they would ask for Olivo. He would be perfect for them. Plus, Kendall has a history of injuries. Either back or knee. There has been talk about him not being able to catch full time before long. KW has to get his nose in there to see if he can pull it off. They would like Lee, because they can dump him next year. In fact, they might like Everett even better, because he is free for the rest of the year. This Kendall talk brings me back to something I have ranted on in other threads. That is, why do these GM's give such exhorbitant salaries to players like Kendall? $10 MM ++ per year? I don't get it. Giles is much more reasonable.

Here's my b**** with Lee. He came up, what, 4.5 years ago, and he immediately hit .290 or so. Then the next year he was over .300. Plus he had power. Everyone, including me, thought he would develop into a great hitter. Instead he regressed. Sox treated him great, gave him a nice contract when they didn't have to. Plus his defensive problems. He's a .260 hitter, 25 HR, 80 RBI. That's it. He hit a plateau, and he's going to stay there until something disturbs him.

Bruback has been with Iowa all season. Decent stats. 6-8, ERA just under 4, 125 innings, 120 hits, 90 K's.

If the Pirates can't make expenses, maybe they are a candidate for contraction, new stadium and all. I'm sure they are trying to trade Kendall. Big contract. Re Giles, I would rather have given those three prime prospect to Pittsburgh for Giles than to the Rangers for Everett. Maybe we can get Kip back.

It looks like we gave up a hell of a lot more for Everett than the Cubs did for Ramirez and Lofton. I guess the money involved was part of the difference.

I wouldn't be surprised if Old Pete called Billy Beane for some inside scoop, and Billy passed on some misinformation just for laughs.

Porzio has survived because he has stayed away from walks and the long ball. Plus he has started against two s***ty teams. You know it won't last. There will be approximately six more starts from the # 5 man.

One really bad trade can hurt you for a long time. For example, last year the Todd Ritchie trade killed us. There was no way any team can contend with that type of performance from a guy in the rotation. Ritchie is gone this year, but the trade still hurts. If we had Kip and Fogg this year, we would be way ahead of the pack.

Pacheco gets some proper minor league instruction, steps up and performs, and the Rangers get the benefit of it. I would love to have been a fly on the wall when they determined who the great eight would be. I just don't think that we would have to give up prospects this good for Carl Everett. Any regular poster here could come up with suitable alternatives that John Hart would have accepted. And why do we have to give them a month to scout our guys. We got out maneuvered again, IMO.

He predicted a trade tomarrow--Kelvim Escobar to Oakland for Lilly and prospect Joe Blanton.

Thanks again, Jason for these reports. It always struck me that a position playing prospect coming out of high school would be in immediate danger of being severely overmatched in Rookie ball, because so many of those players have had college experience. That's why I was surprised that a couple of really good high school athletes, Sweeney and Schmidt, signed with us, because they had obvious college opportunities waiting for them. Both are struggling at Bristol, although I know it is waaaaay too early to cast judgement. Do you know what we do with these kids at the conclusion of the Rookie Ball seasons? Do they go to the Tucson facility and continue working out, or do they go home for the winter. Thanks again.

Pacheco, Rupe, Francisco. Book it. Very expensive, unless Everett gets real hot and stays hot.

And if he enrolls in a four year school, he is history for three years. I haven't heard where he might be going. Tampa, I believe, will get some sort of compensation pick if he doesn't sign.

I would much rather see Rowand in there as an every day outfielder. He is a better player than Lee, period.

Harden is 21 years old. I think he was one of those high school pitcher draftees that Billy Beane disdains.

17th round draft choice.

cwsox, I hope you're right. I just don't want to hear "breakout year" until it happens.

Bart needs to step up tomarrow night and contribute to a WIN.

Is this the first game that Everett has had a big time impact on a victory?

We win a couple, they lose a couple, they're looking in the rear view mirror.

If CLee is with us next year, pleeeease don't everyone start talking about 2004 being his "breakout" year.

Do you think there is another team who wants him? And would give up anything? I don't see it.

One bad inning, but he kept us in the game.

I'm sure Tony will start at short against a lefty tonight. Plus, They have to take away some AB's from Jose, because he has that deal in his contract that gives him a $5MM option if he gets 575 Plate appearances this year. He is very close to being on schedule for it. I don't think they want to be put in that position.

When I started this thread I was making a rather weak comparison between our main pitching problem (Koch) and his counterpart with the Rockies (Neagle). Koch looks very good by comparison. Then, the very next day there is an article in one of the Denver papers about Neagle, saying that he is owed $28 MM for 2004-2005. This includes a $9 MM buyout for 2006. I repeat, how can GM's be so frigging stupid with their boss's money? It absolutely blows my mind. Rockies GM Dowd makes KW look awfully good.