SoxFan1

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 7, 2008 -> 04:06 AM) I, for one, want Buehrle to retire as a White Sox. Oh me too, but I'm just speaking in hypotheticals where everything would pan out. Now that I think about it, why not trade Jenks and make MB the closer in that situation?

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Dec 7, 2008 -> 02:41 PM) money, age, and defense not great Umm, are you sure you know who Orlando Hudson is?

QUOTE (BearSox @ Dec 7, 2008 -> 12:28 AM) And Buehrle is always a question mark. In what world is MB always a question mark? He has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the MLB for 8 seasons now. You know he's going to give you 30+ starts, 200+ innings, and an era under 4.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Dec 7, 2008 -> 02:35 AM) We'd pretty much be the envy of every team in baseball. That much sick/young/cheap talent in one rotation would be unheard of. And in a year or 2, you deal Buehrle and sub him out for the hopefully-reached-potential of Aaron Poreda? ^ Blasphemy.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Dec 7, 2008 -> 02:18 AM) Damn Salome would be very, very nice. Then Flowers can make the 1B/DH move. From what I've read, Salome is up there as having one of the best cannons at the catching position in the minors and a damn good athlete. And Gallardo is super sexy, so I know he's not going anywhere. Just for no reason, imagining the potential of a Danks/Floyd/Buehrle/Gallardo/Bailey rotation makes me tingly...

I'm 99.9% sure it wont happen, but the same as the last 3 years or so, I'd pretty much give up anything for Ichiro...

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 08:12 PM) I don't get it. Sure he has size, but it isn't as if he looks horribly fat. Of course for being 19 he's huge but just make sure he's on the proper conditioning program and that size could be an asset. From what I've seen, he has a very Frank Thomas-like build.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 08:05 PM) A fluctuation of .20 in ERA over a 3 year span isn't really a trend, I'd call it consistency. Last year his K/9 was the highest it had been since 2004, his WHIP was the 2nd lowest he's posted in a 30+ start season, the velocity on his fastball was the same as it's been since '06 (~92.7 MPH), he was actually inducing a good amount of groundballs (2nd highest GB% of his career) and yet his HR/FB was by far the highest of his career last season (more than 2/3 of the 23 HR he gave up last season came at home). He also had a 32 2/3 innings scoreless streak going at the end of the season which included back to back complete game shutouts, 1 of which took place in Denver and a 8 1/3 scoreless performance at Wrigley. So he definitely showed some incredible dominance. I don't see anything in the numbers that indicates he's starting to lose it. If the price weren't too obscene I'd probably invest in him. He's a hell of a workhorse. Booyah!

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 07:56 PM) That and the fact that most people get heavier as the years go on. He has a reputation as being a bit lazy, but that could change. Then again, Prince Fielder seems to do OK with some extra girth. The thing that concerned me was his agent saying he was in great shape. Maybe that means he was heavier before his workouts. Who knows. I'll give the kid the benefit of my doubt and hope he seizes the great opportunity he has for himself. He swings hard. I like guys that swing hard. Which would explain the Uribe fascination...

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 07:46 PM) Oswalt scares me. That ERA has been rising the last 4 years, and that HR total made a pretty big jump last year. Still a solid pitcher, but probably not the best investment, given the cost. The thing about him is that he still has the awesome stuff he's always had. He'd worry me more if he was showing some injury issues or some sort of decline. And you have to factor in that he has played with the Astros, who's management and team sucks. He's durable, reliable, will give you 200+ strong innings, and he can win. I'd imagine a change of scenery would rejuvenate the hell out of him.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 07:46 PM) Put him on the Alexei diet. You mean totally alter his metabolism?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 07:43 PM) This is a good call. Toronto is having money issues. So is AZ and supposedly Houston. Check out their rosters. Bargains may be had. Oswalt would be awesome, but apparently the Braves already asked and were turned away.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 4, 2008 -> 07:36 PM) You think KW can actually negotiate a deal with Boras? It's bound to happen sometime. That's my thoughts exactly. It's bound to happen sometime, and with him dropping all this payroll, it's about as good a time as any. He can't avoid all of Boras' clients forever...

Here's my semi-realistic guess of what the 09 Sox will look like... CF Taveras LF Abreu RF Quentin DH Thome 1B Konerko SS Alexei C Pierzynski 3B Fields/Betemit 2B Getz SP Buehrle SP Lowe SP Danks SP Floyd SP Richard (possibly Daniel Cabrera)

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 01:51 PM) Ummmm....sure. I know that how, exactly? By your saying he's a grinder, hahaha! does that mean you're saying he's not? But, in the end, what's the point exactly, and what does that add to the discussion? Maybe we need color codes like the other side for our "sarcastic" comments so we can differentiate those we know who are trying to be funny/sarcastic and those are unintentionally funny by making inane comments. Seriously...let it go.

QUOTE (joesaiditstrue @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 02:52 AM) Replace Uribe's bat... in what capacity? I believe he means in the capacity of a 9-hole hitter.

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 02:02 AM) I thought that type A was 2 picks. We get their pick, and a sandwich pick? Yes. And as far as Blake, he wants a 3 year deal, and teams don't want to give it to him. Apparently he opened convo's with the Twins at 2/20, and they weren't feeling it.

QUOTE (KevinM @ Dec 3, 2008 -> 12:49 AM) A pitcher can control walks, strikeouts, and HR. That is HIGHLY arguable. Pitchers definitely cannot control HR. If you groove one right down the middle and it's a ground out, how is it different from a hitter golfing a slider at his ankles over the LF fence?

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 11:42 PM) FWIW, I read some posts on a Reds board that was linked to here, and someone over there was saying the Reds took away his FB for much of the year to concentrate on his offspeed stuff. Also I read that his velocity was back up at the end of the year and he was sitting in the mid-90's with his FB. I have no idea why his velocity would have been down on his FB earlier, unless he was trying to do something different with the pitch, but I imagine that if there were any problems whatsoever Bailey would have been shut down immediately. Instead he made 27 starts combined for Triple A Lousiville and the Reds. You can also consider TV radar guns. Seems like CSN/WGN are always a tad slow, where as Fox has everyone throwing 95+ so who knows. Plus, Dusty Baker was his manager.

If I were to guess, we'll have 4 prospects in the top 50. Beckham, Viciedo, Flowers, and Poreda. My top 10: 1.) Beckham 2.) Poreda 3.) Viciedo 4.) Flowers 5.) Danks 6.) Lillibridge 7.) Allen 8.) Getz 9.) Shelby 10.) Gilmore

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 11:29 PM) But, for winning it all this year, and only this year, would you have rather this package or Young? That's the question also, because KW, until this trade at least, was typically more "win this season" oriented than long-term/long-range development. Of course, he certainly has some new toys in the sandbox to move to get the impact player/s he really has his eye on I think. If you're asking would I take him for the package we just got from ATL, then no.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 11:22 PM) Just curious....playing Devil's Advocate on KW. Would anyone take back Chris Young to be the everyday starting CFer (maybe we signed Furcal too to hit leadoff, don't really want Young there)...for this package we have just received? Would you rather have 3-4 fairly promising players/prospects/suspects or YOUNG? Discuss at your own convenience. He's incredibly overrated by this board, IMO. The only real need he addresses for us is in CF. He's not a leadoff hitter at all. .315 OBP and a .248 BA isn't too hot, nor are his 165 K's. He has good power and speed, but was only 14/19 in SB. Pretty damn good defensively though.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 2, 2008 -> 11:10 PM) That's extremely conservative, especially since he won't cost any draft picks. OF trade market (as of now): Dye Damon or Matsui? Melky Cabrera Luke Scott is probably available Adam Lind possibly if the Jays feel Snider is ready One of Garko/Gutierrez/Francisco/Choo, etc. Teahen DeJesus maybe? For a lot... Jose Guillen Delmon Young, again for a lot I'm sure Michael Cuddyer Marcus Thames probably, Maggs is said to be off the table Willy Mo Pena Jeremy Hermida Nate McLouth Fukudome Ludwick Ankiel Andruw Jones Delwyn Young Eric Byrnes Chad Tracy or Connor Jackson? Taveras Spilborghs Brian Giles OF free agent market: Dunn Abreu Griffey Rivera Ibanez Garret Anderson some other stuff I can't think of The bolded guys are probably the best bets for power hitting OF's, but... Ludwick is a big question mark given his one season of MLB success after being labeled a AAAA player Ankiel is one year from FA and brings K rate and steriod baggage Jose Guillen is a roided-up cocksucker The Indians guys have talent and potential but you've got to be wary of those guys IMO Cuddyer mostly blows Damon and Matsui might not be even available and are getting up there in age Delmon Young and McLouth are going to be very expensive, and Young has never hit for big power (yet) I could go on, but looking at that list, it appears guys like Dye, Burrell, Dunn, Abreu, and Giles will be in demand because they are proven and either have favorable contracts or won't cost draft picks to sign. Pegging Abreu's contract that low is saying a lot. Dunn/Taveras/Quentin would be a more than acceptable outfield, though I've always loved Hermida too.

If Lillibridge, Flowers, and Gilmore are all involved, thats essentially 3 of their top 15 prospects or so.

Rodriguez: http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/...ds/?pl_id=84385 Gilmore: http://www.baseballhandyman.com/2008/08/sl...ore-3b-atl.html