balfanman

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 26, 2009 -> 11:37 AM) Milton Bradley... That's a good choice as well. I guess that I was just assuming that the Cubs would go ahead and dump him this offseason, but they may rethink that after hiring his former hitting coach.

We only know a little about Mr. Jaramillos' style, but just guessing, If you had to choose a couple of players who do you think the he is most likely to help on that club? My guess, and again this is just a guess, nothing to back it up, I would choose Soriano (he has worked with him previously) and maybe Soto.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 02:37 PM) IMO CJ would have to play himself onto the MLB club as a reserve, then play himself into a starting role over Getz. The Sox may want some guys around in Spring to "push" Getz, but I don't see Getz being in any danger of losing his starting job at this point. You may be correct and I'm fine with that. I like Getz as a ballplayer and he can improve just as easily as anyone else in this discussion. It could be that Retherford could be the better utility man anyway. I have never seen Retherford play, I'm just going off of the various reports on this site. Can someone tell me what Retherfords defensive capabilities are? I understand that he, like Getz, is primarily a 2nd baseman, but has played other spots as well. Does he have good range, arm strength, etc. for other positions?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 01:43 PM) Nix at 3rd would be a mistake of epic proportions. He would be a huge negative both defensively and offensively. I would agree with you sir.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 23, 2009 -> 11:08 AM) I believe you are correct. Getz has played 2B, SS, 3B, and OF in his minor league career. He actually had 52 starts at short. This is why I believe that the best case scenario just might be that if (IF) what C. J. Retherford is doing in the Fall League is for real and he has arrived as a ballplayer, is to have Retherford start at 2nd base next season with Getz being the utility man.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 03:49 PM) Getz has played 3B before. Not saying he'd make a good one but if CJ Retheford eventually develops Getz does have the ability to play multiple positions defensively and thus move into a utility role (not saying he'd be a plus defender at multiple positions, more that he's capable of doing it). Didn't Getz play several positions in the minors as well? I seem to remember that he even played some outfield.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 22, 2009 -> 03:17 PM) Buh...Bye. And don't think it was just you, others were suspended....but you never play nice, never debate, its just attack after attack and that is intolerable and unacceptable. Thank you Chisoxfn!. I'm new here (posting anyway) and the last thing that I want to do is rile up people, but this kind of behavior really makes me stop reading threads. Why can't people just express an opinion without being deemed stupid or whatever name they get called. When posters come across as a "I know everything and you don't", it really turns me off. I'm sure that I'll have my share of foolish opinions but you can educate someone without being condescending. A wise man once told me that the people who resort to name calling, do so because they simple aren't smart enough to respond any better.

I'm not quite sure yet, other then Thornton, Carrasco, Linebrink, and Pena, who is going to be in next years bullpen. Even those four guys are not locks either with Kenny wheeling and dealing this winter (hopefully). If our starting rotation performs anywhere near as good as they are on paper the bullpen shouldn't get used too much early and get overexposed, and in the case of Linebrink worn down. If the starters are performing then really all of our other guys in the bullpen; Hudson, Torres, ?. ?, or whoever kenny picks up just need to concentrate on throwing strikes and this should build some confidence in them for later in the season.

The guys that we're talking about, Getz, Nix, Lillibridge, Retherford, are all relatively young and still capable of improvement. Next spring I think that any of the four could show improvement or regression depending upon how things are going for them at that time. Personally, I hope that Lillibridge improves enough with the bat to win the utility role because I view him (jmho) as the most versatile, and good enough defensively to be the most valuable in that role.

It would appear that the Sox like Getz over Nix and that the issue between those two was settled last spring. Please corect me if I'm wrong but shouldn't this discussion be more about Nix and Lillibridge? Those two are the ones fighting for a utility role. In the event that the Sox for some reason believe that C. J. Retherford can be the starting secondbaseman next year I would think that they would have Getz as the utility man and both Nix and Liliibridge are gone. J. M. H. O.

QUOTE (chisoxfan09 @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 02:13 PM) Does anyone think bashing/raking the ball in the AFL counts to increase the value of a prospect? I have heard mostly that the thin air makes the ball tend to fly so while the experience is good the value gained is not as good as playing time say in AA/AAA. I ask because if Viciedo rakes does this make him a more valued trading chip since we are on the subject of dangling him in a package for Agon. Also the Baron's field seems to be similar to Petco in that it s not hitter friendly so would that possible fact turn off the Padres to including Viciedo? We seem to have a few prospects that are doing well so far in the fall League, C. J., Danks, Viciedo. I don't know whether or not this increases any trade value to other teams, but it may give some encouragement to Sox management that if they traded someone off of the major league club that these players may be a little closer to stepping in than they originally thought.

Am I missing something? It looks like he has hit pretty well to me.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 02:59 PM) I can see both sides of this discussion. The writers see more games. more teams and more players ... well at least more of a cross section. The players see players in thier own division so ofton, that it limits the opportunities to see the others. Then again, you have Jay Hineybird's of the world that wouldn't know their a*****e from their elbow. I don't think Hineybird actually has a vote, but the point is made. While I think that it is true that writers can generally see a lot more sports, I don't think that players are all that limited. I am sure that they talk to each other before, during, and after the games about certain other players. For example, even though the Sox did not actually play the Phillies this past season, they played teams that did and I'm sure at one time or another players from that other team told Sox players how exceptional their rookie pitcher was. Besides, we know that the Sox players have the T. V. on in the clubhouse.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/10/jaramillio-agrees-to-threeyear-deal.html# According to this Mr. Jaramillo is already being put under pressure to improve the Cubs. This could actually get pretty ugly fast next spring if these guys don't improve.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 12:43 PM) It may be the case that the 1B position is easier to fill with league-average talent than many others, but when you start talking about players who are capable of belting out 40 HR's, walking over 100 times, and posting an OPS near 1.000, those guys don't exactly grow on trees, regardless of position. Gonzalez's numbers have been ascending over the years, and he put up an OPS of .958 last year playing half his games at PetCo with no protection. The thought of a sophomore Gordon Beckham and a healthy CQ hitting around that beast makes me wanna... and I'll just leave it at that. I agree. I would think that a trade with San Diego would almost have to be a 3 team deal because Konerko would almost have to be a part of it and San Diego would have no use for an expensive 1st basemen. Although they could follow the Billy Beane model and trade Konerko mid season for more prospects I suppose.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 11:19 AM) By the way, I just want to say, you need to post more. You are an excellent poster. Thank you very much! One thing I will say though is that I try to express my thoughts as my opinions, wanting to get the feedback of others. I do not pretend to know everything, or even much of anything for that matter. One thing that I've noticed from observing this site for many years is that the posters who seem to cause the most strife and contention with others are the ones who regard there own opinions as fact and everyone else needs to get as smart as they are to be on their level.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 21, 2009 -> 08:07 AM) Well, that is what Justin is shooting for, but that doesn't mean its what the Sox plan to do. I am not sure Cassel has major league stuff. I thought he did at one time, but I am doubtful now. I don't know for sure if Cassel is still in the Sox long relief plans or not but the last line suggests that the Sox thought it might be a possibility at the time. If he can at least throw strikes he would be an alright option in blow out games.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-2...0,4568224.story It also looks like the Sox are trying to fit Cassel into the long relief role next season. They may see Carrasco moving to the 7th inning role. The byword for Cassel, who split 2009 between Double A and Triple A, is "consistency. With the style of pitcher I am and where I am in the organization, I see myself as a spot starter or a long-relief, multiple-innings guy. I'm happy they made a move with me last summer to see how I did out of the bullpen."

QUOTE (G&T @ Oct 20, 2009 -> 09:16 PM) I think it helps when Derek Jeter takes notice. I wonder if this will help Gordons case, especially with the east coast writers who might view the exchanges between Gordon Beckham and Derek Jeter this last season as kind of a "passing of the torch".

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,7882974.story Mr Beckham seems to appreciate his peers opinions a little more heavily as well. I realize that he almost has to say something to this effect because he shares a locker room with some of his peers, but still. I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,7882974.story According to the last paragraph of this article, Ozzie thinks that C. J. Retherford, or someone else already in the organization may be able to take the utility job away from Nix and/or Lillibridge this spring.

I just don't understand why a group of writers, most of whom have never played organized sports at a very high level, would vote opposite of the people who actually play the game. It's a free country, and I fully support that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but why is their opinioned valued more highly than the players themselves? My profession has absolutely nothing to do with sports, however I would value the opinion of my peers over those who know very little about what I do.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Oct 20, 2009 -> 03:44 PM) PS Welcome to SoxTalk! Thank you. It's great to actually carry on quality baseball conversation.

Does anyone know whether or not he's throwing pain free at the end of the year though? Maybe he is just "gutting up" to get maximum velocity and his control goes out the window. Someone was mentioning, I forget who, that his main problem was location not stuff.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Oct 20, 2009 -> 02:18 PM) So you dont think that a hitting coach can make of a difference but a base running coach can? Just like some hitters are naturally talented or some wont listen, baseball players are either smart or not, including their base running. Coaches can only do so much, but really its up to the players (especially at this level). I definitely think that a hitting coach can make a difference. I guess that I'm of the mind set that Walker is a competent hitting instructor and the difference between him and other coaches would not be that significant. It seems to me that when our players are healthy most of them are competent hitters. I am not sure however, just how good of a base running instructor Jeff Cox is. He may be great, I don't know. If someone could enlighten me on this it would be appreciated. The only thing that I know about Cox is that he seems to be a little nuts, but then some might argue that I have no room to talk.