Gregory Pratt

QUOTE(iamshack @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 01:42 PM) Guys, haven't we learned our lesson already? Mark is not going to net more than McCarthy. With these salaries skyrocketing, and Buehrle becoming a FA after next year, he isn't going to get more than a guy who is ml ready with 5 years left before he can become a free agent. It just isn't going to happen. I think that's probably true. But let's not underestimate the stupidity of some General Managers.

QUOTE(aboz56 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 01:39 PM) If we deal him, unless we get back a MLB ready starter, we are looking at 2004 all over again with a Roulette Wheel rotation, at least that's the way I see it. Garland Contreras Vazquez ????? ????? Throw in the fact that Vazquez is not that good and our pitching could be awful. Throw in the fact that Garland isn't that good, too.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Dec 28, 2006 -> 01:24 PM) To add to that, while I think Mark does in fact want to go to St.Louis, and I don't think it's out of the question for him to sign a deal with the team he goes to, especially with a team like the Mets. While NY did lose out on Zito, it's clear they are willing to spend big money to get players. I don't think it's out of the question for Mark to just be a rental to a team. The Mets refused, flat-out, to give Zito more than Oswalt got. I would imagine them to feel the same about Buehrle.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 27, 2006 -> 10:12 AM) An interesting side note I just found on CNN.com I wonder if this means we will see the release of more of the classified info soon? I knew that. Which I don't say to be a know-it-all or anything but that's what I was referencing when I said, "He's taken his last fall" as Richard Nixon is on record as having called "The Warren Commission the greatest hoax perpetrated on mankind" and some believe that Ford's role on the commission was integral to the cover-up and his Vice Presidency was a reward. Wouldn't shock me.

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Dec 27, 2006 -> 04:47 PM) im not exactly sure how good young is at short but i know hes a great hitter and ozzie likes him a lot "Defensive Metrics" say Young is the worst starting shortstop besides MAYBE Jeter. Personally, I don't see it. He always looked fine to me.

Why would we want a guy who can only go into the fifth inning each start because he throws too many pitches and then takes himself out of the game?

Actually, I expect Uribe to be out of shape from all the offseason time spent defending himself from charges that he shot someone. Hopefully he's been able to maintain a rigorous regimen but somehow I doubt it. Which'll be a shame 'cause he isn't hot with the stick when he has been working out. And I'm a big Uribe fan so I don't want him to come in struggling.

QUOTE(knightni @ Dec 27, 2006 -> 03:13 AM) I have 24 so far in about 45 minutes. Now what? You bask in your intelligence. I got five in a minute and then called it quits.

He's taken his last fall.

It was a porno without any porn, man.

Awww. Good stuff.

It might be a little out of the late 1990s, but am I the only one who thinks Eyes Wide Shut to be one of the worst pieces of crap ever?

I've been saying since the beginning that I don't want Danks up to start the year so I'm right with the both of you.

What's an Irani? God, the Middle East is crazy.

QUOTE(GoSox05 @ Dec 26, 2006 -> 12:34 PM) yea, that was like a joke. Than again i forgot about the no "joke" or "funny" rule on here. I don't really think the joke was funny but I got it right away. All jokes have to be in green or else people get confused.

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Dec 26, 2006 -> 12:34 PM) And what makes you think this, when everyone in baseball recognizes that this simply isn't true? A few years ago he was being interviewed -- I think it was in 2004 -- and he slipped and said he was thirty two when he arrived here even though he's initially claimed to be thirty.

I've read that he's thirty seven, not "over forty one" and 35-38 seems about right to me.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 26, 2006 -> 12:28 PM) He had a back injury that altered his pitching peformance for a majority of the season. That's very alarming, especially at his age. And the jokes about his age are because everyone in the industry knows that guys like him and Duque are 3-5 years older than what they say they are. I'm well aware what the jokes are about, thanks. I wouldn't have mentioned Cuban birth records if I didn't know. I'm just saying that Contreras isn't forty or particularly close to it.

It's really cute to mock Cuban birth records and Contreras' age. I do it sometimes and so do my friends. We call him "The Young Man" with our tongue planted firmly in cheek but I'm afraid I can't let this bulls*** stand. Contreras isn't that hold and he isn't injury-prone, either.

If Haeger is starting in the Majors next year, I'll bet he beats McCarthy in wins and ERA.

I just hope the Ethiopians know how to "plan for peace!"

I'll bet this winds up being nothing.

Doesn't he have a baseball pitch to pretend to teach?

I'm glad to see the Cowboys getting their asses handed to them not just because they're a mediocre team that's been getting a ridiculous amount of media love but because Garcia's a class act and it's nice to see his team beat T.O.'s.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Dec 25, 2006 -> 03:45 PM) BMac is a gem the White Sox found in the 19th round of the draft a few years back. BMac features 4 pitches, a low 90's fastball, big sweeping curve ball, a 2 seam fastball he was working on last year, and a circle change, which, if it is working, is by far his best pitch. BMac has a good health history so far, but does have a bit of a long, lanky frame. It gives him a good chance to have an excellent 2 seamer, because he can really get on top of it well, but it also has had everyone here cheering every offseason when a report comes through of him adding on 10 pounds. BMac is a very smart pitcher, and knows very well how to work hitters. This is probably his biggest asset to my eyes, he does an excellent job of keeping people off balance, working inside and outside, setting hitters up and putting them away. His changeup is his key pitch. His fastball is ok, but on its own it won't beat anyone. His curveball can work really well, but I think it's been his most inconsistent pitch as well, sometimes he just doesn't get the big break it needs to be effective. His changeup though, if he's throwing strikes, is just murder. It starts off looking like a fastball coming out of a very quick delivery, but then just buries itself down and in to lefties or down and away from righties. On a good day it can break as much as his curve ball, it's a beautiful pitch when it's working. Brandon has the potential in him to be a #1 starter for some team if evertyhing works out. The concern with Brandon is last season; Ozzie and KW spent the season dicking around with BMac in the bullpen, so he was not able to get nearly as many innings as he should, and their use of him was very inconsistent, so he struggled to get into a rhythm. Down the stretch in 2005 though he was absolutely dominant. Shut down Texas and Boston in 2 straight games for 15 scoreless innings, went pitch for pitch with Johan Santana for 8 innings, and was a real key to the Sox finishing out the regular season. The Bottom for BMac if he's healthy is going to be a solid #3 starter who can eat a lot of innings, and the sky is probably the limit beyond that. Balta's perspective is the positive one. Others, like myself, believe him to be a fair pitching prospect with a ceiling of #3 who might be a number two but is not an Ace. He'll give up a lot of homeruns because that's what he's always done, and that's his achilles heel so far in his career. On personal notes, he has a teddy bear that he lugs around everywhere. You're likely to hear him yukking it up on the radio about it. And he does a lot of interviews. Personally, I think the Rangers got hosed.