scenario

Info from Jim Callis at Baseball America Tyler Kuhn, ss, White Sox Born: Sept. 9, 1986. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 185. Drafted: West Virginia, 2008 (15th round). Signed by: Mike Shirley/Phil Gulley. Not so long ago, the White Sox system was devoid of middle-infield prospects. But recent drafts have changed that, creating competition within the organization. Chicago selected Gordon Beckham eighth overall last June, and several other college picks have shown the potential to get to the big leagues as utilitymen, if not regulars. That group includes Sergio Miranda, Greg Paiml and Dale Mollenhauer from the 2007 draft, but Kuhn's ability to hit separates him from the pack. A 33rd-round pick by the Indians in 2007, Kuhn returned for his senior season at West Virginia and ranked eighth in NCAA Division I with a .424 batting average. Signed for $1,000 as a 15th-rounder, Kuhn broke into pro ball by earning all-star honors in the Pioneer League, where he hit .375/.424/.570 to help Great Falls win the championship. He makes easy line-drive contact and is one of the best hitters in the system. He won't hit many homers but he has gap power, average speed and good baserunning instincts. Kuhn's range and arm strength are average for a shortstop. He sometimes forces the action, trying to make difficult plays that instead result in errors, and may profile better as a second baseman. Kuhn could reach high Class A in 2009, possibly to open the season.

BA's Jim Callis commenting on Harrell... February 3rd, 2009 Lucas Harrell, rhp, White Sox Born: June 3, 1985. B-T: B-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 200. Drafted: HS—Ozark, Mo., 2004 (4th round). Signed by: Alex Slattery. Harrell ranked as the White Sox's No. 9 prospect after the 2006 season, but he had shoulder surgery that offseason and missed all of 2007. He started to return to form in the second half of 2008, holding his own in a playoff rotation at Double-A Birmingham and following with a promising stint in the Arizona Fall League. His AFL numbers weren't good but that was largely the result of two bad outings, not an overall struggle. At times he shows better velocity (93-95 mph) than before his injury (90-92 mph), giving him a power fastball to go with a good sinker, and his changeup remains a plus pitch. He still needs to improve his slider, but he did Boldmake strides with his control last season. The White Sox have been patient in keeping him on the 40-man roster but he needs a solid wire-to-wire performance in 2009 to make himself more than a possible trade chip.

Over the last 5 years, Baseball Prospectus has predicted the Sox to win 11 less games per year than actually happened. So, if that trend stays the same, we should win 85 games this year.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Feb 8, 2009 -> 05:38 PM) pfffft post #18 Ohh man. I've had a bad habit of that lately. Happens when I'm on the road and don't get as much time to read the board. Sorry.

Crede’s asking price closer to $7 million From the Minneapolis Star Tribune 2/8/09 "Joe Crede is seeking a base salary of closer to $7 million than $5 million, which could decrease the likelihood that the free agent third baseman lands with the Twins, the Star Tribune has learned. A first-time free agent, Crede is willing to settle for a one-year deal, but he’s not looking for a discounted base salary, and he’ll want incentives that will pay him with other elite third baseman if he stays on the field. Adrian Beltre will make $12 million this year, and Eric Chavez will make $11 million. Those could be reference points. If $7 million guaranteed sounds steep for the Twins, consider that they offered Casey Blake a two-year, $14 million contract with an option for 2011 before he accepted his three-year, $17.5 million deal with the Dodgers. The Twins want to continue monitoring Crede’s workouts, but there are indications that Boras is deeper into negotiations with other teams. A San Francisco television station has reported that Crede has a one-year offer from the Giants. No word yet on whether the Twins have made an official offer, but they have had continuing discussions with Boras."

Minor league contract The New York Post reported Sunday that Texas will sign Jones to a minor league deal that will pay him $500,000 if he makes the major league team. He also will have the chance to make $1 million in incentives. A source told the Post that Jones picked the Rangers so he could work with batting coach Rudy Jaramillo. The newspaper reported that the deal will be announced later this week.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 05:13 PM) I thought Cook was more of a corner guy? Doesn't he play LF/RF/1B? Cook plays the corners but can also play CF. Games by position throughout this minor league career. Yr Age Team LF CF RF 2005 23 Kanny 86 10 0 2006 24 WinSal 128 0 0 2007 25 WinSal 34 18 34 2007 25 Birm. 0 1 27 2008 26 Birm. 0 22 39 2008 26 Charl. 8 0 56

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 11:41 AM) OK, let's not go down this road. Please stop the religion-bashing and what not. Now, cockhold bashing, that's just fine. Please help me understand... Where did "religion bashing" take place? I'm asking this as a serious question to help understand where the line is. Did I cross it and if so how?

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 11:18 AM) What was his line in the minors last season? .307 .373 .514 .887 15 homeruns and 38 doubles in 430 at-bats for the AAA - Iowa Cubs. 43 walks / 82 strikeouts

QUOTE (mreye @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 10:56 AM) Thanks for clarifying. That makes it all OK. Please continue your regularly scheduled Catholic bashing. I'll make sure to say a special prayer this weekend to the Patron Saint of Political Correctness to ask for forgiveness.

Here's an abbreviated scouting report from 2005, when he was the #7 prospect in the DBacks system. Coincidentally that year, Carlos Quentin was their #1 prospect. Background: Kroeger's athleticism was obvious when the Diamondbacks drafted him -— he turned down a football scholarship as a wide receiver -- but he was raw as a baseball player. He started to figure the game out in 2003 and took another step forward last year, when he topped the system with 266 total bases and tied for the minor league lead with 51 doubles. (He had 19 homeruns to go along with those 51 doubles... in 453 at-bats... between AA and AAA in 2004.) Strengths: Kroeger is a natural hitter with a smooth, level swing and good power. He’s especially adept at driving the ball in the gaps. He has the arm for right field and the slightly above-average speed to play center in a pinch. Weaknesses: His overly aggressive approach was exploited in his big league debut, as he struck out 21 times and drew just one walk in 55 plate appearances. He already has lost a step from his high school days and may continue to slow down. His effort has come into question at times. The Future: Kroeger proved in September that he’s not ready to hit big league pitching. Set to return to Triple-A, he could get buried by Arizona's outfield depth. Kenny loves those former football players, doesn't he? At least he picked up a wide receiver to play with all the former quarterbacks. The 2005-2006 seasons at AAA for Arizona and then Philly exposed his aggressiveness and lack of plate discipline. But 2007-2008 in the Cubs system, there seemed to be improvement in his walks/strikeouts and his average/OBP bounced back up.

QUOTE (mreye @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 09:15 AM) Just like we were talking in the other thread, eh, NS? And yet, this is accepted, as usual. Oh please... For the record... I went to Catholic grade school, high school, and college... so I'm not taking pot shots at somebody else's religion. Besides... as St. Al McGuire once said, "If you can't poke a little fun at religion, you are taking life way too seriously."

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 08:06 AM) Flowers' real first name is Cole? Kind of weird, since he'll be in camp with another catching prospect, Cole Armstrong. And they both went to Chipola College... the Cole Connection. QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 09:14 AM) am i reading that right? He hit 12 homeruns in 75 atbats? Yep. Good for a .973 SLG in the AFL this year. Flower power.

Josh Kroeger, a lefthanded-hitting outfielder signed as a minor league free agent, was sixth in the Venezuelan League in homers (10) and seventh in RBIs (43). He hit .307/.373/.514 with 15 homers for Triple-A Iowa in 2008. He will be in big league camp, trying to open eyes.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 09:24 AM) Cuckold, or cockloft (even better). Its up in the roof of a cathedral. A cockloft at a Catholic church. More proof that reality is funnier than fiction.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 12:49 PM) I'd drive him to the airport. But... if Brian Anderson was included in the deal, you wouldn't drive them to the airport... You'd have to drive them all the way to Seattle... Because that would be an epic road trip.

Looks like Oakland is trying to thin the herd in their outfield. Murton traded to the Rockies

QUOTE (Cubano @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 12:02 PM) No, I have not heard anything knew. If I do, I will let you know. They are probably stuck in the D.R. waiting for their Dominican papers so Bud Selig can declare them free agents. That is the price to pay for being Cuban I guess. BTW Cubano... great job on your blog.

QUOTE (Melissa1334 @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) why is it that all this off season ive read rumors about the twins maybe trading delmon young? is it because they dont want him because of his adittude or because he wasnt as good as they thought hed be...? It's probably more that Denard Span's development + Cuddyer coming back from injury creates a logjam in the outfield. Somebody is going to sit... or get traded. And Young may be the guy who they feel: a.) they are most willing to move b.) they might get the most for in a deal

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 09:46 AM) Hey buddy, I broke this comparison several hours ago... Oops. I guess I should have read the thread first, eh? Well... it was such a good point iamshack, it was worth repeating.

Twins Showing Interest In Jarrod Washburn story on mlbtraderumors starting on Monday MONDAY, 8:49pm: According to John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intellegencer, the Twins have "some interest" in dealing for left-hander Jarrod Washburn. Hickey writes that the Mariners and Twins discussed a deal last week that would have sent Washburn and catcher Jeff Clement to Minnesota for 23-year-old outfielder Delmon Young. It's not known whether that particular deal fell through, but it's likely. The pieces just don't seem to fit. Washburn, 34, went 5-14 last season with a 4.69 ERA and the Twins already have a young, All-Star catcher. TUESDAY, 7:37pm: Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that the Twins have "lost their appetite for a Jarrod Washburn trade." It probably had something to do with his $10.35MM '09 salary. Sound familiar? (1) Seattle talking to AL Central team (2) Washburn + prospect (3) Young talented outfielder in return Sounds like the young M's blogger simply swapped out Young for Quentin to create a new rumor.

The New York Daily News is a less credible source than the National Enquirer. And all the other media sources talking about the rumor are quoting them???

Link Sounds sort of interesting. I like the idea of Costner promoting minor league baseball in northern Illinois.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Feb 3, 2009 -> 11:59 AM) Another scenario, and it's admittedly a longshot IMO, is Alex Gonzalez coming here... because the Reds need a SS who doesn't suck. So... let's NOT make their problem our problem.

Imagine if whoever we have play CF this year put up these type of numbers... 450 at-bats 14 doubles 1 triple 1 homerun .276 BA .367 OBP .318 SLG .685 OPS 34 stolen bases Is that what we're looking for in terms of production from CF? Those are Figgins' stats from 2008. Take away his one big year in 2007 and I don't see much that excites me. Take away his one big year in 2007 and his career (offensively) isn't much different than Juan Pierre's.