harfman77

The only thing that concerns me about Danks is that he is a two pitch pitcher right now. He has a low 90's fastball with movement, a nice curve but thats it. Hawk said during the last Rockies game that his change up is pretty much non-existent. makes me concerned that he may a tough time with batters after they have seen him a couple times. But they said the same thing about Floyd as well, and he is struggling to throw strikes.

ARod for LF, everone else stays

The difference between Crede, Garland and Anderson is the organizations outward perception. With Crede and Garland the team kept telling us to be patient and showed the confidence they had in them, with Anderson there has not been that. If Anderson misses the 25 man roster, I think there is a good chance he will be moved if her performs well enough to earn some value. That would leave Sweeney as the backup option to Erstad, something that would make a lot here cringe.

If BA were to get traded I think it would be to either Florida, Texas, or Seattle. They all need upgrades, or long term solutions at CF. Also I think having Owens and Terrero's spring performance may make it easier for KW to make a move. A lot will depend on how those three perform at the beginning of the season and how the organization feels about the development of Sweeney. The problem is that I am not sure what any of those teams would have to offer us in return that would make a deal worth while. Maybe Tuisasasopo from the Mariners but not much else that I would be interested in.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Mar 18, 2007 -> 01:18 PM) Ozzie does an ok job of preventing Pods from seeing Left handed starting pitching using Pablo...(although there's still that whole defense thing)...but in the 7th innings and later of games, if you stick Pods, Erstad, and Thome anywhere within the first 4 guys hitting, you're simply asking for the opposition to stick in a LTOGY, and thus have Pods, Erstad, and Thome hitting against guys that they all hit .240 or worse against. In other words, it's basically just giving away 3 outs. I think it will be: Pods Erstad Konerko Thome Dye Iguchi Pierzynski Crede Uribe

Bottom line, you dont make a trade for a platoon player right . We have plenty of platooners. The only way that we should make this deal is if we are moving Rowand on for something else or he is going to be the starter.

MB, BA, and Pods to the D-backs for Chris Young Alberto Callaspo and Brett Anderson.....

QUOTE(Melissa1334 @ Mar 12, 2007 -> 11:56 AM) if perez doesnt make the team then who becomes the backup 1st baseman? Erstad or Mack

I think the ship has sailed on Rowand, and if we are looking into another CF it should be Baldelli. To accomplish that we will need to lock up MB first to give our rotation stability. The next move would be to send BA to the Marlins who are in dire need for a CF for some pitching. Then turn that pitching combined with some of the young arms we have for Baldelli. I have seen rumors that teams have been more interested in BJ Upton as an outfield possibilty so he may be an option, but you never know what his defense will be like.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Mar 8, 2007 -> 09:33 AM) I'd rather have Pablo. Your opening day OF could be LF - Ozuna CF - Erstad RF - Dye with Terrerero and Mack as bench options. Not sure who the bench player would be to take Pods roster spot on the DL, but from what Ozzie said it will not be Owens or Sweeney. I still feel that the OF to start the season will be Erstad, Anderson, and Dye though, and if Anderson is not getting the job done by the time Pods is healthy he will have a short leash this season.

Was Francona another then since the Red Sox missed the playoffs?

I really like the deal, you lock him up for about the same money he is currently making, and if you really are expecting a big year from him you have to lock him up before he has the numbers to ask for ridiculous money. With all the money spent on pitchers up north who are not any better than Javy, this was a great deal in the current market.

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Mar 5, 2007 -> 01:37 AM) I know people continually say this, but why? Because Williams traded for him? Because he doesn't throw a knuckleball? If the spring statistics obviously favor Haeger, there should be no reason to take Floyd. What has he proven? Atleast Haeger has respectable minor league statistics to fall back on. Floyd has nothing but a high draft and Cooper's magic pixy dust. Because he has the most big league experience, and you may not want to start the clock on the other guys yet unless they are overwhelmingly better. Floyd had more success once he settled down after getting knocked around when he was first brought up.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 01:21 PM) no, it depends entirely upon how Buehrle is pitching and not how the 5th starter is pitching. That doesnt make much sense to me, if MB is pitching poorly we are better off holding on to him and getting compensation when he walks. If he is pitching well and the rest of the staff is doing well enough that we will not have a significant drop in production, then we can afford to move him at mid-season and bring up the best performer in AAA. However if the 5th starter is a lingering issue that will prevent us from making a run down the stretch you would have to hold MB for the playoffs.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 12:55 AM) trade market ≠ free agent market It's been discussed on the board before, but teams would rather throw 8 digit figures at a mediocre starting pitcher on the free agent market for multiple years rather than give up prospects for a pitcher along with then having to resign said pitcher for an 8 digit figure. And regardless, the White Sox got a former #1 prospect along with a top 5 prospect too. It's not like the Sox got no one, and seeing as how the Sox would have just let Freddy go after this season anyways, they basically got their 2 compensatory picks, one of whom will pitch in the majors this year and another who will pitch come 2008-09. Depending on how the fifth starter turns out and what happens in Charlotte, KW could move MB before the deadline regardless of the standings if he could fleece someones prospects.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Mar 1, 2007 -> 10:50 AM) I am hoping that Owens is allowed to run wild when he gets on. Let's hope he gets on base because he could steal 4+ bags today. IF he gets on

QUOTE(joeynach @ Feb 28, 2007 -> 10:40 AM) The league determines each year what the minimum salary is, I think it was 340 or 350K in 06 and like 330K in 05 so in increases each year by 10-20K or so. But the team can pay the player more than that, for instance Ryan Howard is about to become the highest paid non-arbitration eligible player ever. I think they were saying he would get a $2 million contract for this season.

The HOF is such a joke, if you didnt play in New York or win multiple World Series it is getting tougher to get in all the time. You have writers who wont put people in because they didnt like a player or he didnt win enough, and players wont put other players in because they judge players against themselves and always decide they are better so they wont vote for new guys to get in. The HOF voting system is broken and needs to be fixed.

If Ozuna and Erstad are starting against Sabathia opening day, I would take that to mean that Sweeney would be the regular third outfielder until Pods comes back. Either way, one of BA, Sweeney, or Jerry Owens will open the season as a starter in Chicago. I cant see Ozuna playing LF every day.

In his blog Olney mentions that the Mets have their rotation in bad shape and will likely try to make a trade at midseason. He says that depending on the standings they will try to make a deal and mentions MB, Jason Jennings, and Jake Westbrook as targets. Says that they will try to use Milledge as bait to reel in a starter, but doubts that will be enough with the premium on pitching in the current market. I guess he is implying that the Astros Indians and Sox will be out of contention and the Mets still will be contending, something I don't really buy. But if that were to happen, I would be all for a deal that would net us something like Milledge, Fernando Martinez and Mike Carp. I would obviously take Deolis Guerra over Carp but that is a little to pie in the sky, although he is pretty far away yet and could be included instead. If KW is to deal any players this season I think he needs to get some more talented posistion players in the system since our top position prospects will likely be in the bigs next season. http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index...me=olney_buster

QUOTE(LVSoxFan @ Feb 23, 2007 -> 09:42 AM) I thought he was already signed with the Cubs this week. He's their ace, no doubt. That would be a kick to see him in a Sox uniform (with AJ catching, LOL). I think he is way too expensive, multi-year or not, for KW seeing that we are in "budget" mode these days. He signed a one year deal at $12.4 million to avoid arbitration. He is said to be seeking a similar contract to Barry Zito. Not sure how many Zito got, but I know it was $18 mil/per.

If Zambrano walks from the Cubs, he is looking for a contract around 5 years at $90 million. To me this guy is a top ten pitcher in the game. I know KW doesnt like to give out long term deals to pitchers, but this is a guy I would make an exception. I guess it probably depends on what happens with MB, but just a thought.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jan 10, 2007 -> 10:41 PM) Right now I'd say the Tigers are tops followed by the Sox and Indians tied for second with the Indians maybe taking a slight edge. C.C. Sabathia > Beuhrle Jake Westbrook Cliff Lee Paul Byrd Jeremy Sowers > ? Sox win

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 8, 2007 -> 06:59 PM) And hopefully, at no point between now and 5 years from now will our rotation be anything less than "Good" to "Very Good". Next season we will have the best rotation in the Central and at least a top five staff in the majors. Couple that with all of our offense returning we are in great shape. Our bullpen is a lot deeper and has a chance to be very good. We traded a middle relieved and a starter for 4 potential starters so in my estimation we have had a really good offseason

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2007 -> 06:50 PM) I seriously doubt that the Yankees will be acquiring a pitcher via a trade if they move Johnson. They have 4 other starters in Pettitte, Igawa, Mussina, and Wang, 2 very very talented rookies including potentially the best pitching prospect in the game, Pavano is still under contract, and perhaps most importantly, they're keeping a rotation slot open in case a 7 time Cy Young award winner decides he wants to pitch alongside Andy Pettitte for another half season. Your probably right, I forgot about Igawa, and cant remember the Yankees started the season with a rookie in the starting rotation on purpose.