witesoxfan

Eh, blow me :finger

I don't think anyone was expecting 21-9 2.90 again...if they were, they were fooling themselves. But I think we all were expecting an ERA around 3.50, let alone the ERA of 4.80+ that he actually has. If we can't get Unit, the next best thing we have to try to do is pick up a guy that has very good stuff and hope he can put it together...ala Carl Pavano last year. If we can get Tony Armas for very little, I say, at the very least, try it. If he doesn't work out of the rotation, throw him out of the pen, and see if he works there. Armas would essentially be a low-risk, high-reward type guy...ala Flash Gordon from last year, Cliff Politte this year, Shingo, Rick White, Brian Daubach, etc...some pan out, some don't. We just hope Armas pans out.

The way Mauer has developed is stranger then hell. In his entire minor league career, he hit 9 homers, and his season high was 4. This year, in not even half a year, he has 5. He is real damn good...being up here in ND, watching him play, it is insane...you can just tell this kid is going to be a stud. He looks very good at the plate for a 21-year old...looks almost like he's a veteran. He will be a force to be reckoned with for 20 years or so. Mauer, then Prior, then Brazelton, 1-2-3...that was one stacked draft.

How about in Maggs' abscence, the lineup look like this Rowand/Harris - CF Timo - RF Lee - LF Everett - DH Konerko - 1B Valentin - SS Uribe - 2B Crede - 3B Sandy/Burke/Davis - C

A positive way to look at his s***ty year is the fact that his price will be a lot lower now. Also, if we did get him...there would be some insane depth offensively with this club when healthy(which I why I brought up the potential Konerko for Kendall idea...I would say Lee for Kendall, but then I think I would be ripped a new asshole )

He is brought in to light a fire under Uribe, Harris, and even Crede's ass(not directly...if Alomar comes in and shows he can hit, and Uribe is hitting, no one says that Uribe can't play a little 3B).

I would guess he is named Alomar though.

Why is it going too far? IIRC, the NHL has an age limit for rookies(I believe 26). Why can't the majors? Because maybe Jamie Burke or Ryan Newhan, who have spent nearly their entire career in the minors, come up and play very well? I wouldn't mind an age limit. There's nothing wrong with that IMO.

Why has no one mentioned Lew Ford's name? From what I read on Baseball-Almanac'ssite for rookie of the year's, he should be...here is an excerpt... "Eligibility requirements were set forth in 1971 and a rookie was formally defined as a player with less than one-hundred thirty at-bats, a pitcher with less than fifty innings pitched, or anyone with less than forty-five days on any Major League roster." Unless he was up for 45 days, he should be a rookie. Last year he only played in 34 games and had 73 AB's. If he is a rookie, his .308 12 47 .876 should definately be considered, and IMO is the best. If Ford truly is a rookie, there is not much of an argument for Crosby. The only thing he has better then Ford is homers(14-12). Ford beats him in average(308-268), in RBI(47-41), in runs(52-44), SBs(13-6), CS(1-3), BB's(36-27), K's(43-81), OBP(.383-.329), SLG%(.493-.470), and OPS(.876-.799). I hate to sound like I'm on the Twins bandwagon...because quite frankly, I'm not...but Lew Ford is having one hell of a season.

I've never said I wanted Jones. I do think he strikes out too much(remembering what he did in 2002 in the playoffs specifically...I don't know how many times I saw him swing at pitches in his eyes, but I saw him do it several times...the playoffs is not the time to strike out 2 times a game). I wouldn't mind picking him up in FA if that ever happened, but that is an entirely different story. BTW, you do not mention the positives, which do outnumber the negatives...due to his good speed, he steals bases, does not ground into a ton of DPs, and gets down the line quickly. He busts his ass all the time. He has some very good power, and he is very clutch(maybe not this year, I haven't checked, but he tends to hit a few walk-off and game-tying homers. In fact, I recall last year he was the one that helped the Twins avoid a sweep at home by us...damn you Billy Koch ). He doesn't have much patience at the plate, which is a definite negative. He also has a strong arm

That is pretty damn cool. I don't even remember the last time we were ever actually in a Wild Card race. I don't think it matters, because I think Anaheim or Oakland will get it, but it is definately cool nonetheless.

I could see Jones and Cuddyer being the package for Benson. Jones is a solid bat, but is replaceable, and Cuddyer could be a 15-20 homer guy some day, but what I would guess teams really like is his versatility...can play LF and RF, 1B, 3B, and 2B...gotta like that.

Delgado is a FA after this year. I am almost positive on that. Another thing...if we made this deal, is there any possibility that we could look to upgrade at another position too, due to the fact that we are very deep in corner OF/1B types? Maggs, Everett, Lee, Konerko, Delgado, and then Thomas when he comes back too...you have to consider that if all 6 of those guys are healthy come playoff time, only 5 can play at the very most(and that means that Rowand is on the bench, and if he continues to be a .300 hitter, I don't think anyone wants to see that). Right now, I'm wondering if Pittsburgh wouldn't accept a trade of Paul Konerko straight up for Jason Kendall. I doubt they would, because I figure we'd have to throw in some prospects...but this would allow Pittsburgh to not have to pay the full 50% of it that most people want them to...maybe only 35-40%(and while that is still quite a bit, being around the $13 mill range, it, quite frankly, is not $17 mill...maybe $4 mill would change their mind). It then opens up room at 1B for Delgado, and you can let Everett remain at DH for the next month or so.

I'd like him in the lineup. Forget his view on American politics, because I am not cheering for an election race. His patience and LH bat would help immensely. So long as it did not cost a ton, he would help more then even Beltran. Problem is, I think he would cost too much, and he ends up in LA.

We wouldn't go away either if we got to play KC, Detroit, and Tampa Bay all the time either. We just got done with a 4-game set against Oakland(one of the best teams in the league), we got done with a 2-game set against Texas(who is only first in the AL West), and we just got done with another 2-game set against Cleveland(who has an upper tier offense, right along with the Yankees and Rangers...when we have Frank in the lineup, we are right there too). When Minnesota starts playing real teams, they will go down in the standings.

Sounds good. Also means we get to see Jurassic in RF. I'm know I'm looking forward to that.

Something tells me he's not saying damn you Scott Rolen. I would guess it is something close to f***!!!

I agree to an extent with Steve here. I don't know if I'd go as far as saying it is a cancer...but his contract ordeal has not been handled well, and his health problems have not helped us either. Regardless...if he has to hit the DL again, we are in serious s***. We definately need another bat to have on the bench at the very least. What about Danny Bautista in Arizona? One would imagine that he would be one hell of a 4th OFer

Except when he threw a 1-hitter against Tampa in 2001

I do think Benson will be moved. Whether you consider him major or not. Another name to look out for is Tony Armas...I mentioned him in another thread, and I think some team will get him and either try to make him into a playoff starter and just hope that he puts it all together and pitches well or they use him out of the pen down the stretch.

Speaking of the devil... 9th one down is me

I just played probably the funnest game I've ever played on either 04 or 05 just tonight. I did a bit of simming(I can never play every game...don't know why, I just can't...gets boring I guess), and after the simming, Maryland(me) ended up in the Rose Bowl against Iowa. At halftime, it was 14-7, and my HB(HB #33...I don't know his name...lol) had both TD's, both on the ground. I opened up the second half kicking off, and I got Iowa to punt after about 6 plays. I got the ball on about the 15 after a fair catch. 1st down, I got a 4-yard run from #33. 2nd down, he busts a huge ass run of 80 yards down to the Iowa 1(just missed a TD). 1 or 2 plays later I was in the endzone, and I put up the extra point. We're up 21-7. I kicked it off, they took it out to about the 18. Very first play of the drive, I call a blitz, and they burn my ass...82 yard TD reception. 21-14. Then the 4th quarter comes. I drove down the field, and had a 4th and 6 from Iowa's 42. I can punt(which is probably the logical thing to do), or go for it and have a make or break play. I went for it, and didn't get it...it wasn't even close. So they got the ball, drove down the field, and put it in the endzone, and tied it up. They left me about 1:10 left on the clock to drive down the field and get in FG range...plenty of time. So I did just that...a few passes to my TE, a few to my HB(because I rarely complete to my receivers...the CPU always knocks it down...f***ers), and I got down to about Iowa's 26 or so. We brought out the kicker with about 3 seconds left, and I figure this is a chip shot. I aimed poorly, and of course, missed. So we go to overtime. They won the toss and chose to defend. We drove, and on the 5th play, I threw a TD reception to my HB(his 4th TD of the game, 3 of which are on the ground). They then got the ball, down 28-21, and on 3rd and 14, threw it to the endzone and got it. So at the end of overtime #1, it was 28-28. Next series, they took the ball, and had to throw for it on 3rd and 11...and it was incomplete. They attempted a field goal, and it was good. Next series for me, I ran it up the gut, and lost about 2 or 3 yards. Next play, toss to the left for about 10 yards. Next play I got the first with my FB. On first down I then ran it up the gut for about 7 yards. I then ran it again and got down to the 4. I then gave it to the FB for 2 yards. Next play, HB Iso out of the jumbo set, TD...Terrapins win. That was probably the best game I have ever played, and I have played some damn good games. My HB ended up with 271 yards on 37 attempts and 5 rec for 55 yards, and all 5 of my TD's, 4 on the ground, 1 through the air.

You also have to take into account that, this year, USCF has been a BETTER hitter's park then Coors. (you must also take into account the fact that the NL West has much better overall pitching then the AL Central, and that the White Sox have a better offense then the Rockies) I do agree, however, that something COULD be done to help upgrade our 3B situation. Shea Hillenbrand, Joe Randa, even Vinny Castilla, and others could as well as the deadline nears and teams decide whether or not they will contend.

They'll be lucky to score 3 runs in the postseason. He has had some good outing...I'm not at all saying he hasn't. I'm saying that without his 92-94 MPH fastball, he can't be dominant. He is pre-2003 Esteban right now. With Freddy's fastball, slider, and change, he can be a very dominant pitcher, especially when he is rolling. When Mark is locating well, working quickly, and has his cutter and change working, he can keep hitters so far off balance that he is dominant. Right now, Esteban does not have that ability. His offspeed pitch is not good enough to where he can keep hitters off-balance with just his fastball and change. If we started the postseason now, I would have very little confidence with Esteban going in game 3, which, IMO, is the biggest game of the ALDS. That being said...I don't have an answer as to who we can get. just suggestions. We will not get RJ...his pricetag is apparently too expensive, and he would bring in too much baggage(both should be a non-issue at this point...giving up what we did for Garcia should mean that we will go for it and will get what we need to at all costs). Pavano could be if the Marlins were to fall out of it. Those two are about the only pitchers that could be available that would be a definite upgrade over Esteban. After that, you have to consider guys that could be...Tony Armas, Kris Benson, guys like that.

I hate to do this...I would love to enjoy the Cubs losing...but before the season started, no one knew that Prior would go down(they were depending on him to be an ace) and no one knew that Wood would go down a month or two into the season(they were depending on him to be a second ace). People figured Corey Patterson would have been a lot better then has been, they figured SamME would not sneeze and throw out his back, hell, they even figured Derrek Lee would hit more then 5 homers in the first two months of the year. The Cubs had probably the best 1-5 rotation in the majors(and still do when healthy) going into the year, along with an improved bullpen and an improved offense, coming off a 95 win season and being 5 outs away from going to the series and essentially winning it all. Meanwhile, the Cardinals rotation looked like s***...Morris and Williams were looking like a decent 1-2, but then you had Suppan, Carpenter, and Marquis - not exactly a rock solid rotation going in. And then Morris lost velocity and Williams turned to s***...if you told someone that Morris and Williams would not be nearly as good as last year along with Carpenter-Marquis-Suppan, someone would probably guess that they could be a sub-.500 team, even with a very good offense. Luckily, Carpenter, Suppan, and Marquis have been very solid, the offense was even more explosive then it was last year, and the bullpen has been surprisingly good. Regardless...even considering the Cards have basically shut the Cubs the f*** up and have practically clinched the NL Central, the Cubs are not dead...not as long as the Wild Card exists.