beck72

Contreras is the biggest question mark on the Sox. The Sox have to look long and hard about sticking with him. If the sox think Jose won't or can't make the necessary adjustments [tipping pitches, throwing w/ runners on, throwing strikes, etc] they should trade him now to a team that needs a "proven" SP. If Contreras tanks, the Sox are stuck with a $12 million pitcher on their roster. The best they could hope for then would be for Jose to pitch decently in the bullpen. Only the Sox know what the real deal is with contreras though. we'll all see soon enough.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Mar 27, 2005 -> 09:04 PM) We shall see in the month ahead. This is a small part of a much bigger gripe of mine that the ChiSox should be in FL for ST. I do not see how being in AZ helps the team. It inflates the ego's of your bats & deflates the ego's of your arms. How does that prepare your team for the regular season? Confidence plays a major role in pitching. All 5 Twins starters are near or below a 4.00ERA. That inspires their confidence. What about their AZ experience inspires the confidence of any of our starters? Having poor springs may affect young pitchers. Yet the Sox have a veteran staff who have been through many years of spring training. Many are working on their weak areas. Young pitchers trying to impress or make the team are pitching to their strengths. Inflated spring ERA's [or low ERA's] won't affect Sox pitchers one way or another.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Mar 27, 2005 -> 08:12 PM) NOT HOT bats in the ALC (ST-05): ChiSox: Crede, Dye, AJP, Harris, Gload Twins: Morneau, Ford, Rivas, Punto Indians: Martinez, Broussard, Belliard, Gonzo Tigers: Infante, Higginson, Ordonez (warm 269A) Royals: Buck, Harvey, DeJesus, Blanco, Stairs, Pickering NOT HOT arms in the ALC (ST-05): (starters, closers) ChiSox: Hermanson, Garcia, Contreras, Garland, Shingo, Marte, El-Duque Twins: Crain, Romero Indians: Betancourt, C Lee, Millwood Tigers: Maroth, Johnson, Knotts Royals: Appier, Greinke, Lima, Hernandez, Affeldt The Twins look primed to dominate April. Good ST #'s are meaningless but bad ones usually mean a slow start. It's possible ChiSox & Royals are victims of AZ but even so that only weakens the confidence of those arms. Looking at this list the Twins & Tigers are primed for fast starts, the Tribe & Sox off to slow starts, & the Royals lagging in last. I'd put far more stock in which players were healthy/ injured than who is pitching crappy in spring training games.

QUOTE(JimH @ Mar 28, 2005 -> 12:01 AM) 3B Eric Munson got released by the Twins. Sox should consider picking him up and let him try resurrecting his game in AAA. Good idea. The Sox need depth at AAA for a variety of spots, that can't all be solved by trades. The waiver wire could get the sox some depth. Yet quality depth should come via the trade route.

QUOTE(AddisonStSox @ Mar 27, 2005 -> 07:51 PM) All I'm asking for is equal value. I know Joe has fallen out of favor with many of you, but the guy has talent. It's there. When you have power from both sides of the plate, you are valuable to a big league roster. Don't think for one second Joe isn't trying his damnedest to become the type of player we were all hoping for, but I just don't think his future is on the Southside. A trade to San Fran makes sense to me. Obtaining a good minor leauge arm also makes sense. Who knows, Joe and Willie may be gone by next Monday. Something's coming. The Sox brass has been far more supportive of Joe than us fans, which should say a lot for how much they think of him. Yet getting a player who can be productive at the major league level is what I'm asking for in a trade of Joe. The key thing is providing depth for the Sox major league club. With the Sox set in the OF [Everett, Anderson and Sweeney all ahead of Joe this year], getting high minor league depth elsewhere is important. If not at SP, then at SS, 3b, or C. Misch seems like a guy SF wouldn't use this yr, as they have Valdez and Cain who'd pitch ahead of him this year. Borchard is a guy who'd help SF this yr.

Here is the write up from BA on LHP Pat Misch: "He's a lefthander who pounds the strike zone and pitches inside aggressively with average stuff, and his approach works much better against wood bats. He was a strikeout pitcher at Western Michigan, setting single game [19] season [99] and career [265] school records for whiffs, but pitches more like Kirk Rueter. Misch throws an 86-89 mph fastball for strikes and moves it all over the zone. He also throws a slider, curveball and changeup. None stands out consistently, though he gets strikeouts with his breaking pitches." I think the key with trading Joe B [who may break out in a big way and make the sox look like fools for "giving up" on him---I think he'll be OK but isn't a good fit for the team they want to build] is to get a player who has a very good shot at playing in the majors, someone who could at minimum be a productive major league player. Tisch sounds like a guy with an upside in the Mark Buerhle/ Brandon McCarthy mold, who could pitch in the bullpen if he didn't make it as a SP. Both were written up in similar ways by scouts, who have been able to get more out of their ability than most. Misch may be that kind of guy. All he gets is results. Looking at spring training stats, Tisch only got 1 inning in this yr. Shows he isn't up on the list of SP options for SF.

The Giants don't seem to have IFers who could help. Yet they do have a SP prospect who could start in AAA who's almost ready--23 yr old LHP Pat Misch. I noticed he also was born in Northbrook, IL. Here are his stats: http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/pat_misch.shtml I like his control [55 bb to 184 k's in 245 IP] and has shown he can go more than 6 IP/ start [40 GS and 245 IP]. He was SF's #21 prospect in 2004 from BA and his write up sounds like he's a Mark Buehrle clone. BA also said he had the best control and change up this yr in their org. A guy like Tisch might be available as SF has studs like Matt Cain and Merkin Valdez almost ready for the rotation. He's not flashy, but seems to get the job done by getting more out of his talent. The kind of guy some organization's look past and don't always appreciate.

I didn't see this anywhere, but Bob Nightengale had this in the print "the Buzz" section: "The Giants have shown interest in W.S. OF Joe Borchard" Makes some sense to get some power w/ Bonds out. The Sox won't give Joe away, esp with his decent spring. Yet I'd like to see a high prospect that could play SS, 3b or 2b in a trade--someone who could step in should Crede or Uribe go down. I don't think the Giants are deep pitching wise, or I'd say try to get a Starting pitching prospect who could start in AAA.

I noticed Ozuna missed all of 2001, right after he had killed in AA in 2000. Yet he came back in 2002 to hit .326 in AAA. He looks like he's had some bad timing. Ozuna might not be a starter [hopefully that won't even need to be considered]. Yet he seems well suited for the UTL role

The bears add a vet RB then they can take WR Mike Williams w/ the 4th pick. Picking Williams is the key

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2004 @ Mar 24, 2005 -> 07:37 AM) Can anybody tell me about Pablo's defense? I haven't seen him yet. He's made some very good plays at SS, such as a throw from the outfield grass, at 3b, diving stops and throws to 1b to get runner. He seems to have a strong arm, good range and decent hands [gets what's hit to him]. As far as a UTL guy goes, Ozuna seems solid defensively [someone who won't hurt the team given one start a week, or as a late inning replacement]. I remember hearing on the radio only one instance where Ozuna should have gotten a ball, and that was on a pop fly to LF

Bergolla is currently the Reds #8 rated prospect and can play 2b and SS. With Felipe Lopez locked into SS, and Jimenez floundering, Willie Harris could be decent trade bait for the guy. Whoever the sox trade--Harris, Borchard, Diaz, etc--it should be for decent prospects who could play in AA or AAA this yr.

QUOTE(Winnin Ugly @ Mar 22, 2005 -> 10:16 PM) Ken Rosenthal was on Sporting news radio and was talking about possible deals before the start of the season... He mention that the Reds are scouting Jon Garland as well as a few other sox players but he fail to mention that who the sox might get in return.. Any Ideas who the sox would be looking at. I could see the Sox looking at guys for AAA from Cinc. Like their SS from AA William Bergolla [from Venezuela]. Looks like he has speed and can bunt [with the 15 SH the last two yrs] http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/wil..._bergolla.shtml Esp if Wilson Valdez is out of options, the sox will need some depth their behind Uribe and Ozuna

A few random thoughts: *Garland won't be going anywhere. He's cheaper than Contreras and more consistent. The Reds may be interested in guys like Adkins or Diaz as a 5th SP type/ long reliever though *The sox could use a backup plan for leadoff in case Pods gets hurt. [The in-house options of Iguchi or Rowand aren't all that great] Whether Freel is that guy who knows. But he sounds like a possibility *I don't know where Freel fits in on the Sox. If he could play 1b, maybe Gload could be dealt. But the bench seems pretty set w/ Timo, Ozuna, Davis/Burke, and Gload and I don't see Freel going to AAA *A few guys should be gone soon.---Diaz, Joe B, Harris, maybe more. Most likely for AAA depth, younger prospects with more upside than these guys.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 06:55 PM) Let's think about this. They go out & trade for Garcia, Contreras, & sign Hernandez to insure that Garland is the 5th. Contreras looks awful right now. I do not see Ozzie moving the starter who's having the worst spring to the 3rd spot. He's more likely to move BMac there. See my previous reply

QUOTE(upnorthsox @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 06:50 PM) Is he? Or does it depend on what he thinks he's has to replace? In the meantime, Friday should be a big start for him since until now he's been able to pitch worry free all spring. Every manager in the league would put the 21 yr old rookie in the 5th spot, and move up the rest of the rotation

BMac is being asked to be the #5 SP, not the #1

His foot could still be fractured. But the fact that he was walking on it this AM w/o the boot on is good news. It's probably not as severe as first thought

that was all Offman had from Herm. But it seems from Herm that the foot might not be fractured after all

MB came in today w/o the walking boot to see Herm. Put it back on, now going to get another MRI

Herm says MB's foot feels 100% better today. Getting another MRI. Not 100% sure about the stress fracture

George Offman talking about new news from HErm Schneider

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 05:43 PM) Garland has a couple of things working for him. #1 he makes half of what Contreras does and #2 he is at least consistant, especially when you compare him to what Jose does. Agreed on both counts. Jon has shown he can still go 6, 7 innings when he doesn't have his good stuff. The sox would still have to part with some salary no doubt this year and leave the team trading for him to pick up next yr's cash

QUOTE(3E8 @ Mar 21, 2005 -> 05:35 PM) *Victor This would be the ideal situation. Alvarez is a lot closer than Sanchez, but I'd welcome either. My bad. There could be a number of other teams in the "win now" mode who could part with a AA or AAA pitching prospect in order to get a proven SP like Contreras [sF, the Cubs]

Here's my "glass is half full" look at the injury. *It was Mark's foot, not his arm or elbow which could affect his entire year or career. Mark should be back when the bone is healed w/ few limitations. *B-Mac gets a shot to prove himself after a spring in which he has been the best SP in camp *The Sox will know which among Garland, El Duque, Freddy and Contreras can step it up when the sox need them too. Better to have some pressure on them in April than expecting them to perform in October and they flop. *The team has to rally together to start the year to overcome the loss of their best pitcher