beck72

QUOTE(WHITESOXRANDY @ Jan 20, 2005 -> 04:45 AM) If Ozuna is any good at all he can beat out Valdez. Valdez is almost worthless and doesn't belong on a major league roster. If Pokey Reese can be on a major league roster [and play for an extended time w/ Boston], Wilson Valdez can play for the sox.

QUOTE(WHITESOXRANDY @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 09:07 PM) If KW includes Marte in this deal, we're screwed. It won't matter what Castillo does. With no lefty set-up man, the Sox can forget the playoffs. Someone forgot to tell the Red Sox to get an improvement over Alan Embree and his 4+ ERA. Or the Yanks. Or the Angels. Neal Cotts is better than what these teams have for LH set up Oh, and Welcome to Sox talk

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 06:01 PM) And Shingo? Or Hermanson, Vizcaino; how will the transfer of leagues effect their statistics? IMO, the priority to upgrade 2B is not a necessity at this point. When mid-year approaches, and the usual bottom feeders are auctioning players, surely a solid 2B/RH utility player can be acquired. Will a pitcher of Marte's stature be available? By the same token, which position would take more talent to acquire midseason, a top 2b or a top set up man? 2B. While upgrading at 2B may be a luxury, what is the backup plan for leadoff if Pods fails, gets hurt etc? Acquiring a leadoff man midseason would cost an arm and a leg. Castillo fill the hole at 2b, and give the Sox a #2 hitter, and leadoff hitter vs LHP [and provides Pods insurance]. Castillo wouldn't just replace Harris. He'd drop Uribe out of the #2 hole [a great thing, he's better down in the order like at 7] as well as be that leadoff backup plan

I'd be very surprised if Det. dealt w/ the Sox. Though w/ Percival on board, Det. could do w/o Urbina.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 02:01 PM) The only thing that is being illustrated here is that you value an effective setup man over an all star caliber 2nd baseman. I disagree. Considering the Sox have reinforced the bullpen, and the fact that Castillo would fill our needs of a quality 2B and a quality number 2 hitter, I disagree even more. But that's the beauty of this board. We can have some fun talking about all this stuff. well said

QUOTE(Jabroni @ Jan 19, 2005 -> 11:16 AM) No offence, but why does anyone bother to repeat rumors from any MLB.com board? They are all filled with bogus rumors and lies. Stick with believable rumors like the ones from ESPN 1000, WSCR 670, Rotoworld.com, etc. I'd love for this trade rumor to be true but I have only seen it sourced from the WhiteSox.com message board. If any "Joe Poster" put this on, normally I'd agree. But this is a long time poster who isn't the type to spread rumors. Sometimes people do know people on the inside. It may be the case here, it may not. I take this information with a grain of salt.

Here's an update: From: jiminusrex2 Jan-18 5:42 pm To: jwren8 unread (59 of 61) 36231.59 in reply to 36231.23 hey, thanks for the respect, and no offense taken. i'll eat the crow if it doesn't happen, and if it does, we'll all be so happy, we'll be popping champagne bottles instead! like i said, my guy is usually pretty reliable, but he's not close enough to hear every word KW yaps into his cellphone. still, he's a heck of a lot closer than i am, so i'd say it's at least a possibility.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 10:16 PM) So what if he can't close? If it comes down to it that Marte has to close, that means we're in a lot worse shape than we all think (and I doubt that happens, even if Shingo falters). Here's how I see it going down if Shingo fails. Hermy will be given the first shot, then they'll give it to Vizcaino if Hermanson fails. If Vizcaino fails as well, that means we've all really overestimated how good our bullpen is, and we're going to have about zero shot at the playoffs. Just because a guy can't close doesn't mean he isn't good. Find me a better bargain just about anywhere in the major leagues than Marte @ less than 1.5 million (I'm pretty sure he makes less than 1.5, though I could be wrong). I've stated this before. Marte is one of the best set up men around. But a set up guy is even more valuable if he can also close [ala Dustin, Vizcaino, see Dotel, Lidge etc] But Marte is less valuable going into 2005 as he was going into 2004 because he was an option to close games. He won't be this yr.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 09:04 PM) I'd love to have Castillo however I'm not giving up any of our bullpen arms unless it was adkins or someone like that(which wouldn't get anything done) the bullpen as currently constructed is so good and having a great bullpen is very important throughout the season but even more important in the playoffs, a good bullpen can honestly win you a world series, ala the angels of 02. IMO, a great everyday lineup is more important than having a great bullpen Getting CAstillo, at the expense of Marte, would give the sox a great lineup and the Sox would still have a very good pen. [Look at Boston last yr, only Foulke had an ERA under 3.00, with both top setup men, Timlin and Embree w/ ERA's over 4.00] Hermanson is just starting to make the conversion from SP to the bullpen, and able to throw mid 90's heat. Vizcaino was the key guy to getting Danny Kolb leads last yr, and who many expected to take over as closer once he was traded to ATL. I'd love to trade an Adkins or even Cotts [who had just as much success keeping inherited runners from scoring as Marte, an even more important stat than ERA for a setup guy]. Yet it likely wouldn't happen.

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 08:58 PM) How about Vizc+Harris+1M for Castillo? The Marlins still get a 2B, a solid NL RP, & 1M to cover his cost. Maybe throw in a PTBNL as well. The Sox won't move Vizcaino. Anyways, stats aside, Vizcaino has one thing going for him Marte doesn't---he hasn't failed as a potential closer. Marte has. If Shingo goes down, Hermanson and Vizcaino would have shots at the closer spot. Hawkins, I mean Marte, has had his chances as closer. that train has left the station

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 06:46 PM) http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...20entry560820 Castillo is not that much of an upgrade over Harris v RH, & Graff v LH. Certainly not to the point where we should give up Marte & Harris to get him. Castillo costs 16M/3, Graff+Harris costs 1.5/1, Marte costs 4M/2, 7M/3, 10M/4 all at the CWS discretion. Numbers, stats and salaries aren't the only consideration for the sox in trying to upgrade the middle IF. For whatever reason the sox seem intent on getting a proven vet who has some intangibles Ozzie and KW want. Seeing how Vizquel was the Sox #1 target, if the Sox get a chance to acquire a player similar to him, I think they'd do it. [Esp for a salary near what they were going to pay Vizquel--$5 mill] Castillo is very much like Vizquel, in terms of what he could offer the sox on the field and off. But this is all speculation by us fans. We'll see how it all pans out. No need to make this into a doctoral thesis

QUOTE(JDsDirtySox @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 01:36 AM) I have been over posting on marlinsbaseball.com about the idea of them dealing Castillo if they sign Delgado... and the Marlins fans seem to think there is no way this will happen. I've read their Delgado thread as well. They seem to think they can sign Delgado w/o giving up anyone. Sure some team will take Encarnacion [hurt] and his $4+ mill contract, or Conine and his $4 mill?! Their lineup would be awesome w/ Castillo. And they are acting like school boys with a first crush, dreaming of having the best team in the NL. But realistically, they have to shed payroll to afford Delgado. Will the fish go from a $60 mill. payroll to a $73-75 mill payroll, all the while crying poor that they can't afford to pay $30 mill for a new stadium deal but can pay Delgado prob a 4 yr deal for $45 mill? Names like Burnett and Castillo have been tossed around as cost cutting moves for a reason--they can't afford to have it all.

QUOTE(LDF @ Jan 18, 2005 -> 05:35 PM) i been wondering about him and his production. has it been confirmed about the roids. if that is the case then yes, lets not even look at him. I don't think many people have been confirmed as using illegal performance inhancing drugs. Most guys will only be "suspect"--guys who had career years out of the blue for seemingly no reason, a big loss of muscle mass, recurring nagging injuries, etc. Yet after hitting only 9 hr's and a jump to 34 the next, with a .597 SLG in 2001 after SLG % in the low .400's most of his career, something extraordinary happened w/ Aurilia that is hard to explain. Even giving him the benefit of the doubt, saying he's completely clean, his poor d and lack of speed aren't a good match for the sox. The whispers of who took what drugs will continue for the next few yrs. that's another factor KW must use in deciding who to bring to the sox.

Aurilia has to be one guy suspected of using 'roids, after playing in SF and having a huge jump in HR's. I'd stay far away from him

QUOTE(JUGGERNAUT @ Jan 17, 2005 -> 08:30 PM) Soriano just signed a 7.5M/1yr deal. That removes another option for 2B. I am not giving up Marte's contract for Castillo's. It's very simple. You have yet to convince me that Castillo will play a greater role in wins for the CWS in the next 3 yrs. The cost of adding Castillo is not just 16M/3. You have to add the cost to fill Marte's shoes as well. I believe Marte had 59 appearances last yr w/out surrendering a run. That's talent. Does Minn win the div with Castillo's or Romero's? The answer is obvious: Romero. The CWS has had the weaker of the two BP's the last 4 yrs. This chance they have the opportunity to close that game. I'm not going to weaken that buy trading for a better bat. Marte's contract is all in the CWS' favor: 4M/2yr or 10M/4yr. You can like the trade suggestion or not. It seems you don't. Move on

QUOTE(soxmalone21 @ Jan 17, 2005 -> 07:40 PM) Cool, can you ask him if his source is true? Thanks. All I know is what he posted there. I responded but he hasn't replied. But he's not the type of poster to start a bogus rumor. I believe he's had some contact w/ local sports writers in some capacity in the past.

The guy who started the thread, jiminusrex, is an old, reliable poster. His information/ source is independent of whatever I've mused about on here. BTW, I've posted on there under my same title here.

QUOTE(YASNY @ Jan 17, 2005 -> 01:19 PM) The whole time you've been selling this idea, I thought it was something that you had put together. Granted, it's a very good idea and the logistics make sense. Now hearing from another source, even one as skimpy as that thread, makes me a bit more hopeful that this gets done. Sure my wife and kids might say I'm a little insane, but am I that whacked out?! I'm just trying to think like KW and Ozzie

FWIW, a poster on the sox board [jiminusrex2, at least jiminusrex was OK, w/ a decent track record of being on the up and up] posted this about a possible Castillo trade. I know he has some association/ relationship with a local sports writer or two. http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/mb/message.asp...sox&msg=36231.1 If a trade does come down, please speak highly of me.

Sounds like Delgado will choose between the fish and the mets. If the fish add a 4th yr, they should land him http://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article.jsp?co...115_203920_4676

QUOTE(Chisoxmatt @ Jan 16, 2005 -> 10:33 PM) I wouldn't say he's a lock to hit .300. He didnt last year. My bad, .291. The nit picking police have caught me. My point is, a player who can hit around .300 every yr at the top of the order is hard to come by. Esp. with the questions still surrounding Pods [will he hit closer to .300 or .244?], and Uribe [was his .284 avg the highest he'll hit or drop back?], the two guys the Sox must get good seasons from at the top. Having a veteran top of the order hitter who can hit near .300 in 2005, would make the sox much less of a question mark heading into the season.

QUOTE(babybearhater @ Jan 17, 2005 -> 06:03 AM) we forget that the fish LOVE young talent, and like to develop that talent, im sure that they would be interested in some of our young talent on this issue, that is well under priced. Would you be willing to get rid of maybe two prospects or a prospect and a long reliever for castillo????? Yes. With Castillo locked up for a few yrs at a reasonable price, he'd be worth losing some good prospects/ young players for

QUOTE(Mr. Zero @ Jan 17, 2005 -> 03:02 AM) PITCHING PITCHING PITCHING. Our bullpen is a strength right now. Vizcaino had a 3.75 ERA last year, he could have well over 4 in the AL. How can he or Cotts easily replace Marte and his 2.5 ERA (except for last year). Marte IS our bullpen, and our bullpen sucks without Marte. I'd take Castillo to, but I'm not weakening my bullpen for someone with equal defensive talents to Willie Harris. A few things: *Shingo is the Sox bullpen. Every other guy there should be interchangeable, and even if their arms fall off, used to hand Shingo a lead in the 9th. [look at how the Yanks used Gordon, he threw 90 innings last yr] *the bullpen would still be strong w/o Marte.[vizcaino + hermanson >> than Mike Jackson and Marte, not to mention improvement from Cotts and Adkins in 2005] *even if a LHP is needed for the pen, one can be traded for during the season at a much lesser price than a gold glove, switch hitting, .300 hitting 2Bman. *Castillo won his 2nd gold glove last yr. Not too bad in my book

QUOTE(S720 @ Jan 16, 2005 -> 10:33 PM) 1) Podsednik CF 2) Castillo 2B 3) Thomas/Everett DH 4) Konerko 1B 5) Rowand LF 6) Dye RF 7) Uribe SS 8) Pierzynski C 9) Crede I could die to have this hitting lineup! that's a lineup vs RHP VS LHP: Castillo Uribe Thomas PK Dye Rowand Crede AJ Pods If the sox had the opportunity, they'd be fools not to take the Fish up on Castillo. That kind of everyday lineup, both offensively and defensively, would make the Sox one of the best in the AL.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Jan 16, 2005 -> 08:01 PM) Why in the world do some want to see or wouldn't mind seeing Damaso being traded? I don't "want" to see Marte traded if at all possible. I was just thinking what player could the fish want that would fit in while saving them some money in salary. But in order to get a player of Castillo's talent, it'll take a lot of talent to get him. IMO, a guy like CAstillo who's a lock to hit .300 and can hit leadoff or #2, and play gold glove defense up the middle, is worth the cost of talent like Marte +.