beck72

No. Izturis has no spot. And Lofton isn't an upgrade

QUOTE(Gene Honda Civic @ Jun 9, 2006 -> 09:23 PM) They really need a 3B. I wish we had one who was leading the IL in OPS. I wouldn't deal Fields for a stop gap like Cameron. No way. Now, if it was for Linebrink and Cesar Carillo....

QUOTE(brewerbacker @ Jun 9, 2006 -> 08:34 PM) View from a Brewer fan... I will go so far as to say that Brady Clark is not a "could" but a "will" go. Once JJ Hardy is back off the DL, there is a strong chance that Bill Hall could be moved to CF in order to keep him in the line-up every day. On days when Hall needs a day off or moves to 3B to replace lefty Cory Koskie, the Brewers will likely play a Hart/Gross platoon in center. Cory Hart and Gabe Gross will not be easily had. In addition to the reserve platoon they are likely to play in CF, Gross is our #1 left-handed pinch hitter. Hart appears to be moving into that role as the righty. Hart is also our fastest bench player, and Yost's #1 pinch runner. Manager Ned Yost has made many comments this year as to how much he likes the flexibility of his bench. Giving Yost that improved bench was GM Doug Melvin's #1 job this past off-season, so I don't see him trading it away now. I think Nelson Cruz could be had, but would you really want to trade for a prospect with virtually no big league expereince? And you are all right, the price for either Clark or Cruz would be pitching. (We REALLY need it with Sheets on the DL) Brady Clark would be a good fit. The Sox would probably part with some AAA pitching, guys who might be ready this year--SP's like knuckleballer Charlie Haeger [who threw for the sox this yr] and LHP Heath Phillips. Both are throwing lights out in AAA, and really don't have a long term spot with the Sox.

IMO, SD would have to drop out of the race for Cameron to be dealt. Or they'd have to get another major league piece to their team instead of prospects

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 10:15 PM) Why go after a top notch CF instead of a top notch RP? Did last year teach us nothing? Those guys you named are no one that should be in an important role for a World Series caliber team. If you are going to tap out on something, tap out on the best available pitching. God knows we need it. The "top notch" RP's really aren't out there. And the best available guys [LaTroy Hawkins] won't cost much. If the price for Hunter isn't that high, getting the defense shored up along with another big bat might be very appealing to KW.

QUOTE(brewerbacker @ Jun 9, 2006 -> 08:15 PM) I heard rumblings of a Clark-to-ChiSox deal on a Brewer site, so I came here to see what you guys think. Glad to hear that your fans of Brady. Most of your impressions of him are right on... He's a hard worker and plays the game with everything he's got He is a solid defender He gets on base at a good rate, even when his bat fails him. (he's a pull hitter. When he kept trying to use the entire field earlier this year his BA really suffered, but at least kept drawing walks) A couple of misconceptions I've seen While he is a decent baserunner on balls in play, he is a HORRIBLE base stealer. (Note: Prince Fielder and Carlos Lee each have more than double his steals, and neither has been caught as much either) His OF arm is decent, but nothing to rave about. And finally as to including Matt Wise in the deal... I would really doubt it. The Brewer bullpen is in complete shambles right now. I can not see any circumstances in which the Crew would trade a bullpen guy without getting an better guy in return. Thanks for Carlos Lee. Keep enjoying SPod (I miss him). Hope to see your in the World Series soon. In your opinion, would Clark be available? And what would the Brewers be looking at in return?

LaTroy Hawkins [provided AJ can put in a good word for him] would seem the most likely, best experienced set up arm available. Though things may change by early July.

The sox don't have a lefty power pitcher who can start. Lumsden is getting too close to contribute in Chicago [even in the bullpen by the end of the yr] to trade. Esp. with other SP's like Haeger and Liotta who could be dealt

QUOTE(greg775 @ Jun 8, 2006 -> 03:46 AM) He sounds no better than Mack to me. .282 right now, one homer (no power), 11 rbis (sucks for 181 at bats) and one steal. What value is he? Play Anderson over this guy. I've been in Anderson's corner all year. Yet he needs some consistent AB's to get his swing right which he can't get with the Sox. He can get those in AAA. The Sox aren't in the position to let a guy take his lumps at the major league level. As far as Brady's value--his RH bat, his better CF defense than Mack, decent avg and high OBP [which I believe is over .370]. He's also versatile, playing LF and RF. Looking at his Sac. Hit numbers, it looks like he can bunt as well [which the sox can always use a decent situational hitter]. The sox don't need him for his power. They need a guy who can give them good ab's and play solid defense. Brady may be that guy

FWIW, here was the Sporting News Baseball scouting report on him from there spring issue: "Offense: hits from a wide stance with a deep crouch and littel stride. Has an uppercut swing and showed improved bat speed last season. Can turn on inside pitches and has deceptive power. Hits well against all pitchers. Has improved w/ RISP. Is a good runner but sometimes gets picked off because he bites on first moves. Defense: Can play all three OF positions but is most comfortable in center. Gets good jumps and closes well on balls hit to the gaps. Plays deep and is better coming in than going back. Has good arm strength but a slow release. Outlook: Clark proved he could be an everyday player last season and has th ability to duplicate his 2005 numbers. Grade: 7.2" [Rowand's grade--8.0] Based on a scale of 10, I believe.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 05:31 PM) that Anderson. He real bad. I think Anderson could still help the sox down the road [maybe even this year]. I just think he needs more time in AAA though to work things out. The Sox shouldn't give up on him, esp with his defense. QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 08:26 PM) Didn't fit in = called up today I think we can't really afford to dump Stewart, just because he looks set to take the Widge's role next year. Molina might be manageable, but we do need to have a ML ready catching backup for next season, even if all he does is hit .200. Tracey got called up? I know they tried him in the bullpen in AAA and put him back in the rotation. We'll see how he does. With his control, though, I'm not overly optimistic. At least he could go in long relief, mop up type innings when the game is out of reach, or the sox are in a big hole early. Montero wasn't going to be the answer.

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 05:55 PM) Brewers would love some White Sox pitching prospects. Seeing how some of the sox other prospects and pitchers have done in the NL [Rauch, Majewski, Luis Vizcaino], they should love dealing with the sox. The Sox could be OK dealing Haeger and another arm like Tracey. They likely won't see the sox roster with thier suspect control. They also need a catcher. One of either Stewart or Molina could be extra weight, with AJ signed for 3 yrs. QUOTE(WCSox @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 07:52 PM) Sounds nice in theory, but why give up prospects for Clark when you're going to need them for bullpen help? Clark probably won't cost the sox a top 10 prospect. But if it was for a guy who didn't fit with the sox, like a Sean Tracey, it'd be worth it.

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 12:57 PM) Clark's an interesting one. I remember he was in RF for a while when Pods was their CF, but he's better defensively than Scotty, with a much better arm IIRC (or at least that was the discussion we had going here a while back). The thing is with Clark he's hitting .282, but he only has an OPS of .716. Great OBP of .384 though. He's pretty much a Podsednik clone offensively minus the speed. I'd really like to take a chance on a guy like Church who has a +.800 OPS, and hits for better power. And I think those numbers would go up as he moves from RFK to the Cell. My thinking is the Sox would need another righty bat, esp. with Mack and Pods in the OF. The Ozuna OF experiment should be over QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 7, 2006 -> 12:43 PM) Good call on Brady Clark, forgot about him. Looks like I beat Peter Gammons, huh . Of course technically, he could have beat me, depending on when insider was posted

As far as guys realistically being available, Milw.'s Brady Clark would have to be up there. With his $3.1 mill salary, and age 33. Esp. if the Brewers continue free falling. I don't know much about his defense. But his RH bat [both avg, obp and slg] would be nice.

This is the kind of win that can breathe life back into a team. I hope it does exactly that

QUOTE(WCSox @ Jun 3, 2006 -> 07:27 PM) I'd rather have Anderson's piss-poor hitting but great defense and reliable set-up man than Crawford and no help in the 'pen. In a perfect world, sure. But if BA doesn't hit, he'll probably be in AAA [though for a short stint to get a string of games and AB's under his belt]. The alternative is having Mackowiak in CF giving up a lot of runs. It's not like the sox would be unable to add a bullpen arm if someone like Crawford was available/ attained. I'm saying if the sox could add a guy who could fit into the sox short and long term plans [like a Crawford], they should look into it. With few "reliable set up men" available, though [LaTroy Hawkins and Guardado come to mind due to their big contracts and being FA's in 2007] the sox may need to look outside the box [like trading for a SP and converting them to set up, like Tony Armas, Jr.; or putting Lance Broadway/ Lumsden in relief].

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Jun 3, 2006 -> 01:09 PM) That should be in green. I agree the bullpen needs to be tweaked, but I am now coming around on CF. Anderson needs to start hitting. As much as I have criticized Ozzie in the past, you can't blame him for PH Mackowiak, but Mack cannot play CF for any length of time. I was at a Patio Party last night and sat in the OF. Make no mistake about it, Matthews double is more than likely caught by Anderson. I would say Anderson's chances of making that play are at least 95%, its a play Rowand, with as deep as he plays and his total disregard for the wall would make at least 99% of the time. So that's at least 4 times this past week that having Mack in CF has cost the White Sox runs. That's not going to work, and neither is Anderson hitting .160. The rest of the guys except Uribe and occassionally Pods have been hitting out of their minds. It can't continue. Production is needed in CF as well as defense. If Anderson can't hit, Mackowiak isn't the solution. I'm one of the Anderson backers. But him hitting .160 [this season] won't cut it. Mack isn't a CFer and can't be trusted out there everyday. The only solution is BA hitting. If he doesn't, a trade should be looked into. Anderson has a high ceiling and should have a fine career in MLB. But if Crawford could play CF on an everyday basis, a deal shouldn't just be disregarded. If they made a deal for Carl, then Anderson could be dealt for bullpen help. The sox do need bullpen help. But other moves could be made as well.

I don't see the sox trying to make do with guys who can't cut it on major league rosters. If bullpen guys can't play with the Nats, Reds, Marlins, etc, they shouldn't be anywhere near the Sox. The most I could see is calling up guys from AAA like Javier Lopez or Jeff Farnsworth to see if they can get any outs. Unless the bullpen is really blowing leads, I don't see any moves until nearer the trade deadline [probably late June, early July].

IMO, what is happening now with the Sox is like the Perfect storm: the defense isn't strong [missed double plays, balls falling that should be caught], the starting pitchers not going as deep into games [which makes the bullpen have to throw more innings], the bullpen giving up leads and letting games get out of reach, and the offense not hitting with RISP, and poor situational hitting. Right now, the recipe to beat the sox is to make the starters throw a lot of pitches, to get them out after 6 innings, Get to the bullpen and take your chances late in games. If the starters get rolling [which they certainly haven't been], the bullpen situation won't seem as dire. And if any starting staff should get it together, it's the 2006 sox if healthy [which they have been pretty much up to this point]. And looking around the league with various pitching injuries, the sox are still in very good shape. Things will work out

QUOTE(WCSox @ Jun 2, 2006 -> 06:19 PM) After watching our bullpen implode (again) last night, I don't see how people can still talk about trading for Crawford. I'd be all ears for any bullpen guys out there who could help. But the asking price will be steep for even a mediocre late inning guy, esp. with all the injuries around baseball. If the sox 'pen can hold their own until the playoffs, the sox add Garland to the mix.

To get Crawford, it would take Fields, Rogowski, Ray Liotta, and Charlie Haeger [maybe Sean Tracey instead]. That's a deal I could live with. That is only if Crawford could play CF on a regular basis. BTW any one know how many games he's played in CF? To get a young guy like Crawford in his prime locked up for a few years, to go with the sox pitching, that'd be worth it.

I think BMac will be in the 7th, 8th like Sunday. Prior to Jose getting hurt, he was. Then Bmac gave up some runs and was taken out. Jose went down, and they needed him to be around for Haeger. Then he went to the rotation where he needed a lot of rest and days off. He should settle down and be a reliable late inning guy. Or he'll at least be given the chance to, with Politte struggling.

If the sox have the chance to get Willis for a not out of the world price, they should do it. That would be a move for the present and the future. He's not a gimmick pitcher. Unless you call mid-90's heat a gimmick pitch http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/W/d...le-willis.shtml A deal somewhere along the lines of Josh Fields [could move to 1b, Lf, or Cabrera move back there, and could replace Cabrera if dealt], Jerry Owens for CF, and Charlie Haeger would be close to what any other team could offer. The Marlins need position players would could contribute. Owens is now up past .240 after struggling. And Fields is down to .330

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ May 28, 2006 -> 01:26 AM) Anderson would have to hit over .300 for the rest of the year to get his season batting average to .250. Not happening. he needs a chance to regroup. His confidence has to be shaky -- and if we start losing and he's getting more blame, he'll feel even worse. We need a legit CF. But there aren't many out there. Actually, if he gets 350 ab's for the yr, [he has 104 now], a conservative number, he would have to hit .285 for the rest of the yr to get to .250. While the .250 avg may not be reachable with his poor start, he should be close to that

QUOTE(Friend of Nordhagen @ May 28, 2006 -> 12:33 AM) I want to add that, notwithstanding my thoughts about possible centerfielders to keep an eye on, my preference is to stick with Anderson, provided he can hit about .210. Seriously. For some reason, in my mind, that's my magic number -- because he's a superb outfielder. He'll hit .210. More like .250 before all is said and done.