caulfield12

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 05:32 PM) ISU fans are everywhere down there Because Ames and Des Moines are too boring and there's nothing else to do before Spring Break.

Boo!! Cmon, Richard Allen, you need to lighten up or you will give yourself a coronary. Thanks, Bunk/Wendell Pierce At least argue about something interesting...will the Apple Watch change the future or end up as a big dud?

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 05:03 PM) it is a said commentary when fans are just desperately looking for any small thing to say, you see, he can still contribute. fyi i was a beckham fan in the beginning of his career. too bad i feel for him. Saladino haha...Gordon never has followed a consistent plan since his rookie season.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 04:52 PM) Beckham will make it, but come June, I could see Saladino replace him if things fall in place. As long as he can play 3b and Ss from a physical standpoint, you might be right. He had a nice line drive (for an out) to the opposite field yesterday...looked like he had a plan up there

Depends if they believe Sanchez is better off playing everyday (at Charlotte) or he's pretty much destined to end up as a utility guy.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 04:48 PM) I would switch out Micah and Danish, Adolfo is right where he should be in my opinion. The only caveat is reserving that ranking until Micker tears up Kanny without a 35-40% k rate.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 04:41 PM) that's what I'm thinking as well one year deals are only partially guaranteed. opening day position players could be the following and he's the odd man out. I mean, if you want a defensive replacement for Conor and Micah, it's Sanchez, not Gordon. Gordon is mediocre at best at 3B. Jose Eaton Alexei Laroche Conor Micah Sanchez Avi Melky Bonifacio Shuck Flowers Soto It's curious they chose Bonifacio for third today instead of Beckham. Was laughing early when Beckham made a pretty good play and the Rockies guys said Gordon wasn't noted for his defense. Guess they never listen to Hawk or other teams' radio feeds.

One, Gray is going to be really good... B-roll bullpen of Ascensio and Kensing good...Webb looking more and more like he's Charlotte bound with more experienced hurlers like Albers and Crain looming. Finally, Beltre makes an unexpected run at a Shuck for the final of spot imo.

Good "deeper critical thinking" points from ptac. For what it's worth, the starter for the Rangers the other day, Asher...had TJ surgery hen he was just 14, one of the youngest examples ever. http://www.lonestarball.com/2014/3/5/54634...scouting-report See the third long paragraph...

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 02:02 PM) "Although Tommy John Surgery is often effective, it isn't always so and therefore you shouldn't generalize from one case to another." "Maybe Nate Jones shouldn't be counted on for anything in 2015". Sure. I just meant within the context of those believing or hoping he will pitch this year....the fact that relievers struggle more (according to the article)....and finally the fact you have TJ combined with back and Greg's oft-mentioned mechanical issues.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 01:45 PM) Here's Future Sox top 25 prospects from only 2 years ago. Things happen. IMO unless the guy is just a stud, the rankings business is just a game where if you get one out of ten right you ride it for a while. Marcus Semien, a favorite around here was 16. Scott Snodgrass, Simon Castro, Nestor Molina, Charlie Leesman were all above him. I'm not trying to make fun of the Future Sox guys, these rankings for baseball are almost impossible, especially when you are looking at mostly junk. The two best players so far were #16 and #22. http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2013/...e-sox-prospects So you prefer what, no ratings at all, no mock drafts, etc.? What do you prefer instead...to take its place?

http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/succ...urgery-decline/ Paulino and Gavin Floyd mentions....makes you feel Nate Jones shouldn't be counted on for anything in 2015.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 01:31 PM) I think you mean 152 more but the fact is rankings are opinions. Sometimes they are correct, sometimes not. Arguing whether a guy should be the 8th or 9th rated White Sox prospect is for the most part a waste of time. If they don't become contributing major leaguers, whether they once ranked #1 or #1000, it doesn't matter. What's the point of arguing anything at a baseball message board..as the supposedly "pure" statistics can be slanted or skewed any which way to make your case.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/03/brav...gent-today.html Lots of misinformation flying around...after their offseason, the Braves don't make much sense. http://www.baseballamerica.com/internation...padres-marlins/ Excellent writeup. Hilarious Viciedo article... http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseba...t-dayan-viciedo “He was available,” Gibbons said. “He's got some big-league time in. Been successful, to a certain extent. Bring him to camp, see what he is.”

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/...pauga/70194756/ http://www.kpisports.net/rankings/kpibasketball/ Current rankings Iowa at 29...Indiana and Purdue in some trouble. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12476837 Lunardi on secret formula for picking brackets.

Same with Lhr Tim Collins of KCR.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 09:44 AM) Plus they were coming in hot. It was the first time they had won 6 Big Ten games in a row in the same season, since Dr. Tom took them to the Elite 8, and they blew a huge halftime lead to UNLV and a trip to the Final Four. And Gordon Beckham still sucks... 86-87 to be exact....Indiana, Michigan and Illinois players like Bardo from that time period always readily admit they were the best overall team in those days. Iowa is still a 7 seed at SI.com, yahoo sports and Joe Lunardi. They're unlikely to beat a one, but they could take out 2-3 on a hot shooting night. And now Purdues in some danger...asking Iowa's loss a bit less anomalous...UCLA if they take down Az is the last team who can throw a monkey wrench into bubble for Texas and Indiana, among others. Pu made last six points of the half to make it anyone's game going into the 2nd half...Psu up only five instead of eleven.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseba...part-of-my-life Joe Nathan already facing boobirds, not handling it well....

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 07:50 AM) How many games have you seen these guys play? Hawkins and Danish quite a few via milbtv.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 13, 2015 -> 08:37 AM) It is kind of amazing to look back and think that Alexei's first contract was 4 years at $5 million... total. Can you imagine what he would have gotten today? Or how big Viciedo's deal seemed back then, compared to the money flying around today.

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/3/12/8203...-marlins-braves Looks like the Dodgers are offering $77 million over six years, beating Rusney Castillo's deal...just wow. Maybe even crazier was Gammons' idea that at least five teams were willing to pay him more than $70 million. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/...hector-olivera/

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 12, 2015 -> 09:27 PM) Those bullpen options you listed aren't impressive at all Better than Carroll, Rienzo, Paulino, etc. Of course, Bassitt probably would have had a role in this year's pen.

Matt Albers might be bigger than Bobby Jenks, Colon or Terry Forster. Nice to know we have a LOT more bullpen options in Ynoa, Cleto, Sanburn, Erik Johnson (looked the best I've seen him since 2013), Crain, Beck, Nate Jones.....eventually Montas/Danish/Rodon (if Carlos isn't starting...most likely he won't be in the pen, but you could easily envision Montas during the stretch drive.)

Matt Albers might be bigger than Bobby Jenks, Colon or Terry Forster. Nice to know we have a LOT more bullpen options in Ynoa, Cleto, Sanburn, Erik Johnson (looked the best I've seen him since 2013), Crain, Beck, Nate Jones.....eventually Montas/Danish/Rodon (if Carlos isn't starting...most likely he won't be in the pen, but you could easily envision Montas during the stretch drive.)

Erik Johnson looking MUCH more confident, crisp fastball today...looks like a totally different pitcher. That would be huge if he could reassert himself and become a positive factor.