caulfield12

QUOTE (High Mileage @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 10:45 PM) I don't believe KU has Nebraska, Colorado, or Texas A&M on the schedule either. KU's non-con in football is pretty much locked in for the next 2-3 years, and in basketball we have bigger fish to fry. Mizzou chose to leave the conference therefore they ended the rivalry. It's as simple as that. If Mizzou hadn't left, we wouldnt be having this discussion. It's as simple as that. Maybe KU and Self have been adamant they don't plan on scheduling Mizzou, but you can't expect to have it both ways. With Mizzou leaving, more focus will be put on our in-state rivalry with K-State, and I'm all for that. Now, back to the Royals. The hot rumor is that ownership doesn't want to spend much past $70M on payroll. With that kind of limit, we will not be realistic contenders in free agency. This team has a plethora of young talent, but needs big-time veteran pitcher. At least 2 starters. Royals have the making of a great bullpen in the future. Need Odorizzi and Montgomery and Duffy to be healthy and figure out things. Perez is a monster....looks like he will be an All-Star catcher, good hitter and great arm/release. Need to trade Broxton and Francouer to open up playing time for Cain and Myers. Betancourt doesn't have a future with the Royals either, although his trade value is pretty negligible.

QUOTE (Cali @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 11:45 PM) Oh and by the way that game is a loss under Ozzie. Innings ago. It's a loss without Youkilis, that's for sure.

It was eerily similar to the game where DeAza hit the ball off his knee and then Youkilis had an 8 minute at-bat. That inning took 13 minutes to knock out Adams and the Rangers. White Sox now 8 games over .500 on the road, I think we're 4-5 in extras, survive 2 blown saves in one game. Great start to the horrendously scheduled 16/19 on the road. Pitching Humber and Axelrod in Boston is going to be tough...but Axe really surprised me with some cojones tonight. Still a bit surprised that Septimo and Marinez were favored by Ventura over Santiago.

Probably have to flip-flop them. Humber on Tuesday, Axelrod on WED. Unless they decided to use...have no idea who the next starter in would be on the major league level, with Castro on the DL. 11 rookies already used this season, 9 rookie pitchers. Crazy.

What a game. Yet another HUGE professional at-bat for Kevin Youkilis. So many twists and turns in this game. Driven in a run in 8 consecutive games, 15 for the White Sox already. Bullpen blows 2 saves and probably deserves a C- for the game, but we survived. Another clutch 3 run homer for Viciedo got us back into it, even though he's been scuffling. Royals had so many at-em balls there in the final innings. White Sox got screwed by a bad call at the plate. Axelrod manned up. Didn't give him much of a chance to pitch 2 scoreless. Septimo was great. Omogrosso looked better than he did on Sunday. Santiago, almost to the point where he doesn't have a role with this team, but he also got a huge out, too. Reed really didn't look good, but it doesn't matter now. Really starting to worry about DeAza, Jones and Reed. Happy for Gordon that he had that RBI double and then the go-ahead walk scoring on the sac fly.

Taken > The Grey > Unknown SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED, awesome...one of my 2-3 favorites of the year now. Ms. Plaza really grows on you. The next Ellen Page or the next Emma Stone, we'll see. Spliced in with a little Sarah Silverstone. She has a quality about her....hard to describe. She's not beautiful or conventionally, Hollywood-y "hottie," but she has something unique about her.

Without Sale, Reed, Viciedo, Humber, DeAza, Quintana and Santos....not so good. Of course, we can only take credit for 3/7.

Do we credit Rick Hahn, JR or the new system? Or all 3? My understanding is that the Cubs went into a penalty/tax/fine situation when they inked Almora. How many will they end up paying?

The question is whether the depth in arms can actually be used to help acquire a usable starter...? Santiago, Omogrosso, Heath, Veal, Remenowsky, Leesman, Heindenreich, Marinez, Septimo....all these seemingly interchangeable pieces, how much are they actually worth to other teams? How much MORE is Nathan Jones worth than anyone in the bullpen but Reed? How many GM's would choose those 9 arms over Jones? What if you remove/d Santiago from the equation?

OU and Texas in the Cotton Bowl or Cowboys Stadium would be another great example...although technically it's in Texas, it's roughly the midpoint.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 03:45 PM) You failed to mention another thing all those players have in common. It's not racist, but comps of color/race are lazy. Chris Getz is the only one that comes close as a comparison that I can think of... You're right, in a way. When's the last time that someone like Steve Nash, Jeremy Lin or John Stockton was compared to black guards? If you go back to the MLB draft website, 90% of the comparisons are with players of similar ethnic groups. Look at Viciedo. How many white players have we been comparing him to in all the discussions of him since he was acquired after 2008? I can't think of many, can anyone? I guess Brian Anderson was compared to Torii Hunter, but it was more the offensive numbers that KW projected for him...and perhaps the defensive side, but Anderson was nowhere as great as Hunter in his prime defensively (2000-2004) for the Twins.

Well, they were all speedy/dynamic 2B prospects or "future starters" at one time or another. I could have gone Ruddy Yan to be really obscure.

Going to see SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED this afternoon. Have heard lots of great things about it.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 13, 2012 -> 09:43 AM) I think "experience" has become my least favorite word when describing someones worth as a player. I'd go with "unrealized/untapped potential" and "toolsy or five tool player" (Upton brothers, example).

•Jonathan Broxton, Royals - The Royals are open to moving Broxton, but they aren't about to give him away for nothing. •Matt Capps, Twins - It sounds as though the Twins are willing to listen to offers for Capps, who was recently activated from the disabled list after recovering from shoulder inflammation. The trade candidate has a 3.42 ERA with a 16K/4BB ratio in 26 1/3 innings. •Grant Balfour, Athletics - Balfour has a 3.14 ERA with 6.7 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 so far this season. His contract includes a $4.5MM club option for 2013. Click here for more on Balfour. •Brandon League, Mariners - League's trade value has diminished this year, but he still has a 3.35 ERA and recent success as a closer. •Huston Street, Padres - Street has a 1.13 ERA with 12.0 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 for the Padres and is definitely a midseason trade candidate. His contract includes a mutual option for 2013. •Kevin Gregg, Orioles - The Orioles were shopping Gregg earlier this year. He has a 4.07 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 4.8 BB/9 through 23 appearances. •Rafael Betancourt and Matt Belisle, Rockies - The Rockies would have to be overwhelmed to trade either pitcher, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported last month. •Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers - If the Brewers become sellers, they could trade Rodriguez. The Mets are one interested team. •Brett Myers, Astros - The Astros are prepared to move Myers, who has pitched well in his return to the bullpen. Click here for more on Myers. •Shawn Camp, Cubs - Camp leads the NL with 43 appearances and he has a 2.80 ERA. Yet he's a 36-year-old on a one-year deal, so the Cubs could flip him for prospects. •Casey Janssen, Blue Jays - The Blue Jays need Janssen now, but if they do decide to sell he’d draw interest. •Brad Lincoln, Pirates - The Diamondbacks and Padres might have some degree of interest in Lincoln, who's enjoying a breakout season. •Joel Hanrahan, Pirates - I don’t expect the Pirates to trade Hanrahan now that they’re leading the NL Central. But if they had to part with him to get an impact bat, they might listen. •Brandon Lyon, Astros - Lyon has a 3.24 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 so some teams might be willing to overlook that $5.5MM salary. •Mark Lowe, Rangers - It appeared earlier in the year that the Rangers were willing to listen on Lowe and Scott Feldman. •Wade Davis, Rays - Davis has a 3.12 ERA with 9.4 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 since the Rays moved him to the bullpen, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him draw interest http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/07/pote...-relievers.html Wade Davis is quite an interesting idea, mainly because of his ability to be a swingman and starter as well for us.

•Cole Hamels, Phillies - Hamels is one of the best pitchers in the game. Though he's just 28, he has a seven-year history of success in a major market, including a World Series MVP award. Hamels has the potential to improve some team’s rotation dramatically and demand will reflect that upside if the Phillies make him available. •Zack Greinke, Brewers - If you go by the numbers, Greinke's just as desirable as Greinke. However, some teams question Greinke's ability to thrive in the spotlight. Still, the right-hander has the potential to make a team’s front office look really smart. •Matt Garza, Cubs - Garza's 4.32 ERA is pretty ordinary, but he’s still a tremendously valuable trade chip for the Cubs. Unlike Greinke and Hamels, Garza's controllable through 2013. He has succeeded in the AL East and his peripheral stats remain strong. •Wandy Rodriguez, Astros - Rodriguez has a 3.38 ERA through 18 starts, but his salary could be an obstacle for some clubs. The left-hander will earn $10MM in 2012, $13MM in 2013 and, potentially, $13MM in 2014 (the team’s ’14 option becomes a player option following a trade). However, the Astros showed that they’re willing to absorb salary if it means a chance at obtaining better prospects when they dealt Carlos Lee to the Marlins. •Ryan Dempster, Cubs - Dempster, who has an NL-best 1.99 ERA, should draw lots of interest as a mid-season trade candidate. The Cubs seem willing to absorb some of his $14MM salary to facilitate a deal. •Shaun Marcum, Brewers - Marcum, now on the disabled list, is on track to hit free agency this offseason. He has a 3.39 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 through 82 1/3 innings in Milwaukee. •Paul Maholm, Cubs - Maholm could appeal to teams looking to add back-of-the-rotation depth. His contract includes a $6.5MM option for 2013. •Randy Wolf, Brewers - Wolf's trade value would be limited by his 5.80 ERA and $9.5MM salary. •Jeremy Guthrie, Rockies - Guthrie’s trade value may be at an all-time low following three disappointing months in Denver. •Edinson Volquez and Clayton Richard could be available, but there’s no reason for the Padres to trade such controllable, young arms without obtaining a remarkable package in return. •Jason Vargas, Mariners - Vargas is similar pitcher to Wandy Rodriguez, but he's younger and less expensive, as I explained last month. •Kevin Millwood, Mariners - Millwood, 37, has a 3.69 ERA with 6.9 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 90 1/3 innings with Seattle. He earns $1MM and will hit free agency after the season. •Despite the annual speculation surrounding Felix Hernandez, there’s no indication he’s truly available. •Bartolo Colon, Athletics - Colon, 39, is the player the Athletics are most likely to trade, according to Ken Rosenthal. The righty has a 3.80 ERA with 5.4 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 through 104 1/3 innings. •Brandon McCarthy, Athletics - The A's would reportedly consider offers for McCarthy, a prospective free agent who has a 2.54 ERA with 6.0 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9. He's now on the 15-day disabled list. •Brian Matusz, Orioles - Matusz appears to be a trade chip for the Orioles. He's now in the minor leagues after posting a 5.42 ERA through 16 starts in Baltimore. •Francisco Liriano, Twins - Liriano, a free agent after the season, has pitched well since returning to the rotation. Still, clubs are wary of trading for the left-hander, whose walk rate remains high. I highlighted the ones that KW perhaps is most likely to go after, assuming the talent in our system doesn't match up for Greinke, Hamels or Garza (as well as extension kiboshed). Rodriguez is too reminiscent of Danks, and too expensive. And we already found a cheaper alternative (for now) in Quintana. The Twins traded Delmon Young to the Tigers last year, it's not impossible they would deal Liriano to the White Sox. Would rather take a chance on Liriano than Volquez, and Liriano might cost less because Volquez is under control contract-wise for at least one more season to my knowledge. McCarthy would be interesting...but a roll of the dice, and it doesn't seem he parted on great terms with KW or Cooper. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/07/pote...g-pitchers.html Brian Fuentes also just became available, KW has to be looking for another veteran lefty to replace Ohman/Septimo in all likelihood.

Micah Johnson's another name to watch. Exciting player...hopefully ends up better than Shelby, Jr., Harris or Richar

Then RA Dickey is a power pitcher this year... Danks is somewhere in between. Not a finesse guy, not really a true power pitcher, either. Certainly, at his diminished velocity, he wasn't missing as many bats as before. Any pitcher with a great change-up can strike out a ton of guys. Johan Santana, in his prime, for example.

QUOTE (GO CHI SOX! @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 04:40 PM) Humber has no options left, can't send him down. I just meant for any pitcher in MLB, whether he'd been released or sent down the same year. Or even pitched in the minor leagues in the same year as his perfect game, as Humber is doing tonight (although it's a rehab assignment).

1 run, 2 hits given up in the first inning. Loman, for some inexplicable reason, got picked off at 3B....really really bad baserunning. Barons 4-1 after 1. Smokies' starter already pulled. 2nd inning, first ball was crushed but Martinez tracked it down, infield groundout, K. Through 2. 24 pitches. 3rd, flyout, flyout, K Humber will go 6 innings, 80 pitches, supposedly. Will start next Tuesday against the Red Sox on the road.

QUOTE (Real @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 05:23 PM) has a pitcher ever been traded in the same year that they threw a perfect game? Has a pitcher ever been waived or sent to AAA in the same year (Humber, possibly)?

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 03:16 PM) He said he'd make the first trade without giving up major league talent. I certainly don't think he's implying they would trade Jones for Oliver. Guess I didn't look closely enough and assumed it was a roster with Huston Street and Volquez on it, as well as Oliver. Wrong thread.

On The Franchise last night, the Marlins Team President asked Ozzie about three times "are you sure you're not keeping Heath Bell as closer only due to him making 9 million a year?". Ozzie responded that wasn't the reason why he wanted him to be closer, as he felt the team was better with Bell as the closer and the 9 million dollar salary was the fault of the front office, and not him. I don't understand this. How did he word these things? Did he blast the front office? And what was the team president's point? Who did he want to close? Theoretically, Chisek.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jul 12, 2012 -> 03:12 PM) What about Nate Jones? Clearly, he's being moved in one of those trades.

Volquez could be sent down if the Reds thought regular work there might straighten out any mechanical problems. To me it looks like Volquez has a head and attitude problem not an arm problem. He seems to have more than enough natural talent but he does not get much out of it. Sad really. Maybe he will come around some day. Then again maybe he won’t. Some never do. If Sam LeCure and Mike Leake had Volquez’ stuff we would have 2 aces. I am thankful Volquez didnt sign that extension. Thank god. Should teach the Jocketty not to overreact. Volquez really hasnt done much since the 1st year. Also, I get tired of the “he has great stuff” Thats like the old “5 tool player” If you don’t have it between the ears and the grit to earn it none of that matters. If it were me I would scare the crap out of Volquez and send him down. I still think Volkie has that potential - some of those snappy curve balls yestreday were freezing Indian hitters. Unfortunately, his fastballs were dead straight and, on those rare occasions he got one anywhere near the plate, very hittable. His head was clearly somewhere else, and given his comments after the game, I think we can make a pretty good guess as to its actual location. Whatever’s next for EV needs to happen in Louisville, and given today’s rumors (Volkie and Smith called into the office, Frazier on his way to Philly), that’s most likely what will happen. But Edinson Volquez pitched (or threw) and that more than made up for any problems Gomes is experiencing. If a team needs a batting practice pitcher to make their hitters all feel like Babe Ruth, all they have to do is bat against Volquez in the first inning. Once again, just like nearly every first inning he has pitched this year, Volquez was treated with the utmost disrespect by an opponent. The Tribe scored four in the first after Joey Votto gave Volquez a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a home run, the first lead Volquez has had all year. BUT, BOY, did he fritter it away in less than no time flat. Whatever afflicts Aroldis Chapman’s command and control is also possessed by Volquez. And whatever it is troubling Volquez has to be between the ears because he owns major-league stuff, major-league stuff that doesn’t come close to the strike zone. http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/conte..._for_volqu.html This comes from Hal McCoy, who broke the Homer Bailey/Dye trade (almost). I just selected some of his column, as well as random reader comments. Another thing that sticks out is he publicly articulated and complained about the fact that the Reds' offense wasn't supporting him with runs. That's a big no-no.