caulfield12

Didn't Tejada homer? He's playing 2B or 3B? Someone on Cespedes' team jacked one out in the bottom of the 2nd, #4. I'm sure he's pretty nervous...despite all his international experience...to know that every at-bat could be costing (or earning) you millions.

That game is worth watching just for the HOOTERS-esque dugout dancing girls outfits alone. Already heard a LORENZO BARCELO mention, pitching Sabado before Fausto Carmona. Well, that's not going well. 0 for 2. His second ab, he struck out on an outside pitch that Alexei, Juan Uribe or Gordon Beckham might have been able to hold up on. DHing, so can't give any comments on play in OF. Looks a bit bulky now, less so than Viciedo, but has the build of an NFL strong safety.

That game is worth watching just for the HOOTERS-esque dugout dancing girls outfits alone.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 04:54 PM) Ozzie tweeted today that he couldn't believe a "Juan Pierce" wasn't signed yet. I'm guessing there's a misspellink. Maybe, since Ozzie's such an NBA fan too, he was thinking of putting Paul Pierce on the field when he retires from the Celts.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 06:22 PM) Marlins will be going hard after Cespedes. http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_baseb...top-target.html Mr. Boras, please send Prince Fielder their way...they don't really need Cespedes. Maybe Hanley Ramirez ends up in LF or RF anyway.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 06:19 PM) I'm not sure what you're arguing. His price will be determined by the market. All I'm saying is that his performance in the DWL will help teams decide if they think he has a shot at immediate MLB playing time or if he'll need time in the minors. In the former instance, teams will be willing to pay much more for him than in the latter instance. That despite DeAza's "track record of MLB play," Cespedes' overall ability, five tool skills/potential, and track record in Cuba as well as in international play, and, most importantly, in the eyes of talent scouts and evaluators, puts him in a much more exclusive or rarefied zip code.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 06:15 PM) I have seen nothing to make me believe Lillibridge can play competently in the infield. SS, that ship has already sailed. But it was his natural position in the Braves' system after coming out of Washington. Based on athleticism and arm strength, 2B should be a position of advantage defensively and 3B just "so-so." It took Gordon some time to adjust as well before becoming one of the best defenders in the game last year. Same with Morel's progression throughout the season.

Except arguably Cespedes is the best player (along with Gourriel) to come out of Cuba in this current generation of players. DeAza was a waiver claim, largely due to injury/depth issues with the Marlins, but cheaply available nonetheless. At the least, Cespedes will get around $20-25 million. And we've seen some guesses for $50-60 million on the top side of the range. Nobody would have given Alejandro $1 million+ guaranteed when he left Florida, or a major league contract. He was claimed October 20th, 2009. Many teams in the majors passed on him, presumably.

Realistically, the only player who really could play 2B and clearly outproduce him offensively (based on 2011) is probably Brent Lillibridge. Despite Marty's please, we can't trade Alexei and move Brent to SS. But playing everyday at 2B might be his ultimate destination. If only we could have 100% confidence in Rios and, to a lesser extent, DeAza. That lack of depth is another reason (besides his clear inability to stick at 3B) that has had Viciedo moving all over the diamond...but we put Gordon Beckham through the same process, and one wonders if 2 position changes didn't do a number on him? Certainly, it couldn't have helped.

Cue Borat segment...the one with the cockroaches or "running of the Jew."

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 02:53 PM) That game was definitely a conspiracy to make Ozzie look bad and begin pushing him towards Miami. Pierre and Thornton were seen talking to each other the day before where it was reported Pierre said the words "ball" and "drop". Although no one could confirm the two words were uttered in the same sentence or even within the same few minutes, there's no doubt that it was the beginning of the end for Ozzie. The former manager was reportedly so upset by the happenings that he quit several months later and went to Miami. Darn you, Pennington!!! I think that was the game...A's? There were too many in that 4-18 stretch to count. At any rate, WHY WHY WHY haven't the Marlins signed Juan Pierre yet? What gives? Rowand was bad enough, but...just saying. I am waiting for the "Rowand Watch" when his career is rejuvenated and he single-handedly wins the NL East with his mythical "staring death in the face and not blinking" defensive abilities.

Let the open bullpen competition begin. Last couple of ST's with Ozzie were so boring and non-productive. For once, can we play well and take winning a bit more seriously so that we "hit the ground" running right out of the gate? (I know, I know, if Pierre/Thornton don't conspire to blow Game 8, the entire season would have ended up differently...don't blame OZZIE!!!)

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 02:49 PM) +1'ing him is like giving Bernie Madoff a recommendation. Actually, no, that's giving McGrad too much credit. I read about 3 lines of his post. All he does, and all he's ever done, is rip Reinsdorf. Jerry Reinsdorf could find a way to both spend more AND less money on the White Sox, win a World Series, find a cure for pancreatic cancer, and McGrad would still find something wrong with him. The fact that I am criticizing him right now, "behind" his "bac,k" is something he would blame on Jerry Reinsdorf. Don't +1 him again. Please. +1, or should it be -2?

Diamonds are forever: the business of baseball 作者：Paul M. Sommers Try this one...I think you can find extracts/PDF pages or a file by doing a GOOGLE search. http://www.amazon.com/Baseball-Billions-Pr.../ref=pd_sim_b_1 The problem is these books were written in 1992/94. I wonder, with all the Yalies and QUANTS now studying the game, influx of IVY Leaguer-educated front office guys, the DiPodestas and SABR community, if something like this hasn't been written and distributed internally throughout front offices by the Commissioner's Office but the majority of the public hasn't been offered access to it...or something from Bill James' Red Sox research staff or when he was putting together that preseason Baseball Almanac with projections every year.

With the exception of Greg Maddux, wouldn't we say the Braves' model for most of their 14 year run was based on this principle, particularly for position prospects... You think of all those guys like Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, Javier Lopez...of course, the first group with Pendleton and Sid Bream (FA's), but for the majority of the roster, they were youngsters beginning to peak and get over the hump (Glavine, Smoltz, Avery) all at the same time. Then there was the acquisition of Smoltz from the Tigers, aka Grand Theft HOF Arm. Or if you think of those Indians powerhouses of the 90's/early 00's, same thing, with a few exceptions (Vizquel/Felix Fermin trade)...or even the second wave with the Indians that was fully torn apart with the trades of Sabathia, Lee, Victor Martinez, Peralta, Blake, etc. Pretty much the only one left still hanging now is Grady Sizemore.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 11:41 AM) I see the thread title and then see that it is 8 pages long. My reaction is WTF? I think the thread count for the recent KW "inquisition" was a bit more ridiculous.

Then, by that measure, Alejandro DeAza should have an open competition with Lillibridge for the starting job/leadoff role in LF/CF. Because Alej pretty much sucked this winter in 100+ AB's.

So what's the most accurate information out there, age 26-30? There's strong reason to believe he's 29 or 30, it obviously becomes a MUCH MUCH higher risk...26, okay, he hits his prime in the majors at 27-30. But not if he's already right on the cusp of that age as of now.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 08:15 PM) Mongolia? I will have to go to Ulan Bator or whatever the name of it...and try the BBQ.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 06:33 PM) Everyone would like more money to spend, but to me the biggest problem with the farm system is our amateur scouts don't know what a good hitter looks like. Chris Carter/Quentin B. Allen Michael Morse Ordonez Lee Durham Crede Rowand Beckham was a great hitter at UGA and his first year with us, until fading at the end Alexei Ramirez Dayan Viciedo Jeremy Reed Jeff Abbott was a great hitter in college/minors, like J. Reed Chris Young Morel has the ability to stick around for 5+ years It's not like the White Sox system can't produce any hitters. The big misses on Fields/Anderson/Borchard are partly what have created that perception.

QUOTE (gatnom @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 05:45 PM) You're completely ignoring an entire dimension of evaluation. Is a farm system that produces 10 Nick Puntos better than a farm system that produces, say, 5 John Danks? Hell, I'd rather have 1 Albert Pujols than 10 Nick Puntos. The ideal farm system would produce a large quantity of high quality players, not just one or the other. But who would win a fight between Pujols, Mike Ditka, 10 Nick Puntos and a hurricane? (old SNL reference....Chris Farley)

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 03:13 PM) No pressure. Just hit hit it once a week until 'mission accomplished'. Many men have been in worse predicaments. Unfortunately, I have to see my Filipinas this weekend, haha. Looking forward to the white sand beaches...and to seeing Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia and Singapore for the first time. Can cross every Asian country off my bucket list (which also includes going to the observation deck of the 10 tallest buildings in the world, Petronas Towers will be 7, somehow I have to get to Dubai and Mecca for the top 2) except for the compelling vacation locales Myanmar and Bangladesh. I guess technically Bhutan, Brunei, Nepal (was on the Tibet side of Mount Everest) and India count, too. Next "big trip" will be India or Australia, perhaps Egypt if things cool down there a bit more. Japan in October. So sadly, will have to wait for Round 2 beginning of February, as needed.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 11, 2012 -> 03:22 PM) ColombianCupid.com popped up on the ad banner this time. (Warning/disclaimer, the following tangent is not intended to completely derail the thread but posted merely for entertainment purposes in the dead of winter when fake Gavin Floyd trade rumors and Straw Man Arguments over KW are all that are left to entertain now that college bowl season is mercifully over). You would not believe how hot Sofia Vergara was as a blonde at age 20-25. I used to watch her on UNIVISION, there was a show called FUERA DE SERIE that came out with a new program nearly every weekend. Shakira. Esperanza Gomez (google is your friend). If you ever get a chance to go on vacation there (either the Caribbean Coast or Bogota/Cali/Medellin), it's the most beautiful country (overall) that I've ever been in...and it's really not as dangerous as Mexico, Thailand or Russia, not even close. My one year teaching there might have been the most fun I've had in my entire life. Just make sure you like futbol, dancing and drinking/fiestas (in no particular order). Would like to see J4L's recap posts after six weeks spent in Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Argentina.

Pretty soon, we're going to need some good nicknames for these guys. We have Marinez, Oswaldo Martinez and now another Martinez. Not to mention Carlos Martinez's son (I think still with us?)

Prime example, there was a lot of moaning and complaining when Aaron Miles was traded for Juan Uribe. Many Sox followers actually had gotten to know Aaron personally (a little bit like the Chris Getz fans, Jeremy Reed, Anderson, Rowand and Crede, etc.) and were huge supporters of his because of their "rooting for him" to succeed and make it with the Sox. You would have thought we'd traded away a future 7 time All-Star. And yet Juan Uribe, after Jose Contreras, was probably one of the five or six most important components of our winning a World Series in 2005. The point is...over time, there are always 2-3 players (Tyler Kuhn and Doyle more recently, CJ Retherford before, Maurice Gartrell, another AA/AAA outfielder whose name eludes me, Cook maybe?) who put up very good minor league numbers and yet have about a 3-5% chance to stick in the majors. Having worked in minor league baseball, the allure of the purity of the game and the real connections you can make with some of your favorites...well, there's nothing like that experience at a big league ballpark. In the end, the minor leagues tend to get romanticized...this has never been KW's philosophy, it has always been 95% about the results with the big league club, with the ill-fated Hudson/E. Jackson trade being the most prominent example. In the end, it's exciting for the fans to have something to look forward to in the future...and I remember even at my age being excited in 2009 just to listen to the Barons games when they had that incredible array of offensive firepower the first 2 months of the season. But where are all those guys now? We know about Viciedo, Danks, Beckham, Allen and Flowers, but the reality is that most prospects bust somewhere along the way...or they go "poof" like Borchard/Anderson/Fields, even after experiencing some limited success (particularly in Josh's case). In the end, finding young/projectable starting pitching seems to be the key...and they're going after that. But the dearth of impact position players in the system has been a concern for seemingly 15 years now. Part of the problem is that we were cut off from almost all of the DR and Venezuela for most of that time, so we lost out on a lot of talented ballplayers, particularly at the high skill positions such as middle infield and CF.