caulfield12

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 13, 2012 -> 12:11 PM) Don't remember watching him in the second half of 2006, but a 4.76 ERA as opposed to 2.78 ERA in the first half as well as his BB/9 and HR/9 getting quite a bit worse were pretty solid indications that something was up. Hopefully the same thing won't apply to the post ASB performance of Dunn in 2010, when looking back in retrospect.

J4L is right, there's no way they're a single Floyd acquisition away from competing for the division. Maybe 2, possibly 3 players away, at a minimum. Now....2 wild cards, things become a lot more interesting, because other than the Angels/Rangers, there's no clear 2nd place team in the AL Central Division at the current moment, so very easily those 2 could both come out of the AL East. Even then, intense 4 way competition for those 3 spots. Will be interesting to see how Sergio stands up to the increased level of competition.

There was a big rumor in TOR they actually made the whole thing about DARVISH up to cover themselves with fans, that there in actuality had not been a legitimate attempt to get him and that the actual bidding number was nowhere in the vicinity of the Rangers.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 13, 2012 -> 03:08 AM) Uh, no. Ozzie benched Ramirez about 4 games into the season and he didn't get another shot until Uribe was hitting so poorly that HE needed to be benched. But the argument should have been he would be better off in AAA playing everyday instead of sitting until mid-May...still curious as to who wanted to keep him more, maybe it was KW, he was the one who was so high on him, compared to the majority opinion around baseball. Then again, Ozzie's always seemed to be a pretty big Alexei supporter. https://twitter.com/#!/jonmorosi/status...661302586744833 WHAT's THE MOROSI TWEET on Cespedes, can't get TWITTER IN CHINA without vpn or proxy

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 11:24 PM) Sending him down would be KW's call. Maybe KW's call, maybe not.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 12, 2012 -> 09:28 PM) I really hope people aren't judging this guy off one game. There's one where you have to give Guillen credit. He stuck with Alexei through the first 6 weeks of the 2008 season, didn't send him down to Charlotte, and that patience really paid off. My biggest concern is we really need a true CFer...and Cespedes isn't that. He reminds me of Vernon Wells, for some reason.

Well, that kid is definitely a DH or corner OFer, 50 inch vertical be damned. And if his best tool is hitting, he's probably not worth the price tag unless it comes heavily discounted. We already had Quentin at that price and it wasn't worth holding onto him. Ventura can fix him, Tm.

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.