whitesox61382

Take this for what it is, a cheap low risk move. Obviously, this move wasn't meant to be the answer in CF and/or leadoff spot. Last year Anderson was the Sox only true CF, and because of this the Sox outfield D suffered(especially CF with Mack) when Anderson wasn't in CF. He hasn't shown much at the major league level and has awful plate disipline, but he is solid defensively, runs well, is young, cheap, and has some upside(plus he addresses the problem of only having one true CF on the roster). He put up some pretty impressive numbers at AAA last year, so there is still some hope. Finally, Gload and Mack are essentially the same type of player(good hitting lefties with suspect D) so I think the Sox should move one of those guys and make room for either a legit CF or righty who can hit lefties(finding one player to address both would be ideal). He isn't a guarantee to make the roster, so don't get your panties in a bunch if you don't like this guy.

QUOTE(Buehrle>Wood @ Nov 2, 2006 -> 11:35 PM) With Reggie Rose's recent comments, it seems like Indiana is the way long shot and Illinois is in serious consideration. I'm still going Memphis on this, though. You UI fans are funny. Reggie makes a comment about being selfish, and you guys reach to draw the conclusion that he doesn't want to go to IU and share the spotlight(talk about twisting words to make them appear how you want them too). Yet, you guys ignore the fact that IU would have probably never made Rose's short list unless Gordon wasn't reconsidering his commitment to UI, and made the final cut right after Gordon committed to IU. Plus the numerous insider articles that stated how much both liked playing with each other this summer and how they would love to continue to do so at the college level. Do I sense a little bitter bias towards IU after the Gordon incident? Calling IU the longshot is funny, especially when there was an insider article after his visit to UI that clearly(don't have to draw any reaching conclusions) stated that UI was the long shot and that the trip to UI was out of courtesy. You guys are more than welcome to think what you want though. Personally, I still think he ends up at Memphis, so all this talk will probably turn out to be irrelevant.

QUOTE(He_Gawn @ Oct 31, 2006 -> 01:12 PM) Also when you think about it. Demitrius Jones will probably move to WR now that Jimmy Clausen is on his way here. All I've constantly heard is that Jones is a playmaker. From what I hear, Jones has been very impressive in practice. Don't be surprised if Jones is the starting QB next year instead of Clausen. Jones is one of the few dual threat QB who actually has a pretty accurate and impressive arm. It should be a hell of a battle for the starting QB job next year. Don't be surprised if you see a transfer. My guess is that Frazier, a four star QB from last year, based on the assumption that Jones is ahead of him on the depth chart and Clausen is coming in. Jones might transfer if he is moved from QB, he stated many times that he wants to be a QB at the college level. If he does lose the starting QB job, I hope that Weis can talk him into moving to another position because this guy is a great athlete and needs to find his way onto the field.

QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Oct 31, 2006 -> 03:12 AM) It's starting to look like Benn and Austin might be a package deal for Maryland or Illinois.....unless Florida State and their horrible offense and moron offensive coordinator can lure Benn away. Maryland is a big threat though being the local school for those 2, offering immediate PT, and having put quite a few guys in the NFL on defense lately, as well as Friedgen being known as an offensive coach. One rumor is that Benn did not qualify for early enrollment at ND, and that is the reason that ND has been dropped. Anytime you loss out on the calibur of player of Benn it hurts, however, I think that ND will be fine in the long-run. They already have a commitment from the 5th best WR in the country(according to Rivals), and are 50/50 to land Greg Little the 6th best athlete in the country(will likely play receiver). Plus, with Weis's offense I have little doubt that they will continue to attract attention from top receivers in the future. Not sure if you are actually saying that Benn and Austin are a package deal or that they would be a nice package if they somehow ended up at the same school, but they have stated for a while they they are NOT a package deal. I still believe that UI chances of landing Austin are very slim to say the least(likely heading to USC or Miami). However, Benn is looking more realistic as the days go by.

QUOTE(thedoctor @ Oct 30, 2006 -> 04:07 PM) according to maryland's scout site, arrelious benn has narrowed his list to a final three: florida state, illinois, and maryland. he has trimmed notre dame from his list. Can you post a link to the article that says this, even if it is an insider article and just the headline? I checked the Maryland site up and down and couldn't find an article about Benn cutting ND. In the article that you posted below it certainly doesn't say that ND is out of it(not sure if that is the article that you are refering too). I do think that FSU and UI are the favorites at this point, but I haven't read anything that says that he has completely cut ND out of the picture. It would be a staggering change of events though. Most thought that he was 95% ND earlier this summer. Some even considered him a silent to ND, so him completely cutting them out at this point would be big news.

QUOTE(He_Gawn @ Oct 30, 2006 -> 12:07 AM) God i hate the Colts... Can't wait til the playoffs when they lose so the fans around here can shut the hell up. What do you have against the Colts? You can hate them for being good I guess, but they are one of the few organizations that do things the right way. They are one of the few organizations that have a team first attitude, and that starts at the top and works its way down to the players. How often do you see Mannings, or Harrison, or Wayne, or anyone else get in trouble or take a me first attitude to the field(like a good majority of the NFL). In regards to the fans, they do have something to be proud of and even brag about a little. They are no worse than any other fans, and I would even go as far as to say that they are pretty humble like the team that they root for. So why do you specifically call out the organization or fans? On another note, the Bears have probably played one of the weakest schedules in the past couple of years to this point. The have played the only two teams with one win, two more teams with two wins, and only two teams with winning records both with only four wins(one of which was playing without the league MVP). The Bears are certainly a good team, but they have yet to play a good team. These blowout wins are nice, but what happens when they are in a tight game against a good team? Can Grossman and company lead a game winning drive?

Is ND a national championship calibur team? No. Are they a top ten/BCS calibur team? Maybe. Are they a very good/top twenty team? Yes. All you ND haters tell ND fans not to be homers, but what about the negative bias that you guys carry and let affect your judgement of ND? An realistic ND fan will tell you that this team isn't quite as good as the hype, but they certainly aren't bad and are very dangerous. The fact is that there is a lot of parity in college football this year. I think OSU is clearly the best team in the game. You have a second tier of teams like Michigan, Florida(best one loss team), and maybe WV(will have to wait until they play someone good), but almost ever other team has flaws and questionable results. Here is a realistic look at the other "contenders": USC - I live in Pac Ten country(getting my masters at the UofA), and I can tell you first hand that they aren't that good. They had a couple of nice wins early in the season, but have looked very beatable of late. Unless you think that a 6 point win at home against Washington, or a 7 point win at home against ASU, or a 6 point win on the road against WSU, or a closer than the score would indicator game against UA(USC got a late TD to make the final score look decent), or currently losing to OSU is impressive. These are middle of the pack/bottom feeders in a below average Pac Ten conference(I would probably take UCLA over all 5 teams on a neutral field for comparison), and USC hasn't been able to put any of them away. How are the going to blow out a good ND team when they struggle against mediocre teams? They have lived on the edge all season, and it will bite them in the ass sooner probably than later(I think they will have at least one loss before the ND game). WV - I like what I have seen from them, but who have they played? They have one win over a team with a winning record. Three of their wins have came against teams from non-BCS conferences. They will get tested soon, but at this point half the teams in college football would be undefeated against their schedule. Lou - See above. Only one win against a team with a winning record. A 6 point win at home against a powerhouse Cincy team. This team has some serious weapons on offense, but without Bush they aren't a national championship calibur team IMO. Tex - A blowout loss to OSU, only two quality wins, needed a late FG to knock off Neb. They are a solid team and probably a BCS team, but they aren't great. Aub - A blowout loss against Ark, 7 point win against SoCar, and 6 point win against Miss. Similar to Texas, a very solid team, but not a great team. Tenn - Which is more impressive, a one point win at home against Air Force, or a three point at home win against Alabama? Their only loss was a one point game against Florida, and they do have solid wins against Georgia(boardline top twenty five team) and Cal. I think it is funny that you guys ignore the fact that ND killed a pretty good PSU team. The only two games that don't look good at this point are against the two Michigan teams. It is hard to justify a top ten ranking when you get blown out like ND did. Although you shouldn't judge a team by one game alone. Michigan is better than ND, but they aren't twenty plus points better. Just like ND is better than PSU, but they aren't twenty plus points better. MSU is not a good team, so needing a huge comeback to win that game isn't good. Other then that, they beat a top twenty five team in GT, and they handly beat the other teams that they should have(Pur, Stan, and Navy). UCLA is a solid team that played well. IF ND wins out(including a win against USC - more reasonable than you guys think), than they do deserve a BCS game.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Oct 27, 2006 -> 02:38 AM) My thoughts on Rose are very simple. If he has nothing on his mind other than being a 1 year player, then let him go elsewhere. I already have trepidation about Gordon doing so. I want IU to compete at the highest level, but I don't want them to turn into a one and done factory. The only reason I was so excited to get Gordon is that he is an in-state kid and those are the kind of kids we need. If Rose goes to Illinois or Memphis, that's fine by me. We'll take Eshuante Jones or Jai Lucas and be done with it. Regardless, I like the excitement Gordon has put back into the IU program. Now all we have to see is if Sampson can coach in the Big Ten. If IU misses out on Rose, than they will likely be done. Word on the street is that Jones is likely heading to prep school(doesn't have the grades), and IU is an extreme long shot to land Lucas. You might see them go after a JUCO player or two, or possible a late bloomer in the spring. Personally, I still think they need another PG(if they don't get Rose). Bassett will be the only scholarship PG on the roster next year.

QUOTE(Spod=Ratings @ Oct 26, 2006 -> 07:43 PM) yeah, but that same site said Gordon is 100% Illini. You cant always believe what your read. Recruiting changes everyday, thats what you get when you deal with Teenagers. Actually, most of the articles on the Indiana premium site always indicated that Gordon was unsure and that IU was making up ground. Take it as bias if you like, but I can't remember reading one insider article on Gordon from the IU site that said that Gordon was 100% UI over the previous two months(they might have known more than you give them credit for). I will agree that recruiting is difficult to follow at times, and recruits have a tendancy to change their minds and make even the "experts" look bad. I even said that Gordon was 100% UI a couple of months ago, but changed my opinion a little and said that it was up in the air over the last month(although I still said that I thought he would end up at UI). Take it for what it is worth, but the most recent insider article(hot off the press) states that Rose is still down to IU or Memphis, and not to read too much into the UI visit(the article includes direct quotes from his brother). This information is on the free boards as well, so it shouldn’t violate the rules of giving away insider information.

For those of you who say that Rose won't go to IU BECAUSE of Gordon I have one question, do you guys follow recruiting? Every article, insider and free, has indicated that the only reason Rose is considering IU is BECAUSE of Gordon. They formed a great friendship this summer playing together and talked about possible playing together in college. Most of the articles I have read have him down to Memphis and IU, and some have said that IU has a slight lead at this point(including the Chicago Tribune a few days ago). Personally, I think it is up in the air, and a good trip to the UI could win him over. With that said, it is certainly possible for two star players to be on the same team in college even if they are considered to be one and done, especially since they don't play the same position. Don't be surprised if he still ends up at IU, and if he does, than it has everything to do with Gordon.

QUOTE(chimpy2121 @ Oct 25, 2006 -> 04:05 AM) Here are my sources: a writer for Warchant and the national Rivals site. The article did say the three were even, but the two said differently in their posts. Don't forget that Benn sees FSU again this weekend. I know you didn't say this, but it can't truly be about current performance if UofI is in it. All I know is he is graduating early and is enrolling this spring. He'd be a starter come fall. I did't mean to call you out, but everyone throws around the word "source" these days. If you believe Farrell on Rivals, he is saying that Benn is pretty much down to FSU and UI. Benn looks like a classic case of a momentum recruit(similar to a high scoring game in which the team with the ball last wins); ie the school with the most momentum is in the lead(ND led early, UI took the lead after his visit, and now it appears that FSU has a slight lead). This is what happened with Gordon, IU made up so much ground in such a little amount of time that the momentum pushed he to change his commitment. Based on the info that I am hearing from insiders don't be surprised if he picks FSU. They have the combination that he is looking for: good football program/tradition, developing NFL receivers, instant PT, warm weather, diverse community, and good social life. In other news, as expected, top rated OT Miller decides to stay close to home and play for Colorado over ND.

QUOTE(chimpy2121 @ Oct 24, 2006 -> 02:00 PM) 85% sure Benn is going to UofI next year. Update: According to a source, Benn has been more of an Illini lean than ND, and it's been that way since his visit. The article I just read makes Benn think that he could see playing time right away at FSU and he likes that. He said that we don't have any depth at WR and he would fit in to give Drew someone to throw to. I still think he's going to UofI though. I am not sure that I trust a random paragraph relying on an unnamed source. It could simple be an UI fans wishful thinking. According to the most recent insider article, after Benn's visit to FSU(including quotes directly from Benn), he said that all three schools are dead even and that there are no favorites at this point. Take it with a grain of salt if you want, but I trust quotes from Benn over some random source. I really think that it will still come down to UI or ND though, FSU's chances are at their highest right now after his visit, so the longer it goes the less likely he will pick FSU IMO.

QUOTE(Fotop @ Oct 21, 2006 -> 01:38 PM) If you're worried about the Irish not being able to out-recruit a team that has one big ten win in the past two years, you should be much more worried about the future of the program rather than a single recruiting class. Plain and simple, U of I gets one of those players (Benn, Austin, Wilson, Hughes). There's just too many good teams running at those guys to feasibly believe that UI has a legit shot at landing multiple. I personally think they land wilson, benn and hughes go to ND, and austin goes to miami. But that's just my two cents. FYI, hughes and wilson have stated that they are not a "package deal." They might end up at the same school, but supposedly it isn't a major factor. I am not worried about the UI specifically. I am worried about recruiting in general. I have read a handful of insider articles about ND prospects(Miller, Little, Donald, Benn - to name a few), and they aren't encouraging. ND will still likely land a top 10 class so it is hard to get too upset, but ND was on more top 100 calibur recruits list than any other school at the beginning of the process so to not land the top class would be a little disappointing. I am also a little concerned about the defensive side of the ball. Top offensive recruits want to play for Weis and his offensive system, but the defensive recruits have been a little reluctant to commit. Furthermore, not every recruit views things with the bias optimism that you and I veiw ND with. Just like any team can beat another on any given Saturday, a top recruit can surprise people and pick a lesser thought of school over a traditional power(it happens all the time). From what I have read, UI has a good shot of landing Benn, Wilson, and Hughes at this point(Austin is a longshot). Wilson currently favors the UI, Benn is likely 50/50 between ND and UI, and Hughes is up in the air with 4-5 schools having a decent shot(including ND and UI). Also, I never said that Hughes and Wilson were a package deal, I was just stating that they would be a nice package if they decided to go to the same school, which is a decent possibility since they have many of the same schools on their lists.

In regards to Benn, from the insider articles that I have read the leaders at this point are ND and UI. He still has interest in FSU, and a good visit would certainly help their cause, but in the end I would be surprised if he ends up somewhere besides ND or UI. In regards to Austin, FSU would be wise to stay away. There are some serious character issues with that guy(to go along with a boatload of talent). Some even speculate that the brawl in Miami might have even sparked his interest. I think he is pretty much down to Miami and USC, and I would be surprised if he lands somewhere else. Of the 4 guys listed(Austin, Benn, Hughes, and Wilson), I think UI has the best chance of landing Wilson. He has recently stated that UI and OSU are his clear leaders at this point with UI a slight favorite(can an OSU fan verify if they have even offered to Wilson at this point?). If I were a betting man, I would say that Wilson will be at the UI next year AS IT STANDS NOW. Hughes might follow him, which would make for a nice package deal. Benn will likely decide between UI and ND(as stated above), so they are in good shape with him. I highly doubt they get Austin though. I am getting a little nervous about my Irish. I have a bad feeling that they are going to finish 2nd with a lot of top recruits. They should still be able to pull in a top 10 class(maybe even top 5), but they might miss out on key positions like DT and to a lesser extent LB.

QUOTE(Spod=Ratings @ Oct 20, 2006 -> 01:05 AM) Hey any word on when, Benn,Austin,Wilson and Hughes are going to commit to the Illini? Looking for some positive recruiting news to help forget about Gordon??? Benn - Some have felt that he was a silent ND verbal, but he has denied that and I truely believe that no one is the favorite at this point. ND was the early favorite, but other schools have made up some ground. My guess is that he will pick between ND and UI, and I wouldn't be surprised if UI ends up being his choice. Austin - I highly doubt that he will end up at UI. From what I hear, he will likely either be at Miami or USC next year. Besides, there are some serious questions about his character. Wilson - Reports indicate that he is currently favoring OSU and UI, although OSU hasn't offered at this point(to my knowledge). They might be waiting on Martin who is likely heading to OSU, which might help UI. He is also planning on a couple visits to some major powers(USC, ND, OSU), so UI isn't in the clear yet. Hughes - He isn't really favoring anyone at this time, so it is hard to determine where he will end up. He might follow Wilson since they both have a lot of the similar schools on their list(UI, ND, OSU). UI do have something to be happy about in terms of recruiting. Zook is going after the top players in the country, and his track record shows that he does a good job landing top talent. Now if he could only improve his actual coaching.

QUOTE(SleepyWhiteSox @ Oct 17, 2006 -> 04:28 PM) scout.com team recruiting rankings so far... 1. Syracuse 5 Big East 2. Purdue 4 Big Ten 3. Michigan State 3 Big Ten 4. Ohio State 4 Big Ten 5. Arizona 5 Pac-10 6. Florida 4 SEC 7. Indiana 4 Big Ten 8. Virginia Tech 5 ACC 9. UCLA 2 Pac-10 10. Georgetown 2 Big East 11. Michigan 4 Big Ten 12. Duke 2 ACC 13. Texas 3 Big 12 14. DePaul 3 Big East 15. Kansas State 3 Big 12 16. Alabama 4 SEC 17. Florida State 3 ACC 18. Wake Forest 2 ACC 19. Texas A&M 5 Big 12 20. Arizona State 2 Pac-10 21. LSU 4 SEC 22. Villanova 2 Big East 23. Oklahoma 4 Big 12 24. Georgia Tech 3 ACC 25. Baylor 2 Big 12 * Rankings as of 10/17/2006 6:00 AM ET It is nice to see that 3 out of the top 4 teams are from the Big 10 at this point, and if IU lands Rose(still think he will end up at Memphis) they will certainly jump into the top 5(maybe #1 - which would be nothing short of remarkable considering that Sampson has been with IU for about 6 months), which would make 4 out of the top 5 teams from the Big 10. With that said, I think that Purdue and Michigan State might be a little overrated. Purdue - This isn't just an IU fan trying to bring down Purdue fans spirits considering that I have held these opinions since before the recruits committed to Purdue, and were being recruited by IU as well. I really like Moore. He is going to be a very good player and was the #1 priority for IU IMO(before Gordon opened his recruiting back up). The boy has skills and will be a good scorer in the Big 10. After Moore, you have some question marks. I have seen Hummel play a few times and never really came away that impressed. He has a nice skill set for a 6'8 kid, but he does nothing particularly well. Martin is a guy that get the maximum out of his talent, but a guy that has a limited upside. Furthermore, while he is the type of player that can score in many ways, other facets of his game are lacking(especially on defense). Finally, Johnson is your typical big man out of high school: raw, needs to add weight, and limited offensive game at this point(similar to IU recruit Holman). Don't get me wrong, Purdue certainly has a great(top 10 for sure) class coming in and have made a strong impression on instate kid, however, there are some question marks and limited upsides. They really don't have an instant impact type guy(or two - Moore being the closest thing). This is the type of class that will benefit Purdue 2-3 years down the road. MSU - I don't know as much about the MSU class, but just looking over the class I wasn't that impressed. They only have 3 recruits(at this point), none of which are top 25 players/5* recruits, and all of which are guards. They appear to be very solid recruits(all three ranked between 30-60) who might have an immediate impact, but I also look for diversity in recruiting classes and I think MSU could use some help up front and haven't addressed that weakness. They have landed only one legit big man in the last 3 recruiting classes(Herzog). Maybe a MSU fan can fill me in since they have a better understand of their team. With that said, it should make for some good competition in the Big 10.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Oct 17, 2006 -> 01:24 AM) They are going to need a really sweet draw and some guys stepping up. ESPN had them at 33, and that's with McBride on the roster. I think that's a pretty fair assessment. They need at least 3 guys to step up and be double digit scorers, and the only guy they still have that did it last year got suspended. One of two things will have to happen to change my mind: Randle becoming a star or someone like Carter, Brock or Carlwell stepping up and being a key piece to the team. They'll do okay in the Big Ten and should still be tough at home, but the tourney is another story. Not really. They have two potential top-10 teams in Wisconsin and Ohio State, that's more than most conferences can say. Plus Michigan and Penn State also have some talent, and Illinois isn't a total dog. As an IU fan I am a little bias and optimistic before the season starts, but IU really has the chance to be a sleeper. Most preseason rankings have IU just outside the top twenty-five, so they are getting a little national recognition as well. The key for IU will be the return of DWhite. If he is healthy and in shape, he will be one of the top big men in the Big Ten and maybe the country. Lets not forget that he was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year two years ago. A dominating big man in the college game is like gold. They also have three veteran guards in Calloway, Wilmont, and Ratliff. Calloway brought stability to the PG position, and was a key factor in the Hoosiers late season run(no coincidence that his minutes drastically increased around that time) including two impressive performances in the NCAA Tourny. Wilmont and Ratliff are freaky athletes who are streaky shooters, but who have the talent to be a go-to guys. The question for IU is about depth and uncertainity. They have a handful of players who will see significant increases in PT(or who have never played at the college level to begin with), and it will be interesting to see who steps up. Up front they will be relying on two juco players in MWhite who is being compared to Killingsworth(only two inches shorter), and Stemler who is more of a perimeter big man. Ben Allen will also see minutes up front, and has reportedly bulked up to about two-fifty/two-sixty(Sampson wanting him to be more of a post player). At the wing they will have Shaw who is talented 6'6 guard who skyrocketed up the charts his senior year and was reshirted last year. He will be a guy to watch out for. Finally, Bassett the true freshman will see minutes as the back-up PG. There are a lot of questions marks, but this is a team that could develop into a potential sleeper.

QUOTE(GaelicSoxFan @ Oct 13, 2006 -> 08:34 PM) It sure does look like Sampson is up to his old tricks again. Just because it is legal in the NCAA's eyes doesn't mean it's clean. I wonder if he has a picture of Jim Harrick in his office. While recruiting verbally committed players is frowned on, it isn't illegal. As others have pointed out, Gordon has always wanted to go to IU, but he didn't like MDavis and his coaching staff. If Sampson was at IU last year, Gordon would have never verballed to UI to begin with. Gordon was looking for an excuse to go to IU, and with Sampson on board it made for an easy choice(certainly doesn't mean that Sampson did something dirty). I do feel sorry for UI fans, because I honestly thought that Gordon was going to stick with his verbal despite everything, and that leaves them dry in regards to recruiting top players to fill Gordon's scholarship. For IU, if they can pull in Rose at this point(a bigger need then Gordon IMO with their need for a PG), than Sampson will pull off one of the biggest recruiting coups in years(considering that he took the job only a few months ago and Rose would give him a top 5 class). I still think Memphis will be hard to beat for Rose, but landing Gordon certainly helps their chances. I must say that I applauded the hiring of Sampson from day one(unlike most IU fans), and he is paying off big time.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Oct 2, 2006 -> 07:26 PM) Thats what you dont like about Baldelli? How about the fact that he hasnt been healthy in a few years? Of course you have to consider the fact that he missed the 05 season, and his all out playing style(similar to Rowand) might make him prone to injury, but that doesn't mean you should ignore/disregard the present. The present is a healthy Baldelli, showing no ill effects of missing the 05 season, and with a track record of putting up good numbers when healthy. One major injury doesn't necassarily make a guy injury-prone. If nothing else, his trade value might be lower than what it should be because he missed the 05 season. Plus the fact that he is only twenty-five has to make you believe that his best years are ahead of him. I am not saying that he is the best option or my top option, but he is a name to keep an eye on and is a better option than most of the names being tossed around.

QUOTE(fathom @ Oct 2, 2006 -> 05:45 AM) I've heard rumors of the Red Sox being interested in Rocco Baldelli for CF for a few years now. That is an interesting name. Everyone assumes that Crawford will be the first OF moved from the D-Rays, but I was thinking about Baldelli instead. Baldelli would net the D-Rays a nice return, plus he would be a very good fit for the Sox. Hits for average, has pop, has good speed, is solid defensively(can play any of the outfield positions), hits lefties well, is young, and will be realitively cheap. The one thing that I don't like about Baldelli is his plate disipline, but I hope that it will improve a little as he gets older. In order to get Crawford, the Sox would have to probably give up McCarthy and another good prospect, but they might not need McCarthy to land Baldelli.

QUOTE(ZoSo @ Oct 1, 2006 -> 05:27 PM) I don't like any of them really. I'd have to vote Pierre, but he is pretty pricey for roughly the same production as a good Pods. The only thing is he's more of a safe bet than Pods from year to year, but is that worth an extra 4 million? It might be. Switching leagues might be a good thing and help him have a career year. I like Hunter, but center field is not an issue and his salary is out of the question. Catalonotto is a likeable guy, but really what does he bring other than a nice average? If my left fielder hits seven homers, he better steal 50 bases...or hit .350, neither of which Cat comes close to. And he can't hit lefties? No thanks. Roberts is high risk and low reward. I really don't see him playing a full season and hitting close to .300 next year at his age and given his history. Not really an upgrade. In order to really upgrade the position significantly, we'd have to make a trade rather than go to the FA market. I think your opinion on Catalonotto is a microcosm of the Sox offensive inconsistancy. The Sox offense has become one-dimensional, and they need three-hundred hitters that put the ball into play on a consistant basis(only 90 SO the past two seasons combined - Konerko, Iguchi, Dye, Pods, and Thome have more this season alone) and put pressure on the other team. Furthermore, despite only 7 HR he still has a higher SLG than Iguchi and AJ by comparison. Finally, compared to Pods, you actually get an increase in power not that the Sox needed it. I will admit that Cat. struggles against lefties, and that the Sox would still need a leadoff hitter with Cat. being a perfect two hitter, but I think Cat. would be a perfect fit for the Sox.

QUOTE(CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Oct 1, 2006 -> 04:13 PM) Did u see anyone but him post a 25 man roster? Thats what he asked for but all he got was criticism instead. As far as realism goes who's to say whats realistic and what isnt ? Garcia is a 17 game winner and has pitched sum gems lately. Good starting pitching is a rare commodity. He's not that old and has added a new pitch that has hitters looking pretty foolish. I'm inclined to think you undervalue Garcia. I know that won't sit well with all the Garcia haters. You don't pitch a near perfect game and sum really quality starts after that against ML hitters and call it a mirage. Everyone talks about how pitchers need to learn a new pitch when they struggle and thats exactly what he did. Everyone is well aware that most championships are won with pitching and I don't see any depth of proven quality starters on the Phillies who just missed the playoffs. Personally I'd love to see Crawford and Rollins on the Sox but I'd be almost as happy sticking with Garcia. Just because its not likely to happen doesnt make it unrealistic. You'll be right 95% of the time saying its not gonna happen, thats just too easy and thats what I see way too much of around here. For starters, wins are one of the worst stats to judge a pitcher by. Wins(and loses) are a team stat that is the product of multiple variable(starting pitching, relief pitching, defense, offense, ect) of which starting pitching is only a small piece of the puzzle. If a starter pitches a bad game, but the team wins nine-eight(and the starter gets the win with eight earned runs) does that make the pitcher good? Or conversely, if he pitches a great game, but loses two-one(and the starter gets the lose with two earned runs) does that make the pitcher bad? People use wins as a crutch when they know the stats that more accurately determine the value of a pitcher(such as ERA, WHIP, OPS against, BA against, ect stats the pitcher has almost complete control over unlike wins/loses) are not that impressive(which is the case with Garcia). Good starting pitching is a rare comodity, but mediocre starting pitching isn't(which is what Garcia has become). The added a new pitch argument only goes so far. I bet you were one of the guys that said that Loiaza's great season wasn't a fluke because of his newly added cutter as well. The fact remains that there are a ton of Loiaza-types that develop a new pitch, have a little success with it, and then the league catches up with them and they revert back to their old ways. You can't judge the last month of Garcia as the norm. Almost EVERY pitcher in the majors has a good stretch, does that mean we should simple ignore the rest of his season(that sort of selective use of stats makes for a weak argument). If you watch baseball at all, than you would know that dozens of pitchers flirt with no hitters over the course of a season. You make it sound as though it is a rare accomplishment only achieved by elite pitchers(which couldn't be further from the truth). The fact is that fans of a team more often overvalue a players worth(which you clearly do) opposed to undervalue them. All I did was put myself in the shoes of a Phillies fan and ask if I would want Garcia(and Uribe for that matter), especially at the cost of Rollins. While Garcia wouldn't be a horrible option, you have to question whether it is worth that price(Rollins), and whether it is worth giving a mediocre short-term solution a chance over a more talented youngster with a higher upside(Hamels, Madson, Mathieson, and Myers). I don't hate Garcia, I am just realistic when it comes to his trade value. You are a classic fan that wants to trade his teams mediocre players for another teams top players and I am just trying to bring a reality to your world. "Just because its not likely to happen doesnt make it unrealistic." Do you actually read what you post before you post it? Do you even know what unrealistic means? This has to be one of the funnier lines I have seen this week.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Oct 1, 2006 -> 12:47 AM) Okay, who does Boston have to replace Crisp in CF? No one. They're in the same position as us. Prospects mean nothing, they're trying to win now because that's the window. Juan Pierre may be here, but my money is that he'll be in CF because that's where Ozzie would use him. Podsednik will probably be back with this team IMO. Are you suggesting that Boston won't trade Crisp? There were practically trying to give him away at the trade deadline. There was a rumored deal of Crisp for Garcia(before his good month) and the Sox turned it down. Crisp is not a popular figure in Boston, and will almost certainly be available this offseason. A more pressing need for Boston is SP, so I think a Garcia(+cash) for Crisp and a decent pitching prospect would be fair and help both teams next year. I am a big fan of getting Crisp. If nothing else, he would bring an instant upgrade from a defensive and power standpoint compared to Pods, and if he can get back to his previous two seasons stats, a very solid leadoff hitter. I actually think that Crisp is one of the more realistic options being mentioned.

QUOTE(CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 30, 2006 -> 06:28 PM) I applaud your guts to post this. You asked other posters to do the same thing but not a single poster has, but you sure got your share of criticism. Typical around here. Easy to criticize , cowards when it comes to opening themselves up to criticism. Quite frankly I love the idea of Crawford and Rollins. It adds tons of speed , power, average and defense. Between the 2 of them it adds up to about 75 doubles , 30 triples and 45 homeruns , both hit lefties fairly well and steal bases. Crawford is 25 , Rollins 28 . I don't think Garcia and Uribe for Rollins is that farfetched as one poster suggested. Garcia is a potential 20 game winner in the NL. Uribe is a 20 homerun 70 rbi guy who plays good+ D.They also have the added intangible of having won a World Series. It doesn't take guts to say lets get two of the top young players in the game. I don't think there is a Sox fan on this board that would not love to see Crawford and Rollins at the top of the lineup. He is getting criticized because it really isn't realistic. The first question is, are either of these guys going to be on the trade market this offseason? Would you trade two complete players who are a huge part of your teams foundation(or if Crawford and Rollins were on the Sox would you trade them)? I think that it is fair to say that neither team really WANTS to trade either of them, but they would be willing to listen to offers and if they are blown away might be willing to trade them. For example, the main reason Crawford didn't get traded before the deadline was because their asking price was way too high. McCarthy and Sweeney(or Fields) would certainly get TB attention, but don't be surprised if they say that isn't enough for one of the young superstars of baseball(maybe McCarthy, Sweeney, AND Fields would be realistic in TB managements mind). In regards to Rollins, do you honestly think that Garcia and Uribe is a package that would blow the Phillies management away? Hell, do you think that Garcia and Uribe would make the Phillies better next year instead of an inexperienced yet talented young starter(which the Phillies have a handful of) and Rollins? I would much rather have the latter in the long-run for sure, and probably the short-run as well. The fact is that no one knows what to expect from Garcia next year. Is he going to get his fastball back? Is the last month with his new splitter for real or a mirage? Can we expect the Garcia of the first half? His trade value isn't that high at this point because of these questions. Uribe shouldn't be starting in the majors. Any player that struggles to get on base twenty-five percent of the time shouldn't be starting no matter how much power or how good defensively they are. Making a switch from Rollins to Uribe would be a HUGE downgrade considering that Rollins is better across the board. I am all for trading for Rollins and Crawford, but lets be a little more realistic about it. In regards to posting are own ideas, my post clearly goes over some realistic options with my brief opinion on each option. The truth is that this offseason has as many question marks and uncertainities as any in the history of the KW regime. It is nearly impossible to accurately guess what direction KW will take at this point.

The guy that I would love to see in LF is Catalanotto. I think he would be a perfect fit for this team. You look up perfect #2 hitter in a dictionary and you will see a picture of this guy. The guy hits for average(.305 this year, .301 last year, .298 career), handles the bat well, puts the ball into play(only 90 SO the past two seasons combined), draws a reasonable amount of walks/gets on base(.382 OBP this year, .367 OBP last year, .363 OBP career), and while he doesn't steal many bases he does have good speed. I believe he is a FA this offseason and could probably be had for 4-5M/yr. The one problem that this creates is the lack of a true leadoff hitter. The Sox would have to look at other positions for a leadoff hitter(SS or CF). Personally, I would like to stick with Anderson in CF. You need to develop your own young players and he showed some improvement as the season went on. Unfortunately, there aren't many good leadoff options on the SS market. Would love Rollins, but I don't know if he is available and it would cost quite a bit to get him(more then Garcia and Uribe like the original poster suggested). I really don't like the idea of Lugo either. Some team will overpay for him and give him 8-9M/yr because he is the only reasonable SS on the FA market, and his D is below average. Other reasonable LF options: Pierre - Despite his strong 2nd half, I am not a big fan of him. His speed and high BA make him a reasonable option, but his inability to draw walks hurts as a leadoff option(a smaller problem is his lack of power and so-so D at times). Crisp - This is a guy I wouldn't mind taking a chance on. He has had a down year(partly due to injuries), but he has some talent and could be an ideal leadoff hitter. You shouldn't completely ignore the two previous seasons when he was a very good player. He can hit for average, has some pop, has a decent BB:SO ratio(could draw a few more walks), has very good speed, and plays a great defensive LF. Plus his trade value is low(might be able to get him plus a decent pitching prospect for Garcia/Vazquez) and he is still young(only 26). Stewart - This was a name that someone else mentioned and it might be worth taking a look at him. The question is, is he completely healthy? The guy is a career .299 hitter, has some pop, always has a good BB:SO ratio, and still has decent speed. He might be had for a bargain given his injury prone season last year and might be worth taking a flier on. As others have mentioned, I guarantee that at least 1 of the current starters will be moved and wouldn't be surprised if 2 are moved. The Sox need to hold onto McCarthy(see same reasoning as Anderson). If the Sox look to add a starter via the FA market, than one name to keep an eye on is Lilly. With the exception of his 2005 season, the guy has been very consistant. Plus it wouldn't hurt to add another lefty to the rotation(would prefer him over a guy like Redman). I would also like to see the Sox add another righty reliever. There are a handful of interesting veterans on the market, but the best choice IMO would be Speier from Toronto. Finally, they should look to add a right handed bat to the bench to platoon with Thome against lefties. Hillenbrand is a guy I would like, despite the bad rap that he got this season. The guy absolutely kills lefties(.338 BA/.863 OPS this year and .325BA/.886OPS last year). It is clear that this team needs to make some changes, but in an effort to retool and not rebuild. It will be interesting to see the payroll that the Sox have in mind as well. I don't envy KW this offseason because he has a bunch of tough choices combined with high expectations = ton of pressure.