Pumpkin Escobar

I cant assume we have a slow fun since guys like Matty and Jenks used to run it up there. It is odd though - especially seeing Masset poppin 99 out there in Cinci. Just bad guns maybe down in the minors, exaggerated reports, etc... - which isnt uncommon.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 07:06 PM) Trading Jenks for Crawford makes very little sense, to the Rays. How could they afford to pay a closer $8 million (plus) for only two seasons under their control when they can't afford Crawford, one of the most popular and likeable players in franchise history, for just one season? Yeah, I get that they might have more depth in the outfield than at the back of the bullpen, and that just sticking Grant Balfour into that role won't necessarily work out wonderfully, but I would be hugely concerned in the Rays' FO about acquiring someone with his medical history and with a seemingly declining fastball...despite his wonderful assortment of pitches and devastating offspeed stuff when he's on and has almost complete command. You give up Crawford for Joe Nathan (one or two years), but not Bobby Jenks. There are too many other comparable options that are less risky, someone like Jose Valverde comes to mind. Thats just it.With their financial situation I am not sure theyd be interested. That type of swap I agreed with him that I wouldnt mind though.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 2, 2009 -> 06:45 PM) Yeah, but said in other terms, you dont make this trade and strip the Sox of a #5 starter...unless the guy is going to give you something this year. So I'm all for the trade, but if they shelve him for this year (by choice, that is)....then it's sending a questionable message to the guys on the team who were liking what CR gave them. What was Richard giving us? Two good starts against horrible LHP teams? Prior to that he got bombed and removed from the rotation, before that had a couple good starts and before that got bombed. He wasnt even going to be pitching if Colon stayed healthy. He was putting pressure on Ozzie with those last two outtings but the first time he got lit up - he'd have been removed. So I don't see the questionable message. I saw a team strugglign to figure out who would be there 5 with no real light at the end of the tunnel - to a team now who knows they have to support a 5 starter like Torres with a massive bright light at the end of the tunnel in Peavy. If anything this gives them some resolution to whats occuring and can give everyone a bit of relief b/c they know it's just a one month uncertainty instead of a revolving door for the rest of the year. I don't think anyone on the team should be questioning whats going on. They need to go take care of business.

I don't rely on Bobby. I'd deal for something that can contribute or restock some of the farm. My buddy introduced an idea of dealing him straight up for Crawford (a name many of us seem to enjoy). I figured it would cost us prospects but Jenks maybe a good swap. They apparently need to be cutting payroll so I am not sure this will be appealing enough to them - which is really the only thing which would hold it up to me. Depends on how much theyd value the 4-5 mill decrease. If it's that much. Otherwise - I would move him for anything of value (be it elite prospects, prospects + role players, or a talented mlb player to fill our holes we have). It's not as tough to find closers with a 4era as Jenks has. Every year there are new closers emerging all over the place. It is an important position but it is alsoand overrated position. We can find someone who is much cheaper, not declining in ability, and with lower expectations who can perform to the level Jenks is and will be performing.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 07:47 PM) There is no guarantee that Torres is going to give us what he did in his debut everytime either. This basically looks to me like KW said well we may just have to concede this season to be set up for next year and beyond which is unacceptable to me. The obsession with Clayton Richard is beyond me. The guy has a decent future and he had some great looking starts for us but it's not like he was our ACE. He was the biggest question mark in our rotation and had Colon not gotten hurt - he may not have even been in the rotation, regarldess of his previous 2 starts. One of which was against the dismal Rays who couldnt hit a high school lefty this season if they saw one. Richard has factored in half his starts. So he has 6 this month before Peavy would arrive and we'll say 12 total had he stayed...So maybe he has 6-7 quality starts the rest of the season and this month like I said 1/2 so 3 starts. He isn't undefeated when he has a quality start and is usually good to be bombed in the mix. So lets say we take his .280 opponents avg against him and be generous - giving him 2 wins out of those 6 starts. 1-2 losses. Rest no decisions. How is that bad when you have a potential Ace joining you over richard in September? He was our 5 starter. The most inconsistent thing/position basically we we have - outside of CF and Alexi's defense. If we can manage to sit around 1-4 games back heading into September - we'll have a shot cuz we get to play the tigers and twins a lot. Everyone against this deal makes it seem like we sold our core of our team and rebuilt. We dealt away the weakest part of our rotation for a Cy Young winner. Albeit 4 weeks away but we can have guys step up. This whole love-fest for a guy who 3 weeks ago was hearing about how he needs to be removed from the rotation because of his Cy Young caliber 1 inning 7er performance against the woeful indians has a couple good starts and now he is a greek god. Its hilarious. Just give Peavy a shot and if he can resemble his old self - no one is goign to care.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 06:52 PM) He didn't say Carter would be on the roster in Sept. just the other 3. Really? Certainly sounded like he said we plan on having all of them up on the 25 man roster then he said in sepetember...He was kind of fumbling around words so I just wrote it off as him being confused or maybe he was serious... If he said 3 - i missed that part...I'll rewind it and watch.

I'm watching MLBnetwork and I found it kind of funny how our trade broke down. Nothing special. Just figured I'd share. Towers said KW called him at 1030am today and said "we talk deals every year and so what do you have cookin". Towers told him lots of hits on Bell and Gonzalez. Kenny asked about Peavy. Towers informed him he was the first to ask so KW told him that they needed to pull it off. Apparently - it took an hour and a half. So done by Noon or so - surprised nothign leaked. The host of the show congratulated Towers on getting a "steal". Theyre also very high on Russell it sounds. He mentioned Russell as a "Power arm" and sees all of them on the roster in september. Which surprised me to hear that with Carter. They like him and Poreda a lot too. Richard got the least talk surprisingly. Just thought that was worth sharing.

QUOTE (beck72 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 06:24 AM) I could see the sox signing Dye to a 3 yr deal, in the neighborhood of $21-24 mill. Re-work his deal, like they did with AJ. Thats what I was picturing. 3 years about 21mil. Thatd be a steal for his production. I'd really love to pull that off - land a crawford or something, shift CQ to right and go for it. If CQ gets hurt (or when he does) you slide Dye out to Rf and call up flowers or fields to DH.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 05:03 PM) in 07 and 08 his ERA+s were 159 and 134. Will his ERA go up? Of course it will, but the other pitcher has to pitch in the same ballpark Peavy is against a line-up with a DH. I'm torn a bit but cant help fight the excitement. I am a bit nervous of how he will translate to the AL and our park. It's one thing to be coming into the AL, but its another when you're leaving that monster Petco and coming to our park. I think if he is as talented as he has looked - that he will see a slight bump. I know judging by his other road statistics and everything that his numbers differ but the point of an Ace is his ability to shut anyone down on any given/needed day. Which is what he is and has. The thing I dislike about using statistics and ERA+ and the extended statistics is that eventually the guys talent and stuff come into play. Ibanez, for instance, was a very underrated and good player. When he went to Philly - people expected him to jump but no one or no stat had him putting up the numbers he was (before injury) and is (even after) this year. His is for the positive by going to a hitters park - ours cuold be for the negative. But the point was that eventually the guy has to prove his worth and I think Peavy can keep himself together for a 3.5 era or less while here.

This move only benefits us. It may hurt tonight but there was no gaurentee Richard was goign to continue on as he was. He wasnt reliable right now and even though he was pitching well - he couldve gone out and given up 9 earned and we wouldve all been callin for his head again. It leaves us still scrambling for a 5 starter right now but if we can hang in for the next month and Peavy can come back. That'd be a big boast if we manage to make the playoffs. Not many 1-2 of Buehrle and Peavy. At worst - we are hardly giving up on this season by only losing our 5 starter and we are going to essentially standpat if Peavy ends up not pitching. If we end up making it - great, if not, we bettered ourselves for next year and acquired an Ace while teams werent looking in his direction. Next season - when he was healthy. Someone probably couldve and wouldve outbid us for him. Kinda sly by Kenny to me.

They said he is out like 5 more weeks... I wonder who pushed for this and what the package we gave up was. If we got Peavy - Kenny is a big winner after all.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 02:54 PM) Deadline is almost up and still not a peep.... guess they think we can contend with this team.... If they thought we could contend before today - they must not think highly of the Twins/Red Sox/Tigers all making very nice additions. QUOTE (bulokis @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 02:56 PM) Team captains of the sox said we do not need to trade anybody. Couple ways I want to respond to this. One is then I guess it's on them - or I wish it was on them when they fail to live up this bar theyre setting for themselves. Second - do your job and let the front office do theirs. Tehir job would be easier right now had our guys been playing up to their capabilities. QUOTE (AWhiteSoxinNJ @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 02:57 PM) And therefore will not make the playoffs. Agree but itd be fun to do it again.

Wow. If thats true. Impressive.

Man Cleveland has netted some nice things the last couple years...Santana and LaPorta+ last year, Carrasco, Knapp, Masterson + everyone else this year...Theyre getting together some real nice pieces. And they still have the perenial MVP pick by Peter Gammons in Sizemore...Such a beast is Sizemore. God I hate Peter.

Braves got LaRoche. Back.

Twins in on Heath Bell. Man I don't want to see he and Nathan inthe same bullpen.

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 02:05 PM) That same season Hanley hit .332 with 48 doubles, 29 HR's and 51 SB....I think Florida won that trade, but really both teams are winners. K. How are you basing this though? Is it just who performed better or who is the better player? By that account - Yes Hanley is the best player in the deal now. By what actually counts for their teams - a World Series trophy or 2. I'd say Boston won. Especially if Florida ends up not keeping Hanley - which is always a possiblity.

Everytime I think of Ricciardi I find myself envisioning the Mel Kiper thing with the Colts ownership (I think it was them)... Where he was blasting their Management for terrible draft picks and such and was like "this is why theyre picking 1st every year instead of playing for a Superbowl". Thats what I think of with JP and the Blue Jays. Their just stupid with how they approach things in that division. Theyre not going to spend like NY and Boston - but they also kind of refuse to just be sellers so they can load up like Tampa. I understand committment to your fans to compete but when you can prepare yourself to be better in a future when everyone knows you arent going to win the East anytime soon...You do it. Anyone else think of that?

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 01:33 PM) Halladay's value goes down a ton if he's not traded in the next hour and a half. Riccardi really does screw himself if he doesn't get something done. I agree. For several reasons. Right now Ricciardi is benefiting from Halladay being the only real dominant starter available. Had Peavy and Webb been healthy - they'd be in the discussion for available aces. If the offseason hits - Halladay is now a 1 year rental instead of 2. He is one year older. Potential for injury in Septermber (unlikely but why risk it if your intention is to deal him). There will be cheaper options available via FA - not to mention a whole new crop of guys in the final 1-2 years of their contracts (sort of like how Halladay wasnt this available last season but CC was) who will be open for a trade. There is more then that I'd imagine. Why this moron is being so stubborn is beyond me. Get what you can and move on so you can focus on rebuilding this offseason instead of focusing on how to dump players.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 01:22 PM) What better way to get fans to the game, aside from winning games of course, then to bring in a big name? Definitely - generate a little excitement. Or course, another way to get fans in the stands is to sit and watch three teams you're chasing all fill their holes (so to speak). Gotta love seeing 1st place Detroit get some depth to their staff, Minnesota get a good SS (albeit a clubhouse cancer apparently) and then see Boston land a big time C/1b in Martinez (on top of everything else theyve acquired). I know we are 8 back or something of the Wild Card but it's still a method to get into the playoffs that just got further out of reach.

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 11:26 AM) Found this interesting....scary to think what it would take to get him. Mariners Rejected Offers For Felix Hernandez By Tim Dierkes [July 31 at 11:14am CST] The Mariners rejected offers from six different teams for young ace pitcher Felix Hernandez, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark and Peter Gammons. GM Jack Zduriencik admitted he listened, but didn't find anything even worth discussing. Hernandez, just 23 years old, has a 2.79 ERA in 145.3 innings this year. He's under team control through 2011, but has yet to sign a long-term contract. Would give them anything. Anything.

Very early but it's nice to see a GM make an attempt an upgrading.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 31, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) Looks like it's for Luke French (who?) and another prospect French doesn't even appear in their BA top 10 prospects list Pretty sure French has been up for a while...Not a bad lookin 5 starter. Big lefty. Had decent stuff. I caught a minor glimpse of him a couple weeks ago against the Yankees. Not bad. Other guy - no clue. No more value then a Richard I'd assume.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 05:53 PM) Brandon Wood hasn't shown anything at the Major League level yet. I'm not a fan. Very true but he has the tools and the potential and we've wasted starting spots on worse/less. Im not saying he is - but he reminds me of Nelson Cruz in that he just may take a little while longer to put it together in the majors but he is an example of just giving the kid a shot. I think he'd be a smart move if we can get him. Showed less so far but has always had more upside then Fields or Anderson or what we've put out there. Idk I was just throwing it out there. I've seen both names available or linked to stuff.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 30, 2009 -> 04:16 PM) Had the Dbacks not requested his trade than he would have became a free agent. But Halladay wouldn't just be able to become a FA at seasons end. No I get that. What I am asking is this... Lets say Halladay gets dealt here (or anywhere really) and then he exercises this rule and demands the trade. Then lets say we don't/can't deal him. He is eligible to become a FA in March. What I am asking is if that scenario comes to be - would the team be able to offer him some form of Arbitration? Since it's an unusual rule - and if he becomes a free agent - would we be able to gain compensation for him or does he just skate free into free agency and leaves us high and dry?