DBAHO

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 14, 2008 -> 08:44 AM) I found this pretty interesting. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,2316997.story If St. Louis offered Rasmus in a deal for Vazquez, that'd be pretty hard to turn down. He's been the Cards' best prospect for quite a while now, and he definitely has the ability to play CF at the MLB level.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 14, 2008 -> 10:16 AM) All I know is Nick Swisher had an OBP 16 points lower than Luis Terrero had in 2007. He also had an OPS only 19 points higher. Terrero was released. Swisher was owed at least $22 million. No one complained when Terrero was jettisoned. Swisher is awful. I don't blame him for being upset when he didn't play. I would think guys that didn't care if they played or not would be a bigger problem. He had no position. Betimet may be able to help out a little bit. Maybe one of the pitchers shocks the world and develops into something useful. The money is the big part. It will be used for something else. KW cut his losses. That's the key. If KW goes out and signs Hudson and Viciedo, due in part to dumping Swisher, I'll be very happy with that.

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:47 PM) Strawman. No, you trade Garland for a package of younger players, or a REAL CF. Just don't trade a SP rental for a SS rental when you already had an option there (with similar defense and OPS but cheaper and a better attitude.) Uribe was declining horribly offensively in 2007 though (OBP was only around .270 IIRC). There was no way I was willing to give him another shot as a starter. Not saying I agree with the move, but I think KW had to make one there.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:47 PM) Fuentes seems like a good candidate for the Mets. Not sure why'd they give up one of the most valuable players in the majors for anything less than a king's ransom. Exactly, especially when he's available for 4/40. I don't know why Minaya would be after Jenks to be honest, especially considering what he would have to give up to get him. And say what you will about Bobby's declining K rate, but the guy has got it done for 3 straight seasons, and his ERA is always good. He keeps the ball in the park, and let's the defense do the work behind him.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:45 PM) No, Garland was getting traded all along. It's disappointing that the person we got for him won't be around in 2009. I don't think any of this would have thought that would be the case around this team last year. But this is the thing. When we traded Garcia, KW was widely panned for only getting 2 prospects, 1 who people thought was a bust, and one who was one of our best pitching prospects. Instead, after a 72 win season, KW traded Garland for someone he thought could help the team in 2008, and now he's getting panned for it, even though OC will get more compensation back than Garland would if we would have kept him. It's a no win situation really.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:44 PM) Thornton would make a solid closer. They could sign Grudz for cheap to play 2B. I don't know about Thornton. He's got the stuff, but I don't know if he's up to it mentally. I'd probably look at a closer such as Hoffman to be honest (if you could get him for around $6M), and then turn to closer's job over to Poreda from 2010. The Sox should look into signing a guy like Otsuka or Cordero, who could close down the line also, if they fully recover from injuries.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:43 PM) DAllen summed up my point perfectly...KW traded 4 quality trade chips that resulted in not a single player likely starting for the 2009 season. So would you have rathered kept Garland for 2008, and left Uribe to be the starting SS (and then who would have played 2B from opening day)?

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:43 PM) Give me Beltran for a closer with a K ratio on a horrible decline. Ok so the Sox do that. Do they then turn 2B over to a Getz/Nix platoon, and either A - Give the closer's job to Thornton B - Go out and sign a FA closer.

QUOTE (G&T @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:42 PM) uh...so how is that different from what I said? I think Jason quoted the wrong post (and was meant to quote fathom's).

QUOTE (G&T @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:40 PM) BTW, Scott Boras must be pissed right now. This basically takes the Yankees out of the running for Texeira. And by not spending that money, they will make a huge offer to CC. That's really why this deal got done. I really doubt the Yankees think all that much of Swish, but for the price, how could they not do it. My guess is, they try to sign both Sabathia and either Burnett or Lowe from here. Swish's a decent enough defender in CF anyway, if the Yanks decide to use him there. But he gives them options, which they need desperately in the OF.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:39 PM) Just a hunch? I really believe we'll trade for Wily and it wouldn't shock me if we blow other teams out of the water and sign Hudson. Would you rather sign Hudson and give up draft picks, or give up Jenks in a deal for Beltran?

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:38 PM) No one thinks Swisher is awesome anymore. To be honest, I'll be surprised if Swish hits above .250 again. That's not to say he won't have value, because he'll still post a few +.800 OPS's if he can keep the power, but he won't be as valuable as he was.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 05:36 PM) its strange KW really loves to scout the AFL....i mean its a good place to see prospects playing against other high level prospects (especially for guys who have only played in A ball like beckham) but it really seems like KW puts more stock into what he sees there than most GMs....sometimes i think he puts too much stock into it...i believe nick masset was acquired heavily because of his "jenks lite" effort given at the AFL as well I think because he sees how well a pitcher uses his breaking ball though. Arizona's notoriously bad for pitchers, and KW fell in love with Floyd's curveball a few seasons ago. Maybe he did the same with Marquez's sinker here?

Reminds me exactly of the Gavin Floyd acquisition;

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 04:44 PM) Do not count out Brian Anderson yet. KW has traded to open room for him before, and that was before he learned how to hit the occasional major league baseball. I don't consider BA anything more than a 4th OF at this stage. The Sox will need better offensive production in terms of BA at least from their CF next season, and I don't think BA fits the bill.

QUOTE (whitesoxbrian @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 04:41 PM) Could this be one of those moves that now we turn around and deal Fields, Betemit, and Marquez to Baltimore for Roberts?? The Sox would need to make acquisitions at 3B and CF still in that scenario.

Here are Betemit's numbers from Atlanta in 05 and 06 FWIW; .305/.359/.435 .281/.344/.497

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 04:05 PM) The big two trades last offseason = massive busts Well it's not like Garland pitched well for the Angels, and it gave a chance for Danks and Floyd to step up. Plus we'll get 2 draft picks for OC I'd imagine.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 04:03 PM) Platoon partner for Fields? Could very well be. We'll see how it plays out, and I wonder what they'll do with Uribe now also.

Vital Statistics Name: Jeff Marquez Position: Starting Pitcher DOB: August 10, 1984 Height: 6' 2" Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right Although the selection of Jeff Marquez seemed to come out of nowhere in 2004, the Yankees have shown that they go to no limits in their player scouting. Marquez was a late bloomer at Sacramento City College and credits his development to the coaching staff there. In fact, Marquez entered the school as a 145 pound freshman who got zero attention from scouts out of high school. “Going to a good college program really helped me a lot,” said Marquez. “They really helped me with my mechanics and getting stronger and helped me a lot as an all around pitcher.” He made a wise choice, electing to redshirt his first year there in order to get stronger and build up for the 2004 season. It ended up being one of the best career moves a player could make. Marquez went on to have a dominating 2004 campaign and suddenly the Yankees were hot on his trail after he had pushed himself onto the draft day radar screen. The Yankees did take Marquez, 41st overall in the draft in fact. And, it didn't take long for him to prove his worth. He was sent to the GCL where, as a 19 year old, he was simply dominating. After a few appearances, he had to be sent to Staten Island. Yet again, he put on an outstanding show. However, he admittedly wore down near season's end. "I think I might have been a little tired physically and mentally," Marquez told PinstripesPlus.com. "But, my arm wasn't really tired. But, not to make excuses, but in my last two starts, I really hated the mounds I pitched on. It was in Williamsport and Jamestown. One of my starts it was raining and I kind of lost it. I got a little frustrated with everything going on around me. I don't usually get frustrated but I think I was wearing down a little bit. Once I got to mini-camp I kind of got a new start." Not only did he get his fresh start in mini-camp but a huge vote of confidence from the organization as well. When Jeff Marquez arrived in Tampa after the season ended, he was a bit deflated by his slow end to the season. But, that changed quickly once he spoke with pitching coordinator, Nardi Contreras. "Marquez just has the look of a real fast mover in this system and just a very good pitcher," Contreras told PinstripesPlus.com. "He is the type of guy that would fit right in there with that changeup he has. He has three established pitches and he is a really determined kid. He pushes hard to move to the next level and I think he'll be pitching in their rotation come 2005. He just showed us a lot when he came to mini-camp this year. He held up nicely health wise for a first year player and showed that he made the necessary adjustments when he needed to. If he shows more of that in Spring Training next year, I think he'll be in Tampa to start the season." A statement such as this shows a tremendous amount of confidence from the organization and Marquez sure appreciates the praise. "We had a long talk about that," the sinker baller said. "Here's basically what he told me. He was like if you keep doing what you're doing now, you are going to move faster through this system than you can possibly imagine. He said he was really impressed by me. It made me feel good to know they thought so highly of me." Look for Jeff to a big part of the Tampa Yankee staff in 2005 as a 20 year old. Repertoire. Two-seam fastball, Four-seam fastball, Changeup, Curveball Fastball. As even Jeff Marquez says, he is not a power pitcher. That is simply not what he is all about. However, he can still bring it with some good heat. Marquez's fastball is usually in the low 90's and topping out around 94 MPH. He does have what some would call a power fastball, but his fastball is used more so to get groundballs. He chooses to rely on the location and command of his two seam sinking fastball. He will get a lot of ground balls using that pitch. He sets up his two seam fastball with a riding four seam fastball. The four seam fastball, which he was able to develop in mini-camp, is going to be an enormous weapon for him. Now, he will be able to change a hitter's eye level, going up in the zone with the four seam and down with his nasty sinker. Expect Jeff to add even a little more heat in the coming years when he adds more bulk to his frame. Then, he will be one of the rare yet devastating power sinker ball pitchers. Other Pitches. Besides the sinker, the pitch he bases his game around, Jeff Marquez also possesses another truly dominating pitch. That pitch is his changeup. A true power changeup, it is used as his best strikeout pitch and he can make hitters look foolish at the plate. To put it in perspective, this changeup is where his comparisons to Pedro Martinez stem from. They are different style pitchers but by the time Marquez makes it to the show, his changeup could be one of the or the best in the game. Not to mention, he really has found a feel for it and knows just the right situations to spring it on the hitter. It is definitely his best weapon in his arsenal. Jeff also possesses a curveball, but he calls that his worst pitch even though it is not all that bad. It is a solid curveball but he uses it more as a show me pitch. Pitching. There is no better way to describe Jeff Marquez than a classic sinker ball pitcher. However, he is a very special kind of sinker ball pitcher. He is a guy who throws the ball with above average velocity and plus movement on his sinker. Right now he is not your typical strikeout pitcher but just by picking up some extra velocity with maturity, he could develop into one. But, his game is groundball outs, broken bats and weak hacks. He can make those weak hacks happen with his devastating changeup. Marquez has excellent command of his fastball and changeup but he is simply just learning to bring a little bit more of a breaking ball to the table with him. He takes an aggressive approach on the mound and he has the attitude that he can't be beat by anyone. Projection. If you take the Yankee organization's word for it, the sky is the limit for Jeff Marquez. Although he may not be the ideal number one starter on a staff, Marquez still has the potential to be a tremendous number two type of starter. But, if he can get a little stronger, he may be able to become that ace material type of starter. He has two dominating pitches to work around with his sinker and his changeup. The Yankees are looking for him to fly through the system perhaps faster than any other pitcher despite his young age. He seems like the ideal type of Yankee pitcher, someone that can get up there quick and help just as fast. ETA. 2007. We have now heard how fast the Yankees expect Marquez to get through the Yankee Farm System and this ETA reflects that notion. In 2005, the Yankees will likely have Marquez spend the full season at high A Tampa as Nardi Contreras told us he would. Then, in 2006, he should begin the season in AA Trenton. And, since the Yankees plan to move him aggressively, he has a good chance of being sent to AAA Columbus later in the season. After that, he has an excellent chance of breaking into the big leagues sometime during the 2007 season.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 03:54 PM) Kind of funny, I was really hoping the Sox would steal him away from LA at the deadline in '07. Sox also got Johnny Nunez. Sox included a class A pitcher in the deal, not named yet. You and me both. He's regressed a little Betemit, but he should have an opportunity to produce for us.

QUOTE (sircaffey @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 03:52 PM) I'll recap quickly BA's take on Marquez from last season... Sinker-Slider guy. Power sinker 89-93. Curve and change improved to solid-average pitches. Great pickoff move. Doesn't miss any bats meaning he relies heavily on his defense. Projects him to be a workhorse number 3 or 4. Again, that was last year's scouting report when he was the Yanks' #7 prospect. Sounds like the type of young pitcher KW has tried to target in the past couple of seasons (in terms of putting the ball in play, not giving up a lot of HR's, and letting the defense do the work).

Also this means that KW is going to target a CF now, I've got no doubt about that.

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 03:51 PM) Sox got Betemit also Our new 2nd / 3rd baseman perhaps.

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Nov 13, 2008 -> 03:50 PM) This means we are keeping Konerko. s***. Well Konerko was argubly our best hitter in the 2nd half of the season. I'm waiting to see what the deal was here, but maybe Swish had more of a market than Kong?