DBAHO

Yeah we're not so bad round here are we. Never joined up for WSI. Probably never will either to be frank.

Meloan was projected as the best reliever prospect in baseball before this season IIRC. He'll be their future closer I'd imagine. I'd love to get LaRoche on the cheap if at all possible. We'd have to move Fields most likely (Roberts deal maybe) to do so however.

And that we got Garcia to sign a 3 year deal after trading for him was a masterstroke, especially considering we only gave up a journeyman catcher, a 4th OF, and a fringe infielder. Excellent trade that was by Kenny. He wins most of the time when he makes a deal as we've come to see here over the past few years.

He'll go to the Yankees with Vidro for Kei Igawa. I would certainly look elsewhere, I imagine he'd give up a few fair HR's pitching at the Cell.

I kind of left them at Mario's. They looked way better on you anyways Shipps.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 02:21 PM) seriously, on what planet is Brian Roberts a superstar? Peter Angelos's.

BUMPITY BUMP. Am probably going to stay in the Golden Nugget in the downtown area. For 2 people for Sat and Sun Night, we can get a double room for about $45 per person per night. Anyone stayed there before? It seemed to be the "best luxury hotel" in that area.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 03:09 PM) Yes, but recent scouting reports indicate that Street may not be much of an upgrade. Reduced velocity and arm angle issues being mentioned. The cost would be too high anyways. We've got Linebrink and Dotel dominating in the 7th and 8th innings for the most part, so all we need is a good RHP (or even a LHP because Logan and Thornton have been struggling) who can come in a bit earlier than that. Someone like a Heath Bell or a John Grabow for example, who would come a lot cheaper.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 01:41 PM) This move would make no sense unless we were immediately flipping Street for a starting pitcher. We have the best bullpen in baseball and a starting staff that needs some rest, Javy appears to have a dead arm, Floyd and Danks will hit the their career highs in IP, JC is starting to slink back into 07 form. We need another starter to provide some depth and take some pressure off of the rest of the staff and allow the team to handle Danks and Floyd more cautiously. No sense in adding a piece to the strongest unit of the team at this point. Except that the bullpen hasn't been "the best" over the past 3-4 weeks. You can never have enough good arms for the pen IMHO. Getting a RHP who's an upgrade over Russell, Masset, Carrasco etc. should be a priority IMHO if the price is right.

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 01:41 PM) I explain it by pointing to the facts that they thought Bourn was going to be (and play like) a starter, whatever eventually happened, that Costanzo hit a bucketful of homers in AA last year, and Geary had passable headline stats at the major league level. MacDougal doesn't have passable stats in AAA, and he's signed through next year. If the Astros are looking to ditch Towles, they'll find plenty of catcher-hungry teams with half-decent middle relievers. I'm not saying they will deal him for that, but there's not a chance in hell they deal him for MacDougal, who's basically worthless right now. I'm sort of poking fun at Wade here, but I actually think if MacDougal was traded to the NL he could turn it around and maybe get back to where he was. He obviously has the stuff to be a dominant reliever, it's all "upstairs" where the problem is for him. Costanzo was basically a fringe prospect (poor man's Josh Fields IMHO), while they could have easily signed a similar reliever to Geary instead of trading for him. Bourne has plenty of speed, but can't get on base enough to utlitize it.

And the plot thickens; Figgins for 2nd base anyone?

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 12:30 PM) Not a chance. Even if Towles is available, they'll want more than 5+ era, 1.8 whip in AAA MacDougal. You forget how much Ed Wade loves his middle relievers. How else do you explain the Brad Lidge trade for example (especially now that Michael Bourne isn't even a starter).

Oh, well that ain't good if he is. He was probably my #1 target this off-season. I just would have preferred the idea of signing him, instead of giving up my best trade chip and similar players for a similar lead off hitter who also plays in the middle infield.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 11:21 AM) Oswalt is available,hasnt Ed Wade told you? they are competing! They got Randy Wolf! You could probably get J.R Towles for Mike MacDougal also. I'm not kidding here.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 11:15 AM) Oswalt probably won't waive his NTC, Arroyo is not an improvement, Harang is having a bad year and has been hurt, Bedard is a head case, Burnett, Millwood, and Lowe would be options, and Burnett is probably the most attainable. Arroyo's what 5-0 with a 2.3 ERA in his last 5 or 6 starts IIRC. He makes $23M over the next 2 years though. Burnett's always got the option of opting out, and he's always been an injury risk so you could be stuck with him for 3 seasons at $12M a year.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jul 24, 2008 -> 10:58 AM) The bonus feature with Cabrera is his Class A free agent status. Those pics are worth something as well. I am not sure its as big as people think, but it does add to his value. And when you're a GM such as Ned Colletti who has given up Joel Guzman for Mark Hendrickson, then yeah I think something could happen here. I actually don't think Alex Cora is that bad of a utility player. Yes he's not as good defensively as Uribe, but I like his offensive approach a whole lot better (even if he won't give you any power whatsoever, but we don't need that). Maybe you just need another IF backup, but then you'd have to go with 11 pitchers. But I do like the idea of an OC for LaRoche deal, but you'd have to find a 2nd baseman then, and I don't know if overpaying for Roberts is the way to go. Would players such as Mark Ellis, Aaron Hill or Orlando Hudson be a better way to go possibly, or will the Sox just target Furcal in the off-season I wonder? His price will have gone down due to the injury I would imagine.

That's good to hear. Hopefully he didn't take a whole lot of damage down there (sounds as if he didn't).

Maybe you should just put that in green for the future Brian. But giving up a top SS (OC the best defensive SS in baseball this season apparently, and a pretty good leadoff hitter) plus argubly our top prospect who will probably fill a need next season just for a 2nd baseman / leadoff hitter, seems way too steep of a price for mine.

Lemme guess, that would be Thome, Konerko, Dye, Crede, Quentin, Swisher and OC?

CQ!!!!!! On pace for around 35 HR's now, this guy has just been insane this season. Could he win the MVP award if he keeps this pace up and the Sox win the division I wonder?

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jul 23, 2008 -> 12:57 PM) *cue decline of MB thread. The decline and fall of Mark Buehrle I believe that was, started by 1 infamous poster named C.Rector.

Only in Melbourne.

The O's asking price Roberts is very big apparently, he is basically the "face of the franchise" after all. Hence it's gonna be tough to get him, you'd have to give up at least 1 if not 2 good prospects along with OC to get him. Is Orlando Hudson a FA after this season also FWIW?

I suggested Atkins a couple of days ago if you were to move Fields and / or Crede. It'd take quite a bit in terms of prospects to get him though I'd imagine.

Hmmm that's interesting. Seems as if the Sox may want to not take the draft picks for OC if they can upgrade the middle infield right now. Wonder if they would consider a 3 way with the A's instead, and us acquiring Mark Ellis perhaps (although I can't remember what his numbers are this season).