DBAHO

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 04:56 PM) Bedard's a fa after next season, not after this one. Oh well that changes things. I wonder if the Yanks would give up Hughes and Kennedy for him at least, and then they try to sign Sabathia in the off-season. Although the stock of those 2 pitchers is certainly down from the off-season, so they'd have to give up more. But Bedard is exactly what that team needs.

McLouth was a guy I was pushing for to fill our CF spot before we went out and acquired Swisher. He's a very solid ballplayer, and excellent against RHP IIRC.

So Hinrich's on the block I guess now. My guess is the Brewers trade Maurice Williams to move up in the draft possibly, and then try to trade for Hinrich.

QUOTE (soxfan3530 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 03:48 PM) yeah i like swisher, but of the moves so far he has probably been the most disappointing. doesn't mean he wont have a great rest of the season. im thinking he might. He has had problems with his swing, and Walker has been working with him on that for the past month. The results so far in June indicate that he's turning things around, and he should hit pretty well for the next couple of months in the hot weather. He's one of the guys who could easily carry this lineup down the stretch, so I'm excited to see what he'll do for the rest of the season.

QUOTE (soxfan3530 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 03:44 PM) thinking about it, i cant think of a move that KW made this offseason that hasnt worked out. CQ, Linebrink and OC is coming around. The only move i guess that could be viewed negatively was the swisher trade, but for how much heat he received (present party included) he looks like a genius right now. now find a way to get roberts! Swish hasn't hit for average and the power hasn't been there, but at least the guy is still patient and will get on base at a decent rate. Also his BABIP IIRC, was way, way low, which means he won't be down at the .220-.230 range at the end of the season. If he gets to say 20 HR's and a .250 AVG with an OBP around the .360 mark, and an OPS around .800, that's decent enough for a CF. You'd like more, but with Swish there certainly is the potential for more based on what he has done before.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 03:43 PM) I'll trade them Linebrink back for Fielder. But where would Paulie play!!!!!!!!!!!??????????

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 03:37 PM) 48 k's in 33 innings for Dotel. Jesus. He's been a fantastic signing. How many 7th inning relievers in the MLB possess the stuff that he has. Hopefully he can just stay healthy for the next season and a half.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 03:24 PM) I was starting to think that they won't trade Bedard, seeing they just traded for him, but I'm starting to think they may. They're going to release Sexson soon also. If they want to rebuild, trading Bedard is probably the best way to go, the Yanks would love to have him. They'd probably like to have Adam Jones back right now, but that's the way it goes. Bavasi was putting all of his eggs into the 1 basket trying to win the division, and it's blown up in his face big - time, and him and McLaren have taken the blame. They should just get rid of Vidro and get Balentien into the lineup everyday also, at least as a DH. Jeremy Reed's also been decent in CF the times he has played, might as well give him an extended look for the rest of the season.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 03:36 PM) The issue is that while Swisher and Fields would be "Potential building blocks", they're not the kind of pieces a team like Seattle would be looking for in order to trade their most popular player who brings in a lot of income as it is. They'd correctly be looking for a young, cheap, budding star. You start talking about Quentin + Danks and you might have a shot, because of the numbers Q put up this year. If they don't get it, then they have Ichiro signed for 5 years anyway. This is of course unless Ichiro demands to be traded or something. That wouldn't suprise me because it could take a while to rebuild that mess that they've gotten themselves into, especially if they lose Bedard (who's a FA after this season IIRC). We'll wait and see what happens anyway, but if I was KW, I'd be at least asking the question.

Fantastic performance by this offense again, and Jermaine Dye especially. Dye's on his way to another 30+HR season it appears.

I was at ESPN Zone at Times square on Sunday checking out the Cazech Republic vs. Turkey game. Lots of Turkish supporters around, so safe to say, the place went nuts in the last 15 mins. I had Sweden and Turkey in a sweep, so my support is behind the Turks right now. I like the winner of Germany vs. Portugal to end up winning the tournament. Spain vs. Italy will be an absolute cracker as well.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 02:07 PM) The M's would never take that offer. Well I mean, do you think the Sox would HAVE to add or offer 1 of Floyd or Danks to that deal? I'd be impartial maybe to including Gavin, but then you've only got 4 starting pitchers in the rotation. This is where it would be nice to have a good farm system. But Swisher and Fields would be 2 potential building blocks for the M's (although Swisher's value is low, but he is rebounding at the plate), and Broadway would be an upgrade as a 5th starter for them right now.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 02:04 PM) I might be in the minority, but if we could sign Crede, I would deal Fields in a heartbeat for a big named player. I don't hink the Sox need another all or nothing guy in the line up. Agreed. Joe's a more well rounded hitter ATM, although Fields' probably has the more power. You just don't get the chance to trade for a superstar such as Ichiro very often, and I think we possibly have the pieces to pull something off here.

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 01:24 PM) No and no. Is the idea that Ichiro and Johjima don't like each other, or that they're both disgruntled with the Mariners? (Cuz Johjima especially has zero right to b**** about the team's performance.) Maybe they're both isolated from the rest of the clubhouse (Johjima especially). My guess is Ichiro is disgruntled with the performance of the team though, and you can hardly blame him for that, especially with how they went last season.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 11:27 AM) For a talent like Ichiro, most teams would move heaven and earth to get him. Think the Yankees would suddenly be willing to part with Hughes and Kennedy? Or the Red Sox with Ellsbury and Lester? In other words, you're not getting a guy like Ichiro with a piecemeal package. Floyd + Danks + Swisher might pull it off, or Floyd + Danks + Fields, or maybe something centered around Quentin. But right now there isn't anything in our minor leagues nearly strong enough to outbid what other teams would put up if Ichiro were seriously on the market. If you could re-sign Crede right now to a 3-4 year deal (if he fires Bora$$, which has been rumored), I would deal Fields in a Ichiro package. I'd offer Swisher + Fields + Broadway and / or Poreda for Ichiro, and that'd be it, I'd want to hang onto Floyd and Danks. But of course, the M's have Beltre at 3rd, but they could always use Fields at 1B for a season or 2. The Yankees have Damon, so I don't really see them after a leadoff hitter. They need Sabathia more than they need Ichiro. The Red Sox on the other hand, I could certainly see that happening, especially considering they have Buckholz in AAA.

He picked that I was an Aussie as well. I told him to get his ass back down under.

So I just had my photo taken with the Naked Cowboy. Good times.

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

I wonder if the M's would be interested in Swisher actually. They need a 1B/CF with Johjima and Reed there currently, and LHH's do well at Safeco. Swisher + Poreda + Broadway + something else for Ichiro maybe?

They really miss Jurrjens, who's pitching great for the Braves, but Gallarega has stepped up and won 6-7 games for them also. If Verlander gets his act together, this team is going to be competing with us in September IMHO.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Jun 19, 2008 -> 10:40 AM) news from mlbtraderumors.com I know this may seem farfetched, but does anyone think that KW can fleece Ichiro from the Mariners, would JR be willing to take on that contract? Ichiro would put butts in seats (and open up the Japanese market again, imaging the merchandising etc.), so you're not really paying him $20M a season in that regard. For that type of "superstar", yeah I think JR would, and he should, if the price was right.

Right now, if there was ANY chance that Ichiro was available, I'd move heaven and earth to bring him to the Southside. Unfortunately, we're not exactly loaded with prospects, and the M's would want at least 2 if not more out of Danks / Floyd / Quentin etc. But yes, from all the moves named above by jackie and santo, how on earth did Bavasi keep his job for over 5 seasons, with a negative record to boot?

Worringly, the Tigers are starting to get their act together a bit. That's the team I'm still most worried about. The Indians will most likely trade Sabathia to the Yanks, while I only see the Twinkies being a .500 team. We've just gotta keep doing what we've been doing.

So the draft is on tomorrow, we have the 11th pick IIRC. There are some rumors of Marleau to Columbus for the 6th or Zherdev, or even Malkin to the Kings for Cammilleri plus others + picks. I wouldn't mind adding another quality defensive prospect into the system, but it should be best player available.

Get the sweep tomorrow and we come out of this 9 game stretch at 4-5, which isn't ideal, but it's a whole lot better than where we were a few days ago. MB keep pitching like that, and this team is much better for it.