DBAHO

QUOTE(sircaffey @ Nov 14, 2007 -> 11:47 AM) Don't think Boston really has a need for SP with Schilling back. Beckett, Matsuzaka, Schilling, Wakefield, Lester/Buchholz. And Tavarez as well. In fact they've said they're considering a 6 man rotation next season with that group. Matsuzaka and Schilling pitched much better in 2007 on 5 days rest compared to 4. So if any team DOESN'T need starting pitching, it's the Red Sox.

QUOTE(Soxbadger @ Nov 14, 2007 -> 04:27 AM) Well Kenny could want a 3b because he thinks he will trade Fields for cabrera, let Crede play 3b this year, and then have a spect to take over in the future. Also id love to get Weeks, I said that in another thread. Yeah that was the logic I saw for this scenario as well. Weeks could be a guy who could learn how to play CF as wel, if you wanted to keep Richar at 2B, but I doubt that would eventuate. Garland has value IMHO. If the likes of Carlos Silva are signed quickly, that will put pressure on other GM's to go into the trade market to sure up their rotations. I think if healthy, Garland is primed for a good season in 08. It's a contract year for him, and he had a sub ERA under 4 for 4 months of 2007, it was only when the shoulder issues came up after the ASB when he really struggled.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 11:11 PM) I believe "no" is the answer. That was always the most common complaint about iPod. It's why I never got an I-Pod and probably never will, I don't want to deal with the I-Tunes stuff either. That and the reliability issues as well.

Gamel's a 3rd base prospect who hit .300/.378/.472 in the FSL this season. He's currently has a 1.112 OPS in the Hawaiian Winter Ball league with 7 HR's in 28 games. Thoughts?

So if we signed Fukedome, would that mean Owens would have to play CF? Or could Fukedome handle CF (FWIW I think I've heard he's more suited to a corner OF spot). Don't get me wrong, the guy should have great OBP skills that translate well to the majors, but it should be easier to find a LF than it is for a CF, if they decide Fukedome can't handle CF.

QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Nov 13, 2007 -> 11:58 AM) Some food for thought. The Hawks have played 17 games so far this season. They stand at 10-7. They have played 1 game against a team below .500, and haven't had their best player all season. Yep it's certainly been as good of a start as anyone could have hoped for. I was glad they re-signed Savard to an extra year before the season, because at this stage he's certainly looking as if he can be the "long - term" coach this franchise needs in terms of some stability in the head coaching spot. And our farm system is probably in the top 3 in the NHL, so that's going to be really good for the future as well, when the likes of Skille, Barker etc. reach their potential (hopefully). Also on Kane and Toews, are they both signed to 3 year deals (and then I assume they'll hit RFA)?

I'm just wary of giving up our 3 main young pieces for Miggy. Don't get me wrong he's a great player. But couldn't we just try to target him when he hits FA? And if you make that deal, you pretty much HAVE to deal Garland, just for payroll purposes, and that will make our rotation weaker.

No thanks;

QUOTE(Brian @ Nov 12, 2007 -> 01:12 PM) 4 INTs for Peyton in just over 1Q. It's "Romo-Riffic!!!" And after Jason said he wasn't that great on his radio show, he'd sone that. That's a bit freaky. So Bears fans, after today, are you confident your team can get a wildcard spot now, and what record will you need to do so? And the Cowboys have the NFC East wrapped up. 2 game lead with a tiebreaker. Things are looking good.

Yep sounds like the Bulin Wall made some big saves, especially in the 2nd period. And that's why he's getting paid the big bucks against quality teams to produce games like that. At this rate, Kane is going to get over 90 points on the season. That's just absolutely sick. I would have been happy if he got around 50 points at the start of the season. Lang is also averaging almost a point a game, so he's doing his job. And to have a 3-0 record against Detroit after all of the times they have beaten us over the years, that alone is very sweet.

QUOTE(BlackBetsy @ Nov 12, 2007 -> 12:56 PM) All depends on price. If he comes in for a Loaiza-type deal, fine. But I agree counting on him in any meaningful respect seems silly. One thought- could he be kept healthy in the bullpen? Yeah pretty much my thoughts also. Obviously one of Garland or Contreras would have to be dealt first, and Floyd is probably going to end up with a spot in the rotation under that scenario also. My thinking is, if Pavano is released, he goes back to the NL on a 1 year deal, to try and build up his value again. The Marlins may want him back possibly (if they dealt Willis).

QUOTE(IlliniKrush @ Nov 12, 2007 -> 11:43 AM) 2-0 hawks after one period. Good f***ing start. Absolutely. Seemed as if Detroit came out and were really on the front foot for the 1st 5 mins, but then the Hawks took over. Keep it up boys.

QUOTE(BurlyMan56 @ Nov 12, 2007 -> 09:40 AM) We Don't need Cabrera. We need a leadoff hitter, a SS, a center fielder, not a lazy star who is going to be making alot of money real real soon. He is going to cost a ton and make a ton, give me Josh for the next 5-6 years. We don't need a middle of the order power hitter that reminds me of Carlos Lee. Miguel is obviously a ton better than Carlos Lee but both resemble the same type of player. Lazy. If you wanna go big, give me Crawford and sign Hunter/Rowand. Unfortunately we have our everyday SS in Uribe now. Would you give up Fields, Gonzalez and say Egbert for Crawford, and would the Rays do that deal? Crawford's pretty close to an untouchable, due to his contract and various skills etc. Would the Sox be better served trying to acquire Rocco Baldelli on the cheap instead?

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Nov 12, 2007 -> 08:26 AM) No! Not Masset, Aardsma, and Owens!!! Perhaps the Marlins still have interest in Brian Anderson. Anderson, Masset, Aardsma, Owens, Hall, and Gio for Cabrera and Olivo! Hmmm very interesting. Obviously the Sox have major interest in Miggy right now. And he could be a major building block for this team, although there are still some major issues to sort through. Would the Sox be better served by trying to keep Fields at 3B, trading Crede for a good prospect, and then use that prospect along with ones that you get from dealing Garland and adding Gio to try and make a deal here. Miggy's obviously a superstar, but if there's anyway we can get him, and be able to keep Fields instead of Crede (without dealing De Los Santos as one of the prospects), that's probably my #1 scenario here. And by all means offer them fringe arms such as Masset and Aardsma if they want them. And what do we do for a leadoff hitter? Are we forced to then use Jerry Owens as our everyday CF, and hope he can carry on with what he did over the past 2 months of 2007 (which maybe wishful thinking?)

So who's watching this instead of the Bears 2nd half?

Giants and Cowboys evenly poised at 17 all at the half. Shockey has 8 catches, that's disgusting, and I hope like hell that Roy Williams isn't covering him because if he is, that's just stupid, the guy just can't cover. As for the Bears, well your season is on the line in this 2nd half, and unfortunately it's probably going to come down to if Grossman can make some plays or not, against a pretty good Raiders D.

I still say we need at least 2 upgrades in there. Personally I won't be banking on BOTH Thornton and MacDougal to rebound. Mike has some mental issues he needs to get over, and Thornton needs to work on his breaking balls as Pratt alluded to. I'd target 1 via trade, and sign 1 out of Japan. What would majorly help though is if a pitcher such as Oneli Perez could step up in Spring Training, claim a role, and produce.

Jonathan Spector (Illinois native) scored his first ever goal in England today, which was pretty cool.

Seems like Bolland has come up and had an impact, which is really good. Sharp keeps on improving, and has become quite a valuable role player, and Burrish has obviously done well making the team out of training camp, so that's a good line to have right now. The West is very tight right now, it's going to be a close race all season long. Even a team like Phoenix is starting to win a bit.

Happy B-Day Hammer you Basketball extrodinaire!!!!

There's also the thought that changing leagues would actually help a reliever, if hitters in that league haven't faced him much before, the suprise factor if you will.

QUOTE(SoxAce @ Nov 10, 2007 -> 01:50 PM) I have never seen a sadder effort of a team than what the Wizards are doing tonight. They are getting their asses kicked but just basically letting Camby get offensive boards. They are playing to lose basically and everyone can now see that. Yep it is. Arenas will probably bolt as a FA this off-season at this rate, and I think Jamison becomes a FA as well. They're just a mess. The Magic won their 4th in a row on the road and just got a 2.6M injury exception to use on a big. Things are looking pretty rosy. Dwight with another 20-20 game.

Qualls' ERA's over the past 3 seasons. 05 - 3.28 06 - 3.76 07 - 3.05 Now that would look pretty damn good in our pen. Should we just not target any relievers from the NL then if their ERA is going to rise in the AL. To me, that logic is overblown too much around here. But still his FIP was 3.79 last season and 4.37 the season before, so having a good defense probably helped Qualls quite a bit. I'd still make that trade. I don't think you can give 2 setup jobs to MacDougal and Thornton right now.

Yeah I will have pulled the trigger on this too. Sweeney's power MAY come in the future, but Qualls is the sure thing, and he would certainly help our pen going into 2008, and that's what this team needs the most right now.

1. I would say you can rely on Javy right now. He's got argubly the best stuff of any starter in our rotation, had over 200K's, and put up a good ERA at home, only 3.57. I don't know if Liriano will be the same, especially so soon since his surgery, so I'd say our guys are more proven and sure things. 2. Whether we like it or not, players heading into a contract year just seem to do better. I don't think you can argue because it happens to most teams, yet it won't with ours. Garland's health is the key here, if his shoulder is healthy, a sub 4 ERA is very possible for mine, if not, his ERA will be around the same it was this season. I hope he's getting plenty of rest this off-season. 3. I don't think they can be as bad because of the talent levels, the ballpark they hit in, and recent history. I saw 2007 for our offense more as an outlier than anything. Dye should be better (he's better than a .317 OBP player surely), Konerko could be a little better, Thome will be around the mark again. And if they add a Hunter to the mix, albeit he will be ovepaid, but he will certainly help. The pen for me just can't be as bad as it was, and it needs the most help, but I think the Sox are really going to target this area. So I see both the offense and pen being better in 2008. 4. I think it was CwsGuy406 who posted a Zips projection or BaseballProspectus projection for Richar recently, and it was .270/.330/.440. That's a .770 OPS. The guy has good plate discipline, a little bit of pop, and I think that kind of line could be very possible for him next season. And if he can do that, that will help the offense. Having Fields in our offense for a full season could give you 30 HR's, and hopefully his OBP will rise a little (but he will need to draw more walks and strike out less, but he does take a lot of pitches). Cleveland are obviously the team to beat for mine. Detroit still have some questions about their pen (no Zumaya for half a season will be a BIG loss), so I don't know if they can win more games than they did this season, although the Renteria acquisition will certainly help. And look, I think we should rebuild as well. But I'm just trying to show that if KW decides to have another crack at this thing for next season, that it's not all doom and gloom like it was this season.