DBAHO

QUOTE(qwerty @ Jul 17, 2005 -> 09:26 AM) Chances are either of them go is probally like 0.4%. Yeah I know, so we'll probably have to settle for someone like Jason Terry. But having no state income tax in Florida is always a plus to free agents. And if the Suns do retain Johnson, they'll gonna be really hav a lot of money tied up in a couple of players when it comes time to lock of Amare, plus he's from Orlando as well.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 11:57 PM) You thought the magic were better than the bulls last year 2 And Hughes idonno if he is that much better than Butler because I havent watched Butler much but I do know that Hughes was perfect for the wizards and they are going to experiance a drop off. Butler hasn't had a defining role in 2 seasons, the Heat never used him in his 2nd year, and last season he was always stuck behind Kobe and Odom. He showed what he can do in his rookie year, and if he can handle playing SG (he may play SF anyway), he's going to suprise a lot of people.

QUOTE(rangercal @ Jul 17, 2005 -> 01:58 AM) I think (hope) you're right. Ok I was a little harsh. sorry DBAHO You say playoffs, we say finals down here. Hopefully we can get a big FA like Yao Ming or Amare Stoudemire next off-season, we'll have the cap room to do so.

I'm confident Orlando will make the finals this season. I just think with Howard getting more of the ball and if the Magic can sign a starting PG and Vazquez can handle playing in the NBA, they'll get a spot somewhere. That said on 101's thoughts; Wizards - Brown didn't play much at all this season, and Hughes for Butler isn't that big of a difference as it may be seen, give Butler Hughes' playing time, and he'll produce. Plus they have the MLE to sign a big to replace Brown. Celtics - They could yet bring back Walker and / or Payton. With Rivers in his 2nd year as coach, I think they'll challenge for top 4 with their young players improving. Cavs - If they get a good PG in Daniels, they could win over 50 games. But they still need some more production from the bench, and better defense from the PF position, hence why they're shopping Drew Gooden. Bucks - Interesting to see how all of the new faces are going to gel this season, Terry Stotts is going to have to work cut out for him early. They have a good nucleus though, and they'll be around the mark.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 10:58 PM) And Duhon Francis isnt 2 small? Sure, but Nelson is 5'10 and Duhon is 6'1. I'd like to see us get Jaric or Daniels, but that's probably not going to happen, and the Magic want an unselfish guy at the point when they have scorers like Francis, Howard and Hill in the starting lineup, hence why they're showing interest in Duhon.

QUOTE(SoxFan101 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 10:37 PM) Where would Duhon fit with Orlando.... At least he has a chance to start here in Orlando he would be behind Francis and Jameer Nelson for sure. Francis is being moved to SG for this season. The Magic want to bring Nelson off the bench. They think he can have an Earl Boykins like impact, and they don't want a backcourt of Nelson and Francis because it'll be too small.

Trade Thread 4 kicks off with this rumor regarding A.J Burnett;

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 10:17 PM) Also of note re: the D-Backs, Matt Kata is currently with Tucson AAA, he got some time with the D-Backs last year and can play 2B, SS, 3B. The article said top level prospect, which could mean high ceiling, or someone playing at a high minor league level like Kata. Scott Hairston's another, IIRC he's hitting over .300 down in AAA as well.

Another thing that just came to mind, I think if we acquired Santos, he's gonna be thrown in into a deal for Jason Schmidt and Omar Vizquel. If you think about it, the Giants get their future SS, who'll probably be ready next season, and the Sox don't have to give up Juan Uribe. Of course someone like Contreras or prospects are still going to have to be thrown in of course. And getting Vizquel makes more sense considering the situation on Joe Crede's back. The Sox are going to need a real good utility guy, and Pablo Ozuna can only keep hitting over .300 for so long.

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 08:58 PM) sox drafted Zeringue out of high school -- but he signed with LSU. They have always loved his bat. He's only been a pro for a year and he's considered an excellent prospect. That's definitely interesting on Zeringue, can't say many of us knew that about him. Definitely something to factor in if it's one of Arizona's prospects.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 08:18 PM) This is the key, as much as I've been impressed with Shingo these last few weeks and really think he's rounding back into form, ozzie just isn't using the guy. If he's not going to be used and we can get a top prospect for him, you gotta do it. I'd be sad to see Shingo go though, cause he was just awesome last year and he's damn fun to watch. If this is true and Shingo does get traded I wish him nothing but the best. I just hope this doesn't negatively impact Iguchi and our chances to sign future Japanese Free Agents but I don't think it will. But like I've said, if you get a top prospect for Shingo and can use a guy like Baj, who'll be cheap in Shingo's role, you should do it.

QUOTE(cubbiesuck13 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 08:07 PM) How soon? Soon as in now? or soon as in next season? Personally I hope that no starters are traded for prospects right now. However, if Bajenaru is ready then it changes everything. I know everyone has this "Let's put all of our eggs into one basket" and go for it this season, but the Sox still need to look at their long - term interests. If a guy like Santos is acquired, it gives them some wiggle room to possibly move Uribe in a future deal if he doesn't increase his production. Sure Shingo has been pretty good lately, but he's replaceable, and he's not an important part of the bullpen and is hardly used in any important situations anymore with Politte, Cotts and Marte all ahead of him. Baj has 1.11 ERA down at Charlotte in an extreme hitters park. He deserves a shot. Period.

QUOTE(cubbiesuck13 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 07:52 PM) Is there a reason to trade an MLB ready pitcher for a prospect this season? If the prospect's going to be ready soon, and is going to contribute for a long time, over a pitcher who's not going to be back after this season, than yes I'd say there's a reason. Could open the door for someone like Jeff Bajenaru as well. FWIW Santos had splits of .282/.332/.461 in AA last season.

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 07:27 PM) I did not think there would be anyone on here at this time of the night/morning, whatever the f*** this is. I have to go to work in 5 minutes. What's up 14 hour day of work?! What is Reggie Miller playing at the Golf Course today or something?

After Quentin and Jackson, here are the D-Backs next 3 top prospects FWIW, splits and John Sickels pieces as shown; Zeringue - .260/.301/.356, 52 K's, 13 BB's Santos - .241/.301/.420, 67 K's, 26 BB's Kroeger - .274/.332/.458, 65 K's, 24 BB's My guess is that if it's going to be anyone of those 3, it'll be Mr. Santos, since if the Sox decide to keep the prospect, they'll want an infielder over an outfielder.

Ok my guess is that it's going to be the Arizona Diamondbacks. Unfortunately we won't be getting Conor Jackson or Carlos Quentin though, but if we can get a high - level prospect for Shingo, hell yeah we should do it. It means Viz and Jenks are probably here to stay for good as well.

Duhon went to visit the Orlando Magic yesterday or today IIRC. Why we're not going after Antonio Daniels for though I do not know.

QUOTE(Dam8610 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 06:04 PM) If the Marlins get Chacin, they're not trading him. That's the guy they want in a trade, and a Marlins FO guy has said that if they'd send Chacin and Burnett could get a deal done with the Jays, the trade would be done already. I wouldn't be 100% sure on that. They have Scott Olson who's done well in his time up, Jason Vargas who's just come up who was a 2nd rounder in 2004 and Chris Volstad. If they could move Chacin for a good young hitter, say a Kevin Mench for example, I'd think they'd have a very good look at it. That said good young pitching is an excellent thing to have. And they do have Jeremy Hermida who will probably come up who's gonna be a good one.

I will say this on Lilly, he'll probably be easier and cheaper to re-sign to a long - term deal than A.J Burnett, and that's something the Sox Brass are definitely going to take into consideration.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 05:21 PM) EDIT: I'd honestly go nuts if Chacin was acquired, that would truely be awesome. But I highly doubt Gustavo goes anywhere. Maybe a 3 way deal b/w the Jays, Marlins and White Sox, where Chacin is traded from Toronto to Florida, and then the Marlins move him onto us. Something to consider, although it depends on the team's needs and what they are looking for.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 05:15 PM) Honestly, try to land Lilly and Batista in the same deal and take this team where it can go. Lilly and Batista would both be fantastic additions, both are solid pitchers and would fill in nicely. As far as Lilly's high era on the road dbaho, he sucked at the beginning of the year no matter where was and recently he's just been outstanding, not just numbers wise but watching him the guy has been great and his last few starts he's pitched at skydome. Here are Lilly's splits for the months; April - 1-2, 6.98 ERA May - 2-3, 8.06 ERA June - 2-3, 4.20 ERA July - 2-1, 1.35 ERA So yeah he's improved a lot since the first 2 months, but his away ERA is so high still, it does worry me a little. I'd like to see how he does now on the road this month in a couple of starts before making a deal, but I don't think the Sox are gonna wait that long, and hell they shouldn't, since another team may just sneak right in and make a deal. Batista on the other hand, has just been superb away from the Dome with a 1.80 ERA. He's an ideal target in my view.

QUOTE(fathom @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 01:00 PM) Glavine in the AL would be a disaster. I'd rather have Lilly. Lilly or Miguel Batista would either make ideal additions in my mind. Batista's a swing guy who'd pitch in the pen for us, but could be stretched out into a starter if the need arised. Lilly's still quite young, a lefty and has had previous success. Some bad things though, his away splits this season, 1-6 with a 7.28 ERA. His BB/K ratio away, 23 BB's, 19 K's. He's also only signed for this season, at $3.1 million, so he'll need to be resigned like A.J Burnett. But if the Blue Jays do go into a fire sale mode, they're an ideal team to look at for trade options. Hell I'd go after Vernon Wells even, if Rowand doesn't pick up his power numbers, although a lot of people don't like Wells intensity or lack of in games.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jul 16, 2005 -> 11:06 AM) Not unless we get those runs via doubles and triples. As it's been said before, that's just never going to get old is it.

How do you think Indians' fans feel about their team's offense right now for those who are criticizing ours?

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Jul 15, 2005 -> 05:24 PM) I'd want Josh Childress as well. I'd take Childress before Harrington very, very easily. Josh is gonna be a good one.