winninguglyin83

let's do it.

my preferences: 1. Randy Johnson. If you get to October, you gotta have a stud. He can dominate a playoff series. 2. Carlos Beltran. Gives us a centerfielder, a left-handed bat and a guy who can steal bases. But after this season, Scott Boras is taking him away. 3. Carl Everett. He's slipping, he's outta shape and he's shaky in the outfield.

no thanks on Olerud. that tank is empty

Bob Nightengale, who is hot and cold in his predictions, says in the new Baseball Weekly that the White Sox will make a strong bid for Carlos Beltran if he becomes available. If Houston decides to keep Beltran, he says the Sox will pursue Carl Everett.

Johnson and Bonds were once prospects. But about 1 of 100 prospects turn into the kinds of players those two guys are. and most people don't project Brian Anderson to hit more than 650 home runs in the big leagues. If it costs Brian Anderson to give us the best five-deep rotation in the AL, do it.

One other thing: Brian Anderson is an excellent prospect. But that's all he is, a prospect. Randy Johnson is not only a pitcher who can get you to October, he can dominate the post-season. He can win two or even three games in a seven-game series. There are bloody few guys like that. If it costs Brian Anderson to get the Sox to the World Series for the first time since 1959 step up and pay the man.

I love ARow a lot, but he ain't worth a Number One starting pitcher, especially Randy Johnson. Get real.

Huh?

Kenny would be best to continue to downplay this trade. it would help keep the cost down. He could smoke out the real competition. Yankees and Red Sox are going to have to be REAL creative to be involved. Cubs have no need for RJ unless they're trading Clement to Red Sox for Nomar. Angels are the team that I fear the most. They have the prospects. They have an owner anxious to win. They have a team that could use one more starter, especially with Bartolo pitching like a pig. Kenny could also use this stance to look at other options. and he doesn't want the fan base to start drooling over RJ and then be disappointed. Kenny is playing it smart by staying low-key.

Amen, on Scho, my friend, amen. He's a Dookie and they think they're smarter than the rest of the world.

Another thing to remember: Colangelo is still allegedly pissed at Steinbrenner for stealing David Wells away from Arizona last year after the D'backs thought they had a handshake deal. Not saying he wouldn't deal with the Yanks, but I gotta figure he'd make them pay through the nose.

Willie Harris?

maybe Ruddy Yan would interest them. Or Andy Gonzalez. We don't have a catcher in the entire system, unless the kid they drafted out of Stanford last month comes through, or Carlos Lee's brother develops.

Valenzuela turned 27 on March 10 according to the Charlotte Knights web site. he's a fringe prospect as a fourth or fifth outfielder. Nothing more.

don't think those four guys would be enough. I have to believe Arizona would demand either Brian Anderson or Ryan Sweeney or Valido. Mario Valenzuela has little to no value. He's 27 or 28 and has been a career minor leaguer.

I thought Crede was part of the Garcia deal and KW said no, no, no. that's why the Mariners got Mo

A. Can't believe the D'backs would take Sheffy unless the Yankees continue to pay his salary. B. Sheffy wouldn't go. He wants to play with a winner. The Yankees could always dump Lofton on them, but he's meaningless. They don't have any young players worth coveting. Soriano and Nick Johnson were the last guys to leave town.

If money is what will make the deal happen, the Yankees are unbeatable. But if Arizona really wants prospects, I don't see how the Yankees can pull this off. They do have that catcher at AA, but the rest of their top prospects are really raw.

I figure Anderson HAS to be in the deal. Finley is ancient. Arizona needs a center fielder. Anderson is from Tucson. He's progressed well in our system. Hate to give up Reed and Anderson, both of our top CF prospects, in the same season, but 1917 was a long freakin' time ago. 1 -- Big Unit 2 -- Freddy 3 -- Buehrle 4 -- Esty 5 -- Garland BP -- Schoenweis Cotts Adkins Politte Marte Shingo Let's go for it.

The only shot the Yankees have is to package some garbage and be willing to throw money at Colangelo. Arizona's financial situation ain't good. Attendance is down. They need young cheap players -- and cash.

can't see nomar immediately signing with us. And we can't afford to give up Ordonez with Thomas unlikely to play for a bit

if prospects are what will make this deal happen, the Angels and Cubs are the teams to worry about. They've got the best players closest to being ready for the big leagues. we'd be third pick -- but I'm sure we'd be giving up Brian Anderson (to replace Finley), a pitcher and one other solid player. Randy cost the Astros Garcia, Guillen and another guy a few years ago. Boston and the Yankees have little chance without making it a three-way trade because their farm systems are second rate.

What would we have to complain about?

keep Anderson. he can play center field and he's closer to being ready for the big leagues. Sweeney is more of a risk, but he might have more of an upside. trade Spidale and Young instead.

yep last time we rolled through Oakland Botch coughed it up one night and then I believe it was Cotts the other night. Kielty hit a two-run walk off homer in the 12th off Cotts the first night after Valentin had tied the game with a homer in the top of the ninth. On the second night Koch gave up two hits, a walk and a run in the ninth so the As could tie the game at 2. Then in the 10th, after Darrin Jackson astutely noted that Mark Kotsay had not shown much power all season, Mark Kotsay homered off Jon Adkins. two losses on walk-on dongs. the pitching matchups aren't bad this time. Magglio should be ready to roll. And we played better baseball in the second half last season. We'll play well in Oakland. At least I hope.