Hatchetman

I think oswalt, pedro, and santana are 3 of the top 10 starters in the majors. All are slight.

We're talking about short guys. Alex Fernandez was a short, stocky guy. The video I saw of Gio, he was well proportioned. He's listed at 5'11, 180 and only 18. I guarantee he'll gain at least 10-15 pounds as he matures. That will not be slight. Now, if he's 5'6", 125 as you imply, that's a different story. Everyone thought he was going to be a 1st or 2nd round pick. The "consenus" was that he had a very high upside. As far as his "stuff" improving, maybe it won't. But a 88-90 mph fastball, good curve from a lefty is fine.

babybearhater I agree, you either have to buy a champion or develop one. The sox can't/won't do either. They try to put things together with baling twine.

I'm eager to see what he hits next year...will he fall below .200?

He's too brutal to play the infield. Sooner or later he won't have a choice...maybe DH.

I'd put soriano in the OF.

Good teams know how to create value for the future, just as any good business does. Valentin is like an employee who has already given 2-weeks' notice. You're not going to send him to the professional development seminar New York. Valdez is like the college intern who got the job as a favor to someone. He doesn't show much promise, but hey, you never know, see what he can do. Maybe he turns into Jose Vizcaino. If he turns into nothing, you're still no worse off than you would have been playing Valentin.

I think being small might be correllated to injuries. I'm assuming Gio is 5'11", as he's listed. At 18, he could easily add another inch. If he's 5'9", that's another story. All those guys I listed would succeed today. I could have given you a hundred more old timers. Bob Feller threw close to 100 MPH..you think he couldn't pitch today? The only "old-timers" I threw in were hall of famers or close to it. If Gio could be Alex Fernandez, I'd be pleased as punch. Little guys probably tend not to throw as hard, so they arent' drafted anyway. The absense of little guys in the majors doesn't imply anything about little guys who actually ARE in the majors.

valdez should play every inning for the rest of the year. garcia should not pitch again diaz and grilli should both be in the rotation.

well, quickly, granted some might not be #1s, but at least #2s....some guys listed as 6'1" or less: maddux, pedro, glavine, hampton, moyer, drabek, alex fernandez, key, cone, soto, tudor, valenzuela, higuera, steib, hoyt, dotson, niekro, robin roberts, warren spahn, guidry, wilbur wood, denny mclain, whitey ford, early wynn, bob feller, mickey lolich, seaver, tiant, marichal, dennis martinez, pierce, sutton, vida blue.....

Why not play Uribe when he's cheap? He'll be a free agent in a couple years...

Well, actually yes, Parque was pretty good before the arm injury...

was crede running on that double play he hit into?

No more old guys! Start investing playing time in some guys who will be with us for several years.

I've seen plenty of little guys succeed. More than succeed. If that's the only reason people are downgrading him, that's great.

Alomar is done. We shouldn't be wasting at bats with him.

Moyer wasn't a total soft-tosser when he came up to the Cubs. He threw upper 80s, and struck out a fair number of guys. Guys who can succeed at 85 mph are rare indeed. You need pinpoint control which is not something one can "pick up in the offseason."

I want some left handed power dammit. Trade Konerko if that's what it takes.

I'm glad he's retiring b/c he always seemed to kill us.

I'm all for it. Sign him up. 5 years, $1 million per.

Oh, I assumed he was pitching again given the question.

Anyway, Duncan should have been in Mike Jackson's shoes all year.

I can't believe how much interest that guy generates around here. He's decent, but jeez...

cool. hope he gets to pitch...

God no. Please.