fathom

Schoeneweis wants to start in the majors, I don't think he'd agree to arbitration if he knows that they want him as a reliever. In today's market, he stands to make more money as a crappy starter than a solid reliever. Also, I thought that Ozzie hated Schoeneweis last year, and that Schoeneweis had some injury problems.

I disagree that Vizcaino can come in and replace Marte in the role of lefty hitter stopper. Look at some of the better lefty hitters in our division. Guys like Hafner, J. Jones (if he's still there), and Joe Mauer hit significantly better against rhp than they do lhp. Yes, Vizcaino can be tough vs lefties, but Marte is one of the best 3 lefty relievers in baseball.

I didn't say that the Carlos trade created more holes for the Sox. It just infuriated me that the particular trade didnt help the Sox out by obtaining a middle infielder, catcher, or starting pitcher. Now, I know the money saved could go to a starting pitcher...but I'll believe that when it happens. Also, there's quite a big downgrade in talent from Marte to Cotts or Schoeneweis. Even in his down year last year, Marte was still lights out against lefties. Another thought I have about RJ is that it makes a lot more sense for the Yanks to get him than the Sox cause the Yanks are basically one stud pitcher away from being the favorite to win the WS. Rather, the Sox need RJ to even have a solid shot at winning the division.

Hidalgo is a lot younger than Everett, he has the potential to have a monsterous season, and the difference in their defensive abilities is night and day. Don't forget the fact that we have no clue what type of shape Everett is in, and that he's very injury prone.

Isn't it sad how so many of us are terrified as the type of moves that KW might do? To say a lot of us have no confidence in him would be quite the understatement. Just like the Carlos trade, there's one main reason why this trade would suck....it creates more holes than it fills. Only KW could go and take 2 of his biggest assets in Carlos and Rowand and not fill any of our holes, which are plentiful.

I've seen a lot of rumors and personal opinion on this board lately (it's been a great time though), and the following is a list of things I don't think will happen: - Sox sign A.J. Pierzynski....I haven't seen one source mention that the Sox are interested, and I doubt after articles like the Cowley one today will the Sox be in a hurry to add a questionable clubhouse character. - Sox sign Orlando Cabrera.....Not a chance in hell that KW spends like 8 mil a year to get a SS who is not nearly as good as Juan Uribe. Miguel Cairo or Jerry Hairston Jr. would be much better fits for the Sox, and much cheaper - Sox keep A. Rowand in any Randy Johnson deal. Don't kid yourself folks, there's no interest by anyone in obtaining Everett. Hell, we were hoping he wouldn't activate his player option this year. Rowand would be at the core of any trade we would make.

Neal won't be a starting pitcher in the majors. He only has one pitch that he can count on, and his control is not consistent enough to last 5 innings. Even in the minors, he would only average like 5 innings a start because of control issues. Cotts is effective because of his unique delivery, etc. However, that type of delivery is more effective because hitters only see it once a game when he pitches in relief. Also, Cotts benefits by pitching in relief cause he gets to face more lefties than if he started a game against a set lhp lineup.

The DBacks already have one butcher of an outfielder in Luis Gonzalez on their roster, no way would they want Everett on their roster also. They need a CF, and obviously Everett is not a CF. So anyone that thinks this deal would be Everett, and not Rowand, is 99.9 pct wrong.

If KW is really interested in trading our top prospects like Sweeney, then he would be much better off trying to use an asset like him to acquire the type of 2b that Oakland wants for Tim Hudson. A possible 4 years of Hudson will be a lot more valuable than one to two years of Randy.

According to rotoworld, Matt Clement was in Arizona visiting with the DBacks yesterday. Well, according to the MJH, they thought that KW was calling from Arizona. It's very likely that KW was talking with Clement or Clement's agent then. However, there is also news that he will visit the Angels and Dodgers this week, with the Angels being a serious contender to sign him.

The starting outfielder they want is definitely not Everett, it's A. Rowand. Why in the hell would the DBacks want Everett?

Dear lord, please don't give up that much for Randy Johnson! If KW did this, he would be basically giving up on the future of this organization for what would likely be an ill-fated run at the pennant. RJ doesn't make this current squad the instant favorite to win the AL. That's the only way you could justify a trade like this.

Since Ordonez and Lee left, and Frank got hurt, you could make a very strong case for Uribe being behind only Konerko and Rowand.

Amezaga is a terrible, terrible hitter. We can't afford any more weak hitters in our lineup. I'd rather have Valdez than Amezaga...he's that bad of a hitter.

It's not just local writers that are bashing the trade. Basically every single baseball analyst thinks this was an awful trade.

BTW, there hasnt been a single source that has said the Sox are interested in him. I've seen rumors linking A.J. to the Dodgers, Phillies, or Red Sox.

I think what people are talking about in regards to A.J. not wanting to play against the Twins is that there was an article saying how the only thing he ever wanted to do before a game was watch the Twins games on the TV in the clubhouse instead of going over scouting reports with pitchers.

This brings up an interesting dilemma: spend all our remaining money on a pitcher that only goes 1 out of every 5 games, or sign a catcher with "most" of our money who would play in 4 out of 5 games?

An A.J., Burke combo would be perfect. Burke could play against tough lefties like Santana and C.C., and he can continue to be Buehrle's personal catcher. Honestly, the situation makes way too much sense, but I highly doubt A.J. will be offered by the Sox.

A.J. is the type of "impact" player that KW said he would consider with the free money. He's definitely one of the best catchers in baseball, and he fits our needs so much. Yes, he's a questionable character, but the Sox haven't exactly brought in guys with sterling reputations in the past.

Why is everyone so convinced Clement will be going to the Angels now? They still have Washburn to deal with as their 5th starter, and Byrd's contract is basically the same amount of money as was the salary of Ortiz.

I'm more worried about the Red Sox signing Clement now than I am anyone else. With Pedro gone, and a hole in their rotation, I think they're our biggest competitor to sign Clement. I know they had their eyes on him all last year.

Yeah, foxsports says they'll try and trade Washburn now. Washburn wouldn't be a good fit with the Sox, he gives up too many homers. I do get a little worried that KW might try and trade Konerko for Washburn though.

Read a rumor on WSI that the Angels have signed Paul Byrd. If this is true, that could be great news in our hunt to sign Clement, as the Angels were long thought of as a favorite to land him. I don't really think they need more starting pitchers with Colon, Lackey, Escobar, Byrd, and Washburn/Ortiz.

Only problem I have with something KW said about Podsednik was how he had to get used to wind patters to be a better outfielder. Ummm...a lot of the Brewers home games are played in a dome. Put me in the camp that the Sox would be much better keeping Rowand in CF, and Pod in LF. Arm strength is much more important for CF, and Rowand is 10 times better than Pod at throwing.