Dick Allen

I saw Jones misplay a ball terribly at USCF a week ago. He is a great CF, but if you are willing to pay him what his contract calls for, why not just re-sign Magglio, who is his superior offensively by a rather large margin. Atlanta is looking to add, so a trade with them would probably be a wash at best. You trade now with teams looking to dump, the price isn't nearly as high. And if this article is correct, Jones will be available in the off season, probably for prospects. Keep Magglio for the rest of the season, and if you really want Jones, go after him next winter. Replenish the farm system for the loss of prospects sent to Atlanta with the draft picks gained in losing Magglio.

Why would the Braves give up a starter a closer and their RF to get an injured RF who is a free agent at the end of the year? If the Braves are trading for Magglio, they would still be trying to win their division. Ortiz, they would give up. Drew, maybe but probably not, Smoltz, no way. Also be wary of pitchers the Braves trade. They seem to get rid of them just at the right time, if you know what I'm sayin.

I don't mind giving up prospects to get someone who will perform, but Ortiz is a .500 pitcher so far this year, the same as the big "bust" Rauch. Why give up 2 assets like Rauch, who has been lights out at AAA, and was very good against a good hitting Cleveland team, and a guy like Sweeney who excites Roland Hemond as much as a young Harold Baines for mediocrity. Maybe Rauch's "incident" woke him up, and changed his attitude. On top of that, Ortiz would only be here half a season, walks a ton of guys, and would get hurt by the DH. His harmless NL walks would lead to runs in the AL. I'd rather have Moyer. Gil Meche I don't want. It was reported in Seattle that the Mariners offered Meche straight up for Brandon Inge, and were rebuffed.

I think you need to take a reading comprehension course. Ortiz is 6-6 this year with a 4.18 ERA in a pitcher's park. He has thrown ALOT of pitches the last few seasons, in fact, I believe he had a little arm trouble earlier this season. While chances are he outperforms Rauch for the rest of the year, there is better than a slight chance he does not. To give away a guy like Rauch who is $6 million cheaper, and either Anderson or Sweeney is an awfully big gamble. I also believe that Ortiz is signed just for this season. So he'd basically be a 17 start rental.

They got Steve Kemp for him. Kemp had a good year in 1982, became a free agent and signed with the Yankees. He became injury plagued, and wasn't very good after that. Kemp leaving freed up some money, and the Sox outbid the Yankees for Floyd Bannister, who became a key ingredient on the 1983 division champs. He also netted the Sox Melido Perez and Greg Hibbard in trade a few years later. Chet was a good player, but that trade worked out well for both clubs. Rudy Law would never have gotten the chance to be an ignitor, and in fact may never have worn a Sox uniform if Chet was still around.

Sweeney or Anderson + Rauch for Ortiz? I think this deal has Todd Ritchie written all over it. If you are going to trade one of the stud OFs, you better get a guy who throws strkes. I think its very possible Rauch outperforms Ortiz the rest of the season. I would suppose if the Sox paid this ransom, Ortiz's salary would be picked up by Atlanta. 4.18 ERA's in the NL, get close to 5.00 in the AL and maybe even higher in the bandbox also know as USCF.

I'm better than Dransfeldt. Hummel is better than he, but he wouldn't have played much. KW definitely did not destroy the farm system last season.

Its an attitude

Shingo and Marte seem like the only reliable pitchers on the staff right now, starters included.

Release Jackson now.

According to Ozzie's opening press conference, the players, (Frank specifically) were supposed to play the game right or sit. Frank didn't hustle on his double, but he still got to second. Carlos should be sitting right now if Ozzie was/is true to his word.

Most of the 90's, just about everything went their way.

Thats right, and besides he's starting to get lit up, and that should continue.

It is probably time, the problem is there is no one to bring up who you could be reasonably confident of getting the job done.

He has about 5 more years on his contract. While he has been hot lately, he is starting to resemble Carl Everett in CF, and will definitely look like him at the end of his contract. It remains to be seen if he can remain relatively healthy and productive the rest of this year. I thought it was interesting when he said yesterday the homerun made him forget about the aches and pains he's been going through this year. Considering what he's gone through the last 3 seasons, mentioning this makes me think he isn't going to make it through the season. For a team with limited resources, he his far too big a gamble IMO.

First off, Ozzie, who I never thought to be a wise choice as manager, had few options. He could have put in Shingo who is only used to going one inning. If he pitches the 9th, he'd have to pitch the tenth. Marte has been overworked. Politte and Jackson and Cotts, no thanks. Adkins? If any of these guys gave up a run, everyone complaining now would be complaining about how could he take out Garland, he only had given up 1 hit. Secondly, wasn't one of the complaints about JM the fact that he had a tight leash on Garland. Garland pitched good enough to win, and should have. Whats the deal with DJ poping off again about how Garland was handling a batter, only to have said batter homer the very next pitch? You would think he'd have learned by now. There's no need to panic. There's still a lot of games left. Magglio will be back soon, and there will be another starter who is a lot more effective than the 5th starter has been. It may be Rauch, but I believe KW is going to be doing some trading.

Everett looks a little heavier this year, and he is a year older. I'm sure he's slower than last season. That error he made last night was sweet. He did make a nice catch last year, but anyone else would have been camped underneath it, and jumped 3" to make a less spectacular catch.

At the beginning, Josh Beckett was the problem with the O. EL has pitched well

They were great. I saw them at Tweeter, and in Milwaukee.

at least he made contact

Both KC (Beltran) and Seattle (Garcia) are in love with Navarro. One of the Seattle scouts thinks he is the second coming of Ivan Rodriquez.

Hildago has something like a $15 million contract for next year with a $2 million buyout. He almost certainly will be bought out, but this gives the Mets a chance to kick the tires and check him out, and see if he'd re sign for something more reasonable. Unless Hildago returns to his form of 3 or 4 years ago, I don't think this has any affect on their pursuit of Magglio.

Where would Everett play? Please don't tell me CF. No way.

Over the course of 80 games or so, Contreras could be just as effective as Garcia. He wouldn't cost the prospects Garcia would. He would be under contract for 3 or so years, with the Yankees picking up most of the tab. He also could be an option for a closer, especially in the playoffs. Depending on Garcia's price tag playerwise, I'd almost rather have Contreras. Garcia was brutal last year, and although deserving of a better fate, is 3-6 this season. He isn't exactly a 1 or 2 starter himself.

If the Yankees get Garcia, maybe Contreras comes here. He'd be a pretty good fifth starter, and make a good closer.