Pumpkin Escobar

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 20, 2009 -> 08:07 AM) Honestly, yesterday might have been the turning point to the season. Jose Contreras vs. Zach Greinke? And we win? Easily? Then the Tigers have their ace on the mound and lose to the Mariners who tossed IAN SNELL? We're 2 games out when most thought we'd be 4 out at this point. Jim Thome is back, and we're ready to rock. Anyone else feeling as good as I am after Bizarro Wednesday? I'm not taking a popshot at you but this is kind of what evrybody means and Ozzie mentioned the other day of Sox fans thinking the roof is falling when we lose and then we're winning a world series when we win. I agree yesterday was huge and I thnk if we build on it by winning 2 of 3 or sweeping the Orioles - it'll only help that case but I am tyring to avoid having the ups and downs right now because our stretch is brutal. When that ends, and we are in it - then i'll get excited.

We needed this one bad. Didn't see us losing yesterday or them beating Felix. Hopefully they'll return the favor and drop one tonight. Nice to see Carlos finding his stroke.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 19, 2009 -> 11:46 AM) Slotting would be good, but not trading of picks. If that happens, the Yankees and Red Sox will end up with every top 5 pick. I agree. Slotting needs to happen. I am somewhat for trading picks but I have the same fear (which I also deem certainty) that if we allow it, then the major market teams will clean up. We've seen the Porcello's of the world and many others fall dramatically from numerous teams being in fear of not signing them because of the cost. If a team like Florida or Pittsburg can't afford their player - what is going to stop the Yankees and Saux from coming in year after year to take those picks away and draft the top talent. Right now we are fortunate that most of these top-tier guys don't slip down as frequently but it still happens with lots of players who shouldn't be sliding and end up doing so just because of finance concerns. A slotting system will help teams know what theyre going to have to pay but if that is too much and they know it up front, it'll make sense to deal the pick and take a cheaper player. And it isn't like the NFL/NBA/NHL where picks get dealt all the time and that is simply because of a salary cap. If they allow trading - they'd have to limit things similar to what they do with free agents. Or else I see no reason why a team like the Yankees buys the top pick every year. I like the concept of a world-wide draft but the nagain I don't. The idea of keeping the rights I enjoy and think would be good for baseball. Gives these kids a chance to get their education instead of picking their dreams over school.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 05:55 PM) Ellis hit the same exact flat fastball that Jack Wilson hit off of Jenks. Please get rid of him this offseason KW! +1 In my best Bob Barker from Happy Gilmore voice "This guy suuuucks"

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Aug 16, 2009 -> 06:25 PM) This inability to finish a sweep is an embarrassment on par with how we soil our diapers in the metrodome. Yes, I understand winning 2/3 is good enough; but Jesus, what is this, 10/11 times we've won the first two/three games of a series and couldn't win the final one? And I believe we've only swept three, all at home. I wouldn't expect them to sweep all games, obviously. But atleast several more than we've seen. And while some people may dismiss it as chance (even though we've hardly faced aces in the final game, as this afternoon has shown), I believe there is just something about this roster that allows these moments to occur with frequency. I don't know if it's one player specifically, but there's a definite mindset in that clubhouse. Almost a "well, we won the first two, and everyone knows we'll lose the third, so we'll lose," just as in the Metrodome its "the minute something goes wrong we're going to lose." This needs to end, immediately. It's really getting to the point where I'm losing interest in this ballclub, even as they are still well within reach of the division lead. While I agree it's a little disappointing to not sweep games like this that would be huge since Detroit lost, I think we need to relax a little. If we take the first 2 of 3 and play .667 from here on out, we're going to win the division, among other things. Sweeps are great but I'm perfectly comfortable taking 2 of 3 while on the road.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Aug 13, 2009 -> 09:26 AM) Worst post ever. Inexcusable and illogical. The 2006 Cardinals say hi I agreed with his logic prior to landing the Peavy and Rios deals. And seeing what Beckham can do. I was all for a firesale the last few years to bring in young talent to infuse the team with but we managed to do it and remain competitive - and right now. I know a lot of us don't see it but I think if we make the playoffs we are much more dangerous then we were last season. We'll probably draw the Yankees if we make it and they havent exactly dominated us. I think if Peavy is remotely Peavy that we can match up pretty well with them. If we make it and face off with them and beat CC in game 1. It'll suck the life out of them to see their billion dollar hired gun get beat right out of the gate. So while I did agree with the guy before - right now, "there's nothing left to do but win the whole...F******....thing"

All we need is for someone to catch fire. I think it's going to need to be Quentin and Dye. Quentin is hitting the ball hard everywhere and I just think he'll have a good 2-3 week stretch and it'll lead into the clueless looking JD to breaking out of his funk. If we can just get this group hot, in particular one or two guys who can carry us, then I thnk we'll make it. We have some real tough series but we also need to take every game from Detroit when we see them. This isn't a bad thing right now. We haven't been playing well outside of our Yankee/Angel games and yet we are still well within striking distance. The Tigers are just as inconsistent and are no lock. This doesn't quite remind me of 05', well not really at all, but I do believe in the hottest team having the most success come playoff time. Right now - we are pretty cold and from watching this team they are due to break out in the next couple weeks and go on a little run. If we are 3 games back and hit mid-September then I'll be more worried but right now I see us struggling a little while longer before just bursting out of it and hopefully that propels us into the playoffs. Similar to 05' where we struggled down the stretch and got red hot when it mattered most.

QUOTE (Jimbo's Drinker @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 11:36 PM) yes, definitely a Carlos Lee moment O Carlos...I recall being at a game against the Twins where he was doing his best teeball outfielder focus by throwing his mit above his head in between pitches. Never will I forget it.

QUOTE (JorgeFabregas @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 09:45 PM) If Rios gets off to a slow start the fans will turn on him faster than you can say Orlando Cabrera. You think? I think by not giving up anything to get him that he'll hear less than usual. It's not like he held us ransom for this money or like I said costed us a prospect(s). If anyone would hear about it I would assume it'd be Kenny. If Peavy gets bombed, I think he'll hear about it on a larger scale then Rios.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 01:41 AM) I'd be in favor of re-signing Thome over Dye, because Thome is a better run producer...Dye is the better hitter though, but this is thinking into 2011. Thome would likely sign a one year deal, and retire when he gets 600, and be cheaper. Dye would command more money and would most likely want at least a two year deal, but I think the plan as of right now is to have Konerko DH and Viciedo play 1B in 2011, so that wouldn't work for Dye or Paulie, and I take Paulie in that instance. Re-sign Pods, since D2 or Mitchell will take at least one more year to develop. Re-sign Dotel, since he is a bullpen strength. Call up Hudson to be the #5 starter. Keep Jenks, since he has been a consistent and good closer. Bring back Kotsay, since he gives a lot of flexibility*. Lineup for 2010: 1. Podsednik, LF 2. Beckham, 3B 3. Thome, DH 4. Konerko, 1B 5. AJ, C 6. Quentin, RF 7. Rios, CF 8. Ramirez, SS 9. Getz 2B Bench: Nix, 2B/SS Kotsay, 3B/1B/OF* Flowers, C+ D2, OF^ Rotation: 1. Buehrle 2. Peavy 3. Danks 4. Floyd 5. Hudson Bullpen: Jenks Thornton Dotel Linebrink Carrasco Pena Torres& *= I doubt Kotsay would want to be a bench player, since he has historically been a starter. So if he doesn't reisgn, the bench adds Viciedo to backup 1B/3B. += I wouldn't mind easing Flowers into the MLB, because not everyone is Slayer. AJ could possibly teach him a few things to make him a better catcher (Jake Taylor and Rube Baker all over again?), and this way he could learn the pitching staff before becoming the everyday catcher. ^= Instead of D2, I'd love to see Dye back, and rotate with Quentin and Thome between RF and DH. It most likely wouldn't happen, but they'd all get rest and stay healthy, but I doubt it. D2 could (like Flowers) ease his way into the MLB, and I think he is ahead of Mitchell as of right now. &=Pipe dream, trade Fields for Poreda. Put Poreda in the pen and have Coop help him develop more pitches. Perhaps he could fill in at #5 if Hudson didn't work out. I'm not sure I like the idea of D2 and Flowers on the bench right out the gate. I'd rather them spend some more time in the minors getting AB's and playing time then calling them up during the year if theyre ready.

QUOTE (thedoctor @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 10:05 AM) i don't see it as east coast bias. i see it as ratings-driven yankees and red sox bias. cubs fall in here, too. i don't personally notice any extra coverage to the orioles, nationals, marlins, rays, blue jays, braves, etc. the phillies get a bit extra because they are defending champs, mets get a bit extra because they are a new york team and it's the nation's biggest media market. to me this is all ratings driven. people have strong feelings about the yankees and red sox. few people have no opinion of them and thus they get better ratings. if the sox had the type of nationwide fanbase or nationwide detractors these other teams do, they'd be mentioned more. as a sox fan it sucks because my teams gets marginalized, but i can say that (largely because of the championship, ozzie, and kw) they are much more prominent then they were five or six years ago. It is more of a BoSox and Yankees thing. Mets fall in there too and so do the Cubs...It's a case with Boston and New York that their is a great chance that they're playing one of the other East Coast teams which groups it together but you're absolutely right it is the smart business move in their eyes because there are so many Yankee/Saux/and Cub fans for instance that they are pleasing those fans. It's just overwhelming and these newer league networks are great because they are really trying to avoid the bias in their respective sports.

QUOTE (jenks45monster @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 06:09 PM) I just realized, how is taking on the Rios/Peavy money going to affect how we spend on the draft in the next few years? I don't want any more low-upside college arms (Broadway, McCulloch) because we have to budget more carefully in the upcoming drafts... I don't think it will affect it much. I think those low-upside arms was more of poor scouting then it was being overly cheap. Just because we didn't take the Rick Porcello's of the world when they fell to us doesn't mean it was all about money in these drafts for us. It would have been nice to have properly scouted and pinpointed the Joba Chamberlains, Brett Andersons, Chris Tillmans and Trevor Cahills the year we took McCulloch. There were some others we missed on that year but those are most notible and it happens frequently in baseball. The baseball draft is hard enough and hit or miss enough where having poor scouting and being slightly cheap doesnt help. I think those contracts may effect us being able to land another Porcello if he falls again but our drafts will be much better and I feel like we budget accordingly for that. Plus we have a lot of money coming off the books in the next few years and barring trades - we have some very cheap talent replacing those men. So I'd say minimal affect. If anything they'll just effect what position on the field we draft and where in the order of the draft (30th hopefully).

QUOTE (G&T @ Aug 12, 2009 -> 09:50 AM) If you live on the east coast they admit there is bias. They don't know where Illinois is. And most believe that Chicago is a southern city. I'm not kidding. Haha that is true. I have a lot of family from Jersey and NY and they're proud of the bias. Most of them are Yankee fans and they feel the world should revolve around their "Yankees Baby".

The whole East Coast Bias is a legit argument. Just notice how the Arod-steroid thing has kind of vanished from tv. They don't ever mention how tainted those Red Sox teams have been.It gets tossed out on one of the shows so they can give the quick update on when Ortiz was going to speak but otherwise - nada. Then when its time for positive chatter - it seems to heavily weigh on the East. Which is fine by me. Takes a perfect game to get some love. The thing I've disliked most as of late is with the Rios move. When he was been in Toronto - they've always raved about his abilities and his upside and everything else. He gets dealt away and now he is just ok. Forget that he'll put up similar numbers to a Granderson or Sizemore - two guys that ESPN (in particular PG, are obsessed with) - and forget that the guy is only 28 with a contract that is hardly terrible even in our economy. Had he been dealt to the BoSox or NY, it would be marked as one of the best pickups ever. I don't know. Maybe I'm overreacting but it doesn't seem to vanish which is why I spend more time watching highlights on MLB, NFL, and NHL respective networks then I do ESPN anymore.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 03:17 PM) I'm hoping Viciedo will be ready for next season. I'm hoping he is too because I can't imagine us all being fond of paying him this kind of money to sit in the minors.

Real quick - what's the best site for ballpark statistics?

They preached it being his natural position but natural doesnt mean he has been playing there. I dont believe he played SS in Cuba and obviously he didn't here last season. I think they more or less meant his range, arm-strength, athletic ability were meant for SS. He struggles with the instinct part of it and hasn't made all the plays but those aren't things that scream trade him or override his conract that he well beyond earns with his bat. In two years if he is still playing poor defense and requests 10 mil a year - then by all means let him go. Until then - dealing him is not a good idea.

QUOTE (Tex @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 03:57 PM) I was as big critic of his circa 2004 as I am a fan today. I'd love to pull up some threads from that time and see how many here wanted his head. The feeling that 2005 was a once in a lifetime event has been replaced by the feeling this team will be a perennial playoff team for the next 5 or 6 years. I wanted his head. Even the last few years I didn't think he'd be able to mold this team into a younger, talented, athletic team without having to deal our veterans and rebuild with prospects but he has managed to do it and I am impressed.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Aug 11, 2009 -> 03:56 PM) Thornton for Borchard is good because he was able to turn a nothing player into one of the best lefty set-up men in the league. That just doesn't happen that often. I feel like this may actually be his best move. He took a vastly overrated prospect who developed into a worthless player with power and dealt him for a flame-throwing lefty. Borchard is a a bust and was one when we dealt him and Thornton is one of the best setup men in the game. My favorite move though I feel like is going to be this Rios one. I've always bashed him in the fantasy baseball world for getting praise of 30-30 and being ranked top 40 for it before the season but I've always liked his game. I find it funny anytime the Sox get a guy they magically are just an average guy with no excitement about the upside to these writers and such. Lord knows if Boston, or NY, or the Cubs claimed him this guy would not only be proclaimed a 5-tool 30/30 guy. He'd be a 7-tool 40-40 potential guy who plays gold glove defense. Danks and Floyd I am always still torn on. If Quentin could stay healthy and prove last season wasn't a fluke - his is a great one. The list goes on but I just have a gut feeling about Rios.

Grab yourself a Italian sausage with Giardiniera - no gravy though, polish w/ onions, and a jumbo hot dog. Maybe a nacho with cheese and salsa or a Connies. Watch an inning from the fan deck and put down some beers. Nothing beats the Cell. Just the scent when you walk in of the polish and onions cooking on the grill is enough to make any man go from 6 to midnight.

I was thinking to myself today about how I feel good that Peavy and Rios can overcome their doubters and do well for us. Peavy having to get by this fear/doubt people have of him not being in Petco and having arm troubles. Rios not ever going to live up to his 30-30, 5-tool potential. Finally drafting a top-notch player in Beckham(more our slot then anythign but still). Then I thought about last year and bringing in Alexei and Quentin. Then started thinking about Danks and Floyd. The 05' title. I know I've given Kenny lots of crap over the years for not making certain moves - either not signing a guy, our horrible drafts, not dealing for a superstar or not getting a good return on what we dealt or not dealing someone we have while we can get something of value (cough Jenks cough). All of these things I've ripped him for but I thought about all this and realized this guy deserves a pat on the back. Great Job Kenny. Now if Peavy and Rios backfire - then stuff him. And stuff him again. (Little Flight of the Conchords refernce for those who watch.

I don't think we should move him. Let him play, he is taking his lumps in stride and developing. I can't wait to see reactions to Beckham's slip in numbers in his "sophomore slump" or in 3 years if he isn't hitting the 30 bombs people want from. Give Alexei a break here. He lacks some finer tunings from coming to play MLB Baseball but the kid didn't spend anytime in the minors. He will play better defense the next few years. He can hit and if he ever becomes used to April/early May weather out here then he could be a seriously dangerous hitter. He is learning all about plate discipline, how to play the game the way we do and still adjusting to the culture. I don't think there is any real reason to deal him or his contract in particular unless it is for an absolute monster of a pitcher with a similar contract.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 02:27 PM) I'm not arguing there is pressure on KW in terms of the grand scheme of things. I am claiming, in the vacuum of this particular showdown, the pressure is on KW. The reason is simple: Ricciardi already has a deal done on his end, if he wants it done. This isn't like a traditional deal where the party looking to acquire the player can simply back out and say "F You, I'm tired of this BS. Keep the player." Kenny has already agreed, in the technical sense, to take the player. Meanwhile, JP still has the issue of backing out. He can simply take his ball and go home. And who knows what his mandate is from ownership. Must he dump Rios no matter what? Or can he afford to try and move him again in the offseason? So now JP can just sit back and try to squeeze out of him what he can. The pressure is on Kenny to try and figure out just what price JP will deny, and what he will accept. We can speculate all we want about whether that price is nothing, or a few middling prospects, or something actually moderately significant. My guess is KW wants the player, is willing to give up some players, but no one that he has any significant plans in the organization for. And it is true that if KW doesn't get Rios, he is in no different position than he was prior to the claim. However, he has lost an opportunity to acquire a player that could significantly improve the future of his club. Is it worth losing that player over a few middling prospects? I sure hope not. But that is the pressure he is feeling. I gotcha. The opportunity isn't toally gone though either. Rios will still be there come the offseason and we'll have a shot at him. It will be more difficult and maybe more costly but it's not like Rios will become untouchable by then.

QUOTE (Shamrock4Life @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 01:56 PM) Ok for the record, the Steve Phillips article I am referencing is the one from 2005 and I posted it in an earlier post. In it he describes the process. Since it was written in 2005, there is not reference to this trade. It was my opinoin that the pressure is on Kenny. And here is why. IF Toronto ownership gave JP a directive to clear payroll, then JP has to let Rios go. There is no pressure there. JP has one of two options, agree to whatever trade the claiming team has on the table at the deadline or give him outright to that team. Not knowing if JP got that order from ownership is why the pressure in on KW. And the pressue is proportional to how much KW wants Rios. If its a lot, then Kenny has to gamble on how much to offer up. Does Kenny get nervous at the deadline and up the deal on the table that JP would have took no matter what? Or did Kenny really claim Rios to stop Detriot from getting him. Did JR give Kenny the directive that he couldn't add payroll anymore after the Peavy deal? If so, then Kenny is under pressure hoping JP doesn't just give Rios and his $60 Million contract to the Sox. There are too many variables in here to know how much pressure there is here. Hell it could be just a regular run of the mil August waiver wire happening. But I don't see how JP has any pressure on him to get anything done. Either he got the directive and has to dump salary or he now knows how much demand there is for Rios (it was reported 6 different teams claimed him, iirc, plus Toronto gets to know who exactly made a claim on him). Gotcha. No problem. Let's just hope we get him for cheap and that he blossoms into that 30-30, 5 tool hype he has carried with him since arriving on the scene.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 10, 2009 -> 12:39 PM) The pressure is certainly on KW, if there is pressure in this situation at all. Ricciardi most likely understands the situation. He most likely understands he is not going to get a "haul" in this deal. However, he does know that the claiming team is on the hook, and all he has to do is say the word and Rios is off his payroll. Certainly he can try and get a few prospects to help the Jays down the line - perhaps a few "change of scenery guys," or maybe a guy with some potential down in single A - but the main objective of ridding themselves of Rios has been achieved. He can move that salary, every last penny of it, just by saying a word. Kenny is the one who has to try and figure out just how desperate Ricciardi is. He has to wonder, "is this guy desperate enough that he will just dump him?" Or "Does he really need to get something back for him to save face?" "Can he go into the offseason with this guy and deal him then?" Honestly, we have no idea, and while KW may have a better idea by now, my guess is he is trying to call Ricciardi's bluff. I think that is what Phillips is saying when he says the pressure is on KW and not Ricciardi. I don't get how the pressure is on KW. If Rios never hit waivers, we wouldn't have claimed him and we'd be in the same position we are in with 3 OF's contributing to our lineup. He did hit waivers and it's a nice opportunity to buy low on a good player but we by no means needed him or went balls after the guy. So why should any pressure be on KW? He blocked him from going to other contending AL teams, in particular the Tigers. So if we get him - great, that could be a huge deal. If not, we avoided him going anywhere that could hurt us in the playoff run and still have the same lineup that they were happy with a week ago. I fail to see why KW has any pressure. Rios is icing on the cake, he isn't the cake.