nilodnayr

Not to be too nitpicky, but I believe it's Owings. Ownings is his message board handle. If he were really cool it'd be Pwnings.

Exactly. Boras' whole strategy is playing teams off one another (or the appearance of playing teams off of one another). His main goal is to get to the open market ASAP. While he and the Whitesox do not have the best relationship, if its best for his client and best for his own pocketbook, he will do it. Moving to one of the best HR hitters parks in the league will definitely help his case in free agency. Its not probable, but its possible. But he stilll need the White Sox cooperation, cause everybody knows Kenny Williams will rarely, if ever now, deal with him. Not even Boras could convince teams that the White Sox are interested in A. Jones, when everybody in MLB knows of Williams dislike of Boras. So, I seriously doubt, Williams is going to play along with Boras. A) Williams deals with Boras every year on Crede B) Boras doesnt care if the white sox are interested in Andruw once he becomes a FA. At that point it doesnt matter who Andruw played for in 2007. He can sign with any team. I don't see why he needs the white sox cooperation.

Please Lord, the use of "intellectually honest" needs to stop. Foolish or not, the Brewers have Sheets in the rotation, the cubs do not have Prior in the rotation. That has to count for something. And I agree, in comparing the projections of the 10 pitchers, using peripherals are much better than ERA or ERA+

Exactly. Boras' whole strategy is playing teams off one another (or the appearance of playing teams off of one another). His main goal is to get to the open market ASAP. While he and the Whitesox do not have the best relationship, if its best for his client and best for his own pocketbook, he will do it. Moving to one of the best HR hitters parks in the league will definitely help his case in free agency. Its not probable, but its possible.

i'd take zambrano over any of those three, and that's probably what the yankees are thinking too. I dont think many would disagree, but that still doesnt mean they have to trade Johnson.

i'd take zambrano over any of those three, and that's probably what the yankees are thinking too. I dont think many would disagree, but that still doesnt mean they have to trade Johnson.

Yanks lose out on the big three and then deal The Unit...genius.

Apparently you forgot the "I hate Scott Boras, and will never deal with his clients ever again" proclamation he made awhile back. The White Sox only has one Boras client on their teams, (Joe Crede), I believe, and the only reason why they haven't moved him yet, is because of two reasons: 1. there isn't a credible stopgap replacement on the FA market and 2. Josh Fields isn't ready. So I doubt Andruw Jones goes to the White Sox. That's a pretty good point. Except of course if they don't plan on resigning Andruw, then it doesnt matter who is agent is because they will never have to talk to him.

I'll go out on a limb and guess not enough. You're a bold man! What would kill me is watching the Cubs use those 2 picks for elbow injury prospects. My thinking is that Hendry is waiting for the dust to settle and see how much his 2007 team is going to cost before talking to Z. If he gives him the 17-20 now that may stop all other spending but if he does it during Spring Training it won't hamper the off season. No, they will probably only use one for an elboy injury prospect, the other will go to a guy that everyone else had as a 10th rounder on their boards.

Interestingly enough, yup. Considering how large the outfield is there, it will probably always play as a hitter's park. Even if the ball isn't going out at a high rate, there's a ton of room for hits to drop in. I always wanted to see them bring in the fences, and raise them higher. Cut down on the singles and the gap shots, even though you might get a few more HR. If you allow the OFers to cover less ground, it might help a lot. Agreed. The way it's built now, it would still most likely be a hitter's park at sea level. This whole conversation strikes me as bizarre. If I'm reading this right, part of what makes Coors such a hitter's park are the *deep* fences/large OF?!? If you put Coors Field at sea level, wouldn't you simply get Petco, or RFK, or Dolphins Stadium, or original Comerica (before they moved the fences in)? Those are all parks with deep(ish) fences/large(ish) OFs, and they're universally considered pitcher's parks. Its gigantic... Left Field - 347 ft Left-Center - 390 ft Center Field - 415 ft Right-Center - 375 ft Right Field - 350 ft Its asymmetrical with the deepest part of the parking being 424 ft in Right-Center. Plus the out of town scoreboard in RF is 17 feet high. Doubles and triples are inflated in Coors significantly as well.

I think this is the year that will tell what kind of player Baldelli will become. Even with his power break out last year, his BB% went down. If he is unable to parlay the boost in IsoP to a boost in IsoD, hes never going to be able to take the next step (ie a perenial 900ish OPS player). Although with the defense that he provides a perenial 850ish OPS player in CF aint too shabby.

Murton had a 912 OPS in the second half of last year. Andruw Jones had an 894 OPS last year. I'm not saying that Murton is going to outproduce Jones and there definitely is a wide defensive margin, but considering how long we would have each under our control and for what price, there is no way I'm trading Murton for Andruw.

But, replacing Podsednik in the lineup and outfield is a significant upgrade.

Though Bonds in 2001 came very close to changing that balance for himself. And Mizzou: I'll take a team that can draw a walk every time to one that can make solid contact every time - every time. Actually a team that can draw a walk every time will never get out of the first inning if they dont make any outs on the bases. After about 3 business days and about 675432 runs scored the MLB would have to step in with a slaughter rule. But think of the advertising revenue. And if Bonds was involved, ESPN would cut to ever AB of his, making the ad billboard behind home plate quite profitable. Don't forget also that steroids would no longer be an issue. :P Didn't they say that steroids enhances eyesight though? If that is the case then being able to recognize pitches and taking them would be affected by steroids.

Though Bonds in 2001 came very close to changing that balance for himself. And Mizzou: I'll take a team that can draw a walk every time to one that can make solid contact every time - every time. Actually a team that can draw a walk every time will never get out of the first inning if they dont make any outs on the bases. After about 3 business days and about 675432 runs scored the MLB would have to step in with a slaughter rule.

That's what I thought, but from what I've read, they don't seem to be just handing him the job. Kelly Johnson is the guy they really want to slot in at 2b. I think it might have something to do with them wanting a "prototypical" lead off hitter, which Johnson sort of is. Maybe the plan is to trade LaRoche, move Chipper to 1b and move Aybar to 3b. But, I also read that they really want to find a spot in the line up for Scott Thorman. 1b makes the most sense for him if they move LaRoche. From what I've read if LaRoche is traded the 1b job is definitely Thorman's. I don't think they'll be moving Chipper.

Although there hasn't been talk in a while, I don't think it takes Church out of the mix as we were previously pursuing him.

The Rogers Centre inflates home runs more than Wrigley. Also, I don't see how 328ft foul lines, 375 ft power alleys, and 400 ft CF really qualifies as "cavernous". Thats pretty much the same as the Great American Smallpark. You're right, Rogers isn't all that huge. I must have been confusing it with the Expos' old place. Still, the wind never blows out at the dome. That's what I'm hoping for----Wrigley will turn a fly ball pitcher into a quick loser on those days. He'll have to learn how to pitch with that wind or it's going to be rough. Is it possible Lilly could progress just out of necessity, learn a few new tricks? Pretty slim hope, but hey I'm allowed to dream. And if he doesn't, he's just going to suck on those days which is going to be pretty frustrating. Ehh, Olypic Stadium had nearly the same dimensions and on average was a hitters park as well. The wind is definitely a problem, but it all depends on luck, if he pitches on a day the wind blows in, allowing FBs is going to help him.

so can we all agree, hit>walk>making contact?

Cedeno's OBP was .005 higher than Neifi's. That is pretty darned insignificant. Ronny was just as bad as Neifi. Seriously. It cracks me up when people try to say that Cedeno was better than Neifi last year. I'd take .254/.266/.343/.610 over .245/.271/.339/.610 every day of the week. Some people seem to forget that a hit is better than a walk. What do you consider a better AB.....a 10 pitch walk with no one on base or a first pitch single with no one on base? Obviously I'll take the 10 pitch walk with no one on base in that particular situation. My point was that I'd prefer to have a team full of guys that can hit their way on versus a team full of guys that can walk their way on. The ability to hit is more valuable than the ability to take a walk. Batters do not have the ability to hit...they have the ability to make contact. Some hitters make more quality contact than others which usually results in more hits, but you are forgettting that once the ball leaves the bat, the hitter loses control of the outcome except for a home run (and using speed to stretch doubles into triples, etc.). The ability to take a walk is more valuable than the ability to simply put the ball in play. So you'd rather have a team of guys that walk and never get hits, versus a team that hits but never walks? I'd take the team that hits and never walks, and I gaurantee you that my team would beat your team, all other things equal. Hitting is so much better than walking. Again, you are using "get hits" and "make contact" interchangably and thats just not right. On average, only 1/3rd of contact made results in a hit. No player just makes contact, just like no player just walks. Its ignorant to say a team of one is better than a team of the other because batters do not have 100% control over either outcome. The player only has control over one of the actions that lead to the outcome (taking the pitch/swinging at the pitch). He has neglible if any control over where the pitcher throws it. Just like after contact is made the player has negligible control as to whether or not it becomes a hit. If you go up to the plate thinking, I am going to swing the bat to try to get a hit, then you swing the bat and either hit the ball or miss the ball. You miss the ball 3 times, you are out. You hit the ball, then it depends on where you hit it as to if you get an out. If you go up to the plate thinking, I am going to keep the bat on my shoulder to try to draw a walk, then the pitcher either throws 4 balls before 3 strikes or not. To say one approach is better than the other is ridiculous because the outcomes are not 100% in a hitters control. Like Bruno said, finding the right pitch to hit is the key (this means identifying good pitches AND bad pitches). That is why Ted Williams, Jason Giambi, and Barry Bonds are some of the greatest hitters. That is why the ocular enhancer machine is popular. The key to hitting is appropriately identifying pitches.

I would. Zito will play his home games at AT & T Park, Lilly at Wrigley. Zito will be in the NL West with its share of pitcher's parks, Lilly in the NL Central. ZiPS projected him at 4.37 ERA as an A. Updated projection. Love the analogy :D

Interestingly enough, yup. Considering how large the outfield is there, it will probably always play as a hitter's park. Even if the ball isn't going out at a high rate, there's a ton of room for hits to drop in. I always wanted to see them bring in the fences, and raise them higher. Cut down on the singles and the gap shots, even though you might get a few more HR. If you allow the OFers to cover less ground, it might help a lot. Could be worse, they could have a hill and poles in play in CF.

Interestingly enough, yup. Considering how large the outfield is there, it will probably always play as a hitter's park. Even if the ball isn't going out at a high rate, there's a ton of room for hits to drop in. True, it still is a hitters park, just not as much as it was. I think the humidor affect is probably overblown due to the fact that it was probably the first time they actually had a decent rotation. Does the humidor have an affect on the motion of curveballs or just how far you can hit the ball?

I would. Zito will play his home games at AT & T Park, Lilly at Wrigley. Zito will be in the NL West with its share of pitcher's parks, Lilly in the NL Central. Petco is the only true pitcher's park in that division. LA has been well below average, but that's a reflection of the crappy offensive teams they've assembled lately. Dodger Stadium was top 10 last year, and Juan Pierre aside, it should stay that way with the influx of good young offensive talent. AT&T is about average, but Coors and Chase are still 2 of the premier hitter's parks in the game. A pitcher's park or hitter's park is not a reflection of how good the home team's offense is. It's a reflection of how many runs are scored. PF = ((homeRS + homeRA)/(homeG)) / ((roadRS + roadRA)/(roadG)) Doesn't matter how good or bad your offense and pitching are because it normalizes that using road runs scored an allowed.

I would. Zito will play his home games at AT & T Park, Lilly at Wrigley. Zito will be in the NL West with its share of pitcher's parks, Lilly in the NL Central. Petco is the only true pitcher's park in that division. LA has been well below average, but that's a reflection of the crappy offensive teams they've assembled lately. Dodger Stadium was top 10 last year, and Juan Pierre aside, it should stay that way with the influx of good young offensive talent. AT&T is about average, but Coors and Chase are still 2 of the premier hitter's parks in the game. Is Coors still a premier hitter's park with the humidor (I haven't looked at the numbers)? Interestingly enough, yup.