USSoccer

Freddy Adu scored the game winner as a sub for Benfica Sunday.

Geovany Soto Obviously. I'm just listing the positions that need to improve.

Why do people keep bringing up past their prime 2B as players to look at? SS, RF, CF and C, people. Those are your lineup black holes to fill.

Good for Riggs. I liked him.

Sarcasm. I love it! Where are your other boys and girls at? I'm waiting to see if you have an actual counter to Sulley's post, or if you just disagreed for the sake of disagreement/hating on Sulley. You said it was "hard hitting analysis". Clearly sarcasm. Why don't you enlighten us with how you think Beckett should be beaten?

Improve the offense and the pitching is going to look better.

If we didn't have DeRosa, I wouldn't mind his .368 career OBP in the 1/2 spots. But we do have DeRosa and I wouldn't be willing to give up what it would take to get Castillo anyway. But "sucks" is a little harsh for a 2B with a near .370 career OBP. He's not worth the player cost, and his career OBP is nice, but he's old, declining, has a bad hip, has no power, and has lost at least a step. Isn't he a free agent? I honestly have no idea, but if he is, given our unclear financial situation, he's not worth the money his name will likely command, either.

If we didn't have DeRosa, I wouldn't mind his .368 career OBP in the 1/2 spots. But we do have DeRosa and I wouldn't be willing to give up what it would take to get Castillo anyway. But "sucks" is a little harsh for a 2B with a near .370 career OBP. He's not worth the player cost, and his career OBP is nice, but he's old, declining, has a bad hip, has no power, and has lost at least a step.

Luis Castillo sucks. Why should we pay for a name?

Eh. It was kind of a dud I felt because of Rangers completely bunkering in on defense and refusing to create an attack other than lame counterattacks where they were severely outnumbered. Barca wasn't able to get many good chances because Rangers always had 9 men behind the ball with only that one forward by midfield. Did you expect Rangers to want to get into a free flowing match with a team that starts Ronaldinho, Messi, and Henry? They'd get demolished. In that group, all they have to do is pick up points. Bunkering was the right call, and I thought they actually had the better of the run of play after DMB came on. No I didn't really expect them to run with Barca and get into a free flowing match. I also realize that Rangers just wanted a point and the best way to get that was to bunker in which was the right call. But that doesn't make it any less of a dud and it doesn't make it any more entertaining just because that was how they wanted to play the game. You can't tell me, as an outside fan, you wouldn't have wanted to see a free flowing match. Obviously if you're a Rangers fan and you want your team to advance, you're going to be fine with what your team did because the bunkering in tactic against Barca will help them advance. But as a soccer fan who doesn't have a rooting interest either way, I want to see a free flowing match with both sides attacking. No, your point is well taken.

Eh. It was kind of a dud I felt because of Rangers completely bunkering in on defense and refusing to create an attack other than lame counterattacks where they were severely outnumbered. Barca wasn't able to get many good chances because Rangers always had 9 men behind the ball with only that one forward by midfield. Did you expect Rangers to want to get into a free flowing match with a team that starts Ronaldinho, Messi, and Henry? They'd get demolished. In that group, all they have to do is pick up points. Bunkering was the right call, and I thought they actually had the better of the run of play after DMB came on.

At least she threw in the shot at people who think that ARod has always been a 3B.

Unless the Lakers get a bunch of expiring contracts in return, I'd rather just let Kobe walk rather than get stuck with some crappy contracts and not very good players in return. At least if you let Kobe walk you have $20M freed up for next offseason. It seems to me that having $20m freed up in the NBA isn't all that useful.

-I thought as much regarding Brown. -Wallace sucks, and his contract sucks harder. They should have kept Chandler if they wanted an offensive liability in the frontcourt, and if we are players for Bryant, he absolutely has to be included in the deal.

His D and quickness are lacking, but hes shown an ability to put up points in the preseason. Skiles is basically thinking of starting him so they can get the post game involved right off the bat. Not saying its a good idea, but its a possibility. I guess, if he thinks that going down to Gray early is going to open up lanes for Deng, Noc, Gordon and Kirk.

If the Lakers could be talked down to that, the Bulls would be getting away with murder. and would have no center Well its a possibility that Wallace isnt starting at center on opening night. There have been reports Aaron Gray will start at center with Wallace at the 4. Forgive my ignorance, but Aaron Gray smacks of stiff white guy. Is this accurate?

I'd assume we'd have to include Tyrus in a deal for Kobe. Even if we offered up Deng? I'd plan on it. I wouldn't let Thomas break the deal.

We do have some movable players. Jones, Dempster, Howry, Blanco, Marquis, Eyre, Ohman and DeRosa all could concievably have value in the offseason market. The big variable is the payroll. Hendry's MLB.com interview seemed to indicate that it should at least be the same as last year. If it's bumped up, we should have some flexibility. If it stays the same, he's going to have to get a little creative to fill these needs.

Well, if you consider Wallace a C, then Noah would probably be able to step in and play that role, albiet with an initial dropoff in defensive ability. I would make that tradeoff, though. Between Noah and Joe Smith, and depending on PJ Brown, you should be able to deal with the frontcourt ok. Tyrus's ridiculous vertical abilities help down low too... although he doesn't have the size to deal with true centers yet. I'd assume we'd have to include Tyrus in a deal for Kobe.

Well, if you consider Wallace a C, then Noah would probably be able to step in and play that role, albiet with an initial dropoff in defensive ability. I would make that tradeoff, though. Between Noah and Joe Smith, and depending on PJ Brown, you should be able to deal with the frontcourt ok.

If the Lakers could be talked down to that, the Bulls would be getting away with murder. and would have no center Andrew Bynum? Plus, who in the West has a "traditional" center? Houston is the only team I can think of.

I'd look at Abreu if he isn't picked up, Renteria, ARod (obviously). I think Miguel Tejada might be the most likely upgrade out there. I think Baltimore matches up with us trade-wise very well.

Upgrades at SS, RF, CF and C. Soto starting at C upgrades that. So that leaves 2 OF spots and SS. It wouldn't kill them to upgrade from Marshall and Marquis, either. The offense, though, should be top priority.

I would prefer to keep Hinrich. Gordon is redundant with Bryant. I kind of see Wolf's point re: Deng. There's definetly a limit to Luol's ability, as good as he is. If you could build a deal around Deng and keep Hinrich and Gordon, I'd probably do it. The trickiest part is going to be matching salaries. They'd almost have to include Wallace, and LA is going to probably want Thomas, and maybe Thabo as well. I'm not sure how a sign/trade with Brown would work. I mean sure, there's a limit to most players' abilities. For me it's more a matter of not wanting duplicate talent, i.e. Kobe & Gordon, at the cost of a good player that brings other things to the table. Deng may have a ceiling, but it's still a pretty high ceiling all things considered. I dunno.....I'd have mixed feelings if we traded away Deng for Kobe. I guess I'd just wait and see how it works out. We would have even less inside presence. I'm assuming that if we make Deng the centerpiece, we can get away with less overall. Like, for instance, Deng/Thabo/Wallace/Brown instead of Gordon/Thomas/etc.

I would prefer to keep Hinrich. Gordon is redundant with Bryant. I kind of see Wolf's point re: Deng. There's definetly a limit to Luol's ability, as good as he is. If you could build a deal around Deng and keep Hinrich and Gordon, I'd probably do it. The trickiest part is going to be matching salaries. They'd almost have to include Wallace, and LA is going to probably want Thomas, and maybe Thabo as well. I'm not sure how a sign/trade with Brown would work. Isn't Hinrich a base year compensation player anyways? That makes it almost impossible to trade him That might have been last year, but I have no idea how NBA contracts and salary caps work.