dew1679666265

Yeah, I brought Bruton up to Skyballer for the Giants' compensatory pick this round. Then AI told me Bruton was his choice. He was a good value here, I think.

The only difference is Berroa is a much better SS defender than German is, but I'm still not that interested in Angel.

Yeah, he was on my list of trade targets, but I thought we didn't have a chance because the Reds are a divisional rival. So much for that argument. He would look pretty good as a RH bat off the bench, insurance on the left side of the IF, and a possible 3rd choice at 1B. I'm not that enthralled by him unless he can repeat his 07 numbers. The rest of his years aren't very impressive. For a PTBNL, I can't say I would mind it, but I don't know that he'll be all that valuable. Using him in the roles that I mentioned, he seems like a decent option compared to whoever else is out there. Add in the fact that his cost would be a PTNL and it seems like a decent pickup. Ronnie Belliard would be a far better option and he's a free agent (I believe). Keppinger just hasn't been much of a hitter outside of one career year in 2007. If there's reason to believe he can come anywhere near that, then he'd be a good option. Otherwise, I'm not sure he'd be much better than Miles or German.

Lou's tenure here might also net us Alan Trammel as manager once Lou moves on. And I think Trammel deserves another shot - especially if he has similar philosophies to Lou.

I'm all for it, but I can also understand lessening interest because we're getting into lesser known players. I think we'll have enough interest for a fourth round, but if anybody wants to drop out, let me know and we can spread out the teams a bit. I'm game for a 4th round. If I had thought to look before picking, I would have chosen differently knowing that SD only had 2 picks in the 1st three rounds. Yeah, I never thought about that either. I just realized a few days ago that Pacman cost the Titans a fifth round pick, but luckily we got a compensatory pick in that round.

I'm all for it, but I can also understand lessening interest because we're getting into lesser known players. I think we'll have enough interest for a fourth round, but if anybody wants to drop out, let me know and we can spread out the teams a bit. Well if any team drops out feel free to distribute them my way. I don't really have any preference, I'll take any team. That works for me. Thanks.

QB is such the wrong position for the Lions to be looking at, unless there is a QB out there that is once in a generation good (which Stafford isn't) you don't take him. The lions need so much and taking QB #1 overall is just going to keep them set back. You build teams from the lines out and the lions need both o-line and d-line help and help at just about every other position except RB/WR. Here's the thing though. Let's assume the Lions draft Stafford number one overall. They also have the 20th pick, which they can use if an Eben Britton or Michael Oher falls to them. If an O-lineman isn't there, they might have a shot at a Robert Ayers, Peria Jerry, Ziggy Hood or Ron Brace. Then, with the first pick in the second round, they're right in the area that a guard like Duke Robinson or a tackle like Phil Loadholt makes sense. If they took an offensive tackle with the 20th pick, then someone like Hood or Brace may well be there at the top of the second round. Now, if they pass on Stafford, they could get a moderately better tackle with the first pick, but where is the QB coming from? After Sanchez, Stafford and Freeman there's not much until the third round or so (Bomar, Cantwell, etc). I think they have enough early picks - and the both lines are deep enough in this draft - that a QB makes sense with the first pick if they're extremely comfortable with him.

ESPN has it too. Congrats, I think he made the right decision.

Chris Mortenson (and a couple other non-ESPN sources) is reporting the Lions were highly impressed by Matthew Stafford and he is currently their top choice for the #1 pick.

We haven't had that many guys miss their picks, which I think is helping it to move along.

I'm all for it, but I can also understand lessening interest because we're getting into lesser known players. I think we'll have enough interest for a fourth round, but if anybody wants to drop out, let me know and we can spread out the teams a bit.

I'll go ahead and handle the Pats' compensatory pick as well. New England really has no strong needs left. The Pats could go with a RB here as there are still some good ones on the board, but they go with the best player available instead. So, the Pats select DT/DE Chris Baker out of Hampton. Baker can play DT or DE and provides depth and youth to the Patriot line that doesn't appear to be overflowing with either. Baker has had some issues in the past, but likely nothing Belichick can't handle. Cincinnati and Rocket are now on the clock with the next compensatory pick. I'll PM him.

AI went ahead and PMd me his pick for this round, so here's what he said. The Patriots are now on the clock.

Yeah, he was on my list of trade targets, but I thought we didn't have a chance because the Reds are a divisional rival. So much for that argument. He would look pretty good as a RH bat off the bench, insurance on the left side of the IF, and a possible 3rd choice at 1B. I'm not that enthralled by him unless he can repeat his 07 numbers. The rest of his years aren't very impressive. For a PTBNL, I can't say I would mind it, but I don't know that he'll be all that valuable.

If we're dumping somebody, I'd still prefer it to be Vizcaino rather than Gaudin or Guzman. It all depends on what we get in a deal for Gaudin or Guzman, though. If one of them nets us somebody pretty good, I can live with it. If we're basically cutting them, though, then I'd much rather try to move out Vizcaino. Yes but dumping Vizcaino cost double as dumping Gaudin, and Vizcaino has pitched good enough to make the roster. Plus I still think Vizcaino can be a valueable piece to the pen, when facing mostly RH hitters in close games. While Gaudin really hasn't pitch good since mid August. Personally I hope Gaudin and Guzman are both on the team on opening day. Patton is interesting, but I think Guzman will be better once he gets out of Arizona(didn't pitch all that great in 07 spring either). Gaudin is struggling right now, but I think he can get it figured out at some point. His track record would say he's a pretty solid reliever or back end starter. So it would hurt to lose Gaudin, when we expected to have him as insurance for Harden this season. We're paying the same amount to Vizcaino whether we keep him or dump him. The main reason I'd keep Gaudin if we couldn't get anything for him is because he'll likely put up similar numbers to Vizcaino, but he's about 5-7 years younger than Vizcaino. There's upside with Gaudin that he might improve, there is none with Vizcaino. If both can be expected to be similar guys this year and we have some possibility of improvement for Gaudin, I think the most prudent move is to dump Vizcaino. Now, obviously, Gaudin and Guzman have more upside and value, so if we can actually get someone in a trade who has decent value, that might be a better option than just dumping Vizcaino. I suspect, however, that none of them will net much, so I'd prefer to part ways with the player with the least upside.

If we're dumping somebody, I'd still prefer it to be Vizcaino rather than Gaudin or Guzman. It all depends on what we get in a deal for Gaudin or Guzman, though. If one of them nets us somebody pretty good, I can live with it. If we're basically cutting them, though, then I'd much rather try to move out Vizcaino.

Counting Vizcaino makes it 5 players for 3 spots. The OP was counting Vizcaino as a guaranteed spot already. I read the article that I think he's referring to including Samardzija in the discussion and discounting Vizcaino, but everything I've seen has Samardzija as a near-certainty to go to AAA and work as a starter. If you include him instead of Vizcaino, that makes it easier though. Samardzija should be in the minors stretching out and preparing to start. If it's only the three you're discussing there - Guzman, Gaudin and Patton - and Vizcaino has a spot clinched, then I'd say the debate should be around Gaudin and Patton. I like Patton, but think Gaudin has enough value to not just simply cut him. Gaudin has also proven to be an average reliever at the major league level, whereas Patton has never pitched above A ball. That said, if we could deal Gaudin for something decent, then go ahead. I wouldn't deal him away for nothing or cut him, but if a decent deal could be worked out, I'd be for it. Otherwise, I still think a 26 year old with average numbers is a safer bet than a 25 year old who has never gotten out of A ball. I'd be all for a deal that would keep Patton here and allow us to move him to AAA, though, while we figure out what to do with Gaudin - as long as we're not giving up a lot for Patton.

I'd say it's Vizcaino instead of Samardzija competing for the spot. I'm pretty sure Samardzija is a certainty to head to AAA and start. Between those four, though, (Vizcaino, Guzman, Gaudin and Patton) I'd like to see Guzman and Gaudin get it. Vizcaino has some worth, but cannot pitch effectively to lefties. If we could move him for something extremely minor, I'd be pretty happy. I'd hate to see Patton go and would like to see us work out a trade for him, but he is 25 and has never pitched above A ball before. The spring training numbers may be a bit deceiving. Guzman has the most talent of any of the pitchers listed and Gaudin has similar career numbers to Vizcaino, but is only 26 this year. He still might have some upside - plus he can start if necessary.

I absolutely think Lou made the right call here. It's probably making Carlos a little angry in the short term, but he'll hold the closer's role for ample time before he becomes a free agent, I'd say. Being a fireman this season won't hurt him that much long term - plus it's better for the team now. Wait a minute. A big part of why this is the right decision is Marmol is the better pitcher and can be used in more valuable situations, as opposed to sitting around waiting for the ninth inning, or occasionally coming in in the 8th. The Cubs are fortunate that Gregg has experience pitching the ninth AND did a bit better than Marmol this spring. Piniella can claim Gregg "earned" the spot, when in fact (and Piniella has indicated this in the past) Marmol is getting the more important role. The trick is that, from his comments, Marmol doesn't seem to agree that the best relief pitcher needs to be available as early as the sixth inning. There are reasons to think Marmol will be closer a year from now, but that's unlikely to be the best move. I hope someone is thinking about how to keep Marmol in the relief ace position for 2010, as well. Marmol will eventually get the closer's job. And that's not necessarily a bad thing if we can find a reliever who can have similar success to him to fill the fireman's role. I know most on here (and I included) want to see Samardzija as a starter, but if he doesn't develop into that role, he could potentially fill that role. Another option could be Angel Guzman if he can prove healthy and live up to his potential this season. Unless we get an option similar in ability to Marmol, I would prefer he stay in the role, but I'm not sure that's realistic over the course of the next few years. Especially if we might want to resign him when he becomes a free agent.

Yet again the Titans find themselves stymied from taking a receiver or corner worth the current pick and so we move on to another position. So, the Titans select center Jonathan Luigs from Arkansas. Luigs is a terrific talent who just needs to bulk up a bit and develop some. He may well be the third or fourth best center in the draft and is certainly in line with the Eric Wood/Antoine Caldwell/AQ Shipley group. For the Titans, Luigs further deepens a line that needs a bit more depth and he becomes the heir apparent for current center Kevin Mawae, who probably only has a couple years of productivity left. This pick allows Leroy Harris to become a fulltime guard and Eugene Amano a fulltime backup - both moves that make the line better. Flames and CubsFanNotBudMan are now on the clock for the Cardinals' pick. I will PM them.

.242/.319/.357 with a 77 OPS+ last year. He hasn't had an OPS+ over 100 since 2006 with the Rangers (121) and he's only done it two other times in his career. Good decision by Scioscia - it was a bad contract from the start.

I would describe it more as addressing it halfheartedly (which is still better than completely ignoring it). The Bears preach building from the draft, yet the one spot they have most ignored via the draft, and have routinely brought in outside help, is the offensive line. Signing these stopgaps isn't really addressing the longterm question on the line. It's the same thing they did in 2004/05, when they acquired a couple guys who helped for a couple years. Kreutz isn't going to be around forever, and none of the people acquired this offseason are likely to be longterm stable solutions at right tackle. If I remember correctly, Angelo's Tampa teams routinely struggled with finding the right fit on the offensive line. Maybe he just don't know how to draft/develop them, and can only sign others' castoffs. Well......but they did make a big draft pick last year on OL, for the most important OL position. I don't consider Omiyale a stopgap if he's moved to OG. Shaffer is less of a stopgap if viewed as a OG. That's yet to be determined. What I really meant was that OL is obviously now taking up much of Jerry's brainspace, unlike the past several years. He's thinking about it, taking action. We'll see where it leads, but I like the effort. I understand what you're saying, I'm just thinking this is more about catching up and patching holes, than actually building a longterm solution. They did spend one big pick on it last year. But it's a 5 position group that typically uses 6-7 on a fairly regular basis. You can't count both of those guys as guards until/unless they actually get a legit RT. And center is going to be an issue in the not-too-distant future. Omiyale is pretty much what Garza was when they signed him. Shafer is another team's castoff that they replaced with a Bears castoff. These guys are just filling space, they aren't securing positions for years to come. There are some good 3rd-4th round options in this draft on the offensive line, however. Angelo's thinking may be to patch the line with starters through free agency so that he's not forced to use a first rounder on a lineman, and then look at the Herman Johnsons, Jonathan Luigs and Antoine Caldwells of the draft who can be had later, but still project to be starters on the line after some development. Adding guys like Shaffer, Pace and Omiyale give the Bears at least a couple years to play with before needing new starters - that's probably about the length of time a middle round lineman will need to develop into starter ability. And those later guys, honestly, aren't that much less talented than the first round guys - they just project later because they have issues that need to be developed more (better technique, more strength, etc). I could be off on that, but it's certainly a possibility.

I absolutely think Lou made the right call here. It's probably making Carlos a little angry in the short term, but he'll hold the closer's role for ample time before he becomes a free agent, I'd say. Being a fireman this season won't hurt him that much long term - plus it's better for the team now.

Georgia has offered Mizzou coach Mike Anderson a multi-year deal worth more than $2 million a year, according to ESPN.

nope, we're trading our 1st, our 3rd, and orton for Jay Cutler. This is what you really meant, isn't it? :wink: