Sox minor moves

[Dipre]

Chris Tillman is pretty sick too.

 

If he can get it together and Ray comes back fine from TJ, the O's could actually have a decent pitching staff.

[BSN07]

According to Ryan Divish, the Mariners acquired reliever David Aardsma from the Red Sox for minor league lefty Fabian Williamson. Aardsma had been designated for assignment on Thursday

 

 

Glad to see the Sox get back something for the guys they DFA'd.

[JimEdHOF2009]

I am glad to get more than a rosin bag and some nice maple bats for Aardsma. He is a 1 month pitcher...If he is not hitting 97, he is meat.

 

I also like the Pauley transaction. I could never understand how he produced such stellar stats in AAA. He will never be more than a #5 and for the Sox..probably nothing more than an 8.

[riverside sluggers]

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck/2009/01/orioles_projected_roster.html

 

Peter Schmuck who covers the Orioles, put out his projected 25 man roster for opening day... He has David Pauley in the rotation.

[BSN07]

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck/2009/01/orioles_projected_roster.html

 

Peter Schmuck who covers the Orioles, put out his projected 25 man roster for opening day... He has David Pauley in the rotation.

 

That's so sad. I don't see him there, especially if the rumors are true about a Rich Hill trade.

[Dipre]

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/schmuck/2009/01/orioles_projected_roster.html

 

Peter Schmuck who covers the Orioles, put out his projected 25 man roster for opening day... He has David Pauley in the rotation.

 

Ewwwww............

[italstallianion]

It's going to be batting practice when he's in the game. I hope Pauley can face us so we can tee-off against his flat high 80's fastball.

[Cocos Disciples]

Pauley as an Oriole will be much more valuable to us than as a Sox.

[riverside sluggers]

That's so sad. I don't see him there' date=' especially if the rumors are true about a Rich Hill trade.[/quote']

 

True I forgot about that, reports are that it wont cost much at all

 

I just found it funny that projecting his team's 25 man roster, David Pauley is the only player thats pictured

[BoSox21]

their order doesnt look too bad though, they have a good heart in Mora, Huff, Markakis and Scott

[italstallianion]

I doubt that the offense is the Oriole's main problem.

[BSN07]

Baltimore has a solid lineup.

 

They are like TB 2 years ago, solid lineup, shaky/young pitching.

[BoSox21]

wouldnt shock me if they finished higher than the Jays this year though, they are truly going to be awful

[riverside sluggers]

Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan will both be MIA this season. Right now their front 3 of the rotation with be Halladay, Litsch and David Purcey. Minor league acquisitions of Matt Clement and Mike Maroth could fill out the rotation

 

I could buy Toronto taking last place behind the O's

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

I think they have last place locked up.

[BoSox21]

McGowan is supposed to be ready right around Smoltz-time but who knows what theyll get from him

[diony]

wouldnt shock me if they finished higher than the Jays this year though' date=' they are truly going to be awful[/quote']

 

It would shock me, the Jays have better pitching and bullpen. The O's offense is solid, Adam Dunn wouldn't hurt at DH/OF, Wieters replacing Zaun midseason. They'll definitely have a better offense than last year.

 

Their rotation kinda stinks, they have nothing aside of Guthrie, Uehara is unproven, Hendrickson is their 4th starter with a 5.45 ERA pitching half his game at Florida. And well Pauley.

 

But in 2-3 years, if Tillman, Matsuz and Arrieta pan out, the O's are the next Tampa. Those are 3 solid pitching prospects.

[BoSox21]

what good is a bullpen without a rotation and an abysmal offense?

 

heres their projected lineup

 

Scutaro - ss

Hill - 2b

Rios - rf

Wells- cf

Lind - lf

Rolen - 3b

Overbay - 1b

Barajas - c

?????? - dh

[Dipre]

The Jays can't field, can't hit, and can barely pitch.

 

So a last place finish is their ceiling IMHO.

[italstallianion]

Didn't the Blue Jays have one of the best ERA's last year? I mean their offense is anemic and I don't know much of their fielding, but I thought pitching (particularly the bullpen) was a huge strength for the Blue Jays. I think they were towards the top in Runs Allowed per game (meaning they allowed around the least amount of total runs)

[Dipre]

Substract Burnett, McGowan and Marcum, and you've got a couple rotation holes that'll seriously affect their pitching, and i know McGowan didn't pitch last year, but still.......

[italstallianion]

I guess there's a difference between last year and this year, and I do predict the Jays to finish last as well, I guess I can see you making a point for 2009 to be a statistical anomaly in terms of pitching, but I don't see them becoming the O's, Rangers, Rockies etc...maybe it's something about the park but the Jays are typically a team that can pitch. Little else...but they can throw the ball.

[riverside sluggers]

Litsch as the projected #2, thats all you need to know how their rotation is going to be

[Dojji]

Litsch as the projected #2' date=' thats all you need to know how their rotation is going to be[/quote']

 

Or at least it is until you grow a brain and realize that Jesse Litsch is actually a pretty decent pitcher with excellent command who's put up some very nice numbers for himself over the last 2 years.

 

There are a number of arguments why the Jays are not going to be a good team next year. Jesse Litsch featuring prominently in their rotation isn't one of them.

[jacksonianmarch]

Didn't the Blue Jays have one of the best ERA's last year? I mean their offense is anemic and I don't know much of their fielding' date=' but I thought pitching (particularly the bullpen) was a huge strength for the Blue Jays. I think they were towards the top in Runs Allowed per game (meaning they allowed around the least amount of total runs)[/quote']

 

They did. But they had a great rotation that has been decimated by injury and FA. McGowan In 2007, McGowan was considered on of the best young SPs in the game with his solid 4.08 ERA in 170IP and about 8K/9IP. But his shoulder went boom and now it is unlikely that he'll ever regain that kind of dominant stuff. He should be ready for ST they say, but his labrum was the problem and he likely wont be able to sustain the load of a full yr. And then there was Shaun Marcum, who was very solid in his first full yr. But he blew out his elbow and will be gone for 2009. And then they lose Burnett. When your 2,3, and 4 go down or go away, the rotation is gonna be shot. If I were Ricciardi, I'd rebuild. The team got good again because of the pitching. Now its Halladay, Litsch pray for rain.

 

I expect the Orioles to be improved IMO. Wieters should be there by mid season. Their young and high ceiling OF should provide excitement. Their pitching staff past Guthrie is very suspect, but Erbe isnt far away and Matusz looks like the real deal. If they're able to get one more big talent or develop a big time arm to team with Guthrie, they might touch .500.

 

I expect the Rays to be a pain in the ass. Their rotation gets better with Price sliding in for Jackson. They get a full yr of Longoria, a healthy yr from Upton and Crawford and likely a full yr of protection for Pena. That latter part is key since he had no protection early on and it was a Pena walkfest out of the gate. That being said, I dont think the Rays are gonna be a playoff team this yr. Call it a hangover or what have you. I call it a bullpen implosion. Balfour and Percival are not gonna repeat their 2008s. Wheeler isnt that special when isolated to the closer role either. And this is where I expect them to go from unexpectedly dominant to pedestrian. And they dont yet have the offense to make up for blown leads IMO. I honestly think the Rays will be the team to beat for 2010-2012 before they need to break this team up due to rising costs, but I think this yr they'll be more of a 85 win team. Enough of a pain in the ass to get in the way, but wont repeat their 2008.

 

And that leaves us two. I think we're superior on paper right now. But its close and an injury here or there gives you guys the edge. Its gonna be a good yr, but I do expect both our teams to make the playoffs in 09

[riverside sluggers]

Oh throwing out a scarecrow diss at me huh. Did I say Litsch was a bad pitcher? f*** no. But he's a #3, maybe #4 in other rotations. Much more will be counted on him this year with the losses of Marcum, McGowan and AJ Burnett. He's still relatively new to the bigs, posting inning counts of 111 and 176

[BoSox21]

On top of all that, Ricciardi wants to extend Halladay beyond 2010 but ownership has said no. Take that for what its worth

[italstallianion]

Imagine the dog fight that may/may not ensue for Halladay...

[jacksonianmarch]

And the ownership is right Bosox. The Jays just got set back about 2-3 yrs with these injuries. Halladay will be mid 30s in 3 yrs. He's 31 right now, turns 32 in May. If he is dealt mid season, the bidding war would be fierce. I still dont see either NY or Boston being bidders though. I dont see them dealing in division

[BoSox21]

I agree completely, I can't see the Jays making a serious run for the foreseeable future and its in their best interest to get a king's ransom for Halladay