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Right. Throw the stats out cause you says so. That sounds smart. I like Gonzo's D, and Lugo doesn't compare when you are talking complete defensive package (I think I've said that already). Sure offense is expendable up the middle. But, when you are average to maybe a little below average on the corners, you need to pick up offensive runs somewhere.

The Bears are working the 49ers over.

Lugo has better wheels, Gonzo better instincts. Perhaps that makes them a wash, and statistically, they appear to be equals in terms of how many balls they get to. Lugo's bat is substantially better than Gonzo's though. Definitely good enough to justify choosing him over Gonzo's more sure hands.

Red Auerbach was the Boston Celtics. The sporting world and Boston has lost a legend. Sad day. RIP Red.

Wood is not far behind Aybar. Their system is one of the deepest in IF talent. Soriano is the only one I'd prefer to Manny. CLee is a much lighter hitting version of Manny, so I'd take the real thing there (even with the age). P.S. ARod is a better fit on every roster in baseball. Thanks for the newsflash.

I agree, thus the doubt must remain.

Maybe his swing didn't, but the results did. .776 OPS in Sept 1/12 in the ALDS Small samples, for sure, but not an encouraging trait as he gets one year older.

I don't think so. Despite the sweep, last year featured some compelling pitching matchups, a walkoff in game 1, and a 14-inning affair that, while painful to watch Houston's ineptitude, was a good game. This year's series sucked.

For the same reason that you think Super Sheff is such a spiffy idea for the whole league. Manny's salary would be $38M over 2 years vs. ~$100M over 5. He's more attractive because there's less time on his contract. Man, kinda sucks getting caught talking out of both sides of your mouth, doesn't it? Oh, and like I previously mentioned, the proposal you ridiculed as not making sense would have Manny getting subsidized. Try and keep up.

I'd agree he would have value if he wasn't coming off an injury. A wrist injury, at that. And, it's not just a wrist injury, but a wrist injury for a guy with a notoriously violent swing. You are, but you should not be, ignoring this. Presupposing that the '04/'05 version of Sheff - which was already into a decline from his peak ability - is what the GMs around the league are expecting is flat out wrong. There have to be serious doubts about his ability to recover to his '04/'05 levels.

This, of course, assumes you are able to get Soriano who will have many other suitors. If they deal for Manny, there probably aren't as many trying to do the same thing, so the chances of success are much greater. I agree, that Soriano is choice #1, but he's also the one with the most competition for his services. If they fail on Soriano, then that deal for Manny makes sense for the Angels. They need a big bat, and pitching (and IF prospects) is their position of depth. Gotta give to get. Aybar is ready to take over SS, and I tend to think Kendry Morales is more likely to take over 1B. The fact that you didn't recognize any of this, leading you to ridicule this trade as not making sense for the Angels, speaks volumes about how you will be unable to deliver on your promise to "Enlighten" us. Thanks for playing, Tonto.

Not that I think any of that will happen, I believe the man said $$ would be included in the deal. Reading and understanding what people write makes this whole game a lot easier. Please try and do that if you want to be taken seriously here, Mr. Enlightenment. Regarding Manny. He isn't just a feared hitter. He's an all-time great. He's trancendent. One of ten in history with at least 3000 PA and an OPS over 1.000.

What's biased about seeing how his injury, age, and attitude negatively affect that trade value? This guy is no lock to come in and put up MVP level numbers at his age, and there's a good possibility that he doesn't play the whole year. Then throw in the attitude. None of those contenders wanted a 1/2 year rental of Soriano at the deadline this year. What makes them all of a sudden want to get an older, slower, more apt to decline, more apt to get injured, more expensive, and more ornery player?

We go into the HotStove season without a key position filled, shortstop. Here's who is available in the market..... Gonzo, Lugo, Royce Clayton, Craig Counsell.........and not much else. I think the best two options are Gonzo or Lugo with either weighing in heavily on opposite sides of the offense/defense spectrum. Gonzo's the gloveman with no stick. Lugo is a very offensive talent for a MIF, but his D is suspect. Personally, I think Lugo's extra range over Gonzo makes up for the miscues he might make, so they should get the extra offense.

I like Nady too, but he fits right now in Pittsburg. Duncan has no position in StL, so I think they should strike while the iron is hot.

Sure, those are the choices, but by sharing his opinion (and showing his ass - AGAIN), he just hurt whatever trade value he had.

Chris Duncan. Butcher in the OF. True position is 1B/DH. Not getting that job in StL. Go get him.

Congrats to the Cards and their fans. They had a couple of years in my time as a baseball fan where they looked like the favorite ('85, '87), but didn't get the job done.

In hindsight, given the injuries to everyone (at some point) in the lineup, I'm glad that they didn't give up value to get a pitcher because, as mentioned, the run production was pretty much a joke for about 3-4 weeks in late Aug/Sept. While this postseason is Exhibit A about how getting there is all that matters, I doubt they would have done it with moves after what transpired after the deadline. If anything, watching the Tigers kill themselves in the Series must have Yankee fans saying, "Why couldn't they do that against us?". Any extra squirming for them that derives from this Series is fine by me.

I agree. Dude's got a good eye and serious power. I think it would be a big blunder to not go hard after him.

I doubt anyone listens, though. Anyone interested in Sheff's one year contract would have to be a contender. Why would a "Win Now" team thin out their pitching given the annual importance it demonstrates in the postseason? I still don't see it.

He raked? A .776 OPS in Sept, followed by a 1/12 in the ALDS is raking? Looks like the standard has dropped a bit.

I'm not so sure. I'll believe he's still Gary Sheffield when I see him be Gary Sheffield with that rebuilt wrist. If the bat slips a little, and there's reasonable expectation that it might given the injury, then his defensive liability gets magnified. I'll be very surprised if an NL team is interested in him as a full time OF. He has DH written all over him right now, IMO.

You compared letting a FA to walk to the team of his choice to holding the reigns over a player to dictate where he can/can't go (when it is evident the Yankees have no interest in keeping him). I don't care how the CBA changed the compensatory picks, Sheff would still rate as a type-A because they don't just look a the last year and they account for injuries. Low risk for who? There is a very strong posibility that his wrist permanently affects his ability to swing a bat. Couple that with his oft injured shoulder and legs, and you are looking at a potential light hitting DH. For $13M? What a bargain. Look, I know you can't resist the urge to apply a nice spit shine to Cashman's testicular region, but be real about it. He opened a can of worms with Sheff, and his statements about ARod are patent company line when this type of situation occurs. s***, Manny asks to get traded twice a year, but you don't see anyone here donning knee pads when Theo says "We'll try to accomodate that request, but a move will have to be in the best interests of the club." You take homer to a new level.