ORS

Everyone keeps mentioning the fact that Cleveland can pull the strings because they have the upper hand, and I even thought this way too until recently, but I think their desire/need may be just as high as the Sox's is. Aaron Boone is coming off an utterly craptastic 84 OPS+ season as their 3B. That just plain sucks for a CIF; it's Erstadesque. Yeah, Lowell was bad last year too, but his career numbers are significantly better and he's moving into to the RHPH's dream park. I think they need Marte just as much as the Sox need Crisp, so the gamesmanship to try and squeeze a little more out of the Sox FO is a little misplaced IMO. Perhaps they think they have the Sox by the balls because of Damon jumping ship, and if they do they are mistaken, because this FO has said they won't make moves in reaction to what the MFY's do.

Call me crazy, but Rhodes' picture might be next to "mediocre middle reliever" in the baseball dictionary. I know Mota wouldn't get the deal done by himself, which is why I said Mota+ in my post.

If he had a below average arm, I might consider it feasable, but Johnny couldn't throw the ball through a sheet of wet tissue paper (pure hyperbole, but you get the point). I actually think he makes more sense for the Yankees, given that LF is expansive there and his weak arm won't matter as much because it's less of a throw to prevent 1st to 3rd's on a single, which is exactly why I wouldn't want him in RF.

I get what you're saying, heck, look at the current champ's LF. Podsednik leaves something to be desired at the plate for a COF. However, for a team that plays 81 home games at Fenway, it would be a mistake to not take advantage of the fact that an all-stick/no-glove LF can work there better than most places. So, by putting Damon there, they'd lose a chance to put someone like Manny in the lineup.

With Michaels, Marte doesn't have to be traded, so it's Michaels+Marte vs. Crisp. This is, of course, assuming that Michaels can be had for a RP+ deal. Look at how Michaels stacks up against Crisp defensively in CF. Player, GP, F%, RF, ZR, Rate, Rate2 Michaels, 138, .983, 2.67, .855, 107, 108 Crisp, 188, .986, 2.42, .866, 93, 94 Most of the traditional stats (Fielding %, Range Factor, Zone Rating) are very similar, which makes it weird for their Rate stats to be so far apart. Since I don't know the equation to calculate RAA (Runs above average, which is used to determine Rate), I can't tell you what Michaels has done to get such better numbers than Crisp. Let's just throw those out and call them defensively equivalent. On the offensive side, Michaels has a better OPS, OBP, and EqA, but Crisp hits for more power. So, if you think the Sox need another power threat (I don't), then Crisp is who you want. But, if you want someone to get on for the sluggers they already have (I do), then Michaels is the answer. Obviously, Crisp has much more upside, and despite the statistcal oddity, I suspect he's a better fielder. But his potential, extra power, and better glove aren't enough to warrant giving up Marte IMO. If a deal for Mota+(non-big-5 prospect) can net them Michaels, then that is a better deal than the one for Crisp+(filler). EDIT: I had the Rate stats backwards, Micheals' numbers are better.

He can't play RF with his arm, and he doesn't have enough stick to play LF.

Date & Time..........Favorite..............Spread........ .....Underdog 2/5 6:30 ET............. Pittsburgh............. -3.5..................Seattle Total Points: 51

I wouldn't worry about that. The cutoff man will have plenty of time to move left or right to get the ball before it gets to him after the 4th hop.

I generally don't like to jump in with thoughts/feelings about trades until they are completed. That said, I agree with those that think it would make more since to just go after Michaels since that is who Cleveland is pursuing to replace Crisp. I think Michaels+Marte is better to have than Crisp. The rest of the filler rumored to be in the deal is just a swap of spare parts that doesn't affect the end equation too much IMO.

I'm in like Flynn.

Uh, Kobe just dropped 81 on the Raptors. linkage

Nice pickin' Calvn; great minds think alike. Like you, I like Pittsburg without thinking about it too hard. If we both go that way, that leaves the door open for schillingouttheks and ARod2212. The possibility of a 4 way tie still looms. Interesting to say the least. I'd be shocked if the opening line is greater than 4, so it will pretty much become an outright pick. This one will require some consideration.

Here's another one. I would have let him walk. Look at his stats his last 4 years with the Sox, the ones after the Sox gave him a nice contract, and then look at a picture of him just before he left and then look at another from when he was in Toronto. The chubby-bunny was resting on his laurels while in Boston, got insulted, then got in shape finally. Duquette didn't f*** up by letting him go. He may have f***ed up by making statements that would motivate him to prove his doubter wrong, but the decision was a good one.

What's impressive about Marte isn't his MiLB batting average; it's the fact that he's hit over 20 HR twice already despite being only 21. That's pretty rare. I'm not sold on the 40+ HR potential since his IsoP is only around .200, and most of the games best sluggers had .250+ IsoP in the minors.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if either of ARod2212, Schillingouttheks, or See Red gets both picks right, that still doesn't clinch it. Follow my reasoning: 1. Suppose ARod2212 is right on both games, he gains +2 points making his total 6. 2. SeeRed, Calvn, and ORS (myself) would both split their games making their totals 4. 3. All three would have to pick differently than ARod in the Super Bowl, but if they were right, there would be a four way tie at 5 total points. Which would make total points the tie breaker. Other scenarios could result in similar situations. Whoever of ARod, Schilling, and SeeRed gets both games right will be the leader, but anyone who has at least one game picked the same as the leader would still be alive. Only those that picked both games differently from the leader would be eliminated. Perhaps I'm assessing the situation incorrectly, but that is what it seems like to me. EDIT: And Ray10 could get into the mix if Denver and Carolina win since that would put him 2 points behind See Red. He'd just be forced to pick differently than See Red in the Super Bowl.

That's right, it was Gorman. Regarding Teixeirra, reports have him trying to bully Teixeirra into signing for less, which upset his father and ruined any chance for further negotiations. So, he botched that deal by his actions, not by making a value decision.

I think Roethlisberger's problems come from being under pressure, like most QBs. Brady had a lot of time to pick apart the Bronco's pass-D last week, which leads me to believe Ben will have time to get rid of the ball. Their positions in sacks and sacks allowed are pretty revealing. Sacks - Pittsburg T-3 (47), Denver T-16 (28) (18 places with ties) Sacks Allowed - Pittsburg T-8 (32), Denver 3 (23) (19 places with ties) Run D is a wash (85.2 y/gm DEN, 86.0 y/gm PITT). It's going to come down to the passing game, IMO. PITT's secondary and pressure is better, and I think Roethlisberger is a better QB than Plummer. The real question is which one of those two would win in a "Worst Playoff Beard" competition?

Let's no gloss over the botched Teixeirra negotiations after drafting him or the Bagwell trade. Duquette was all about proven MLB talent, so part of the WS core does go to his credit, but Theo brought in the pieces that put them over the hump. Schilling, Foulke, Mueller, and Ortiz played as much a part as the Duquette guys did.

Yeah, Pedro cicra 1998-2000 was something very special. Perhaps it spoiled us a bit.

Good points. Pedro is, and always has been, more than a pure thrower, and his contract is more reasonable when compared to Millwood. I do think he'll be able to put up a mid-3 ERA for the duration, even if he's only hitting low-90s on the gun occassionally, in the NL. But, I wonder how that stuff would hold up in the AL East? Paul Byrd handled the Yankee lineup this postseason, but I doubt his effectiveness would last if he were in the league and had to face them more regularly. I think similar performances can be had at about $4-5M less per year. I know, it's not my money, but that does free up resources for other areas, like the ability to take on Lowell in order to get Beckett.

Pittsburg/Seattle If the Steelers can pressure the QB that suffered the least sacks in the NFL for the 2nd straight year (and INDY was 2nd in sacks allowed in 2003), then they'll have no problem turning up the heat on Plummer. His big mistakes usually come under pressure, and their secondary is better than NE's. Roethlisberger has the no-experience monkey off his back by now, and Denver gives up yards through the air, so the black-n-gold take this one. I like Carolina in this game when they are healthy, but they aren't. Goings is good, but he's no Davis or Foster. Peppers is questionable (unless he's been upgraded), and even if he plays, his shoulder is messed up so that may affect his ability to be physical in the line play. Carolina's offense, while more explosive, is similar to Washington's. Good running game, excellent game breaking under-sized WR (Smith/Moss), and some good role players as other options. Seattle did a good job of shutting down Portis and Moss, and since Carolina's RBs are hurt, they will become more one-dimensional. Hasselbeck and his O-Line handled the good pressure from Washington, so I see no reason to expect why he can't do the same against a weakened (due to Peppers) Carolina D. 'Hawks take this one.

And Marte could turn into a 30-40 HR 3B, but then again he could not. Both cases involve risk; both have potential. Do I love this trade proposal? No, but I don't hate it either.

Sure, Crisp's stick leaves something to be desired for a COF spot. But, a lot of players that start their career being slight of build fill out in their late 20's and develop power later. Crisp is showing this trend, meaning he has the potential to hit 25-30 HRs by the time he's in a COF spot. Do you agree?

At $13.5M per? I would say he better be pretty good for the duration. If he gives three years like he gave this year, then a declining 4th would be acceptable. I think this year may have been a little flukish though. His K/9 dropped despite moving the NL, and his BABIP was .249, well below his career average of .277. BABIP is a fickle beast, so it's unlikely to stay that low, meaning his ERA will come up, and his W/L record will suffer. Time will tell.

I figured if a player was offered $13.5M per season (whether it be for 3 or 4 years), it was safe to assume he's talented, call me crazy. Both teams figured his FMV to be $13.5M per, what they didn't agree on what his durability, hence the extra year from the Mets.