guapo34

Its a little early to write off guys from the 2003 list. Two guys that stick out as still having potential are Scott Hairston, who had a monster year this year in AAA, and Jeff Mathis, who struggled when first called up but is still thought of as a good prospect. Catchers sometimes take longer to develop. Other guys still have potential but are longer shots, such as Josh Hamilton who was just taken in the Rule 5 draft.

Well if he can play an average SS they are wasting some of that value by putting him in the OF. Theoretically, he'd be worth more to a team that needs a SS, the Red Sox, than he is to his current team, so a trade could make both teams better.

I've already said that Hughes is a top 5 prospect in all of baseball, so don't take this as anti yankee, but Callis said in a recent chat on espn he'd take Matsuzaka over Hughes because the level of competition in Japan is generally considered higher than AAA so hes proven more at a higher level. Of course this is even less anti-yankee as lots of people are assuming Matsuzaka will wind up on the Yankees. As for Hansens prospect status, there isn't a standard that is used across the industry to decide how many IP/AB disqualify someone as a prospect. BA will still rank Hansen as a prospect I've read.

Most lists I've looked at have Brandon Wood and Cameron Maybin higher than Hughes, and some but not many have Homer Bailey higher as well. This list seems to rank all pitchers higher than I've noticed though, and I'm not sold on Wood being a top 5 in all of baseball anyway. Some of the worst rankings I see are Elbert at 13, too high, Loney and Laroche at 36 and 40 too low, Fernando Martinez at 45 seems really low, and all the Red Sox guys seem high. Lowrie doesn't even belong on the list.

I'd be shocked if Suppan wound up with the Yankees. I expect Wang, Mussina, Johnson, and Hughes to be in the rotation next year along with one FA, and I expect that FA to be better than Suppan. If signing Suppan meant he took up that FA spot or Hughes' spot I'd be exstatic.

Why wouldn't still go to Lowell? Would he advance past there after extended spring training?

I didn't mean to seem too pessimistic. I like the team they have assembled, and I like Delonte, I was just pointing out he had a very disapointing opening night. And the numbers might look good for Pierce but he was 10-23 from the floor and 7-15 from the line. The boards are impressive but the scoring really isn't. Telfair and Rondo were hurt by the fact they were going against Chris Paul, one of the few guys in the league faster and better ball handlers.

Scaff, What about Brandon Moss?

It would be a pretty big surprise if these guys even pitch somewhere in the offseason. If healthy I would expect both to be able to be dominant closers for some winterleague team.

Was at the game tonight. Delonte did not have a good game. The FT shooting was terrible. If you take out Wally's numbers the rest of the team was 13-26 from the line, lead by Pierce's 7-15. Its too bad because Pierce played an excellent game other than that. He pulled down 19 boards.

Whats the downside of him taking arbitration? They trade him for nothing? Someone will take him like the Royals took Graffanino. And theres always the chance someone will sign him and we get compensation. Maybe a team picking in the top 15 signs him and doesn't lose the first round pick, or maybe a team thats getting an extra pick is willing to sign him because they'll have someone else's pick. The upside to offering him arbitration is too high to not offer it.

I think you guys are expecting too much out of a backup catcher. Most starting catchers don't hit well. Most backup catchers are awful hitters. If they were good they'd be starting somewhere. I think theres a good chance Mirabelli comes back.