jacksonianmarch

Aardsma and Corey wont float through waivers IMO since both had nice springs and the sox were getting scouted pretty heavily in games where both pitched. For Snyder, he had a solid yr last yr (even though his second half was awful) so I'd think he still has a tiny bit of trade value.

both teams are relying on kids.

Whoa was I wrong. I must have gotten faulty info. Rasner and Patterson went down. Pettitte went to the DL where he'll stay till the 5th game of the yr. Karstens also went to the DL. Albaladejo Ohlendorf Traber Bruney Hawkins Farnsworth Chamberlain Rivera Aside from Traber as the "crafty" LH specialist and Albaladejo as the sinkerballer, the rest are power pitchers. I like it if they throw strikes. And the fact that Patterson got a promotion at least and is 1 step away should we need him. One guy will have to go down when Pettitte is activated on day 5. I'd assume it will either be Ohlie, Bruney, or Albaladejo depending on who throws better in the 4 previous games.

Sounds like it will be Rasner, Bruney and Traber. Ohlie and Patterson have been sent down today.

When it all comes down to it, we are relying on hot shot kids to pitch well. It can go either way.

under the radar is way more fun Gom. And I think one should augment Schilling's statement to the team that has the most starts from their top 6 (for the sox add Schilling and for the Yanks add Joba) will win the division.

AL average for all starters was 1.41.

Lester's 1.57WHIP is not league average.

Its not like the statements are all that out there. DMats faded down the stretch and Lester has been pretty bad over his MLB career.

I dunno BudLight. He started last yr on fire, attacking the zone and being very accurate. But he finished the yr afraid of the zone it seemed. I dont think it was much in the way he attacked the hitters. I think it was the patience and the quality that kinda set him back a bit.

Now that the sox need to get down to 25 men, who finishes out the sox pen? Right now, if Timlin hits the DL, the sox would have 3 spots in the pen. These spots are currently occupied by Corey, Aardsma, and Snyder. When Beckett returns in the second week of the season and Timlin returns (who knows if he hits the DL for his finger) then the sox might have to choose one of the three named above. All 3 would have to pass through waivers to be kept. For those who would pick Snyder, be forewarned. Snyder was an awful pitcher prior to last season. He had a career ERA of 5.50 and a career WHIP of 1.54. Last yr, after his spoof first half, he had a post AS ERA of 5.24 and a WHIP of 1.46. IE, he reverted to his norm. And the start to the yr wasnt any better when a guy named Jack Hannahan takes you deep for his 4th career tater. If it were up to me, I'd see how much value Snyder's first half bought him and sell him high before he bottoms out again. I'd have a nice battle between Corey and Aardsma before eventually sticking with Aardsma, who I think is the better arm and has the higher upside.

A lot of players show inconsistency early on. But something just doesnt fly with this kid IMO. He doesnt have that ability to throw the strike when he needs to. He is too willing to fall behind. There isnt much of a sense of urgency. And while that may be fine if he is slowly taking a batter off the plate like Maddux and Glavine did, but he might miss 6 inches off the zone then miss 6 inches up. He doesnt seem to have a clue where the zone is half the time.

DiceK finished last yrs regular season walking 42 in his last 85 innings. He starts ST with 5BB in 12IP and then 5BB in 5IP. I have never said anything badly about his stuff. I continue to think that his stuff, when he is on is in the top 10% of starting MLB pitchers. But his inconsistency has only worsened since the All Star break. He has shown nothing to prove that he is reverting to his pre-AS break form. If he does, he is at least a #2. If he doesnt, his stuff will be enough to make him a solid back end pitcher, but he'll continue to be erratic. Lester has been someone I have admired for his cancer battle, but I have questioned his baseball ability from day 1. While I think Buchholz is the real deal, Lester never fit the billing. Nice curveball, but overbilled fastball. A cutter that is average at best and location of all of the above that is terrible. He consistently falls behind hitters and has survived off luck for his MLB career. I dont typically use that argument, but how else can you explain how he parlays a 1.57WHIP into only a 4.68 career ERA. He has thrown 144IP, allowing 152H and 74BB. With those numbers, poor location and mediocre stuff, he either has to locate better, or he will eventually start getting tattooed. Today was just the first example against a team that is terrible. The A's offense is loaded with players who dont belong in the bigs. How is this guy going to fare against the Detroits, New Yorks, Torontos, White Sox of the world?

Per rotoworld, Kelvim Escobar may miss the season after learning that he has a tear in his shoulder, which may require surgery. If this is true, Lackey will miss 6-8 weeks and Escobar the season, leaving a rotation of Weaver, Garland, Moseley, Santana and Saunders. Couple that with their continued anemic offense and the emergence of the Mariners in the West, and I dont think the Angels have much of a shot.

16 pitches, 9 balls. Lester back up to his old tricks. And he just threw his hardest pitch of the inning at 91mph.

DiceK started this yr like he finished last yr. Erratic. When he is locating, he has some really solid stuff. But he runs so hot and cold that he can just be destroyed at times. Lucky for him the A's are loaded with young kids who'd be playing in AAA on most respectable teams. 5BB in the first 2 innings and only 2 runs? Papelbon looked disinterested. He was throwing 5 mph slower than usual and he didnt have that fire you typically see out of him. Once he gets back to the states, we'll probably see same old Pap. Snyder showed at the end of last yr that he doesnt belong in the bigs. He's proving it once again. And Manny looks like Manny again. s***.

Kind of a difficult question. The yankees rotation, plus Hawkins, Joba, Farns and Mo comprise 9 of the expected 12 pitching slots. The final 3 have been a dogfight between many players. These names include... Scott Patterson Billy Traber Heath Phillips Jose Veras Brian Bruney Ross Ohlendorf Chris Britton Edwar Ramirez Jeff Karstens Sean Henn John Albaladejo Kei Igawa It would seem that Traber has won the lefty job in the pen as his MiLB contract has already been purchased and he has been added to the 40 man. So that effectively eliminates one spot and probably moves Igawa to the minors and Henn and Phillips to FA. So that shortens the pool to 8 guys for 2 spots. The other guy who absolutely has to make it is Scott Patterson. If there is any justice, this guy should make it. If the yankees truly felt that this was an open competition, then you cannot beat what this guy has done. 7G 6.1IP 0ER 1H 6K 0BB. Plus his size, curveball and deceptive delivery could make him a solid choice. For the last pick, I'd have to look at who has options. And even though I love Ohlendorf and Albaladejo, the guy you have to at least look at is Bruney. He has slimmed down and is actually throwing the ball near the plate this spring. Also, he has no options left and would certainly be claimed if removed from the 40 man. So thats my three. Traber, Patterson, and Bruney.

not the first time EEI was wrong

I remember hearing somewhere that these 2 options are bound, is that true? IE, the sox need to exercise both or none at all. Or was EEI pulling my leg.

Posada is much better than Molina all around. Posada has a solid arm and is a damn good hitter. His patience and power slides in nice with this lineup. Having Molina in the lineup would create a black hole that right now, this lineup doesnt have. I do admit, Molina is a much better defensive catcher. He is better at blocking balls, I think he calls the game better and he frames pitches better. But that is all you really need out of your backup. If your backup was a great hitter, he'd be starting. You need a sound defensive player on the bench so the managing part of the game is cared for. And Molina is that in spades.

you are 100% wrong. Pavano has been placed on the 60 day Pavano

Ensberg look solid. He says he has finally found a stance he likes. Supposedly he had 9 different stances that he'd switch back and forth between in an AB. Kinda weird. If we can somehow get him back to his 05 form, we'd have one hell of an offensive player on our hands. If not, he's a low risk gamble.

yeah, maybe. But you dont get a rare talent like him very often and especially the way he fell to us, we have to capitalize.

It isnt risky if you do it right. Unfortunately, I dont think we will. If we stretch him out the right way (increase his IP by 1 per start, get him at least 3 starts and enough time off in between to recover then on a 100 pitch count for the next month) then there isnt too much risk. But that would involve us not rushing him. And I have a feeling that demoting him mid season will not be something Hank will be too happy with.