jacksonianmarch

Where will the rocket end up? It is a very simple question that has been asked ad nauseum this week. I have seem multiple ESPN personalities come on and speculate on where the greatest pitcher of our generation will be going. Most of them said retirement/astros 2 months ago. Now that the stros let Pettitte walk and are seemingly cold to the idea of Rocket returning to the lone star state, most of the pundits are saying a yankee return is the most likely. The sox idea was a big one early on, especially after it was reported that the sox were second in the running last season for Rockets services. But if the recent Helton negotiations tell you anything, then the sox are not buying into adding any more payroll (for those who dont know, the sox were asking the rockies to eat the entirety of Heltons contract for 2007). They are right up against the luxury tax limit, and may be slightly over it. If that is the case, the 15 mil (prorated 22 mil contract for 4 months) the sox would have to spend would turn into 19 mil for a starting pitcher, when their rotation is loaded. The sox have recently been considered to be a team likely there to stir up the asking price rather than seriously try to get him. Then there is always the fact that he could choose retirement, but when a merc looks out and sees a way to play for 4 months and make 15-20 mil, he wont pass that up. So my choice, as I have made bets previously with .700, is that the yankees will win the bidding. Now what can we expect from the rocket. Last season, in 110IP, he had an era in the low 2's. In the AL east, you typically add a run to that. Do I think that Roger is a low 3's era pitcher at 45? No, he'll be a 3.5-4.0 ERA kinda guy who will give you 6 innings a night and hit the showers. He isnt the saviour that most people think he is, but he is a nice guy to trot out there every 5th day, and he surely makes the postseason rotation a whole lot more formidable. So my answer is NY, lets see where the rest of you think he'll end up.

50.) Jordan Craft, P 49.) Jose Capellan, P 48.) Kris Negron, IF 47.) Mike Jones, 1B 46.) Josh Papelbon, P 45.) Jon Still, C 44.) Zach Daegas, OF 43.) Dustin Richardson, P 42.) Felix Doubront, P 41.) Tim Cox, P 40.) Yahmed Yema, OF 39.) Mark Wagner, C 38.) Barry Hertzler, P 37.) Jeremy West, 1B/DH 36.) Mike Rozier, P 35.) Randy Beam, P Rozier and Beam are lefties. Rozier a power lefty with little control. Beam a soft tossing lefty out of the pen who sounds like Halama.

Is that Booger McFarland?? LOL.

Billingsley cant keep his pitch count down, in the NL West. He's a long ways off. Broxton is power all the way. Kemp is a fastball hitter who cannot hit a breaking ball. Ethier tailed off something fierce last yr.

I havent heard that one, um, ever. LOL.

andy d was useless, yes or no?

I remember Hebner.

OMFG! I just spit my beer all over my keyboard.

haha, Devil Rays as well. And the Mariners and Nats, etc etc etc.

A few, nobody special. Just some minor leaguers still holding onto the dream.

Devil Rays and Orioles would be .500 teams in the NL, and in the NLW you can win a division at .500.

he certainly is, but not to the degree that Drew is.

from the sounds of it, he may have had an inflammatory bowel condition. My father had that when he was in his thirties. He had Crohn's, but they thought he had another form of inflammatory bowel disease called ulcerative colitis. That is something that is controlled, never cured. They never used the word infection I dont think. I kept hearing bowel "condition". Oh well, medical mumbo jumbo is something I am vaguely familiar with, oh well. Past that, I know nothing.

Hansen is an enigma. Right now his worth isnt that high, but how foolish will the sox look if he hits his potential right after he is dealt? That is the argument against dealing him. The argument for dealing him is that he doesnt have the balls to handle the bigs at this juncture and his lights out stuff is finding the center of the hitters bats. He will thrive in a lower level of pressure, but it will take yrs for him to figure it out in the fishbowl in boston.

I would not consider signing him until the AS break. He had a serious decline last yr in the second half and became extremely hittable, which is uncharacteristic of him. If he shows that his decline last yr was an aberration, then I'd sign him ASAP. But until then, signing him to what would have to be a 12-15mil contract is absurd.

I am not sure if they will regret it. If Helton continues his slide and the sox obtain him, then this could be a terribly bad deal.

well the question becomes what do you value most? MDC is a major leaguer, something that you cannot say about the 3B's. As a matter of fact, none of the 3B's will hit AA this yr until at least late august. They are a long way away from making an impact. MDC will be in the bigs this yr and he could pay dividends this season. Proximity to the majors is something of value as well.

that looks like what the rockies are asking for and Theo is refusing to deal MDC.

the yankee lineup would still be better as the bottom of the order is still dynamite, but the sox 2-6 would walk nearly 100 times per.

they had no interest in Abreu yet wanted Drew? That makes no sense. I think Theo called the yr a mulligan once the pitching went in the tank. The yankees had a young 1st rounder to send the other way in Henry. The sox had young first rounders who they valued, so they held pat. But not wanting Abreu on a short term deal in lieu of Drew on a long term deal is dumb.

talks will resume this morning on a conference call.

that sounds like a logical choice, but the rocky mountain news is reporting that this thing is fading. They are saying that Epstein has held pat completely and refuses to part with more young talent after what occurred last yr. Lucchino on the other hand, sounds eager to get this done and this denver paper (granted, not in the sox loop) believes that another power struggle is in the way of this deal. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/mlb/article/0,2777,DRMN_23924_5312977,00.html The fact that the sox think they can get Helton at half price for Lowell and Tavares is comical. Adding in Clement is even more comical, the guy wont even pitch this yr most likely. They will need to send them a young pitcher from their stable or this s*** doesnt get done.

I should have put 98. I have seen him hit 98 many times.