jacksonianmarch

That's be interesting. I would have said that Bard wouldnt break camp as a starter. We'll see. Regardless, with the way pitchers are babied these days, Bard will likely end up in the pen come September anyway to keep his IP down

Let's just look at something right now. The projected opening day lineup, rotation and pen 1. Ellsbury CF 2. Pedroia 2B 3. Gonzalez 1B 4. Youkilis 3B 5. Ortiz DH 6. Ross LF 7. Saltalamacchia C 8. Sweeney RF 9. Punto/Aviles SS 1. Beckett 2. Lester 3. Buchholz 4. Aceves 5. Bard CL- Bailey SU- Melancon MR- Morales MR- Albers MR- Doubront MR- ??? MR- ???

UN, it is easy for people to be both down on the sox and up. The optimists point to the fact that they were the best team in baseball for a 120 game stretch and the fact that they should start out the yr healthy. The pessimists look at the fact that they crumbled down the stretch because their pitching fell apart and as it stands, they've either gone backwards or stood pat compared to last yr. I dont think you can kill someone for being a pessimist, just like the pessimists shouldnt kill you for being optimistic. Realistically, the sox have a bruising lineup, an average pen, and a starting rotation with the potential to be the best in the game but lacks true depth, lacks durability and proven back end performance. If things break right, they're in the playoffs. If things break wrong, it's a lost season. If they break about even, though, that's where the worriers are worrying. If you only lose one pitcher from your rotation for a substantial period of time (it happens to everyone), then what are your options? If you lose one position player for a prolonged period of time, what are the contingencies? (You're already down Crawford for the beginning). If healthy, the sox are world series caliber. But they havent been truly healthy in 3 seasons and return a similar cast of characters.

By the end of the yr, the sox will be welcoming a new class of lower level prospects for people to go ga-ga over. I liked their drafts from 09-11, but we havent seen a ton of the potential showing up. This might be the yr

There's no guarantee that he passes his physical, until then, the deal isnt complete.

SO as of right now, here is the Yankee 25 man roster 1. Martin C 2. Cervelli C 3. Teixeira 1B 4. Cano 2B 5. Jeter SS 6. Rodriguez 3B 7. Nunez UTIL 8. Gardner LF 9. Granderson CF 10. Swisher RF 11. Jones OF 12. Sabathia 13. Pineda 14. Kuroda 15. Nova 16. Garcia 17. Hughes 18. Burnett 19. Wade 20. Robertson 21. Soriano 22. Rivera 23. Logan 24. ? 25. ? We know Chamberlain will supplant a pitcher when he's ready, probably by June to pitch out of the pen. As it stands, we have 12 pitchers without Joba. I hate saying it, but we currently have too many starters. I am cool with moving Hughes to the pen and stretching him out if needed, but right now, one of the Burnett/Garcia combo needs to go. And that guy has to be Burnett. As it stands, the pitchers above are either fixed in their spots or are out of options. A move must be made.

Also, the sox numbers are baffling. Jacobs and Barnes are 55 mediums? They are more like 60-65 highs. 5 tool player with power at 20 and a tall framed pitcher with an advanced repertoire who throws smoke only profile as average players if they are lucky? I don't get it

BTW, I was looking at the Yankee top 15 prospects and the only guys over 22 are Betances, Adams, and Warren. And they're all slated to be in AAA or even the bigs this yr. As good as the prospects are that people know about, there are a bevvy of prospects under the radar that these so called "experts" don't know s*** about

It's a weird grade, which is why you should rank them or grade them based on ceiling and likelihood. If Bryan Mitchell goes out there in Charleston and shows he can locate all three of his pitches, immediately, he'd be a 65 and a medium instead of a 55 and extreme. I'd rather see two numbers then a risk level than one arbitrary number that moves arbitrarily and a risk level

1. I wouldnt oppose that move. But you forgot Wandy 2. Cardenas was just claimed 3. Surprised he's still around. I think a MiLB deal isnt out of the question, but he probably wont sign with us since he'd have next to no chance of making the team 4. Meh, I'd almost rather have Laird or Vazquez in that role. Chavez was hurt even as a backup and his bat was awful aside from month #1. 5. I would love to add Soler to our AA team and see what he could do

Rotoworld says they have agreed on a contract, he's off the board

He has signed with StL. It's a done deal

Once again, he asked for Montero and Banuelos for Danks, and Floyd has been the better pitcher lately. He's gonna ask for the moon

Their grades are strange. They arent ceiling or else a ton of players would have a 70+ ceiling. They arent likelihoods because they give a risk level. It's weird. Regardless, I am very happy with the state of the system, especially the fact that we deal away our biggest prospect and returned to us a phenomenal prospect in Campos as well as getting Pineda. I also think that we are going to see us pop into the top 3 after this season. We had a massive amount of talent in the short season leagues and should see some of it produce in Charleston and Tampa this yr. It was surprising how much talent they kept back last yr in Staten Island but now they're all ready. Should be interesting

Both Albers and Morales should come to camp with a spot to win, but if they look like dogshit, I dont think they should be guaranteed a spot

Kenny Williams wants everything. He asked for Montero and Banuelos for Danks. Floyd has been better and is signed cheaper. He's gonna want A LOT

Albers shouldnt be blocking anybody. He was the balls in the first half, but reverted back to his standard s***** self the second half. He shouldnt have a guaranteed spot in the sox pen. Morales also. He had a good season last yr, but he's one pitch away from disaster at all times and hasnt shown consistency ever.

What do the low, medium, high, and extreme mean? Risk?

Pitchers and catchers report in 3 weeks VA. Time is running short

Throw out the prospect then. If the question is 2 yrs of Burnett or 3 yrs of Soriano, who's the better bet? And for a rebuilding team, which quantity is more positioned for a rebound? It has to be Burnett. He's much more likely to pitch to a sub 4ERA than Soriano is to hit to an OPS over .850 again. If he made that deal and Burnett responded with a solid first half (which he usually has anyway) then the Cubbies could move him for something that actually has value

I believe Boras is representing Jackson, so if he agrees to a short term deal, it'll be a one yr contract with a player option. All the big money teams have either filled their holes or are looking for one yr deals. Jackson really lacks a serious, big money suitor. In my predictions prior to FA, I predicted the Sox would get Jackson. I thought it made too much sense. Innings eating pitcher on a team that had trouble getting innings out of their starters just made too much sense. It looks like Oswalt has no interest in pitching in the AL, espectially the AL East, and I dont blame him. If you're a star pitcher coming off an injury plagued season looking to recoup value, why go to the toughest division to pitch in, in all of baseball? Makes no sense.

He said a C level prospect. Someone you think might make the bigs, nothing amazing. But yes, a Burnett for Soriano swap would absolutely need to have money coming the Yankees way. Burnett, for all his warts, still gives innings. Soriano is a DH playing in the NL who is in massive offensive decline. He was signed to big money because he could hit and steal bases. Well, his legs are gone, his 40HR power has dried up, and his bat has slowed. Plus, going by WAR, Burnett's abysmal 2011 campaign netted him a higher WAR than Soriano's abysmal 2011 campaign. So yes, a deal of the two would absolutely require money to go to the Yankees since Sori costs more and is under contract for a yr longer.