Dojji

The bats are doing their job. Whittle away, wear out the ace, a few key hits, then make him pitch and get him out.

Heh, even Gonzo's making Roy pitch.

WB Rocco

I'm not sure if this is the right time to ask the question, but I'm not sure we'll get a different answer for most of us when it IS the right time Wakefield's health has finally caught up with him this year, and he's been struggling with his back for each of the last 3. His perpetual option and pitch of choice suggest that his effectiveness shouldn't suffer if he can play enough next year and get into a rhythm and he might be an option in the pen. The point though, is that you can no longer count on him for 180 innings a season and that robs him of a lot of his value. personally I think that as cheap as he is right now I'd bring him back but I'm not sure it's a slam dunk anymore. So... yeah. Thread. Thoughts?

One thing to bear in mind about Nava is that not counting Indy ball he had his first professional season at age 25. That shapes the age debate at least a little. I don't know if it's enough to let him get a shot as a 27 year old rookie on this team but who knows.

I think you guys are selling Gathright short. It's not like he never hit at any level. It hasn't translated to the big leagues, but he did have good plate discipline in the minors. He's only 27, so it isn't like there's no upside here. Granted it's a long shot, but it's a long shot that will keep him in someone's uniform for a few more years at least. I think Gathright's biggest problem is that he just doesn't even have show me power. Even a light hitting speedster needs to be able to rap a ball into the gaps on a semi consistent basis to be effective. Gathright doesn't even have that and his AVG shows it

I was under the impression that since Fernando Cabrera and Javier Lopez have played in the big leagues this season that both are on the 40-man roster.

We have a spot left on the 40-man roster. Could Adam Mills be a candidate? He's pretty much the heir to David Pauley anyway, might as well start using him that way.

I hope so, he'd be better than Tazawa. Tazawa has a ton of potential and still should be a quality player when he's done developing but we don't need to be leaning on him down the stretch in his first professional season. JMHO.

Yeah my dream of frontloading is more borne from hockey, where because of the cap deals do tend to be frontloaded giving more cap space as the deal goes forward.

I just don't think it happens guys. I think that both Minnesota and NYY have advantages on us in the Mauer sweepstakes.

I hope they at least compensate the guy for his tickets in that situation. And we're in the race for the wild card so I bet the game goes forward.

http://sirocco.accuweather.com/nx_mosaic_640x480_public/sir/inmaSIRNH_.gif

If that happens baseball goes way down on my list of priorities so I don't faintly care.. Besides, if VMart's financial advisors are aware of that they'd want the money frontloaded anyway so he can turn it into things before the crash hits.

I probably owe jacko some thanks, don't I. For making the thread about calling down thunder on his BS rather than mine if nothing else.

Actually if VMart would let me get away with it I'd rather frontload the deal. Pay him more in the years he's most likely to be a catcher and by the time it's time to move him to first his remaining contract load is reasonable for the 1B he'll be.

Extend VMart and finagle a deal for Carlos Beltran from the cash-strapped Mets and our offseason would be halfway over before it began.

I'd be happy with 5/55 or 5/60, and I imagine Mr. Martinez would as well. He's got the bat to carry that kind of salary and he should be at least a decent near-term solution as a catcher. I want no part of Mauer. Doe one thing, as a catcher with his offensive ability he'll break records. Second between the two of him and VMart, I'd consider Mauer the player I moved to first base. Yes, even with his mad skills at catcher, the guy is simply too bulky to age well behind the plate IMHO. And I'd want a bat like that away from that kind of wear and tear. The first time he hit the DL for a knee related problem would be the beginning of the end.

if you can sign him through age 35 you almost have to do it. He should be productive that long at least. And it'll take us out of the ridiculous Joe Mauer sweepstakes that will ensue if the guy doesn't sign with Minnesota soon.

5/50 or more wouldn't scare me with this guy. he's at the perfect age for an extension. Get 'er done!

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Daniel%20Nava&pos=OF&sid=t414&t=p_pbp&pid=537953 I'm sort of intrigued by this guy, but then we all know I'm a bit of an eccentric when it comes to older prospects and their chances. On the one hand, the biggest knock on Nava is that he's old for a prospect. Daniel Nava signed out of independent ball at age 25. He'll be going into his age 27 season next year and has barely played above the A ball level. Even if he does get to the majors he probably won't do so much before age 28. On the other hand, Nava has been nothing but productive when he's been in the lineup. Once you get to AA level, "age appropriate competition" becomes a little less important. As a switch hitter with solid plate discipline, he looks good as a possible David Murphy type who could be very usefull off the bench. And once you're on the bench, you can earn your way anywhere and age doesn't matter as much. Just ask Ben Zobrist or Kevin Youkilis. If he's still getting the job done in midseason next year, and we need an OF to sit on the bench, I think this guy could get the call. His chances certainly aren't hurt by playing right field the way our roster is constructed right now. Thoughts? Opinions? Bricks, torches, white sheets and burning crosses?

I had to, Dipre. He was practically screaming for a Dojji type. I had to respond.

Dustin Richardson.

Ok mentioning it once is fine, going back for seconds though is not: [table]Prospect|Yankees|The player in question is made of 150% pure awesomeness. Fear us. Prospect|Sox|He could be good, but this is why he won't be. Signing|Yankees|This is the missing piece. We'll win 160 games, and the umps will screw us out of 2. Signing|Sox|Risky move, overpaid here, they'll regret this. Injury|Yankees|They don't get hurt. Hypothetically, if they did, the recovery will be speedy with no impact to ability. Injury|Sox|Everyone is a ticking time bomb. Once hurt, they'll never heal right.[/table]

At this point, just shut the guy down. See ya next year, Jed.