ILuvDaBush

Carlos Gonzales was traded tot he Oakland A's for Dan Haren. As for my prediction... 1. Mets-Offense and defense (and pitching)... This could be a special team. 2. Milwaukee-See Mets 3. Dodgy Fellows-Good pitching and high ceiling position players. They are the 'zona 'backs with better offense and slightly worse pitching. 4. 'Zona-That offense looks JV to me... A lot of high-ceiling frosh who have had their butts kissed because they could be great. 5. Phils-A ton of offense, some defense, and a pitcher or two sprinkled in for decoration. I could see any of these five being the NL rep. in the Series. 6. Cubs-They have a good offense but the pitchers were performing so over their heads last year... I actually think this is more optimistic than it should be (like most would have said about the WS Champ Cards last year and their rotation of relievers). But they were the NL Central Champs and they are definitely better than the.... 7. Rockies-Their offense AT Coors is huge. And they finally have a true phenom who can pitch there (Big fan of Francis). But in the AL Central of the NL, they're the third best team...maybe 4 behind the.... 8. Padres-They are like the offspring of the Twins and A's. They are a cellar-dweller in terms of revenue within their division, but yet perennially compete because of a good scouting department (namely their relief pitching scouts). As we saw from the 'backs last year and these same Missionaries the year Prior (not to be confused with this year, the Year OF Prior), one pitcher can will a team to the playoffs. 9. Reds-They are the Rockies of the NL Central. They have one good pitcher at the top, another one who has shown the ability to pitch but isn't the epitome of consistent, and an offense filled with power bats. 10. Atlanta-At least they get to reunite Glavine and Smoltz. If McCann can smack a McHR, then all will be good, but I don't like Francouer, I don't like Johnson, and I don't like whoever they send out to center. The only piece I do like is the Chipper. And then there was.... 11. Cards-Carpenter and Pujols. I've seen teams win with less. 12. Astros-Oswalt and Berkman and Carlos...OH MY! Oh yeah...and Miggy Tejada. If only they could take THIS team back to 2005 with them. Where's Doc Brown?? 13. Florida-Good times to be a spectator. Cruel times to be a fan. 14. Pirates-It could be worse, you could be a fan of... 15. The Nats or 16. The 'Jints of San Fran.

I'm a bit big on Bush too. I remember reading the "Bush League" article about his affinity for owning the inside. I still think he's going to be the best back-end starter next year. As for who is most likely to go 6+, I would peg Cappy and Bush right with Yo/Sheets. Cappy tied Oswalt two years ago for the league lead in quality starts and one requisite is six innings, while Bush led our team two years ago in shutouts.

I remember thinking up ways for us to trade Sheets for Eric Duncan/Andy Marte a few years back. 3B prospects are like pitching prospects! :-)

Well I still find it funny that we had a player who was drafted as a 1B playing center. As for the BA v. P50, I don't see how they can downgrade Darren Ford so easily. I thought they thought quite high of him last year.

....And Josh Hamilton was left off of the Rays' 40-man last year. If they can both stay on the diamond and put up even average results, with good peripherals (K's and K/9...I won't put my Bushy stat up there K/BB), then we can put them back into the discussion about top prospects. As for CC, I wouldn't be opposed to making a push for him, Villy and Escobar (there was talk of them attempting to move Jhonny in a trade so they might be down with Alcides), but the only way they're selling CC is if Sizemore/Hafner/Fausto/Borowski..joking are out.

I wouldn't call $3mil CHEAP, especially to a low budget team like the Twins. I would think that they would be content to rebuild this year and see what they have in their bevy of young pitching, rather than spend $3mil AND give up value to fight with the Royals (and maybe the Sox) for last place in the division. If Liriano were to come back, however, I would be amenable to... Neshek Liriano Kubel for Braun Parra Fantasy trade....but we would get a closer-in-waiting, from Madison, a replacement for Braun or a place for LaPorta, and a pitcher whose ceiling is the best pitcher in baseball....with injury concerns.

I would argue that they are the epitome of the team that should attempt to make a claim on him. An argument of "I know we're pretty deep with YOUNG starting pitchers (and 40 year old's contract), but it seems like this young lefty would be a great waiver claim."

I would hope we keep Weeks/Hart/Hardy, and use Prince and Braun as ideal trade candidates to replenish the farm system....with pitchers.

Using John Sickels' grades, he has Adams Jones B+ Chris Tillman B+ Tony Butler B- Matt LaPorta B+ Manny Parra B+ Jeremy Jeffress B- So it is almost a straight push...

I'd say a comparable trade would be LaPorta/Jeffress/Parra. LaPorta and Jones are similar, though I would take LaPorta everyday (Power and OBP), and Tillman/Butler are below Jeffress Parra, though Sherrill makes up for it a bit.

Maybe it is just me but I'd take Turnbow over Howry everyday. I continue to say this but it needs to be said, Turnbow was the most dominating reliever over the first half of last year. His OPSA was almost .200 points HIGHER than the OPSA of Coco while also compiling similar stats. The problem with Turnbow last year wasn't Yost, however, it was Matt Wise. I have always been a big fan of his filthy changeup (and I do not look forward to seeing my Brewz looking foolish flailing at it next year in the NLCS vs. the Mets) but when he went through his tribulations last year, the burden of those innings fell on T-Bow. When they decided to make Villy a starter, that innings burden fell on T-Bow, as well. And I know this may sound borderline insane, but I would actually be attempting to resign T-Bow right now for two more years, before he puts up a sub-2.00 ERA and follows Gagne towards the supermarkets (LA/NY/CHI).

Lukevan, were you attempting to respond to the thread attempting to identify the most impactful new addition? As for the importance of the series, let me ask you this question. Which fanbase is going to be more up-in-arms over a series loss, the Cubs or the Brews? As stated earlier, the Cubs don't even think there is a bit of competition from any other club in the division. The Brewers are well aware of their utter collapse over the SECOND half to their North Side Neighbors. If anything, I would imagine the Cubs' fans will go Harikari (or Harry Carey) if they get swept. The Brewers' fans will just look ahead to the next series...and the Giants, and know there are more games to be played.

Indeed. Look at the Indians and their combination of Perez and Betancourt. It didn't matter that they had Average Joe Borowski, as Betancourt and Perez completely deflated any hopes of late inning heroics until the janitor could come in and sweep up any remnants of hope left.

Just draft the best bats and let Reid Nichols sort it out. If an undeniably talented arm falls in your laps (Will Inman comes to mind... Maybe Jeffress), then you adapt your strategy to the landscape.

I always assumed the Pirates' problem was the fact that they always did go for the veteran help instead of the young...CHEAP guys. Also....BJ Upton would look really good in that lineup, well any lineup. And while I could see them trading Bay, I don't think LaRoche is going to be traded, even with Steven Pearce toiling. LaRoche is still Pirate property at a reasonable rate. Bay, on the other hand, is a bit more expensive. And Morris, well when I hear him complaining about Pirate management, I'm reminded of the exchange between Dave Chapelle and the cabby in "Half Baked".

I don't think Carlos could begin to be as good as Santana, but I do hold out a great amount of hope for Yo. If he doesn't win at least one Silver Slugger (even with Micah in the NL) AND one Cy, I'm going to be disappointed.

Thanks Bullox. And while you would be trading Sheets and Soup for Santana NEXT year, the subsequent years, you would be trading all the young guys because over the next six years, they are about to get very expensive (Isn't it funny how that would coincide with the amount of years we would own the rights to most of our young players?).

I think the series is probably the biggest deal to those youthful stars of last year, full of pride. I'm sure the Brewers want to make a statement after the cheap shot (A-Ram) and subsequent collapse is still fresh in their minds.

Andruw Jones circumvented Boras a few years ago, as did A-Rod this offseason.

I've got to go with Gagne. If he solidifies the closer role, that will be the biggest impact to this year's team from outside sources. But also, any of our new bullpen acquisitions could be considered an impact acquisition...except Choate.

He wants a big extention (6yrs/$150mil). Ben Sheets' contract was for 2 less years and HALF the salary. And if Johan were to be afflicted by vestibular neuritis or had a blister or two... Unless they move the Brewz to Chicago-land, no way.

I'll take Reyes, for the speed and defense. Not that Ramirez doesn't have speed but...

I think do think his relationship with his teammates, especially the young kids he came up with, would play into his decision, but it would have more to do with whther they were locked up long term at a fair and equitable rate and, thus, guaranteed to be competing. If we have Hart, Weeks, and a $400,000 Jr. Gwynny.... Well two out of three would be nice. hint-the once and future infielder (does no one else ever imagine Hart could be a .300/35HR/452B/30SB 1B with Gold Glove caliber defense. He is very fast, though he does seem a bit stiff at times, he would be the most athletic 1B...but I digress).

Well Geoff Jenkins was also voted in as the Fans' choice a couple years ago, and Lyle Overbay, when he carried a .330 average into the ASB, was almost voted onto the team as well. We cheer for laundry, and thus vote accordingly...like Lemmings. I am Prince's lemming, though I also follow Yo.

I just hope that Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart live up to my expectations for them this year. As for the pennant race last year, I think it was quite clear we succumbed to "Tortoise and the Hare" Syndrome. I even got caught up in it myself, believing there was no way the North Siders would be within a five game breath of my Beloved Brewz. This year, we will haven ace with no health question looming over his head, as well as an apprentice ace. We will have a truly healthy Weeks... And honestly, our bullpen is going to be BETTER than last year. If anything, this year is going to hinge on the BACK end of the rotation (Bush/Villy/Soup/Cappy) and the production from our outfield. If Braun continues his slumpless ways, Corey continues to wear his wrist guard, and Jr. Gwynny "rakes"...or they dress Mike Cameron up in Jr. Gwynny's duds, then I think we could approach the 95-100 plateau. I would think Prince and Sheets/Yo would be our foundation for success, and, thus, beyond reproach.