Duncan will be 23 this year and has shown flashes of offense but no team is going to carry him all year on their 25 man roster.  A team would pluck Vecchionacci from the Yanks (who at least is a gold glove type 3B) before Duncan.

By the way, according to mlbtraderumors.com, Boston is now in the lead to make a deal for Santana - although the package they’re offering centers around Jon Lester and doesn’t include Ellsbury or Buchholz.  If the Twins are willing to take that, I’m not sure why the Yanks would offer Hughes or Austin Jackson in any deal.

IE - I don’t know MLBTR’s source, but River Ave. Blues is posting that a writer from MN is saying the same thing: Boston is in the lead.  However, this is the same MN writer would suggested a Boston/Twins blockbuster trade that included free agent pitcher Carlos Silva.

If this is where MLBTR is getting its info, it’s probably patently false.

can we put a moratorium on posting rumors from MLBTR.com?  the site is just wildly innacurate when they are doing anything more than reprinting rumors from other newspapers.

also, one of the writers at river ave writes for mlbtr.com, so it’s all the same source.

On the other hand, the same writer had the scoop on the Delmon Young for Matt Garza deal - so he can’t be completely dismissed.

Someone from the Minn. area was saying that the article on the Santana/Nathan/Silva trade was very sarcastic, to make fun of how much the Twins were asking for the rights to one year of Santana.  So it comes down to whether you believe the guy is stupid or sarcastic, I guess you could call that a toss-up.

I thought Midwesterners shunned sarcasm as an evil, European inspired phenomenon.

because I don’t think he can hit and he seems to have no defensive value

Well as IE said, he hasn’t done enough for a team to carry him on the 25 man roster all year.  From my amateur perspective of having seen him play in 5 or 6 games in person this year (a few of those games from about 30 feet from first-base)...he has talent. 

For example, he generally put some good swings on the ball, and had a lot of hard-hit balls right at a fielder.  Sure, he had his share of K’s, pop-ups, etc. 
But he didn’t look over-matched. 

Defensively, he made a few errors, but also had a number of nice plays.  Generally speaking, he did what a first-baseman is supposed to do; catch what is thrown to him, and make the routine plays.  Unless a 1B is a defensive whiz, they won’t have much value if they can’t hit.  Duncan isn’t Tino Martinez or anything, so no, he won’t have much defensive value.

Personally, I still think he can be a solid major-leaguer.  I’m not talking All-Star, but somewhere between solid back-up/bat off the bench to a regular starter for a few years.  Obviously though, this is a big year for him to show something.

because I don’t think he can hit and he seems to have no defensive value.

In the baseball world, we call those “duds.”

So it comes down to whether you believe the guy is stupid or sarcastic, I guess you could call that a toss-up.

Having lived in Minneapolis for two years, I’d lean towards the former.  There’s always a chance that this one writer in this specific instance was being sarcastic though.

Am I missing something- why do Sox fans keep talking about Crisp as if he’s a huge chip in trade negotiations?  The last two seasons his hitting has been awful in a great hitters park and, while his defense appears above average statistically I suspect Fenway may help thos numbers as well (although I’m not sure).  And Lester seems like a league average pitcher, possibly above average, but no star. He’s a nice part of a deal but not a centerpiece in my opinion.  Steal laptops to make a Bucholz is a legit centerpiece trading chip. So is Ellsbury.

A little birdie says the Boston Red Sox have become the favorite in the Johan Santana trade sweepstakes.

That’s from an article linked on WasWatching. Normally you see “a source with knokwledge of the process” or “a friend of the player” cited, but, a little birdie?

The real question is whether the little birdie was being sarcastic or just stupid.

We know one thing: no one would ever call una garza “un parajito pequeno.”

MC- This interview on NoMaas substantiates what I said about Santana wanting to pitch in NY. I’ve read it elsewhere as well:

http://www.nomaas.org/twins.html

The likelihood of losing Duncan in the Rule 5 draft is pretty low, IMO. BA had a quick writeup on some possibly attractive guys left unprotected and Duncan was not among the list of 20-30 guys. Stephen Jackson and Brett Smith were, but Duncan was not.

I can’t see anyone carrying Duncan on their roster all year.  He doesn’t have the glove or bat to be an adequate bench player.

OT: Fantasy football question - I have one decision to make on my roster: flex WR/RB position.  Candidates: RB Marion Barber, RB Chester Taylor, WR Laverneous Coles and WR Santana Moss.

Our league has 1 pt. for every 10 yards receiving/rushing.  WRs get 1 pt. per reception.  RBs get 1 pt. for every 3 receptions.  TD = 6pts.

I’m leaning towards Barber.  Thoughts?

PS - any New Yorkers or Jets fans have any updates on Coles?  Is he going to play?

marion barber is probably your best bet.  though gb def is solid.

I would take Barber as well.  I have Coles on my fantasy team and am still waiting on if for sure he is going to play.  Barber I think is the surest bet out of those players to have a solid showing.

He doesn’t have the glove or bat to be an adequate bench player.

I looked at the “old” CAIRO spreadsheet (SG hasn’t released the updated one yet, I believe), and Duncan’s baseline is below replacement, but his 65% line is replacement level for a 1B or a little above replacement for a DH.  Good?  No.  Ready to contribute to a team thinking of competing?  No.  A cheap team that needs offense like say Pittsburgh or something?  Unlikely, but not impossible.

If Duncan were a fourth round pick, I think he would have had a very successful AA season last year.  But since he was a first-rounder, he’s been rushed.  Whether that means he’s found the highest level he can play at sooner, has been set back a few years, or what, I don’t know.

Here’s a twist on this whole issue with Santana.

The Yankees are in the trade market for Santana because they feel they need a sure fire ace. You can argue if Hughes next 7 years will be more valuable than Santana’s next 7 years until the cows come home. It’s really impossible to know (although there’s a good discussion of the points for each side over at Bronx Banter.)

I think most here would agree that if you knew for certain that Johan Santana was going to be a free agent at the conclusion of the 2008 season, then you wouldn’t dare trade anything more than a couple of guys at the Horne/Marquez level for him now, and even that may be debateable.

But here’s what I was thinking: why does that ace have to be Santana? There’s of course the chance that Minnesota pushes away from the table and Santana doesn’t get moved. We’ve also mentioned that CC Sabathia is a FA in 2009. Ben Sheets is also a 2009 FA.  Erik Bedard has been mentioned in some articles as a trade candidate, and he’s an FA that can be considered plausible, and even further on the horizon are guys like Jake Peavy and John Lackey, who are free agents for the 2010 season.

So, you can
(1) Trade Hughes/Melky/+ for Santana now, not really knowing what Hughes will be.
(2) Wait it out in 2008, and have chances at guys like Sheets, Sabathia, possibly Santana, Lackey, Bedard, or Peavy over the course of the next 2 years.  If Chamberlain or Hughes becomes one of those guys for us, you spend your talent/money elsewhere and you have a stronger team.

To me, this is all the more reason not to go overboard on Santana.  I just hope the Red Sox don’t get him.

Of course, there is no guarantee that any of those guys actually hits FA, but I think there is merit in at least thinking there will be something available on the market out of one of those guys, with the chance of that happening being high enough to not risk losing Hughes in acquiring a player of that caliber a year or two earlier than you could have without losing Hughes.

I have a feeling that Minaya will not let the offseason pass without getting either Santana or Bedard.  Maybe he ‘settles’ for Haren.

I have a feeling that Minaya will not let the offseason pass without getting either Santana or Bedard.

does he have the chips?  not sure he does.  martinez, milledge, and gomez might have made more sense yesterday before the Young trade.

Humber and Pelfrey are garbage and the yankees could trump those without including Hughes.

and personally, i see no reason why the price for Bedard in talen should be lower than that of Santana.  he has 2 years until FA instead of 1 and was every bit as good as santana this year.

I agree with you, it’s just a gut feeling.  I certainly hope Omar isn’t crazy enough to trade Reyes.

yup - only way Bedard gets less talent in a trade than Santana is if the Oriole front office screws up, which is quite likely.  They look to be retooling (again) with Tejada and Bedard as their main chips.  Looks like they’ll build around Roberts, Markakis, Loewen, etc.

While Os would probably not deal their best pitcher to the Yanks, meaning some other team will get to rob Angelos, I wonder if the Yanks could steal away Daniel Cabrera.  He has a world of talent and may need a change of scenery.  Maybe Eiland and Pena could work wonders on him.  Maybe he could be better utilized in the bp.  Maybe I’m off my rocker.

Daniel Cabrera drives me insane when I’m watching him pitch for the Orioles. I can’t imagine maintaing my sanity watching him walk 10 Red Sox in Fenway.

What am I missing?  Cabrera’s ERA+ has never cracked 100.  He would be 6th on the Yankees’ starting pitching depth chart right now, 7th if Pettitte comes to his senses.

Oh, I get it.  He wouldn’t have a long-term contract.

Oh, I get it better, you said bullpen.

Perhaps you should give your old Colombian girlfriend a call, Frog, because your Spanish is a bit creaky these days (in other words, “pajarito” en vez de “parajito”).

As for Cabrera, he’s a long way from being 20 or 21 years old.  He is what he is at this point.

The Yankees are in the trade market for Santana because they feel they need a sure fire ace

Not sure about that, exactly.  I think the Yankees feel for sure they need another STARTER next year.  Santana is clearly available, and he’s one of the top pitchers - if not the top - in the league.  He’s also young enough that (assuming an extension) he’ll at least be So if you need a starter, of course you kick the tires on the best available first.

If Pettitte comes back maybe they sit tight.  Or maybe they’re finding out what the Twins want for Santana, so that they can then turn around and say, “well look, we’re willing to give these players for Santana, but how about take Kennedy out and do Melky/Marquez for Nathan?”  That would actually be a slick bargaining strategy, and could be used if Pettitte comes back or not.  Or maybe I’m off Yatt’s rocker as well.

Just making an ass of myself all over the place today.  Thankfully, my students are too hung over to notice.

As for Cabrera, he’s a long way from being 20 or 21 years old.  He is what he is at this point.

What if you could trade Farnsworth for Cabrera straight up?  I’d have no problem going after Cabrera with the intention of putting him in the pen, but wouldn’t want to give up much for him.  He’s definitely a high-risk/high-reward type of player.

Frog - I think Cabrera might be useful in the pen.  Maybe he could be had for cheap.  He can’t be too much worse than Bruney or Farns.  He could be a whole lot better.  And yes, no long-term contract needed.

As for Santana, I’m starting to think the Twins might sit tight and wait to trade him before the 08 deadline, when teams like the Yanks or Sox may be more desperate for a starter.

How would he be useful in the pen? The guy walks like 5 per 9.

Baseball Prospectus list one 5 star prospect, Joba, and four 4 star prospects, IPK, Tabata, Jackson, and Horne for the Yankees not including Hughes who would presumably be 5 stars also.

Not to be a fear monger, but Olney is reporting on ESPN.com that the framework of a deal between Minnesota and Boston is almost in place. Lester, Lowrie, Crisp & Bowden for Santana.

I take this to be either A) a steal for Boston if true or B) a smokescreen meant to drive the price up on the Yankees.

Olney also took a complete stab in the dark on his blog today, but it’s an interesting theory nonetheless.

I really wonder if, privately, officials from the Yankees and the Red Sox hope that the other team antes up to pay the full freight for Santana—the boatload of prospects, plus the six-year, $150 million extension need to convince him to waive his no-trade clause. It’s the kind of deal that general managers Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman have steered away from in recent years—paying a huge price for a player who might be on the downslope of his career in the last years of the contract.

I can only dream that Boston trades those four and then ponies up a 6/150-160 contract for Santana.

I can only dream that Boston trades those four and then ponies up a 6/150-160 contract for Santana.

I’m starting to sort’ve want this as well.  Sure, it makes them almost unstoppable next season or two with Beckett-Santana fronting their rotation.  But the Yankees get to see the kids develop and perhaps become a great rotation.

I don’t dream of the Sawx getting Santana period but especially without surrendering Buccholz and/or Ellsbury

I keep hearing Lester is basically as valuable as Buchholz, and I don’t understand why.  If the Red Sox manage to convince the Twins that that’s the case, then there’s really not much we can do about it.

Lowrie and Bowden are also good prospects, as I understand.  Trading Lowrie means they’re basically stuck with Julio Lugo at SS, which is good news.

This seems like less of a ‘centerpiece’+others than just a 4 decent players for one trade.  I guess the Yankee equivalent would be Kennedy+Melky+Tabata+B prospect pitcher.

Or maybe Jackson instead of Tabata, that’s probably closer.

The Sox have done a great job in recent years trading for ace-caliber pithers - Pedro, Schilling, Beckett. If that rumor is true, they can print WS tickets for the next five years. The only way the Yankees beat them is if Hughes and Chamberlain are as good as Beckett and Santana - which isn’t likely, even though I have high hopes for both. It’s hard to believe that the Yankees couldn’t top that deal though without including Hughes or Joba. Minnesota must value Lestor pretty highly.

I take this to be either A) a steal for Boston if true or B) a smokescreen meant to drive the price up on the Yankees.

it’s not a “steal”.  it would be a coup for sure, but at the same time, it would take a much bigger package than you guys think for the Yankees to trump it.

Keith Law said today he has Lester ahead of Kennedy.  let’s assume that’s how GMs think about it.  Bowden is also a pretty good prospect. 

for the Yankees to clearly beat that package, we are talking what? Hughes, Melky, Horne, and Tabata?

for something competitive with Boston’s offer, substitute Kennedy for Hughes?

would the Yankees offer that first package?  would we want them to?

i think people would do the second package, but maybe the Twins simply prefer the Shortstop prospect Lowrie to the OF prospect Tabata?

if that’s the case, what can the Yankees do?  i think i’d walk away.

that’s just my opinion…YMMV.

It’s hard to believe that the Yankees couldn’t top that deal though without including Hughes or Joba. Minnesota must value Lestor pretty highly.

up until today, i would have agreed.  reading Keith Law’s opinion (not that Law is the authority, but he probably has a fairly representative view) that Lester is ahead of Kennedy was a wake up call.

if that’s the case, then the Yankees have to include Hughes. 

and it’s not Hughes straight up.  it’s Hughes + 2/3 more good prospects + $150M + signing someone for CF, etc….

it’s a bitter, bitter pill for ONE player, no matter how good.

The Yankees shouldn’t worry about the Sox trumping them.  They should offer Minnesota what they think is a fair trade and walk away if Minnesota doesn’t take it.

I’d rather Boston get Santana than see the Yankees give up Hughes, Chamberlain or Cano for him.  It’s not a stretch to see why Lester is considered a better prospect than Kennedy, he has better stuff, he’s left-handed and he’s pitched in the majors longer.

If the 2008 Red Sox are unbeatable, you just tip your hat to them and look towards 2009.  But I think history has shown that no team, no matter how talented they may look to be on paper, is unbeatable.

I have the Red Sox as around a 99 win team right now.  If they add Santana it’s probably a 3 win upgrade on top of that.  They’re going to be tough whether they get him or not.

They’re going to be tough whether they get him or not.

As a Yankee fan with in-laws who are Sox fans….that sucks.

Has Santana made any comments yet? Ultimately he has to approve any deal, although I don’t know why he wouldn’t, if he can get the extension he’s probably looking for.

The Twins apparently do think very highly of Lester. They couldn’t possibly be interested in this deal due to the enticing prospects of having Coco Crisp play center field. There’s a reason he got replaced late-season . . . because he sucks.
I agree with SG, the organization can’t make offers simply to try and out-trump the Red Sox. If we predicate our moves on that philosophy we will inevitably make foolish mistakes or ones that don’t benefit the team.
ex: Jose Canseco 2000

I don’t get it- why does anyone want Crisp?
And does Lester really excite you?  If Boston does that trade they basically add Johan for nothing off their roster.  They still have their big young arm (Bucholz) and their CFer (Ellsbury).  As a Yankee fan I don’t really care that much about some A level prospects who probably will never pan out in Boston (not hat I really kow about those guys).  I love homegrown kids as much as anyone but some people here are really getting carries away- it seems to me when you look back on most trades involving established stars in their prime, the team getting the star usually wins or at least breaks even.  This is Johan.

I think the Twins organization probably would rather deal with any other team than NY-even Boston. There is some animosity toward the Yankees and if two offers were the same they would likely take the Sox’s. Why because NY is the poster team for historically all they see wrong with the game. The other thing is they were eliminated on their field two year in a row by this large market goliath. Part of it would be posturing to a Minneapolis fan base. Santana is the star player of the club and seeing him come back as a Yankee won’t sit well.  That said there are three major things that can impact how this goes.
1) Santana’s personal desire as to where he wants to play and his willingness or negotiate at all with Boston/waive the NTC.
2) Also just how high in $$ and years to satisfy. The deal can fall apart over this alone one would think.
3) The Yankees stupidly offering too many good players overwhelming the Boston offer at the last hour.

The Yankees shouldn’t worry about the Sox trumping them.  They should offer Minnesota what they think is a fair trade and walk away if Minnesota doesn’t take it.

i agree completely.

i just think we should remember this if he winds up in Boston and the entire city starts calling for Cashman’s head.

This is Johan.

i can’t stand this attitude.  so you are saying the Yankees should have no limit?  give them whatever they want?

i think it’s crazy the way yankee fans are willing to make a 7 year, $163M committment to Santana, but bitched and moaned about A-Rod’s deal?

the last 2 years of A-Rod’s deal were superfluous, but i’d bet on A-Rod for the next 8 years over Santana for the next 7.  without a doubt.

just look at the projections SG has made for both of them. over the next 7 seasons, A-Rod is projected at 34 WAR and Santana at 27. for roughly the same annual salary.

and A-Rod didn’t cost Phil Hughes.  and A-Rod is the much better health risk.  and he is coming off his best season, not his worst season.

seems like Yankee fans are a little inconsistent when it comes to spending the owners’ money.

There is some animosity toward the Yankees and if two offers were the same they would likely take the Sox’s.

exactly, the yankee have to BEAT boston’s offer.  not match it.  that’s what people are missing.

I think most people loved ARod’s deal and nobody is saying pay Johan the same amount or give him 10yrs.  All I say at least is that I’m not going to fall in love w/Kennedy or Tabata and would be willing to deal them for Johan provided we get a window to negotiate a deal before the trade is complete.  If we can’t work a reasonable deal out then the trade doesn’t happen. I know this is anecdotal analysis but look back at trades done for star players in their prime- usually the team getting the star player wins.

<quote> I’d rather Boston get Santana than see the Yankees give up Hughes, Chamberlain or Cano for him.  It’s not a stretch to see why Lester is considered a better prospect than Kennedy, he has better stuff, he’s left-handed and he’s pitched in the majors longer. </quote>

SG, how about offering Wang instead of these 3?

What are Santana’s stats v. the Bosox? I thought I heard on 1050 that he has an ERA near 6 in the Fens. If this is true, then the trade may not make sense. Trade and pay and the guy is terribe against your chief rival? Stats anyone?.

The Twins don’t want Wang. He’ll cost too much. And he is proven in ML ball.

SG, how about offering Wang instead of these 3?

What Don said.  I think Wang’s arbitration-eligible this year, and his splits on turf would probably give the Twins pause.  He’s probably out of their price range if they are going into full rebuilding mode.

What are Santana’s stats v. the Bosox? I thought I heard on 1050 that he has an ERA near 6 in the Fens. If this is true, then the trade may not make sense.

He’s only pitched four games at Fenway, three starts.

One disastrous start in 2000 (3.2 IP, 7 ER).  One relief outing in 2003 (1.2 IP, 1 ER). Two other starts, 10.1 IP, 4 ER. 

At home, he’s pitched 8 games, 6 starts against the Red Sox.

Career vs. Boston, 3.40 ERA.  You need to check where you’re hearing things from.

i think it’s crazy the way yankee fans are willing to make a 7 year, $163M committment to Santana, but bitched and moaned about A-Rod’s deal?

I know I do it too, but I think you need to be careful lumping people together too much.  For example, I’m sure Yatt - who was one of the biggest complainers about ARod - is completely against 7/163.  I’d bet you’ll find similar sentiments among others - the people who didn’t like the ARod deal (for length or money), also won’t like a 7/160 for Santana.  Maybe I’m wrong about that.  Oh, and I think the people who may have bitched about the ARod deal and still be claiming the Santana deal is necessary, just don’t like ARod.  But I’ve been wrong before, and will again.

Me personally?  I like having ARod back.  I would have preferred the deal to be for 6 or 7 years, with team options (that could vest) for extra years if he wanted them.  So what I’m going to do now is enjoy the next 5-7 years, and cross my fingers that years 8-10 turn out well.  For Santana, I’ve stated several times that I like something along the lines of Kennedy/Melky/Tabata, and for the extension I’d like 3-4 years (so 4-5 total), again with vesting team options if necessary.  If Boston is willing to add 6/150 and send 4 players (potentially better than the three I’d offer), fine.  Opening two holes to fill one rarely makes sense.

Lester, Lowrie, Crisp & Bowden for Santana.

Why are the Yankees expected to include a top-tier prospect like Hughes when the Sox don’t have to include Buchholz or Ellsbury?  Why would the Twins prefer a 28 year-old Crisp with an OPS+ of 83 to a 22 year-old Melky with an OPS+ of 89?  Coco Crisp??? Couldn’t the Yankees easily top Bowden with any number of minor league arms, with Horne at the top of the list?

Can Lester be THAT much better than Kennedy?

Are the Twins all about getting a young shortstop?  I just don’t get it…

The more I hear about it, the more I think the Yanks should walk away.

Lester is a better guy to have that Kennedy, but yeah, it’s absurd to have a deal with Lester as the CENTERPIECE of a deal!!

To wit, I mean that a trade with the Yankees for Kennedy would involve the Yankees offering Melky, as well, so Kennedy would not be the centerpiece. Here, Lester basically has to be the default centerpiece, because none of the others are going to be (not that Lowrie and Bowden are not fine prospects).

I think the Twins organization probably would rather deal with any other team than NY-even Boston. There is some animosity toward the Yankees and if two offers were the same they would likely take the Sox’s.

This is 100% correct.  If they have their fanbase in mind, then it’s just going to be the case.  Even if Lester > Kennedy, a deal with the Red Sox will go over much better than one with the Empire Yankees.  Even though Boston takes every good Minnesota athlete (Ortiz, Moss, Garnett).  They’re coming for you Adrian Peterson.

What would it take to get Haren?  A package of Kennedy/Tabata/Horne would certainly have to get Beane’s attention if not get it done and you’re more or less guaranteed 200 cost controlled IPs with an ERA atleast half a run below league average.  Slot him in as a one year ace along with Wang, Chamberlain, Hughes and someone (hopefully Pettitte) and let it be known (in your best non-tampering voice) that next offseason you’d spend an insane amount on a front end lefty, the bigger the better.

Sabathia/Haren/Hughes/Chamberlain/Wang seems completely plausible to me and would match whatever Boston is offering.  Trade Hughes and you’re treading water, atleast with regards to 1 through 5.  Basically, I’d bet on Hughes/Haren for the next 5 years over Santana/Kennedy.

This interview on NoMaas substantiates what I said about Santana wanting to pitch in NY.

If you think it really means anything that Jeff Souhan says that he knows people who know Santana, and those people say that Santana wants to play in NY, well fine.  I guess the only way we’ll really know is if Santana use his NTC to block a trade to someone else.

Also, I think a lot of people are really misunderstanding and/or undervaluing the rumored Red Sox offer.  Lester has an established performance level as an average MLB starting pitcher (144 IP of 101 ERA+).  His upside is not nearly that of Buchholz or Chamberlain or Hughes, but he definitely has to be considered to have more trade value than Kennedy.  Plus, he’s got the whole lefthanded thing in his favor.

TINSTAAPP, but Bowden is only 20 and has already pitched in AA.  He’s struck out a batter an inning and shown pretty good control in his minor league career.  His performance has been at least roughly comparable to Horne or Marquez, but he’s two or four years younger.

The only real problem with Crisp is his salary.  He’s never going to carry your team with his stick, but he’s a solid fly-chaser who can hit a gapper once in a while and steal a few bases.  If The Red Sox are sending some cash along with him, I could see some GMs thinking that getting him is almost as good as getting Melky.

The difference maker is Lowrie.  This is a 23 year old shortstop who slugged .500 at AA and AAA in 2007.  The Yankees simply do not have a comparable prospect at a key defensive position to offer.  Anyone they could include is either further away or has not performed well in the higher minors.

So bottom line, it’s not a steal for the Red Sox by any stretch.  A comparable package from the Yankees would be Kennedy, Cabrera, Marquez and what?  Alberto Gonzalez?  Which one of those offers would you take?  Boston’s, and it’s not really even close.  So then the question is (as other have said) how do the Yankees top that offer?  They have to upgrade at least one of the pieces.  The only one of the pieces they have the ability to upgrade is the first one—Kennedy.  If they don’t want to do that, then they have to walk away.  And we can’t really piss and moan about the Twins taking a lesser offer, because there won’t be any objective evidence that they did.

The difference maker is Lowrie.  This is a 23 year old shortstop who slugged .500 at AA and AAA in 2007.  The Yankees simply do not have a comparable prospect at a key defensive position to offer.  Anyone they could include is either further away or has not performed well in the higher minors.

Exactly.  Lowrie is good, guys.  Hitting shortstops don’t grow on trees and trading Lowrie means Boston is committed to Julio Lugo as their shortstop for the indeterminate future.

THORMAN-

i got my samsung today.

It’s a dream-box. a box of dreams

Oh, and I think the people who may have bitched about the ARod deal and still be claiming the Santana deal is necessary, just don’t like ARod.  But I’ve been wrong before, and will again.

no, you are right.  i was ranting.

you are correct, i shouldn’t lump people together.

IE.. re Heron = Garza en Espanol Wa Happinnn? What the hell does Haren translate to? Dude with feathers? Pelican in Peril?
In ancient Gaelic Britton translates seamlessly to… Eater of peat bogs…and or defiler of our culture while ruining the spuds.
On a more serious note re.. the Tequila not a huge fan, but you could do a lot worse than smacking back some chilled Patron Reposado with some fresh fruit chasers.  I prefer pineapple with it. Not traditional but blends nicely.
Gun to my head, Laphroig beats all. Celtic perfection.

Congratz EElster. PLaz or DLP ? Size? Does it get this current NFL match ?

lcd 32 i’m setting up cable now

The best tequila I’ve ever had is called Alteño, but you won’t find it in the States, not until my brother-in-law comes to visit again.

I kind of prefer mezcal, actually.  Smokey agave goodness.

Frog.. Mezcal is the the one with the wee eel innit?
Whats up with that Sammy Hagar shit?
Its gotta suck ,Aye?

EELZ caveat… the non HD channels may look worse than what you are used to.

Heard Jorge intimate that #46 may call it a career. Bad news.
I guess being a millioniare at 36 makes it easier to walk away.
Nice option to have.

yeah so i’ve heard. right now the whole shebang is all screwed. cable box on the fritzoid for some reason.

luckily i can just plug in the PS3 and kick it old school til the Time Warner man comes.

I got the Samsung LCD too. I’d say non-HD channels are still pretty sweet, just swing back and forth between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratio depending on what you’re watching.

I’m chastising myself for calling attention to the Olney piece a few hours ago. It’s obvious the Twins are just playing the game. I should have known better. This won’t be resolved for a while, me now thinks.

Wish the pack showed a wee bit more balls this eve.
Being a Jet fan I guess i should be impressed that the entire Packer team found Texas on a map.
Jets can’t.

You guys made good choices. The Samsung’s rarely broke.
Just make sure you fill out the warranty card because the the store you purchased it in will tell you to eat shit, if you did not buy they’re warranty.

yeah i’ma be careful with this one

Uh, I got it as a wedding gift…don’t remember a warranty card. I’m gonna preserve the thing in cellophane I guess.

This Favray kid might be good some day but I have some questions about his toughness.
He’s no Pavano. That’s a tough lad.

can you not get an HD signal from composite cables (red white yellow)?

what a fucking douche. you buy a 500 dollar thing that plays HD games and Blu Ray discs—- and they won’t even give you cables that can do HD?? this looks like shit. what were they thinking here. jeezus

EElz. red white and yellow are rca cables.
you need the other ones mein brougham.
gottsa have some green.

well tonight’s kind of a bust.

totally stoked about the TV. the HD box doesn’t boot properly. decide to move on and watch a dvd with PS3. cables provided do not support HD signal. at least when you turn the tv on there’s a little blue light in the set. i suppose i could watch that for awhile. it’s purdy

yeah i have some HDMI ones coming in the mail.

Oh shit IE inda house.
Care to help EElz with the connections?

Can the Knicks be any more embarassing?

the ps3 thing i get. justneed the snazzy cables.

the hd box is pissing me off. work you little cracker.

Can the Knicks be any more embarassing?

No, they cannot.  I’m so glad we at least have the MLB Hot Stove or I’d be extremely depressed right now.

Good luck eelz. It’s worth the setup headache. Till tomorrow.

EElz nighty nite . if you really have any serious probs with that shite gimme an e I know how frustrating it it is to lay some coin and walk around the house getting ready to do a Charlie whitman.
Hooking up electronics is one thing I’m skilled at.
Besides rating Belgian Ales.

Eelz, composite cables will provide HD.  They are Red, Green, and Blue.  However, the better HD signal comes from an HDMI cable (or DVI).  If you are already waiting on that in the mail, you’re all set.  Easy as pie to plug in.

Also, you will likely have to fool around with the settings from your cable box as well as TV to make sure that the TV automatically changes to 16:9 for the HD channels and back to 4:3 for the non-HD channels.  Shouldn’t be hard to find if you flip through all the settings.

haha. i guess i’ll just have to wait til the cable guy comes next week. it’s balls dude. til then, jazz. goonight

P.S.  You likely won’t get the HD picture until you go into the settings for your cable boxand tell it to output HD.  I know I had to do the same for mine. 

Also, a heads up for the HDMI cable:  HDMI carries audio as well as video.  However, you will have to tell your cable box to output audio from the HDMI cable.  I have TWC and for a few minutes was freaking out that I had no sound.  Easy as clicking a few buttons.

i didn’t even get that far with the Cable box

upon setting it up i made all the connections and then plugged it in to the power. it begins to boot but the boot somehow fails.

I’m chastising myself for calling attention to the Olney piece a few hours ago. It’s obvious the Twins are just playing the game. I should have known better. This won’t be resolved for a while, me now thinks.

I worry that this is the point where Hank and Cash take the bait, panic and throw in Hughes.  I think they really want him, that it’ll be a letdown they’ll have to answer for if they don’t, especially if he ends up in Bahston. 

I still think we’d all come to regret the loss of Hughes.  At the very least I hope the 3rd and possibly 4th pieces (the 2nd would almost surely be Melky) are not Jackson or Tabata.

My position is the same as it’s always been—stick to our guns on an IPK/Melky-led package.  Which, I now read in tomorrow’s Times seems to indicate is the current FO position, though they’re “mulling” Hughes.

I’ll take the word of those who know prospects better than I that Lowrie and the other Boston guy are legit.  Though my heart is certainly with SAS in #60:

Why are the Yankees expected to include a top-tier prospect like Hughes when the Sox don’t have to include Buchholz or Ellsbury?  Why would the Twins prefer a 28 year-old Crisp with an OPS+ of 83 to a 22 year-old Melky with an OPS+ of 89?  Coco Crisp??? Couldn’t the Yankees easily top Bowden with any number of minor league arms, with Horne at the top of the list?

Can Lester be THAT much better than Kennedy?

For reasons that are entirely goofy, I think there’s some additional cache associated with Lester because he won the WS-clinching game and because of the whole beating-cancer-giving-Peter-Gammons-a-hard-on thing.

What’s the sentiment here about whether IPK/Melky/Tabata/Horne is comparable to the Sox offer?  If the Twins pressed and wanted Jackson not Tabata…well, I can’t see a guy who’s barely had a AAA cup of coffee standing between the Yankees and something they want.

At the end of the day, I fear Hughes is included and that clinches it.  If Hank and Cash walk away and won’t budge, I’ll admire and salute their restraint at the same time that I’m nevertheless disappointed that it probably means Johan at the Fens.

Oh, and I’m pissed cause I had Green Bay +7.5…