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I used to watch Jimerson here in Lexington when he was playing low-A ball. Indeed, it would be a huge thing if he were able to turn the corner. Evidently the Astros feel the same way or he would have been let go a season or two ago. I'm aware that he spent last off-season getting personal coaching from Tony Gwynn -- if I'm not mistaken, Gwynn's son and Jimerson are good friends or something like that. Ummm... getting back to my highly unscientific polling... any great displeasure with a Taveras/Vargas trade, besides Festa who so proudly displays Vargas' jersey number on his sig line?

He throws a fastball and a change-up. He is working on a slider but rarely used it, if it all. Ouch... sounds more like a relief guy, long-term, then -- I mean, just conventionally-speaking. But reputation is that his change-up can be dominant (?).

Vargas was also pitching with a fastball and a slider. He was working on a slider though. Confused... What are Vargas primary pitches that he throws? Does he not have a third?

So... What say ye... Taveras for Olsen... yea or nay? (My take from an admittedly Astros point of view: Not an option, at least right now. Astros have enough good-to-excellent prospect candidates for the pitching staff. Plus, Taveras is game tested and a known quantity. Olsen is game tested but minimally so. Plus, his elbow situation, while evidently not of great concern if you're the Marlins, would be of some concern at least to any potential suitor for his services. So, the nays have it.) Taveras for Vargas... yea or nay? (My take from an admittedly Astros point of view: Vargas represents a step above the current six candidates for the "Clemens' hole" in the rotation, not because he has greater potential (I could be ignorant on this point, but in my very limited review, I have seen nothing projecting him to be higher than a #2 guy and mostly a #3 guy), but essentially because he has the benefit of about half-a-season of starts. His fall-off over the last month from a 2-something ERA to a 4-something may be of some concern, but even his 4-something represents a better number than what the two guys (Zeke Astacio and Wandy Rodriguez) accumulated over their season by one run-plus. His final strong outing against the Nats was somewhat reassuring. Like Vargas, Taveras was the RotY for his team, and in fact was either #1 or #2 in every League RotY voting out there. Attempting objectivity, it's a trade that doesn't seem to be very far off the mark given both players 2005 accomplishments, and the general projections of both players' careers. Yea.)

Vargas is one of the few pitchers we have going into 2006 that is major league ready. You seemingly have an abundance of pitchers that are arguably "mlb ready," just not "mlb tested." But that begs the question, if I may, when a team is building so overtly for the future, why wouldn't that team evaluate a Vargas in the long term just like you evaluate Olsen or any other of these pitchers that are worthy of serious consideration..??? Put a slightly different way... what does it really matter if a pitcher has 4 months (or so) of mlb experience when there is little anticipation for competing for a pennant this season, and when, next off-season, it is evident that several of these young "untested" pitchers will be "tested" and with only four months less experience than Vargas...??? (Not arguing... just interested to more clearly understand the Marlins perspective.)

Just finished reading much of the 16 page thread on Gathright for Olsen. Wondering if the consensus here would be any different if Taveras were offered for Olsen. I'm guessing not, but just curious. And, as long as I'm poking and prodding, I didn't see his name come up at all earlier, so am I to assume that you guys are in love with Vargas to the point that you wouldn't consider him in a deal? Stros have been rumored within the last couple of weeks to be working a Taveras for Contreras deal with the White Sox, but those rumors seem to have quieted. Stros, I think, are wanting to supplement the rotation on the chance that Rocket doesn't return. (Fwiw, they have a couple of guys penciled in (E. Astacio and W. Rodirguez), and a couple of top prospects penciled in to challenge (Nieve and Hirsh), and a couple of second-chance prospects (Bucholz and C. Hernandez) penciled in to challenge as well.) So, my mind is wandering around the Marlins situation... a team stockpiled high with pitching prospects that is still looking for a game-tested CF that is on the front end of his career. Interested in your comments/ideas.