Wild Card Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Who would you rather have; Redman or Pavano? Why? Who would you rather have; Looper, Benitez or other? Why? Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlingirl Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Damn, boy... you threw out practically every question in the book. I'd rather have Pavano. Pavano came through in the stretch against the big teams. I also don't like Redman's mouth - he's too vocal with the press. Remember the whole Jim Wolf talk last year? And before his Yankee start he was really cocky with reporters, speaking of how his Detroit team didn't have a bullpen or offense to back him up in his previous start and how he was definitely going to do better than the 2 runs he allowed back then. Yeah, he did -4 runs better. I'll leave the Looper/Benitez decision up to the FO and Wayne Rosenthal. They're more intuitive about pitcher potential and media effects than I am. I personally would like Looper to stay, but I'm not very knowledgeable on that front. Right now, I, along with 80% of this board, am hoping for a Choi/Conine combo at first, and specific Dominican to play right field, a speedy center fielder, and a young Venezuelan at left. About Alex Gonzalez, I'm undecided. I'd like to see Miguel start some games at shortstop during spring training or something and see how he handles it. If Miguel's defense isn't close to Sea Bass', then sign Sea Bass, because, as Jack said in his interview yesterday, defense and pitching win games. And, as I've said before, I'd like to see some line-up changes to give Sea Bass better pitches to hit, if he does stay. I definitely think Burnett should enter in the bullpen, so he can get some action without lots of work. Once he's comfortable, he can rejoin the rotation. Bullpen time seems to do our starters well (i.e. Beckett, Pavano, Willis). Castro/Redmond - this is a tough, tough question. It's up in the air. We've seen Redmond with a lot of action. Sure, he's somewhat of a lefty specialist, but his overall regular season production leans toward mediocre. On the other hand, we've never seen Castro with a lot of game time. No one knows for certain how he'll handle it. Furthermore, there's always the court case. I'm not certain which case will finish first (Kobe or Castro) but if Kobe's finishes first, and he's guilty, forget about Castro. Castillo's status all depends on his hip. Hopefully he'll work on it this offseason and get back in top-notch shape. Regardless, I think Pierre will top Castillo again. However, both of them need to work on their timing a little bit as the running game didn't come through at all in the playoffs. I'm not so sure about Lowell. No one expected it last year, but this year it is expected. I don't know if that will have an effect on his performance or not, but it might. He definitely has the potential -- he's mature enough. I personally think and definitely hope he will. Juan Pierre got an insane amoutn of attention during the playoffs and World Series. If he keeps up last year's performance (offensively with batting average and obp, stealing bases, and with consistent and occasionally flashy defense) and works on his arm, he'll definitely be an All-Star. Everyone knows him now (see ESPN magazine) and many eyes will be on him. It's too early to predict with certainty about Cabrera, but I definitely think he's got the stuff to be a Pujols-type guy with power, consistency, and run production. He was really "clutch" last year, and that'll probably continue this season and for many to come. As long as he stays healthy and grounded, I don't see how he won't turn into something spectacular. Josh Beckett will win more games than he did last year and so will Pavano. Willis is hopefully working on his pitches and control this offseason. I think he will win more games as well. The Willis frenzy is gone, it's not new anymore and the media attention will definitely tone down, which I think will be much to his benefit. Tejera is up in the air, IMO. If we get stuck with Castro/Redmond and it doesn't seem to be working, I wouldn't be surprised to see Josh Willingham called up. If we don't get Vlad, we might see Hermida as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 I'd like to see some line-up changes to give Sea Bass better pitches to hit, if he does stay. A-Gon is a great breaking-ball hitter, and you see much more off-speed stuff near the bottom of the order. This is why he hit 8th even when his AVG was up to .340. And I threw out every question I could think of. I mean, they're scattered over tens of thousands of threads, so I thought, why not get everyones take on everything? I will chime in with my thoughts later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Juanky Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Who would you rather have; Redman or Pavano? Why? A: Pavano. Younger, more talented, and you saw what he did in the playoffs. Plus he was a HUGE part of last year, he is a hell of a workhorse and he walks no one. Who would you rather have; Looper, Benitez or other? Why? A: Iceman, so the Icegirls come back. But between Benitez and Looper, I would take Benitez. Looper blew his saves in Miami, Armando in NY. Armando did well outside The City, why not take the chance? Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? A: I say give Choi his shot. Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? A: Banks is reliable Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? A: Sure, as long as he doesn't hit 8th. Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? A: Yes, but ONLY until he is ready to start. He is more important as a starter. Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? A: Might as well, you can't leave someone who has potential rotting for ever just because they haven't turned potential into actuality. They have to get a chance to do that before it happens. Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? A: IMO with Juanpy he doesn't need to, and I think Juanpy helps Luiy be selective in which bases he steals so he doesn't go all the time and we get run out of innings. Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? A: No reason to bet against it, he has been improving every year. Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? A: Yes, because I say so. Seriously, he should be an MVP candidate, not just an all star. Not many people mean as much to their team as Juanpy means to the Marlins on the field, in the clubhouse, and to the fans. Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? A: With people like Conine, Lowell, Pudge last year, and hopefully Vlad this year and beyond helping him out, plus a kick butt coaching staff, it is pretty hard to think that he won't continue on his current path. Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? A: If the offense starts showing for Josh, yes. Brad can win 17 if he tries. Pavano should win more than 15 but he gets Beckett-like anemic support. Dontrelle won what, 14 this year? And he started in May. I think that one answers itself, but he'll have to pitch the whole season first. Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? A: If he learns control. If and only when. What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004? A: I'll say Abe Nu?ez. Does Blaine Neal count? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnylons Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I'd like to see some line-up changes to give Sea Bass better pitches to hit, if he does stay. A-Gon is a great breaking-ball hitter, and you see much more off-speed stuff near the bottom of the order. This is why he hit 8th even when his AVG was up to .340. And I threw out every question I could think of. I mean, they're scattered over tens of thousands of threads, so I thought, why not get everyones take on everything? I will chime in with my thoughts later. Umm...didnt his production drop dramatically after he was put in the 8th spot? He is a great breaking ball hitter? That is news to me too. It seems you wanted to make a thread to get lots of traffic too. You took every question and put it into a thread. Nice, but why? Why couldnt you have a thread on each question, it would make it easier to keep track of. There are too many questions to answer here...I will wait til someone starts a more specific thread for each topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 I'd like to see some line-up changes to give Sea Bass better pitches to hit, if he does stay. A-Gon is a great breaking-ball hitter, and you see much more off-speed stuff near the bottom of the order. This is why he hit 8th even when his AVG was up to .340. And I threw out every question I could think of. I mean, they're scattered over tens of thousands of threads, so I thought, why not get everyones take on everything? I will chime in with my thoughts later. Umm...didnt his production drop dramatically after he was put in the 8th spot? He is a great breaking ball hitter? That is news to me too. It seems you wanted to make a thread to get lots of traffic too. You took every question and put it into a thread. Nice, but why? Why couldnt you have a thread on each question, it would make it easier to keep track of. There are too many questions to answer here...I will wait til someone starts a more specific thread for each topic. Why start a million threads when you can answer each question with 1-2 sentences like Juanky did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlins Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Redman-More consistant-but I would take Pavano also Other-Looper just isn't good enough,Benitez gets wild a lot-and he's just not worth the small amount of money we have Jeff=1b,get another OF Gonzalez-I want to get someone else...not enough power :thumbdown put AJ in the bullpen-rest arm Castro/Redmond-im ok with that... Luis castillo-no-he wont steal a lot of bases... Mike has a lot of potential...hes going to have another good year Juan Pierre-will deserve to be an all-star-but its not about deserving it-the fans have to like you Miguel-yes-hes gonna be great! he has speed, power,...hes the sull package! Pitching=very good,Josh=best pitcher :thumbup Tejera=threat-i love it when he gets into the game and just eats up innings... :w00t Minor leauge-cant really decide yet... :mischief2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marlingirl Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Miguel-yes-hes gonna be great! he has speed, power,...hes the sull package! Cabrera is great, I agree. But he doesn't have speed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlins Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Miguel-yes-hes gonna be great! he has speed, power,...hes the sull package! Cabrera is great, I agree. But he doesn't have speed... :confused above average... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DTrizzle Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Who would you rather have; Redman or Pavano? Why? Pavano, although I think we should keep both and turn one to the pen once Burnett returns. Who would you rather have; Looper, Benitez or other? Why? Benitez or Looper, you pick one, they both fit nicely Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? Give Choi a shot, he's supposed to be good. Sign another outfielder or bring up Abe (hes an outfielder, right? :blink: ) so that Conine can play first. Although, Banks could work. Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? Yes, he broke out with a great first half, there has to be some reason why it slumps, fix it. Great defense, inexpensive. Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? Yes, we are going to need the help anyways plus who knows he could be the next Gagne. Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? Sure, if Castro's not in jail. Otherwise get Lopez if we can't have Guerrero. Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? Doesn't matter, we have Pierre but he should be fine Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? Why shouldn't he? he has been consistent, right? Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? Will he be an all-star? if his numbers are good. Should he? definitely Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? its too early to tell but I believe he will hit at least 25 homers next year :w00t Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? If Josh is healthy...yes, if Penny keeps his mind set then yes...Pavano yes Willis yes :thumbup Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? unpredictable What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004? Not familiar but Nunez looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmer_fran Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Who would you rather have; Redman or Pavano? Why? Pavano, he has better stuff, and I feel there is a bigger upside for Pavano, and we really don't need 2 left-handed starters. Who would you rather have; Looper, Benitez or other? Why? Looper. Again I feel Looper has the bigger upside he has the arm to be a really great reliever. People tend to forget how good he was before Urbina came. I truly believe that his mediocre September and playoffs was due to being overworked in the 1st 3 months of the season. Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? If we can get Guerrero then I wanna see Conine at 1st. Or if Beinfest can pull a rabbit out of his hat and land any other big name OF, but if we can get a legitimate all-star for RF than we it should be Choi's job coming into the season. Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? Yes, it is so important to have a good defensive SS. I know it hurts to watch him hit, but I can live with it if he continues to play gold glove caliber defense. Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? Yes, I would be comfortable with him in the bullpen if that's what needs to be done, but I want him starting by the end of the season. Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? No, there are too many ifs in this situation. That said if we can get Vlad, I'll take my chances with Castro and Redmond. Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? No, but not because he doesn't have the ability, but because he has Pierre in front of him. Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? Yes, last year was not a fluke. He may not hit the home runs like he did last year, but he is a solid run producer and I totally expect a lot of 100+ RBI seasons in years to come. Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? Yes, maybe not next year but eventually he will. I believe he will consistantly hit well over .300 in years to come. Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? Yes, most offensive talent from that young of a person I have ever seen. Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? I think they are all capable of that, but I don't think they will all do it in the same season. Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? No, he has been around for too long and I just haven't seen any sign of improvement. He definetly has the ability to do it, I just don't see it happening. (I hope I'm wrong) What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004 ? Abraham Nunez Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geemoney Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Q: Who would you rather have, Redman or Pavano and why A: Pavano. Pavano really impressed me in the playoffs, and he can also pitch in the 'pen if we need him. Great K/BB ratio, and he was our best pitcher for certain periods last year. If he stays healthy, he can be a really good mid-rotation pitcher. Plus, he hits better than Redman. Q: Who would you rather have: Looper, Benitez or other and why? A: Well, I'll stick to Looper or Benitez, since for "other" I could just say Eric Gagne. Anyway, I think we're okay no matter where we go here. I'd like Benitez- he has more experience closing that Loop and might save $1-1.5 mil if we can get him for $3 mil. He's a flamethrower who, when he's on, is impossible to hit. I like Loop, but I question if he has the "closer" mentality. Q: Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? A: Until I see Choi in ST, I really can't say if I "trust" him or not. Going into ST, I project him to start at first, with Conine in left. The bench is an area we need to improve, so hopefully we'll get a cheap backup at one of those positions in the off-season. As for Banks.....I trust him to do a good job as backup and PH. That's it. Q: Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? A: Actually, probably not. I want to see if he can be consistent from one year to the next before I lock him up long term. Q: Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? A: Well, I don't think he'll enter the season any way but on the DL still recovering from TJ surgery. I would be comfy with Burnett in the bullpen, but that doesn't mean I want to see it happen. Like I've said before, Burnett has too much promise as a starter to waste in the 'pen. Q: Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? A: No, I do not trust a Castro/Redmond platoon. I trust Castro as starter, and Redmond as backup. Castro has a lot of power potential (there's that word again...) and I wouldn't have any reservations about him starting at catcher. Q: Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? A: No, I don't think he'll be a top-line basestealer for two reasons: 1) still hasn't shown he's recovered his speed from hip surgery and 2) we simply don't need him to be a base-stealer- we have Pierre for that. Ideally, Pierre would be on ahead of Castillo, limiting his chances to steal. Q: Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? A: I think it'll be tough to match the HR mark, but other than that, I think he can match it. Why? Eh, just because. Q: Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? A: No. All-Star voters like power numbers, which Pierre will never have. Plus, he's got Jim Edmonds, Andruw Jones and Preston Wilson standing in his way. Q: Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? A: That's a pretty tall order to ask of him, but I saw every indication last year that he could be. Q: Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? A: Depends on how much run support they get. I'd say Penny has the best chance of any of them to win your projected amount. 20 is always hard, but I wouldn't put it past Beckett to do so, provided he stays healthy. Pavs and Willis will have a tougher time with 15. Q: Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? A: I don't think he'll be a "threat", especially if we sign another lefty, but I think he'll do a decent job. He's shown in the past he can get it done (2 years ago, anway). Q: What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004? A: Um...Hooper, Nunez (if he performs in ST), I've heard Frank Gracesqui's name being tossed around as a lefty for the 'pen....anyone but Scott Sanders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJB34 Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 wow u should have split up the questions into books! way too much to read Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 Who would you rather have; Redman or Pavano? Why? Pavano. Three years younger, and about to enter his prime. Has great stuff and knows how to use it. Redman may also command more through trade. Who would you rather have; Looper, Benitez or other? Why? Benitez. Looper is a great guy and a great pitcher, but he just can't close a game, and almost no set-up man is worth $3-4 Million per. I wouldn't exclude alternitives as well. Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? I trust Choi. He started off hot last year with Chicago in April, and just went downhill for some reason. I think he'll like the big gaps at the Pro, being a doubles guy, but don't count out his long-ball potential. Not one of his HR's in '03 were cheap shots. And I do trust Banks. If Choi for some reason can't get the job done, I would be intrigued at the thought of Banks starting everyday in LF. Possibly even Abe Nunez if it comes to that. Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? Yes. If it were for around $3 Million a year, it'd be worth it just for the defense he brings to the table. The fact that he's coming off a career year offensively and may come into his own sooner rather than later is a bonus. Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? Like Juanky said, I'd be comfortable with it, but when he is ready to start, he's gotta go back into the rotation. This is a guy that led the league in complete games just two years ago, and you can't waste that kind of stamina in the pen. Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? Most definately. I'm the biggest Castro fan here, and I think he'd be more than adequate (sp). And let's not forget, Redmond IS a career .290 hitter. Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? I'm not sure. I think it was a matter of confidence rather than physical ability in 2003. He got down the line almost if not just as fast as he did in '02, so there's no reason to believe he can't steal a base at the same speed IMO. Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? Again, like Juanky said, Mikey has increased his production every single year. Lowell should erupt once more in '04. Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? Yes. One word: Jack McKeon. Pierre has All-Star numbers, but being the most underrated player in the game, has not yet made it. Jack knows what a hard worker Juanpy is, and what he brings to the table. I'm confident he'll be chosen. Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? Again, I'm not sure. The only thing I'm concerned about is his pitch selection. When he first came up, he was swinging at everything. As the season went on, he became a much more selective hitter, but I still don't like that OBP number. Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? If Josh can go out and pitch the way he did in the playoffs 4 out of every 5 starts, he'll not only win 20, but a piece of hardware to go with it :shifty . If Brad Penny can do what HE did in the world series 4 out of 5 starts as well, he'll win 20, too. But that isn't as likely. Brad's problems are more mental than physical. If he can overcome his emotions, he'll definately win 15. Pavano led the team in quality starts in '03, but you wouldn't know it from his win totals. Why? He was among the lowest pitchers in run support. If the offense can chip in for him, there's not reasn to believe he can't do it. Dontrelle needs to work on control; not only of his pitches, but himself. He gets very anxious very fast (his worst inning is the 1st), which leads to lots of balls. If he can control his emotions on the mound, he'll have better control of his pitches as well, leading up to 15. Can he do that, I don't know. Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? Consistancy consistancy consistancy. If Michael can become anything remotely near consistant (meaning he can have solid back-to-back outings), look for him to do much better than expected. What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004? Blaine Neal. He had a fantastic rookie campeign in 2002, and just completely fell apart in '03, for reasons still unknown. Look for him to come back with a vengeance, and make the team as the number two set-up man to Chad Fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FutureGM Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Pavano, because Redman's trade value at this point is the highest it's ever going to be. Benitez, because Looper's inconsistency troubled me to no end last season. He blew several key games when all he had to do was finish the 9th. I say get rid of Looper, and we'll try Benitez. I would rather have Conine play at first, and have the team sign a RF player (Vlad, Guillen). Choi needs more work to be effective. I do not trust Banks, he didn't do anything last year. I want Gonzalez released if we can get another shortstop. He's an all-field, no bat kind of shortstop that kills our batting order. The guy can't even show up to an autograph signing. Burnett can start the season in the bullpen, but only IF his doctors clear him to play. I do not trust a Castro/Redmond platoon. Redmond has no power, and Castro may not even play for us next year. Maybe Castro will do alright, but I would feel much more comfortable if we could get Paul Lo Duca or Javy Lopez in there. I hope Castillo steals bases, because I don't believe he's worth the money we're paying him now. Lowell should continue to give us leadership, and we need his power numbers to stay the same, with Lee and Pudge out the door, and no guarantee of us signing Lopez, Vlad, or both. Pierre will do even better than last year, and will be an All-Star reserve. Cabrera will not be as good as Pujols, but he'll be close. I don't think he can hit as many homers as Pujols can. Beckett will win 20, Penny 15 or more, Pavano 12 or so, and Willis 12-15. I have full confidence in Beckett, after he stepped up bigtime in the playoffs. He has to win 20 games. Penny is a question mark, because I don't know whether he'll pitch as well as he did in the World Series or not. Pavano will be alright, but nothing special. If Willis can pitch like he did before the All-Star break, he'll win 15. If he pitches like he did after it, then he could lose 15. Tejera is a lost cause, I'm afraid. He's been around here for about three seasons now, and I haven't seen any improvement from his initial arrival. He needs to be replaced. The following players have a good chance of making the team: Nic Ungs, Josh Willingham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geemoney Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I want Gonzalez released if we can get another shortstop. He's an all-field, no bat kind of shortstop that kills our batting order. The guy can't even show up to an autograph signing. Gonzalez had 33 doubles, 18 homers and 77 RBI's last year. Define "no-bat kinda guy." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 I want Gonzalez released if we can get another shortstop. He's an all-field, no bat kind of shortstop that kills our batting order. The guy can't even show up to an autograph signing. Gonzalez had 33 doubles, 18 homers and 77 RBI's last year. Define "no-bat kinda guy." That's what I was thinking. The only thing that really worries me about Gonzalez is his OBP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beinfest4Prez Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I want Gonzalez released if we can get another shortstop. He's an all-field, no bat kind of shortstop that kills our batting order. The guy can't even show up to an autograph signing. Gonzalez had 33 doubles, 18 homers and 77 RBI's last year. Define "no-bat kinda guy." Yeah but the case for that is over half of those came before the all star break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnylons Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I'd like to see some line-up changes to give Sea Bass better pitches to hit, if he does stay. A-Gon is a great breaking-ball hitter, and you see much more off-speed stuff near the bottom of the order. This is why he hit 8th even when his AVG was up to .340. And I threw out every question I could think of. I mean, they're scattered over tens of thousands of threads, so I thought, why not get everyones take on everything? I will chime in with my thoughts later. Umm...didnt his production drop dramatically after he was put in the 8th spot? He is a great breaking ball hitter? That is news to me too. It seems you wanted to make a thread to get lots of traffic too. You took every question and put it into a thread. Nice, but why? Why couldnt you have a thread on each question, it would make it easier to keep track of. There are too many questions to answer here...I will wait til someone starts a more specific thread for each topic. Why start a million threads when you can answer each question with 1-2 sentences like Juanky did? Because who the hell wants to read everyone's posts like that? No one reads mine as it is, let alone if the post is long...thanks for screwing this up though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnylons Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 wow u should have split up the questions into books! way too much to read amen, but Capt. Obvious isnt so obvious sometimes. I tried to tell him this...but oh well... :banghead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJBurnett34 Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Who would you rather have; Redman or Pavano? Why? 1)Pavano. Pavano showed great signs of an outbreak this up coming season. Redman struggled badly in the 2nd half. Who would you rather have; Looper, Benitez or other? Why? 2)Benitez, Because He has had more experience as a closer all his life. He has been doing this for many years. He is also a great closer upto Last year. Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? 3)I rather have Conine at 1st and then go after Vlad. Choi is a minor leaguer. I cant trust him. Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? 4)Yea i would love to see Gonzalez sign a multy year deal. This guy is so good at defense, i cant describe how good his "D" is. At hitting, he isnt too good but still has high RBI numbers for a SS every season. at least he is doing a little something with the Bat. He also showed a great piece of hitting in the 1st half last year and had his career highest 17 or 18 homers. Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? 5)I would like him to be in the bullpen for a COUPLE of relief appearance but not Permanantly. He is to good of a starter to waste. We know AJ as the Ace of this team. We cant let that talent leave. Seriously. Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? 6)I dont trust this Platoon. Castro showed very good potential but i just have a feeling he cant do the job. Redmond is great catching behind the plate. he handles the pitching staff excellent and is very good at blocking but he cant hit good. Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? 7)Yes Louie will go back at top in the SB category. Why? because he just recovered from hip surgery. He had one full season to be Healthy again. Plus he gets on base alot, which is the key. Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? 8)I think lowell will have a season similar to Last season or even better. He has found out, alot of things about hitting. He is just becoming a great hitter as the seasons go by. Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? 9)Yes, he has the potential of becoming an all star but he is a very quiet guy. he does his thing, which is Run, Hit, and Play Defense Extremely good. Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? 10) Cabs has shown great hitting with his brief MLB appearance. I think he can hit 30+ homers consistantly once he learns the mistakes he is doing. He has VERY good potential. Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? 11) I think Beckett and Penny can become 20 game winners, Penny just has to stop trying to throw as hard as he can just to try and over power the hitter. He needs to hit his spots. Pavano can win 15 games with that tremendous control he has. He can become a similar pitcher to Greg Maddux. Willis did very good in the first half carrying the marlins but due to his Fatigue in the 2nd half, its hard to figure out if He CaN win 15 games. Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? 12)Tejera can Prove was he is all about. He started pitching very good right before the playoffs. He just left the ball over the plate. now he is hitting his spots and doing better. Remeber how good he did when he was our 5th starter in 2002? This guy won his first 6 games. What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004? 13)Abe. Nunez. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnylons Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I want Gonzalez released if we can get another shortstop. He's an all-field, no bat kind of shortstop that kills our batting order. The guy can't even show up to an autograph signing. Gonzalez had 33 doubles, 18 homers and 77 RBI's last year. Define "no-bat kinda guy." That's what I was thinking. The only thing that really worries me about Gonzalez is his OBP. yeah, but you're the one that said A Gon is good at hitting breaking balls and this is why he was moved to 8th spot. Yet, most of his decline in production came AFTER he was moved into the 8th spot...please, explain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 Jonnylons, stop b***hing and moaning. If you're not going to answer the questions, don't. Nobody is forcing you to. But don't complain about it. Some people want to know everyone's thoughts on things. I thought this would be a good way to get everyone's opinions "on the record." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rferry Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Who would you rather have; Redman or Pavano? Why? A dependable innings eater like Redman. For two years he's been near the top of Pitcher Abuse Points and has shown no ill effects. His presence gives our unknown relievers a bit of a break, and would be our only lefty if D-Train can't match his first half dominance and is sent to the minors. Also could come out of the bullpen as a lefty specialist in the playoffs and off-days (if he's projected to be the 5th starter.) Als I feel Pavano has a higher trade value at this point to net some bench and bullpen help. Who would you rather have; Looper, Benitez or other? Why? All things being equal, a one year deal worth approximately two or three million, Benitez. I saw this kid with Baltimore. He has excellent stuff, can really dominant a game. He's performed well, and has only struggled when attacked by the New York media. Would you rather have Conine at 1B and sign another outfielder, or do you trust Choi? Do you sign a reliable backup at 1B or in the OF just in case, or do you trust Brian Banks as a replacement to either Choi at first or Conine in LF (assuming Jeff replaces Hee Seop)? Right now we only have one true outfielder on the roster. Banks would be our second. Whether or not who plays first base we'll need another outfielder to atleast ride the bench. I thought it was a horrible deal to trade one first baseman for another when Conine had been complaining about his knees last year. Conine is an excellent fielder, but I question how long his instincts can make up for his lack of speed. That was until I read about Choi. He's a great talent and I think he's ready. We should give him every chance to succeed. Conine's been my favorite player since 1993 but I'll answer with three simple words: Bring on Vlad! Do you want to see Alex Gonzalez signed to a 2-4 year deal? Why or why not? I've read that in 2 years there won't be many infielders on the free agent market (atleast before arbitration), so I think it would be best to extend his contract for 3 years to not get stuck overpaying for him or his replacement. Would you be comfortable with A.J. Burnett entering the season in the bullpen? why or why not? I just want him to pitch. As I understand it, he was throwing from a mound in fall. So, he's on the road to getting back into the routine of pitching. Part of that is working on his endurance. It's a key step. And once he's at that step and ready, I want him starting. No matter who gets bumped from the rotation. Burnett is our ace. Do you TRUST a Castro/Redmond platoon? Why or why not? Hell no! Redmond's an overpaid for a defensive replacement. Castro's in trouble. I want Beinfest to atleast sign a backup that could step in if Castro is found guilty. And if that's the case I want Castro to start one more game without pads or mitt and have Beckett throw fastballs at his groin. Do you believe Luis Castillo will retain his spot as a top-of-the-line base stealer? Why or why not? No. He's not our leadoff man anymore. His hip should be fine. I mean he should feel better about his hip to run. But he's not in that role any more. He's in the position to move Pierre along and get on base himself. His baserunning should be to follow the lead runner. Will Mike Lowell continue his unmatched offensive production from 3B in 2004? Why or why not? Sure, why not? He's 30 and he ain't quitting anytime soon. Will Juan Pierre be an All-Star? Why or why not? No, there are too many good outfielders. I have faith in McKeon to not pull a Baker, Torre or Scoscia and invite all his players as backups. Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? Miggy has the potential, but I doubt his ability to hit .300 any time soon. Will Josh Beckett win 20 games? Brad Penny 15? Carl Pavano 15? Dontrelle Willis 15? Why or why not? Beckett's my favorite to win the Cy Young Award. But who knows how many they'll win. That's dependent on many more forces than thei arms, and I'm pretty confident in the ability of the defense and lineup to give them the shot. Will Michael Tejera become a consistant bullpen threat? Why or why not? With a lot of work with Rosenthal. But I don't him back for nything more than half a million. What 2003 minor leaguer(s) have the best chance of making the team in 2004? I really think Josh Willingham could see some time this year. Blaine Neal deserves another chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild Card Posted December 14, 2003 Author Share Posted December 14, 2003 Will Miguel Cabrera become the next Albert Pujols or Magglio Ordonez? Why or why not? Miggy has the potential, but I doubt his ability to hit .300 any time soon. He DID hit over .300 in July and September, both months being "Rookie of the Month." He has the ability to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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