I believe Mays is signed at LEAST through this season and I believe he has an option for next season. For some reason the club seems to have faith in him, maybe it's from all the time and money they've invested in him.

I think the Twins should thank the Indians and the Bitch Sox for rolling over and playing dead for them this season. It seems the Tigers might be their toughest competition.

Ryan, are you holding your breath for the Tim Hudson deal? It would defientely help the Braves Rotation, but what will the give up is the question.

Speaking of giving up, Attention any teams with a solid center fielder, the Giants have 1 A.J. for trade and possiblly some minor league pitching not named Merkin.

I'm not so sure Hudson is on his way to Atlanta. He has expressed strong interest, thus the reason Beane and Schuerholz gave it another go after the trade seemed dead. I think a trade would consist of Nick Green (2B), Dan Meyer (SP, ready for majors now) and either Eli Marrero or Charles Thomas. Maybe they'd throw in Roman Colon (RP ready for majors now) in place of Marrero or Thomas. I think Beane was insane to look for Giles to be part of the deal since he wouldn't allow a 72 hour window for the Braves to negotiate an extension for Hudson. It just seems like a better deal than the LA one.

Nick Green- started when Giles was on the DL and was very effective. He may not be a full-timer just yet, but he is solid.

Charles Thomas- started in LF when Chipper was moved to 3B. He hit .400 for the first month-two months, then tailed off when pitchers started to figure him out. He has good speed and is a very good outfielder.

Dan Meyer- he is a lefty that has been touted as the next Tom Glavine, along with Horacio Ramirez. He is the top pitching prospect, even before Jose Capellan was dealt. He pitched out to the bullpen after being called up and was pretty impressive in the few innings he pitched.

Eli Marrero- he is a versatile player with good speed, can play 1B, C and all outfield positions. He hit over .300 last year after returning from the DL and spending most of 2003 on the DL with St. Louis.

Roman Colon- VERY good reliever. He struck out Barry Bonds once and that was pretty amazing to see him go after Barry like that. He pitched almost 20 innings out of the bullpen and was quite effective. I'd hate to see this guy go.

What a rant, eh? I think you'll see 3 of those guys go to Oakland, if Hudson can get a contract extension in Atlanta. If it doesn't happen, look for another Atlanta native to join the rotation: Kevin Brown. It wouldn't be too terrible. Turner is a pitchers park and IF he is healthy, he would be ok. But healthy and Brown typically don't belong in the same sentence. If anything, the Braves would likely only have to pay $3 million for him, but it remains to be seen if the Yankees are willing to cover that much of his contract. ($15 million due in 2005)

I'd love Hudson if locked up for 4 years. Brown is more likely though. Hudson is especially necessary because the Braves really lack a true ACE, contrary to what Smoltz believes.

Yeah, that's a lot of guys to give up for only 2 seasons. Hudson's be a good pitcher to have in the rotation for 4 years.

Kevin Brown isn't a bad backup plan, if he can stay healthy.

Here's the "Deal" on Joe Mays:

From mlb.com Twins Mailbag article 11/01:

"Whether the Twins release Mays or keep him, he will be in the final year of a guaranteed four-year, $20 million contract, and still get that money. Also, there's not much trade value for a pitcher with a history of elbow problems coming off major surgery. Referring to that earlier question, if Mays is healthy and can make a complete comeback, the club will give him every chance, whether he pitches in the rotation or out of the bullpen as an expensive long reliever. "

Is it anyone but me, but Arizona would be utterly stupid to get rid of Johnson right now? At the end of last year we were all looking at them as going into a "rebuilding phase."

Sigining Glaus is not a rebuliding thing to do. As much as Ryan & I have reason to doubt Russ Ortiz form the Arizona standpoint it was not a bad move. Plus adding Royce Clayton (a former Giant ) not a bad deal either. Either way it seems they are trying to get a playoff conteder going. Getting rid of Johnson without getting a star or couple of future stars in return is utterly stupid. Granted being a Giants fan I hope utter stuipity strikes the D-backs, but come on they have made some wise off-season moves.

SWEET FUCKING CHRIST! Why the hell can't baseball go on a 1 year strike like hockey? fucking baseball. Football's almost over, hockey never took place, and this shit's right around the corner again for another 9 fucking months.

I need a rope.

There's always Arena Football and Wrastling, Unech.

man, arena ball's kinda boring. As far as Wrastlin' goes, I cant stand the real thing, and I just laugh my ass of at the WWE. it's so cheesy. Speaking of that, on a side note, I was thinking about going as Mick Foley for Halloween next year!

Either Mick or Dime.

For next Halloween, I'm going as Steve Martin in "The Jerk", similar to my costume as a flasher from a few years back. Oh it is gonna rule. Though i doubt that i'll even be in MN anymore, so it may not be as fun...

If baseball went on strike, i would cry. As much as football fans would if their sport went on strike. It has happened way too often in baseball and i just can't go through that again. Although, the last time they went on strike, the Braves won the World Series the following year, so i guess i could HOPE that would happen. Right. And the Devil Rays are trading for Randy Johnson.

Yeah, I hear that. I'd be crushed if there was no NFL. (not like it would matter for the Raiders. They're playing like shit AGAIN this year.)

Not gonna be in MN anymore?! where are you going?

Well, there's no Hockey, I haven't cared about football since 1995. I seriously hope those greedy assholes in the NHL pull there heads out of there asses soon, cause I'm about ready to say fuck the NHL. So there's nothing left to talk about sports wise other than baseball.

Randy Johnson to the Devil Rays????? No fucking way, why would anyone in their right mind wave a no trade clause to go to a last place team? Where did you read this? Nationalenquirer.com?

No baseball would leave a void in my life.
I am surviving the NHL lockout because I'm a rabid college fan.

Football should have a lockout. Football's only once a week anyway!
Basketball could have a lockout and I wouldn't even notice. Actually, basketball SHOULD have a lockout.

Also, there's always Lacrosse...

The "real" Big Eunich is not going to the D-Rays. I just said it was as likely to happen as the Braves are to win the WS again.

Still, i agree with you, AJ. Arizona is making some strange moves, but they are really trying to win back a fan-base that is none too happy. If they can make that trade with the White Sox, for RJ, it might be a good thing. The proposal is Jon Garland, an everyday outfielder (who, i don't know), Ryan Sweeney, Damaso Marte and another prospect. Seems eerily similar to the deal they made with Milwaukee for Sexson. Garland would be a pretty nice pickup for them, although he is still a .500 pitcher. He is still only 25, so there is room to improve. He won't replace RJ obviously, but few pitchers can. Marte would be great for their bullpen and Sweeney is a pretty good up-and-coming prospect. I don't know who that "every day outfielder" would be, since they just gave up Lee. Konerko was rumored to be part of the deal, but i doubt that happens now that Lee is gone.

I dunno. The NL West should be a dogfight when all is said and done.

I'm actually pissed that Paul Byrd signed with Anaheim. Yes, THAT Paul Byrd. That fucker owes the Braves a free season after being out 1.5 years of a 2 year contract. He came up pretty big after Horacio Ramirez went down.

And i am now an Oakland A's "Fan Hater." Fuck them. Apparently they think ALL their prospects are gold and that everyone else's are shit. I believe one even said that prospects are nothing more but lifetime AAA players and that few will actually make the majors. The same guy was later touting Huston Street their closer of the future. How is that possible if prospects will never make the majors? And EVERY major leaguer goes through AAA at some point, unless you are Albert Pujols or Rafael Furcal. Fuckin' gay.

Really, i am pissed because of all the pitching talent that have developed and have pointed out that no other team has the quality of pitching that they do. It is true in some cases, but many teams have superb prospects that are capable of being as good if not better than their Big 3. I hope they choke in the postseason next year, IF they even get there. Did i mention "FUCK THEM"??

Ah, I see... things like me believing that RJ is going to TB happen when I read the forum before I get coffee.

The nearest I can tell the "everyday outfielder" would have to be Carl Everett. Still seems like an odd deal. I think the D-back benifit more from that trade than the sox, but it does make for an interesting Santana versus Big Unit pitching match up. That just gives me chills, there'd be 30 stirkeouts combined.

I completely understand what you mean about A's fans. You have no idea what I had to through after the Giants were swept in '89. I kept trying to explain to people that had it not been for the eathquake there would not have been a sweep. Granted the Giants would not have won the series, but Dave Stewart & Bob Welch would not have pitched games 1 & 2 and then came back in games 3 & 4 either.

The A's have all the good prospects, huh? Lets look at the team Minnesota has continously built & rebuilt completely from their own farm system, and how valued and sought after many of their prospects are.

The big difference is that Oakland is more of a pitching rich organization, where the Twins have produced more hitting prospects. Aside from Radke, Guardado and Santana, i don't think the Twins have much to write home about, in terms of pitching. Yet.

It is hard to value one over the other. The A's can plug in pitchers seemingly anywhere and they fare pretty well. The Twins can throw a Cuddyer, Morneau or Ford out there do just as well, if not better. I think i would probably value the pitching more. The Twins STILL have a glut of outfielders in the minors that need to find a home. Get some more pitching! Crain, Durbin and Balfour (one of these days) will be stars. Aside from them, it is shaky.

(i didn't really bother talking much about relievers, because both clubs have fared VERY well at times, awful at others)