Why the bleh for Lee? I know very little about him and we are only getting the Rays side down here. You'd think they ruined the Cubs for the next decade if you believe the glowing reports of these prospects.

Even though Lee just turns 21 this year, and still has time to grow. But he just had .705 OPS at Single A this past year. He's very fast, so he can cover a lot of ground at SS. Overall I'm thinking he's just a future version of Larry Bowa, Ivan DeJesus.

Archer looks like the real deal though, and he is the key.

Cubs have been ruined for a long time, but they have other prospects to handle their future.

I'm sure if the Yanks were willing to give up Montero/Romine, Nunez and a decent pitching prospect, the Rays would had jumped on that first.

Thanks.

The Rays minor league system is stocked and they just keep adding to it, but that won't help them too much this year when they won't be able to hit their way out of a wet paper bag. Longoria isn't going to see 10 decent pitches all year, they have nothing to protect him. Starting pitching? Fine. Bullpen? :wf:wf

Larry Bowa was a 5 time all star

Montero alone would have been enough you'd have to think. It isnt like Garza is Roy Halladay

I kinda (because they are usually overstated) understand the financial issues they have but the tact they are taking surely isnt going to help them attract more fans.

What will be interesting is to see how the Royals mega-stacked system fares in major league terms 2013-2015

If things go like people think it may go, Garza may have been the best starting pitcher available at trade deadline which isn't really saying much will be available at that time. But you're right Garza may be at best a possible #2 maybe #3 starting pitcher. (I don't get the big deal on Nunez anyways. I guess you have to be a Yankee fan) In Garza, you at least have a 27 year old with a few years left on a reasonable contract.

Bowa's 5 All-Star years
.298 OBP, .636 OPS
.334, .711 both career best
.283, .584
.319, .689
.316, .630

Sure this was in the age of the non-hitting SS, but the kid would have to be a defensive whiz to even sniff (along with multiple players declining invitations) to be an all-star with those numbers these days.

Beyond the stats, Garza is great guy to have on your team. He's an intense competitor on the field (sometimes to his detriment), he's very loose on the bench, but has his team's back as he'll be the first one to jump on an umpire or opposing player from the bench.

His new teammates will love him, which I think they can use from the Zambrano debacle the last few years.

Busy morning, looking like Manny and Damon to Tampa

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=6045200


Vernon Wells to the Halos

http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=6046548

Damon :)

Manny :rolleyes:

Manny at 2 mil for the season is almost like a lottery ticket. Besides as long as he isn't a total failure/cancer in the locker room, you would think someone would trade for him at the deadline (that is if the Rays are out of it).

They'll be out of it.

I have no problem with Manny on the field. He's an attention whore that I would not want around young players, off the field.

Yeah, but Damon is the opposite (and could keep Manny in check) and you would think that everyone knows that it's Longoria's and Price's team and they seem to have their heads screwed on straight. Also, I don't see Maddon taking any kind of crap from Manny, so it could really be a one strike and he's out policy. But like I said at 2 million, it's a fairly cheap gamble.

Here comes the crew! Miller Park was off the hook this weekend.

How good is Justin Verlander? That is all.

He's best in AL right now, but Indians at moment can't score against anyone. They could do nothing against the 4 non-Sabathia Yankee starters. In June Indians have been shut out more times than they have won. Sort of a gimme shutout for Justin last night!

Fair enough. How many starters can you remember, well, ever that can still bust out a 99 MPH fastball with regularity in the 9th inning? His stuff is unbelievable.

True, few if any are close to him in AL. He is approaching Halladay level good right now. He alone makes Tigers overwhelming favorites in that division I believe. Hard for that team to have long losing strings.

Another win for Kendrick today Chucky. Going on quite a few decisions in his career and well over .500.

He's actually settled into his new role (long man for the bullpen and spot starter) quite well. He still has his Kendrick moments, but he's not a bad spot starter. I think he went 7 innings today and gave up 1 run. He needs to keep palling around Halladay any chance he gets. We're lucky to have three guys who can fill the #5 starter roll on any given day (minus Blanton right now)