Precious Roy

I've read that the deal may be 6 years with 2 option years (I would assume mutual or team options) and a no trade through the first 5? If that's true I applaud the Cubbies on this. 8 years guaranteed would be insane. At least in the short-term it gives them an intimidating power trio with Soriano, Lee and Ramirez. I wouldn't want Soriano leading off or playing center though. Ideally for the Cubs they can aquire someone who can fill both those roles. Dave Roberts is the only free agent who really fits the bill, but there would certainly be some trade options. Aren't Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli on the market?

I can't believe that Thomas' value could be that high. As great a hitter as he is, at his age and with his injury history, I'm sure the official number is less than that. If Thomas can get that much how much is Bonds worth on the open market?

Lolz. I don't see what's so 'Lolz' about that, but hey, you're the Lakers fan.... That's the part I was laughing about. It's a bit of a stretch, but I can see it... Kobe is arguably the most talented player in the world. Odom has an insane skillset for someone with his size, he can do everything, a triple double threat every night, not too many guys like him out there. Bynum is what, 19, he's got a chance to be an all-time great center. Kwame Brown obviously possesses a lot of talent. Walton, Farmar, Radmanovich, Parker, Turiaf, Evans. The talent isn't in question, it's the maturity of the players and Kobe's ability to strike the right balance with his teammates. And defense, like West said....

You wouldn't be opposed to trading Sanchez and an OF prospect? HA! An injured Humberto Sanchez and what prize Yankee OF prospect would be able to land Dontrelle Willis? If you're going to dream - at least be realistic. With the demand on Dontrelle - you'd be sending Hughes and Tabata...bare minimum. Sanchez isn't injured. He had an injury. There's a difference. Personally I think something like Sanchez, Tabata and Cox is about fair and I can't see any team in baseball giving up more than that.

He'll probably never be the rebounder or passer that Bird was. How about the next Kiki Vandeweghe?

After the Sox won the posting for Matsuzaka it had occured to me that the Yankees would enter the bidding for Willis. I'd much prefer him over Zito, younger cheaper and better IMO, and I wouldn't be opposed to trading Sanchez and an OF prospect etc. for him. If we could pull that off we'd basically be flipping Sheff and some prospects for Willis. I don't understand what Minaya is doing. Valentine killed them in the playoffs, Duque is great but he's 41 and can't last a full season, and Floyd is Floyd. Bringing their whole team back isn't getting them any closer to a championship.

Lolz. I don't see what's so 'Lolz' about that, but hey, you're the Lakers fan....

In the Orioles defense, Wright had his best season working with Leo Mazzone. I've never seen Britton pitch, but I'm glad we won't have Wright in our rotation again...

I'm pretty happy with the Sheff trade. Humberto Sanchez is a top notch prospect, and as an added bonus he's from the Bronx. Cashman is saying he'll get a shot at making the rotation next year. I'd never heard of Whelan or Claggett before, but reading up on them they sound like solid relief prospects. What I found interesting is that both converted from being positional players to relievers in college, and both have had great success at it so far. You always hate to see a player like Sheff leave, especially to the team that just eliminated you from the playoffs, but at his age and with the depth we have in the outfield to get these prospects for him is outstanding. I think Sheff will have a great year for the Tigers, and I'm glad he's happy with the move and got his extension out of the deal.

I do, but that's not saying a whole lot since I would never want Adam Dunn as a Dodger.

He hit .297 with a .901 OPS with RISP last year. For his career he's .295 and .924. Last year he had 33 K's in 148 ABs with RISP. He had 106 Ks total in 494 ABs, so his strikeout rate is pretty much the same in all situations. 106 Ks total is a lot, but there isn't a whole lot of difference between a K and an in play out in most cases, the fact that he gets on base as much as he does trumps the strikeouts. He's getting the Abreu treatment. And for the hell of it, Adam Dunn strikes out waaaay more, walks a bit more, but because he hits homers rather than the singles and doubles that Drew hits everyone overlooks it. I like the longball as much as anyone, but all things considered Drew and Dunn give you about the same production, and nobody would have a problem paying Dunn the kind of money Drew will get.

To clear up any possible confusion, I think I worded things poorly in my first post RE: Drew when I said, "when healthy he's one of the best 3 or 4s in the game". I didn't mean hitting out of the 3 or 4 spot, I meant as the "3rd or 4th option" in a lineup hitting next to a couple of power hitters that opposing pitchers prefer to pitch around. Drew isn't a guy that pitchers try to avoid facing, but if you have a guy or too like that next to him in the lineup it just makes him more dangerous/valuable.

Please do. I have a feeling I'll agree with you, he's not a 3 or 4 hitter, a guy you can build an offense around, but as a guy complimenting an Ortiz or Guerrero type hitter he's about as good as it gets. And like I said, with the money some teams throw around for average pitchers and positional players if a contending team wants to pony up for his services I see it as a good investment, provided he can stay healthy. Really, that's the only thing about him that gives me pause.

So JD Drew is getting the Abreu treatment, huh? I agree that he isn't a "superstar", but anyone who puts up the numbers he does IS helping his team, whether or not he's flashy or spectacular enough for some people. You put up a 900+ ops and play good defense you're helping your team win games, no debate. He's the best fit on a team where he can be a complimentary guy in the lineup, and when healthy he's one of the best 3 or 4s in the game. In a market that gives out obscene contracts to mediocre pitchers I think he's certainly worth 11 or 12 mil a year, provided you're putting him alongside a couple other top notch hitters.

It's wrong to root against an individual guy because my team didn't get him, but I can hate on 25 players collectively because they comprise a rival team? I'm just trying to get the "rules" straight here. I'm not wishing injury on anyone, but I don't see the difference between hoping Matsuzaka sucks and you hoping that Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling doesn't each go 20-3 next year and that the Yankees beat the brains out of Boston every time they play. I'd rather the Red Sox play well, win a lot of games and give the Yankees a tough fight than see them out of it by Sept. 1st with their pitching staff in shambles. What fun is that?

Looks like the Nuggets were wise to keep Reggie Evans and trade for Joe Smith. Now lets see if Nene's knee can hold up to extra run.

You don't have to hope he does well, but it shouldn't matter to you. If you're actively rooting against a guy because your team doesn't get him, you need to either grow up or get a life. That's selfish as hell. These are real people, why would you want to see anyone fail at their profession on a national stage? David Wells signed with the Red Sox....I still wanted the guy to succeed. Clemens, Pettite, Soriano etc. etc. I'm always happy to see ex-Yankees do well. I was thrilled with the postseason performance of Jeff Weaver, it was nice to see a guy redeem himself like that. I root against teams collectively, not for individual players to underperform.

Hoping a player doesn't pan out because he goes to a team you don't like is beyond petty. There's just so much wrong with that. Matsuzaka being a star would be great for baseball, whichever team he ends up on. Root for teams to lose, root against a bad guy or cheater like Bonds or Sosa, don't root against a guy making the jump from Japan for no fucking reason other than him not being on your favorite team.

Bruce Bowen is a great man. Greater than Einstein!

Fuck! Kevin Faulk had a horrible game, missed a bunch of easy catches. Brady throws 4 picks and only one of them was his fault.

VINATIERRI MISSES!!!!!! It's so surreal to cheer when the guy misses one!

Allen Webber?

Might not have been a bad deal to make, Anna Benson could have taken some of the backpage spotlight off of A-Rod.

anyone else watching Lakers-Sonics? I thought at least one of those Turiaf blocks could have been a foul, but awesome defensive effort by him, and a very good game overall. If he can keep this kind of play up, and Bynum keeps improving, once Mihm and Brown get back suddenly the Lakers are looking to be really deep. Oh, and I like how Kobe does pushups on the floor after getting fouled and it's not a technical foul...

The Suns are overcrowded at the 2/3. They're commited to giving Barbosa and Bell around 30 a night, Bell because he's their best defender, Barbosa because he's such a dynamic offensive player, with Amare and Kurt Thomas back Diaw has to get more time at the 3, and now they've got to find 15-20 a night for Rose. They have James Jones in their rotation as well, and Marcus Banks backing up Nash (though he could potentially lose minutes on this deal with Barbosa capable of playing the point)....I guess it's a good problem to have for D'Antoni.....but I'm not sure why Rose would choose Phoenix over Miami, where he would be guaranteed a more consistent role.