OMG!

[Smooth]

The one thing about this team is that we have our future basically set in place..

Lineup:

1). ???
2). Asdrubal Cabrera [SS] - provides some pop, speed and solid hitting/bunting ability all in one package, which is something you need in the 2 hole
3). Grady Sizemore [CF] - the perfect fit for the #3 spot in the order
4). Travis Hafner [DH] - another perfect fit
5). Victor Martinez [C] - ditto
6). Ryan Garko [1B] - ditto, again
7). Franklin Guiterrez [RF] - ditto, yet again
8). ???
9). ???

Really the only spot we need to fill is the lead off spot which is something that can be done if we were to use Peralta as trade bait or Casey Blake... Either of those guys are expendable and would be good to use to get us something that we need... The 2B spot, LF spot and 3B are the ones we'd need to fill...

Bench:

Josh Barfield [middle infield] - someone who can provide speed off the bench and play great defense
Kelly Shoppach [catcher] - a great defensive catcher
Ben Francisco [outfielder] - shows promise as a 4th OF

We'd need to fill out the last couple positions but that is what veterans are for...

Starting Rotation:

1). C.C. Sabathia - a legit #1 starter now, main key will be locking him up
2). Fausto Carmona - a good right-handed compliment to C.C.
3). ???
4). Aaron Laffey - a guy who will continue to get better and will be solid as a 4th starter down the road and the second lefty in the rotation
5). ???

Again, two spots for veterans or if Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers can regain their form, especially Sowers... We have a lot of lefties in the farm system so I wouldn't mind getting rid of Lee or Sowers when they have some value...

Bullpen:

LHP: Rafael Perez - has been lights out and only 25
RHP: Tom Martny/Jensen Lewis - a solid 2nd righty in the bullpen who can also close

Our bullpen is the place where we need to build for the future... Right now we don't have much beside Mastny/Lewis or Perez...


Right now we look pretty solid... Round out the Lineup, bench and Starting rotation with some veterans and we should be good to go... Our trade bait looks like Jhonny Peralta, Cliff Lee and Casey Blake and it should be focused on getting bullpen arms for the future...

 

[cdt]

We need to decide this kids nickname...

Is it "Strudel" , "Astrocab" or should we keep searching?

 

[TrueCavsFan23]

I like strudel.

 

[Wine and Gold]

The one thing about this team is that we have our future basically set in place..


Starting Rotation:

1). C.C. Sabathia - a legit #1 starter now, main key will be locking him up
2). Fausto Carmona - a good right-handed compliment to C.C.
3). ???
4). Aaron Laffey - a guy who will continue to get better and will be solid as a 4th starter down the road and the second lefty in the rotation
5). ???

...

We've got Westbrook longterm for the 3 slot. The 5 will eventually go to Adam Miller ... I think you'll eventually see Sowers and Lee used in trade for a power bat in left, or 3rd base. I think Peralta is going to get moved as well. Cabrera is our future at SS, and the organization has had their fill of Peralta's laziness.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

I wouldnt really put Phillips in there CCF.

Why not? He wasn't the centerpiece of that trade. He was supposed to be a solid player. He was playing well in the minors, but never panned out for us in the majors. I know about the tensions between him and many on our coaching staff. He's now a potential perennial all star.

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

Yea but you cant blame Shapiro for Phillips. That one falls squarly on old Wedgie's shoulders.

I never put the blame on Wedge - go back and read my post. This is all I wrote:

It truly is weird - the blue chippers we get always seem to tank (Marte, Barfield, Phillips), while the after-thoughts seem to blossom (Shoppach, etc - can't think of some others right now, but know they're out there).

I was just stating that we do a go job of acquiring talent - the blue chippers sometimes seem to play worse than the throw ins that our scouts are so adept at finding.

 

[B Mac]

We need to decide this kids nickname...

Is it "Strudel" , "Astrocab" or should we keep searching?

I thought his nickname all along has been Droobs. That was his nickname back to when he played for Seattle.

Underwood kept calling him AC last night, and it was driving me crazy.

 

[B Mac]

I never put the blame on Wedge - go back and read my post. This is all I wrote:



I was just stating that we do a go job of acquiring talent - the blue chippers sometimes seem to play worse than the throw ins that our scouts are so adept at finding.

Yea I didnt mean to sound like I was accusing you of anything. I was just letting my still pent up frustration at Wedge out over that one.

 

[chiefwahoo]

I thought his nickname all along has been Droobs. That was his nickname back to when he played for Seattle.

Underwood kept calling him AC last night, and it was driving me crazy.

That pissed me off too last night. As we all know, there are only two "real" AC's:

 

[_amon _ones]

This "AC" is a little upset that you forgot him. Using his 40 years of pent up sexual frustration, he may send his boys here after you...

 

[PIP]

Did he ever lose his virginity ???

I remember being at the 2000 NBA finals between the Lakers and the Pacers, and everyone was joking that AC was busting his ass because he was using all his sexual energy out on the court.. :chuckles:

 

[_amon _ones]

Yeah...he eventually got married. Poor woman probably couldn't walk right for a month.

 

[Wes]

The one thing about this team is that we have our future basically set in place..

Lineup:

1). ???
2). Asdrubal Cabrera [SS] - provides some pop, speed and solid hitting/bunting ability all in one package, which is something you need in the 2 hole
3). Grady Sizemore [CF] - the perfect fit for the #3 spot in the order
4). Travis Hafner [DH] - another perfect fit
5). Victor Martinez [C] - ditto
6). Ryan Garko [1B] - ditto, again
7). Franklin Guiterrez [RF] - ditto, yet again
8). ???
9). ???

Really the only spot we need to fill is the lead off spot which is something that can be done if we were to use Peralta as trade bait or Casey Blake... Either of those guys are expendable and would be good to use to get us something that we need... The 2B spot, LF spot and 3B are the ones we'd need to fill...

Bench:

Josh Barfield [middle infield] - someone who can provide speed off the bench and play great defense
Kelly Shoppach [catcher] - a great defensive catcher
Ben Francisco [outfielder] - shows promise as a 4th OF

We'd need to fill out the last couple positions but that is what veterans are for...

Starting Rotation:

1). C.C. Sabathia - a legit #1 starter now, main key will be locking him up
2). Fausto Carmona - a good right-handed compliment to C.C.
3). ???
4). Aaron Laffey - a guy who will continue to get better and will be solid as a 4th starter down the road and the second lefty in the rotation
5). ???

Again, two spots for veterans or if Cliff Lee or Jeremy Sowers can regain their form, especially Sowers... We have a lot of lefties in the farm system so I wouldn't mind getting rid of Lee or Sowers when they have some value...

Bullpen:

LHP: Rafael Perez - has been lights out and only 25
RHP: Tom Martny/Jensen Lewis - a solid 2nd righty in the bullpen who can also close

Our bullpen is the place where we need to build for the future... Right now we don't have much beside Mastny/Lewis or Perez...


Right now we look pretty solid... Round out the Lineup, bench and Starting rotation with some veterans and we should be good to go... Our trade bait looks like Jhonny Peralta, Cliff Lee and Casey Blake and it should be focused on getting bullpen arms for the future...

Trevor Crowe, who is down in the minors (Akron maybe?) is supposed to fill the lead-off spot, but I don't see it happening by next year. I still think Barfield can be a starting 2nd baseman on this team, so we can plug him in at the bottom of the order. That would mean moving Peralta to 3rd, or trading him. Andy Marte is out of options after this season, so we may be seeing him as our starting 3B next season. That could mean a move back to the outfield for Blake, or we may keep Jason Michaels in LF. Francisco can hit, I just think he may need to shorten his swing a little.

Is this our last year for Paul Byrd? If it is, we would only need to find one SP, with Westbrook signing his extension.

I am not a fan of Joe Borowski, and think one of the main offseason priorities is finding a closer. Of course, that can be easier said than done. Don't forget about Betancourt in the bullpen mix. In fact, our next closer could very well be him.

 

[cdt]

Casey Blake better not be here again next year.

 

[Slim Sheedy]

I like strudel.

uhhh..