2008 texas hey dudes

[BrianDawkins]

arrivals: LF Carl Crawford, LF Preston Wilson, RP Brian Sanches, UTIL Tony Graffanino
departures: CL Eric Gagne, DH Sammy Sosa, OF Brad Wilkerson, OF Frank Catalanotto, prospect SP Michael Main, prospect C Chad Tracy

LINEUP VS RHP+DH (ratings vRHP)
1) R Willy Taveras CF -- 8-7-4-6-6, 9-9-9 baserunning
2) R Michael Young SS -- 9-9-7-6-7, 5-8-9 baserunning
3) L Carl Crawford LF -- 8-8-6-5-6, 8-9-9 baserunning
4) R Kevin Youkilis 1B -- 8-7-8-10-4
5) L Hank Blalock 3B -- 8-9-9-7-5
6) R Ian Kinsler 2B -- 8-7-7-5-7, 7-7-7 baserunning
7) R Marlon Byrd DH -- 6-9-5-5-3, 7-7-8 baserunning
8) R Gerald Laird C -- 6-9-5-4-5
9) S Frederick Guzman RF -- 7-6-2-6-5(9-7-4-7-6 talent), 10-9-9 baserunning

LINEUP VS LHP+DH (ratings vLHP)
1) R Willy Taveras CF -- 8-8-4-6-6, 9-9-9 baserunning
2) R Michael Young SS -- 9-9-7-6-8, 5-8-9 baserunning
3) L Carl Crawford LF -- 9-8-7-5-6, 8-9-9 baserunning
4) R Kevin Youkilis 1B -- 8-7-8-10-4
5) R Ian Kinsler 2B -- 8-6-7-5-6, 7-7-7 baserunning
6) L Hank Blalock 3B -- 7-9-7-6-5
7) R Marlon Byrd RF -- 6-9-5-5-3, 7-7-8 baserunning
8) R Gerald Laird C -- 6-9-5-4-7
9) S Landon Powell DH -- 6-5-6-5-5

Starting Rotation (overall ratings)
1) R Vicente Padilla -- 8-7-8, 8 endurance
2) R Kevin Millwood -- 6-7-7, 9 endurance
3) R Brandon McCarthy -- 8-6-7, 8 endurance
4) R Edison Volquez -- 9-5-8, 8 endurance
5) R Robinson Tejeda -- 8-6-8, 8 endurance

Mopup Reliever
1) R Kameron Loe -- 6-8-9, 7 endurance
2)

Middle Reliever
1) R Brian Sanches -- 8-6-7, 4 endurance
2) R Frankford Francisco -- 8-7-7, 3 endurance
3) R Joaquin Benoit -- 8-7-8, 5 endurance
4) R Scott Feldman -- 7-6-7, 2 endurance(9-7-7 talent)

Setup Reliever
1) R Akinori Otsuka -- 8-6-9, 4 endurance
2)

Closer
1) R Craig Hansen -- 8-7-7, 4 endurance

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Top prospects
1. SP Neil Ramirez -- 10-7-8, 9 endurance(single-A)
2. SP Blake Beavan -- 9-9-7, 9 endurance(single-A)
3. SP Kris Johnson -- 8-7-8, 8 endurance(double-A)
4. CF Julio Borbon -- 8-7-4-6-7, 8-9-9 baserunning(single-A)
5. DH/C Jon Still -- 6-7-8-3-5(triple-A)

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still looking to upgrade my OF depth/DH options, which could be coming soon. and yes, i'm fielding 90% of the same exact pitching staff that was my god awful achilles' heel last year. sue me.

i don't expect much more than possibly a flirt with the AL wild card, but things are mostly geared towards 2009. huzzah

[BrianDawkins]

not much changes after spring training... that asshole scrub jerk Freddy Guzman immediately lost all the potential talent he gained at the end of last season, so he's back to being a pinch runner/5th OF... and Preston Wilson went above his power talent a little bit, so he's suddenly a not-so-bad option in the 7 or 8 hole as a starting OF

Craig Hansen went above his talent in movement, so he's 8-7-8 on 9-7-7 talent... and temporarily fits nicely into the closer role, but i wont hesitate to replace with Otsuka if he struggles

Pedro Martinez has good batting practice sessions!

yeah whutcha gonna do now *****es, i got pedro and his midget

[Kingdom]

Round two of Arias vs. Tavares

[BrianDawkins]

Arias took round one, although they both had great years... scored more runs, had a lot more extra base hits, stole more bases and drove in more runs. was he hitting lead-off all season? 85 ribbies is pretty nice out of the leadoff spot.

it was a pretty even deal, all things told. especially because Ian Kinsler hit .274 with 13 HR and 83 RBI at second base, so there was no drop off in dealing Arias. and I gained a ton of production out of CF, where someone like Kenny Lofton would've been starting had I not acquired Taveras.

[Kingdom]

Jamey Carroll would have started if I did not get Arias. We both win on that deal. It was a draw last round- we both ended up with allstar leadoff men.