It can’t be stopped at this point. I’m already in attack mode.

i just saw a story in ESPN magazine that said Adrian Gonzalez was the only one of the top ten picks that year (2000) to make the major leagues. The other nine have been busts. That’s the risks involved here. We talked about trading LaPorta for Brian Wilson the other day, and I’m dead set against that. I feel the same way about putting both Jonathan Sanchez and Henry Sosa into the same trade. I might give them Sosa, but Jonathan Sanchez is already showing what he can do at the major league level. There’s a reason the Giants are 9-3 when he starts, and nobody, and I mean nobody thinks that Sanchez has come anywhere close to reaching his potential. Minor leaguer for minor leaguer. Sosa for LaPorta. You also cannot include Correia in the same deal. You can’t trade 40 percent of your rotation. I know we’re not winning this year, but who wants to see a rotation of Bush, Zito and Misch??

once Delmon Young got his 1 season underneath is belt, the Rays viewed him completely different? 500 MLB at bats outweighs talent, projectability, and 1000 minor league at bats?

Adam Jones was also traded as a #1
Kurt Ainsworth
Cameron Maybin
Hanley Ramirez
Saltalamacchia
Jason Grilli
Sizemore
Pavano
Daric Barton
Carlos Gonzalez
Lastings Milledge

There are plenty of cases where it happens, but not all no. 1 prospects are made equally, it’s a case by case basis, but usually it would be for a bigger haul than Sanchez, Correia, Molina, Sosa, and relievers. That’s a quantity for quality trade, whereas I think MIL would rather have quality for quality. I just don’t think there’s any SP’s on the market that fits that need

I also think people undervalue Sanchez. No he’s not a guy with an ace’s upside, but how many lefties can maintain a 9+ K/9 in the bigs? He’s young, cheap, and making bats miss. He’s having a solid year and just needs to work on his 3rd pitch and his command of the strike zone.

Perhaps Oliver Perez is a scary comparison, but Perez also has put together some damn impressive years to go along with his horrendous years. Sanchez also seems to have better composure and I’d say he has a better chance of gaining better command (although I do think Perez’s stuff is better)

/hands you book entitled

Anyone Can Play First! by Cecil Fielder.

I’ve always heard he was an average 1B defender in college.

I’ll start by saying I do not believe LaPorta will be traded for anything less than a proven MLB stud (i.e. a Bedard type). LaPorta is definitely more valuable than Sanchez, I cannot argue against that.

Now onto to other points

a) using draft rounds as a barometer of a players ability is flawed logic. Albert Pujols was a 13th round pick. Piazza was a 46th round pick. Oswalt a 23rd. The list goes on and on
b) Sanchez has the ability to make bats miss. He’s done it on every level and continues to do it on the big league level. His K/9 in the bigs has always been above 9, how many starters can say that? How many left handed starters can say that? How many 25 year old left handers can say that? It’s safe to say Jonathan Perez has a tremendous amount of upside because he can be one of the best in baseball at making hitters miss. The big issue is whether or not he can improve his command of the strike zone and work on his changeup
c) I think LaPorta in RF is a huge stretch, Braun has a better chance to play that position. Everything I’ve heard about LaPorta is that his OF defense is pretty horrendous, but his bat is so damn good you can hide him in LF (a la Manny or Burrell). Hart CAN play CF, but he’s better suited for right and an OF defense of LaPorta-Hart-Braun would be one of the worst defensively in the bigs. That being said it would also be the best offensive OF in the bigs too.
d) I apologize for calling you an idiot, but I do think the fact that you’d never even heard of Sanchez is a bit surprising. No, he’s not a certified stud, but he s 5th amongst NL starters in terms if K/9. He also has better stats that any Brewers SP not named Sheets. if you look at the guys who are Sanchez’s level in K/9 that features names like Scherzer, Big Unit, Beckett, Pevy, Kazmir, Lincecum, Billingsley, Volquez, Sabathia, Vazquez. That’s pretty good company

Bottom line: I was just fishing with the names I threw out. Truthfully, I think the deal of Sanchez, Sosa, Molina, Yabu for LaPorta and Kendall is a fair deal, but the Brewers likely want someone more proven if they are going to give up their best trade chip. The Brewers probably aren’t looking for depth, but for quality. Sanchez has a long way to go, but he is already a productive MLB pitcher and he’s striking out guys at an elite rate

Yeah, there is no reason to think he couldn’t hit in the majors right now. The average might not be great right off the bat, but he should be just fine when combined with his power and discipline.

I see, thanks.

you sly dog.

since Prince just turned 24. So you are saying you won’t take 6 years of a great slugger? And Cust has no BA skills where Prince will bat .280+, and don’t forget getting hits is a skill.

As for LaPorta, he’s not going anywhere short of Cain or Timmy the freak. Sorry.

but that’s just silly.

THE BREWERS: “Please, Lyle, take Prince Fielder and his 50 home runs last season from us! We’ll pay his entire salary!”

LYLE: “No, no! He may be hitting a home run every 15.7 ABs in his career, but I want no part of that! That man is…JACK CUST!!!”

Sure, all along there have been reports that his weight will be his downfall, and that he really should be the DH for some American League team. And both of those might ultimately be right. However, it certainly hasn’t happened yet. Plus, in the past 7 days, he’s swatted 4 home runs and raised his BA 7 points - I’m optimistic he’s putting his slow start to 2008 behind him.