@ MJ:
on kruk and gammons… kruk is there to give you the baseball player point of view. every program and network has a guy like that. when u watch games they have a former player giving you the player point of view. i dont always agree what what he has to say but thats the great thing about this game everyone has their own opinion and way of thinking about the game. as for gammons hes there to give you the “if…” statements. its baseball dude the whole game is based on “if…” moments. to you these statements might be obvious but to the casual fan (which most people are today) they might not be obvious statements. the guy was around the game for over 40 years you cant tell me he doesnt know what hes talking about. he wouldnt have had a job for those 40 years if he didnt know what he was talking about.

@ BOHAN:
re: Catchers/Shortstops…

Read what I wrote to Corey. You’re totally missing the point.

re: Kruk

Kruk is a moron. For the past three seasons, he’ll tell you on May 1st that Team X is going to win the World Series based on their hot start. For the past three seasons, he’s been dead wrong. He is an ex-ballplayer, not a baseball analyst. While I’ll certainly defer to him on matters of pitch recognition, swing plane/swing mechanics and what life is like inside the clubhouse, when it comes to serious baseball analysis, he knows absolutely nothing.

re: Gammons

He might’ve been a good baseball writer before I became a hardcore fan but over the past 10 years, he’s done nothing to distinguish himself in my eyes. I find his “if…” statements to be a waste of time given how obvious they are. Like Kruk, he’s no analyst.

@ Corey and MJ:
chapman threw his 2 bullpens at half speed pretty much he wasnt airing it out. all his stuff is real good just his control is off. which can be learned with work. lets of short boxes and what not. hes probably going to get strasburg type money. if had control he would get alot more.

MJ wrote:

@ Corey:
I think I hate John Kruk even more than I hated Peter Gammons and Steve Phillips and that’s saying something.

i love john kruk tells it how it is and is that old school mentally type guy and peter gammons is the best baseball sportswriter ever. how could u possibly hate him?? cause he;s red sox partial? he grew in the boston area u cant blame him for that. ever sportswriter is bias to thier hometown team no matter how hard they try to be. u would be partial to the yankees if u were a sportswriter as well.

@ MJ:
pudge was move from second base to catcher i believe. with ur logic of any shortstop being made into a catcher only cause of athleticism do u think jeter wouldve made a good catcher or arod???

@ MJ:
i was also making the point thats u can learn the footwork to being a catcher quickly. only a couple years ago he was a shortstop so its possible to learn the footwork especially when uve being catching ur whole life and u can very good coaching around you.

MJ wrote:

In two or three years’ time, the Yanks may never have a chance to draft a Chapman or someone like him again.

Ok, I can totally get into that line of thinking.

MJ wrote:

I haven’t seen Mitch Williams but I agree…John Kruk on ESPN is absolutely horrendous. I think I hate John Kruk even more than I hated Peter Gammons and Steve Phillips and that’s saying something.

Check out MLB network. He’s all over it. If you think Kruk is bad, Williams might even be slightly worse.

@ Corey:
Obviously these international signings are completely risky. I’d still go out and get him, even if it cost $20M. It’ll take a lot to convince me that the $20M they might spend on Chapman would be money they can’t spend elsewhere among amateur talent and the June 2010 draft. Not to mention, if the next round of labor negotiations intends to change the amateur free agency rules and forces guys like Chapman into the draft, the Yanks would be wise to blow the money now, while it’s still a “Wild Wild West” environment. In two or three years’ time, the Yanks may never have a chance to draft a Chapman or someone like him again.

I haven’t seen Mitch Williams but I agree…John Kruk on ESPN is absolutely horrendous. I think I hate John Kruk even more than I hated Peter Gammons and Steve Phillips and that’s saying something.

@ MJ:
I could see the Sox over-bidding on him. From what I’ve read about his 2 bullpen sessions, he was topping off at 96 and his control left much to be desired.

I would sign him, but I don’t know about for $25 mil. It’s not like he’s a 16 year old amateur free agent, ya know? I’d top the initial Red Sox offer with a $15 million dollar offer, and if someone wants to top that send them their blessings on their newest aquisition.

Side topic: Does anyone else hate Mitch Williams? He’s absolutely horrible. Baseball TV shows need to put a ban on members of the ’93 Phillies.

@ Corey:
LOL! OK, let’s find something to debate then.

Here’s one: Will the Yanks sign Chapman? It’ll take at least $15M and probably closer to $25M to get him signed. Should they?