Rick Wilton Will Be Chatting Here Today At 2 ET

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:24 am

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

better value this year?

A) Tejada or M.Young or Renteria

B) Liriano or Sheets

C) M.Ramirez or Abreu

Thanks! M. Young

Sheets

Manny Ramirez

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:27 am

Originally posted by headhunters:

who plays more games this year hanly ramirez or albert p. and why? This is a really good question. Ramirez is coming off of surgery to his non-throwing shoulder, and the Marlins are now saying he will be ready for opening day. I’m still not convinced at this point of spring training.

Pujols is one swing or one throw away from blowing out his elbow. And if that happens he’s done for the year. Playing the percentages, I’d go with Ramirez knowing that he will not repeat his 2007 numbers.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:28 am

Originally posted by headhunters:

can you play baseball at 350 lbs? who will be 1st to hit that weight- sabathia, nick johnson or demitre young. just saw a piccture of the latter 2- they both must be 300. None of these guys have missed a meal in years! The Dmitri Young and Nick Johnson picture look like they were on the TV show Biggest Loser!

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:30 am

Are Rickie Weeks wrists looking good?

(say that three times fast without error!)

~Lance

[ March 04, 2008, 01:32 PM: Message edited by: sportsbettingman ]

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:31 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

What's the risk factor on Kelvim Escobar and Huston Street on that scale of 1 to 10?

~Lance On a scale of one to 10, Kelvin Escobar is somewhere between 8-9. The reason is this: he is suffering from the same shoulder ailment that he struggled with last season, and reportedly rehabbed over the winter. If that long rest and clear up the shoulder. A couple of weeks in spring training isn’t a make a difference either.

I would avoid him on draft day.

Houston Street’s elbow appears to be sound and that revolutionary enzyme treatment he received in Toronto last year appear to clear up the inflammation around his ulnar nerve in his right elbow. As of right now, he should be able to avoid the DL in 2008.

rkulaski · Post by **rkulaski** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:32 am

Rick,

What is the latest on A Soriano? I read that he fractured his finger catching a fly ball. Do you think this will affect his swing or grip on the ball during the season?

One other question that may have been asked already: what is your gut feeling on Bonderman this year?

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:33 am

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

will hank blaylock be healthy this year? Blalock had any surgical procedure last year that cleared up a condition called for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Simply put, a rib was putting pressure on a blood vessel, which was causing shoulder weakness. He is still building up his shoulder strength, but should be close to 100% by April.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:34 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

Which Oakland A would be in on your left side of the infield this year, Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby, or Carney Lansford? A Carney Lansford may be the healthiest of the three. Seriously, I have my doubts whether either of these guys will avoid the DL this season. If I do take one who had a better chance. I think Chavez is the guy.

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:35 am

geez- guys are falling on draft boards as you speak!

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:36 am

TJ surgery it takes 18 months, but what about wrist/hand injuries, is there a typical amount of time? A guy like Derek Lee, can we expect to see his power return?

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:36 am

Originally posted by Gordon Gekko:

Rick - With this news just developing, where would you consider drafting C.Lee in a 15 team league, late first round?

Astros manager Cecil Cooper confirmed Tuesday that he's considering batting Lance Berkman third, Carlos Lee fourth and Miguel Tejada fifth. If you look at the trends, Miguel Tejada best offensive days are behind him. I don’t think the juice box will help him in 2008 IMHO. I think Lee is a safe bet as a later 1st rounder at this point.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:39 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Are Rickie Weeks wrists looking good?

(say that three times fast without error!)

~Lance Rickie Weeks is looking ‘marvelous’ this spring. He is coming off his first off-season in three years, where he is not rehabbing from surgery. This combined with his experience of the past few seasons, and he looks like he’s ready for a huge step up in 2008.

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:39 am

It has been less than 12 months since BJ Ryan had his surgeries, Toronto has indicated that he may be ready by opening day (they are very truthful w/injuries). That being said, do expect him to be anywhere close to his prior form? And is someone crazy not to bck him up with Accardo?

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:40 am

Speaking of Soriano...who would you say is the better bet to surpass 25 SB this year...

1) A. Soriano

2) C. Beltran

3) D. Jeter

4) none of the above.

Thanks Rick!

~Lance

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:43 am

Originally posted by Hitless:

Rick,

What is the latest on A Soriano? I read that he fractured his finger catching a fly ball. Do you think this will affect his swing or grip on the ball during the season?

One other question that may have been asked already: what is your gut feeling on Bonderman this year? Hitless: He suffered a hairline fracture at the tip of his finger in the Cubs do not expect him to miss more than a week. Luckily for him, the fracture didn’t occur at the base of the finger, because he would have landed on the DL because he would not be able to grip a bat or a baseball. I think Soriano dodged a bullet this time

Bonderman spent the off-season doing a special group of exercises to build up the strength in his pitching forearm. If your member last year Bonderman was having trouble with his forearm/elbow. A baseball source in Detroit told me late last week that there is no ligament involvement regarding his elbow and that is a positive. The Tigers believe they found the answer, and I do not see any reason to doubt that.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:45 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

It has been less than 12 months since BJ Ryan had his surgeries, Toronto has indicated that he may be ready by opening day (they are very truthful w/injuries). That being said, do expect him to be anywhere close to his prior form? And is someone crazy not to bck him up with Accardo? Joe: You make a point regarding Toronto and their truthfulness involving injuries. I can see Ryan pitching most of 2008, I am not sure he is ready to assume the closer role until the middle part of the season. Relievers seem to bounce back quicker from TJS in Ryan may be another example of that. If I were drafting Ryan I would make sure I backed him up with somebody like Accardo just in case.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:48 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Speaking of Soriano...who would you say is the better bet to surpass 25 SB this year...

1) A. Soriano

2) C. Beltran

3) D. Jeter

4) none of the above.

Thanks Rick!

~Lance Of the three, Soriano is the best bet to get to 25 SB but that is not written in stone. Beltran’s knees are concerned this season, and I think he’ll be running less. Even with a new manager, who likes to run, I doubt she will get to 20 SB let alone 25. One more point regarding Soriano. The Cubs like to see him run less. If they acquire Brian Roberts between now and the early part of April I’m guessing Soriano’s stolen base numbers will really drop.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:50 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

TJ surgery it takes 18 months, but what about wrist/hand injuries, is there a typical amount of time? A guy like Derek Lee, can we expect to see his power return? I think Lee’s 2005 season (46 HRs) was his career high and he will struggle to get into the high 30s this season, and the rest of his career. Regarding his wrist, power is usually knee about 12 months to fully recover from a broken wrist or wrist surgery.

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:57 am

What is your gut feeling on Mark Prior?

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:59 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

What is your gut feeling on Mark Prior? Joe:

Prior was smart to get out of Chicago, if for no other reason to get a fresh start in San Diego. I think he’s been so messed up for so long I don’t know of anybody could resurrect his career. That said, his talent alone is worth a $1 flier or hand end of the draft selection.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:02 am

Originally posted by Baseball Injury Report:

quote:Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

What is your gut feeling on Mark Prior? Joe:

Prior was smart to get out of Chicago, if for no other reason to get a fresh start in San Diego. I think he’s been so messed up for so long I don’t know of anybody could resurrect his career. That said, his talent alone is worth a $1 flier or hand end of the draft selection. [/QUOTE]NFBCers:

Have a Great Draft!

If you are looking for some more injury info here is a free report from BIR. Note it was compiled before the start of spring training. I’ve talked to several people connected to the Nats, and John Patterson looks like he will bounce back in 2008. So he is now off the list.

****://www.baseball-injury-report.com/31players.shtml

Also, if you go to the homepage of BIR, you can read up on Carlos Delgado.

****://www.baseball-injury-report.com

Good luck on draft day. Increase your odds of winning in 2008 by reducing as much of your injury risk as you can on draft day.

Thanks Tom & Greg.

Rick

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:02 am

Rick, who wins an arm wrestling match between you and Will Carroll?

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:03 am

I'll let Rick answer as many more questions as he can because I know he has a busy schedule today. But I wanted to thank him for taking some time today to join us on the boards. I hope everyone had fun.

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:04 am

Originally posted by King of Queens:

Rick, who wins an arm wrestling match between you and Will Carroll? Will wins...He's younger than I am!

rjwilton · Post by **rjwilton** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:05 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

I'll let Rick answer as many more questions as he can because I know he has a busy schedule today. But I wanted to thank him for taking some time today to join us on the boards. I hope everyone had fun. Thanks Tom.