LDF

well too bad there wasn't any new, news of players signing or surprises. to me, this weekend was nothing but a all media, super hype feel good about this team weekend. too bad. the teams still has holes

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 25, 2015 -> 03:32 AM) So was Ricketts, kinda how, his son came to a sox game. he avoided the actual question with a pop shot at the sox.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jan 25, 2015 -> 02:12 AM) LDF, would you be open to changing your tune on the handicap? What about calling it "aged, flawed contender" instead of "KW"? We had some really nice pieces 2008-2013 but Peavy's fluke health, among other things, really cost us a few division titles. We had teams that in theory could win each year. Of course every GM wants a young nucleus but you can't always have that. People age. It's not like KW is locked in his office clammoring for us to trade the farm for vets. This is his plan too. He taught Rick Hahn the job. ahhh i can see what you are saying and will respect it. teaching him the job and having a different a philosophy in how to do the job is your point. but i never did like KW since he was added to the FO. i kinda of let up, b/c of the 2005 WS,.. you really have to give me credit for laying off of him. soooo to answer you question..... nah.

i am catching up on the sat updates from the fest. the 1 thing that stood out was the not so happy backing of Davidson that the sox brass are showing, but to express that. wow, he must have really pissed off some one. i wonder if they asked him to a winter session and he said no??? i just don't know what will piss off the FO, that bad.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jan 25, 2015 -> 02:05 AM) Jeff is 100% correct. remember the old story i keep repeating about the attending a cub games and sox. a fan who is at the cubs games will tell how many times he was on tv or when the camera scan his. but a sox fan when asked who is up, that fan not only will tell who is up, what the score is, what the hits are and what is needed to win the game.

needed to get out so i went to movies. not being in chi is killing me. so next to chi sports teams, except for the northsiders, i went to my 2 favorite thing. movies. saw Whiplash it was absolutely a great movie. great acting and the music.... wow. no wonder there is a lot of talk of awards for the teacher. the soundtrack is great. now for the disclaimer. if you do not like jazz, this is jazz as you never heard play. well at least give it a try. i wish i can say more, but yous guys need to experience it. listen to the horms and the drums. here is a little youtube from a favorite of mine in jazz. great piano and drums.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 11:29 PM) I think you're on it, LDF, and other than Davidson being crazy-high I like the list, too. There's a two year record of decline with Matty D in the minors, from his excellent 2012 in AA, was it 141WrC+?, well plenty good, anyway. But that's AA, when a hitter of his limited sophistication can sit on their pitch, to AAA in 2013 in Reno, where he regressed to 117WrC+ facing more polished stuff and smarter pitchers, which is not a level that screams major leaguer, and " Does any legit Major Leaguer actually regress in RENO?!? ". I'm sure there are a few. And then there was last year's sub-Mendoza debacle, in the most hitterish park to perhaps ever grace the International League. And, I know I left out his 31 games with the DBacks, but that's a perfect length for a "book" not being quite developed against a callup by the pitching adversaries, and a guy hitting bombs. There are countless examples, and Junior Lake come to mind. I know that power is beyond valuable, and the upside is still there, and I hold out a glimmer of hope. But, two non-major-injury seasons of decline make it a glimmer, and I don't think he belongs above 12. But I've said my piece on this, and we'll see how it plays out. Would so love to dine on crow. For the helluva it, here's my top 10, and let me start by saying I think we have more usable high-end pieces than anytime in awhile, so I'm going to tier them as well: 1. The Giant Pterodactyl Maybe a #2 quality starter by Memorial Day this season ( I can dream) - Clearly though, the top choice, and a tier above the others. A potential "1.5" 2. Tyler Danish 3. Tim Anderson 4. Micah Johnson 5. Spencer Adams 6. Francellis Montas I love the ceiling on ALL of these guys, and with the possible exception of Montas, who may have the highest ceiling of the bunch, I think they all have a reasonable chance of realizing something close to it. For me, this group is almost interchangeable, in the balance of ceiling / likelihood of achieving it, and I won't quibble with minor disagreement. 7. Courtney Hawkins Remains high risk/high reward 8. Trey M Need more info, wish I didn't have to wait. 9. C. Sanchez Should have a healthy year-long role with a winning MLB team, barring a trade. NEXT year's trade bait, ideally. (Doesn't mean I don't care about you, Carlos) 10. C. Beck Any pitcher that survives the band box that is the new Charlotte park, should be well-prepared for the Cell. I do have concern that the Knight's park might "ruin" less confident pitchers. My favorite out-of-the-blue wildcard to make this list by season's end: Eddy Alvarez oh man, looking at the top 6 in any order, who can't be excited about this sox club future. now some may say that the sCrubs may have a better nucleus, but i will reply this was done with a handicapp and with nothing in the systems. the handicapp >> KW.

i think this is a nice move. can't hurts was this the surprise signing???

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 08:05 PM) I predict John Danks will have a good year, maybe a 15 game winner. There is no logic behind it other than he's another season past the injury. i really like him, not in the beginning, but last yr and his bulldog mentality. i still remember how he ran into the pitching area between breaks to work on a pitch. he was in the dugout and someone was showing him something, then between innings he jog to the pitching pen to work on it. that show a single minded, bulldog side that he will continue to work on his stuff. so over 10 wins and 175+ innings, i am looking for, anything more is pure gravy esp in the playoff.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 08:01 PM) I always wondered how this guy fell so fast. After him testing positive for pot that's when ti decline started. I don't like getting guys from habitually losing organizations. It supports that imaginative mental weakness theory I can't shake. i am sorry, but you are talking about Soto, right?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 07:28 PM) Honestly, very likely yes. Good chance that Sanchez and Bonifacio are better defenders than him. Micah is supposed to be a bit rough on defense but it's also thought that he'll grow into the position with time. oh crap, i totally forgot about Bonifacio being in the equation.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 06:38 PM) Interesting. I know of a few stories, too. i would love to hear or read them maybe you could write a book from a fan's perspective on how the game have grown with personal antidotes.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 06:05 PM) So my question, when Hahn said he wants one more bullpen piece and a RH utility infielder who can hit lefties. Who is available like that not named Gordon Beckham? here is my point, with the new advance metric that can fill in the missing data of how a player can help or perform, the need of data is more important and as Balta shown, our opinion may be totally skewed b/c of the personality of the player.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 05:58 PM) His defense was weak at best. worst than what the sox have now??? just wondering.

QUOTE (AlSoxfan @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 05:05 PM) I guess bringing back Beckham is a sore topic...I didn't think it was a bad thought to bring him back as an infield reserve for all 3 ss,3b and 2nd, but maybe not.. A few minor notes; someone mentioned the fact that Gordon Beckham is still a free agent and that the Sox do have somewhat of a hole at the moment at second base. The extra power that has been added to the lineup since Beckham’s departure could see less of a reliance on someone like him to be as much of an offensive contribution than was expected in 2014. Hahn had no comment except to confirm that “Yes, Gordon Beckham is still a free agent.” Interesting, yet stern lack of comment on that topic from Hahn. this is me thinking, but i think have Beckham will be a sore reminder of a failed draft pick, but his defense may be entice. still it will be a sore subject/

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 05:58 PM) 1. SP Carlos Rodon 2. SS Tim Anderson 3. SP Francellis Montas 4. 2B Micah Johnson 5. SP Spencer Adams 6. SP Tyler Danish 7. OF Courtney Hawkins 8. 3B Matt Davidson 9. 3B Trey Michalczewski 10. 2B Carlos Sanchez 11. SP Chris Beck 12. OF Trayce Thompson 13. OF Jacob May 14. RP Nolan Sanburn 15. OF Micker Adolfo 16. SS Celuluis Rondon 17. 2B Jake Peter 18. OF Adam Engel 19. SP Jace Fry 20. C Kevan Smith 21. UTIL Tyler Saladino 22. 1B Keon Barnum 23. SP James Dykstra 24. SP Andre Wheeler 25. UTIL Nick Basto Honorable Mentions: 1B Andy Wilkins, SP Jordan Guerrero, RP Onelki Garcia, RP Adam Lopez, SP Jeffery Wendelken, SP Luis Martinez, RP Michael Ynoa, SP Robinson Leyer, SP Myles Jaye, 2B Eddy Alvarez, SP Brian Clark, SP Victor Done, 2B Jake Jarvis. Going through this list, I am really excited where the farm system is headed. The system, in my opinion, is much deeper than people think. What are your thoughts? i like this list, i know it is based on your opinion and many have different opinions and esp how how it was decided. i agree with your 1-6 great list. that is what many should be really excited about. those prospects. now your 7&8 well i just don't know, esp Davidson, just b/c they stumble a little should they be not looked at?? but that is where i see your 7, 8 9 being tied with Jace Fry - sp - #19. Thompson need to come on down, somewhere in the 15 range. i thing Micker - 15 should be #11 or 12. i really line Ynoa, Jake Peter, Myles Jaye and think they are close to each other somewhere after #15. there are a couple of players selected last yr in the top 10 that i am kinda of intrigue with. maybe wishful thinking on my part. there are also a couple of pitchers on the list last yr, that i like alot but i will do a wait and see. but hell those are my opinions.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 23, 2015 -> 03:05 PM) 1) We did homework on the guys and pursued them as far as we could, but didn't feel that there was a fit, Regarding Yoan Lopez specifically, we felt that a 100% tax on overage charges didn't justify the cost of bringing him in. Had we done so, it would have cost nearly 2 times the value of his contract and would limit other potential signings we could make outside of him, so we just didn't feel that was the right opportunity. 2) We are always looking to improve the team and we have been in contact with a few players, but we can't say one way or the other whether or not we will obtain these players. 1. so with the idea of the sox getting more pieces to continue to make this team stronger, the idea is the get a couple more players. are these players already in the sox org or are they talking about getting new blood??? follow up question, are they talking about reclamation projects or are they talking about viable players. 2. somewhere someone mention, we has fans should have faith. i have faith, i have been a die hard sox fan since the late 1960's. but there is no backup plan, everything is being based, as in late yr, what was assemble is good enuf. obviously it wasn't and partly b/c the system is thin. do you not think getting another starting pitcher will help in that area?? 3. do you not think that when the sox makes the playoff, that the team need pitchers with fresh arms?? that can be address of getting another sp.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 23, 2015 -> 11:45 PM) Nashville and St. Louis do their "Keep the Red Out" campaigns to stop Hawks fans from attending games, so the only way for Hawks fans to get tickets are through Stubhub and other 3rd party vendors, so the tickets are always through the nose. Just for comparison sake, the Blues play the Penquins at home a couple weeks later, another premiere team, and the tickets are in the $70-80 range for the same seats I just bought. they should be freaking happy the fans of the hawks are coming to the games. it helps sell tickets and bring in the hype. what the fvck

QUOTE (Brian26 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 03:45 PM) Considering Duquette pretty much tanked the entire offseason for the Orioles, let Markakis walk, did basically nothing....some compensation is in order. You have to look at it from Baltimore's perspective. that was not Daquette, that was the marching orders he got from the owner.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 04:03 AM) LOL he said having a closer in Robertson could mean 15 extra wins haha ah he is drinking white sox kool aid.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 01:38 AM) My question would be what has to happen for a 'shutdown ' to occur? Does a scoreless inning in a one run game increase the WPA by .06? How about in a two run game ? Wade Davis striking out the side on 9 pitches or Zach Duke getting 3 flyouts has the same effect on win probability. That stat could depend more on situations the relievers are brought in. The meltdown stat obviously makes sense, if your bullpen can't hold leads, you are gonna lose. this whole new part of baseball is soooo great, i wish i had these stats when i was younger. i probably would have drove all around nuts. keep up with these stats, great reading.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 12:38 PM) I just saw that Rizzo guaranteed a division title. Wow. Talk about taking a chance. i think STL has something to say about that.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 04:28 AM) After Cubs (and Sox) games back in the day channel 9 had a post game show called The 10th Inning. I remember seeing Ernie on the show so many times with Jack Brickhouse. He was such a great interview and such a nice guy! As much as I have always hated the Cubs, and man, I HATE the Cubs, you just couldn't help but like Ernie Banks. R.I.P., Mr. Cub. yeah, i am with you on this, for me, he was a few of the Cubs that i actually knew of. the epitome of class. many young baseball players could learn a thing or 2 from how he carried himself.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 05:45 AM) I heard that he lost some weight and got into better shape which is great news for the Sox. However with that being said, I do not think that Avi's long term future is in the OF. I think that he should be playing first base, I know that the Sox signed LaRoche but once his contract expires after the 2016 season, I would like to see Avi take over first. 1b / dh position would be good, like this he will be able to learned the 1b position from Jose A.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 24, 2015 -> 04:09 AM) Lol, it's ok LDF, I was just kidding and I am sure LittleHurt knows that. It's a line from a movie. thats kool. anyway i was using the speech from the calf cop beating of the rodney king.