LDF

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Oct 17, 2014 -> 03:42 AM) His defense cannot be secondary. He needs to stay in the minors while that part of his game improves. I wouldn't be surprise if they start experimenting with him in the outfield. with his errors, I was wondering 3b.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Oct 17, 2014 -> 01:51 AM) He had some "issues" with a former manager and his dad kinda seems like an idiot, but I don't think he's a bad guy. I don't believe he had any problems at all in Toronto. He was a young kid that butted heads with an old coach, worse things have happened. I really don't think Colby Rasmus is the type of person you have to keep away from your clubhouse. Obviously you'd rather not have that blip on the radar, but I'm sure Hahn, KW, and even Robin could make a few phone calls and get the scoop on whether Rasmus is worth having around attitude wise or not....as long as they don't call LaRussa lol exactly and his father is his personal hitting coach. this was up to last yr. don't know if anything has change since the season ended.

Priority 1 - sign 1 fa - Sign Tomas. the sox have options available on the team. they need just 1 more player. problem is, if he doesn't sign, then sign Morales as DH. all is dependent on DV and his future with the sox next yr. Priority 2 - sign 1 pitcher. someone who can be a #3-4 Volquez. he can put up 175+ innings and with the sox can get better than 12+ wins easily. this can be until the sox prospect can fill in. the sox can deal with 6 SP's, lets not fall into the void b/c of an injury. Priority 3 - attend the pen. Grilli can be a good 1 yr maybe 2 yr option with 1 of the sox exiting pen pitcher and can wait until Jones to come off the disable list. if Grilli is resigned go with another fa. got to wait until the playoff if over. and / or Priority 4 - sign what is needed for the RP Badenhop, Gregerson, Zach Duke. as a reclamation project I really like Andrew Bailey, I can go with a longer term contract. all 3 are and will be low cost. of the 3 pitchers mention, I like Greserson #1, Duke #2 and Badenhop. re: Bailey, sign him and put in on the DL until he is ready.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 02:55 PM) This was the excellent post by lasttriptotulsa that detailed Rodon's situation in the Prospect Watch thread: You still don't quite have it. If he starts with the team next year, he will not be Super 2. To qualify for Super 2 status a player must have more than 2 years, but less than 3 years service time and rank in the top 22% of all 2 years players regarding service time. If he is with the team next year opening day, he would not have enough service time after his 2nd year to qualify for Super 2 as he would just have 2 years and 1 month. Here are the ways his time with the White Sox could be laid out. If he starts with the team next year regardless of whether he comes up in September: 2015: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2016: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2017: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2018: Arbitration 1 2019: Arbitration 2 2020: Arbitration 3 2021: Free Agent If he comes up in September and doesn't start with the team next year but gets called up BEFORE his Super 2 cutoff (August-ish): 2015: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2016: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2017: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2018: Arbitration 1 (Super 2) 2019: Arbitration 2 2020: Arbitration 3 2021: Arbitration 4 2022: Free Agent If he comes up in September and doesn't start with the team next year but gets called up AFTER his Super 2 cutoff (August-ish): 2015: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2016: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2017: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2018: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2019: Arbitration 1 2020: Arbitration 2 2021: Arbitration 3 2022: Free Agent If he doesn't come up in September and doesn't start with the team next year but gets called up BEFORE his Super 2 cutoff (July-ish): 2015: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2016: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2017: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2018: Arbitration 1 (Super 2) 2019: Arbitration 2 2020: Arbitration 3 2021: Arbitration 4 2022: Free Agent If he doesn't come up in September and doesn't start with the team next year but gets called up AFTER his Super 2 cutoff (July-ish): 2015: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2016: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2017: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2018: Team Control (near minimum salary) 2019: Arbitration 1 2020: Arbitration 2 2021: Arbitration 3 2022: Free Agent While it may seem like a good idea to hold off on calling him up until after opening day next year because you push his FA date out until 2022, a good portion of that extra year will be spent in the minors and you will end up paying him a hell of lot if he qualifies for Super 2 because of the 4 years of arbitration. If he doesn't qualify for Super 2, you're waiting until the season is more than half over so he spent the majority of the time in that "extra" year pitching in the minors. I think the best thing to do is just call him up in September to let him get his feet wet, start him next year with the big league team to go through the growing pains and then in 2016 we should be ready to compete and Rodon will have a year plus experience and should be ready to really help the team. thanks for your hard work assembling this.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 05:07 AM) I like the idea of Volquez but any idea what his project annual salary could be? I read in September that he was long for a two or three year deal which sounds great. it all depends on the market. but why not assume 10 mil

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 03:00 AM) Criticizing Johnson's SB percentage last year is a bit short-sighted. One, he was hurt for much of the second half (both hamstrings, probably a residual effect of running so much in 2013)...and was eventually shut down. Two, they were working more specifically with his offensive approach and hitting for more pop, and stolen bases were on the backburner...as well as making some defensively adjustments. Three, he's in the process of reinventing his SB technique, as what worked in the low minors simply doesn't play from AA through the majors. When all is said and done, he'll be expected to be a consistent 30-50 steal guy at the major league level. He has to be, since speed is his only real plus tool at the moment, with hitting for average 2nd. They'll need to refine his "small ball" skills, including bunting more for hits and keeping the ball on the ground instead of in the air (see Juan Pierre, Willie Mays Hayes or Jarrod Dyson). this is where I would like to ask, would you put him #1 in the lineup and Eaton #2?

QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 04:38 AM) Bassitt went 2.2 giving up a hit and his 1st walk while striking out 4. 10/1 K/BB, 5 hits, in 7 innings so far. He's been impressive. this is indeed very good news. esp the fact no earned runs. btw Anderson beside his error the other day, how has he done since re: fielding?

it really doesn't matter what we think, it all between the agreement that the sox already made with his camp, esp his agent. however, I would keep him down for seasoning. this is unless he comes to camp blazing.

what are your opinions on these possible pickup on the free agents? Edinson Volquez, Andrew Bailey, Jason Grilli, Burke Badenhop all pitchers who might be a buy low with high rtn.

I think both still has a potential to redeem themselves. 2 different positions. Davidson still confuses me. he had a good track record, so I am taking last yr as a hipcup. but I would like to plan as they will not rebound. the sox can not make the same mistake as they did last yr, assuming.

Hawkins may have had the potential to be rated. but a couple of yrs ago, his career took a sidetrack. last yr he rebounded. maybe the professional used the upcoming yr as a wait and see.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 08:40 PM) Magic glasses. glasses, really.... whew. good. the catching position is fix.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 08:29 PM) Ha, he might have. I don't know. I just don't think he'll ever be any good. good come back.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 29, 2014 -> 05:07 PM) Obviously I could be wrong, but I think it's pretty clear what happens here. Between Hahn, Merkin and other media sources, Micah Johnson is going to be the 2B next year barring a setback. While many think it may be a rush, and I might put myself in that group, that's what the brass is thinking. Gillaspie has obviously played his way into the 3B role offensively and Hahn, almost surprisingly, has gone as far as praising his defensive improvements. So there you already have left-handed 2B and 3B. The one thing Hahn has made VERY clear to us about the upcoming offseason is that they are going to bring in left-handed bats with the only positions that have glaring openings being LF, DH and perhaps C as well. Taking that all in, we are very likely to have a 2B, 3B and LF/DH who hit left-handed. What does Semien do well? Hammer LHP. Semien could play for Johnson/Gillaspie/LF against LHP, spell Alexei once or twice, and with the reports of him impressing in CF, could replace Eaton in the case of his inevitable injury/injuries. I've been championing this theory ever since Johnson embarrassed the pitchers of the Southern League and it seems to be coming into fruition. As far as Sanchez, I think it's possible they're trying to build his value for the offseason. There are no guys that stick out as "trade bait" other than Viciedo (whether he has any non-zero value is questionable) so dangling from the surplus seems likely. re: Carlos Sánchez can he be a good #2 hitter and when needed a #1 hitter next yr. it appears he has good hitting stats.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 08:23 PM) I personally don't think Phegley can do anything. EDIT: In relation to Major League Baseball, of course. I'm sure he has other hobbies at which he excels. jeeze ...... what did he do, kick your dog?

is there any chance of MJ making the team this yr.

what is the date of the soxfest?

does anyone think that just maybe Phegley can do both, backup catching and dh?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 08:02 PM) Danks is not even close to a third-tier SP today. He is replacement level at $14m per annum. and I will still continue to say, he may surprise many next yr. I still think he will rebound. I am done with danks discussion. I am really battling an uphill battle. keep up the good discussion.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 02:34 PM) Chiefly, his children oh man, I was going to say something, but screw it. this is a classic.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 02:33 PM) My whole point is that it is precisely NOT discussing players of certain values. It's discussing acquiring players based on things that are NOT related to their value. I disagree, b/c what he did is affecting on how some posters, and you have to think how some teams may think about getting him. I believe he did, by the league standards, paid his penalty. I think he is or may be worth a 1 yr and not 3 also based on previous posters opinions.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 06:48 PM) Totally agree. This time next year it will be nice to pencil in Sale/Quintana/Rodon as our 1-3 who would be controlled cheaply for the next five years. I think this year there should be an emphasis of getting one #4/#5 out of Beck/Bassit/Johnson and I don't think that's a lot to ask. the sox need to get over the little hurdle, the beginning of next season with good players. the system is starting to look really good.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 03:45 PM) You are correct, and substantially: 1st half: 61 wRC+ 2nd half: 149 wRC+ Also, by month: Apr: 132 May: 75 Jun: 8 (lol) Jul: 103 Aug: 97 Sept: 174 http://www.fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?p...amp;season=2014 does anyone have a reason for this mass improvement.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 07:21 PM) Oh yeah and a number of others that have been posted already. It would seem Fullmer is destined to be a closer so I think his height is even less of an issue. I screwed up on the way I phrase that answer. my bad. but here is what I wanted to ask. should the sox draft him, b/c he as good stuff and is on a fast track to the majors?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 15, 2014 -> 06:01 PM) What Hahn says the media is different. He isn't ever going to badmouth a current prospect or player. And Phegley's bat, at least, did make his case for him. It's possible Phegley re-focused and made an impression, in fact I hope he did. But he was booted from ST to minors camp early, criticized openly by coaching staff and front office staff, and had at least a pair of issues come up in AAA that Skinner (Charlotte manager) called out publicly. correct me if I am wrong on this. wasn't Phegley always a good hitter, but his defense was / is lacking.