maggsmaggs

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 30, 2017 -> 06:48 PM) Hansen striking out the world! Truly surprised he's not a higher ranked prospect Likewise. Prospect lists are much more about high ceiling than high floors. And he has made considerable strides this year in repeating his delivery and limiting walks while not hindering his ability to miss bats.

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 27, 2017 -> 02:13 AM) I'm holding out 1% hope that Hawkins becomes a second division starter in the big leagues, given that we also thought Matt Davidson was dead as prospect 2 years ago. I honestly believe he has a better shot to make the majors as a reliever over an outfielder.

QUOTE (JPR @ Jul 26, 2017 -> 10:28 PM) I understand that renteria is robin Ventura 2.0 but you got start the batting order like this: Moncada (home to 3B in 10.35 seconds, third fastest in baseball) Tim anderson Jose Abreu M. Davidson I'd rather let guys earn spots atop the batting order. IMO, Moncada is fine where he is at right now. Anderson should bat 9th until he starts to hit. Just my opinion.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 24, 2017 -> 01:44 PM) You have also got to account for the fact that the era he played in was the 2nd worst era in all of baseball for hitting statistics, next to the dead ball era. You can't just throw out a .710 OPS and compare it to a .710 OPS today as if they were equal. Take Fox's MPV year. His .306 Batting average was 4th in the AL. His .770 OPS was 21st in the AL. .770 this year would rank you 48th in the AL. Discussions like this are exactly why comparing stats across eras is a really bad way to value players. This is exactly right. I will walk my statement back somewhat in light of it. Regardless, in today's game, power and on-base skills, even with lots of K, is what I prefer from my hitters.

QUOTE (turnin' two @ Jul 24, 2017 -> 09:24 AM) https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foxne01.shtml Umm. Yeah. So that part highlighted in yellow at the top... Oh, yeah, and the stuff highlighted in red, and grey. You are saying that we strive for better than HOF, 15 time All Star, 3x Gold Glover and MVP. Your expectations are unrealistic. This discussion was about batting, and my OPS remark is about batting, so this was not a discussion about all-around game. I am saying I don't want a hitter to emulate Fox.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jul 23, 2017 -> 12:38 PM) Wow! So, Nellie Fox wasn't a good hitter. In his 10 prime years, between ages 23 and 32, he never struck out as many as 20 times, in one season. In that period, he only hit below .300 4 times; .296 twice, .289 and .285. He didn't have the natural tools of today's players. He wasn't big, strong or very fast. Yet he had a terrific career and was key to the Sox offense, as pathetic as it was, in those days. He was a great '2 hole' hitter, with lot's of sacrifices. He was also very adept at executing the hit and run. Oh well. That was another era. The point is that a guy like Madrigal is not going to be a slugger, or big run producer. He could do worse than to model himself after a guy like "Little Nellie". Strike outs really aren't a problem. Look at how many times Trout strikes out and has for his career, and he is one of the best players ever through his first few seasons. Modern baseball has shown that the two most important things in the game are on-base percentage and power. Nellie Fox's career OPS was .710. I really hope we strive for better in our prospects...

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jul 23, 2017 -> 11:14 AM) In my "time zone," as Hawk would say, I grew up with Nellie Fox, as the face of the franchise. That guy choked way up on the bat and exhibited some of the most remarkable bat control imaginable. He could seemingly hit the ball wherever he wanted, and he almost never struck out. Despite never striking out, Fox was not really a good hitter. In fact, he was slightly below average for his career, as his career RC+ is 96. No power. Not a ton of walks. Not sure this what you want a modern hitter to emulate.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 10:59 PM) Eloy highlights: https://twitter.com/bhallwfmy/status/888216258616983552 Kid has a huge frame, wow. He might have some issues with off speed stuff due to his longish load but then again his pitch recognition skills and zone command are evident in his slash line. Sox should let him get a taste of AA in August if keeps this up. He still has less than 200 ABs in High A after being injured earlier in the year. IMO, he should just stay in High A the remainder of the year and play in the Arizona Fall League. Next year start him at AA and see what happens. QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 21, 2017 -> 01:49 AM) seriously ohh no a 3K game where he hit a HR... what a piece of s***....after tonight's game .275/.362/.575 - .937 for July! people are sleeping on him and missing the forest through the trees. I don't think people are sleeping on our first round pick from last year. I think people have legitimate concerns about his future. Although he has made strides as a catcher this year, he will never be more than average there. As a result, his offense HAS to carry him. Now the bar is lower for a catcher offensively, but instead of progressing offensively this year, he seems to have taken a step back due to serious contact issues.

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Jul 20, 2017 -> 04:54 PM) SS will be solved when we have the first pick of 2018 :^) The Phillies are so bad, I don't think we can catch them. Giants, on the other hand, hopefully with MadBum, they play a little better.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 19, 2017 -> 04:35 PM) CBO score for repeal only bill is in. 32 million more uninsured Premiums double by 2026 3/4's of Americans wouldn't be able to buy individual coverage because the markets would completely collapse. Don't worry because, by repealing, the GOP will have a deadline that must be met which will inspire creativity and ingenuity to make its healthcare bill immaculate. It will be the most wonderful thing you've ever seen.

Although I will admit on first blush this deal seems light, Clarkin is a guy who has produced whenever healthy. Seems in the mold of Spencer Adams, high floor, low ceiling, but has the looks of a 4/5 starter.

Please be completed before my bedtime.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 08:08 PM) Almost positive Rutherford will be in this. Sox loved him last year and he was held out today. My guess is Blake, Andujar and Adams He is gonna be such a stud. Elite D + lots of offensive upside.

I can't recall the last time a team traded three quality major leaguers to another team like this. The White Flag trade literally is the only one that comes to mind.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 07:38 PM) They wouldn't have scratched him without having a deal in place, would they? Could be that a deal is close, and the Sox do not want to run the risk of him getting injured. There is definitely something up. You don't just scratched a player last minute unless there is an injury or trade in the works (or you cut up your jerseys), and Frazier does not appear to be injured.

Seems Sox and Red Sox have been in talks for weeks.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 18, 2017 -> 07:00 PM) I figured maybe with the background issues it was possible. And it isn't Chavis...yet... I don't want Travis. Btw, Frazier had some comments this afternoon about wanting this just to be over. I wonder if he freaked out a bit more behind closed doors. I know these guys are professionals and paid a lot of money, but they are human. The uncertainty has to weigh on these guys.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Jul 17, 2017 -> 04:50 PM) That's one player, not an offer. An offer is the entire package. For example, the Braves could've put together something like Albies, Allard/Soroka, two non-irrelevant pieces, and that would've far surpassed what was acquired for Q. Another team could've put together a package that may not have been as topheavy, but actually gave the White Sox four players with a decent-strong possibility of contributing in MLB someday instead of two. I'd really like to know what else was on the table. I can guarantee that whatever else was on the table, as a whole, was not as good as the Cubs offer. How do I know? Because the Sox chose the Cubs offer.

Honestly, this is the type of prospect I assumed we would get for Frazier. And to get him for literally just slot money is amazing. He will likely wind up as nothing, but the skills are loud and hard to teach. Good bat speed and offensive upside from a guy who can competently play SS? Wow. Kinda amazed Texas gave him up for just slot money.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jul 11, 2017 -> 07:37 PM) I think it's strange that no other team's rumor mill is churning like ours is about this. Seems like a very concerted effort by the Sox to drive up the price.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 5, 2017 -> 08:15 AM) House will be picking it up as early as today. If the veto override passes the House, then it's done. I don't know if there are specific implementation dates within the bill for when tax increases go into effect etc., but it'll be the law and we won't be running on court-ordered spending anymore. It seems like in order to really fix Illinois' structural problems, a constitutional convention needs to be called so that the state's constitution can be rewritten. It's not really possible to fix the broken funding/taxation system or really address the existing pension issues without one. eta: this guy seems like a pretty good source of what's happening in the capitol https://capitolfax.com/ CapFax is the best site out there. Rich Miller knows Illinois politics inside and outside. He also has really good sources inside the capital. QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 5, 2017 -> 08:49 AM) There needs to be pretty large reform, but Madigan wont allow it. Because he's awful. Part of the problem is that Madigan also helped write the 1970 Constitution, so it's his baby and he doesn't want to let it die.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 1, 2017 -> 10:04 AM) Hawks signing Tommy Wingels too. Awesome Saad-Toews-Panik Schmaltz-Anisomov-Kane Sharp-Wingels-Hartman Hayden-Kero-Jurco Dauphin/Hino/Tootoo I really like that forward group He grew up in Wilmette.

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Jun 30, 2017 -> 03:47 PM) Re: Denver, I can attest to this. Fortunately, we bought before things got really crazy out here. The Denver market is interesting though - it's Chicago real estate prices, but without the Chicago salaries. How are the property taxes? My wife and I are looking to move to the Glen Ellyn/Wheaton area, and the property taxes for even moderately priced homes are $8,000 per year.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jun 30, 2017 -> 11:00 AM) Good info, thanks. I know that, in general, taxes at the state level are regressive across the country. Is Illinois pension model really that much more generous than other deep blue states like Cali or Mass? As an Illinois state employee, specifically under the umbrella of the Illinois Supreme Court, I can only attest that in 2011, Illinois created a "Tier II" pension system that is much less generous than the prior "Tier I" system. The latter system is the biggest issue facing Illinois. It was way too generous, never properly funded and today is completely underfunded. In general, even as a state employee, I do not believe we should have pensions. I love my job and would do it regardless of having a pension (and I save my money as if I will never see that pension). I hate seeing our state in this shape. It really is a crisis of leadership. No one ever stood up to Madigan in the Democratic Party to tell him what he was doing was hurting the state. Rauner has now come in with some legitimately necessary ideas for this state, such as property tax relief, pension reform, procurement reform, less generous benefits to public employees, but he botched it all by asking for literally everything in year 1 and immediately calling everyone he was about to negotiate with on a budget/reform as "crook" and "crony." Even if that was true, that is not how you lead nor what will enable you to work with people with opposing ideas. Now I am just ranting because the whole system pisses me off. I am legitimately worried what will happen to Illinois down the road as the pension obligations grow and the population shrinks. If only a state could file for bankruptcy because that is really the only logical solution.