Chisoxfn

Why is Rodon being moved up? He'll get his 2 or 3 innings and then the starter will take over. Not really a big deal, imo. Still enough innings to go around for all of those guys. Maybe Rodon moves up but it isn't because of a numbers game in Winston Salem.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 11:32 AM) Ditto, although I'm not sure I'd characterize V-Mart as a catcher anymore. And that's the way a lot of teams are going now. Using the slot to play matchups (Rays with Joyce/DeJesus/Forsythe) or get players with minor injuries into the lineup (Rangers with Choo). All those guys have played some-to-extensive innings in the field this year as well as significant time at DH. Ozzie was ahead of the curve in that way, however, his problem is that Timo was the guy that got the bulk of the AB's. I've always been a fan of having a rotating DH to play matchups and give guys rest. Not to mention it means you have more quality position players which tends to lead to more overall versatility and an improved ability to fight through injuries.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 11:28 AM) Not very good, no, but at the very least above average, which is a welcome addition. He's clearly a quality contributor to the pen. However, as I've said all along, he was one of the worst opening day "closers" in baseball. I hope Sox bring Lindstrom back next year to a fair deal. He is a guy that works in a good pen.

Friendly reminder. Lindstrom, while better then a lot of the guys in our pen, is still not a very good reliever.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 10:42 AM) We'll be an hour and a half away, so we figured why not drop by for a couple of days. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is his favorite thing in the world, and he really enjoys a lot of the Disney movies. It's totally for us, more than him, but we know that going in. I'm sure you'll get some cool pictures too and obviously you all will hopefully get some great memories and laughs out of it (whether it is him smiling and happy or laughing down the road about how scared he was and remind him about it, haha).

I think this thread has gone on long enough. The whole premise of it is absurd. Worst in MLB history? Too much nonsense and not enough good stuff. Decisions can be talked about in game threads. This thread has just become hyperbole central. Note: I am not defending Robin with this closure, just think the discussion in here is stale and full of hyperbole that limits quality discussion.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 09:41 AM) He was already put on waivers, the Cubs put a claim on him, and the Phillies pulled him back. See my post above. Technically they could put him back on unconditional waivers, however, like I also said, 99% sure they won't do that with the risk since the Cubs (and other teams in the NL) would presumably make a claim prior to Hamels making it to Boston.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 09:25 AM) Hamels couldn't be traded until the offseason though, right? Technically, I presume he hasn't been placed back on waivers as the Phils would risk losing him for nothing, but in theory they could have done it, although I am 99% sure that isn't the case.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 08:53 AM) It's also worth noting that offense faced 3 right-handed starters in the playoffs and a bunch of right handed relievers, with only 1 lefty appearing in the 3 games (Arthur Rhodes). That offense was then pretty effectively shut down in 3 games and slunk home. Am I mistaking a year, but weren't those games against the Mariners mainly during the day in the shadows where it was extremely difficult to hit? I don't recall the Mariners scoring a bunch of runs against us. I do remember losing one of the games on an infield hit or something like that and Edgar had a homer or two.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 08:27 AM) The A's have primarily hit Donaldson and Moss 3-4. Their averages are .251 and .248. They have outscored the Angels (#2 in runs) by 24 runs this year. In fact, the A's only have 2 guys who have at least 196 plate appearances that are hitting better than .264. I think you just want productive hitters no matter how you can get them. Like I said, I'm not opposed to Butler, I just want the Sox to end up with a productive hitter. I agree with that, however, I think you lose the ability to be productive, when you can't hit much at all, because I stick to my theory that at some point, you need get hitting to have a consistent offense and to be able to have a chance against the better teams and pitchers in the league.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 08:22 AM) Not by as much as you'd think, though, and Butler is definitely the one in a tailspin at the moment. Also, Butler would have to be acquired via trade. I don't think we should re-sign Dunn, I just wanted to point out that Billy Butler is a lot worse than the Soxtalk collective currently thinks, it seems. By the way, I was just saying who I'd take over the two. Butler has not been good this year. Last year he was good (although it too was a regression from his previous 2 years). He is still on the right side of 30 (although not for long). Question is whether this is a downward trend or not and I don't know that answer. I just said if my options were Dunn or Butler, I'd rather go Butler (unless money was substantially different). I'm also less worked up over the NEED for a left handed bat. Right now I think the focus should continue to be to find good ball players and good hitters. If the difference at the deadline is a left handed bat, then try to acquire it, but if something isn't out there, don't force it. Maybe find a good platoon situation or something.

I guarantee you whomever they were looking at was not a superstar. That would have got some headlines. This was likely a move for a piece that they think has long-term potential and I would probably say a young catcher would probably be about as accurate of a guess as any.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 08:13 AM) You also have to think Dunn isn't going to be getting any better, but I don't think Butler is the answer. Pass on both. Moving forward, Alvarez has a lot more upside than either IMO, although Butler is probably more of a sure bet. But Alvarez is LH and could DH/1B. I also like the idea of Mourneau if the medical staff didn't have issue with his head injuries. He's put up good numbers outside of Coors this season, and used to be a beast. Although he is a few years older, it could be a similar thing to the Jermaine Dye signing. I could support that. I also remember a pretty good offense in the mid 2000's that had Carlos Lee, Paul Konerko, Magglio, Frank Thomas, etc. If you have good hitters, you can get by. Would you like a lefty sure, but you shouldn't just sign a lesser player because he's a lefty. You can try to be creative to find that guy. For whatever reason I keep wondering if Carlos Gonzalez is a guy they are looking at.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 08:07 AM) The Sox also have plenty of right handed hitting. The call has been to make sure the Sox have a left handed bat. Why would they bring in Butler if they need a left handed bat? I'm not opposed to Butler and agree he's been a better player the past 4 years, but, production wise, it's remarkably similar the past 2 years, so the sample you use comes into play here. I've said it many times but your offense is going to struggle mightily when the run producer in the middle hits under .230. Butler will not do that and while we could use a lefty, I'd rather have good hitters then nothing. Billy Butler on this team is an upgrade over Adam Dunn. Is he a FA? If Sox made a move for him, they'd have to think he would rebound though because he has been flat out mediocre this year. So given the choice of Adam Dunn or Billy Butler for next year at DH, I'm taking Billy Butler. Now if money is significantly different you might get another answer but under zero scenario do I want Dunn around. Guy is a loser.

People...MLB does not have the power to cover this up. The information is in the hands of the DA's office, not MLB. At some point these names are going to come out and MLB has no authority to stop it.

Sorry, Butler has been a better player then Dunn the past 4 seasons. This year Butler has had a down year though but Butler is a much more complete player then Dunn at the plate. Butler is actually capable of hitting good pitching, something I have pretty much zero faith in Dunn doing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:50 PM) Supposedly the "Best steak on the planet" might well be Peter Lugar's, just below the Brooklyn Bridge. I have not been. You're unlikely to go wrong finding any hole in the wall nearby wherever you are. If it's been open in NYC for a while there's a reason why. I did that several times and was quite content with the results each time. I don't like places that don't have prices on their menu, haha. I've heard of Lugars and I am tempted. On 2nd thought, they don't accept credit card. Count me out. I am not carrying that much cash to NY. Is there anyplace where I can get the best kokolash and crab juice around? If I'm daring, I might even try the Mountain Dew. Homer 1...New York City 0.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:34 PM) Seriously? I mean like you're actually asking this? You kinda need some specifics. But really, let's face it, you're in perhaps the cooking capital of the world. Make yourself a list of things you want to try, either cuisine types, costs, celebrity chefs, local places, or places around wherever you're working, and you're not going to go wrong. Walking 1/4 of Manhattan is like walking across Chicago in terms of the number of places you're passing. I'm looking for good hole in the wall places to try, which I know NY is a mecca of. Basically, just want to see if someone has a, you have to go here for breakfast or must have pizza from here or best steak in the planet or best manhattan clam chowder ever. I've been to NY before but Lombardi's was about the only place I can remember that I specifically tried that is pretty well known. We are fare game for cuisine. Wife has never been to NYC.

The National League (NL) was the first of the two major leagues to adopt the trade deadline rule in 1917. Originally it was enforced after June 15, but was later changed as the result of a new collective bargaining agreement.[8] For many years, players could not be traded from one league to another without being waived by all of the teams in the trading team's league. Then an inter-league trading period was established, centered on the winter baseball meetings in December. Later, there were two "inter-league" trading periods each year, one from after the World Series until mid-December and the second from a week before spring training began until March 15. So intent were leagues on keeping their stars from being moved from one league to the other, that then-National League President Warren Giles threatened to keep NL clubs from trading major stars to the American League after the deal that sent Frank Robinson from Cincinnati to Baltimore.

Makes zero sense. Must have been no one was being aggressive in blocking a potential trade with Mets? Clearly Mets weren't going to just let him go.

Any food tips for NYC? Going to be going out there for work in about a month and the Mrs. is going to come out as well.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:27 PM) They nailed their 2nd round pick as well as Patrick Corbin who was really good for the Diamondbacks last year. Yep; On paper it looks like one of the better team specific drafts of all time.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 12:20 PM) I am not sure that they "missed" on Grichuk. He has his warts and he's no Mike Trout but he's still just 22. He's hammering the ball in AAA albeit in the PCL. There is still a good chance he can amount to a 4th outfielder or a second division starter. Plus, I'll never discount anyone in the Cardinals' system. I agree; He's with the Cards and has a potential place. As a whole, he had value too. They really did an excellent job.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 12:10 PM) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_MLB_draft I'd rather make a mistake with the 23rd pick instead of the 3rd or 4th pick like some teams. The Angels also "screwed up" their pick right before taking Trout themselves so that whole argument is pretty silly. I don't know..Angels pretty big winners in that draft. They had Trout at 23rd and took Garret Richards (IIRC) with their supplemental first round pick that same year. For those not familiar with Richards, he's been lights out this year and has nasty stuff (huge fastball and a great curve). Oh and he was beat out by Sale in the final vote, however, both deserved to be all stars, imo. Edit: I just went to your link, Angels hit pretty well on 3 of their first 4 picks in that draft, with their first being a good prospect in the Cards system now (traded this off-season; not a top prospect but has a shot at sticking with a major league squad in the OF) and then nabbing Trout, Skaggs, and Richards.

Feherety was on DP this morning and absolutely scoffs at the notion that Tiger is a quitter. Also blames Haney for what has happened to him injury wise and kept reiterating the fact that Tiger shouldn't be on the course and he's purely willing himself to be out there. Says he knows Tiger isn't a quitter and only reason he didn't stop playing on Friday was because he's trying to will through it, potentially play in Davis cup, and is aware of the media bashing him as a "quitter". Feherety called it pure poppycock.