Chisoxfn

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 10, 2009 -> 08:24 AM) He'll be signed by the end of next week. You hearing something Rock or pure speculation?

Rangers pay Lowell 4M for this year. Not sure why Boston is doing this, only to shell out 12-15M a season for Beltre. I realize Beltre is a tremendous defensive 3rd baseman and a solid hitter, but in theory, by making this trade, the Red Sox will probably be paying Beltre about 20M in the first season (when you factor in the 8 mill they spent just to make room for him on the roster). Crazy.

I loved the article as well. Very interesting piece, more interestingly, I didn't realize how good Santos secondary stuff was. We knew he had a live arm and a great fastball but having a nice slider is even better. He clearly has things to work on and is a long-shot, but all it takes is to be right once in a great while on these gambles (position changes) and they can pay off huge. Santos and Nathan Jones are clearly the two guys in the system most people would gloss over, but they are also two guys that if they put it all together, have the stuff to be shut-down relievers.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 12:40 PM) O'Sheas is my home base. You'll find me there with a jack on the rocks betting stupid. There's also a new jewish deli in the mirage or the TI, cant remember which, but they are delicious CBeef sandwiches. It is in TI I believe. Had it a couple months back when I was last their. Already stoked to get back out there for my annual march madness trip. No better time for Vegas than March Madness. If you guys haven't done it, try it, it'll quickly become a ritual.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 10:18 AM) Hah sorry, I'm 21 and it will be her and her twin sisters 21st birthday. Looking for some good bars and good entertainment. Maybe a nightclub one night, not really my thing, but I'm sure we'll go. If you can, do the Night-Club in the Wynn Encore, its called Excess and is a s***load of fun. Other great nightclubs are Pure (Caesars), Tao (Venetian), and Tryste (Wynn). If you want to hit up an amazing buffet, do the Wynn...its pricey, but worth it.

QUOTE (chwhtsox @ Dec 8, 2009 -> 10:06 AM) I'm going back to Vegas January 30th...you'll find me at O'Sheas. Beerpong fan eh?

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 02:04 PM) John Marshall 06- Civil Litigation is my primary focus, Ive done most common things (guardianship, eviction, just no divorces) From the fact that you said you are getting into Illinois or Duke, its clear that you are far more motivated and dedicated than I ever was. If you want to be successful you are going to have to work hard and get your name out there. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time for my job. That is the school in Atlanta right? My best friend is there right now. He gripes about it all the time. How'd you like it? He's trying to transfer elsewhere.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 02:00 PM) I think some of you are overvaluing Coco's defense. Rios I admit looked mighty fluid in center fielder and is a good glove. Coco did nothing in KC to excite people about his defense and his arm is not good and will assuredly be worse with the shoulder problems. He's a tremendous defensive outfielder, always has been. He doesn't have an arm, big whoop, rarely does an arm come into significant play from left field. In fact, very few left fielders have very good arms. Left fielders tend to be more rangy as they are speed players where as the right fielders tend to be bigger guys who also possess stronger arms. There are the exception to all rules but that tends to be the case and Crisp is an above average defensive left fielder and at the very least a league average defensive centerfielder.

Kenny was talking about it and it sounds as if the story Cowley reported had a lot of truth and the fact that it is now public knowledge will make it harder for the deal to get done. However, Cowley says Putz wants to play in Chicago and I think the two sides will get something done as long as no other team makes a ridiculous offer. I hope the deal has potential options and I'm sure it will be filled with tons of incentives.

QUOTE (La Marr Hoyt HOF @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 01:33 PM) 30bps meaningful, but dont discount the fielding ... Matsui is toast, JD's numbers would increase if he was simply DHing like Godzilla, and most importantly, is not nearly as sexy. Might also be cheaper -- not sure about that I don't think you can simply assume someones numbers will improve as a primary DH. It has been pointed out that numerous players struggle in their roles when they are exclusively used as DH's. Some can excel in that role, but I don't know if Dye is that sort of guy.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 12:46 PM) So, we'd have Rios, Crisp, Matsui, and Quentin battling for 3 spots? 4 spots, DH needs to be included.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 01:26 PM) I'd like to point out from your own stats there that both last year and over the past 3 years, Matsui had a higher OPS than JD. You just argued that Matsui would be an upgrade, in addition to being a lefty. He also had a significantly higher OBP if I read those stats correctly.

Jones has a 500K contract. That is as small of a contract as it gets for a veteran. While he could earn more playing time, the team clearly has needs at the top of the order and DH and Crisp and Matsui are both significant upgrades. If Jones isn't happy the club can always cut him later. He came to the Sox to try to earn at bats and Ozzie will clearly let him try to.

Kenny has said a lot regarding Milton Bradley. Although he said they weren't a fit or he didn't see him as a fit, there could be a bit more to this. Clearly Bradley can play, but the Cubs would need to do much more than just take on Linebrinks contract, imo.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 11:51 AM) I think that would be great. As long as Crisp is healthy. What's the word on his injuries? Is he ready to play out of the gate? The Tribune is reporting that he'll be heatlhy by spring training. Still, shoulder injuries can really impact your career. They effect your swing and can easily be re-injured. Hopefully he's done all of the necessary strength and conditioning training. Ptac, what type of concerns would there be for re-injury and is this a type of injury that someone can fully recover from (baseball wise) or will it always hinder him to an extent?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 11:50 AM) Why the hell would Matsui wait on the Yankees? They clearly don't want him back as an outfielder, that's basically what the Granderson deal said. He is loyal to New York and would like to stay there. It is much different with Japanese players, more often than not, they have a loyalty to their organization that most American born ball-players don't have anymore. Matsui is currently the Yankees plan B and will still be an option, but the priority in New York is to sign Damon as the DH and if that happens, Matsui's two main suitors will be the Angels and Sox. I just fear if the Sox wait on Hideki the Angels will jump into the picture after failing to land one or both of Lackey/Bay and will have more to offer Hideki than the Sox (financially).

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 11:50 AM) The Sox already have Jones and Kotsay to keep everyone fresh, and there wouldn't be enough playing time to add Crisp to the picture as well. Matsui in the OF would be nothing but a hindrance. The other thing is, if they add Matsui now they have 5 players for 4 spots, (Matsui, Rios, Quentin, Kotsay, Jones) and only Rios belongs in CF. How excited would people be about occasionally seeing OF setups like Matsui-Jones-Quentin? That's just freaking abysmal. We may as well just trade all our SP since we'll be asking them to keep the ball in the infield all game. The Sox should draw a line in the sand with Matsui. I think he's an excellent hitter and would be a great fit here as a full-time DH, but if he wants to play LF then no way. Jones doesn't fill a major hole on the club. He isn't an every-day player until he proves otherwise. Crisp would play a lot and the club most definitely has room for him. Kotsay will get at-bats, most likely at DH and in the field, but there are plenty of at-bats to go around when your DH can play 1-2 games a week in the field.

Dodgers have to really regret not offering Wolf arbitration.

Kenny denies that the club has talked with Matsui recently. He also said he can't say the club wouldn't be interested in him. There is clearly smoke here. The media might have jumped the gun a bit and Cowley is reporting a deal would take time, but the club is apparently going to visit him in California to check out his knee, which tells you all you need to know about the clubs interest.

Kal, who would be the better left fielder. Milton Bradley or Hideki Matsui. Or would me or you be a better option, haha?

Kenny said some nice things about Milton Bradley today at the Winter Meetings, but also said the Sox weren't interested.

Honestly, if healthy, I might take Crisp over Pods. Crisp is a much better defender who is capable of playing good defense at two outfield positions (LF & CF) and is simply put a superior base-runner, imo. If Crisp shoulders aren't healthy though and can't handle the contact, than Pods would be the better option. I wouldn't give Pods 4-5M for 1 year and certainly wouldn't give him a 2 or 3 yr deal worth that sort of money and right now that is the bottom line of what he is looking for.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 11:40 AM) There's also no reason to believe the money and years will be equal. Crisp won't get more than $2 million. Pods is currently asking for a lot more than that and is trying to get it over multiple years. The Sox won't do that and don't want to wait. I see the club signing Crisp and if they can land Matsui also, than Kenny will spend the rest of his off-season quietly looking to find a way to get a young outfielder into Chicago with the potential to be a leadoff hitter. It might not happen, but If he lands his DH and gets at least an insurance option for the top of the order (Crisp), he won't have to do much else and should be able to win the division or at least be in position to win the division come the trade-deadline.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 11:37 AM) Podsednik isn't a good outfielder but he has speed to make up for poor reads, Matsui can barely move. Matsui's career UZR/150 in LF is -14.4, Dye was a -22.4. And now he hasn't played the position regularly in 3 years and is coming off 2 knee surgeries. And just because we've been sending bad defenders out there doesn't mean it's ok to settle for more bad defense in the future. That's like say; we've always had bad thrid baseman, so plugging in another bad one shouldn't really matter. I realize it isn't an ideal scenario. But the Sox also want to keep Quentin, Konerko and AJ fresh and the best way to do that might be suffering a bit on defense once or twice a week in the outfield. It is also important to know that if a significant injury were to occur that you have a guy that could slide into the outfield and help if needed. Injuries are a part of the game and to survive a 162 game season it is important to have flexibility. Clearly it would be a massive mistake to start Matsui regularly in the outfield. However, if it is done on occasions throughout the season it wouldn't be a major issue and in the playoffs you don't have to worry as much about the rest so Matsui would clearly stay at DH in those instances, but again, knowing he could play in the field still gives you the option to utilize one of your better offensive bats when you play in NL parks. For example, if Crisp starts 5 or 6 days a week in left, the club would clearly be downgrading its offense, but defensively, they will have upgraded significantly (Crisp >>>> Pods and Quentin in RF should be >>> Dye). I don't know how much of an upgrade Quentin will be to Dye though to be honest since Quentin has clearly been slowed by his injury. Bottom line, there is nothing wrong with occasionally putting Matsui in the field. Going into opening day with him as our everyday starter in the outfield, now that would be a bad idea. I also don't think Crisp is the perfect option, but given the resources the club has and if his shoulder his heatlhy, I would be accepting of him.

QUOTE (KevinM @ Dec 9, 2009 -> 11:23 AM) That's some awe-inspiring hyperbole. And if you're going to label something completely worthless and malign it to such a degree, you may want to get its name right. Again, simply comparing Carlos' BABIP data from two separate seasons is insufficient analysis, but including batted ball rates and (at times) contact percentages will give you a rough idea of how unlucky Carlos was. I think his poor season can probably be attributed to injury, as I was just campaigning for BABIP as a useful tool of analysis. Which it absolutely is, and tests have proven this time after time. It should be used with a great deal of caution, and with other things in mind (like contact/batted ball rates/injury/scouting), but it certainly has utility. It's not the end all be all metric, but this argument shouldn't be black and white. I do think we can have a discussion without it devolving into "anyone with have (sic) a brain" sorts of insults. I fancy my brain quite a bit, and I think a player's statistical fluctuation may be attributed to luck from time to time. Do I believe that's the case with Carlos? A layman's/preliminary analysis of his batted ball rates tell me that it may have contributed to his poor performance. I also believe his injury didn't help. Ok. And I believe it may have. This doesn't have to be a black and white, you don't have "have (sic) a brain" argument. We can discuss it. I agree with you, BABIP over the years can be useful, but you need to include other stats. The post that is being referenced only talked about Quentins BABIP in the Current Year vs the Prior Year. No where did it take into account line drive percentages, contact percentages, etc. Therefor, I thought it was a pretty poor argument to just say its bad luck because his BABIP changed year over year. That is about as valid of an argument as me throwing out two years worth of batting averages and attributing the change in average to bad luck. I think the stat is very meaningful (despite me mis-typing it) as a tool for analysis, but the true meaning behind the stat comes from the underlying stats (ie, line-drive rate, contact rate, etc).