Chisoxfn

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 01:31 PM) I was quite surprised too considering that accounts his arm strength into it. I was also quite surprised that BA's UZR wasn't better. He actually had a horrible UZR back in 2006 and 2007. Here's what's sort of funny. Jerry Owens, even with his crappy ass arm, had a UZR/150 of 12.8. That's really, really good. Dewayne Wise is better defensively in center than Brian Anderson, according to UZR. He's well above average in left and above average in center. Scott Podsednik is actually an above average left fielder. His career mark UZR in left is 1.4. Just don't put him in center field, he's real bad. Rob Mackowiak was indeed terrible in center. He had a UZR of -5.6 in 2006 as a CF. Put that over a span of 150 games and it's -16.2. It also appears that Aaron Rowand has lost a couple of steps after crashing into the wall in Philadelphia back in 2006. He had a -21 last year in terms of Plus/Minus in San Francisco when he accumulated a +31 from 2004-2006. Rowand had a UZR of -6.1 in San Francisco last season. Looks like the large outfield is making A-Row look bad. And for those of you who said that BA is a better center field than Rowand - UZR says you're wrong. I guess saber stats make sense a lot. But they make me scratch my head at times. That tells me that UZR is a garbage stat or one that needs other data to become valuable.

The Bills come out of my pocket and I usually rely on advertising to make up the costs. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. Unfortunately in this economy its been rough picking up advertisers.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 09:30 PM) You are awesome. Thanks for volunteering! My girlfriend would love you. She volunteers for a pug rescue place out our way. I'm pretty certain when I get my house there is going to be a rescued pug living there.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 04:56 AM) Hmmm, how about a few divey restaurants somewhat off the beaten path Tufanos on Vernon Park over ner UIC. Probably some of the better home cooked italian in Chicago. Cash only Half Shell on Diversey has some of the best crab legs around Twin Anchors on Sedgwick for ribs, really nothing else I can say there. Tufanos is very good.

I got it.

Brandon Wood can hit fastballs. Brandon Wood can not hit anything else. He is not like Josh Fields (who can't hit a fastball), except that both are going to be enormous busts. I dont' mind seeing if a change of scenery does Wood good but there are plenty of other guys I'd rather acquire, especially since we have Beckham and Viciedo that can play 3B. Defensievly Wood/Fields/Viciedo are all below average.

ROFL

QUOTE (SoxFan101 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 07:26 PM) Hopefully now that the Barons lost some of its key players Shelby starts to heat up, always been a favorite of mine and he was the one guy who has been dissapointing so far on that team. I still think between Viciedo, Flowers, Danks, and Shelby that team will be a force to reckon with, Im assuming Cook will be gone when Danks returns. Be interesting to see if Marrero keeps on hitting and turns himself into a legit prospect. We have to remember that Shelby could always move to back to 2B where his bat would project much much better.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jun 19, 2009 -> 08:22 AM) It's not that I don't like him, he just doesn't wow me, but that really doesn't matter. It's all about the numbers. Location wise, my point of view is from the first base side, so I can really only tell up and down. I know he keeps the ball down though because I haven't seen him get shelled. I think his only pitches are the fastball, sinker and slider. He certainly earned that win last night as he pitched excellently. He kept the Barons in the game and gave them the opportunity to win it in the 9th. Has his delivery changed much? When I saw him pitch down in Spring Training in a minor league game he really had a delivery reminiscent of Dotel. I liked his velocity but he didn't have much movement the day I saw him and couldn't control anything. That said he definately has the velocity you can't teach.

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 08:52 PM) Haven't seen him yet, his first start I'll see is probably Saturday. Duh, I'm a little retarded. Collari seemed to have a similar scouting report to what I had seen but gave better info as to the type of guy Hudson is.

Ed Collari, Director of Media Relations for the Winston Salem Dash, will be joining the FutureSox writing crew where he will be contributing a blog. The blog will primarly be an outlet for Collari to answer our questions but also a spot where he'll be able to contribute the ocassional column (when time allows for it). I'd like to give a big thank you to Collari for doing this. Now please put all your questions for Ed in here and keep em coming so there are always a few things in his queu to write about Note: I can't say enough just how great the White Sox minor league organizations and the Major League organization is and Ed once again thank you for taking the time to do this!!!!

I think Allen has the batspeed to make it and as a hitter he's gotten so much better the past couple seasons. He's a guy that really keeps getting better. When drafted he was a raw guy with upside and than for a while he floudnered and I had given up on him and than bam, he made major strides the past couple years and is now probably the best off the radar 1st base prospect in baseball and one of the top 8 first base prospects in the game. I don't know if he's ready yet, but I have no problem moving two of Dye/Thome/Konerko this season and giving Allen a shot. Very good approach at the plate, should hit for enough power (not 40HR power though, imo). This comparison is going to sound really assinine, but Huddy reminds me a lot of Roy Halladay. I'm not necessarily saying pure stuff wise or anything like that but they have similar arm actions and builds and I'm probably nuts in this comparison. But Huddy has a good fastball (90-94) that gets nice movement and what looks like a very solid slider/split combo and a developing changeup. JPN can probably give a better scouting report as I've seen him pitch much less than he has.

QUOTE (Adele_H @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:58 PM) Those who've seen him pitch... does Omogrosso throw a legitimate 99 mph or is he a typical Sox prospect who loses 3+ MPH on a plane ride to Chicago upon promotion? I haven't ever seen him touted as throwing 99MPH but he does throw into the mid 90's. As a reliever I think you'll see him sit in the 94-97MPH range. As a starter he pitches in the 93-95 MPH range. Projects much better as a reliever.

I'm really really excited to see what Allen does in AAA and what Huddy does in AA. I fell in love with Hudson this spring (loved his delivery and the total package of pitches) and Allen is really becoming a pretty damn good hitter.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:50 PM) They could have had him for nothing a month ago. If he's lights out, the White Sox are trying to win, they will keep him. If he struggles, no one is picking up his contract. Rosenthal had an article last week that no one could afford Dye. They aren't going to go for Contreras unless the money is even and if that's the case, I really don't know what the benefit of trading him really is. We see the upside the last two starts. If true than your right. I still think what rosenthal is saying is that no one that can afford Dye is also willing to give up the type of prospect(s) it would take to make the Sox willing to move him.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:46 PM) And they aren't going to pay it. I think a team pays it (based upon his last two starts) but the question is what does the team give the Sox and the answer is probably very little. That said I might be wrong because if teams think Jose's back, well they might give up a lot more than I expected, but I doubt it and your probably right (well to an extent cause I do think if you put Jose on waivers today someone claims him, thus meaning someone would be willing to trade him). Just my 2 cents though.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:45 PM) Probably not. Thanks for your imput. Dick that was hillarious. I don't know why, but your response gave me a good laugh. Now lets hope the Sox sweep Cincy!!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:40 PM) And we could finally present him with his World Series ring for 2005 for contributions to the Sox. From a PR standpoint Vladdy it is a good move, especially if we have traded key veterans this year. Vladdy is the type of signing that shoudln't hurt the franchise and gives us a nice veteran bat in the middle of the order. Not an elite bat but still a good bat and he'd be a great DH, imo. Keeping Dye makes a lot of sense too. See if you can get him to agree to another 2yr extension with a club option at 14-16M with some incentives and a couple M buyout for the 3rd year option.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:37 PM) For some reason, I have a feeling Vlad will be our DH next season. Last time I said something like this, it was about Carlos Pena being our 1B in 2006. Oops! He's struggled but I'd be on board with Vladdy because I still think he'll be able to hit. I just think he needs an off-season with rest and be willing to be a full time DH. Only to a shorter term deal though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:37 PM) Here is the list of Free Agent RF this offseason Kearns has a club option. Ordonez has a club/vesting option. Dye has a mutual option that won't be picked up. Some other names could be available who currently aren't playing RF but could be moved there, including: Holliday, Bay, Russell Branyan, etc. The Sox could make a run at Holliday in a trade, but they'd have to ink him to a big contract. Not a bad idea cause I think Holliday is a darn nice looking piece and a middle of the order bat. That said it isn't in Boras style to sign extensions following a trade. Holliday is the most available piece though. But what about the Justin Uptons of the world or maybe Crawford does become available because the Drays decide to cut costs a bit.

QUOTE (Cali @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:35 PM) I could consider getting rid of Fields and Wise PERMANENTLY (I don't mean, like, killing them) from the White Sox Organization a plus and almost like buying without buying. And I mean out of the organization, none of this sent down s***, I dont want to risk seeing them if someone goes on the DL. Call up Ward to back up Paulie. He's at least had MLB experience and can give you some pop off the bench and is a lefty. I think with Fields you try to package him for an arm that has failed at the big league level that has big league stuff. Maybe you send Konerko to the Giants for Sanchez (whose stock has really dropped). Gives you cash and a projectable arm and than the Sox can try to swing Fields, Sanchez and a top prospect (I should point out if we get that big name RF, we'd likely see one of our top prospects go plus other pieces) for a RF that we like.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:17 PM) Unless KW can do something like he was trying to do with the Peavy deal...find a major piece that can help us for 3+ years, I don't see us buying anything. Not with the minor league depth we suddenly have. I'd be interested in being a seller...but I don't want our team to be the California Housing Market - I'd rather take my chances on a hot streak at the end of the season than sell for little return. Wonder if anyone would be interested in Podsednik if he keeps hitting like this. I think Pods and Contreras both have a lot of value to another team right now. Long-term, probably not, but down the stretch if they play like this they'll be valuable assets on a contender. Oh and after thinking more, I think getting a Corner OF bat would be the best option outside of picking up a front of the rotation arm. But if you get that big corner OF bat to go with Quentin you really do have to get rid of two of Paulie/Dye/Thome or are at least best suited doing that. I say that because you can than utilize the DH and 1B spot to rotate plenty of AB's between Flowers (some of his AB's coming at C)/Allen/Viciedo/Veteran. Depending on how much you believe in Viciedo/Allen, you might be best off going with Thome since you can sign him to a one year deal, however, Dye is a darn solid hitter and still has tons of power and as a whole is a better bet to stay healthy. Dye also strikes out more though and Thome's OBP would be very value added as the lineup would be changed significantly and his power presence would be nice (thats right, I'm supporting Thome for the moment). That could be a nice looking offense that is able to win yet still have developmental slots for guys like Allen/Flowers/Viciedo/Danks with 2 of the youngsters being very protected as Flowers would have AJ as protection and our 1B/DH spot would have a veteran as protection in a sense (Protection that starts a lot).

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:12 PM) You have to take into consideration that Dye's option will most likely not be picked up. However he may return as our DH. So that leaves RF and CF open for improvement. So if they decide to let Danks run with it in CF next year awesome, you still have RF to potentially fill. I would love Carl Crawford- even as our leadoff hitter. Its too bad they weren't out of contention, because i would LOVE for KW find a way to bring him over. A Quentin-Danks-Crawford OF going forward would definitley work. Completely agree. On a sidenote, excellent discussion you've started!!!!!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jun 18, 2009 -> 04:08 PM) How about finding a RF for next year, and then basically narrowing down between Dye and Thome who you want to play DH next season? Excellent idea. Having a good long-term corner outfielder to go with Quentin and Danks with Anderson in a backup role (unless he totally explodes down the stretch). You than keep one of Dye and Thome and try to negotiate to get one of them back. If we lack left handed power go with Thome, if its righties go with Dye. Than you see if Getz/Beckham/Ramirez look legit and if they are your infield is set and two of those guys are atop your order with danks lower in the order and you still have a pretty good middle of the lineup consisting of your RF/Quentin/Thome or Dye/Paulie (or if you make a trade, you could have Brandon Allen with Flowers getting ocassional at bats). Bottom line is its still a pretty solid lineup with a lot more speed and some upside.

Eh, we aren't the fastest on the web but we usually aren't too slow. I wish we could have this thing on a killer machine, but unfortunately costs get in the way but we usually try to get on as good of a machine as financially possible.