GreenSox

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 05:39 PM) Could be interesting, but O's declined option on Nick Markakis It wouldn't surprise me if we go after him. don't lose a draft choice either, right?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 04:45 PM) This is a big key why. The point isn't that you just stick with the same crappy relievers and expect it to suddenly transform over (as the saying goes, you can't turn chicken s*** into chicken salad). You go out and you get better pitchers, but just be cautious in how you do it. If you're going to spend a lot on a reliever (or relievers), you have to somehow, someway be confident that they are going to be effective for the entirety of that contract. Otherwise, it's best to keep going out and grabbing talented arms and a lot of times just hoping for the best. Career relief pitchers are generally inconsistent. The best thing is to develop your own, and even use future starters as relievers for a year or 2. For sure, going out and buying that "proven closer" is a game for fools. Sox will probably have to buy 1 reliever this year, probably from the left side, and pray. But Petricka and PUtnam were virtual rookies, Guerra's a good reliver. Carroll could so well. Webb wasn't very effective, but he was a rookie as well. Bassitt might do relief work this year as well. That guy we got for Dunn might make a run for a spot in teh pen too.

Maddon handles young players well. But he has a tough road. Cubs prospects are always over-hyped (along with Red Sox prospects). Their Major League team has flaws. Will be interesting to see what they can do.

Sox 3-1 against Giants this year. Robin owns Bochy.

Royals have pitching depth. They don't need to sign Shields, who would be down in the rotation anyway. If anything, the series reduced pressure to sign him, due to his dismal performance therein.

Danish, Montas, and Basset all looking great. Let's trade em for veterans. Oh yea, I forgot Rodon. Last year at this time we had only Johnson on the radar and he's off. The building is working. Don't stop it.

A ring for Dan Uggla Life is good.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 06:21 PM) I wouldn't be a fan of it, but considering they gave up a top 5 prospect to get him last year, it would make sense for them to try and replenish the SS depth in their system. If the Sox did a trade like this, I think they would extend Samardzija right away. Lord no. What is with the love of top prospect for rents, extend them or not. The As made a stupid trade for Shark. Jackson, Vasquez, Peavy (best of the bunch, but a high opportunity cost), Ritchie - yikes. Don't repeat those mistakes Assuming Rodon makes it as a very good starter, the Sox will have 3 of them... that's sufficient, if they have 2 capable pitchers at 4 and 5. They need help in the OF, DH, and 3B and probably should chase 1 bullpen pitcher (although I hate doing that). Trade young talent for young talent, like the Sox did last year. No declining veterans.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 28, 2014 -> 10:09 AM) Let say Toronto throws is 4M and knocks Buehrle's 2015 salary down to 15M which I believe he is worth. What can Toronto expect in return from the Sox? Not much. He's not the pitcher we need. Screw this sentimentality stuff. It's already smothering the Sox in the dugout.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 02:29 PM) 3. You can make an argument that the Royals rotation is no better than ours, and if you assume that Shields is gone, worse than ours. The defense and bullpen are unquestionably better, but alone, that doesn't create some monolith at the top of the division for the next few years. Except that it looks like Ventura is better than Shields. Shields is not a #1 anyway, and had a lousy post-season. All in all, develop your own pitching, which we may be well on the way to doing (unless some of the suggestions hereon to trade it for veterans happen). But yea, they are no dynasty. Quite frankly, neither was Detroit. They were just the only 90 win quality team in the division for several years. We haven't had one of those in nearly a decade ourselves. Plug holes with even a few average players* and we have a shot next year. there are just a lot of holes that need plugging. *of course, absolutely do NOT trade prospects for average players. There's no evidence that the Sox are trying to win at 75 Mill. They'll spend in the low 100s. But there has to be someone on which to spend money. Spending money just to spend it is nuts.

If we want a proven hitter, sign him, don't trade for him. We'll never get anywhere if we don't get the farm up to spiff. What about Rasmus - he had a better year than most of these players people want to trade our prospects for. He may not even get a QO.

QUOTE (glangon @ Oct 28, 2014 -> 07:02 AM) I see us trading Matt Davidson away for starting pitching. As Tim Lincecum seems to be out of favour in San Francisco and Sandoval is out of contract. I reckon we could see Matt Davidson and Marcus Semien for Tim Lincecum as the 1st trade on November 23rd. No declining, woefully overpaid veterans, please. Sox need young talent.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Oct 22, 2014 -> 10:58 AM) Saying Domonic Brown has the potential to hit better is really stretching the word potential to its limits. He stunk just as badly as Morales last year, except he doesn't have Morales' track record or the excuse of signing with a team in the middle of the year. Morales is in his 30s and is on a stead 3 year decline. I'll pass on declining veterans. Brown is in his 20s, and arguably was mishandled by the Phils the idea here is just a Vic for Brown swap. He may not work out - but then again, I don't believe in this "all in" stuff And the idea of "all in" for this season is ridiculous. What does that mean anyway? Isn't the idea for the Sox to start fielding consistent playoff teams. Contrivances don't work. Blue Jays did that recently and it failed miserably. Look at Giants- consistent infusion of talent, including significant homegrown talent.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 28, 2014 -> 01:23 PM) What is your point? Care to discuss the possibility of Buehrle by any chance? Signing MB would be ridiculous. We don't need a lefty starter. that would be spending money to spend money. I don't think we'll spend $50 million because there really isn't enough talent to spend it on. There are a few good players, likely gobbled up by the big-spenders, and that's that. We might sign a mid range outfielder, take care of a few guys in arbitration, plug as many holes as possible and see how things go.

I certainly don't think Wilkins' stock went up. I put him about the same place as J Mitchell, whom I don't think made your list. Probably a career minor leaguer. Hawkins' stock probably went back up to where it was before his terrible 2013.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 26, 2014 -> 08:30 AM) Would you guys be interested in Cespedes if he can sign an extension? Olney tweeted that he thinks they'll trade him now because he switched agents. Again, I know he's not a lefty bat, but its something to consider because I think I'd sign Adam LaRoche to a 2 year deal too. No Another low OBP strikeout hitter who plays poor defense. At this point, I'd take a good platoon in left, and they could rotate DH as well.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 25, 2014 -> 12:17 PM) When does Bassitt start getting more love around here? Dude has been legit this year. 84.1 innings stretched across the minors, majors, and AFL 2.57 ERA 87/33 K/BB just 2 HRs(none in 29 ML innings). Good question. I like him. I hope he stays a starter. One thing about our pen - we had a few virtual rookies throwing last season and they did okay. They should improve.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 24, 2014 -> 01:18 PM) This could be something interesting for the Sox. Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 3h3 hours ago The Phillies have signaled to some corners of the market that they're going to be ready to deal veterans this winter,and eat money to do it. Let's get Dom Brown. LH hitter with power; DH. Shouldn't cost that much. Change of scenery deal for Viciedo. Honestly, if the Sox simply get average at LF, RF (should be with A Garcia), and 2b, add a DH and starting pitcher, and a bullpen pitcher ( they really need someone from the left side; I think the young guys like Putman and Petricka will improve), this team could win in the 80s. Now it's not easy to find decent players in all of those spots.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Oct 25, 2014 -> 12:32 AM) Obviously Danks is only working with really small sample sizes, but while he was in our minor leagues, he annually was considered our best defensive OFer. The dude has crazy range and instincts in CF. How's his arm? The only way he justifies his presence on a roster is through defense, and even you said he can't play RF or LF very well. You don't need a CF-only backup. Heretofore, he hasn't come close to hitting enough to justify whatever defense he has. Danks is 28 Mitchell, 26, absolutely would be claimed, especially after the year he had. Thompson is 23 - the idea that he's finished and should be discarded and no one would claim him is silly. This move tells me that the Sox don't want Sierra as 4th outfielder. Fine with me. But I hope it doesn't mean that they do want Jordan Danks as 4th outfielder. I long for the day when the Sox move beyond putting a horrendous offensive player like Danks or Wise or L Garcia (another one who doesn't hit enough to justify his defense) on the roster.

While I think Ventura should have been fired due to his performance, the Sox should not fire him so that they can spend $20 mill on Joe Maddon or any other manager. Sounds like he's getting a little full of himself anyway. I think he's a good manager; but it's not like he didn't have talent. It's Friedman and Co. that brought the talent in on a peanuts budget.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 24, 2014 -> 04:08 PM) Marc Topkin ‏@TBTimes_Rays 26m26 minutes ago So early to speculate but names you'll likely hear for #Rays job include Dave Martinez, Gabe Kapler, Tim Bogar, Joe McEwing among others If Mc Ewing gets the Rays job, bring one of those guys here to be bench coach.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 24, 2014 -> 09:11 PM) The Royals don't value offense from their outfielders, so it makes sense they would claim him Hanging on to Jordan Danks, it's appears that the Sox don't either. I wonder what their plans are. I don't lament the loss of Sierra, as long as they aren't thinking Danks, which, as sentimental as this organization is, they may be.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Oct 24, 2014 -> 06:01 PM) Danks is an elite fielder. No he is not.

Surprised we waived him. He played pretty well for us....certainly better than Wise or Danks in that position of 4th outfielder. Should have waived Danks instead - he's awful.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 24, 2014 -> 01:19 PM) Why is it when Maddon lost 101 and 96 games his first 2 years, that is considered solid, but when Robin had a couple of years like that, he is a dope? Because Maddon has had multiple playoff teams and a world series appearance, with an organization light on spending. That is why. Williams hired 2 house horses as manager. Doesn't seem like anything Williams would do.