Marty34

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 11:54 PM) Nobody actually goes to the park to see Paul Konerko, do they? It's about jersey sales.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 19, 2013 -> 12:02 PM) Here are the tweets David O'Brien ‏@ajcbraves 19 Oct Hearing #Braves would have interest in #Reds 2B Phillips if Cincy takes Uggla in deal. ATL probably have to include a top prospect. Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN 19 Oct Like @ajcbraves, heard ATL wants to move Uggla. Uggla-Phillips deal would come down to dealing w/the $: Uggla owed $26m/2, Phillips $50m/4. I wouldn't hate Phillips, I think he could add a spark to the locker room, and I kinda think thats what this team needs. He does also add a "Clutch factor" as he's always been good with RISP. I wouldn't wanna give up one of Q/Santiago/EJ/Bassit/Beck for him though, if they can work out something otherwise I'd be fine with it. Something like for De Aza+ and we also get $$ in return. If it were to happen(which I doubt) I'd like to see Micah Johnson getting some reps at SS/CF in the minors, cause I think we'll be seeing that kid up and starting in 2015. What would the Braves give the Sox to take Uggla?

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Oct 19, 2013 -> 09:43 AM) Looking at the last 1500 at bats for each -- platoon Dunn and Konerko. If PK really wants to take small $ and be here, that is. If all three players start hitting everything, miraculously............then Dunn in LF for ...well portions of games. I think this is a good idea and if Dunn or Konerko aren't hitting and it's the middle of May releasing/retirement is an option.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 11:34 AM) Did anyone tune in? Nothing much new, concern is ovr bat speed.

Wonder if there is any bad blood between the Sox and Rangers from the Rios negotiations, then the Sox starting Axelrod versus Indians the last week when they were locked in a playoff race . . .

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Oct 17, 2013 -> 08:40 PM) That's what I hate about team beat writers. Some are great and some are completely full of s*** and there's so many its hard to get a good grasp on who to believe Then you have the Sox beat writers who just collect a check.

A gamble they had to take. I hope he can hit a fastball.

Quick comparison from watching tape is he reminds me of Andres Galarraga. Over/under: Abreau has the career of Galarraga?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 17, 2013 -> 05:31 PM) If they're looking to put a competitive club on the field next year, you're 100% right. If all your other statements about how the Sox won't be competitive for years are right, then they could live with him putting up 2 years of a sub-.700 OPS as long as he figures it out and hits 40 HR the next couple years. Fair enough, but this guy has to make their scouts look good, the sooner the better to help restore faith among the fan base. It's been a while since they were right about a hitter.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 17, 2013 -> 03:16 PM) Depends on how that OPS gets put up. If it is lower in the first half of the year as he figures out MLB, but improves as the season goes along, I'll be OK with that as this is pretty much considered a rebuilding year. If reports are to believed, he'll get the largest contract in franchise history. They need him to hit from day 1.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 03:12 PM) I'd say Addison Reed is a top 10 closer in baseball. In reality then, isn't he dangerously close to being just another pen arm considering his velocity arrow is pointing down.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:43 PM) What are you basing it on? Life, man. Life.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:22 PM) I'd say he's above average. He pitched more innings than anyone in the league with more than 30 saves, he saved nearly 2/3 of his teams wins, and compared to other closers his K/9, K/BB, and WHIP are currently about average. And of course, that's as a 24 year old in his 2nd season. I think that's fair, but closers are more likely to have short shelf lives as opposed to developing so I don't think his age is as big a plus as it would be for a player at another position.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 02:02 PM) 83% save percentage says nothing at all, unfortunately, in terms of predicting future success. Especially given he was in front of the worst defense in the league. Do you believe Addison Reed is an elite closer?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 01:37 PM) So basically you want a guy that averages 100 MPH with a straight fastball. Or Nate Jones. No, I don't like Nate Jones.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 01:34 PM) I want a guy who holds opponents to a .600 OPS overall. Personal preference, B. Either way I think we both can agree 83% save percentage needs to be bettered by whoever the closer is.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 01:24 PM) Bullsh*t. Either make a useful point or go away. You like Reed as closer more than I do. I want a guy who after Coop takes their velocity away still throws mid-to-high 90's closing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 01:19 PM) Wow, that is a detailed refutation of my point. It's as detailed as needs to be given your point.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 01:15 PM) This is of course roughly equivalent to saying that Chris Sale is useless, after all look at his win-loss record. No.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 01:13 PM) To illustrate this point, in 2012 batters hit .273 with a .765 OPS against Reed's fastball. In 2013, batters hit .180 with a .544 OPS against Reed's fastball. There was also a significant and measureable increase in how much downward movement his fastball showed in 2013. His Home run rate on the fastball went down and his ground ball rate went up. What about the save percentage? Sox would have been better served going with a closer by committee.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 01:05 PM) Thankfully we don't have a pitching coach with a record of teaching people how to give up a few miles per hour on their fastball in exchange for better movement and control, because if we did you'd probably feel pretty dumb for writing that. That's all well and good, but that 83% save percentage says maybe he should keep the velocity, B!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 12:46 PM) 2012 ERA 4.75, 1.36 WHIP, 55 IP, 9.3 H/9, 8.8 K/9, 1 HR/9 2013 ERA 3.79, 1.11 WHIP, 71 IP, 7.1 H/9, 9.1 K/9, 0.8 HR/9. Literally every single one of his numbers improved last year without exaggeration. That's the worst job of regressing I've ever seen. Fastball velocity regressed to a pedestrian 92.7 mph along with 83.3% save percentage.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 12:36 PM) The bullpen, minus Crain for much of the year, minus Webb, plus Troncoso, plus Axelrod, plus whatever other poor pithcers they used (Omogrosso, Heath, whoever) put up an ERA of 4.00 and a WHIP of 1.40, and a K/9 of 8.1. You add Webb to that group and if you bring Crain back, you are probably talking about a 3.00-3.50 ERA between those top 5 righties with a WHIP around 1.10-1.20 and K/9 north of 9. Both Troncoso and Axelrod were brutal. I mean, basically the same bullpen was used in 2012. That team nearly won a division. How can you say "they won't win" when they very nearly did win? They didn't win in 2012 and two years is an eternity when you're talking bullpens especially since Reed has regressed.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 11:50 AM) This statement absolutely blows my mind with how inaccurate it is and how far off point it is beyond that We've seen this pen in in action and it wasnt all that impressive. Reed is close to being just another pen arm, Jones is just another pen arm, and Crain is coming off of a shoulder injury. Webb has the stuff to be closer, we'll see.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 09:44 AM) If the Sox run a bullpen of Reed, Crain, Jones, Lindstrom, Webb, Veal, and Leesman, with Petricka in AAA as the first righty called up, we'd be happy (with the lefties here just as well being random names because they could bring in any number of other lefties too). That's a pen you aren't going to win anything with and it has little upside.