Marty34

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 5, 2014 -> 05:27 PM) That's an interesting take because the whole point was to INCREASE interest in the regular season by having more teams in contention, and, by extension, encouraging players to not trade veterans at the deadline. Right, but it makes each regular season game less meaningful. If it were up to me, play a balanced schedule, each league team plays each other 11 times with 8 game, home-and-home series against your closest NL rival.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 5, 2014 -> 05:01 PM) Ok so spend $20 more. Is $60-70 really that crazy for a night out for four people these days? Food at the movie is just as overpriced as food at the ballpark. Same thing at Chuck E Cheese or wherever the hello else kids want to go. I think it is tough for families to swing that these days. The other thing that has been mentioned is the three hour game has to stop being the norm. More waks and K's these days too which means its three hours full of no action. Every damn pitch is treated like life and death by the hitter/pitcher, Get it and throw it. I'm convinced that is what a large portion of Buehrle's success can be attributed to.

I think the expanded playoffs have hurt interest in MLB's regular season. Go back to division winners only making the playoffs. Teams with the best record in each league get a buy to the championship series and plays the winner of a best of three series between the second and third seeded teams. Championship series goes from 7 games to 5 games.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ May 5, 2014 -> 07:37 AM) I don't understand how the cost of tickets is even an excuse. Tickets, through the White Sox site, start at $7 ($5 on Sundays) for the upper corners. Better tickets can be had for just a few dollars more. A family of four can get tickets and parking for $48. That's basically the same cost as going to a movie. Sure concessions can get expensive, but then don't buy them. And really, you can eat a meal at the park for basically the same cost as going to McDonald's or Burger King. Of course you can do that, but sitting at a ballpark for three hours with kids and not buying them anything makes for an unpleasant experience for all involved in most cases. One that you do once and don't do again.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 4, 2014 -> 01:39 PM) Rienzo should be the 3-4 inning relief pitcher. I think that's where he should start in the pen. From there though I think it's possible he could eventually become a 7-8th inning set up guy.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 4, 2014 -> 12:52 PM) We all strive to take consistently proven wrong stands I hear ya. Better that than throwing stones from a glass house.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 4, 2014 -> 12:45 PM) The book is out on Beckham. He can't hit fastballs, curves, change ups, sliders, and knuckleballs. Throw him one of those and you are golden I think you're wrong, but at least you are taking a stand.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 4, 2014 -> 11:33 AM) When was the last time the best team in baseball traded their ace? I highly doubt the Sox will trade for a RHSP, and if they do, he will be a backend of the rotation starter. Back-end rotation guys happen, see Danks. No need to deal for one.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 3, 2014 -> 09:04 PM) It's unbelievable that you still don't understand the difference between a 32-year old trainwreck-turned-bounceback free agent this past offseason, and a 29 year-old consistently solid free agent next offseason. We don't hate free agents, Marty, we hate s***ty players. How much are you willing to pay for Masterson this "solid" mid-rotation starter?

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ May 4, 2014 -> 05:49 AM) Kevin Gausman This is the type of guy that you can (from a Sox perspective) deal Q for. Get Gausman, sign Shields, and draft Hoffman or Rodon and you have a rotation with excellent stuff.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 3, 2014 -> 08:33 PM) Just to say again...when Mike Trout was drafted by the Angels...the only post on this page was, and I quote "Boy, the Angels sure do like their outfielders don't they?" No one here showed any outrage whatsoever. That's a Sox scouts win then or at least a draw. Geez, hold professionals to higher standards than those of message board posters.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 3, 2014 -> 07:52 PM) Johnson 2B, Semien util, Ravelo doesn't make it I think Semien will hit and his best position is 2B. Johnson in left maybe? I don't think the Sox would go with Johnson and Eaton in left and center not enough power for the cell.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 3, 2014 -> 07:25 PM) No, I'm talking about stopping your stupid focus about what part is looking poor on this day in the middle of what is absolutely a rebuilding year. It'd be so much nicer if you'd just drop the act and talk to me in September and we'll see what our needs actually are and if they can be solved in the FA market or not. Who do you expect to step up and solve the pitching problem between now and the end of the season?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ May 3, 2014 -> 07:37 PM) He's been mentioned a lot on here and Fangraphs have had a couple of articles about him. The big issue with him is where he plays if the bat is major-league ready. What positions do you think guys like Ravelo, Semien, and Mi. Johnson end up playing in three years?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 3, 2014 -> 07:07 PM) If the lineup somehow heals itself to teh point where they can be competitive then perhaps signing one of the big 3 starters would make sense. As of right now, this lineup looks like 2 big cubans and a wasteland. Then what you're talking about is dealing Sale.

Ravelo is a guy who doesn't get a lot of attention. I get that hasn't hit homers, but the numbers he's putting up so far are outstanding and he's young for his level. I hope he doesn't turn out to be a Jeff Abbott-type.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 3, 2014 -> 06:45 PM) Don't get me wrong, I'd be stunned if they took a high school pitcher that high. Everyone you hear speak from the organization seems to hate the idea of taking a high school pitcher as well. I'll say this I would take Aiken or Kolek over any pitchers other than Hoffman or Rodon. I don't want to see them reaching for a guy like Beedie or worse.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 3, 2014 -> 06:36 PM) I'm fine with Aiken or Kolek I don't think they can afford to wait 3 or 4 years for this pick to develop unless they plan on signing one of the big 3 free agent starters this winter.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 3, 2014 -> 06:30 PM) But it's also 9 guys versus 5. I have no issues with drafting a pitcher but the big league team shouldn't be factoring into this, that's all I keep saying. Draft a pitcher because the pitchers are clearly the better choice from this draft. So, you're ok drafting a high school arm over Hoffman and/or Rodon?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 3, 2014 -> 05:30 PM) 2/3 of the major league OF is on the disabled list. Shouldn't you be stressing about that? If we had the pitching depth you trumpeted this winter, the OF would be at the top of the list.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ May 3, 2014 -> 01:55 PM) You can thank Paddy for Abreu. I stand corrected, he does know what he's doing.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 3, 2014 -> 01:52 PM) Yep, as well as trading Peavy/Santiago for offensive players. I'm sure they had a plan in place to get the rotation rebuilt in a few years. Remember when we had a decided organizational pitching advantage on the Cubs.

Looks like more work being done by the great Marco Paddy.

The Major League staff is in critical condition. Get that stabilized as soon as possible and then worry about rounds 2 thru 50 of the draft. This is the price paid for the Wilder scandal,

I watched more tape of Rodon and I'm not in love with his mechanics. Not sure I would take him ahead of Hoffman, but given the critical status of the big league staff, he has to be taken ahead of a high school arm. I hope the Sox aren't as conflicted as I am about this draft.