Marty34

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 8, 2013 -> 10:17 PM) You always say this, but you were talking out of both sides of your mouth. Saying "I think they will contend" simultaneously saying "I think we should trade everyone and build towards 2015" isn't believing the first statement. Proof?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Mar 8, 2013 -> 09:25 PM) For the love of god, can you please stop speaking in absolutes? Also, I don't understand why you think it's so far-fetched we make the playoffs. If Danks is healthy, which is looking likely so far, then our rotation can be one of the best in baseball. Our bullpen also has the potential to be one of the best in baseball. Plus our defense was one of the best in baseball last year and has arguably gotten better. Yes, our offense is a question mark, but that doesn't mean it's going to bad next year. If the pitching holds up, which is a concern for every team, we have a decent chance at making the playoffs next year. I guess I can't comprehend why you are so negative about the Sox. Do you think our starters are going to break down? You can't really be denying their talent right? Look around the league, few teams have rotations as talented as ours. Last year I said they would contend for the division. I feel differently this year primarily because of the workloads on Sale and Peavy last year, an offense that's core is a year older, and a division where the Royals and Indians have improved.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Mar 8, 2013 -> 09:07 PM) You must be one of great patience to be silence among this cesspool of baseball stupidity. When did this Ramirez stuff get started? I'm going to assume it's because he didn't belt 72 HRs. Ramirez has gotten progressively worse offensively to the point where he put up a lower OPS than the much-maligned (and deserved so) Beckham last year. That's pretty amazing.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 8, 2013 -> 09:24 AM) Even Sanchez's minor league numbers aren't really any better. Why pay Ramirez $26M over the next 3 years when they aren't going to the postseason?

Are they a likely playoff team with Ramirez this year? No Are they a likely playoff team with/because of Ramirez in 2014 or 2015? No. Building block beyond '15? No

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Mar 7, 2013 -> 08:36 PM) Congrats your post was so ignorant it compelled me to make my first post here in years. The value of a win is about $4 million. The Sox are going to be paying Ramirez 26.5 million over the next 3 years with an AAV of 8.9 million. Even with his career worst year at the plate last year due to the paucity of legit MLB caliber shortstops and his solid glove, bWAR had Ramirez for 2.2 wins and fWAR had him down for 1.8. That means he was basically worth his salary (note he only made 7 million in 2012). I will concede that the arc of Ramirez's career is not promising, but thanks to regression to the mean all the projection systems have Ramirez somewhere around a wOBA of .300, which would add about half a win over his 2012 numbers -- assuming his glove grades out about the same. It's probably fair to project Ramirez for about 7 WAR over the next 3 seasons -- at 4 million per win he'll be making...about exactly what he "should be". The idea that Ramirez's contract is some albatross hanging over the Sox is ludicrous. You'd rather rush a 20 year old to the bigs (and starting his arb clock no less) that projects a worse WAR just so you can jettison a 2 WAR player (aka a solid starter) that is being paid a fair salary. I've held back, but seriously? GTFO with such non-sense. I don't have as much faith in the projection systems as you do. I'd rather have the cash value of Ramirez contract.

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Mar 7, 2013 -> 08:06 PM) I mean really, how much worse could he be as a hitter than Alexi? Lexi is now one of the worst offensive players in baseball. I've said before they should put him on waivers and if anyone wants to take that contract let them. It's going to be a long three years waiting for his contract to end.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Mar 7, 2013 -> 07:45 PM) Anything can be the difference between competing and not competing. Everything adds up in the end and if you weaken yourself at SS and proceed to lose the division by a game, guess what? That move is one of the reasons you lost the division. Ramirez will not be the SS on the next Sox postseason team.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Mar 7, 2013 -> 07:23 PM) At the expense of punting this season? Do you really think we have no chance to compete this year? Ramirez isn't the difference between this team "competing" and not "competing". Personally, I think this is a slightly below .500 team. Certainly not in the same class as the Tigers.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 7, 2013 -> 07:16 PM) We wouldnt' gain enough offensively to offset what we've lost. That means we need to get something legit back in the deal, major league ready, to make it worth our while. Getting that contract off the books would be more important than the return.

Love to get rid of Ramirez's contract, Cardinals wouldn't take it though.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 27, 2013 -> 04:45 PM) What would you offer for Brent Morel right now if you were a GM? Exactly why Hahn has the advantage.

It's Brent Morel with back issues. Odds are greatly in favor of Hahn in any trade situation.

QUOTE (TomSeaverFan @ Feb 25, 2013 -> 05:18 PM) I agree 100 percent. What I wonder is, if you go to a Cub game and get a really s***ty seat, like behind a pillar or where you can't see the scoreboard, did you truly enjoy the experience? To me it'd be like playing Marquette Park golf course instead of Butler National. How uncomfortable can it be to go to Wrigley at times depending on your seat?? For a good percentage of those attending a Cubs game the game is only part of the experience. If you have a bad seat you head to the bar in the 6th instead of the 7th.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 24, 2013 -> 03:42 PM) Pretty sad that the guy doing the webcast is noticeably better than the radio guy. I bet if it were Boyer's decision Farmer would be gone. On radio I prefer a solo play-by-play guy (a good one), color guy too often gets in the way. I want as accurate a description as possible.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Feb 24, 2013 -> 03:27 PM) For sure! Farmer can be funny but just plain dreadful at play-by-play. Pretty sad that the guy doing the webcast is noticeably better than the radio guy. I bet if it were Boyer's decision Farmer would be gone.

I'd take the play-by-play guy on the webcast over Farmer.

It's all about location. The amount of expendable income around Wrigley dwarfs (to put it mildly) the amount around Sox park.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Feb 23, 2013 -> 11:32 AM) What are you suggesting Marty? Beckham at 3B next year? I for one think he would be a great option at 3B since he did so well there when first moved. Carlos Sanchez might be better suited for 2B and even though Gordon has show gold glove ability if we keep Sanchez then 2B might be his best position. He can play 3B also but not sure that it is the best fit for the team. Keppinger goes to second, with Morel at third. I think Beckham is at his salary cap for for the Sox unless he shows improvement. Keep Sanchez at short to as a possibility to eventually replace Ramirez.

The competition is Morel or Beckham in 2014 and going forward.

I read that the Yankees and Red Sox are having difficulty selling tickets and I'd imagine so are the Cubs, so in that context a projected modest increase might not be so bad especially given that it's still tough economically.

Ventura deserves credit for getting the Sox to contend, but his performance in August and September left a lot to be desired. Ignoring offensive struggles, his attitude seemed to be one of "why change anything we're in first place?" as Detroit kept inching closer and closer. His bullpen usage in September was curious too.

Been to a few parks and I think Sox park is easily a top in the top 10. There's no better lower deck in MLB. You can walk around the concourse and still catch a view of the game. The renovations to the upper deck, black roof, and getting rid of those hideous blue seats have really improved the look and feel of the park. I think Sox park looks a whole lot better than most of the recent HOK retro parks.

The Sabermetric way of doing things trumpeted by guys like Theo and Billy Beane looks more and more like a great cover for PED usage.

QUOTE (knightni @ Feb 6, 2013 -> 03:58 PM) I bet that some fan bases would kill for 79-84 wins every year on average. Aren't you happy you aren't part of one of those fan bases.