CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 30, 2014 -> 04:42 PM) On a broadcast at the beginning of September, they showed a graphic which gave SS points, x amount for making a routine play, another amount for making plays considered out of regular range, and Alexei had basically clinched the win with a month to play. I think the story of his demise is being exaggerated just as they have been the past few years. If they do trade him and don't sign a replacement, I think many will find out he was a bit better than they think. A poor defensive team taking a step back defensively at SS is going to make all those who think the Sox don't have a chance next year correct. Only 8 SS had a higher WAR in 2014, 3 of those only .1 higher, so for what he gets paid, and considering he was only going to get worse 2 years ago, I wouldn't get rid of him unless you are very sure you have a legitimate replacement. The "we love Alexei but father time never backs down" group which includes me isn't really thinking about a replacement for him but getting more controllable talent either in the farm or ML ready. He's a trade chip that still has plenty of value which is why many don't want him to go but the Sox are filled with stars and stiffs and we just need more talent. The fact that Alexei is pretty much our only realistic movable trade chip among the position players bears that out. Are you confident that some of our better players from last year won't regress. ? Flowers ? Gillaspe ? Quintana , Sale, Eaton , Abreu may all have just had career years. It's hard to say that considering they all are just getting started but it might be true . We know Alexei isn't going to get better but others are also candidates for regression and more talent around the core needs to be addressed.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 30, 2014 -> 04:08 PM) Do you rate Saladino as a better defensive SS than L. Garcia's and Diaz? Again, irrespective of offensive ability. I'm asking only about defensive prowess. Do you think that Sanchez, who is purportedly much better suited for 2ND, is defensively behind all three of the players just mentioned? I'm surprised, as I thought that Saladino was just barely adequate defensively, but had a decent bat. I don't think there are too many people qualified to say who is the best defensive SS among the AAA and above bunch on this website and even among scouts there might be differences of opinion considering all the young men involved are not finished products defensively or offensively. I thimk you're trying to force the issue a little too much but that's ok because you enjoy the interaction with fellow fans. At this point I'll just let December January and February unfold and whatever happens the team should be improved for next year . Beyond that there are still more surprises to come. .

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 30, 2014 -> 12:14 PM) Was just reading that it's looking like the A's will be looking for 2 or 3 "top prospects" for Samardzija. Not sure the Sox are willing to do that. Tear down the farm system for a rental... Thoughts? http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/al-c...samardzija.html Beane didn't seem all that picky on giving up 4 years of Donaldson. Now he wants the moon for 1 yr. of Samargarini ?

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 30, 2014 -> 08:40 AM) I like how Roenthal was finally fixed, but Samardzija is still wrong. BTW, when did Shark start with this guy? I can't call a grown man that I don't know Shark. I know I call him Shark because it's better than trying to spell Samardzija or Tarkanian for that matter (going back a few years there).

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Nov 30, 2014 -> 07:39 AM) Never heard of this guy before but says he's a baseball analyst Looks like the Market for SP Jeff Samardzija is down to Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. #Redsox #MLB #WhiteSox https://twitter.com/MibeltRodriguez/status/...070453034516480 I see a comment under that about Sale from a Red Sox fan. What is their obsession with Sale and how did it start ? There haven't been any rumors involving Sale at all.

The Kane Veersteg Richards line clicking again against the Kings . Richards with 2 goals as Hawks lead 3-1 in the 2nd. Rosivak just gave Richards a tap in with a real good pass.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 06:32 PM) Moved back September of 2013 when my wife and I decided to have a baby. White Sox at the big A in 2015? Sounds good to me.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 05:24 PM) So IF Alexei gets traded, who plays short in 2014? Seems like a gaping hole up the middle with no set SS or 2B. The possibilities are endless if less than ideal. It's been discussed ad naseum in other threads .

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 04:35 PM) So what's a reasonable trade for Samardzija, operation on the assumption that he won't sign an extension? Semien and what other 2 prospects? That there is the main question along with would it be more than Shark ? If it happens you can be sure that this place willl be split on the trade because people don't like giving up prospects , period, and for a rental ? Oh this place would be screaming bloody murder. But even if this deal doesn't go down , you can probably be sure that a pitcher of Sharks caliber is being targeted and is a priority.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 04:52 PM) you may even run into Hi8i. something like that. he lives from out there. He used to now he's in Hawaii.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 04:50 PM) Leake. plus the Cuban closer, Chapman i think. they need some form of salary relief. i was reading where they were saying that a trade for 1 of there pitchers plus minor league prospect for SS and 2 or 3 tier sp prospect, will do. Mike Leake, Mat Latos, Johnny Cueto and Alfredo Simon . Chapman in 2 years. Yes 4 Reds starters entering FA next year.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 04:40 PM) I was working some crap jobs over the past few years (in my teens and early 20's) but now that I have a steady job, it makes it much easier to pay for the Extra Innings package, plus I can catch many more of the games. I'm honestly amazed at how many Sox fans on this board are in California. Pretty cool to see (also explains the attendance issue at the cell ) All you have to do is go to a Sox game in Anaheim to see a ton of Sox fans out here.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 04:27 PM) Thanks for the info guys. Been tough the past few years trying to keep up with the Sox since I wasn't able to catch many games with my work schedule. Should be much easier from now on, though. Being a Sox fan in SoCal just means DirecTV is a must . If getting the MLB package on DirecTV is too expensive you can always add a less expensive sports package that includes CSN Chicago for the Chicago sports news every night. There's also plenty of places online like the Sox website, CSN Chicago's website and numerous Sox blogs that offer better coverage than say ESPN Chicago or Yahoo or CBS Chicago sports versions.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 04:12 PM) My question is: Is Semien really that valuable? Keep seeing he could be the "center piece" to a deal and I'm sitting over here wondering if I missed something or what... Also just to clarify, Montas is the guy the Sox just got for... Dunn? Isn't he projected more as a late inning guy and not a starter? Semien was MVP of the Southern League when he was in Birmingham posting a .420 OBP and solid batting average and power numbers. His early season trial with the Sox didn't go well but he had a handful of game winning late inning hits. He got more seasoning in AAA and when called up in September looked much better. Defense is still a question mark in some's eyes since his error total was not optimal at 3rd or 2nd base. He got time in the OF in AAA but not on his recall and I get the general feeling that the OF might be his future but would've liked to have seen him out there in September but he was never put out there. Avi, Montas and Rondon (low minors defensive whiz of a SS ) came in the Peavy deal.

Wouldn't we all be shocked (understatement) if Hahn emptied the farm of major pieces and we end up with Shark, Upton and Gattis.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Nov 29, 2014 -> 06:27 AM) No one's going to want Semien, at least not in any meaningful way. He does not have much value right now. Did you just miss that Oakland just traded a guy who was 3rd in MVP voting in 2013 and 8th in 2014 for an injury prone but younger 3rd baseman , 8th and 6th round minor league pitchers and an 18 yr old SS ? Semien has the potential to be exactly what Oakland always wants. Southern League MVP a few years ago with a .420 OBP and 15-20HR power potential. Showed an ability to hit when the pressure was on and showed a lot of improvement in his 2nd call up and years of control. Frankly ,I'd hate to see him go but Oakland is looking for a 2nd baseman but I can also envision him as an every day OF.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 10:29 PM) Any idea of what they are going to give up? Seems a bit risky w/ a 1 year rental. He'd be a trade candidate with the Sox too if he decides to test FA or draft pick if Sox offered him a QO upon keeping him the whole year. A rental pitcher isn't a terrible idea since Rodon and others are moving up.

QUOTE (JDsDirtySox @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 09:36 PM) I just got a text from someone I trust that says Samardjiza to the Sox is about to happen. Interesting . Hmmm guess on who's sent back ? Alexei ? Semien ? Noesi ? Viciedo pls.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 07:06 PM) Melky Cabrera @TheMelkman53 · 9h 9 hours ago I want everyone to know that I am a baseball player and it doesn't matter to me what surface I play on. I will be the best player I can be. Ha, guess he is disputing what Olney said about him. My bad for assuming Olney knew this to be true.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 07:58 AM) https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/538287338066305024 At least now with Melky saying this it doesn't leave Rasmus alone on an island when he spoke of not wanting to return to that kind of surface.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 22, 2014 -> 11:50 AM) Just typical Bruce Levine is all. All he does is regurgitate what already been written because, for some outlandish reason, people still read his garbage. Even bathroom stalls have the latest rumors written on them before Levine writes about them. Hmmmm, maybe that's where Levine gets his ideas from, s***ty ideas from the s***ter, who knew? An imbicile you are, Levine! Never misspell things when you are calling someone an IMBECILE

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 28, 2014 -> 12:26 AM) He had 2 really solid years, a handful of average years, and 1 really bad year. The dip in velocity certainly is concerning though. 3 MPH is a big drop off which means he either is hurt, or he changed his mechanics and lost speed, and maybe it's something he can change back to. It would be much easier to hate him if he had been losing 0.5-1.0 MPH each season for the past few years. The sudden big drop is confusing. It was a mechanics caused by injury thing: From Paul Hoyne , Northeast Ohio Media Group. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________ In September of 2013, with the Indians driving toward a wild-card appearance, Masterson strained his left oblique muscle. He came back at the end of September and pitched out of the bullpen. In spring training this year Masterson's ribcage area was still tender, but he never told the Indians. He was the opening day starter, leader of the staff and trying to get a contract extension. Randy Rowley, Masterson's agent, said the injury caused a change in his mechanics, which led to soreness in his right knee. Masterson didn't talk to the media about his sore knee until late June. When he did, he said he'd been dealing with it since his second start of the season. In September, after the trade to St. Louis, Masterson had an MRI on his right shoulder and it showed an impingement. The Cardinals gave him a cortisone shot. Rowley said Masterson is finally healthy. If he is and he can pitch back to his 2014 form, the team that signs him will get a 30-year-old proven starter who until last season had pitched 180 or more innings in four straight seasons. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________ I am usually suspicious of injury stories after the fact because , much like a lawyer, an agent trys to limit the perceived damage and spin it in a way that puts his client in a better light. "It was just a series of bad decisions guys based on how much I care about you all. It had nothing to do with I was headed towards free agency and had turned down a 3/$45M offer and was seeking $17M per year." Naive and team oriented is a lot better than greedy. All that being said, he might be the ideal candidate for a 1 year contract to re-establish value and re-enter free agency But he will not likely come cheap with so many teams inquiring on him. Expect somewhere around $10M for him.

QUOTE (Jake @ Nov 27, 2014 -> 09:13 PM) This is a 2-pitch pitcher who lost 3 mph on his main pitch last year, all while pitching like s***. There are a bunch of pitchers I'd like to try before him. Preach it brother.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 26, 2014 -> 02:13 PM) Given that price tag, the Sox either feel they have their money committed elsewhere more appropriately right now or they really did not like what they saw from Tomas. That is a seemingly incredibly reasonable price tag. Oh I don't know about that. Just imagine giving Tank that kind of contract.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 26, 2014 -> 09:18 AM) Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 9m9 minutes ago Jon Garland, Geoff Blum and Tadahito Iguchi have been added to the list of 2005 World Series champion team member attending SoxFest, '15 Lest we forget Iguchi's 3 run bomb in the 2005 playoffs against Boston http://m.mlb.com/cws/video/v36935789/2005-...tadahito+iguchi or his wild 2 HR 7 RBI in the 8th and 9th against Houston in 2006 ( solly no video ). He continued to play in Japan, even last year. Here's a video of a walk off grany. The full AB and the crowd singing and chanting the entire AB just amazes me. All this info courtesy of SSS http://www.southsidesox.com/2014/11/27/729...tadahito-iguchi