CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Tony @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 07:43 AM) The idea on paper makes sense. But who are these players? Most agree that 2020 is when the Sox will be ready to truly compete. That's another two seasons. If you are signing a bigger name FA who you think you may be getting on a discount, you're not signing them to produce in the 2018 and 2019 season. It's for 2020 and beyond. So what players out there right now are you paying that you feel comfortable about them producing at a high level in 2020, 2021 and beyond? Again, I understand your point and I think it has some merit, but who are the specific players that fit that bill? The problem is always finding the perfect fit and I am fully aware that there is no perfect free agents out there but will there ever be? Yes might be better to wait but if there ends up being too many holes to fill then what? What if you swing and miss on all your future targets? I think you have to hedge your bets somewhat by signing guys who may not be "perfect fits" to attract future guys who are better fits but want to play on a winning team.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 13, 2018 -> 07:33 AM) Not disagreeing but who would you be ok with the team signing? For me personally, the only guy out there who makes a little sense is basically a DH and he only makes sense since he doesn't have a draft pick attached to him. I already said I don't know who would benefit the Sox the most and also mentioned a starting pitcher. Arrieta is trending down , Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn, Andrew Cashner ? I love JD Martinez the guy hit 29 HR's in only 62 games with the D'backs and had a .714 Slg. % which is just crazy.. l know even at this point the best FA's still won't be cheap especially since Boras is the agent for many of the good ones still out there. I don't think the Sox have much of a chance at Machado and Donaldson will be too old. Arenado is a free agent in 2019 but he agreed to terms with the Rockies before so it could happen again so Moustaskas might not be a bad idea. Filling 3rd base will probably be hardest for the Sox and he is left handed and among the younger free agents . So a starting pitcher, and some middle of the order bats, one lefty one righty, and one who fills 2 glaring holes ( LH power and 3rd base). More quality BP arms wouldn't hurt either but that yacht seems to have saled early. Fill some holes now and some later . that's really how it should be. The chances of anyone besides the top prospects becoming an All Star are pretty slim . Sure guys like Yolmer , Leury , Delmonico and and the outfielder bunch may prove useful players but you really need some All Stars in the line up to be competitive.

Some concerns that haven't been addressed. If the Sox do spend next off season because of the amount of quality free agents on the market shouldn't they be taking advantage of the market now while it's cold and prices are down? I don't know who might benefit the Sox the most at this time but free agents next year will want 2 things, money and to be on a winning team. Should n't the Sox do something to make the team more competitive to next years crop of free agents ? Shields should be off the books next year so might another starting pitcher benefit them ? Relying only on young starting pitching even if the target date is 2020 is risky business, Also if the target date is truly 2020 isn't it also risky business to expect next years good crop of FA's to wait a year or even possibly longer to be on a winning team? The Phillies might be thinking along those lines with the signing of Santana and still are rumored to have interest in a starting pitcher. The Sox might end up with too many holes to fill when they actually do decide to spend and the competition for the top free agents will be fierce so being a competitive team would surely work in their favor just as being a few years away will work against them. Other concerns for the rebuild is what happens if JR dies suddenly or the players strike after the 2021 season which would be right in the middle of the supposed window of competitiveness if all goes right ? Obviously the 1st concern is the most pressing but these other 2 things could easily happen and in the event of JR's sudden death how does the rebuild survive ? We should all remember 1994 when Frank Thomas was having a career year and the players strike possibly robbed the Sox of competing for a World title.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 5, 2018 -> 07:36 AM) JT sounded muffled for a good portion of the performance too I thought that too. Thought they were de emphasizing his voice and too much emphasis on music, show/lighting /crowd/dancers. Then again maybe I just didn't really want to hear him.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 5, 2018 -> 07:00 AM) I was really glad Pederson coached that so aggressively and won. He needed every one of those extra points other coaches would have lost for the sake of "Staying in the game". Against a team like the patriots you have to maximize your scoring drives and try to do whatever possible to get ahead of their last drive. So much of the armchair coaching on important plays is result plays. Pass falls incomplete? "Shoulda run"! Run stopped short. "Shoulda passed!". But nothing more than "take the points!" and field position homers scream if a sound decision to go for it ends up not coming through. Had he called that aggressively and lost each one, woulda been real bad for a while. The only call I truly questioned was after they missed the first PAT they went for 2 on the 2nd touchdown.At the time the 2 would've gave them an 11 pt lead. An extra point make it 10 which I thought was a better choice. They went for the 2 missed and had a 9 pt lead. Just thought 10 pts could have prevented a 1 pt loss . It almost did cost them when the Pats came back for the 1 pt lead.No one on the telecast mentioned it when it happened or when the Pats took the lead.

QUOTE (Username @ Feb 2, 2018 -> 10:19 PM) Would love to see a 2 year deal for Morrison (depending on money). If his breakout is for real (his dramatically increased FB% suggests it was) he’s got a ton of trade value, and would provide lefty pop that’s sorely missed. Market is so saturated that I don’t see how the money could be particularly high. Just a hunch but I'm thinking Royals sign him.

So is this where the Pat's throw a bomb and get a PI penalty ?

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Feb 4, 2018 -> 07:08 PM) Ugh I feel like Eagles are making a mistake here trying to wind down the clock rather then making SOME attempt for a 1st down. A field goal still gives Brady a chance to tie. A 1st down ends it. Crap that's the only thing that could ruin the spread win for me, tie game then a NE TD in OT for a 6 pt win nooo don't even think it.

No matter if Brady does his Brady thing . Eagles still beat the spread so I'm good. Wait turnover ? Eagles ball !

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 4, 2018 -> 06:59 PM) Can this one be overturned ? He ran with the ball 5 yards before he passed the goal line . As I thought TD !

Can this one be overturned ? He ran with the ball 5 yards before he passed the goal line .

Have the Pat's had a single penalty called on them yet ?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 4, 2018 -> 06:03 PM) Based on all the calls this season that wasn't a catch. I think it was an obvious catch. I do too. He had the ball just adjusted his grip on it not because it was coming loose .

Ok Ill be that guy , that old rock and roller who has really enjoyed halftimes of the past but JT has always seemed to be more style than substance.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Feb 4, 2018 -> 12:47 PM) Obviously rooting for then Eagles (despite being a Cowboys fan), because I'm A GOD DAMN AMERICAN. But above all, I'm rooting for my squares. Eevn the squares gotta be exciting with all the missed conversions.

Very entertaining SB . Lots of big plays , missed conversions and gimmick plays.

Oh yea Alshon then TD !

Nice grab Alshon !

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 25, 2018 -> 08:03 AM) I know this team is missing the grit of Marian Hossa, but they just look like they aren't playing as hard this year. They are more sloppy and less grindy than they have been in the past. I don't know what the cause of it is, but they don't really like getting dirty anymore. Not only that but Saad, Anisimov and Towes are't scoring any goals at all in the last 10-11 games. That's a lot of periods for those 3 not to be scoring.And they are sloppier than hell turning the puck over constantly. At least Schmaltz, DeBrincat and Hinestoza have picked up some of the slack. And defense has to be near the bottom in goal scoring per team. That's a big thing . A few goals from the D could open up the wingers more.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 3, 2018 -> 02:44 PM) I will root against the Patriots and I will again be disappointed. Rooting for the Eagles outright but definitely against the spread.

QUOTE (GermanSock @ Jan 29, 2018 -> 12:58 AM) It doesn't work for every guy of course but I think it is no coincidence that we see more late breakout players and almost all of them have gotten input from sources outside the game. Here is s list of guys of that mold -justin Turner -daniel Murphy -josh Donaldson -chris Taylor -aaron judge (he recently credited a guy I know from the internet for his success - the the dude is a giant asshole who insults anyone and got banned from about every forum but apparently he worked with judge, kingery and ian happ who all had great years) Sure it is no guarantee that it works, but conventional hitting coaching basically has a play it save and don't ruin the top guys philosophy. Now that's a guy who Avi needs to talk to or his hitting coach. The guy had 1 career HR before he fixed his swing to get more loft.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 2, 2018 -> 12:16 PM) Collins is also younger. Some similar stats this year though. Collins at High A: 130 wRC+, .367 wOBA Collins at AA: 166 wRC+, .414 wOBA 19 homers Zavala at A: 139 wRC+, .376 wOBA Zavala at High A: 145 wRC+, .387 wOBA 21 homers It will be interesting to see them both at Birmingham together. That may be the most interesting thing of the MiLB season watching Collins and Zavala play. One of them is going to be the future Sox catcher and I have no idea who.

QUOTE (wrathofhahn @ Jan 31, 2018 -> 11:33 AM) We need to stop pretending that these things don't happen they do. It's uncommon but it happens. I named five players in my other post who had magical Avi like seasons. Then completely fell off a cliff. Thats not to say I don't think it has to happen in Avi case because the talent is there but he can't build off last season. He needs to work getting under the ball and driving it. He needs to be more selective at the plate. If he wants to have a really good season again. If he wants to hit with a .750 ish OPS he can do what he's already doing and if a couple things go right instead of everything like last year he can have an ok year. Prior to last year he had an BABIP of somewhere around .320. To give you some perspective of the difference BABIP makes had his BABIP been his normal averages after crunching the numbers he'd be batting .253 last season which would have dropped his OPS 77 points. All these arguments were going on when Avi sucked and everyone thought and wanted him to be non tendered only now he has a few more supporters because hitters constantly break out and hitters also fall off a cliff after supposedly breaking out, Avi did what he had to do in order to break out. He put in the work. He will stay in shape and we will see how he plays. One thing we know for sure. no one can predict the future no matter what the stats or the eye test tells us. but some of us will be right and claiming victory and I'd much rather be right or wrong predicting success rather than failure.

QUOTE (zisk @ Jan 31, 2018 -> 09:39 AM) I was 15 in 1977 and to this day, it was the best season of baseball in my life. 1972 and 2005 tie for second. After watching Deron Johnson,Bill Melton,Jorge Orta and Jim Spencer take turns hitting clean up for 2 years, "The SS Hit Men" were just what we needed. I was a few years older and you are right . The Souyh Side Hit Men was a really fun time in Sox history and Gamble and ZisK were at the core of it. RIP OG. For those of you too young to know here's an article https://www.thenationalpastimemuseum.com/ar...uth-side-hitmen