CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Blackout Friday @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 08:53 PM) Ban me if you want, but this one-upping culture taking place I this site is disgraceful I will go back to SSS. It isn't perfect, but better than this nonsense. I prefer here because everyone argues with everyone . AT SSS they gang up on you like a pack of wolves . AT least here its usually one on one, there its like you against the whole army of Margulus worshippers.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 08:34 PM) It really shows what the weaknesses of the WAR stat are. Yea I was sort of driving at that but I guess I am not supposed to compare a 1st baseman to a catcher or OF or IF just to other 1st basemen. The problem is it does nothing to show a players value to his team . Maybe I am just the dummy who looks at it and says how can anyone say Avila is better than Abreu or more valuable of a player. Abreu means 10X what Avila does for the Sox . If you say 1 WAR is worth $7/8 million than isn't Avila worth more than Abreu here ?

3 pages of Soxtalkers arguing with each other over a nobody traded for a lesser nobody, New low even for a message board .

Something is better than nothing.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 01:51 PM) That may be a clue as to if they are "going for it" in 2017. I don't think it's an indication of much. They shouldn't start his clock. Robertson should be moved regardless of the plan for 2017 before his save % takes a really big nosedive. Same argument I had for Alexei's rebound year. Not getting any younger and still with enough value to get something in return. Don't wait til they are valueless. I am not for a total rebuild but moving valuable assets to get younger and create more payroll room should be considered for the over or nearing 30 years old assets.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 03:03 PM) And one Timmah. Good on Eaton but boy oh boy what a bunch of slop behind him. Once again the Sox would have been better simply keeping their younger options like Thompson (and Sally as full timer at 2B/SS) than bringing in guys like Jackson, Frazier and Lawrie. (obviously it's more complicated then that but the MLB scouting of this franchise is brutal, especially in assessing other teams' talent relative to their own.) Eaton: 4.7 Anderson: 1.4 Frazier: .9 Lawrie: .9 Melky: .9 Avila: .7 Sally: .7 Abreu (ugh): .4 Coats: .2 Narvaez: .1 everybody else is negative or at zero. Same story new year: pitching is good enough to make the playoffs, even with a s***ty pen and bad back of the rotation but the position player contributions are not even close to up to par. It's just weird to me seeing Saladino higher than Abreu. What does that even mean ? Abreu couldn't possibly be costing the Sox more with his glove than he contributes with his bat. Even Coats in his very limited playing time gets a .2 > I know 1st base isn't a position that can generate a lot of defensive WAR but even in a down hitting year which is improving rapidly Abreu still generates more run production than Eaton though he may not be more valuable to the team. I think b/f WAR overvalues walks and defense I am a huge believer that the Sox need more OBP guys and was a huge proponent of getting better defensive players but when Avila gets a .7 and Abreu just a .4 something is amiss somewhere. A guy like Heyward gets a huge contract and one bad offensive year makes it look like a joke he ever got that kind of contract.

Might be more eyes on Soxtalk watching Alec Hansens 1st start at Kanny than watching Sale against the Mariners. If Hansens start was televised I know there'd be more.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 03:04 PM) I don't get the sense that Zack Burdi is coming up in September, but that's purely my feeling https://twitter.com/scottmerkin/status/768928223593959424 Hahn said Burdi is doing everything being asked of him and then some https://twitter.com/scottmerkin/status/768928303835000834 Hahn pointed out that they wanted Burdi to work on some things out of the stretch. Only problem--he doesn't put anybody on base. https://twitter.com/scottmerkin/status/768928437532667904 Sox might not want to start his clock but knowing if they have a potential replacement for Robertson also would help. Thoughts on seeing Burdi called up ?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 12:52 PM) MiLB scoreboard Charlotte 6:05ct Loe (half game lead in first place) Birmingham 7:05ct Lowry (Barons have lost 11 games in a row, 14 of 15) Winston-Salem 6:00ct Thompson Kannapolis 6:05ct Hansen (Class A debut, also BA will have seven (!!) of their writers there, so watch Twitter) Great Falls 8:05ct Ledo (2 game lead in first place, Ledo debut in PIO) AZL 9:00ct TBA Would love to see Hansen do well. Where there not any games in our system on the 25th ?

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 10:23 AM) If he had some good Latin influences like Abreu and Melky to set him straight, I don't see any reason why Puig couldn't thrive in Chicago. Most of the time to improve your character as an individual that has to come from within.Role models help of course but you have to want to change. Role models appear to be a big influence in playing the game also. I was just reading that Adrian Gonzales used to play a game with Puig to see who could get on base most during a game. This kind of thing fires up the competitive nature in athletes. Maybe it was a bet or whatever I don't know but Puig became a much more disciplined hitter laying off a lot of pitches at which he used to swing . I'd love the Sox to have a leader in this type of game. Give little rewards for best OBP per game or contribute to a jackpot for the end of the season .

Guys I'd like the Sox to explore trading, Robertson, Frazier, Lawrie, Melky even Abreu and Quintana. Target some OBP types maybe Freddie Freeman, DJ LeMahieu, Josh Reddick, Dexter Fowler Starling Marte, Wilson Ramos, Ian Desmond. .Need some bullpen arms . Guys I'd like to see get a chance next year, Matt Davidson and Burdi. Ramos and LeMahieu are guys who took huge leaps this year . Wish Avi could make that kind of leap but there are signs he is improving his eye at the plate swinging at less junk than he did before. Many times what separates contenders from pretenders is guys taking large leaps forward, rookies, int'l FA's or hitting the jackpot on semi dumpster diving. Guys like Desmond, Napoli, Jose Ramirez, Daniel Murphy,Tyler Naquin, Kang,Jake Lamb, Trevor Story, Ramos and LeMahieu .The Sox just haven't hit that lottery at all. Everyone they seem to acquire is a total disaster and haven't tried a veteran import in a while. Anderson and Morneau have been good but Morneau was too little too late and he arrived when all the injuries started piling up.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 11:30 AM) Yes, there is something really bad there or he wouldn't be in AAA. I think it's more of he needed to be shown he wasn't above the team. The "where there's smoke there's fire" theory can't be ignored but it's not as bad as all that. The Dodgers can sit on him all they want since he's under contract and they can afford to "teach him a lesson". As long as the Dodgers are in a playoff position they have time to let Reddick adjust and let Puig show he can live without being a huge annoyance. Winning without Kershaw or Puig has allowed the Dodgers to be patient with the whole Puig situation. The Oakland A's of the 70's and the Yankees with Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson blow ups are things that at least to me are similar.. Not sure how bad you think really bad is. Big ego ,yes, drugs or domestic violence extremely doubtful. When you have a huge consistent talent like Kershaw supposedly saying the Dodgers should get rid of him you defer to Kershaw. Putting him in the minors and not planning a September call up is getting rid of him more or less.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 20, 2016 -> 02:08 PM) Gomez expected to sign with the Rangers. 1st AB resulted in a 3 run HR yesterday.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 10:19 AM) That is what scares me. LOL well if he wasn't a headache he wouldn't be available. He's a bit of a prima donna but he hasn't done anything disasterous. The whole thing about him shoving his sister in a bar brawl was investigated by MLB and they found nothing. There are always rifts and tensions between team mates. The majority of them just aren't known unless it results in an injury like the Butler/Valencia thing. Yes there are other concerns too. He achieved too much too soon and he wasn't ready for it. Always seemed to be uncoachable missing cutoff men showing off his arm , poor base running going through stop signs things like that. His nickname is Wild Horse and he never appeared to want to be saddled. But there is a learning curve for guys like that. It's just never been fast enough nor did it ever appear he wanted to change. You just hope he's been humbled somewhat and is ready to start fresh.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 10:23 AM) If he had some good Latin influences like Abreu and Melky to set him straight, I don't see any reason why Puig couldn't thrive in Chicago. That's why I also mentioned Renteria . A Spanish speaking manager could help too.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 10:09 AM) He wouldn't even have to get back to his rookie year to benefit the Sox a lot. If he got into the .800 to .850 OPS range, that would be a huge shot in the arm for this team over what we have seen this year. That's what I'm saying . You shouldn't be torn at all. The hitting , the fielding, the arm, the excitement level in L.A. and across the nation was huge when he was at his best. One move like that and it changes the whole outlook on what direction to move in the off season.All he has to do is mature a little bit. Right now he is thriving in the non pressure cooker that is the minors.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 10:03 AM) Puig for Shields + Padres cash. This is what I would attempt. That might have worked at the trade deadline when Shields was in the middle of a decent run of pitching . Not sure the Sox would ve done it since they had only recently acquired him but it appears that chance is over even with the Padres cash included. Now I'm pretty sure the Sox would do that in a heartbeat but the Dodgers would probably laugh .

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 26, 2016 -> 09:54 AM) I am torn. He could be a guy who in a place like the Sox could thrive, or he could crater. He won't have the media eye on him like he does in LA, and the atmosphere is a little more friendly and protective of the players. Of course that could backfire too. Honestly, if the Dodgers were really giving him away, i would take a chance on him. His deal really isn't that big, and the upside is worth the bet. He doesn't have long left on his deal anyway. Latest reports are that Puig isn't even likely to get a September call up even though Reddick has been terrible with them so far. Puig is also reportedly being a model citizen in the minors. Could just be BS to boost his price but he is destroying AAA pitching. Also reports of trying to give him away are kind of exaggerated. If a guy like Puig can rebound to near MVP level imagine the boon it could be for the Sox. Those opportunities to acquire young talent at semi discounted prices do not come along very often. It makes me wonder exactly what the Dodgers want for him.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 11:19 AM) Sox listed as an option here: http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2016/8/24/1262...-sox-bees-pants I'm all for an acquisition of Puig. Desparate times call for yadda yadda. Normally I'm a bit leery of NL hitters but not Puig. The talent is so huge and the price supposedly so low there should be serious consideration given to acquiring him. A guy like Renteria might be a good manager for him.

It sucks Davidson got hurt. He is the forgotten man as far as prospects go. He had a great spring training and was following it up with decent stats in the minors. Sure would've been nice to see if he had turned a corner in his approach. He might be a power source that was not expected a year ago. If he can show some consistency and produce in the majors and along with the great draft of 2016 things would certainly be looking up.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 08:44 PM) I don't know what "sup" means. I've seen ISU athletes in basketball tear their meniscus. One player went down the championship season in the Big Sky at New Mexico State in mid-November. By the start of conference play in early January they were back in the starting lineup and played the rest of the season. Mark It's short or slang for "what's up " as in Sup dude ?

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 09:43 PM) Cali: Thanks for the kind wishes. With respect I prefer the Beatles "Birthday" Mark No problem. The Beatles song is just too cliche so I figured I'd give you an alternative.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 08:39 PM) Nice to see the Sox give me a present on my birthday! 12th game this year the Sox have won when trailing in the 7th inning or later. Mark Happy Birthday Lippermaniac . Listen to the Altered Images song or view it on youtube called Happy Birthday.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 09:01 PM) Nice comeback win. Come Back and Walk Off, sounds like a song title. Maybe I'll write one. Exciting win.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 25, 2016 -> 08:02 PM) He wasn't drafted at all, UDFA signing. I agree his numbers are quite good especially for that league, even for a 22-year old. But I honestly know nothing about his stuff, and have never even see video of him pitching. His numbers at Montevallo (D-III school) weren't anything special, FWIW. Can't find a single bit of scouting info on him via Google. Next time I'm talking with my local contact in Great Falls I'll ask. Thanks. Just going by his numbers I'd say he's got good command of his pitches while not having great stuff. Probably lives on the corners and knows what he's doing on the mound. That will play in lower levels . Hope one of his pitches is a change up. Just guessing if he doesn't have the stuff lack of speed differences on pitches will eventually catch up to him. Again that's total speculation on my part.