CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Flowers is the plant . I am Groot !

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 07:30 PM) FWIW, my final score prediction was 10-8 Boston. Unless either team explodes for a huge inning, I'd be close. Not close unless you get the winning team right and you had better not

More runs White Sox !

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 07:15 PM) A lot of bullpens are nails in this run-scoring environment. I find ours to be fairly middling. Good at home bad on the road.

Thank you Mr. Umpire

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 07:04 PM) Who was the poster who went on and on about acquiring Brock Holt and Daniel Nava the last couple of seasons? Me for Holt but never Nava.

Time for someone to hit a HR this inning.

D-D-D-Dirty

That looked like a Conor throw.

Probably will get LaRoche in there now

We ARE Rocking !!!

Let Us Rock !

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:36 PM) I'm so happy to see Rodon and Sanchez out there leading the charge today. If the Sox are going to have a sustained run of success it would behoove them to find another good starter and a solid starting 2B -- looks like that could happen. Sanchez has almost battled back to replacement level after that brutal start. I still think he's a 1 to 2.5 WAR player long term and IMO they need to bring Micah up, let him DH, and try and apprentice Sanchez the best he can while getting a start once a week at 2B. As for Rodon, obvious he didn't have close to his best stuff but what he did have was decent command on all three of his pitches. Hey, you don't have to throw 97, it helps, but you can certainly be effective without it, especially as a lefty. Hell, look no further than Q. _____________________ Exciting times and that's all you can ask for as a fan. Season is still a disapointment to this point and probably will be in the end -- but at least they are showing some signs. Avi and Laroche are problems but at least they only have 2 holes instead of 4-5 currently. Avi you let get his 600 PA and then another 600 next year and see what happens but Laroche needs to be benched. The Sox never admit sunk costs tho. Another arm chair GM suggestion is to bring up Thompson and let him split time in RF with Avi, where Avi gets to DH some and Laroche is moved to the bench. Jose seems to be playing a decent 1B anyways. I'm on board with the sunk costs and Avi things you said. Carrying dead weight in sunk costs like LaRoche and trotting him out there every day against all pitching is a huge problem especially in the middle of the order. That hole/roster spot has to be filled with a good player not some stiff because management made a big mistake. They only compound it be playing him to get their money's worth from him when a competitive team will likely create revenue they won't get playing the high salaried stiff. Unfortunately wanting a winning team with Avi trying to figure things out is also a problem . As much as he need's AB's his play hurts the team almost as much as LaRoche but he needs to figure out things fast . If he can't he won't be a part of a winning team here.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 07:05 PM) No one will want him. He has ~0 trade value. He's in the same position as Viciedo last year, a guy you could get on the waiver wire who has shown nothing in the big leagues and is about to get more expensive. We can pretend he has trade value but he doesn't. If you're rebuilding, he's the kind of guy you claim if your coaches like him. You play them & see what happens because the worst thing that happens is you lose games. If we want to compete next year, barring a major change in his style of play over the last 2 months of 2015, he can't be the starting RF. Hell, if we want to make a legit WC run, either him or LaRoche, take your pick which one you want to bench. I'm going to "pretend" he has value . If Avi was in the minor league putting up a .325average , with his speed and arm and power potential he'd be considered to have 4 of the 5 tools , defense being his only weakness . He'd probably be a top 100 prospect , maybe top 50, the kind of guy most teams are hoarding now. But because he hasn't quite figured it out yet at the advanced age of 23 in the majors he has no trade value ? Yes I will admit he has no value to a competing team but a high level talent is still worth a premium until he's at an age where it's apparent he will never figure it out. He isn't even close to that point yet.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 04:24 PM) Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 2h2 hours ago #WhiteSox defense still ranks 28th in Defensive Runs Saved but they've reduced their total from minus-43 to minus-31 before today. That's what I've been saying since it was clear the team with Sanchez was playing much better defensively and even more so now with Saladino. Extra bonus points for both hitting well too .

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:16 PM) How about this. If you really think this team is in it this year, why not use Micah as your top trade chip? Sanchez seems like he might be able to actually hold down 2b and be strong defensively, which would leave Micah without a position anyway. Micah could potentially bring back a strong return that could fill a position for a full year, and you'd almost certainly find a better hitter than what Micah would be coming up as a rookie. I've actually proposed Micah as trade bait already . Between all these threads about trades and players, it's out there somewhere. Edit : Post 35, "Teams in front of us in the Wild Card" thread.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 08:37 AM) 2 outfielders and a pitcher..... ok. many thanks on this update. Hmm, I've been talking about Pompey for a week . Still see a lot of potential for more than just Samardzija to the Jays. Could be a blockbuster.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:01 PM) The solution is we teach Micah to catch. No arm

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 01:50 PM) So you think Micah has all star potential, needs to work on his D, but you're willing to sacrifice a month of work on his D in game situations. See the problem? Winter League no problem.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 01:28 PM) With Micah's biggest problem being "defense" it does seem like having him "play DH for 2 months" could lead to a real developmental setback for him. Blah please. You can play baseball all year round in winters leagues . You can practice defense while DHing too. If you want to get better get reps all year round or you end up a permanent DH , traded or a guy who never finds a spot because of it and his weak arm. I think Micah still has star potential but only if his D can improve a lot and it won't ever be as good as Sanchez' because of his arm.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 01:20 PM) Who would you give his PAs to? That's what trades and free agents and Micah Johnson are for. Doesn't have to be anyone on the roster now necessarily. Could be Avi or Soto. A lot depends on who the Sox move in the off season Adam Lind would be nice. There's a lot of possibilites . I mentioned Chris Colabello he's 31 having a good year with the Blue Jays . Make the Shark trade to them a blockbuster if they're willing . Trade to get a good defensive OF like Dalton Pompey and Colabello .Offer up Avi ,Shark , Petricka, Putnam, Trayce Thompson ( not all of them just whatever it takes to get the deal done ) If Avi was in the minors now I'm sure his hitting stats would dwarf Pompey's . And Pompey's defense could run circles around Avi's. They're only 1 year apart in age. The system needs good glove OF's who could be a potential replacement for Melky when his contract is up. Maybe could buy low on Pentecost (catcher) considering his shoulder has had 2 surgeries on it. I see a lot of potential between the Sox and Blue Jays consummating a deal.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 12:40 PM) Well he's been quite a solid run producer for the last several years. I'm seeing the same thing as you, and I'd cut bait if there was any kind of upside to doing so. But there just isn't. There is no real alternative. There is no significant salary relief to be had. We need to put him in the best position to succeed and get him out of this funk. The alternative is you get what little salary relief you can or just bite the bullet . At least then you have an open roster spot and a chance to upgrade the lineup. He's been bad against lefties for years . If the Sox are serious about contending they don't have space for a 1st baseman who can't provide anything except an occasional HR and defense at a position that is not of importance.

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 12:32 PM) Oh I'm not expecting a great return. I'm hoping for a trade with LA or TOR. We can't expect a great return on a rental. What I'm hoping is we hold onto Shark and pressure is on late. Shark won't be traded one for whatever . If he goes to the Jays he'll be sent there with a RP or maybe even an exchange of minor leaguers too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 12:29 PM) It would be nice to free up some of his contract for next year What do we have to gain ? Even bouncing back means Robin continues playing him against lefties when he shouldn't. He won't walk anymore because he can't hit anything now. He's late on everything . When he pulls it it's into a shift. Only thing that might help slightly is a HR once a week and I can't see that kind of bounce back coming.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 12:14 PM) No chance anyone takes on that contract Something can be worked out with any team that wants him. Can't keep him under any circumstances.