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QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 09:43 AM) Therein lies the problem. Those are incremental improvements, at best. With Collabello, he was red hot for the Twins a year or two and completely disappeared. With the Blue Jays' line-up, he has a lot more protection around him, in the sense that he's one of those 2-3 guys a starter won't worry about, then, boom, he ends up hurting you because they don't walk to walk him and put him on base for some of the big boppers. Pompey would be fine, but then that diminishes your power even more in the outfield, giving you two guys in Eaton and Pompey that in most years would be expected to combine for 12-15 homers. Unless his defense is Gold Glove caliber, like a Juan Lagares, it's not going to work. And I'm not sure that they can trade LaRoche without taking a big hit in terms of eating part of the financial commitment for 2016 and Avi's value is pretty much at Viciedo mid 2013 level. They pretty much have to ride it out the rest of this season with him and wait for another two months to make a determination for next year unless they plan to shock the world by going after Heyward, Gordon or Cespedes. You have to remember we are losing Shark we need talent for depth purposes. We HAVE TO get something of value and he is a valuable defensive OF who may hit or develop power later or may not but he has talent . Everyone around here loves young talent but talks about them like they are finished products already like you citing his flaws . Well guess what, LaRoche has huge flaws, Avi has huge flaws, Shark has a huge flaw in that he won't be on the Sox next year unless they want to pay him a ton of money . The Sox front office has flaws if they cannot rid themselves of their costly mistakes. Hell they couldn't even find it in them to dump Beckham or Bonifacio because they make more than Conor even though Conor was basically the only viable option on the team who could take AB's away from LaRoche but big surprise , flawed management always plays him even against lefties.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 08:40 AM) That's all fine and good, but that was before 2005. Most intelligent White Sox fans realize that desperation to get back into a one-game playoff isn't as important as preserving the viability of competing over that 3-5 year window we keep hearing about. Doing better this year and in the future "window" are not mutually exclusive . Both can be accomplished at the same time . Face it LaRoche flopped big time. The Sox would've been better off with that other French guy Jeff Francouer at DH or RF . At least he can field and has a hell of an arm. Do we really have to see him next year so we are reminded of Adam Dunn constantly who the Sox never benched or got rid of until it was too late? So right now Hahn and company cannot be married to LaRoche or Avi. The best way to improve is admit the mistakes you made by dumping them asap if it's likely their level of production is holding down the team in that window. Even if I believe Avi will be a very good hitter one day right now or next year he might not be . He doesn't take walks and doesn't field his position well. When a guy like Francouer can make you look bad things have to be re-evaluated.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 08:37 AM) Would anyone be happy if we traded Tim Anderson and Montas for Justin Upton, for example? Sure, we can upgrade one position offensively, but even someone like Upton is going to force Avi to the bench...and he's never played in the AL, so you'll have the inevitable league adjustment, and then you'll end up losing him as a free agent. If they're going to add a bat, he better already be familiar with AL Central pitching, or it's pointless. The fact of the matter is that a compensation pick has about a 10% chance of helping us 3-5 years from now. On the other hand, Hahn can't just sit there patiently waiting for something to happen in terms of improving the line-up ("this compensation pick is part of our new and improved five year plan") or he'll be out of a job before Ventura. Let's just say Hahn wants a young player to plug into the lineup right away this year to plug either the DH, C or RF hole. That means besides Shark the Sox could move any relief pitcher except Robertson , Adam LaRoche, Avisail Garcia, Micah Johnson, Montas, Anderson , Soto, Flowers , etc just don't include Saladino, Sanchez, Alexei , Abreu, Eaton and Melky . Defensively not a bad INF currently hitting well .. So say the Sox target Dalton Pompey of the Blue Jays a toolsy OF no power , very good defense but pretty young at 22 ,or 31 yr old Chris Colabello who can play 1st base and OF though probably not a good OF but hitting very good this year . BJ's get Shark let them choose the relief pitcher they want or sweeten the pot or add more players for either guy and/or more. Maybe in a separate trade LaRoche can be booted in a salary dump and Colabello becomes the DH . There are a lot of ways to mix and match players to improve this year and in the future while plugging holes . A guy like Colabello might not be valued here because he wouldn't be a core piece or have much upside but he is what we are lacking now and that is a solid hitter . Toronto's offense might not suffer too much without him getting back the pitching help they desperately need and our pitching might not suffer too much if Eric Johnson does a semi Shark impersonation but the offense gets better. Maybe you get them both (Colabello and Pompey) and give up Avi . It's doable.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 07:18 AM) Winning these three games just makes selling harder for the fans to accept than buying. Notice than no one is really thinking about adding a bat to make the playoffs. The choices still are staying pat or selling. I've said that maybe Hahn is trying to make a trade that would not signify surrender of the season perhaps by getting someone that could be put in the lineup right away . You give up Shark and maybe a RP, Adam LaRoche , Avisail Garcia ,whoever the Sox think they can trade and not miss a beat if all goes well . Eric Johnson replaces Samardzija, the bullpen has Jones coming back, Albers ready to take a larger roll, Carroll could pitch long relief which he's shown he can do fairly well . Either get back a youngster ready to play now (what position I have no idea ) or a young vet he can plug into the DH, OF or catcher .Like Dalton Pompey or LH OF like Andre Ethier only not as costly. DH , catcher and OF right now this season are biggest needs if you assume Alexei, Sanchez and Saladino will continue doing well . Plug one of those holes hope Johnson pitches well . Avisail might be more tradeable but if you trade LaRoche with Shark get an OF or C back and plug Avi or Micah in at DH.

Carlos Sanchez .344 , .382 , .469, .861 Melky Cabrera .342, .366 , .632, .997 Tyler Saladino .333, .325, .487, .812 Alexei Ramirez .323, .353 .581 .934 Adam Eaton .313, .476, .531, 1.007 Geo Soto .300, .364, 1.00 1.364 only 10 at bats Avi Garcia .226, .294, .290, .584 Jose Abreu .222, .300, .306, .606 Adam LaRoche .162, .162, .189, .351 notice no walks Tyler Flowers .087, .087, .087, .174 23 at bats Interesting

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 07:38 PM) Saladino got 3 hits tonight. Plus he can run a little bit, and play defense... Of course Sox could've DFA'd Beckham or Bonifacio and used Conor as a DH instead of the slumbering lumbering LaRoche but noooooooo they make too much money to DFA and LaRoche makes waaaaaay too much to bench. ,though Gordo and Boni have been glued to the bench since Saladino arrived.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 12:17 PM) You say "they" like you aren't young...Aren't you just recently graduated from school? Nah greg must be closing in on 50 if not older.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 08:01 PM) You make me want to play the song " Imagine" . It's easy if you try ,all teams below us, above us only sky !

QUOTE (soxfan85 @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 07:43 PM) Minnesota: Have a gut feeling they will fall from grace Toronto: Can't pitch, aren't that far ahead of US, and want one of OUR top pitchers...why would we help them? One game over .500 Tampa: I have no idea how they are where they are...but they will fall. Under .500 Detroit: Can't pitch. Under .500 Baltomore: The only team that concerns me, but they are 2 games under .500 and supposedly NOT selling but going for it. Texas: We will pass them up. Why not just take a shot at this thing? Still over 2 months to go. Like I was just saying in the winners thread. Pay what Hahn wants for Shark or tell them kiss my ass while the Sox pass them in the standings. Defense has improved a lot , relief pitching and starters are just fine and with Sanchez, Saladino and Melky being hot we just need more Abreu, LaRoche and Avi HR's to actually be hot for a while. Trouble is asking for HR's from them seems like a bit too much.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 07:42 PM) The offensive surge is nice and so is winning,while it lasts. I still hope they trade Samardzija and hope even more they don't offer him the money he's been speculated to get this winter. I am right there with you, too . But one caveat. If the teams wanting SP don't start making better offers , screw em, miss the playoffs then ya bastards ! Imagine if LaRoche wakes up (hahaha) or Avi starts hitting HR's ( uh huh, sure ) and Sanchez, Melky and Saladino continue to hit and the defense continues playing well. I'd love the Sox to NOT trade Shark and have the Sox pass all the teams who wouldn't pay for Shark and flip them the bird when we make the playoffs.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 07:37 PM) I refuse to have hope. I want to. This pitching staff is good enough that if the White Sox offense is even average, they could make it. But something about fool me once... I am right there with you.

QUOTE (soxfan85 @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 07:21 PM) Yep, it is pretty sad actually. Reminds me a lot of the 2008 Tigers team after trading for Cabrera and Willis before the 2008 season, only to have a horrible season. We all know what happened to the Tigers team for many years after that. They were the class of the divsion. That is why I cringe at the thought of breaking up this rotation. I truly believe that we will all be very sorry that we are going to be depending on Johnson and Montas in the future when and if anybody is traded. I can almost guarantee it. They are overhyped. Johnson...yeah right. I have heard that song before. Might not want to forget Rodon and Fulmer though both have a lot to prove of course , but both very high ceiling players.

Great game on a special day in Cleveland that should also be special to Sox fans , Larry Doby Day . Sox outscoring Cleveland 24-4 in the 3 games with Rodon going tomorrow, Carlos Sanchez hit his 1st ML HR and hitting .344 post AS game Saladino 3 hits back over .300 Melky 3 hits 2 RBI Abreu 2hits 3 RBI Sale 7 IP ,7 H ,2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 07:03 PM) 7 AL teams have 49 or 50 losses. The Sox are one of them. Small chance, but the question is, is it enough to stand pat until at least Thursday? They probably will anyway since Sox are definitely asking a lot and teams offering too little.

10 runs 16 hits . Sox rock .

Saladino and Melky continue being hot along with Sanchez. Good recipe for runs lately.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 06:34 PM) Dalton Pompei would be nice. I wonder if Eaton can play RF. Pompey would be nice . I was looking at him and Devon Harris . Both probably off limits though.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 06:19 PM) I think that maybe a few Sox fans are expecting a trade. I wonder if Hahn is trying to get a Major league player , someone he could plug in the lineup right away. Since Blue Jays need a starter and a RP and Hahn can make the trade without actually declaring the season over.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 06:15 PM) First, the Sox are scoring runs and now LaRoche hits the ball to left field? WTF is going on? Been a fun game so far. His swing is looking so long and slow these days when the pitcher throws 98 he's going to be late .

No posts in the game thread for about a 1/2 hour . DId Samradzija get traded or something ?

I'd love to see Avi alter his swing or stance a little bit, maybe drop that back shoulder down some to get more of a loop in his swing.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jul 25, 2015 -> 05:27 PM) This has been the pattern in his young career. He seems to take a little time at each level, but makes the necessary adjustments, and ultimately begins to hit. I still think that he is going to become a very good player at this level. You have to love his defense. He also seems to have a pretty high baseball acumen, for such a young guy. I hope some of you are beginning to warm up to him. A lot of people still want Michah . I don't know how many comments I've read about Sanchez being a utility guy . Might ultimately happen but with his glove he will get every chance to be the starting 2nd baseman. I said as much when I started the "What will the Sox front office do" thread on July 14th when I said Carlos wasn't going anywhere.

Sanchez hitting .333 post All-Star Game.

Nice to see Sanchez up to .207 now after that dreadful start.

WOW !!!!!!!!! A Sanchez bomb !!!!