CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 07:10 PM) Suggesting the addition of Ethier and Rasmus is...poor judgment, imo. So please give us all your good judgement besidees Melky for DH ? Starting pitching? Relief pitching ? payroll ? International signings ? Compete year ? Give up draft choices ? Trade minor leaguers ? It's quite disheartening seeing every suggestion shot down "I wouldn't give so and so more than X dollars for X years blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda . Seems to me nothing would get resolved among our fine posters except say no to all FA 's because of PEDS , their daddy is a problem, too old , coming off a bad year , bad idea, coming off a good year , bad idea. You all have paralysis by analysis. Sorry Andy didn't aim this at you in particular but there are a lot of risks involved and you take your best shot based on past and upside and defense taking as much into consideration as possible and then it's "poor judgment" while 90% of the naysayers never have a plan of their own just some vague idea of how much the Sox have to spend and what everyone fairly deserves on the FA agent market. FA is like the draft. Its crap shoot and when it isn't you pay the highest amount and many years for the best players which turns that into an even bigger mess of a crapshoot. You pay the piper in one way or another eventually .

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 06:22 PM) His floor is so much higher than Adam Dunn it isn't even funny. Plus he can actually play in the field. Dunn's floor was in the sub sub basement . I don't even know who you're talking about. Cabrera ? because pretty much anyone but Leury Garcia has a floor higher than Dunn's .

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 06:56 PM) Call me skepical of this"inside source". Rock, I believe.20 minutes afte mlbtraderumors comes up with Jay Bruce being available, this comes up. I would bet my home the White Sox wouldn't offer Q straight up for Bruce, let alome Q+. He is playing you guys. On the flip side if its a legit source maybe he can't say anything until the national media gets it first in order to protect a source or something along those lines.

From B/R : Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has the report: The Reds also have engaged in preliminary discussions on deals involving two-time All-Star right fielder Jay Bruce, according to major-league sources. And though club officials say the team is merely listening on players rather than shopping them, a trade of Bruce for more cost-effective talent would be a major step toward retooling with a lower payroll in 2015.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 06:41 PM) Would anybody do Avi, Semien, and Montas for Bruce? That would sure be selling low on Avi We don't even know what we have in him yet. It's possible he 's better then Bruce this year . Way too many potentially impactful youngsters with years of control for Bruce.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 06:35 PM) Or he lands a RHP along with JB... That would be selling hign on Q and that's really high with his last 2 years and very team friendly contract. Bruce coming off a disaster of a year buying low even if the Reds don't see it that way. Sounds like a blockbuster and difficult to pull off. Stay tuned.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 03:38 PM) Robin would not hit Cabrera directly behind Eaton because Robin wants to break up the lefties in his lineup. You'd almost certainly see some version of Eaton, followed by Alexei/Semien (or maybe even Garcia?), Cabrera, Abreu. Ok I'm going to get you back for telling me Kemp wasn't LH . Melky is a switch hitter not LH unless you meant even against right handed pitchers Robin still wouldn't have Eaton and Melky back to back because if a lefty is then brought in Melky could just hit RH and problem solved .

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 03:16 PM) Pretty much agreed. This is where you have to look at remaining asset allocation. I'd prefer to trade Viciedo (since he's not going to improve with us at this point) for Saunders, bring in Rasmus and sign Morse for DH. That gives you two younger players who have underperformed expectations but have upside and a solid/experienced veteran bat in Morse to solidify the middle of the order and take some of the pressure off Avisail. Same with Rasmus. And you just don't want to go into the season without a decent fix for a possible Eaton injury again. With Rasmus, you don't have to surrender that 2nd round pick that turned into one our more exciting prospects in Adams. I could be misreading things, but Cabrera at $48 million for 3 years or $60 million for 4 just isn't enticing enough because of the PEDs, his so-so defense, erratic results (and sure, Rasmus has been equally inconsistent), in general being leery about overpaying another veteran who could quickly decline and the fact that main reason we're chasing him is that he hits LH. If the main reason is that you could feel confident putting Cabrera behind Abreu in the line-up...that's not enough. I think the thought process with Melky is to put him in front of Abreu because his on base skills are way better than the Sox had last season in the 2nd spot in the order. Not sure I'm remebering it right but I think the Sox had an OBP of .279 out of that spot . Avi would still be behind Abreu most likely or the phantom player we all wish we could get.

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 02:32 PM) you can spin it anyway you want. its is all there. esp his problems in Tor. that was according to his father Tonly LaRussa fault???? get real. i am done What's with you thinking I'm spinning things . You didn't give me what I asked for . The only thing I can find about coaches is that he really liked Chad Mottola a lot but they fired him and he didn't have quite the same relationship with Kevin Seitzer and I didn't get that from anything you sent me. The first 2 articles were from 2011 regarding LaRussa and the last one was Colby's dad rehashing what happened in St. Louis . Those are facts not me distorting or spinning the facts. The 3rd article said this about his time in Toronto : Rasmus has endured a volatile tenure with the Blue Jays, and the impending free agent has struggled through much of the 2014 campaign. The 27-year-old missed time earlier this season with a hamstring injury, and is hitting .219/.281/.441 (97 OPS+) with 14 home runs and a 32 percent strikeout rate through 75 games. That's it nothing else about any other problem with coaches. Isn't that what I asked for or are you spinning your own version here ?

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) 1. http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2011...ssa-after-trade 2. http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/...dinals-coaches/ three yrs after the trade to tor. in the season of 2014. 3. http://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/548803 no more you can look it if you want to. I don't see see any other coaches mentioned in those articles . All those are about his thing with LaRussa and his father speaking his mind about it. I specifically asked for anything since then where he has the same problem with other coaches.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 01:35 PM) I'd try one of the Dodgers OF. If the Sox sign Melky, I wouldn't be opposed. I used to be a PED, no way guy, but at this point, I gave that up. LaRoche would be OK. It would be interesting to know who all the good players available in trade KW was referring. As for Rasmus, the Sox could have had him before, when he younger and cheaper and they didn't want him. I just can't see JR signing a guy who hates Tony LaRussa and Tony LaRussa hates as much as him. His dad said you can't even say Tony's name around him without Colby getting angry. And you really wonder if the guy enjoys playing. He seems to enjoy doing well, but it is a game of failure and you have to deal with it a lot. We will probably never know to what extent growing up in a baseball bootcamp affected him. In some way, reading these articles, I feel kind of bad for him. I always assumed he was a jerk, but he seems like a decent guy who probably has some father issues. I like Melky too but if trhe Sox refuse to go 5 years they probably don't get him which means a much less talented list of FA's left to sign. There's still Saunders who can be traded for especialy if it's the Mariners who sign Melky. I think Rasmus would be much better off just being one of the guyts rather then "The" guy he was always supposed to be. Still rather have Melky and Rasmus or Melky and Saunders than Melky and LaRoche even if it means Rasmus trying to re-establish his value on a short term deal. LaRoche has been consistent but not sure I trust Robin to bench him against LH's and he is 35. I value 4 good OF's being fresh playing DH or sitting out a day per week as a way to keep them healthy and productive. Rasmus would benefit greatly from that since he might be more like Eaton in that the daily grind in CF is just too much to handle. At this point Rasmus should be a corner OF where I think his defense will be much better but can also play CF to rest Eaton. He wouldn't be the 1st athelete that needs to be coddled and appreciated rather than blamed for everything. LaRoche just doesn't do it for me as far as age and overall team versatilty . Rasmus and Cabrera are youngerish vets who fit better with the core. If Melky signs elsewhere you know the next articles we see will be " Sox interested in Colby Rasmus. " How far down the FA agent list will the Sox have to go before they actually sign someone who has any amount of talent and upside ? Sox have interest in VMart, Sox have interest in Sandoval, Sox have interest in Miller, LaRoche etc etc until we're settling for scraps once again and the compete year is pushed back to 2017 . The only bit of light I'm still capable of seeing is the Sox getting a good piece or 2 for Alexei and some, if not most, of this website will be saying "well ,there goes competing for 2015 down the tubes."

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 01:20 PM) After watching him pitch, McDonald would have been a more appropriate last name. I did like Belli-sorry-ass a lot.

I like that his name is Ronald.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 12:52 PM) I gave it to you in the previous post. Your article was spring training fluff 2012. He was awful in 2012. In 2014 he blamed his BABIP. It was .294. His career BABIP is .293. In 2013 it was .356. There is your outlier. The guy said he has a love/hate relationship with baseball. It is great he is being honest, but that really isn't the type of guy you want to pay millions to play, and then if he struggles, Steverson tried to help him out, but................... And why deal with the father when he is not such a good bet to be any good? His defense was bad last year. He blamed the turf. He blamed shifts for his lack of hitting. He blamed the Blue Jays for firing the previous hitting coach, If he is this way when he is a major leaguer, I could just imagine what good old dad was like when Colby was a kid. It is so Todd Marinovich to me. He had 2 good years, one with a 3.6 WAR the other 4.6. I really don't see his Dad as much of a problem or his own attitude, If he can produce 2 decent years in the past he can do it again. The list for improving the team with decent defensive OF's is very short who also provide offensive upside. I think some of you guys are being way too conversative . Too much money, daddy is an issue . Would any of you ever pull the trigger on FA's without getting a great deal ? That is just not how FA works. DA I know you wanted VMart so we agreed on that so to speak since yrs and money might've ultimately led to not wanting him and I know you disapprove of the Duke signing so just who are you interesting in getting ? I'm just throwing things out there that have the potential to be creative ways to improve the team . Risk is part of the equation and if we're all looking to minimize risk it sure isn't going to come from free agency. That leaves trades and where is the hope there with so little to trade currently on the roster ?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 12:34 PM) Jason Parks on Onelki (from January 2014): http://www.truebluela.com/2014/1/31/536402...ia-victor-arano He is a Cuban ? It's funny a few days ago I was looking over the Dodgers 40 man with regards to Alexei and I did stop on his page to check on him

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 12:46 PM) And the Sox let Ozzie walk away to Miami so.... After letting it go on for way longer than it should have.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 12:14 PM) That was a fluff article was from the Spring of 2012 In 2012 he hit .223/.289/.400 His dad being more "positive" and his being more "comfortable" didn't help that season. So "fluff" pieces we can't trust but pieces knocking him can be ? Why is it pieces that look for the postitive in things are "fluff" any way ? There is something more fascinating or more true about negativity ?

QUOTE (LDF @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 12:14 PM) and it is still a problem. edit.... oops i did not this was somehow posted by another. Maybe you can give me links to his problems with other coaches since LaRussa sad he didn't listen to them 3 years ago. So a father likes to talk about his sons. I don't think Rasmus dad could be nearly as bad as Ozzie's kid(s)

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) Except the same stuff seemingly led to him being benched down the stretch last year after another terrible season. Toronto wasn't going to win the division and had young OF's to look at. What same stuff are you alluding to besides his bad season ? The thing most responsible for his bad season was use of shifts against him . His LD% was good . He is a lot like Dunn hitting wise with the low average and high K's and trouble with the shift except he offers defensive versatility which the Sox badly need in the OF. He was also pretty beat up with hip and hamstring injuries. I'm not really all that high on him as it may seem. He's much like Beckham and Viciedo as far as untapped potential goes except that he HAS had 2 very good years and it's not all that unreasonable to think he has a few more in him.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 11:30 AM) I really don't think the White Sox want a guy who won't listen to their coaches when he is struggling. LaRussa and Rasmus hated each other. LaRussa and JR are tight. I am sure if there is some interest, that probably is a call that is made. I really doubt JR pays this guy 8 figures. All that stuff is 3 years old . He has had good working relationships with a few of his hitting coaches since then.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 11:22 AM) When you have a Hall of Fame manager asking the same questions, it adds a whole lot more weight than any random internet stuff. It isn't like this is being made up. I just want to move away from his "head" and more into his talent and fit with the Sox . His upside, if realized, is very high and a potential 4.5 WAR guy who's done it before and is only 28 can't be ignored . If I had to pick one or the other sure it would be Cabrera but I'm greedy I want both unless it costs the Sox a chance to add a quality starter. He doesn't seem like a bad guy and he knows he is to blame more than anyone. http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/201...y_la_russa.html LaRussa too has his critics but if wins are the most important things then I guess that makes his personality a winner too. SO simple so in depth.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 10:52 AM) I never remember Konerko having any of these issues. You never heard about him not getting along with teammates or working with coaches. I never remembering him complain about things, and finding something to blame for his problems. As a matter of a fact it was always after the fact that someone else came out and told us that something had been wrong for months, but he hadn't said anything about it. I just think it's the easy way to be critical of someone's mental capacity when you're making judgments based off internet or newspaper accounts of things.The hard way is to get to know the person or his background thorughly which can't be done so all we have is the easy, critical path or non judgement which is no fun. WhatMelky's done is far worse than anything Rasmus has done if you base it on what baseball allows and what it doesn't allow. Does that matter to me ? Nope. Start fresh with the Sox and live up to your talent and the fans will adore you.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 10:30 AM) I think Cabrera is probably the best of the realistic matches for what this team needs. The one hang up is are the Sox willing to over look his past. I think Melky is the better choice for consistent production but he costs that 2nd rounder whereas Rasmus is the choice for either a short term or longer term contract, better fielding, higher upside , and more team flexibility since he can play CF during an Eaton absence and no draft choice attached.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 10:26 AM) Rasmus strikes me more and more as a guy who isn't very mentally tough, is prone to pouting and excuse making, and doesn't respond well to adversity. There is always something wrong. You might have said the same thing about Konerko early on who was very intense and let his day to day struggles weigh on him. When he learned to let go of those things he became a better player. You and I will probably always disagree when I hear you or anyone say a guy isn't mentally tough or other talk about mental midgets. No one is inside the guys head. Sometimes you question your abilities or your coaches constantly searching for answers. To me that is a guy who cares a lot , maybe too much , trying to please everyone instead of letting his talent take over. When he gives an interview he opened up whereas other guys will give you stock answers knowing any complaint will be perceived as a weakness. It's not easy being in the public eye and other players just learn "shut up and play" is the best response because otherwise you set yourself up to be judged. His age , power, LH-ness and above avg OF skills when healthy make him a natural fit for the Sox . He might be the only non pitcher the Sox have a shot at who is capable of giving you a 4.5 WAR .

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 20, 2014 -> 10:10 AM) I thank you again sir. When reading that make sure you click the accompaning links for even more in depth knowledge. Based on his interview he thinks the artificial turf hurt him and if he truly believes that then a natural grass field like the Sox have would be ideal for him . I also think if the Sox kick the tires on him they should bring along Thome and Konerko as guys who can school Colby on staying even keeled and not letting the day to day grind or results weigh on him. Thome especially as a power and high K guy like Rasmus could be beneficial . If he performed well here I think he would become a fan favorite.