CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 05:06 AM) Can someone find a specific breakdown of his numbers in Safeco vs. Comerica in 2014...? He was absolutely atrocious on the road that year. Maybe the trade shook him up and he has a hard time adjusting to a new team? http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2014/10/13/6...-austin-jackson Possible explanations for what happened...long but interesting article. "In July, Jackson hit .349/.390/.505 with the Tigers. Then, upon joining Seattle, he promptly went into a massive offensive slump that lasted the remainder of the season. Look at his ISO with the M's. Look at it! Maybe you can't see it because you don't have a magnifying glass handy, but let me assure you that it's miserable. In 236 PA with the Mariners, Jackson racked up SIX extra base hits. This was a man who'd averaged an XBH every 12 PA over the past two and a half seasons and then all of a sudden he couldn't hit the ball out of the infield. He also started striking out a lot more and walking a lot less. This was a shocking, disappointing, frustrating turn of events. But what happened? ... The thing about these numbers that I find to be the most striking is Jackson's GB/FB ratio after leaving the Tigers. Jackson went from a GB/FB ratio of 0.98 with the Tigers (23rd percentile for GB rate in 2014) to a ratio of 2.16 with the Mariners (90th percentile for GB rate). I should point out that Jackson's career GB:FB (GB:FB of 1.33) isn't quite as flyball-heavy as it was at the beginning of this year, but the dramatic change in his numbers after joining the M's is more or less unfathomable to me. Park effects can certainly impact a player's performance, but that is just absurd. (Also, according to Fangraphs, the difference between the park effects for groundballs at Safeco and Comerica is negligible.)" He basically turned into Alexei Ramirez with even more grounders to the left side... 2014 at Comerica : 202 AB ,63 hits, 11 doubles, 5 triples 2 HR , 41 K , .312 BA, .361 OBP , .446 SLG. , .817 OPS 2014 at Safeco : 111 AB, 27 hits, 2 double, 1 triple, 0 HR , 36 K . .243 BA , .270 OBP, .279 SLG. , .549 OPS

Don't know if anyone noticed but in the top ten for Shortstop Marcus Semien was listed at #8 .

QUOTE (Tony @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 07:55 PM) Something was for sure "off" in that situation. Scuderi hasn't done anything, but the subtraction of Daley has been huge for this team, and credit to Bowman to be aware of it, admit a mistake, and move on very quickly. I've been glancing at other hockey sites for reaction, and it's still hard to believe when fans compare the Hawks to Wings of the late 90's, and the Patriots of the NHL. It's just stunning what this entire franchise has created, basically from the ground up. I probably should've said with the arrival of Gustafsson also since he's been there a few more games than Scuderi . But Gus has been impressive being a +12 in the 15 games he's played. I didn't know other fans talk about the Hawks in that way. I know I mentioned how the Hawks reminded me of those 90's Wings teams but that was maybe in the preseason with the arrival of all the Russian players. Seems like there's been a Russian revival in the NHL this year or maybe I'm just noticing more than the last few years. But there is some incredible Russian talent in the NHL now.

During the streak so many guys have risen to another level . Seems like every line is doing well now. Hossa picking it up offensively makes him so much more valuable as I've always respected his play defensively. Shaw has also been tenacious as hell and might've been the fit that Toewes and Hossa needed. Rasmussen, Garbutt, Desjardins, Gustafsson, Danault, Panik all contributing. Seems like with the arrival of Scuderi and Daley's departure the team chemistry has improved.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 17, 2016 -> 05:13 AM) ok, let see if we can finally sort this out i said name='LDF' date='Jan 16, 2016 -> 05:33 PM' first, 5 yrs of Cespedes too many yrs, that will make him 36 when the contract ends. i think 4yrs is just about right. however i am already acknowledging the fact that the team will not invest in anymore if any fa's..... that is a ship that has moved into another horizon. however, i wonder about some minor trades. i mean they can do that, at least...... but will they??? going into the sox convention, there will be many media news of how the sox couldn't spend b/c of budgetary reasons, or no money or any kind of b/s. i wonder if there will be any fans who will have the balls to address this there???? you are keying on one thing to make you look great. ok i will stand corrected in that area.... are you happy, but does it make my point any less, it is the same point i have been saying, no contract beyond 34 yrs of age for me. now.... it is nice to see how the admin and or mods doesn't do anything here with the personal attack.... oh yeah, they only care when one of their owns is guilty of such an attack. oops my bad. I didn't post about the anything you said except the wrong info you posted .I just want to make sure other Soxtalkers are not mislead by misinformartion. That's all . I don't care about anything else you said.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 08:00 PM) so you can count.... impressive, however according to baseball ref he is 30 now.... do the counting. i will like the contract to end at age 34... but that is me... baseball FO has their own mind. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml Are you mentally challenged ? You said he would be 36 after a 5 year contract ends . I even counted out the age he was during 99% of last season and every year after it . Even if we go by your strange logic of how old he will be AFTER the contract ends he still would be 34 unless in that 5th year the team is in the playoffs . Then he will turn 35 not 36 during the playoffs. The Sox last game of the season this year was October 4th so if we assume most seasons end for a non playoff team in early October he would be 34 when a 5 year contract ends if we can agree the contract ends as soon as the season ends. No matter how you slice it he will not be 36. Yes he is 30 now. After all it is past Oct 18 . Apparently you can't count. Just get your info right and we have no problem. Just look at baseball reference under standard batting .The 1st column is the year, the second is his age during that year since you gave me a link for baseball reference I suggest it would do you more good.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 16, 2016 -> 08:33 AM) first, 5 yrs of Cespedes too many yrs, that will make him 36 when the contract ends. i think 4yrs is just about right. however i am already acknowledging the fact that the team will not invest in anymore if any fa's..... that is a ship that has moved into another horizon. however, i wonder about some minor trades. i mean they can do that, at least...... but will they??? going into the sox convention, there will be many media news of how the sox couldn't spend b/c of budgetary reasons, or no money or any kind of b/s. i wonder if there will be any fans I'who will have the balls to address this there???? I've said this a number of time but it bears repeating every time I see misinformation. 2015 was Cespedes age 29 season. 5 years would be ( count with me) his age 1) 30, 2) 31. 3) 32 , 4) 33 , 5) 34 seasons. He will be 34 when a 5 year contract ends not 36 . So I gather that you are ok then with a contract that brings him through his age 35 season which then would be a 6 year contract . His birthday is October 18th so he get a whole season for each year of age unless he plays in the post season and that brings him past October 18th.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 05:52 PM) Hard to believe Kane's never had a regular season hat trick. I'm gonna just say he gets it tonight. Thank me very much .

Kane passed Ovechkin , now the leading goal scorer in the NHL.

QUOTE (Tony @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 05:37 PM) As Hawks fans, we have been very spoiled the last 6 years. With that said, it's incredibly fun watching the MVP and ROTY play on the same line together. It's a blast really. Hard to believe Kane's never had a regular season hat trick. I'm gonna just say he gets it tonight. The Hawks are so good playing with the lead but sometimes I just hate how they do it. It's like "ok boys offense stops , just play it smart" and it makes me crazy . You inevitably see the other team put a ton of pressure on but somehow most of the time they fall short. Can't argue with success but it still drives me nuts.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 15, 2016 -> 08:23 AM) I'm curious to see how Avi can produce in the the minors this year both offensively and defensively. As of now, he does not belong anywhere near the MLB main roster. He would look like a superstar in the minors offensively. However if he goes down then he must work on his batting eye instead of trying to produce big numbers. The guy swings at everything. They jam him inside and he swings . They pitch him down and away and he swings. I don't care if he K's looking a lot as long as he is looking and evaluating pitches .He's got to be a student of learning to have an educated guess what pitch is coming next . That means knowing pitchers strengths and weaknesses and how they have pitched him before. Give Avi a Spanish language book on tape of Ted Williams " The Science of Hitting "and have him listen to it and practice it over and over.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 08:23 PM) I know this won't be a popular perspective but if Baltimore is willing to go 5 years on Cespedes then they can have him. I think it's possible the Sox have been made aware of this offer and why we've seen the reports about the Sox looking elsewhere. One more thing, Hahn has no balls! I said all along that that Sox wouldn't get Cespedes or Upton but I would sure like to be wrong. If the Sox thought LaRoche at age 35 and 36 and coming from the NL ,was a bat that would get them into contention along with their other moves then why is paying Cespedes with experience facing AL central pitching, until he's 33 (4 year deal) or 34 (5 year deal) such a bad thing ? Seems like everything has fallen into the Sox lap to sign him so why not get him at reduced years and salary compared to what everyone thought it would take to get him ? If they can't take advantage of this market I have no idea how they plan to compete with no one in the minors to step up and very little left on the farm to trade .

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 07:57 PM) That's cause all of the three big guys after Heyward weren't ideal fits. Still have no idea what they are doing with RF Upton is a RF'er but ,regardless ,as much as I love good defense the Sox aren't going to end up with a much better defensive OF adding Fowler or Austin Jackson either. No matter who they get it'll still mean either Melky or Eaton in RF or their previous positions which wasn't good last year for either of them unless they convince Cespedes to play there which seems doubtful since he has never played it. You get a bat like his and you let him play where he is comfortable. With Cespedes at least they have one OF who grades out positively defensely instead of all 3 being question marks.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 07:46 PM) Great way to put it. Don't forget to add - you're losing a pick with Fowler. I did say that . "Fowler with the cost of a draft pick and Cespedes no draft pick. "

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 07:16 PM) Last thing you want is money tied up in Cespedes in three years when there are so many good players available via free agency Maybe in 3 years the Sox payroll might get over $150M . What do you think the Sox are going to spend money on when Frazier and Lawrie are gone after 2 years ? There's always going to be an excuse not to pay good players . The farm is back to being woeful now after getting rid of all but the top 2 or 3 guys. Signing Fowler means another draft pick gone. You get nothing for Alexei when they could have, didn't trade Samardzija when they could have. Do the Sox actually value the minors for anything but trade bait while they give lip service to an extended window of contention ? Do you think the Sox would have done that deal where Atlanta got all those guys for Shelby Miller if they had offered Quintana ? I see no clear direction for the team. They aren't building a farm system and they aren't willing to do what needs to be done to compete unless they stay completely healthy and get 5 or 6 career years from guys. Might as well just tell everyone don't bother getting excited or buying season tix . We're shooting for .500 .

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 06:55 PM) They play two separate roles. I'm not sure why that is so hard for fans to understand. Is Cespedes the better player? Sure. Most are fooled by his career year, because outside of that, he's averaged 2.8 WAR per year, while Fowler has averaged 2.1 WAR over his career playing in full years. Not sure Cespedes warrants up to $10M more per season. I understand perfectly . The Sox need Cespedes more than they need Fowler . Would it be good to have Fowler and his OBP ? Of course . I'd just like it a lot more if there was someone to drive him in . Fowler with the cost of a draft pick and Cespedes no draft pick and one of only 2 players ( Abreu being the other) to drive in 100 runs 2 straight years. Not fooled by a career year one iota. Not only will he produce way more runs but most likely wil save more runs from scoring also while adding a boost to the Sox in just about every way imaginable when it comes to excitement and being competitive. Does Fowler really seem like that guy to put the Sox over the top and into contention after getting Frazier ? Right now I'd like to know there's a guy besides Abreu who can be counted on in the middle of the lineup.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 06:45 PM) Cespedes would be nice but he's got a low OBP %, will get paid big money & most fans are probably expecting close to last year's production which is simply not realistic. Would he be a good get? Absolutely, but the drop off from him to Fowler isn't as large as some think. Can they put Fowler in the middle of the lineup and expect 100 RBI's from him ? If the answer to that is no then the drop off from Cespedes to him is huge not only in run production but probably in season tickets, attendance and hopes to be in contention .

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 06:28 PM) If that's the ultimate lesson of Adam Dunn, Adam LaRoche and John Danks, great. Then develop one of the top 5-10 farm systems in the game (that consistently produces 2-3 contributors per season) and spend that money in Latin America/international free agents under 30. Being timid now after being so aggressive going after Lawrie and Frazier doesn't make any sense. The White Sox, Padres and Red Sox weren't wrong about spending last year. They simply picked the wrong players. This whole thing is like the White Sox are promoting the idea of Natalie Portman in Closer or Jessica Alba in Sin City and then we dutifully buy our tickets and Bartolo Colon comes out in a thong instead. As far as I'm concerned out of all the OF'ers on the market Cespedes is the least likely to crap out than any of them and as of this moment he won't get the years or the AAV he was seeking. The Sox seem to want even less years and less AAV. I can see room for some compromise but if they don't budge we probably end up with Fowler which would be a huge disappointment . Abreu , Cespedes, possible contention vs. Fowler and rely on Abreu once again to do the heavy lifting and pray Frazier adjusts well to the AL .

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 06:04 PM) Sure but if they stick to 3 year limit then Orioles have an advantage I have absolutely know idea why they would stick to 3 years with him . That would be his age 30, 31 and 32 seasons. It's not unreasonable to go 4 or even 5 years for him which would bring him through age 34. If the Sox thought they could get production from Adam LaRoche's age 35 and 36 seasons why wouldn't they pay for a much more athletic guy like Cespedes age 33 and 34 seasons ? I just don't get what the FO is doing. They have to go at least 4 years to be taken seriously . Cespedes will not want to re-enter free agency after his age 32 season.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 05:24 PM) I think a 5 year deal would be a mistake for a player that inconsistent. Don't quite get the inconsistent label being attached to Cespedes. 1st year did well . Pitchers probably didn't quite know how to go at him. 2nd Year sophomore slump. Easily his worst year but still had an OPS+ of 103 which only 2 Sox players had last year ( only looking at last years roster not Frazier or Lawrie) 3rd year. Improved from 2nd year. Got 100 RBI's. Re-adjusted to the pitchers adjustment to him . All offensive categories up except HR's 4th year. Very good with Tigers and even better with the Mets. Again improved from previous year in all offensive categories. Career: 122 OPS+ , .486 slugging. .805 OPS Sox could really use another RBI guy who knows the AL Central otherwise it's Abreu and hope Frazier hits AL pitching better than his last few counterparts to join the Sox from the NL did.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 09:00 AM) I dont see why Cespedes would take a 1-2 year deal with the Mets over a 4 year deal with the Sox. That makes absolutely no sense. I think it makes plenty of sense. The NL has a bunch of weak teams with weak pitching . That's exactly how Cespedes put up the huge numbers last year. He can bet on himself to A) not get hurt and B) feast on that bad pitching in the NL. Then he reenters the market with a more consistent track record and less competition. He knows the AL has a bunch of tough teams with a lot of good pitching. Staying in the NL strengthens his chances for another very good year. It's a risk but athletes are supremely confident in their abilities and I'm sure his agents would rather he bet on himself so their payday can also be bigger if it all works out as planned for him

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 01:16 PM) Gonna guess 1/6.5m w/ 1m worth of incentives Terms haven't been disclosed yet other than it being a 1 year deal with an option year. I guessed long ago if the Sox were to resign him, which I didn't think they'd do, it would be in the 3-5M range and I'll stick to that with the Padres if it ever gets disclosed.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 12:02 PM) Since we're looking in hindsight, the time to trade Alexei was last winter when the Mets were reportedly interested and the return was speculated to be either Flores or Wheeler. I remember there being a thread on the rumor of Alexei to the Mets and the expectations on a return for Alexei were ridiculous. Again, its all in hindsight and irrelevant now. I wish Alexei nothing but the very best and I really hope SD signs him over Desmond. Maybe Alexei can mentor Amarista. Soxtalk was pretty split on either trading him coming off a decent season or keeping him. Can always re-visit the thread to see who was right. Just pretty odd that the Sox got nothing for him when they could have and also Samardzija . Lost opportunities really seem to be a theme that hurts the Sox even though we can never know what they would have received back for either . Good luck Alexei thanks for the memories.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 06:41 PM) I mean, I get where he's coming from. You've got two aces up front, a possible ace after them, then two wild cards. If it was poker 2 aces and 2 wild cards would be 4 Aces with a possibility of 5 Aces.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 7, 2016 -> 10:39 PM) Id be very interested in seeing what lncecum might have left That's who I was thinking that the Sox might have an interest in. Not sure if he'd get a ML contract though. Minor league deal or is someone willing to put him in the rotation from the get go at this time ?