CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 08:15 AM) Is there a list out there somewhere of who the interesting Cuban Free agents are out there right now? http://m.mlb.com/news/article/157054364/cu...ot-stove-season : part of the article below Yaisel Sierra, 24, is the exception. The right-handed pitcher is considered the top unrestricted free agent from Cuba available this offseason, and he could sign once he is declared a free agent. Some scouts think Sierra can be a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. Others think he might be best suited for the middle of the rotation and that he needs to work on his command. Sierra's fastball was in the 94-97-mph range consistently, and he hit 98 mph in a showcase in front of 100 scouts in August in the Dominican Republic. Sierra also shined in three innings during a showcase at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., in front of an estimated 350 scouts on Oct. 23. He has also been throwing for teams each week for the past two months in the Dominican Republic. Because of Sierra's age and experience, he will not be subject to the international signing guidelines. There's a belief that Sierra can help a Major League team next season. He could also command a contract comparable to the seven-year, $27 million deal the Reds gave to Cuban starting pitcher Raisel Iglesias last summer and the four-year, $32 million deal starter Jose Contreras signed with the Yankees in 2002. Joining Sierra on the list of top unrestricted free agents from Cuba available are outfielder Guillermo Heredia, infielders Luis Yander La O Camacho and Pavel Quesada. Pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez, outfielder Yusniel Diaz along with pitcher Norge Ruiz, Cionel Perez and Adrian Morejon headline a long list of young prospects from Cuba subject to the international signing guidelines. Most of these players are in various stages of their paperwork to become eligible to sign. There's the RH pitcher Hahn could sign especially with a few teams banned from signing. Other players to watch are also listed in the piece.

Todd Frazier's walk up music is Frank Sinatra . Either Fly Me to the Moon or Come Fly with Me. Maybe he will change it to My Kind of Town (Chicago is) or Chicago (That Toddlin' Town).

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 06:17 PM) Which is the one who used to write for the Sporting News? I remember that name, and Tracy Ringolsby, who I think writes for the Denver Post still... If you had read the link I provided, Dave Nightingale actually was the 1st national correspondent for the Sporting News . He also was an official scorer at World Series and All Star games.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 03:33 PM) Didn't he originally cover the Sox many moons ago? I always know that when Nightengale speaks about the Sox, I listen. Maybe you are thinking of Dave Nightingale. He covered the Sox many many moons ago . Way before your time. Assigned White Sox beat for the Chicago Daily News in 1966. Died in 2007. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Dave_Nightingale

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 05:18 PM) You make a valid point about the trend, and I do worry about the A. L. factor. I'd also love Cespedes. Nevertheless, Upton has been pretty consistent, in his career, and he is young enough that we shouldn't expect age to be a factor, for a while. Also looking at the HR chart for 2015 (which I love, by the way ,especially that you can overlay US Cellular Field onto the distances of the HR) Cespedes uses the whole field for his bombs whereas Upton is more of a pull hitter. Not sure what his hit chart looks like but a pull hitter would be more vulnerable to shifts. Cespedes avg. true HR distance 408 feet. Just beastly. I always thought Giancarlo Stanton had the longest true distance for his HR's but Joc Pederson beats him 421.7 to 417.6 ft. Surprisingly Eric Hosmer and Ian Desmond are right up there in the Golden Sledgehammer department. Joey Gallo only hit 6 HR's but they were massive averaging 430 ft !!

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 04:39 PM) Upton's Career Stats are remarkably consistent. Even his Inter-League numbers are very close to his performance against N. L. teams. The guy seems to hit righties and lefties about the same, whether at home, or on the road. Even where he bats in the lineup has had very little effect. All of that is very reassuring, especially regarding the concerns that some of us have expressed about acquiring National League players. If we could put him in the heart of the order and just pencil in his career numbers of .271 .352 .473 .825, the Sox really could be ready to compete for a couple of Post Season runs. I think it's a mistake to look at career stats . After all the guy isn't 22, 23, 24 any more. . I think it's best to look for trends . Last year he was bad vs. left handers and terribly streaky. Just look at his bating averages by month. June and July he was terrible. His OBP has gone down for 4 straight years. All that being said I wouldn't be at all upset if the Sox got him because he does have a good track record . I just like Cespedes and his AL pedigree more.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 04:44 PM) I started watching some Upton highlights from last year and something jumped off the screen to me...he hit a ton of cheap homers. I looked up the stats and he was near the top of the list for lucky/cheap homers. This was one of the warning signs that people had regarding LaRoche and Abreu after 2014. Upton's average home run distance was 10 feet less in 2015 than 2014. He's a good player, but his power is his main tool and if that starts to fade, you're looking at a bad contract possibly. He's 28 but he might be an old 28. He's played a ton of games the last 5 years, never less than 149 games. That's usually a good thing ,always being in the lineup, but it can take it's toll. His OBP has declined 4 straight years to his career low last year and he was a notoriously streaky hitter.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 07:01 AM) Boo! That would suck the air out of the balloon and piss off the marketing department in one fell swoop...might as well sign Franklin Gutierrez too. Ha oh trust me I would love Cespedes. Not only do I think he's the best player but it would mean the most from a marketing standpoint since he was so visible last year with all that MVP talk once he got to the Mets. Then there's the Cuban Whatever it would end up being called pairing him with Abreu. Then start winning and it's Little Havana at the Cell every game. Would be a lot of fun. Add some Cuban drinks to the menu and Ricky Ricardo , Gloria Estafan music , have a Bongo Night giveaway and it's dancing in the aisles .

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 06:48 AM) Ha ha, watch the Sox surprise everyone and sign Parra. That is the more likely scenario. Signing Upton or Cespedes is pretty farfetched in reality.

It's a very tough choice to make. Love Gordon's OBP , left handedness and defense but he is a big guy and the oldest of the 3 . Afraid injuries and age will slow him down most of the 3 but also might be the least expensive. Many like Upton because of his OBP, relative youth, speed, and power but I dislike career NL guys especially ones who aren't good defensively . He had an odd year. Was very bad against left handers and had some terrible months in June and July. Still his OPS+ was 121 and his OBP has trended down 4 years in a row to a career low .336 . I like Cespedes the best mainly because he is an RBI guy. Now I know some worry about his OBP but he is one of only 3 hitters with 100+ RBI the last 2 years. Abreu and Bautista the others. Would love to make Abreu more comfortable with a fellow Cuban next to him in the lineup. Whether they are friends or not isn't as important . Just having a fellow countryman around is a little slice of home. I want a hitter who hits with guys on base not a guy who walks and leaves it up to the next guy to drive them in. Cespedes hits righties like he's left handed. He really crushes them . In fact he does struggle a bit with left handers sort of like Abreu did in 2015. Even with a mostly righty lineup it appears the Sox would be more vulnerable to left handers. Cespedes also ranks high among OFers in DRS . He hit well for the Tigers so he is familiar with the AL and the AL Central. Any one of the 3 I would be happy with since it's a lot of talent but Cespedes is my pick.

Just for the record on the surface, I think this was a fair trade. I've always said the Sox need more talent and you can't knock Frazier's talent is All Star worthy. In a different framework I am as worried about it as some of the other posters. Whether you agree with it or see flaws in it ,the continual gathering of NL players has not worked. Besides the Sox examples you had Scherzer going from a very good pitcher to a crazy good pitcher throwing complete games and no hitters in the NL. Nick Markakis almost hit .300 in the NL . Gerrado Parra was hitting very well in the NL and then tailed off a lot once he got to Baltimore. Admittedly this is not a science and I haven't done a lot of research into it. It's an observation based on the Sox "bad Luck" and checking out some stats of Parra and reading things about Markasis and being a general baseball observer in the case of Scherzer, I am more confident Lawrie will repeat his numbers more so than Frazier for this very reason. Of course I am hoping for the best and would love to be surprised. You can even throw Cespedes in the example between his time with the Tigers and Mets with his OPS+ ,OPS and slugging rising in the NL. 1 less HR in the NL in 175 less AB's. Of course Cespedes numbers with the Tigers weren't too shabby either and for that reason if the Sox go after an OF I would prefer Cespedes. However that would leave Eaton in CF and I was hoping for Thompson in CF with a RF upgrade over Avi . Admittedly sometimes I let my heart rule my head but I really liked Montas but am continually surprised that even our Minor league experts talk about him as if he is a finished product or cite his minor knee surgeries as some big problem. I think he has or will develop top of the rotation skills meaning a 1 or 2 starter. He has good mechanics and a compact delivery which should continue to help his command . Like I said it was a fair trade but if in the next few years Montas becomes a top starter or Frazier stumbles in the AL it becomes another example of the Sox trusting the NL to improve the team and giving up on our young talent too early. On the plus side if he does well the Sox have a good trade chip for when he elects free agency , they are not handicapped by his salary, 30-35 HR's is a significant offensive upgrade , and he should provide adequate defense at 3rd.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 10:50 AM) It would be amazing if the Sox got Upton/Cespedes, dumped LaRoche, moved Melky to DH and signed a guy like Gerardo Parra to play left field. That would be awesome. I don't think we see a Cespedes or Upton move. More like a LH OF who isn't terrible defensively along the lines of Parra, Inciarte, Corey Dickerson. The team would be terribly right handed with Cespedes or Upton. Actuually Cespedes hits righties pretty good. Maybe don't need a lefty if we get him and his OF D is considered good, though I'm not convinced of it. I'd like the OF to be a core piece but Sox running low on bullets unless they go for Parra who is a free agent.

http://www.newslocker.com/en-us/sport/chic...ue-dreams/view/ Kershaw, Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz and John Jay were also there. Link above has some photos . One photo has Alexei walking with Puig. Lot more pics here : http://www.newslocker.com/en-us/sport/chic...from-cuba/view/ just keep scrolling down.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Dec 12, 2015 -> 11:26 AM) https://www.facebook.com/groups/927421483959835/ Come join us Thank you for the invite. Tell them to join us if they can stand the heat

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 12, 2015 -> 02:30 PM) Right on. I admit I have entertained the idea of trading Montas for position player help but I do prefer to keep him and see how he develops. Especially after seeing the ludicrous money thrown at pitchers this year. Everything that Balta and Blacksox said 100%. I don't mean to make this personal but what's wrong with you guys who want Montas in the BP this year. This year doesn't mean a damn thing. If we are going to give some of these young guys a chance then let's really give them a chance to be what they can be. The Sox don''t need instant value or gratification for Montas they need him to be a starter. A lot of you seem to believe in Fulmer and Adams why not Montas ? Is it because you actually know more about Montas and because of that the shine has worn off ? Fulmer and Adams have a long way to go before they reach Montas' level. The Sox look they they are trying to build an elite starting pitching staff controllable for years so they can compete for years. Maybe in 2/3 years that staff will be Sale, Q, Rodon, Montas, Eric Johnson, Carson Fulmer and Spencer Adams . That's 7 guys ,4 of which are unknown qualities atm. There's a decent chance half of those 4 fail as starters . When that happens then great, try them in the pen. None of the 4 are no where near failure as starters yet. Montas has at least a good 2 years to try to succeed as a starter and he has progressed rapidly in he minors. Why shouldn't he have the chance to keep developing ? It may slow down some as the competition becomes stronger but that's the natural progression of pitching. This may come as a shock to some of you but winning might have to wait a few years . Maybe, just maybe ,the Sox think in that 2 years they can get the offense and defense to a place where it can to a blessing to the pitching instead of a curse.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 12, 2015 -> 01:03 PM) They didn't win the WS yesterday? Remember when I told you they wouldn't win it this year ?

QUOTE (Blackout Friday @ Dec 12, 2015 -> 05:08 AM) Was still drunk. But all true. Lawrie's rep as a "douche" is presumptuous and stupid. It was posted in this thread that Mark Buehrle ( who is revered around here) said he had no problem at all with Lawrie . He was probably asked by the Sox front office about Lawrie's character before the Sox pulled the trigger on the trade. It needs to be emphasized and re-emphasized. We've probably all seen or knew athletes who were ultra competitive to the point of being dicks to umps and opposing players but with their own team mates they are the kind of guys you would want in a foxhole with you. Knowing a guy has your back is a good thing, a very good thing.

Surprised to see Sanchez on so many of the lists seeing as how is/was very young at the time of this thread .Suck as a rookie and I guess you are on your way out . Still could happen . Also funny to see Flowers on so many of the lists . Guess the whole pitch framing hoopla about him hadn't taken hold yet. On one hand I've made my point about the usefullness ( or lack thereof) of pitch framing but I also didn't believe improving catching should be a priority because there are so few good ones and even harder to judge which young ones can stand the test of time . Nonetheless glad to see the Sox made changes at the position without a big investment.

I like the moves so far. Buying low on bounce back candidates sure beats paying good money for guys to come to Chicago to die. If players are going to suck let their salary or what we gave up for them reflect that. Players being terrible making $10M+ /year takes the wind out of our sails .

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 11:42 AM) Probably a bit, but his arm was really underwhelming last year. I remember when we got him seeing clips of an absolute cannon from CF but last year he seemed noodle armed. I think he would be a really strong LF, but we need some one to handle right. An outfield of Eaton-Thompson-Upton would be pretty good from an offensive and defensive position but we need some one to put out there other than Avi in right and we have to get Melky to DH. Have you heard the one about Adam Eaton's throwing shoulder and the surgery ( clean up procedure ) he had on it ?

QUOTE (shysocks @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 07:30 AM) I too am waiting for these examples. I'm sure there are some, but they're few and far between. That said, Trayce is still ahead of Avi on my depth chart without a second thought. Before you posted some examples were given. Iglesias, Randal Grichuk, Brandon Crawford & Omar Vizquel and since you posted Pollock, Brantley, Hunter, Austin Jackson. I personally haven't looked any of those up except Iglesias so I presume you can check yourself and quibble about the examples given whether it's injuries, or length of time in the minors compared to Thompson. Again I am sure there are others but with limited research a few have been found.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 11:51 PM) Yeah, I get that....yet no one is actually providing any points or support behind their reasoning... The reason I could see the Reds not doing that is because Eaton is either too old for their window, and they want guys more in the 23-25 year old range, or because they want a collection of prospects over 1 current major leaguer. As far as value goes, I don't see much of a reason for them to have the type of extreme reactions people in this thread have had. I think people don't realize how bad Jay Bruce has been the last 2 years. He gets pitched to like they pitch to Avi, on the fists and down and away and until Bruce proves he can lay off those pitches he will continue to suck. Might as well throw in he hasn't done well since his knee surgery either. The trade is more questionable because there's always a chance Bruce bounces back to his former self . If it was Eaton for just Frazier I could buy it. Good leadoff guys and good 3rd basemen are both scarce. Frazier's power and defense and WAR are better than Eaton's but as you said years of control and contract make Eaton a more valuable commodity or arguably equal. Reds probably don't include Frazier and Bruce in the same deal simply because if Bruce bounces back and Frazier continues to be Frazier then it becomes lopsided. They will want more than just one player in separate deals even if at this point Bruce is a salary dump someone might give up something for him.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 10:46 PM) The A's dealt him because they acquired Jed Lowrie and Danny Valencia played well for them last year. The feeling was they could get more for Lawrie than Valencia. I really don't know what Beane is doing. I'm not even sure the feeling was they could get more for Lawrie. since Valencia had a very strong 2015. Lawrie was just the expendable one.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 12:34 PM) There's been some talk/research over the last year or so about this -- there appears to be substantial evidence that the impact of a plus CF vs a plus corner OF is quite overrated. Essentially, when you control for catchability, zone overlap, and the actual difference between the high end defenders and low end ones, the CF doesn't receive nearly as many extra chances as people assume. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/does-outfie...ctually-matter/ Ha I didn't need a study to tell me that. I posted some time ago though, I have no idea which thread ,about advantages that a CF gets because he plays in the middle of the field that corner OF's do not. I'm pretty sure the main issue I focused on was how a CF can always be at top speed running gap to gap while corner OF's cannot because of the walls down the lines and must also give way to the CF who is in charge of the OF.

QUOTE (shipps @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 03:22 PM) I can see Cespedes and Abreu playing off of each other in that lineup. That may be an imaginary vision of mine but it seems like he would fit in very well. If Alexei doesn't re sign with the Sox then I'd hate for Jose to be on an island as the only Cuban on the 25 . I think 2 Cuban sluggers would be a good match. I can't say who I would rather have because I'd gladly take Cespedes, Upton, Heyward or Gordon. High end talent like those 4 pretty much beats anything the Sox have playing the field now. Get one of them and I'm a happy minion.