CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 04:55 PM) Morales didn't have to adjust to league's like LaRoche. LaRoche is also notorious slow starter (that said I know he has struggled a lot the past month). And that's another thing that made it a bad signing. League adjustment, declining stats against lefties, 2nd half worse than his 1st half in 2014 when it's normally the other way around. Sox need to focus on AL players to get more predictable results. The stats were there . Why no one in the front office paid any attention to them is beyond my comprehension.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 04:32 PM) It's not just the fielding although many of his errors come on really simple plays...to me it's his mental mistakes, his tendency to let his mind drift on the field as well as his inability to work a count usually swinging at the first pitch and generally grounding out to short in key situations with runners in scoring position. Mark Well I know his hitting has been pitiful but you hear a lot in the game threads about Alexei being a step slow . All those assists tell me differently As far as mental errors I really think that's something that is extremely hard to quantify. No one is in his head and plenty of SS make errors on routine plays or what appears to be routine plays. Like Hawk likes to say if you get to more balls than all other SS the chances of making an error are higher because you're getting to more difficult plays. I can't defend his hitting at all except to say working the count is also one of those things there is too much emphasis on. Some pretty good hitters love to sit on that 1st pitch fastball because its the most predictable pitch and likely to be the best pitch you see in a particular sequence.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 04:24 PM) That's if we are willing to believe Morales and Lind would have played exactly the same with us. In the case of KC, it was kind of the perfect fit for him...they needed a veteran, stabilizing presence to take Butler's spot. Morales is in the same division as the Sox pretty much facing the same pitchers minus his own team mates. LaRoche was a bad signing . Way too old and terrible stats against lefties, even his 2nd half last year which normally was his strong suit came way down and could be construed as more evidence of decline. And they still play him against lefties . That's really sad. I'm pretty sure I remember Balta saying that the Sox would do just that and he's been right. Someone should pull the LaRoche signing thread. I can't remember if I said anything about it at the time .

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 04:29 PM) I'm pretty sure Lind is a free agent after this year. Sox will not trade for him. I think it's a team option for 2016 at 8M . If thats right Brewers probably keep him for that money.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 20, 2015 -> 09:12 AM) LaRoche isn't really a bad contract. He'll be in his walk year next year and I still bet on him coming around this year and have relatively respectable numbers, slightly below his 3 year trend. And at that price, I think you could move him (if not early in the season, by the deadline a team would be looking for a vet bat to add). I don't think the LaRoche / Danks contract, at this point, are reasons you don't sign Shark (given that both are done a year from now). Well when you realize the Sox could've had Kendry Morales or Adam Lind for considerably less it sucks looking at his stats and his salary. Dayton Moore smarter than Hahn/Williams ? Luckier ? If the Sox can dump LaRoche maybe trade for Lind.

So Alexei leads all AL SS in assists. Is that an indication that he plays more than most SS or is it because the fuss about his fielding is slightly overblown ?

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 04:47 PM) I support move, but feel bad for Connor. He had plantar fasciitis right? I imagine that really affected his offense this year. Glad we get to keep watching Saladino though. Yes he did and when hitting is basically a transfer or weight from the back foot to the front foot any of the 2 feet hurting will effect timing and balance and power.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 02:44 PM) Hahn's gotten a free pass for a terrible offseason (in terms of results on the field). He needs to win a few of these big trades going forward, as so far he doesn't have a lot to show at the big league level besides Eaton/Avi. There's the Abreu signing and the contracts with Sale and Quintana . The pen acquisitions are solid . LaRoche was a reach . Hahns strength is with contracts . Too many chefs in the kitchen on trades.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 01:06 PM) Yea man and finely this series is almost over. I see what you did there

The Bleeders and Bloopers Bunch has started again.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 08:37 AM) and i agree, i just don't want to jump in the group of enthusiast fans and when things goes bad, as there is always going to be a recovery period, many will turn against him. and that turn, so to speak becomes really ugly. i just want to be even keel and see if i am seeing things differently. As usual injuries play a big part in how someone plays. He had 8 months off from Tommy John surgery. The injury occurred when he was having his best season hitting around .310 . He hadn't been much of a hitter before 2014 at AAA so something must've clicked for him. We can see he hits the ball where its pitched and showed a good eye in the minors. So he was rusty and adjusting to his new elbow this year . Seems to have a pretty good approach but major league staffs will find a weakness and try to exploit it and Tyler's job will be to take some walks while he's tested on his strike zone abilities.

Conor must be beloved. 3 threads on his DFA

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 07:59 AM) I guess I understand this move but why the f*** is Boni and Beckham still around? They're worth more because they get paid more than Gillaspie I guess . Robin doesn't trust Bonifacio in the infield that's for sure and he's rarely played the OF. He's been worthless this year hitting and fielding . Maybe for his role he can play more positions than Conor run faster and switch hits. Didn't think they'd jettison what little LH power they had on the bench because of the plantar faciitis. Thought maybe a DL stint for Conor and a Bonifacio DFA was coming. I'll miss sweet swingin" Conor and his joie de vivre

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 07:48 AM) Astros would never trade Springer. Maybe, maybe not. Adding Shark, Avi and Abreu would make them right near the top of the list of World Series favorites and fills all their biggest needs now. Springer fractured his wrist , might be back in another 4-6 weeks and might not be the same player he's been. Do the Astro's want to take the chance he's the same player or that the injury has no lingering effects ? Wrist injuries can be tricky. They get 3 solid contributors to their playoff march that fill major holes for them . Avi and Abreu are locked up for years. The Sox would only be getting one proven player in Springer and 3 prospects. Well Singleton played a lot last year for the Stros but sucked badly . But the potential is still there. His stock has been dropping since 2013 Appel is a top prospect who hasn't lived up to being the 1 ,1 pick in the 2013 draft yet. Devenski has had a very good year in AA but still has a lot to prove. Besides you saying the Astros would never give up Springer is based in reality. The thread title clearly wanted crazy !

QUOTE (Bigsoxhurt35 @ Jul 19, 2015 -> 07:27 AM) Springer is injured so Avi takes his place. Houston needs a 1st baseman badly now so Abreu goes there . Houston gets the RH hitter they're looking for and a starter they want in Smardzija Springer has a wrist injury and isn't due back for around 6 weeks but there's no doubt he's plays a good defensive right field,has good on base skills and has lots of power. Singleton was a top prospect once but hasn't made the adjustment to the Majors yet . Appel top pitching prospect but hasn't looked that great in the minors.. His stock is dropping . Sox strength is developing pitchers . Chris Devenski AA pitcher having a very fine year . His stock is rising. Maybe take Montas out of the trade since Singleton and Appel haven't yet lived up to expectations .

Ok this one is crazy. Smardzija, Avisail Garcia , Frankie Montas ,and Jose Abreu to Houston for George Springer, Jon Singleton , Mark Appel and Chris Devenski.

Pirates are fed up with former 3rd baseman Pedro Alvarez defense at 1st base. Sox could use a bit more power at DH . LaRoche and $8M to Pirates for Alvarez. LaRoche hasn't been able to hit lefties or righties. Alvarez hits lefties just as bad as LaRoche if not worse but has 12 HR's against righties . Sox get out from under LaRoche's contract . Sox get a younger power hitter who is going to end up a DH anyway and isn't an NL player because of horrendous D and isn't signed for beyond this year. He is Arbitration eligible in 2016 and if he doesn't pan out can always dump him and fill DH next year. Sox need to stop pretending LaRoche is still a full time player.

Maybe they just DL Conor while the roster is reconstructed after the trade deadline.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 18, 2015 -> 03:18 PM) Not on the roster ? Hmm thanks missed that he was gone already.

Guess Montas is the long man if we need him.

That was totally unexpected . C'mon Heads you're supposed to say this

What the SHUCK !!

WOW ! Alexei goes oppo !!!!

No more Guthrie that blows but expected.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 18, 2015 -> 01:43 PM) Nice job by Putnam He definitely was the right choice by Robin to get the DP.