CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 19, 2013 -> 12:04 PM) Yeah, that's what I meant. Those quotes definitely did suggest that the Sox could have soured on him, and the fact that they're constantly linked to every catcher who is available (not just by us) could suggest that as well. Then again, they could just be doing their due diligence as well. I won't know the answer to that question until mid-Feb. I think that more an indication that Hahn didn't adequately prepare for a full blown Flowers implosion than anything. Any time you have a youngish catcher geting his 1st big opportunity ,a well established ML catcher as a backup is a must and Hahn didn't do that. It's more an indictment of himself than anything else.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 19, 2013 -> 11:47 AM) I'm pretty sure I predicted everyone jumping off his ship before he was even called up. That said...if the team/org/scouts are jumping off his ship too, there might be a reason. Is there anything you've seen that indicates anyone in the org. is jumping off his ship? I read as much as probably anyone about the Sox and I haven't seen anything except Hahn saying he may have overlooked ( or something along those lines) the catching situation. I remember the excitement in the game threads that 1st week or 2 he was up and hitting HR's and getting late inning hits. Then pitcher's started throwing him a lot of stuff out of the zone. He definitely needs to refine his approach. He seems a bit hyperactive at the plate . Looks like he is capable of being a decent hitter if he can lay off the crap, but that's the battle every prospect has to make to MLB pitching ,Semien too.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 19, 2013 -> 11:28 AM) Travis D'Arnaud was one of the top rated prospects in the minors coming into the year. Given, Phegley was repeating AAA (I think for the 3rd time), but compare their numbers there and then at the majors. I think there's a bigger adjustment for catchers than people realize. Not only that but for a guy like Phegley who never had 400 AB's in any minor league season because of his health issues, he was way behind the curve as far as hitting and catching high quality pitches. When looking at his body of work I think he has advanced fairly quickly given his health problems.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 19, 2013 -> 10:29 AM) I was under the impression that most people had given up on Phegley and Flowers. A lot of people have given up on Phegley which I find really hard to comprehend. He didn't set the world on fire in his trial with the Sox but he's the closest thing the Sox have to a long term solution which seems to be the key words I keep hearing. He didn't take walks, he flailed away at a lot of bad pitches but he still struck out 15% less than Flowers ,is 2 years younger, and had a very good year in the minors. I think any lefthanded or switch hitting catcher at this point makes sense for the Sox. Sure we'd like him to be a possible long term solution or have some pop , OBP skills or be a defensive whiz but every catcher out there seems to have issues. You can still build a competitive team without having any sort of permanent solution or a platoon at some positions. If or when the Sox get a LH hitting catcher there won't be much point in whining about it because the pickings are slim. There's much more talent at other positions to spend money on . When Matt Weiters wants a Mauer type contract it just tells you how desperate teams are for catching.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 18, 2013 -> 07:34 AM) I stand by the idea that De Aza is a really good defensive LF. I'm glad it's just an idea because I'm not sure if there is any proof of it. De Aza in CF was even worse than Viciedo in left.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 18, 2013 -> 07:01 AM) And to remember how to catch the ball. Or get some players who don't have to remember since guys like Viciedo and De Aza will have a hard time even being average outfielders ever.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Nov 17, 2013 -> 11:47 AM) You have the Sox contending in 2014? I don't have anything except wanting Hahn not be hamstrung by one more roster spot taken by Konerko thus making the team less versatile, less athletic, slower and any other negatives Konerko returning brings.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Nov 17, 2013 -> 10:20 AM) If he isn't hitting by the middle of May he'll retire. Thereby putting the Sox in a position to scramble for a replacement or waste their whole offeseason not looking for a better option ? I hope this is the last thing that happens and he decides not to return . He's already taking too long to make up his mind.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Nov 16, 2013 -> 10:56 AM) Exactly. The ONLY thing Konerko will cost the Sox is a roster spot for 6 weeks. So you either think Konerko will suck and then renege on his committment to another full year or get hurt and be out for the year. Or maybe the Chicago Nice Sox management which said he's earned the right to be on the team if he wants will suddenly realize what a huge mistake they made and jettisoned him to the scrap heap ?

Kenny Williams

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 15, 2013 -> 06:08 PM) http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/de-aza...&ocid=yahoo Hahn on frustration with DeAza....and his positive attributes (seems like he was taking a page out of the message boards.) I have always stayed out of the arguments about De Aza mainly because some arguing about his positive attributes seem to think those arguing against him have sort sort of hatred for him based on remembrance of his baserunning blunders. 26 outs on the bases is ridiculously high considering 8 of them were caught stealing. To me it practicully negates his ability to go from 1st to 3rd on a single or 1st to home on a double and his 20 stolen bases. His UZR went from 8.9 in 2011 (only 376 innings ) to -1.3 (1133 innings) in 2012 to -2.5 (1315 innings) last year. His WAR from 2.5 and 2.3 the last 2 years to -.30. Furthur the Bill James 2014 handbook grades De Aza as the worst CF with a -18 DRS. I'm sure the 2014 Bill James handbook would have more on his baserunning too but I'm relying on this http://www.southsidesox.com/2013/11/16/511...s-handbook-2014 , so I have limited info. All in all De Aza had a pretty bad year and those claiming he is adequate in CF are not right based on his UZR and especialy his DRS.

QUOTE (beck72 @ Nov 16, 2013 -> 09:35 AM) I think Semien will start in AAA rotating between 3b and 2b. Ready to step in should guys struggle at either spot in bigs. I too expect Beckham to be dealt. Which would leave 2b a battle between Leury Garcia, Sanchez, and Semien. Curiously enough, Garcia is younger than Semien. Texas pushed him at higher levels. He definitely needs more time in the minors. I said it probably right after the season in one thread or another after seeing basically no walks and a bunch of K's in his Sox AB's . I think he'll be an average to above average fielder depending on what position he plays eventually and he seems like a pretty good baserunner though it's hard to determine that right now.

I have no idea what this means in a Dan Hayes article on CSN . With the way the roster is currently constructed, Hahn estimates the White Sox payroll sits around $80 million after accounting for arbitration raises and Jose Abreu’s $68 million contract. http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/hahn-w...maneuver-roster

Seems like a very decent guy. Good luck Dan with all future endeavors .

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Nov 15, 2013 -> 01:36 PM) No doubt. It's a two way street for signing and trading players but trust me the Sox F.O. is in aggressive mode these days. And lets face it they just can't trade bad players for good players. It's a daunting task. Let's hope agressive has some positive results.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Nov 15, 2013 -> 09:07 AM) I like Jaso as well. He would be my 1st option at catcher. Ryan Hanigan would be my #2 option. Very similar to Jaso, just bats RH Except Hanigan hits RH and Jaso hits LH and Hanigan is a very good defensive catcher in both throwing out runners and pitch framing while Jaso is pretty bad defensively but other than that, yeah, very similiar.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 08:53 PM) Would you trade somebody like Hector for Jaso? Rienzo

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 08:33 PM) Versteeg back on the Hawks. Jimmy Hayes and Dylan Olsen traded for him. Hawks also get LW Philippe Lefebvre and Florida eats half of Versteeg's salary.

Versteeg back on the Hawks. RW Jimmy Hayes and D Dylan Olsen traded for him.

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 05:49 PM) According to a Tweet in Italian, Alex Liddi has signed with the White Sox. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/p...id=liddi-001ale We signed another free agent

Let's just face it , this isn't exactly the Golden Age for catchers. Just have to take a chance on a Dionner Navarro or a Conger if you can get him. Catcher is a problem for many teams both offensively and defensively. About the only thing the Sox can do is roll the dice and sign a LH catcher or switching hitting one. Just going to have to "make due " there and upgrade other positions where talent is more available and money spent is more of a sure thing.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 11, 2013 -> 12:01 PM) Why are we assuming that the Sox are counting Abreu's signing bonus as part of the 2014 payroll ceiling? That's what I asked in another thread when people were counting that and draft pick money and int'l signing money toward payroll. It never got answered and it needs to be answered.

Manto hired as Orioles minor league hitting coordinator.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Nov 5, 2013 -> 04:42 PM) It makes me think KW is running the team. Of course he's interested IF the Sox pay him more than the $14.1 M QO which would be pretty silly.

Could be entirely possible the Sox sign 2 catchers with the idea of giving Phegley more time at AAA and non tendering Flowers .