bmags

Good news for the tank. Rumors bulls want to trade Grant in order to open up playing time for Payne. I did get a bit nervous we'd win too much, but playing payne should cure that.

I think Anderson, Burger and cease would get it done to be quite honest.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 11:34 AM) Though it may not translate to anything, sure is nice after Robert being somewhat of a mystery to follow after signing that he didn't show up weighing 260 lbs and first impression of him being less athletic and slower than they thought. That legitimately could have happened Just going to reply to myself.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/whit...LbyPQhsGS7Kh.97 Hype machine hits 11 (free article) Nice to read:

For him to get my attention power will need to be there now and a healthy k rate. He's old enough and a 1b so I'm not going to wait for much from him.

Hmm, our Burger best shape of his life measurement appears to be off

That excites me. EL hadn't seen him in a while and that's great to read. Ready for spring training.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 11:34 AM) Nightengale reported that Luzardo and Drew Ward was the return for Robertson before it fell through. Thanks, Drew Ward.

Though it may not translate to anything, sure is nice after Robert being somewhat of a mystery to follow after signing that he didn't show up weighing 260 lbs and first impression of him being less athletic and slower than they thought. That legitimately could have happened

QUOTE (GenericUserName @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 10:57 AM) I would almost rather let him get everyday ABs in AAA and see if he can develop anything resembling an average hit tool. It would also have the added benefit of keeping his service time down because I think even if he can never hit in the bigs, he could be a valuable piece when we are contending as a late inning defense and baserunning guy with the expanded roster and playoffs. I agree, it looked like Leury's journey was over and then he went to AAA for 2 more years and produced, then it turned out to be somewhat legit going back to MLB. I don't see why Engel can't do the same.

We heard that Lazardo and Drew...storen? were denied at ownership for robertson. I can see being annoyed by that. Also wow at Gohara being ahead of Allard, what a trade by the braves.

I want to ride out this Leury wave. He was really good and then dropped off just before his injury kept him out all season. Engel, with his batting stance stuff, just feels unreliable. He's nice to have on options and fodder to call up for his great defense.

I have to say I think this has been a great turnout and idea. Seems like a great way to get on same page with the younger players to allow them to get excited and focused for spring training, and break up what's probably the doldrums of the offseason for them.

With Johnson, while it's clear they see him as a reliever, I can't remember if they said they were going to work him as a starter in the minors. Does anyone else recall?

Really didn't like the hirings from Seattle with Schottenheimer or Rivera with Turner. Packers looked pretty good actually trying to revamp new life into it. The others seem like they are just trying to squeeze what's left.

Their workload was maxed after CWS. McClure pitched a few in AZL. I think Henzman was in GFL. Small work and I don't think anyone had very good stats. Spring Training and assignments will be interesting to follow.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 16, 2018 -> 06:26 PM) The Athletic published a Robert article just now. I'm not a subscriber but perhaps there's some insight to listing Birmingham as a potential starting place for him in there. It’s just about how everyone there was oogling him and how him, Moncada and Engel look like chiseled machines.

Yeah a really good defensive center doesn’t really do it for me to change a franchise. I’d go Doncic all day over bamba.

QUOTE (iWin4Ron @ Jan 16, 2018 -> 04:41 PM) Moncada seems like a really good guy. Am I wrong here? I remember watching his kids when Moncada got his first Wsox homer and everyhing I hear about him seems like a good guy. If so, even better to root for him. I have been surprised how well he handles the media. Especially with how ostentatious he sounded with his car buying you weren't sure if it was a sign of arrogance as with Puig, but if he is it certainly doesn't sound like it. But the other part is I'm sure there is a bond and connection with other baseball players coming from Cuba, it's an experience few could possibly relate to.

May as well leave it as a carrot so his destiny doesn't seem predetermined in camp. If he looks that good, would solve a lot of the roster crunch in high-a/a

The thing that would be so nice about a draft pick in the top 5 is being able to go after a guy like Capela with the space, a young, nice center that can spell our smaller lineups when we face teams with real centers. Not a game changing signing, but would make us a better team with a young core to grow together for a while and been on a winning team.

Man if even a 2nd round pick is now considered too much to lose the players just got absolutely rolled in the last CBA. THat was the one thing they cared about.

It would be interesting to hear what it really means for our 15-30 to be weak (and I don't disagree with this, compared to pads/braves/etc). I actually think that group has a good chance to have some MLB productivity compared to others. I also don't know if i have a list, but that 15-30 will contain players such as Cordell, Tilson, Fisher, Call, Zevala, Clarkin, Burdi, Burr, Thiera. What sticks out: they are old and nearer their ceilings. And to me the difference is the other 15-30s have players more like Luis Curbelo and Adolfo that are young and raw but expected to ascend and be the next top 10. "Deeper". The white sox have one huge glut of age groups moving in at once. So that's my interpretation would like to hear others.

The thing is with this core I can legit see a group as good as the Raptors in a year or two. But if they can get in that top 5 and maintain development, I see the seams of a championship team (assuming development). The thing with Mirotic is he is demanding a trade. He's cool now, but he has an end in sight. What if we remove that? what happens when team hits skids? Justin Holliday should net a 2nd, RoLo can hopefully be used to clear space next year, and Mirotic hopefully gets us a 1st. It pushes Felicio to bigger minutes and removes our most potent lineup of Markannen and Mirotic at 4 and 5. I still think it's worth it to try.