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QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 23, 2014 -> 11:04 AM) I shouldn't have said there was no advantage, because the ball did move way faster and there are different affects different ballparks have on players. My basic point was that the Twins were good then because they were a good team, even if the ballpark helped them. They haven't been good lately because they've had bad teams, not because of any ballpark effect. I think it has had an effect on the team. The team was basically built with a certain type of player, albeit good players. I think once it changed the players needed to make an adjustment and the FO needed to change the type of player. The Punto, Knoblach type player isn't as effective elsewhere. Granted they were good players but were made more effective by the environment. I think the biggest change is the FO philosophy to players.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 23, 2014 -> 10:31 AM) I think that home field advantage was a little overstated, but it was present. I don't think it was so much that they could tailor their teams to the ballpark as it was that their players picked up the ball better at the Metrodome than other teams could because they played there all the time. The last few years, their teams have been really bad, especially pitching. They've had terrible starters and really, really bad bullpens. I think their bullpen is the biggest cause for concern moving forward, but they aren't and don't spend a lot because that's never really been the Twins thing. The homefield advantage was more there than other ballparks. with that ballpark anyone could hit down on the ball and make it bounce to run it out. Guys with speed could do it well. It was just contact. The Cell for example is a HR park but not everyone can do it and in order to do it players increase their strikeouts. So ballparks that lend themselves to contact hitter are more effective. Again it's not a huge advantage but it was more than others.

Very much like the cobden appleknockers or the hoopston cornjerkers for mascots.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 22, 2014 -> 11:56 AM) I may be in the minority here, but I want him with the big league club ASAP while getting that extra year of team control. Not sure if that's mid April or early May, but I truly believe he's a better starting option than both Danks & Noesei and I don't think we can afford to wait 3+ months for him to replace one of those guys in the rotation if we're serious about competing. Also, I don't think spending a full season with Cooper as a starter in the majors is going to be any worse for his development than dominating minor league hitters for most of the year. Rodon is a special talent and IMO he should be pushed along more aggressively. The issue is physical. He cannot pitch an entire MLB season as a starter. It will not be good for him physically. He should only go 160-170 innings. If the Sox begin the season with him as a starter, they will need to do as the Nationals did with Strasburg and shut him down in August. If the Sox are ina playoff race the fans will go nuts about this, even though it is the correct move.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 22, 2014 -> 10:50 AM) 1. Get him to 150 innings when his peak previous innings total is about 130. 2. Get him those innings against lesser competition so that he's building up his arm and working on his offspeed stuff but doing so without having to face top level MLB competition/extremely high stress levels. 3. Get him exposed to big league hitters in a controlled way, where he's only seeing how they handle his fastball and maybe one offspeed pitch, so that he has a bit of experience against big leaguers to fall back on this offseason. 4. Add in a few extra innings in a controlled way at the end of the year to keep building up his arm but without pushing him so far. 5. Maybe win a few extra games in September by bringing up a lefty who can throw in the low/mid 90s with really good stuff to the pen. 6. Maybe get him experience in a playoff hunt if things don't fall apart beforehand. Add in building his confidence at the MLB level as well.

Ready to continue thread?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 22, 2014 -> 10:04 AM) Anything they get out of him in 2015 should be considered gravy. Hopefully he can be really good in 2016. He will be pitching for the sox this year, if he is throwing now. I just hope his back is right so he doesn't stress the elbow again.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 20, 2014 -> 07:43 PM) I consider that a horrible value trade if you want the truth. Jeremy Reed was a top prospect. He didn't pan out, but he, himself, had more value than a rent of Freddie Garcia. We also included our starting catcher who stayed in the league for another decade. We took a huge gamble there, with no one behind him. Fortunately, SF cut AJ. We also traded another outfield prospect who became a solid major leaguer and is still in the league. All of that for a 4 month rent of Garcia who was basically a 3 (maybe a low 2)? . Yes, it worked out. Bad value works out sometimes. I would consider that an outstanding trade for the sox. Anytime you can get a proven MLB mid-top rotation starter for 1 top suspect, another one who was suspended for PEDs and wasn't showing much and a below average MLB catcher, you make that deal. Top pitching is the name of every game in the MLB.

If there ever was case for the NFL having a fixed game, tonight would be it.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 11:41 PM) Forgive my rant in advance. ... So Alex Rios signs with KC for 11 million dollars. Now since he gets to play the Sox 19 times (we know what ex Sox players do to the Sox as in kill them) he might produce a bit. But you've got to be kidding me? Alex Rios hasn't shown the baseball world how INVALUABLE he is by now? I tell you, baseball is one profession you can get paid and not have to produce. After the year he had last year he gets to pocket 11 more million?? And Kendrys Morales gets to pocket 8 million?? The list goes on. I tell you, we'd all be better off if baseball owners just paid these ballplayers pennies and let the customer go to the game for movie-like prices. 10-12 bucks a game. Sad that this elitist sport is run by people who get all that TV money and don't mind giving "players" like Alex Rios 11 million a year when he has PROVEN he's a mediocre to lousy ballplayer. My god. you're just figuring this out. It's not an elitist sport, it's a good way to make alot of money. They only spend the money because they know they can make the money. Just like to movies you mention. There is a reason some actors gets 20 million for 6 months worth of work. They producers know they will make the money back.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/12/20/2-nyp...ically-injured/

Must....keep...thread......going.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 20, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) I don't disagree whatsoever, just that it's possible. I think it will be closer to 6 which I think you can stomach so long as you believe he will be a capable pitcher all 6 years, including a mid to back of the rotation starter at the end. Samardzija has stuff that would seemingly age better given the downward movement of it. 6 is even pushing it for my taste. I think it will depend what I see from Rodon this year. If it looks like he will be capable of being a top of the rotation starter in 2016, I may let JS walk. If Rodon still needs more time then 6 years might be ok.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 20, 2014 -> 08:43 AM) I don't understand the need for snark here, it's an entirely valid point. If he is 100% set on hitting free agency, then it's going to take a monster contract to retain him. You have to let him go, if it's for 7 years. That is entirely too long. I guess one reason would be is to hpe he has season ending injuries in the latter part of the contract and insurance will cover part of it. However that's really depressing hoping someone gets severe injuries.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 09:20 PM) 1. While I don't think Wilkins is a major league starter, I also think you can't go by a single September call-up to make a real call. 2. I think people are misunderstanding what minor league backup depth is. No one is getting a really good bat to be a 1B/DH in the minors waiting for an injury. If they are good enough, they have a job elsewhere. So this isn't a question of whether or not Wilkins is good, or Black is good. It is a question of who you think is better that would be willing to just sit in Charlotte all year on the 10% chance someone gets hurt. Because that guy is one of two things - a legitimate prospect (who is expensive to acquire and who you are now blocking), or an Andy Wilkins or Dan Black kinda guy. I understand what you are saying. Believe me I've spent my time with these players. However, I go back to my original point., from what I saw Wilikins is not the guy even for this role. I'm not expecting this type of player to contribute much but he was lost and didn't have a clue. Again, he struck out in almost half his at bats. There are plenty of minor league fillers that I woild rather give at bats to.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 07:45 PM) I don't know. Classic.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 08:24 PM) I need to watch more National League games... I wouldn't if I were you.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 04:19 PM) While I don't disagree with the latter, you are making a pretty quick judgment based on 45 plate appearances. Personlly, I thought his swing looked long but it also looked like his timing was off as he was behind everything. It can take some time to get that down. I don't disagree with the last part, and I don't want Andy Wilkins getting significant at bats at all, but given the choice between Wilkins or Shuck if LaRoche were to go down for a short period of time, I'd rather take my chances on the guy who went bonkers in AAA last year than a guy who is a career .264/.307/.333/.640 hitter who was barely better than league average in the PCL last year. Wilkins seems to be a guy who can at least run into one or two. I am making a quick judgement. I usually am the positive one with giving players a chance but he wasn't just bad he had no chance ar the plate. I would rather give someone else a chance, Black or anyone. Wilkins at bats would not help anyone.

QUOTE (flavum @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 04:44 PM) If they wanted to sign him before opening day, 7/140 seems about right. If he was looking at 6 year deal after 2015, then 10 this year, and about 21-22 the other 6. Something like that? 7 years. No, thanks.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 04:01 PM) You're right, JB Shuck, Matt Davidson, and Jordan Danks are much better options. Unless the Sox bring in someone that represents depth like that, Wilkins isn't going anywhere. The guy tore the absolute cover off the ball in AAA last year. He's good insurance to have in the event of an emergency. He was absolutely atrocious in the MLB. He struck out almost 50% of his plate appearances. He has no place on a MLB roster. I'm the eternal optimist about players being able to improve and progress but not from someone that bad. With him it's that classic saying "if he gets any at bats, something went seriously wrong and it was an awful season."

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 06:53 AM) So I stopped doing bench press a year ago because it was hurting my shoulder. Decided to give it another shot on Wed. Of course woke up today and my shoulder is killing me again. Sucks only being able to do pulley's and machines for chest. Have you tried only lowering until your humrus is parallel to the floor? Many people let it go to low and injure the anterior capsule of the shoulder.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 19, 2014 -> 02:03 AM) How could the Dybber be so fricking stupid?? Sox had the pennant won! What is Drysdale doing broadcasting the Sox game? He was one of the best btoadcasters. You get a job where you can get it. Why is Jim DeShaeis with the cubs?

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 04:08 PM) He meant adding teams to the playoffs. Yep.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 03:08 PM) What do you use for stats. When I run all catchers to see individual numbers on ESPN or fangraphs, they exclude about 1/2 of the catchers, including Flowers. Yes the number I put above is based on at bats from all catchers. Thats what I thought. He can't be above average for starters for hitting. That being said im all for catchers being primarily receivers. If the pitching staff likes throwing to him and the coaches like his catching and defense. Its fine with me for him to start. Unless you have one of the premier offensive catchers, this should be their role.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 03:54 PM) More like if Adam Dunn were a catcher. 14% career walk rate is impressive. .762 OPS in 300 PAs the last 3 years.......but that's on 6 different teams. Why does no one seem to want to keep this guy who is productive? Defense?