Princess Dye

Looks like Spiegel on 670 devoted some of Hour 1 today to "secret AJ tales". Danny Mac show (with McNeil absent today I believe)

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 27, 2012 -> 04:20 PM) It's just crazy to say this isn't a powerful team on paper. That's the one thing they're still really good at on paper. Understood. With that stressed, I am on board. This team is just so damn mercurial. Take Alexei. He showed his first two years he could succeed at working on different things (sacrificing walks for power, or the reverse). Then last year of course, he decided to sacrifice both. Yay

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 27, 2012 -> 04:11 PM) Not a terrifyingly powerful lineup? Compared to last year, they've subtracted Pierzynski, who hit a lot of HR, but replaced him with a guy who, if he can ever make contact, has every ability to match that HR production in flowers. Viciedo, Alexei, maybe Konerko if his bone chip has been dealt with, maybe Beckham if his head ever gets screwed on right, also have the ability to add in some HR. They got 15 HR out of third base last year, mostly by Youk, and instead replaced with the 9 HR hit by Keppinger, maybe down to 6-7 if he has a more normal year for him. Those small decreases might be a problem...if we hadn't hit the 3rd most HR in the AL last year already. So we lose a few going from Youk to Kep...we also have a power upside, with Viciedo, Flowers, and the middle-infield capable of increasing HR. If that's not a "terrifyingly powerful lineup", then Texas didn't have a terrifyingly powerful lineup last year either, since the Sox outhomered them by 11 last year. This is relying on last year to repeat, and off years to bounce back. We do this every year and it's never that easy. Most often times, you get, lets say, a Rios returning to earth and a different one has a production spike. And you cant reliably predict which ones will go up or down, so it's all hopefulness. Viciedo is such a total x-factor. You're making it sound like 25 hr is happening again as just a starting point. This is still a guy who is either going to be a hitting coach's pet project or a still wild unpredictable strongheaded dude every time he goes up there. The eternal wait for Beckham to "screw his head on straight" makes me think....the screw is badly, permanently stripped. May be time to nail him to a wall, no less.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 27, 2012 -> 03:24 PM) Here's a fun game: Take the projected lineup above and compare their 2011 OPS totals (Keppinger's was with TB) with the 2011 AL averages for their respective positions (in the field, not in the batting order). Without looking it up, how many differentials can you match to the correct players? +.097 +.080 +.067 +.042 +.003 +.001 -.005 -.014 -.020 Would think those last three slots are occupied in some order by Beckham, Ramirez, Viciedo

QUOTE (Lamar Johnson 23 @ Dec 27, 2012 -> 11:37 AM) That's my major problem...the team IS built for "win now", but they're not doing enough. Not yet, anyway. I know, it's only December. Money has been spent. No matter what happened last year, we are still living scarred by those bad Rios and Dunn seasons. And hell, the injury plagued Peavy seasons. Those were the big moves, along with more Paul Konerko seasons. These moves were supposed to be enough, and either they will have to keep being what they were last year, or last year needs to have built up some serious trade value in those guys (or someone). We can't attack this offseason until the offseason happens. It's not just that it's "only" December. As a fan, you shouldn't want us rushing into trades that aren't maximizing the value we can get back. Your impatience is not on my priority list. I want the best team and will look at the team upon the roster's completion.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 27, 2012 -> 10:58 AM) retool, rebuild, reset. A different team took the field. And you know what, the Sox arent rebuilding now because one position ( C) where a young player took the position of a longtime veteran. There was a hell of a lot more turnover in 05 than there is now. Both corner outfelders, closer(s), set up, catcher, 4th and 5th starters, both middle infielders, and DH(split time with Carl and Frank). We arent seeing that this season and Lamar is freaking out about a rebuild In general I'm with you. This team is built for 'win now'... has vets...and if the upcoming moves weren't going to also reflect that, we'd have seen some salary dumping instead of the Keppinger contract. We also have no farm system, so 'win now' is kind of the date we brought to the dance and are stuck with. In '05 we always forget that we went into that year with a first ballot HOF player on the roster. Only in retrospect do we see it as a year where spare parts were just whipped into place and they all magically worked. We owe so much to the crap-relievers-turned-wonders in Cotts and Politte. And the whole Jenks thing also.

Note: The offseason is not over. Thus everything about your thread is invalidated. Note complete.

05 was a retool.

He doesn't have to be AJ. The game played on our minds this year is going to be "well he's no AJ"...and hopefully he can fight through that. I guess in ways that Brian Anderson and Josh Fields couldn't. Replacing someone takes talent, luck..AND a little above average mental fortitude, I would think. That first year. Lets remember, in 2005...we didn't necessarily replace Carlos Lee with anyone 1 for 1. We filled his production over a variety of spots on the roster.

Just to chime in: It is possible to appreciate everything AJ did here, and just not particularly care for him personally or whatever. His persona or whatever aside, he's a professional and would actually probably prefer to be treated objectively as a professional than to have your undying blind worship. Not calling anyone out in particular, just chiming in

(1) is Kubel outstanding? No (2) does Kubel have a place on this team? Absolutely. We have offense and power that needs replacing. Some here are acting like we're one offensive piece away or something. I expect multiple roster changes still.

Just to clarify since, to be honest, there are a crapload of filler posts in this thread now...... is the debate whether you can get "anything" for Thornton, or something "significant?"

Value is based on what the various needs are on teams wanting badly to make moves. Can't really discuss someone like Thornton in a total absence of context. We've seen relievers be overspent on and also be not very pursued

Flowers won't have the all-around impact of AJ...after all, we've mostly seen him slugging off lefties, and he's about to get into a more everyday role (barring additional moves). But - Flowers does not have to have that impact. We've saved money by going with the cheap labor route at C. We may have even added some defense. Now we spend said savings elsewhere. We don't have many young players in the ranks ready to be just-decent at the major league level, but Flowers is likely one of those. Teams plug those guys in and then spend money on the areas they don't have. That's what you do.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 20, 2012 -> 08:26 PM) The likely hood of a trade for a position player who hits LH just went way up imo One would think that if this was really that meaningful to the Sox, A.J. would be signed here. One year would've been doable. Instead it sounds like the plan is and always was Flowers, and that another LH bat is part of this next move, whatever it is.

You don't have to REPLACE a.j. with flowers completely. You have to replace enough of him to warrant saving a ton of money at the position.

Can Flowers get the typical AJ OPS of say .750, when facing both righties and lefties for a year? Probably not, but also probably wont be astronomically lower than that. He also costs way, way less. Then factor in defense. Then factor in that Flowers is cheap labor and a not-developing asset. The choice is clear. AJ out, and you spend that money elsewhere.

Chuck Garfien sounds like owns Mayan calendars

QUOTE (Lamar Johnson 23 @ Dec 19, 2012 -> 09:49 AM) IMO a 1 year/$4 million offer to AJ is insulting, and sends a bad message as to how some players are "taken care of" by ownership. You have to offer something. Reason being, it's an offer...so the Sox are probably willing to do it for a little higher if it came down to actual negotiation. And if by some insane miracle he signed somewhere for that or lower, you're basically idiotic. He's been well taken care of here. Had his career resuscitated and made a lot of money as a Sox. Also pissed a lot of people off, and frankly I wouldn't be surprised that they see his power spree last year as pre-FA juicing....which puts the team at risk for individual goals (since a suspension would affect the entire pitching staff, the batting order's balance with lefties etc)

Payroll helps, but when you have a great thought process...there are still so many teams you can unseat As with all things, spend the money you do spend wisely. Get a few strokes of good luck. ...and you're on your way. Playoff time is chaotic. Thus, a team's goals really just need to be: (1) get into the playoffs (2) have a pitching staff (3) have an offense/defense people aren't jeering at.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 02:33 PM) Why would they replace a LHH leadoff hitter with a LHH leadof hitter and take on much more money? Entirely reliant on what you would get back for De Aza. Cannot judge any such speculation without knowing what would be coming back in return. It'd be like hotdogs without mustard. Like ESPN First Take without clowns.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 01:17 PM) Please, something happen with the Sox soon. Please. This thread is like a bunch of people trapped on a ship that lost its engine. We need food!!!!! Who would be the first poster to be eaten?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 12:16 PM) Have you got a link for that? If I remember correctly, this was rumor mill stuff. But I believe I heard a KW interview where..when pressed on this...he gave one of his direct indirect answers (implying that they preferred future cost control at a position that can be tough to get a great player at) And yes, by answering in this way sans link..I am piling on rumors. I will be interested to see if anyone has links

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 18, 2012 -> 10:52 AM) De Aza was good with the Sox for a short stint in 2011. What is the cutoff for becoming REAL? Perhaps a good time to note: looking at De Aza's entire minor league career....he has the look of one of those guys that (1) produced well at all levels (2) got an injury (3) came back eventually and actually didn't miss a beat (4) just got lost for awhile in the blob of prospects out there (5) performed well when he finally got his late 20s real chance. He never really was a crappy prospect, just an ignored solid one.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Dec 17, 2012 -> 08:55 AM) I'll choose Jordan Danks. I'd love for his great defense to be a staple in the Sox lineup for many years. If he could man centerfield and be a 280 - 300 avg. hitter with some power and speed it would allow the team to trade one of their other outfielders for help elsewhere on the diamond. This strikes me as a shocking choice, as Danks very well is at his ceiling as we speak. If the point is ..just name someone who you want to be all-star level.. then I guess I'm misunderstanding the overall goal. If anyone is going to be at all-star level, then anyone can be the answer.