Princess Dye

To clarify (if i'm not mistaken) floridafan is Grabe's father hence his comment about Keppinger "glad he's old" heh

QUOTE (floridafan @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 09:29 PM) Two years for Grabe to move through the ranks. I like the Kepplinger deal, we saw a fair bit of him in the Florida market. A solid player. Glad he is older! If Grabe can come close to what he did in his debut season at subsequent levels you guys will learn his name. OPS over 1.000 against lefty's and over .900 against righty's. He has played 3rd his whole life, with stints at short. Power will be there by ST. Sounds good to me. I will make sure to follow EG this next season.

wilbur wilhelm ..wilcome.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 04:30 PM) If it's not about money and he wants to play in front of a big crowd, then there are other teams he can sign with. If he signs with Cleveland, then he's a hypocrite. Well, lets be realistic..the thing about fans in the seats is perhaps something he cares about, but not a huge determining factor. That would be a little much. The fact that he's from Ohio, and Francona's there...these are also non-monetary things that I have respect for I always respected Buerhle's honesty regarding St Louis...because usually players are far from being fan-like

Surely Youk will make some money here in a day or less...but I have to note...if it really is a reason he didn't like playing here-- I respect that. So many ballplayers seem to just collect the check and not appreciate things about the game itself, or being at the ballpark, etc I actually like the idea of someone appreciating that stuff. Fans should be at the park, if you want those three hours to be the ultimate experience. And they should be loud and add to the atmosphere. If they're not there and/or not loud, what is wrong with noting that?

Could it be time to package Floyd and Viciedo, and add LH bat with a difference maker in the outfield? One would think this is the last offseason that any mystery surrounds DV's value.

Beckham has more value here (in pining for improvement) than in any deal one would get right now

I have wanted to see Flowers for awhile now. But for some reason I think A.J. has been IDed by other teams as having possbily PED-inflated stats.....and it'll lead to either us getting a team-friendly deal or a Yanks overpay. One or the other.

If you're win-now, you just absolutely can't let 3b go to the dogs with Morel/Hannahan. In that sense, I understand this and am curious about the dollars. But this also has to mean left-handed hitting and catcher (or OF?) is getting addressed in similar win-now fashion... otherwise why bother doing this

It is sad how I look at this guy's OBP over the years and actually think it's good for a Sox player.

right handed...puts AJ more in play?

Initial reaction: this means i am spending my lunch with you guys and my desk

Very sweeping to say 'one of the studs go down, we have no chance of winning'. Danks went down last year, it was nearly enough with the other guys. What if a stud goes down for a chunk of the year (that determines playoff viability) but then will be back for the playoffs? If you guys can paint random scenarios, so can I. The only reason I take these positions is the following: in MLB, you just want to get into the playoffs. It's not like the NBA-- in MLB, once you're in, you have a chance. That's how chaotic MLB playoffs can be. Innings-eaters give you a chance.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 12:03 PM) Okay, now you got my mind working (my boss has been trying to for years now), who did we trade Garland for again? o-cab

I'll be interested to see what return would be for Floyd. For me to say 'dont trade Gavin' seems to be becoming a more and more outsider opinion. I don't totally see why. Between Sale, Peavy and Danks..injury is (as is the case with everyone) a concern. And at the end of the rotation, there's suckage potential. Again though, want to see what the return will be. I suppose this will be reminiscent of how we traded Jon Garland for an infielder who played a key role for a bit.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 11:02 AM) Sanchez's optimal value is as a SS, he should not be moved to another position. I personally worry less about the opportunity cost of rushing prospects or changing their positions..when I see contracts out there like what Victorino just got in Boston. This will come off as wildly basic, but I want my organization's ready talent on the field if and when we've made the decision to be 'win now'. I'm at least open to Sanchez being ready, and being a 2b. Keeping flexible (because of what we frankly are right now...a team losing production at catcher and maybe 3b unless other things change)

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 10:26 AM) That's the thing, he was still far, far below his career averages even after getting traded and seeing that spike. .236/.346/.425/.771 with the White Sox .283/.384/.482/.867 for his career He's going to be 34 next season, has a bit of a bum back, and fell off big time last year. I think he's a bigger risk than people tend to realize. I understand what you're saying. But, I mean, if he was still at his career averages...this guy isn't even in the conversation for us...would be making tons of money, and would not have been acquired for Brent Lillibridge. That Red Sox Youk is gone, but that doesn't mean we totally disregard what he's shown he can still do. If the championship window is something we determine is open, then the question has to be....are our chances better hoping Youk stays healthy, or hoping Morel/Hannahan/Keppinger beat their career stats? All are risks, but I'd consider the former a lower one. Like you, though, I will be interested to see what the price for him ends up being....I want him back at something reasonable, but you're right to fear what the 3b market will net for him..that I grant.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 10:11 AM) Which is the exact reason I actually hope they stay away from Youkilis. Hmm...you may be right, but I just feel like last year showed us a few things about Youk. Boston fans painted him as hopelessly done, but it is always interesting to me when I see a statistical spike FOLLOWING something that could've been a source of motivation. Motivation is talked about endlessly in the abstract, but if a player responds after a career-testing event...it gives you some evidence he may have a fair amount left. And in this, I consider his injuries in BOS, not just Valentine.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 5, 2012 -> 10:04 AM) You guys might flame me for this, but I wouldn't mind Jack Hannahan at all. He's a lefty, and a Hannahan/Morel platoon would be drastically better than Morel alone. Both players play solid defense (Hannahan is better) and can get hot, especially when always hitting with the platoon advantage. Don't get me wrong, it needs to be a fallback option, but it's emerged as a really solid one, I think. And, I'll also point out that if this happens, I'd expect them to make an upgrade elsewhere with the cost/trade chip savings. I will say this-- I'd rather spend a million on someone like JH and platoon if I'm not totally confident in paying one of these other options. Much like when we signed Orlando Hudson....the deal was so low risk that it simply acted as a placeholder til something better (Youk) made itself available to us. Were we to overpay for something very mediocre right now, I'd be sadder. The thing is...there may be some level of concern that Morel's back makes him a question mark even for platooning. It sounds like a total wildcard regarding how much they can even count on him.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 4, 2012 -> 07:40 PM) That works both ways... Good and bad. I suppose. Career years from CF, RF, C spots. Sort of a career year from LF, and an aging 1B. We absolutely have to see 3B as a place to make some hey for whatever dropoffs are expected in those slots. Really I just see SS as the place to get some bounce back from '12-- but not a ton.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 4, 2012 -> 07:26 PM) The Sox were still doing OK with a worthless Morel and then Hudson in 2011. Hannahan/Morel would be depressing, without a doubt but still an upgrade over the first half of 2011, But the biggest mistake people make is assume they can expect repeat years from year to year.......from anyone. Thus, we need to upgrade wherever possible, because the drop off in production we'll get from--whoever, De Aza, Rios, catcher spot-- has to be offset at least SOME.

AJ pitch blocking really has taken a turn for the worst

ptatc, maybe you can respond in whatever non-baseball thread we have here......but what things do you keep in mind when evaluating an ACL-tear player returning to NFL (Adrian Peterson) vs. returning to NBA (Derrick Rose) takes longer in basketball due to hardfloor vs. grass/turf? more jumping for longer continuous periods of time?

It has to be said, this franchise has actually been really really lucky extending older players like Paulie and AJ, and not getting burned by their mid-30s seasons. But you can only play with fire so long on that one. It is Flowers time.

Flowers should want to play. It's a good thing. What's sad (really in the whole sports world) is the amount of talented young guys that come in without any desire to ..play