chitownsportsfan

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 16, 2014 -> 09:08 PM) Hope we're not back to "tip your cap" time again with the offense. At least Abreu and Eaton provide hope/spark. They really need Eaton back. It makes a huge difference having him on base 1-3 times a game for the middle of the order. Beckham and company just aren't cutting it. I'd really like to see against RHP Eaton, Conor, Jose, Dunn, Viciedo, Ramirez. that's a pretty damn good top 5.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ May 16, 2014 -> 09:02 PM) Gordon's even looking better on his flyouts recently. lol at Hawk, "that ball hit deep into RF". Ha, it was about 40 feet in front of the track.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 16, 2014 -> 08:57 PM) Hard to believe Flowers is still at .310. He'll be at .255 by the break. The only guy that will be lucky to sniff 300 out of that trio is probably Viciedo, if he keeps up his new found approach. Ramirez will finish around 270-280 and Flowers, yea, he'll be at .255. Flowers' little BABIP hot streak probably saved his career as a starter IMO. He'll finish the year around 255/300/380 and he'll have another year as the starting catcher in Chicago.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 16, 2014 -> 04:59 PM) Anything is possible, and yes. The MLB draft really is so much of a crapshoot that the team could easily have a scout or two saying "for the love of god don't take this guy" and go somewhere else. It might well even work. Yea but there is a very clear top 3 this year and the Sox (imo) would be foolish not to draft Aiken or Krolek because they are high school arms. These are guys that are at the top of what is widely regarded as a pretty good draft for a reason. Krolek, under the Sox' tutelage, could be ready in '17 -- by then the Sox should be well back to competing if Hahn continues his work and they can work him in slowly without him being "the savior".

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 16, 2014 -> 05:06 PM) I can agree with this. I also would respect a manager who is willing to tell him no. Yea I'm a little confused. Robin tells the media he's going to get a day off then he doesn't get a day off. I don't care either way but you can't say something publicly then not do it, that's just bad for everyone. Either keep it in the clubhouse or do what you say you're going to do. As for Jose, he's the man, that simple.

Abreu is out most likely, need Dunn and Konerko to step it up.

QUOTE (Knuckles @ May 16, 2014 -> 01:35 PM) So game got rained out Yep, can't catch a break with these injuries, now him and Sale are both set back another day.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 16, 2014 -> 08:52 AM) I think he will if the right deal comes along. I don't think he will be moved for a rios type package Here is a good writeup about what the Sox could do from Fangraphs: http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/micah-joh...owded-keystone/ I don't really share their enthusiasm wrt to Beckham, but they make a compelling case that somebody might overpay for him out of desperation. The AL contenders aren't exactly over flowing with competent 2B.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 15, 2014 -> 09:28 PM) Exactly on the salary dump regarding Rios. L. Garcia looks like one of the worst hitters around, but I'll never criticize it cause we got rid of Rios. (I can't believe Sox are already 10 out in the loss column. Division race for Sox is ova. I don't know how anybody else could think otherwise). so what there are 2 wildcards now. this team can compete this year imo if things start breaking their way health wise. Regression should work both ways (pitching and offense) so IF Sale comes back strong, stays strong, Johnson returns, and Eaton/Abreu/Ramirez stay healthy this team could stick around well into August, maybe even until the end. I've revised my win total up from like 75 to 78-80 for this team. It's too bad Garcia is out for the year, he coulda pushed them into a 2nd WC contention imo.

Dick Allen -- Gordon is about to get much more expensive and given the Sox have compete log jam of guys that project as good or better than Gordon what exactly are you looking for the Sox to do? He's playing everyday, isn't that good enough? He's either going to continue to play either day, be pretty good, get traded for a legit prospect or -- he's going to continue to play everyday, suck, and get traded for a bag of balls to a desperate team like the Yankees. Hit future in Chicago is not long, no matter what he does. It's partly his fault and partly just the reality of finally having some near MLB ready infield prospects. Now, by all means, if Gordon turns into Chase Utley KEEP HIM. I''m talking like in late July he's hitting 300/350/500 then maybe you reconsider his future as a Sox.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ May 15, 2014 -> 02:13 PM) I said if he can stay healthy I'll like it. But with his style and what we've seen so far that doesn't look good. On the flip side Santiago isn't doing any better but I do believe he would have developed differently here. Regardless what he does my like or dislike for it depends on what Eaton will do. I don't think so, and in fact what probably happened is Cooper whispered in Hahn's ear that there wasn't much more he felt they could do with Hector and to trade him while the getting was good.

Only obvious mistake is Keppinger and he was quick to realize it and be done with him. He's done an excellent job especially getting Conor, Eaton and Garcia and Abreu to completely revitalize our position player MLB talent level. Hector Santiago over his last 180 IP as a starter has a FIP of about 5. Hahn freaking nailed that trade. There is zero reason to think otherwise.

This is almost certainly a hot little fluke run from Gordon, he has like 1200 PA in MLB and his body of work is not good. That said, I hope he continues to mash. We could use a fluke on the positive side for once.

QUOTE (beautox @ May 15, 2014 -> 02:14 PM) I've been saying this going back to last year if Conor can develop against LHP respectably, he has the opportunity to develop into a left handed version of Michael Cuddyer and could be a 1.5-3WAR(PEAK) player. At the very least he has a great role on this team going forward on the bench heading into next year. If Conor Gillaspie gives the Sox 6-8 WAR over the next 4 years I don't think anyone will complain. He cost them nothing to acquire and isn't even arb eligible until 2016. For a guy that doesn't hit with much power he takes a good number of walks, which really enhances his value offensively.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 15, 2014 -> 02:01 PM) Kind of like how Hahn signed Keppinger for three years and then backed out before he stepped on the field for his second year? Hahn is a leader because he owns his mistake and pulls the cord on it but Law is a dumbass because he recanted his initial Abreu opinion... This industry isn't an easy one that's east to project. It's not as if Chris Sale went #1, he went #13 and twelve other teams passed on him. It's easy to tell why Law isn't employed in MLB anymore and has been relegated to the chattering classes. Can't imagine his hubris playing well in the front office. I love what Hahn has done so far and this move just cements that feeling. Also, good job by KW realizing it was best for him to move upstairs and hand it off to Hahn.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 15, 2014 -> 08:16 AM) Gillaspie is a platoon player. He should never face LHP. Yes, as I stated in another post in this thread, I agree. That said, he's the vastly better side of a 3B platoon, batting left at 3B is a huge bonus and if he continues to rake against RHP he should be a big part of the future at 3B. He'll turn 27 in July so the next 3-5 years will be his prime and the Sox are going to have a very cheap, good player on their hands hopefully.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 15, 2014 -> 12:01 PM) Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 5m Jose Abreu has shed about 15 pounds since beginning of season. Down a pant size, conditioning coach Allen Thomas said. He's still a big man. When he signed for me in the spring he appeared a little bloated. Maybe he's off the sauce like Miggy...

QUOTE (Jake @ May 15, 2014 -> 01:12 AM) You're practically guaranteeing his future as a bench player if you restrict him to occasional starts against LHP Well right now he's the odd man out due to a number of factors. Hopefully Gordon plays himself off the team in the form of a legit prospect and Semian is the full time 2B the rest of the way. But until then I think you gotta start Conor and Gordon most days.

gillaspie has a wRC+ of 134 verse RHB and a wRC+ of 40 against LHP. He and Semian should be in a strict platoon. Semien's future might well be as a utility player so I see no harm in getting him innings at 3B as much as possible, even if it hurts this year's team a bit.

QUOTE (Charlie Haeger's Knuckles @ May 14, 2014 -> 04:47 PM) Valid points all around, which is corroborated by the Sox front office having to go to the waiver wire to find a warm body to play while Eaton is on the DL. That's a rip on Jordan Danks, not De Aza...

Conor Gillaspie is quietly putting together a very good season. He's been solid with the glove and he's doing what he needs to do at the plate to be a MLB regular. That was a freaking steal by Hahn. The guy always had 1st round talent, just needed a place to find it. If he turns into a good player for us I will give Ventura a lot of credit.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ May 14, 2014 -> 06:25 PM) I like Johnson, I think he rounds out for us nicely. Yea Johnson has way better stuff on paper than Rienzo, at least when his velocity is above 90. Hopefully his velocity comes back soon and he's back up. Carroll's pixie dust has ran out.

QUOTE (raBBit @ May 14, 2014 -> 06:14 PM) 14.1 straight innings for Belisario without an ER. I like Hahn's approach to the pen, it's for the most part same as KW, you don't pay for "proven" anything cause some random dude like belly is way cheaper and can give you just the same production. Unless of course you have an elite team on paper and you have money to burn, it's not worth it to spend on the pen.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 14, 2014 -> 12:29 AM) Not that it matters, but Robin picked a weird time to call out the team the other day. Why didn't he just call out DeAza? DeAza is who he was talking about. Maybe he sensed some long losing streak and tried to stem it off before it began spiraling out of control. I guess I can't fault him for that but I'd rather have seen him just blast DeAza. or you know he could say nothing at all. It's one thing to send a message to a team expected to contend but really, ripping the guys for coming out flat against a very good oakland team after a 1 run loss? It just doesn't jive with reality. If you want to discipline De Aza do it in house and say he had a leg thing. Robin doesn't have the gravitas to do this s*** it's like Bobby V the players after awhile will resent it and that's not good. I'm not defending De Aza either but it's up to the manager to push the right buttons and Ventura doesn't seem to push any of them -- whether that's with the media, in the clubhouse, or in the games.

Looking at that lineup makes me depressed. Man it would be nice to have more than 1/3rd of our opening day OF healthy.