chitownsportsfan

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 9, 2017 -> 03:19 PM) considering 2/3 of the lineup hasn't seen an MLB pitch, odds are it would be a poor lineup. Yea but with beer coming around every 3rd inning or more it will numb the pain. More seriously, hopefully half the guys on that list pan out.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Mar 7, 2017 -> 09:42 PM) To start the season I'm thinking something like this. Rotation: Q, Rodon, Gonzalez, Holland, Shields Pen: Robertson, Jones, Jennings, Petricka, Putnam, Soto and Covey as the long man. Lineup: LF- Melky CF- May (RHP) Bourjos (LHP) RF- Asche (RHP) Avi (LHP) DH- Abreu (RHP) 1B- Delmonico (RHP) Abreu (LHP) 2B- Saladino (can backup Frazier at 3B ) 3B- Frazier SS- Anderson C - Narvaez/Soto This leaves one spot open on the bench so I'd go with Yolmer at this point. I think May makes the team thanks to Tilson's inability to stay healthy and Delmonico makes it due to a nice ST and his LHB. That's my take for now but could/probably will change as we move closer to the end of ST. Thank goodness baseball is back. That's a pretty damn brutal defensive lineup. Will def help the tank brigade but not the pitching.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Mar 7, 2017 -> 06:06 PM) I guess that means the Sox are putting Kopeck at Birmingham? I thought they'd at least have him start the year with the Dash. If he even has a modicum of command on his fastball at 96-100 and one off speed offering he can throw occasionally for a strike he's too advanced for high A IMO -- and won't learn much there. AA hitters will challenge him to throw his off speed stuff for strikes and a few of them will turn his fastball around and make him locate it.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Mar 7, 2017 -> 05:57 PM) Well this thread sucks and I instantly regret creating it lol it was worth it just for the Shields bashing. I f***ing hate that guy. FWIW he was arrogant as f*** during the games I went to in Phoenix last week. Didn't sign any autographs, didn't acknowledge the fans, and generally just looked like he had a stick up his ass the entire game.

Basabe is certainly the wild card in the Sale trade. If he turns into a solid starting CF there's very little to complain about even if Kopech and Moncada don't turn into stars but only solid regulars themselves. The Sox have been killed by having too many "scrubs" a long with their stars. League average production out of CF starting in say 2019 would be a god send for this club.

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Mar 7, 2017 -> 04:18 PM) Sox were not very good last year so it is not going to far out on a limb to suggest that they might be better this year. If you just look at the 2016 Opening Day roster it is not hard to imagine that, even without Sale and Eaton, this team could be somewhat of an improvement. There have been a lot of additions by subtraction off of that 2016 roster: John Danks, Matt Latos, Matt Albers, Austin Jackson (given that he did not play most of the year), Jimmy Rollins, Brett Lawrie... And Robertson, who blew a lot of critical leads and games will likely be traded before too long. It's laughable the team was looking to contend trotting out Rollins, Danks, Latos and Jackson in retrospect. Albers, whatever (middle reliever) but going into the season with Rollins and Jackson and Danks as major pieces was serious fan level wishcasting on the part of the FO. Hahn definitely deserves critique for that.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Mar 7, 2017 -> 01:28 PM) I'm not too concerned about the Sox finding suitors for Robertson mid season if he is healthy and performing as he is capable of. Sox could always kick in some cash to land a nice package? Doubt that any team contending would even ask for cash considering his deal is well below market rate for a league average closer. That said, it wouldn't hurt. I'd think if they paid some freight (say $6 million) they could get a B prospect back instead of a couple C+ types. Maybe an ORG's 6-10 ranked guy plus a lotto ticket type at best.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 6, 2017 -> 04:48 PM) Thanks for the report! no problem, it was a blast down there. Early spring is def the time to go. Oh, one thing I forgot, we sat behind probably the most knowledgeable rangers fan you'll ever meet. He relayed numerous conversations he had with their management this spring. He goes to the practices and s*** on his days off. Real superfan, only 21. The fans down there are for the most part engaged in the games, plus, there's plenty of eye candy otherwise.

Hit up three games, two the Sox played in. Compared to when I went in '14, Abreu was incredibly relaxed and loose. Was joking around with the guys pregame, donned a skullcap under his hat and just really appeared at ease. When not playing, Collins was working in the bullpen quite a bit with the pitchers and coaches, obviously the kid wants to stick at catcher and the sox are providing him that opportunity. Avi hit one of his patented two choppers to 2nd, then as he was going out to the field Steverson stopped him and they chatted for a minute, looked like from the hand motions Steverson was making it known he wanted avi to pull the damn ball. After this happened I yelled (was about 80 feet away): "todd, teach that guy to hit, and he looked at me and shrugged. I laughed out loud so did a couple sox fans around me. Renteria looked like a kid in a candy shop, he was chatting with the fans way more then robin, I think the job wore RV down, we'll see how Renteria handles it. Moncada was electric from what I saw. Built like Mike Trout and runs like him too. He came up 2nd to last in the top of the 9th in the game yesterday (sell out against the Dbacks, 13K in the house) and probably half the people left just wanted to see him hit, as soon as he popped out quite a few sox fans got up, including us, and left. Good overall showing from the Sox fans (didn't get to camelback this year) throughout the parks and Valley. So many damn Cubs fans. One local "the f***ing cubs fans have ruined spring training" As we walked out my buddy had on a Byrant shirt and the usher goes "104 more years!" Ha. Sox played nice crisp defense in the IF other than Davidson, who you just hope can not be butcher level bad. There was a wide throw on a double play ball from Anderson I saw but all the routine plays were made in both games I saw, at least when the starters were in. Jose looks a little lighter to me this year. Engel looked good in OF, May not so much. Lopez has a very smooth delivery and the D-Backs didn't hit him very hard. Wasn't blowing it by guys but was working ahead. probably some things I'm forgetting but we did a lot of drinking so forgive me. If I remember anything else interesting I'll add it.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Mar 5, 2017 -> 05:46 PM) How did Lopez look? His stats in the box score look good. He looked solid not blowing it by guys but worked ahead and not too much hard contact against a decent spring lineup for the diamond backs. Delmonico put s charge into one in the 9th, hit off the top of the wall in center for a triple.

At the game, may took an awful route on that ball, should have been an out. Game getting sloppy now, wild pitch offense for d backs.

Was at the game, Moncada looked explosive. Ball jumps off his bat and he is faster than advertised imo. He really is built like Trout, he is going to be fun.

ate the passport, crazy.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Mar 1, 2017 -> 01:58 AM) That's cool you say this. I agree. You are out on a limb here, though. My feeling reading the board is very few people want our prospects anywhere near the major league roster anytime soon. If Lopez and Moncada aren't on the MLB roster by July it's not a good sign. Giolito it would be nice to see a cameo from in late summer and September. Kopech? Kopech shouldn't sniff the bigs this year, perhaps even if he's the 2nd coming of Kerry Wood in AA. Fulmer? Hopefully he forces his way up by August. He's a 4th starter at best imo though. Not as exciting as the others mentioned.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 05:30 PM) If people freak out about a guy who is 20 pitching in an early spring training game, they are nuts. No one expects Kopech to be even close to the big league roster at this point. If anything, I'd think people should be excited that he flashed some plus curves and obviously demonstrated that his velocity is real. This guys aren't even really trying to get guys out. They are working on pitches. Your post is spot on.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 02:51 PM) Do you even know who you're talking about anymore? Wilson Alvarez?

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 03:10 PM) What does Alvarez do for us though? He is marginally better than replacement level with limited upside Our intention is to TANK the next 2 seasons, why bother making additions like him? bingo.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 01:37 PM) I think there is a good chance he sees more time at 1B this year with Abreu at DH. Especially if Moncada tears up AAA and needs a spot in the infield (if Lawrie/Frazier isn't gone yet, Lawrie plays 3B). I forgot what paper I was reading where the article mentioned the 2B battle being between Lawrie and Saladino. Say if Saladino were to win the starting job at 2B, would they cut Lawrie since they would be on the hook for like 1/4 his salary (similar to when they tendered Viciedo a contract)? I don't see much upside in Lawrie personally but maybe there's a chance he could regain some value and could be traded for a A ball lotto ticket or something in mid summer. Hope to see Sally get at least 400 PA this year wherever he plays. I think Sally could be a 3 WAR player, I really do. Anybody know the situation with Lawrie's contract?

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 01:34 PM) Even for just 1 year? It's not like they'd be trading for a guy with a bad contract and 4 years left and over 30. IMO it would be best to let him play at 1B 2-3 times a week. Heck, I'd suggest the Sox do it, seeing how Salidino can cover. I think it will help his bat.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 01:32 PM) Frazier makes sense for them as an option at 3B or 1B really. I think any team looking to trade for him has to consider that his time at 3B is limited.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 01:25 PM) Do third baseman have rapid early breakdowns as often or more often than catchers? It sure as hell seems like it has cut a lot of careers short but thats probably just anecdotal because I have seen in on our club. I think it's the stress on the core with all the reaction based dives and pegs. It must take a tremendous toll after 1000 or so games in the bigs, plus all the ground balls you're taking in practice.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 10:59 AM) I know Gordo had some hype, but never top of the heap. Beckham was rated #20 by BA, which was much than most other services FWIW. Frank was rated #29 by BA. RV was rated #15 by BA. So, no, the Sox have not had a even a top 10 position player prospect, let alone universally top #3 and in some lists #1. I looked briefly last night before posting that, and that was what the edit was. Initially I compared him to Frank, but Frank ascended once he got into MLB and hit the cover off the ball -- as a prospect he was merely "very good" not elite.

QUOTE (OnlyGillis @ Feb 27, 2017 -> 11:57 PM) He's picked right up where he left off in September. I'd love to know what he hit against curve balls in AA as a lefty since that is supposed to be his strong side.. What he have, a whopping 20 PA at age 21 in MLB? Just a protip for Sox fans: we haven't had a position player prospect this highly rated by every service since probably...well, ever. Relax. Let the kid develop. His bat is gonna play. If he can make more plays like he did today at 2B he's a star.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 27, 2017 -> 03:46 PM) I hope on 2/27 he isn't at max velocity Damn this might be the first post I agree with you. No reason to be going all out right now.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Feb 27, 2017 -> 03:44 PM) Whoever owns the broadcast rights could try and stop them. I havent read a ticket in a while, but I assume that there is something that prohibits this. When I was at Camelback a couple years ago the ushers were very friendly and encouraged everyone to get as close as they liked regardless of what ticket you had, but one thing they were strict on was videotaping. There were notices behind the plate about it.