chitownsportsfan

Spring training starts 3 weeks from Monday!

they both have about as much chance of posting a positive WAR next year as I do. CF is Leury's for now.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 18, 2018 -> 01:24 PM) The owner of the Athletic wasn't kidding when he said they will suck the papers dry of the best talent. The problems are obviously myriad for the traditional newspapers but IMO they hastened their own demise by cutting their talent rather than doubling down. The Athletic is actually paying for premium talent and attracts a readership because it's worth paying for. SSS has been a wasteland since Jim left so the best Sox coverage will be here and at the Athletic this year. I'm not sure how much actual reporting Jim will be doing at Sox Machine. He mostly is just a "reaction" guy now. Only Future Sox and the Athletic consistently have access to and talk to Sox players and personnel.

QUOTE (GenericUserName @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 06:02 PM) IIRC there were questions about his speed because it was above average to plus when he was in Cuba and they thought if he filled out he might slow down to average speed. But once he got out of Cuba and got better training and I'm assuming much better nutrition/supplementation, he had times that were plus-plus or even 80 based on some times. So it looks like what happened is scouts thought he might slow down when he filled out, but instead he put on muscle and got faster. one of the absolute dumbest tropes in baseball scouting. There isn't a single scout in any other pro sport that thinks guys will slow down as they add muscle. That's just something out of like 1960 thinking. As if they are just training biceps! Come on.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Jan 17, 2018 -> 05:26 PM) Not sure how they can say that this early. Avi Garcia was a "5-tool center fielder" at one point too. It kinda makes me question the scouting on this guy if all of a sudden he's gone from a corner type with average speed to a CF with above average or even borderline great speed. Like, are the stopwatches in Cuba subject to time dilation? You'd think the one thing they could pin down would be his running ability. He's what, 19, so it's not like he's developed a ton from a 14 year old kid since the time of those reports last year. Maybe he was injured and is now 100%? That's the only thing I can think of that would result in such a scouting report change on his speed.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 16, 2018 -> 07:29 PM) Stat line https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/germego01.shtml http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...&position=P he had 28 walks (three of those IBB) in 40 and 2/3 innings in his last MLB action in 2016 with the Rockies. Who says you can't walk to Japan?

Some tidbits from the article on the Athletic: I'd highly suggest subscribing. It's worth the $5/m and if you buy a year it's cheaper. There's more good stuff in the article on Moncada, Micker, Eloy etc. https://theathletic.com/213760/2018/01/16/l...y-on-instagram/

That's a great goal and glad to see he's been around the facilities this off season but I'd be thrilled if he finishes in AA this year and is on the "Eloy Path" from 2017.

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 12, 2018 -> 05:00 PM) I honestly believe Hahn is looking for one big FA signing or trade this off season to ease the heavy lifting for next off season. To do EVERYTHING right as you expect to contend is difficult to do. I think he's looking to buy assets that are undervalued and is kicking the tires and sniffing around any potential deal that offers that opportunity. Salaries seem highly suppressed this offseason. If the Sox can take advantage of what appears to a near historical lack of FA interest they should do so.

I'm not complaining but man the players really need to get their s*** together in the next CBA negotiations.

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Jan 12, 2018 -> 02:50 PM) If Rodon refined fastball command he could top out at 92 and be a TOR starter with his slider. As we saw with Danks, it's not just diminished velocity it's also diminished control and command. I honestly don't think he can be effective at 92, his fastball command was horse s*** even before he was hurt.

Anytime a pitcher has shoulder surgery and misses most of two seasons there is a non zero chance his career is irrevocably altered for the worse. Rodon is relatively young and the Sox obviously have a great record at rehabbing pitchers and keeping them as healthy as you possibly can -- but shoulder surgery and missing almost two years is what it is. It's not good and expecting him to come back 100% is naive imo.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jan 12, 2018 -> 01:34 PM) Realistically he will likely be ready by June the earliest. I wouldn't be surprised if they wait as long as August to get him going. There is no reason to rush him back in a developmental season in which the 2018 campaign will most definitely be. Hopefully Fulmer can take advantage of this opportunity and turn some heads this year. This is a very important year for him . Personally I think his career as a TOR starter is over. I don't trust what the Sox are selling about the surgery. I think he'll probably be a reliever by the time he's on his first FA deal. It looked like a great pick at the time but I don't think it's going to work out for the Sox or Rodon how they expected.

Not exactly an encouraging report: He's on the dreaded "there's no timetable for his return" it appears. Sox do not expect him to be ready by April.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 02:41 PM) Miguel is OK by me. How were his peripherals before I decide whether he's good or not. I don't despise him or anything. As far as Shields/Opening Day. Geez. If he pitches Opening Day it's telling the world and our fans: "The White Sox wish to tank one more season. Please bear with us as we tank. And please enjoy your 25 dollar parking and 10 dollar beer. We are allowed to charge that while giving you James Shields one more season before we get good. That is all." And you wonder why people think you're a troll. Stop trolling, and maybe people will stop calling you a troll. And FYI his peripherals aren't very good, which is why he's a 5th starter on a one year 4.5 million dollar deal. Best case the Sox flip him for a lotto ticket in July.

Info from Fangraphs via the 2016 Padres prospect report: Relevant/Interesting Metrics Produced average exit velocity of just 83.6 mph in small major-league sample. League average was 89. Scouting Report Rondon plays a dynamite shortstop with above-average range, arm and athleticism that lead to some acrobatic plays. He also has plus bat speed. But Rondon’s load is both excessively high and excessively deep (which should have been the tagline for Deep Blue Sea for several reasons you can infer for yourself), which leads to weak contact and tardy swings. He projects as a below-average regular for me by virtue of the fact that he can play an above-average shortstop, but some don’t think the defense is good enough to balance out Rondon’s punchless offensive projection and consider him more of a utility man. That’s still a solid return for the relief combo plate San Diego traded to acquire Rondon from Anaheim. KATOH+ Projection for first six years: 2.6 WAR There's a bit more on him at he link, scroll all the way down he's #20. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/prospect-re...n-diego-padres/ Seems like a slap hitting utility guy. Meh. I'd probably rather have just kept the spot open.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 9, 2018 -> 02:02 PM) I have no interest at ALL in a dick measuring contest with you. God forbid someone point out that the random, free, lost-year bullpen flyer that the White Sox picked up might have some reasons for hope in his peripherals. If you have to pick up random dudes for your pen so that Dylan Covey doesn't have to pitch all year, it's smart to buy low on a guy with better peripherals than results. Why can't you bring yourself to admit that? I refuse to believe that you are incapable of understanding the BASICS of probability. Mathematics factually proves that pitchers with the numbers that Joakim Soria had last year are MORE LIKELY to improve (assuming health) than those that do not. Nothing, anywhere, EVER has suggested that it's LOCK that Joakim Soria improves. A guessing game, therefore, means nothing. If he sucks because you guessed he would suck based on nothing at all, it doesn't make you smart or correct about anything useful. If Soria becomes the best reliever in the league, it will not prove that low FIP always leads to improvement. No matter what happens, it will just be another data point contributing to a general trend that currently, whether or not Soria ultimately strengthens or weakens the argument, shows that low-FIP pitchers are more likely to improve. I know you love to contradict everything I say, though, so I'm sure you'll reply again with something that either (1) quibbles with some specific component of what is above, despite the fact that it doesn't change the argument at all, to try to get me away from my point, or (2) presents absolutely no useful information, likely including a snide comment about biased moderators or making some pathetic "wager" involving comment signatures like we're a couple of s***ty third graders on a playground. If that's what you need to do, go ahead. It won't change the tiny, non-controversial anecdote of a claim that all of us are making that there may be some hope to Soria in the numbers. And I know that you understand it, even if you pretend not to. well damn.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jan 8, 2018 -> 08:13 PM) What position was that? The trade was between two teams at the bottom of their division. It was just a bad trade for White Sox. hindsight is 20/20 but at the time the Sox were a surprise early contender and were 1.5 games out of the WC and 4 back in the division. It wasn't at all obvious that they were out of it and management picked the wrong lane. And Tatis Jr was a random lotto ticket. But the point really isn't how bad Shields is or how great Tatis looks the point is know where you are on your win curve and try and avoid situations like 2016 where you're not sure.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Jan 8, 2018 -> 06:34 PM) When a team is a clear contender you can make those risks of dealing top prospects to try and win in the short term. We just are not close enough to contention to even be thinking about dealing from our farm though. We still need another full season or two of rebuilding before we can start getting aggressive. An obvious example is the James Shields trade. We never, ever want to be a position to do that again.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 8, 2018 -> 05:58 PM) Hypothetically, if you were in the Astros position and Verlander never became available, and you lost the ALCS this year, would you be saying the same thing? That it was correct to hold onto the prospects rather than go for a pitcher to put you over the top? Their own players were questioning why they didn't come away at the trade deadline with a starter. The need was obvious last offseason. I'd call that a risk I have no interest in taking. If trading someone who could be a star after 2019 wins us the 2020 trophy, I will be much more content with the trophy than the prospect. It was a calculated risk and Verlander performed beyond even what my most homer Tigers fans from Michigan predicted. So in that sense they got lucky. If he was just mediocre for them or blew a couple playoff starts the risk look worse. My position is that this is why GMs get paid well and don't sleep much. It's hard to say WHEN exactly you need to start taking risks like this and when it's time to simply do nothing. I think the clubhouse reacting how it did to the lack of movement at the deadline spurred them somewhat to action. How amazingly well that action played out certainly had an element of luck. lol. Tragically we have the 2010-2016 Sox to remind us of our own domboing -- or perhaps Williamsing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 8, 2018 -> 05:37 PM) Honestly? They got LUCKY. Anyone here who saw Verlander being both dominant enough to earn his contract and available because the Tigers otherwise fell apart going into last season? That deal doesn't happen and the Astros don't have the ammunition to win it. Yea they did get pretty lucky, but it was a "preparation meets opportunity" style break. If you're in position to vulture from clubs looking to just get out from under a veteran contract you should try and take advantage, as they did.

QUOTE (whitesox91403 @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 07:12 PM) Don’t post much but this thread baffles med. people are really complaining about getting two relievers that may or may not be good, in a rebuild year? If they do well they get traded furthering the rebuild and if they don’t, who cares because it’s a rebuild year? And all it cost was Jake Peter? I’d say Rick did fine here. People just like to b**** and moan or be contratian. I get it to a degree but there's no downside here Peter was never, ever going to contribute in a big role on a Sox team with Moncada at 2B and there is no long term commitment to either of these relievers.

QUOTE (wrathofhahn @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 06:12 PM) I mean I sort of understand the owners sentiment. He has been rolling with a 160 ish payroll as a small market club. Why continue to maintain those numbers in a rebuild. The more I think about the less likely it's to clear money for Hosmer. This is probably a directive from Moore to cut payroll. Don't be surprised if Duffy and Herrara are moved as well. The problem is pretty much all their top talent are FA and those that remain are coming off down years with the exception of Duffy. Hard to see them getting much for Herrara. Kennedy and Gordon are untradable. Hammel was awful. It's been said quite a bit but it's really nice that just as the Sox look like they have a really solid foundation starting probably in 2019 or 2020 the Tigers and Royals are going to be absolutely awful. Minny we'll see but the Sox are going to make a lot of hay against bad Detroit and KC teams.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 06:00 PM) Guys who come to mind... Martin Prado, Kelvin Herrera, Matt Kemp, Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir, Jacob Ellsbury,... Yea keep talking, especially with the Dodgers.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 05:41 PM) We essentially given a free solid LH reliever to take Soria. We had to give up a guy that we would have let anyone in MLB have for $100k a month ago. If we got another deal like that, you are danged right the White Sox should look at it. Hell they should be asking how much prospect stock the Dodgers would be willing to spend to take Kemp off of their hands. Hell they should be looking around MLB for situations of the same ilk in other teams. No kidding. Leverage what they have and that's payroll space and a "free" season to evaluate and pump and dump or just dump. Hahn has been on fire with these type of moves. Most of the Royals fan reaction seems to be "we sold way too low here" and if we are that desperate to clear payroll we're in trouble.