chitownsportsfan

OK Abreu has a toe problem, apparently minor but pinch runner please.

that little toe rock Q does would annoy the s*** out of me trying to time him. I wonder if it adds some timing problems for hitters, can't hurt. Looks like he's ready to start his windup and then it's really half a beat later.

That is a nasty breaking ball. True 12-6 movement.

LOL at the shots of some of the pitching staff working out behind Avi. Crain on the elliptical working up a nice shine and some goofball doing really poor form dumbell curls and presses behind Avi. The pitchers on our DIII team were def the guys least likely to be found pumping iron. Something about them just doesn't lend to serious weight training. Avi however looks pretty cut. Massive shoulders.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 06:23 PM) I mean, he just made 20 million bucks If we're being honest, it's a great deal for anyone I never get these deals from the players' perspectives. Why not just take out an insurance policy on yourself? Yea it's not gonna pay out 43 million potentially but it's also going to give you something in the worst case scenario health wise. He has a slightly better year (same rate stats 20 more games played) than last year he could have gotten 60-80 imo.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 04:52 PM) I understand that, but the KC model wouldn't be as en vogue if Lester hadn't blown a 4 run lead in the 8th inning of the WC game. How come you make so much sense in some posts but so little in others?????

From what I've seen Micah hangs in there pretty well against LHP. Seems to have an opposite field approach. God, Hawk ranting already, just said a fast runner changes the game more than a HR. And Micah gets picked off, lol.

Hahn making the obvious point to Hawk that if you have a better offense suddenly your pen looks a helluva lot better holding a 3 run lead instead of a 1 run lead.

Oooh! Adam Eaton just got a 5 year deal with 2 year club option! Nice.

Hahn interview now.

And that ground ball is how Avi manages a .330 BABIP with ground ball tendencies. His ground balls tend to be smoked and up the middle.

Man you guys have thin skin. Maybe it's living in such close proximity to the toilet itself and their fans! Seriously though who gives a crap bout a spring training lineup? I can guarantee pretty much every player is ready to head north almost 5 weeks into spring and Maddon is just giving some guys a day off.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 10:52 PM) Want some company? Have not thought about where I'll be watching the opener but seeing as how the opener is quickly approaching I should start thinking more about it. Yea all my friends are mariner or tiger fans (I live in Seattle now) so nobody to watch Sox games with. Even during the opener I'll be half doing something else while I'm watching. Prolly dicking around on Soxtalk and the net. The game can be exciting, but we all know it's hardly much see TV pitch to pitch until the playoffs of pennant race time. Especially with the convenience of MLB.tv replay options.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 11:08 PM) Freakin New York City I used to go to this place on 5th ave in park slope to watch the games sometime, the name of the bar is the address can't remember exactly now. Ah 200 fifth that's it. Not a bad place if you're around that area. Should be a good crown on opening day.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 09:58 AM) Not every prospect lights up AAA before going to the majors. Some even skip it entirely. I do agree that the walk rate is something he'll need to keep up, but to be clear, he's hovered around 8% the past couple years. It's going to be hard for him to walk much just because guys are going to attack him until he proves he can drive a MLB fastball. Same problem Flowers and Beckham have. Beckham actually has a solid outside zone swing % for his career but why would you nibble with Beckham? Hopefully Micah can prove he has some pop in his bat.

I don't think all of Beckham's contract is guaranteed. One year deals are a little different I have searched far and wide for details but come up mostly empty. I'm guessing maybe like 750k or something is guaranteed. If he gets cut before the opener he almost certainly won't make 2 million.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 05:27 PM) On April 1, the Sox either need to add him to the roster, cut him, or give him a $100,000 bonus to report to the minor leagues. I think he will be cut. Yea and they will have to make room on the 40 man right? I just don't see it. Unless they cut Beckham and add Penny I'd be down for that just for the LUOLZ.

I will be taking the off off and parked in front of my modest 42" HDTV with a huge ass joint and a beer.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 10:40 AM) Keep in mind Brad Penny hasn't been good since Gordon Beckham was in college, and will be 37 years old in a couple of months. If he starts games for the White Sox, chances are they will lose and the bullpen will get a workout. Yea I looked at his b-ref page. This guy hasn't been good in like 5 years. In fact, he hasn't even been "useful bad" in like 5 years. Typical spring fluff, nothing more, nothing less. I'd rather have Noesi.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 12:15 AM) I think you shortchange Sanchez a bit. I would not put him in with Bonifacio and Beckham as you do, calling them "known commodities." This works both for and against Sanchez. If Sanchez is anything like the (younger-than-Johnson) guy he was last year in AAA, which seems to be ruled out as an impossibility by most, he'd be an excellent choice at 2B and would never get pushed off the spot except to (possibly) move to SS. There's intriguing upside with Sanchez and, more importantly, a fair amount of mystery. More nit-picky, I think Johnson having "far more speed" than Sanchez is probably a stretch. Maybe not literally so much as the extent to which it makes for a meaningful difference between these two players. I'm also inclined to believe that Sanchez is such a far superior defender to Johnson that this aspect is not being adequately considered, but I'll admit to seeing very little of Johnson's D. More generally, I'm concerned about Johnson's poor production in AAA and his general up-and-down production that is typically only "up" when his age compares favorably with his competition. I also think that a bad run in MLB is not harmless, but rather that a stretch of really poor play in MLB can really hurt a player's development and confidence. Likewise, even if the bad play doesn't do it, the demotion can do it. Sanchez has nothing to prove in MiLB so I don't see a great reason to protect him from MLB failure at this juncture. great post. the last paragraph is spot on.

You can go ahead and ink in Soto for the backup spot barring an injury: "Obviously, Soto [.318) has swung the bat well, the pitchers are enjoying throwing to him and how he’s calling the game,” general manager Rick Hahn said Wednesday. Seems my fears about his arm and it pissing off the staff are overblown. Honestly I think Flowers has to be feeling some heat, especially given Hahn's comments today after the game. It's a "hey, you're the starter, but that can change" message and I'm all for it. Soto is no great shakes, but neither is Tyler. If the Sox can catch some lighting in a bottle, excellent.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 08:54 PM) Good for Nieto and Trayce. Hawkins must be doing something right he's still around. I wonder if they want an extended look before they assign him to high A or AA. Personally I'd start him in high A he's still young for AA and he'll be in Birmingham by July unless he totally falls back anyways.

someone explain to my why on God's green earth we had a pitcher batting in spring training????????????????????????

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 04:28 PM) Quintana is batting? What? Why? yea WTF

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 04:48 PM) Phil Rogers ‏@philgrogers 1h1 hour ago #WhiteSox decision to send Adrian Nieto to minors is a good thing for Nieto. He impressed as Tyler Flowers' backup but needs to play. another "no duh" Rogers moment. Nieto should be thanking his lucky stars every single day he was a rule 5 pick. Not only did he get a year service time, big league p**** for a year and all the perks he also got a year of MLB quality instruction as the backstop. I don't know if Nieto will ever pan out but he held his own last year and if he cleans up his receiving he could easily have a 10 year career as a backup catcher. Not sure he'll ever hit enough to be a regular.