chitownsportsfan

Thanks but it's paywalled, care to share a few paragraphs?

well there ya go, lol. I'm ready for real games only 2.5 weeks.

18 days. Wow, that's so close you can taste it. Luis Robert. "La Pantera" ("The Panther") and a well earned nickname at that with a speed and power combo rarely seen in MLB. These types of athletes usually play basketball or football. But he has the skills to match racking up the USA Today MiLB player of the year award last year after doing this across all levels: Hit 328 with a .376 on-base percentage, 32 home runs, 92 RBI and a minor-league leading 36 stolen bases. ZIPS, as you'd imagine from a player that contributes in all areas is excited, and Dan Z did a deep dive on Robert this week that gets one exited. 2019: NA ZIPS: 764, 2.5fWAR 20HR I'm going under on OPS but OVER on fWAR and over on HR. He's only projected for 120 games or so by ZIPS: he'll probably play more than that. I can see something like 250/300/450 with monster +15 or so run defense in CF from the fWAR defensive component and +5 or so runs on the bases as well. I just don't think he's going to hit much more than 250 this year. In his prime? We'll see. For now I'll be happy with a 3 WAR 22 year old CF.

Did you just compare EE to Alonso? You did. Man that makes no sense!

I forgot what happens when the squad is competitive and newer fans show up. This is pathetic. EE is like 8th in the AL for wRC+ the last two years and folks are basically calling for Palka 2.0 to replace him based on 30 spring training PA? Lunacy. GTFO. People should ready this quote: Craig Kimbrel made his first Cactus League appearance this past Wednesday. Afterwards, I asked the Chicago Cubs closer if he ever feels adrenaline in spring training games. “Not like a [regular] season game, no,” responded Kimbrel. “But you’re still excited to get out there, excited to work. It may be spring training, but you still don’t want to give up runs, you don’t want to give up hits. You still try to compete. It’s part of the reason I wait so long to get into games. I don’t want to go out there and try to do too much before I’m ready.” Vets don't care about spring guys. And rightfully so.

Collins isn’t a catcher. At least Chicago doesn’t think so just look how they have built the roster. and the swing man you hypothetically get for him leaves a hole and puts pressure on grandal to catch 130 games. hes not getting traded for a swing man or prospect. And that means he isn’t getting traded, no now anyways, check back in July.

Yea he is what he is. He's a decent closer paid fairly. He's certainly not the elite guy you really need in a "all in" season but this isn't an "all in" season. If the Sox are competing and doing well come July maybe you consider looking to add a closer. Or perhaps Bummer has already ascended to that role. I'm really not that worried about Colome. The worry is the SP not giving the bullpen and offense a chance 2 nights a week.

19 days. Enthusiasm for my thread is through the roof so I'll keep going! Today's O/U is Nomar Mazara! 2019: 777 OPS, .5fWAR, 19 HR ZIPS: 746 OPS, .9fWAR 22 HR Oof. This is a hard one. On one hand the clay is there, the raw power is there and he's at the point where you'd expect a breakout to come, if it's coming. On the other hand you don't get extra credit for being a .5 WAR player from 22-24 -- just look at the projections, which have that baked in. I'm going to go OVER on OPS, OVER on fWAR and OVER on 22 HR. That said -- I'm expecting about 2 WAR at most from him. I can see something like 250/310/480 with mediocre at best defense in RF and he misses 30 or so games with injury. He's Avi to me until he proves otherwise. We shall see. Getting into the harder ones now and only 3 guys done. Sunday we'll look at Luis Robert.

Probably will wait until opening day health status to pin down a final tally but right now I'm going with 84 wins. I don't see enough pitching but it will be an exciting season with a lot of fun rallies and a lot of 7-6 type games.

My god a billion dollar entity being managed by a 10 cent brain.

it's crazy how many hitters the sox have now that can hit when the ball gets deep on them. reminiscent of the kong and dye lineup.

20 days! Today's over under is Yoan Moncada! And how appropriate given his extension yesterday! 2019: 915 OPS, 5.7 fWAR, 25 HR ZIPS: 824 OPS, 3.9 fWAR, 26 HR This is easy I'm going OVER on everything. I expect Moncada to move into the top 10 in average exit velocity, continue to fine tune his right handed swing, and hit something like 290/360/520. Would be SHOCKED if he has an OPS under 850. Among other things ZIPS only thinks he's going to run neutral on the bases. I'd expect him to be closer to 3-4.

Indeed. I wouldn't mind a hard cap it would benefit Chicago most likely.

Is there any chance if the Sox get really good they cash in on a new TV deal? How long does the current one go anybody know?

In an industry that's seen 50% revenue growth over a period of a decade MLB GMs are not going to be handing out many front loaded contracts. Just doesn't make any sense.

I was just quickly looking at FGs depth charts for clubs that were at least in theory contending and had less than 2 WAR projected from their starting catcher. Rangers are one, although it's partially because ZIPS doesn't think the 36 year old Chirinos can catch more than 90 or so games. For various reasons I don't think this rumored trade is going to happen.

A quick look just now and maybe the Rangers but yea.

Honest question has Cishek broke any story as either the 1st guy to report a rumor or has he confirmed any deal before any national guy did? I'm not saying he doesn't have sources but his source could also just be feeding him stuff to see what sticks with the fans, or his source could have a feel for certain things in the org and not others. Just curious. Onto James: Absolutely zero reason to trade a 2 WAR backup catcher for relief help in March. Especially when you've got half a dozen arms in camp that already look capable of a 6th or 7th inning role. Who know bullpens are wild the Sox might have a strong pen this year and will have better use of McCann for 40 games as a strong backup than another swingman type. You're not getting a 8th/9th inning guy of any quality for him anyways.

Ah reading comprehension fail. Must have been that the plethora of top college arms will push the top prep arms down in the draft so those looking for higher upside and more risk might be in a good spot.

I'd suggest moving on it's not worth it and personally I'd like to see you continue posting here there are few new posters in the last few years that stir the drink. You are one of them so we don't want to lose you.

If you're going to ban people for speculating about PED (or for that matter any sort of cheating in MLB/sports) you're not going to have a good message board. This site is quite regressive when it comes to freedom of expression from the posters compared to most other communities. I would suggest if you want to curtail certain discussions rather than banning posters you simply lock threads. There's not much moderation here until the SHTF and then it's imo often over the top. Just my 2 cents on that I'm done talking about jake burger until dude is seen on a baseball field in Sox or an affiliate's gear.

As @Eminor3rd noted his tools are so loud that he's going to produce 3 WAR despite himself any given year. And the Sox have him in his athletic prime. I can see Moncada staying a 3-5 WAR player but I can also see him ascending into a 6-8 WAR player like Betts. If he rips his ACL or core apart yea this contract could stink. But other than that there's almost no way he isn't a solid contributor for the duration of it and likely, much much more.

Yea Vaughn turned into a monster in one of my plays. Eloy rarely seemed to do much. Should be a fun year in OOTP although I will like usual wait for it to go on sale.

Moncada always turned into a monster in the couple runs I made last year. Wonder how he'll be this year.

EE puts up his usual 840 OPS and then the Sox pickup that option and trade him for pitching. That would be ideal.