Balta1701

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 09:51 PM) He had some "issues" with a former manager and his dad kinda seems like an idiot, but I don't think he's a bad guy. I don't believe he had any problems at all in Toronto. He was a young kid that butted heads with an old coach, worse things have happened. I really don't think Colby Rasmus is the type of person you have to keep away from your clubhouse. Obviously you'd rather not have that blip on the radar, but I'm sure Hahn, KW, and even Robin could make a few phone calls and get the scoop on whether Rasmus is worth having around attitude wise or not....as long as they don't call LaRussa lol It seems like a whole lot of small things have cropped up in Torotno.

Can I help? Please?

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 07:09 PM) Alvarez is another high strikeout guy who is in decline. Can we please move on from that profile of a player. First of all, welcome to modern day MLB. You're literally not moving on from high strikeout guys, they're all over the place. Secondly, he had a down year, with some major fielding issues and injury issues, both of which went to the plate with him. He's 27, at that age its entirely possible he could pull things together next year. Hell, he could probably be even better if he stays healthy and is put in the right setting. He's not the greatest hitter in human history, but he shouldn't have a very high price, he would fill a need on our team, and he'd be less of a long term money commitment than most of the other DH options. He ought to at least be on the list.

QUOTE (bear_brian @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 06:51 PM) Why not sign Kendry Morales instead of picking up Alvarez, who is possibly not much more that another Dunn? Then trade Viciedo for some bullpen help. Morales put up a whopping .612 OPS last year. I can give excuses why both of them had a down year, but man, Morales was as punchless as Gordon Beckham. Maybe Alvarez's foot problems continue and Morales makes a comeback if he actually has a spring training, do your homework and a physical on both, but given an even choice? The guy who is 4 years younger and hit a helluva lot better would make more sense to me. And no one is giving legit "Bullpen help" for Viciedo. Viciedo is a borderline non tender candidate. The reason why I'd think Alvarez might work for him is that Alvarez is on that same path and it'd be a "fresh start" setup for both guys.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 06:21 PM) That's wouldn't work, he has not strikeout stuff and doesn't have the velocity to be the closer. You say that as though we haven't seen successful closers throw in the low 90s and survive because of control and having an off speed pitch - specifically a change up. Danks has been fairly effective against righties and lefties in his career and one of his problems right now is a dip in fastball velocity. If he could get that back in the bullpen that could at least allow him to be of some use and clear the rotations slot out. Because he relies so heavily on the change up, he doesn't make a good situational lefty, but if he could get a little velocity boost in short stints...I dunno, it might be worth a shot.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 04:41 PM) If he is one of the best five starters in spring training, try to ship out Danks as hard as possible and if you can't, have him on the same schedule as Danks until you can. I don't think Danks is ship-out able during the season. The only way it works is if we take some bad contract back and that doesn't usually happen in the middle of the year. I can't recall a comparable example. I did wonder a couple weeks ago whether Danks to the Bullpen in something like the closer's role could make some sense as an option but no one seemed to agree with me.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 04:11 PM) I still don't get why people are so caught up in Super 2 dates. So you have to pay a little more in year 3. Big deal. I think he's had so little time in the minor leagues that we ought to expect him to take 10+ starts down at Charlotte before we throw him into the fire against major league pitchers, and if that happens to put him coming up a week after the ~time where he'd save us a bit of money so be it.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 05:42 PM) From the Pirates POV, it makes more sense to move Alvarez and keep Snyder so what you say makes sense. In that case they can keep Tabata and his contract and the Sox keep Sierra. So could we be looking at a possible Viciedo for Alvarez swap? Could make sense for both teams. I've thought that as well and it really starts to make sense if the Sox are able to sign that Cuban OF. We fill our OF slot with a righty that Abreu likes, we fill our 1b/DH slot with a power bat that can slot in behind Abreu and spell him sometimes at 1b, we balance our lineup better than it is now, and we do so without sacrificing a draft pick or any bonus money.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 04:50 PM) Danni Wysocki ‏@danniCSNCHI 2h2 hours ago Wow Jerry Reinsdorf revealed @ MAC owners panel the Bulls thought they were getting Lebron & he asked if he should bring Wade or Bosh w him! Which time?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 04:48 PM) Phil Rogers ‏@philgrogers 2h2 hours ago The 6 previous teams that have swept a best-of-7 LCS have gone 6-22 in WS games ... There's a trend that screams good things for NL champ. Why would that possibly be the case? Too long of a layoff is the only thing I can guess that actually matters on the baseball field, the only other possible reason would be "28 games in baseball is a very small sample and you're finding something totally not predictive of anything".

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 05:27 PM) So are you thinking the Sox have a better chance of grabbing Alvarez over Snyder out of Pitt? Well, Snider is cheaper, and fills the role as the counterpoint to all their right hand hitting corner OFs. Alvarez is now very position limited, can really only play 1b/DH, has little experience at 1b so you're not going to want him there every day, hits from the same side of the plate as Ike Davis, and is already more expensive. I'd have to say that they'll move Alvarez. I literally can't see how he fits on their roster unless they drop Ike Davis for nothing.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 05:23 PM) Hmmm, I like your thinking on this.Viciedo for Tabata would pretty much be an even swap financially speaking. With Viciedo's power and Tabata recently optioned, Viciedo should have a tick more value than Tabata and that value then applied towards the trade involving Snyder. Still not sure what the Sox would offer along with Viciedo. I just hope Hahn doesn't have interest in Alvarez. I like Alvarez's power but his low BA and high K's reminds me too much of, well, you know. I think Alvarez at DH makes a lot of sense for us if we do something like landing the cuban OF as our biggest offseason signing especially if we don't lose our 2nd round pick in any other big move. But yeah, we know who.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 05:17 PM) The rule of thumb on the free agency market is whatever you would be comfortable with... add another year or two to that, because someone else will. And another couple million.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 05:12 PM) Thing is, Pitt just designated Tabata for assignment, which he accepted, so he is in AAA limbo making 4M in 2015. I don't think they would mind moving his salary considering they need the money to try and re-sign Martin, Liriano and Volquez. Sending a cheap back up OF like Sierra could help. Not sure what the Sox could offer to grab both Snyder and Tabata. I would imagine Bassitt would almost have to be included. I still think Viciedo is a general fit for them in that they could use a righty to pair with Ike Davis over at 1b. They'd have to like him and think there's more that he can do, but I can't help but see the possible match. I'm also very much of the belief that they will move Pedro Alvarez this offseason as well.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 03:57 PM) He might get too much money from a team like the Dodgers, but I bet they have initial conversations with him and have him on their high priority list. Exactly. I think the price he'll get is way, way, way beyond what we'll be willing to pay. I think he'll get what would a few years ago have been "Closer" money.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 03:51 PM) I think they will be after Andrew Miller. I'd be stunned if he wound up on the White Sox, personal opinion.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 03:38 PM) In my dream for next season, Surkamp starts throwing a bit harder working and conditioning solely as a reliever this offseason because he won't have to be stretched out as far. He was solid at his 89-92 but his mistakes were still crushed. If he gets it up to 94 or 95, those mistakes will be punished less often. Out of the two, I think Snodgress has the arm much more likely to do that. I think Surkamp can probably have success in the low 90s but wouldn't be surprised either way since that's how bullpen arms go. IMO, the rule still is that if you're a bullpen lefty, you throw strikes, and you have some sort of an off speed pitch, you can pitch in this league for 15 years or until your arm gives out.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 03:18 PM) Find a couple LHP to compete for the pen. There are a few decent veteran FA options...Beimel, Cotts, Duke and Thatcher. At least bring one of those in plus a few more wildcards. The team has 2 possible bullpen lefties on the roster in Surkamp and Snodgress. Many didn't notice but after his 2nd callup Surkamp did very well as a bullpen lefty role. What I'd guess they'll do for lefties in the bullpen, based on this franchise's previous moves, is sign one LHP to a 1 year contract, maybe 1 year with an option, and let those 2 lefties compete for the other spot in ST with Surkamp having the inside track due to experience and the other takes a key bullpen role, possibly closer, at Charlotte.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 02:53 PM) I worship Jose of course. This may seen petty and minor, but can he learn to dig throws better? He's pretty lousy at that IMO compared to Hosmer/Paulie types. I would be surprised if he doesn't improve at this with time.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 02:10 PM) Average defense would be a significant upgrade. The problem is right now our defense is not even close to that. We were well below average at LF / RF / 3B. Technically we are also below average at 1B as well. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if next year we were up to "Average" at 1b defensively. Abreu started off the season looking as bad technique-wise at 1b as I would if you put me right there, and he pulled that together really quick. It would probably also help if we had someone on the roster to actually give him some time off every now and then, so a DH/1b backup type would have a place in that lst.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 02:35 PM) Yeah you are probably right. I just thought they'd be afraid of having to pay the $15.3 million if they had to. I think this takes the White Sox out of the Russell Martin derby if they were even in though. I think Pittsburgh would tolerate him on a 1 year deal for that money. They're packing this ballpark, there revenue is solid, they can afford to go higher if its the right position.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 12:35 PM) you know, i thought the exact same thing. But Padma did not. But the chef knew as soon as he plated it, that he was f***ed. They were doing a catering type event and she got to his table at the end, and she got basically one of the last pieces, so it was sitting there all day long Undercooked fat = can be gross.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 11:47 AM) They are signing a back of the rotation starter. There is also a pretty good chance someone gets injured. There is also a pretty good chance Hector Noesi isn't competing for a Cy Young award next year, and/or some other starter just sucks. The White Sox rotation is not exactly stacked. Rodon, if he pitches well in AAA, if he even pitches in AAA, will be in the rotation. All I am saying is that this is fine and that should be the target level.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 11:42 AM) 35 players had an OPS of .800 or better this year. The law of averages suggests you should probably only expect one per lineup. I'd gladly pay $15 mill a year for Cabrera so long as he can remain even a 110 wRC+ player, let alone the 125 he put up this year. 86 RC+ in 2013 is the worry.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 11:39 AM) You aren't leaving him in the minors if he is dominating AAA. And you're not breaking up the rotation if the team is near 1st place, and you're not taking the big money guys out of the rotation. Something's gotta give. Conveniently, there's a way to make this work if we target the right type of guy in FA.