Balta1701

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 10:07 AM) Yeah, I think the Wilkins love is fascinating, but reality says he will be 26 in less than 2 months and even with this hot streak, sports a .309 OBP in AAA. Phegley and Jordan Danks are also putting up big numbers and they couldn't do anything at the next level. Anyone actually thinking Wilkins is a really good prospect is thinking with their heart and not their head. Similarly, anyone applying the logic "because players x and y put up solid numbers at AAA and struggled in the big leagues, player Z who is putting up numbers at AAA will also struggle in the big leagues" is also using poor logic. Andy Wilkins would not need to be a dominant hitter to be useful to the White Sox. If he could put up an .800 OPS as a DH/backup 1b who mainly plays against RHP and sits in exchange for someone like Davidson or a corner OF, while also being extremely cheap for the next 4 years, that player would absolutely fill a huge need for the white sox as currently constructed and it would save them from having to spend $10 million+ on a veteran DH to fill that role. That said, I don't know whether he can put up those kind of numbers even in a mostly platoon role, but there is no reason to ignore a possible payoff if he could.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 10:06 AM) Viciedo, Garcia, Davidson, Semien, Sierra, Taylor, etc. Someone suggested Victor Martinez as a quick fix. Just wonder when he's going to fall off the Konerko Cliff and take a career nosedive? How long can he keep putting up those numbers? It's not like he's playing in Charlotte's stadium, Comerica plays big, especially to CF. Why does it seem like if the White Sox sign him for 3 years he will end up more like Manny Ramirez 2010? I think it's become increasingly clear the Tigers will offer Martinez a qualifying offer at the end of the year, making the WHite Sox have to part with a draft pick to sign him. In that case I would not do so.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 09:45 AM) Wilkins vs LHP this year - .241/.259/.454/.713, 2.7% BB rate, 18% K rate He seems like he could be useful as a bench player, but with a lack of versatility (he can "play" 3B, and I'm sure he could eventually "play" LF and RF, but he'd likely be near disastrous out there), it's hard to find a roster spot for him other than in limited spells. EDIT: If he could draw walks, he'd remind me a bit of Brian Daubach. Somehow I don't think one thing this roster is lacking in is "righties who could platoon at the DH spot".

QUOTE (sox2013 @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 09:25 AM) During spring training the players rent furnished houses and apartments (like they do in Chicago during the regular season). Minor league guys tend to rent one house for several guys. Most all of the wives/kids come out to spring training as well. Of course the exception to this is Konerko who stays with his family in their permanent house in Scottsdale during spring training. If 1/2 the team just stayed with Konerko they'd each have more than 1000 square feet to work with.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 09:12 AM) Because he is one. But that isn't the same thing as saying he should be an MLB starter. I share your frustration with some of the overreaction with his (admittedly very) hot streak. But I also wouldn't mind giving him a look late this season when Dunn is likely elsewhere. It is possible he could fill a Ross Gload-type role with the team in the future, though Gload had a much better hit tool than I think Wilkins will ever have. But another thing worth noting, in 2006 at the time Gload was around his highest usage, the average MLB 1b put up an .850 OPS. In 2014, the average MLB 1b is putting up a .764 OPS.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 07:35 AM) 4) Rodon had an intense workload for NC State and they'll want to limit his innings until the spring To stress...Rodon's intensive workout for NC State = fewer innings than Chris Sale had pitched in 2010 prior to the draft if you count the gulf coast league work.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 09:29 PM) He may be traded tmrw. Some team might seriously want to ride this hot streak. I don't think any GM who actually made decisions like this would keep their job very long.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 07:04 PM) There is no need for the Sox to make any trade before the July 31st deadline. Evaluate after the season is over and see what happens over winter. No need to rush things. Plus the way some folks think here w might as well just give everyone up if they are in line to make a few million dollars and we don't even want anyone in return it is entirely believable that there will be places where the Sox will get their best offers for guys at the trade deadline this year when they can contribute to the pennant race this year. Furthermore, for guys like Beckham, De Aza, and Dunn, who will not be here next year, they should be moved just so that there can be some return for them and to get playing time for random people lower on the list than them.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 06:22 PM) It would be nothing like that, because the NFL is a salary cap based league. The financial edge the Cubs & Sox have over these "small market" teams is worth incredibly more than a competitive balance pick every other year. The problem with this system is when a small market owner decides he's going to spend like a big market owner, because then you have the Detroit Tigers. But you'll note, the Tigers weren't in his list as getting compensatory picks.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:07 PM) It depends what happens with the two Cubans, the Sox are said to have interest in Rusney Castillo, which would push Eaton to a corner, but there is also Yasmani Tomas, a 23 year old corner outfielder with 70 power. Eaton has been quite solid in CF this year defensively so there's no legit reason to push him to the side as of now.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 05:46 PM) That's why my next sentence said "Hold on to him until the offseason". I want Danks moved, but I don't want to sell so low on him that he only gets a #5 starter type return. Personally, if I had to guess I'd bet that teams would be more willing to accept the fact that he isn't pitching fully up to his contract at the trade deadline than they would be in the offseason when they have more options.

QUOTE (beautox @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 05:30 PM) He's a #3 being paid like a #3 with some surplus value in his affordable contract. The only part of this that is true is that he's being paid like a #3.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 05:18 PM) I don't think saving a few million for this year is really of any significance though. But $14.25 million each of the next 2 years? That's pretty significant. moving Danks at the deadline clears about $35 million in commitments.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 04:52 PM) Regardless of popularity I just don't see a former President holding down a job like that. Too much Secret Service red tape. Have you seen everything Jimmy Carter is able to pull off?

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 05:11 PM) No one, literally no one, is trying to tell you John Danks is pitching well right now. I mean, we COULD talk about the stretch of 67 innings prior to his last start were he had a 2.69 ERA and an RE24 of 10.69, but I am talking about the fact that in baseball we know that players regress to the mean. Never get too high or too low on a player. To say John Danks is suddenly a #5 starter is not understanding he is more likely to improve to his average than he is to just fall off the cliff. It's not good business to be impatient and sell low. If teams are only willing to give up pieces worthy of a true #5 pitcher like Carroll or Noesi, then don't even move Danks. Hold on to him until the offseason when GM's short term memory fades away. To be completely fair, if the team is taking on his remaining salary and is willing to give up a piece worthy of a back of the rotation starter, that's not really that bad. Gotta remember where the salary goes.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 04:28 PM) Reading is fundamental: But, in year one, Taj and Butler as two of your starters will make your team better than just Wiggins. Wiggins' offensive game is still a work in progress. It's going to take a few years for him to be a really good player, and really there's no guarantee he will be. That's why if Flip is in "win now" mode - which I think is posturing or else he's incredibly stupid - maybe that's not so outlandish after all. If you had to Choose...Taj and Butler for Wiggins or Taj and Butler for Love (ignore that the cap doesn't work in 1 case) which would you do from the Bulls perspective?

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 04:26 PM) It's too bad that GWB is one of the least popular presidents of all time because he'd probably make an excellent commish. "I've spoken to baseball commissioner Bush and he has pledged to find the steroid abusers even if he has to wiretap every phone in the country."

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:39 PM) Good point on Rodon. Coming out of college and pitching once a week will take him some time to adjust to pitching every 5 days. Plus he will need some time to build up the endurance for a longer season with more starts. No need to rush. They're actually going to have him working every 5 days for the rest of this season out of the bullpen.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:36 PM) I don't see why not. I highly doubt, unless he absolutely bombs, they couldn't "dump" Danks whenever Rodon is ready....And I'm not 100% convinced Rodon will even be in the 2015 rotation at any point....Remember if he follows the same path Sale did, Sale pitched 2 years of relief before starting. Chris Sale pitching in the bullpen in 2011 is literally my least favorite idea the White Sox have had in the past decade. I thought at the time it was terrible and I think today it was terrible. I think this is a real straightforward position. I'm not spending money on the rotation next year unless Danks is cleared. If they don't clear him then that seems like they're going to ride it out with him and figure things out potentially after 2015.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:34 PM) Maybe go after david price but not likely He's not a free agent next year and so the Sox would have to trade for him. I wouldn't do so in their position. However, it would fill the need of making sure no one else in the big leagues has any left handed starters.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:08 PM) He has never played a 162 game season. Or anything close to it. Just like stretching out pitchers, you may have to give up some production and play him when he's tired or when you will really need him late in the season, he will not be prepared. There are plenty of guys who have shown they can play close to every game. I think Prince Fielder hadn't missed a game in several years before this year's neck injury. Just when you start doing it at 27 years old, you are starting a little behind the pack. He'll probably DH a little more in the next couple of months. Or maybe, just maybe, he could get a day off every month? I know, insanity. Darn shame we don't have any other 1b on the roster.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:06 PM) IF they can get a good near MLB player then yes you do it....But if the "Dump him" crowd are right/get their way and they get nothing more than cap relief, which the Sox don't need, then that doesn't really set them up to be a sustained contender. They have money to add a SP and a DH while also keeping Danks. If you trade Danks you then need to add 2 SPs and what are the odds they'll be able to get 2 better than Danks, salary ne damned. I would not spend the money on a starting pitcher for the front of the rotation if Danks was not moved. That would just leave too many arms when you count Rodon, and from the White Sox's POV you have to count him as arriving in the near future. I am not going to spend $15 million+ a year on a pitcher if there's any chance that pitcher blocks Rodon. If they can't move Danks, then look to spend that money elsewhere.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 11:41 AM) What were the reasons for moving Molina into the pen? His last full season as a starter he had a 3.20 FIP at Birmingham. His skillset seems to fit #5 starter more than it does bullpen guy. given the choice between a solid 8th inning setup man and a borderline 5th starter i'd actually take the setup man

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:02 PM) Would u want james shields If the White Sox intend to field a competitive team in 2015 and they had previously moved Danks, yes I'd spend the money on him (assuming the pitching coach and training staff were game), he'd cover their needs very well and provide a real strong cog in the rotation.

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Jul 22, 2014 -> 03:02 PM) Another year of De Aza If he wasn't a 3rd-year arb eligible player it'd make sense.