Balta1701

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 06:36 PM) I think it's possible that Quintana regresses and the 4 & 5 starters are unknowns. "Unknowns" though is being pretty harsh and pretty darn inaccurate. Erik Johnson got 5 big league starts last year with a 3.25 ERA, following a full minor league season with a 1.96 ERA between AA and AAA. Rienzo got 10 starts with an ERA in the upper 4's, so there's a decent chance he could hang at right that level if given a longer stint. Felipe Paulino put up an ERA of 4.11 in 20 starts for the Royals in 2011. A mid-4's ERA between the 2 slots is certainly do-able. They could well be quite a bit better than that. As could Danks.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 06:17 PM) I don't think they repeat that as currently constituted. Why? Seriously, who is worse? Sale get worse? Quintana get worse? Danks get worse? Possibly, but not obvious why any of them would, they're more stretched out now The remaining 2 slots were filled by Axelrod (20 starts), Santiago (23 starts), Peavy (13 starts), Reinzo (10 starts), Johnson (5 starts), and Floyd (5 starts). Out of those starts we got an ERA of 4.47.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 06:04 PM) I guess it's the researcher in me. I cannot support a conclusion unless there is evidence to support it. So saying I don't want my kid to play football based on this evidence to me is wrong, because there is no evidence. Right now I would say it opposes it because no research has found a causal relationship or even a correlation. Coming at that from a research perspective though...you also can't oppose a conclusion unless there is evidence to oppose it. We're in a case of "lack of applicable data", not one where there is strong counter evidence. There are a number of ways I feel you could say it accurately without giving the connotation I'm coming down on you for. "Some researchers believe there is an increased risk associated with repeated head trauma, while others disagree, and current studies are insufficient to determine either way." or "The current science cannot offer an answer to the question as to whether you're putting your kid at risk".

You really ought to learn the rules of the game before playin'.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 05:27 PM) Why did he have to go any further than "I didn't see anything badwhere I was"? Why does he have to add a 'but'? You know what, f*** it, I've had holocaust references thrown at me so often, here's one back at people. "I didn't see any Jews getting murdered where I was".

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 05:25 PM) Ok. if you want to put it that way. However, the current research as is allowed does not show it. By your definition the rate of concussion and CTE in murder/death ball is higher but we can't study it because the league isn't invented yet. It could be there but we can't study it. We can only make conclusions based on current information. The current information does not support it. But it also does not oppose it. The right way to say it would be "The current information neither supports nor opposes it" or "it is currently inconclusive/statistically insignificant". Saying "It does not support it" is technically accurate but somewhat misleading when stated on its own.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 05:22 PM) The biggest area of concern is not enough quality innings from the starters. The White Sox were 4th in the AL in innings from their starters last year with a pretty solid ERA, and that's with Dylan Axelrod taking a starting role for 2 months.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 05:17 PM) It's being talked about, but there isn't any hard research behind it. There are tentative links and educated guess by the researchers but no research that shows a strong correlation, let alone a causal effect. Again though..."no research showing a strong correlation" doesn't translate to "there is no strong correlation". There could be an immensely strong correlation and it would be nearly impossible to see with current studies and technology.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 04:57 PM) I like Leury as a D replacement/pinch runner/backup, but not as a starter until I see a lot more at the dish. Carlos Sanchez doesn't turn 22 til the end of June, and is killing it in Venezuela. And, from what I've read, he's the only high-minors guy that profiles well to SS defensively - it's by no means settled, but many have doubts about Semien there. The first few months of CS' second go-around in Charlotte should tell us a lot. Leury is a guy who really could benefit from a full year in Charlotte. Unfortunately, barring a signing of a utility guy, he's almost certainly ticketed for the big league team because the bench can't work without him.

Because some of these kids are going to bust permanently and others will take more than 1 year to learn the bigs. Also they may not contend if they have the same level of focus/discipline/coaching as we saw from the 2013 white sox.

QUOTE (Waygodai @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 03:40 PM) Only 1 HR in June if I recall (and even that may have been hit in so-called “garbage time”!) As for Davidson glove, until I see him play no comment on that, except to say didn’t scouts really doubt both Beckham and Gillespie glove at various points? Not just at SS, Becks looked awful early both at 3B and later at 2B on DP pivots, the usual rookie ‘deer-headlights game is too fast’ type of stuff. Then both settled down and made enough spectacular type of plays to at least be considered ‘decent’ at their respective positions…. sides, ideally I’d have Davidson start off in AAA. Anyway Balta of slightly more importance is what do y’all think Hahn is working on now, because hearing him talk the other day, even the subtle vocal inflections, you KNOW he is up to something, can’t wait til next summer, hahaha! . First point, Alexei only had 1 HR in June, but that was during the time when he was mostly hitting 2nd. In my opinion, he made major adjustments to hitting in that position - cutting down on the power stroke and trying to make better contact, as a result of being in the position. His power re-appeared again more when he was taken out of that role in Agusust. I'd really dislike having Davidson start in AAA and usually I'm the guy who likes to give people in the minors time to adapt. He's had his full year at AAA, he's had his cup of coffee in September already. He belongs in the big leagues unless he gets hurt.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 03:10 PM) That is the problem. The studies that I have read all appeared to focus on the downside of football but not comparatively to other sports/activities. There is no definitive comparables. I will say that if my son sustains more than one concussion playing football, a conversation needs to be had about how important it is to him. I would like to say you are done, that's it, but he has been playing since Pop Warner age, enjoys it and I think it really helps him as a person to assimilate with others and build up self esteem and self confidence. The problem is...what if it's not the concussions, it's the regular impacts during practice that really do the long-term damage?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 03:16 PM) I think Theo is going to fail with the Cubs, even if their system is so good right now. I can't fathom how they would be hesitant to move some of these guys for pitching when David Price is available.

Russian computer writes post for you!

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 02:13 PM) All of Chicago thanks Knoxville for their contribution. You're welcome.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 02:39 PM) Talks ended with Atlanta when they asked for BJ Upton or Jason Heyward. Wait...WHAT?

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 02:34 PM) I haven't seen a strong correlation with concussion symptoms and CTE let alone sub-concussion symptoms. The problem is...if the results can only be diagnosed post-mortem, in order to build up a statistically significant correlation, you'd need to establish 2 groups, one control and one playing football (preferably several groups playing for distinct lengths), record their concussions when they occur (which only has really happened the last few years), then wait 40 years for them to die. It's pretty much impossible to make a statistically significant correlation in this case until better techniques of diagnosing brain injuries and long-term damage become available. If playing football increased the chances of CTE by 10,000%, right now we wouldn't be able to say there was a strong correlation.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 02:32 PM) I'm not blasting him, just pointing out a fun fact. And FYI Jones gave up 5 HRs in 7 more innings last year, and 4 the year before in the same amount of innings. Maybe the "pressure" gets to him and he gives up more but the past suggests that your really gambling with that bet. Maybe he just had the same level of drive, focus, and interest that the rest of the team had coming out of spring training last year and either having to close or having a more interested team around him will help him with that problem.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 02:09 PM) What were the Yankees thinking? "We missed the playoffs last year and the last time we went on a spending binge we won the world series".

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 01:54 PM) Well, I had all but given up on Veal as well, but then he performed well at the end of last season (small sample, granted), teasing me into wanting to give him one more chance, and reminding me how good he looked when we first saw him. Leesman, I don't know if he'll ever see more than a cup-o-coffee. I'll go with Donnie. Anyway, I like the deal, as I thought we needed some veteran lefty presence in the pen. Sounds like, if he's decent, we'll have him for '15 as well, when winning may be more realistic. And, please be looking for the next stud, undervalued, Japanese reliever ala Uehara. Looking at Koji's Texas #'s, it is RIDICULOUS that he waited as long as he had to for a chance to close. Hell, even the BoSox exhausted all their other possibilities before coming to their senses. This reflects a clear velocity bias for closers, imo, and the arrogance of conventional wisdom, but I'll spare you the rant. At any rate, there are likely going to be a few aging starters or relievers in the Asian leagues every year who want to try their hand in MLB before hanging up the cleats. Let's get on top of this market. They also have Santos Rodriguez as a potential option for a LOOGY, although he hasn't yet earned a callup based on his performance at Charlotte (then again, usually in the minors they don't use relievers in limited/matchup roles, they give them the full inning and say sink or swim). I'd definitely give Veal one more shot. He lost his arm slot, quite clearly, last year and that destroyed his control. A good rhythm and maybe he's a success again.

Painful turn these last few posts took.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 12:28 PM) I... um... excuse me.... I need a moment to myself. *grabs the lube* The image on the right is way, way overedited.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 12:14 PM) Local NBC weather girl Cheryl Scott is hotter: Ha! She was on WBIR in Knoxville before getting the job in Chicago

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 10:15 AM) I've seen Baldwin get trashed pretty heavily on liberal blogs over the past month or so, and deservedly so. He did get suspended by MSNBC and then had his show canceled. Also apparently he had a show on MSNBC.

QUOTE (SoxnGiants @ Dec 19, 2013 -> 10:14 AM) I'm not sure last year's tinkering helped him. Really odd to see him struggle with LHP's last year after killing them previously. If he can figure it out and maintain his .725 ish OPS against RHP I think he's a pretty productive hitter. I don't think those are unreasonable assumptions either. Last year was really weird for him with the bat. We saw him for about 2 periods get into a really good groove where he actually would do exactly what we've all asked him to do, lay off bad pitches and take the occasional walk if pitchers won't pitch to him, but he couldn't keep it up either time. One of them was right when he came back from that oblique injury, but then bad habits returned for June, and then he resumed hitting in August when the team hit that winning streak. If you watched him it's like seeing a guy taking strides but then focusing on something else and forgetting what was working the last week.