Balta1701

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 05:07 PM) God, you're right...in two months, Anderson has gone from prospect to suspect because he's not piling up XBH's, stealing tons of bases or looking like an elite (yet) defending SS. Yikes. He better not join the list of Sox flops...because there were cases to be made he was one of the top 3-4-5 most exciting players in the first round. Well, I guess about 6 weeks ago, a lot would have been voting Josh Phegley, right? Or Micah Johnson, for another. Trayce Thompson isn't getting much love either...at least so far. Didn't people already guess that Anderson is probably just at the "Exhausted" point from having played many, many more games already this year than at any point in his career before? I.e. last year was a high school season, he followed that up with a college season and a full season of rookie ball afterwards.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 03:58 PM) His OPS has improved from age 31 to age 32 and from age 32 to age 33. While he is obviously not going to keep improving at his age, barring a 2011 type collapse I don't see any reason why he can't keep putting up .800+ OPSs for the next 5 years. He should be hitting his 500th early on in 2015 at the age of 35. You honestly don't think if he has 500 homers at age 35 he can hang on for 600? They put Killebrew and his .256 average in during a time when batting average was still the go to stat. Dunn will likely end up with more hits, runs, 2Bs, HRs, RBIs, and walks. You're actually giving him credit for improving upon 2011? Good lord man.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 03:45 PM) If he hits 600 homers he's in. I could actually see people finding an excuse to keep him out. But yeah, the idea that he's going to continue hitting 27 HR's a year with how he's declined in his early 30's seems seriously ludicrous to me. Even ignoring '11, his OPS has declined from >.900 to ~.800 between 31 and 33. He's definitely on his way down.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 03:38 PM) So Paulie gets credit for things he did 5 years ago but Dunn does not? I understand that Dunn wasn't with the Sox at his peak but it seems like you like to forget that Paulie had a couple pretty awful years as well. When all is said and done one of these players is going to be in the Hall of Fame and one is going to fall a little bit short (here's a hint, Konerko isn't getting in). If the idea of Dunn in the Hall of Fame seems ridiculous to anybody, here's the way I look at it. If Dunn plays until he is 39 years old he only needs to average 27 homers to end up with 600+ for his career. There is no way the HOF voters will keep somebody out that has 600+ homers along with 1600+ RBI if they are clean. Adam Dunn is going to the Hall of Fame? Yeah, I really don't see that happening.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 01:15 PM) Then the Yankees will go all in on Abreu and Ellsbury for the same $$. Which one of them will play 2b?

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 09:30 AM) Cespedes can get you wins on the basepaths and on defense, something this guy won't do. He has one tool - his bat - and it has to pan out or he's completely useless. Cespedes can have a down year at the plate (96 wRC+ this year) but still become a 2 WAR player (1.6 WAR so far, on track for 2.3/2.4 per Steamer/ZiPs) Let's note some of the actual scouting numbers. These were from earlier in the thread: Arm obviously doesn't matter much. Here's one version for Cespedes: Hit: 30-40 Power: 60 Arm: 50 Glove: 40-50 (projected as a corner OF) Run: 50-60. They projected him as a higher risk guy because they were more concerned about his hit tool. This guy probably won't steal 30 bases, but he's not going to be Konerko on the bases or in the field. It should also improve our IF and our overall ability on the basepaths...and the fact that the hit tool is so much more developed is what hopefully should give confidence in him stepping onto the field day 1 and tearing it up.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 09:29 AM) Some guy named Tommy Manzella has been signed and assigned to Birmingham. I guess you can never have enough light-hitting middle infielders. They were actually a bit light on IF depth, if they have the roster spot sure. He's not taking much playing time from anyone important.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 09:20 AM) Doesn't Torres represent a lot more guys who don't play for the White Sox than actually do? I don't think he would steer this guy towards the team for a lesser deal. It's all about the money. He will probably wind up in Boston. I genuinely wonder if Boston, coming off a real good year, might not be hesitant to overspend on this guy as compared to someone more established (i.e. Napoli). That said, this could be a real solid bidding between the 2 Sox.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 03:52 AM) Anything over $60 million is nuts for a one dimensional 1B/DH. Knowing the Sox, he's the bust whereas Puig looks legit....we'll see about Cespedes and Soler. Just say NO to overpaying....we're paying $20-30-40 million extra because of Puig, and they're nothing alike as players. We might as well send that money to the Dodgers to subsidize a Puig extension, as it makes no sense for the Sox at those numbers to get stuck with another bad contract. Even if his hit tool is MIGGY CABRERA...well, then I'll consider $60-65, but who is that hitter besides Cabrera/Trout/Davis? The scouting numbers presented earlier in this thread don't suggest he's just a one-dimensional 1b.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 10:07 PM) Stoney said in the broadcast tonight that he doesn't think the Sox will be able to get Abreu due to the salary demands he'll have. Be clear. He said he didn't think the Sox would be in if it was a $70 to $80 million price tag, but the Sox have cleared a lot of room and they definitely will have some interest.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 09:46 PM) I dunno. Supposed to be thinner I guess? You might get a first generation mini cheaper after the 2nd comes out? Actually check Target this week, they seemed to have some surprising deals on apple stuff for back to school?

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 09:20 PM) Just get it done. No excuses. "But its only been one day, it'll be months before we can sign him." "That's an excuse, no excuses!"

Holy s***

Pfirst time Pfister has given up more than 2 runs in about a month.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 06:30 PM) Ok longish story short my iPad got stolen (32 GB iPad 2 wi-fi) and we'll I'd gotten really attached to it and need to replace it with an iPad mini. Should I buy one now or wait for the 4th generation version coming out probably next month? I seriously doubt the next upgrade will be a major one. Is there some ability you couldn't do on the last one you'd really need? Better processing or something?

Morimoto-San is throwing out the first pitch!!

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 06:30 PM) Market for Cuban players is overinflated, imo. Tread carefully. Least surprising post of the decade.

QUOTE (Baron @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 06:13 PM) A date that's been going around for when he would be available is November Might be a little fast given governments and visa issues, but not unreasonably so. If he gets the process started rapidly he could definitely be out there in the free agent period this year, if everything goes well.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 04:33 PM) He was already sent to Charlotte. I wonder how they'll use him then.

Wonder where he'll be assigned. Charlotte already has something of a middle-infield put together with Semien and Sanchez, but they might want to have him playing a fair amount of CF.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 04:18 PM) Any speculation when a signing would go down? Is this a 6 month thread in the making? Yes. From this link on the first page:

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 03:42 PM) Bowden tweeted this as the Rios saga was unfolding... JIM BOWDEN ‏@JimBowdenESPNxm 9 Aug Chance that the #White Sox trade Alex Rios to the #Rangers today "smaller than a bread basket" according to a source involved in trade talks 8:45 am and don't ask me what size a bread basket is because I have no idea 8:46 am Bread Basket must have been large as Alex Rios is dealt to the Rangers 10:58 am TY.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 03:22 PM) Mantle had BLAZING speed (before the catastrophic injuries) and 550 foot home run power...Trout rarely hits homers like that...and Mantle also had a gracefulness about his game whereas Trout's more just brute force and dynamic energy. Would never put Trout out there as a comp. Problem is...there really is no comp for guys like that. They're one in a hundred million.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 02:38 PM) He'll likely cost 50-100% more, sounds like. I have zero issue with this. This is a big gamble but it's a big gamble the White Sox are in perfect position to make. Minimal salary on the books, desperate need of a bat, gaping hole at 1b, able to absorb a bad contract if it does go bad. The only caveat I'll give is that I'll want to hear a lot of scouting opinions first, but I'm game for 150% of Puig's contract as a starting point if the guys in my org tell me he's all they say he could be.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 12:34 PM) I still think they try voiding his contract. I think we'll start hearing about this right after the arbitration ruling in November.