Balta1701

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 7, 2013 -> 03:11 PM) I think they just figured they had a window. If you remember, there was talk of KW getting fired the year before Hahn took over, but he stayed. I think they looked at whaty they had and said "well, we might as well let the 'KW' team play it out, because it could plausibly win, and if it doesn't we give Hahn a shot." So I think they were purposely not signing additional long-term contracts because they were looking forward to a clean slate for Rick. Well that and they also really weren't going to be competitive for guys like Pujols. They spent their money in 2011 on Dunn and Rios to try to compete that year and it blew up in their collective faces. None of those guys were in a position to wind up with contracts any longer than the Sox gave them; the length of the contract was also determined by the price point the Sox were playing at.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 7, 2013 -> 10:44 AM) Isn't the list of players who've been waived readily available? No and it's against MLB rules to release that information. Some names will occasionally leak if teams are really trying to trade a guy, but the waiver wire is supposed to be private information among the GM's.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 7, 2013 -> 10:16 AM) And then when nobody claims him, we'll have our answer. Technically no we won't because we're unlikely to be told that he's been put on waivers and passed through.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Aug 7, 2013 -> 10:09 AM) You say that as if Corzine isn't a Democrat. Or as if it is somehow OK because Republicans do bad stuff too. Huh?

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 7, 2013 -> 09:33 AM) So you're saying you expect Viciedo to have a ridiculous spike in production the year before he hits free agency? It certainly wouldn't stun me if as a 26-27 year old he suddenly put up a 50 HR season. He certainly has the power to do that and it may very well be like a lightswitch for him if he figures out how to stay in that "locked-in" mode for an entire season.

I'd very much assume that they're replacing it with a scoreboard that will show ads.

Mic caught some solid Chicago arod heckling

I really wish people would just accept that they're not moving Beckham again.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 09:26 PM) It did, but that's just not sustainable...I want to build a program that constantly challenges for a WS title. An ace pitcher is absolutely part of building sustained success. And te lack of one can definitely prevent sustained success.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 08:45 PM) I try to look at San Francisco as a model for the Sox, but being in the NL West in that huge pitchers park plays such a difference. They could win in the playoffs, but I think they may have a hard time getting there with a "barely adequate" offense in the AL. A barely adequate offense (9th in the AL iirc) worked for the 05 Sox too.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 06:16 PM) It's already taken a hit with the loss of Peavy. Really? So far it's kinda gotten better.

"Most of the veterans" should still have some value. Alexei Ramirez, Alex Rios ought to still have some value in trades. De Aza should have significant value. Those guys will get claimed on waivers and the Sox shouldn't move them unless they're getting a fair value back in a trade. What those guys should bring back in trades is worth a lot more than the difference between the #1 and #2 pick. Danks and Dunn are 2 guys that, if claimed, I'd seriously consider letting go, but not to "tank", instead due to their salaries. Really tanking also would of course involve doing stupid things like shutting down Sale, Quintana, and Santiago, because they're actually winning games for this team. Well maybe Chris isn't, but you get the idea. Doing something like that is actually criminally bad because "Stretching these guys out to 200+ innings" is really going to be hugely important to building a team that can survive september as well.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 05:42 PM) What if the Giants had traded Lincecum prior to the 2012 season? Would they have still won in 2012? Would they be winning in 2013? Maybe...depends on whether what they got back actually worked out and did so in a reasonable amount of time. Worth considering though...the reason why that makes sense in hindsight is that his production fell off a cliff. If people are expecting something similar to happen to Sale then yes he should be dealt, but that's the only reason anyone gives that gets most people agreeing...if the team thinks he can't stay healthy then yes he should be on the trading block. The fact that "Everyone other than Konerko and Sale" were supposed to be on the trading block this deadline according to press reports suggests to me that the team doesn't think he'll have these problems. Ditto the extension.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 05:23 PM) I understand the WAR thing...I'm not sure people use it correctly on this site all the time, but I get it. But do you think that having 2-3 very good young position players added to our mix would be a net positive, even if Chris continues down his current path of awesomeness? For a counterpoint, let's look at San Francisco. They have won 2 world series now on the strength of their top front line starting pitching with "barely enough to be adequate" offense. They had to switch one of those starters from Lincecum to Bumgarner, and they've gotten a big contribution from their catcher...but that is a team with 2 world series in what, 4 years, keyed entirely by having a top of the line pair of starters leading their rotation. Let's hypothetically say the Sox added Rondon to Sale at the top of that rotation. Now we're talking about a legitimately dominant possible pitching staff. The kind of pitching staff that on its own wins world series trophies, plural.

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 04:55 PM) I don't remember any, but I did think Jeff Teague did a pretty good job on him in the playoffs in 11. 29.8 ppg, 9.8 apg, 4.3 rebpg, 45% shooting, 29.4% 3pt shooting, high of 44 points, 3 games over 30, and his average is held down because they didn't really need him in game 6 since they built a solid lead early and Boozer played well (I was in the audience so I happen to have a crisp memory on that one).

QUOTE (mike89128 @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 04:57 PM) Yahoo Sports has a good article on Viciedo. Tone of the article suggests Viciedo will not be back next year. Article says Manto, Baines and Ventura have basically given up trying to install some disciple to his swing. His jammed thumb from last night might open the door for Garcia soon. Wouldn't be surprised if Viciedo goes on the DL. Is this one of the Yahoo Sports "Written by random internet contributor" articles or something more legit by one of their headline, paid writers?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 04:52 PM) I actually think Quintana is an extension candidate. Very much so.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 04:35 PM) The option for next year is the only reason why. He is still very tradable. I'm going to be surprised and probably a little disappointed if that option is picked up. That's a whole lot of money for him.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 03:39 PM) Any thread that presents Andy Wilkins as a starting option for 2014 is crazy. Is 2014 a rebuilding year? If it is then that's not crazy. If we're making even a remote effort to compete then you're right.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 03:42 PM) Yeah, and we wonder why head trauma has gotten so much worse in the last 20 years. HELLOOOOO? Really, you think it's gotten worse? I think it's just gotten recognized. 20 years ago a guy with a concussion gets sent back out to play unless he's a QB.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 03:22 PM) Reports were that he's been training hard and looking good, but im sure it was leaked by his agent. The guy had a genetic degeneration in his knees. He's still very young but its really hard to overcome. I'd like to say I am cheering for him to overcome it...but he signed with the Heat. I am not.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 03:15 PM) How long have the current MLB testing standards been in effect? Having an argument right now with someone who likes to pretend they are the same as they've always been. The 50/100/life penalties have been in effect for a long time (2006 I think) but MLB was supposed to just begin blood testing and HGH testing this year. Prior to this year they've only been doing urine tests, which can catch the occasional idiot like Ryan Braun but are much easier to mask and cannot be tested for HGH.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 02:38 PM) You don't block guys that you want to contribute with career 4A type of players. Has he actually been blocked from getting AB's by those guys? It seems like he's playing just about everyday according to his MILB.com page.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2013 -> 12:50 PM) I don't think he truly believes that. He's just trying to highlight the hypocrisy in many of the fans asking for a rebuild, while at the same time being impatient with the development of our prospects. I really find the contrast between the belief in Garcia and the declarations that "Viciedo sucks" to be quite remarkable. Aside from Garcia having better speed, you can literally say almost word for word the exact same thing about each of them, both positive and negative. "Moved up through the minors aggressively". "Started having success at AAA at age 22". "Solid power, could develop into big time power". "Approach at the plate might not translate into the big leagues". "Swings at too many pitches out of the zone". "Doesn't take enough walks". "Vulnerable to the type of pitchers in the big leagues". "Quite raw, if called up now might need a couple years". I mean I feel like I can pencil in the date next year when it is declared that "Garcia sucks donkey balls" because he's not immediately hitting.