Greg Hibbard

I think it's fascinating so many see this as a ridiculous notion worth making fun of. Yeah, I get that he's not currently projected at that pace. I get that he was brought in late. He's a still a very, very, very good offensive player. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Jose actually improves a bit in the thirties. The guy he's most often compared to in this thread, Paul Konerko, had a pretty amazing run from 33-36. In fact, that was the best 4 year stretch of his career. With a little luck and a little longevity, I could see Jose ending up with close to 400 HR and 400 doubles. For someone who started his ML career at 27, that's pretty amazing. He could also turn out to be just another above average 1st baseman. I agree with the poster who said he is underrated here. You only have to click on the links referenced to see why. I find it fascinating that a handful of people on Soxtalk seemingly love to hate on this guy. Maybe it's the product of the doldrums era we live in, but I've never seen such vitriol for the best player on the team, the face of the franchise. Especially because he's an all around good human being, too.

Yeah, my friends have seen it. It's cool. They like to talk about the White Sox, you see.

http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/...-in-cooperstown This article on ESPN today gives no mention of Jose Abreu. Yes, yes - I know - it's ESPN, and they love ignoring the White Sox at every turn. I also know that Abreu started old, and has borderline numbers with an expected dropoff as he gets older. Nevertheless, I think this is an interesting question - if Jose has 6 more years identical to the average of the previous 4, how borderline is he then? I don't think that's necessary unrealistic. An .882 OPS puts him in the top 100 all time in that category, and he'd have 300 homers, 350 doubles and a .300 batting average with 1000 RBIs. Would he be close? Or just in the hall of "very good"?

Call me crazy, but I don't think the corpseball problem will rear its ugly head with this lineup this year. Holy smokes, if they are hitting like this in 39 degrees and snow, I can't wait for July I realize this is the Tigers, but they've certainly been hitting these 6 games thus far...

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 5, 2018 -> 12:26 PM) You have to play him to figure it out. He has shown in the past he is talented enough to be on a major league roster. The Sox should still be in talent accumulation mode, and Saladino is a part of that process. Your series of points don't make sense to me. You say on the one hand he's been proven to be an ML in the past. However, you also said "even the drop off is real" - which is the point I'm addressing. Not his 2016 and before status, but the 2017 drop off, which is well below what I feel is acceptable from an ML hitter. So, if we're talking about the drop off being real, we are talking Saladino as now a .178 BA / .484 OPS ML hitter. If that's where he is at, and it's real, what exactly is he figuring out? What value do the Sox have in the occasional start for him to figure it out...if the drop off is real? I understand using him purely as a defensive replacement late in games with the occasional AB.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 5, 2018 -> 10:48 AM) I do think Tyler really had issues through injury last year, as the drop off in his place was stark. Realistically, we don't need to be in any hurry to get rid of him, even if the drop off is real. Let him play and figure it out. if the drop off is real, what exactly is he figuring out?

Perhaps Sanchez will hit so well this will eventually be a non-issue.

Just so long as we keep talking about Cody Asche. That's the main thing, of course.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 5, 2018 -> 10:12 AM) Sure, Cordell...maybe Skole, but they should be playing everyday. Saladino knows his role, has good speed off the bench, posesses a lot of versatility, and had a ton of physical/back problems so they’ll give him at least 3-4 months to see if he can rebound. Seems to get along with all of his teammates. Already 29. Ok, that all makes sense. I hope for the best for him, but last year post-April he was just abysmal.

I assumed with last season's offensive performance he was as good as gone as a major leaguer no matter how good his defense is/was Is there seriously no other option? Seems like another Cody Asche situation from last year.

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Apr 4, 2018 -> 09:25 PM) Does not compute. tonight's last three relievers looked fantastic.

Great game. Loving the power and the bullpen looks fantastic. This is gonna be such a weird year. The division sucks so badly that if we overperform we will never be out of it. We have to stick to the plan and keep Ken "All In" Williams from whispering in Reinsdorf's ear if this team keeps winning...

The Farquharanator looks good

apparently the police force from keystone occupies the base paths, as well, this night

Bennetti has a very interesting habit of saying that a pitch for ball 4 is close when it is not.

The offbrand beer law enforcement has arrived, one might say

wow thank god for Engel's defense in this series.

This phone call is absolutely brutal programming.

This was so dumb

this whole thing seems really dumb

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 12, 2017 -> 08:51 AM) Why would we care who Abreu/Avi potentially got traded to? By the time we are in our window they will be free agents anyway. Why limit our trading partners? Exactly. Trading him to the Red Sox in 2018 just means the Red Sox would have to pony up FA money in 2020. Which they might do anyway, whether or not he's already a Red Sox.

Cody Asche just needs another season to prove he was the unluckiest player in MLB history

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Sep 28, 2017 -> 03:17 PM) There is absolutely no need in extending Abreu before his contract expires. Unless he gives the White Sox a favorable deal like 4/60.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 12:40 PM) Over his last 210 plate appearances, since his OPS cratered at .601, Anderson has hit .312/.329/.522/.851. There is likely a lack of sustainability in that line, but the size of his bat isn't the problem. The lack of sustainability is severely tied to the the lack of walks

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 12:04 PM) Yeah I probably could have left him off. Really depends on how the outfield shakes up along with the DH spot when it's all said and done. I really like him and hope he works out