spiderman

I had thought the theme of the Yankees off-season would be able to get under the luxury tax - was that just wrong, or does signing McCann / Elisbury / Cain somehow still work?

Even if he wants to come back, they are handicapping the roster by keeping 3 1B/DH's. One of these guys is strictly a pinch hitter most days, and that's probably Konerko at this point of his career although I realize it can be argued that new guy may be protected against tough matchups, and Dunn still goes into his funks where having an alternative isn't a bad option. While these aren't awful explanations, I do think roster flexibility can't be the loser especially if they are a team that is dependent on strong starting pitching and lower scoring games where defense comes into focus.

He's not coming back. They don't need 3 1B/DH types on the roster.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 30, 2013 -> 01:54 PM) Completely agree with this. Although I see Viciedo improving with the right hitting coach the most. He's still only 23 and has raw talent is still there. Yes I know the power numbers weren't there, and doesn't walk often but he still hit 266. Next year if he can hit 265 with 25 HRs and 80 RBIs that would be great. And I could see Sox trading Beckham so Semein could start at 2B. Viciedo probably has one more year to show he can play in the majors as a regular. Another hitter though who doesn't walk so that's a problem. It's hard to have too much hope for a lineup that has so many easy outs (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, LF and Dunn's .217 average). Garcia is exciting and that's going to be fun, but what is else is there? Simeon may be a player, but would he be a prospect in any other system? I don't know. I do sort of expect the White Sox to be creative and move one of their starting pitching for another young hitting prospect who can be in the lineup next season.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 30, 2013 -> 02:15 PM) If Keppinger could hit again in a true platoon, third base wouldn't be a problem They need to keep Keppenger in his utility role although giving a multi-year deal to a platoon/utility player is pretty dumb. In Keppinger's case, he doesn't hit enough to off-set his inability to get on base by a walk. Realistically, the White Sox are not likely to spend big money on any free agent unless they are playing poker right now are getting ready to shock everyone. They will probably make a series of smaller moves, some will work out/other's won't and that probably means Keppinger, assuming health, plays 120 games next season.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 30, 2013 -> 01:45 PM) Most obvious move ever is signing McCann How old is McCain? How many years would be smart for a catcher? I'm hesitant to go crazy on a catcher, I'm more in the camp of signing somebody who can play defense.

Were there any deals/discounted tickets for this Saturday's game? I thought I had heard something about highly discounted tickets, but can't find anything anywhere other than what people have on Stubhub. Anything know of any promo code / deals for this Saturday?

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 22, 2013 -> 02:34 PM) Johnson 6.2 IP 2R vs. The Tigers. Solid. It's been said around here often, but the rotation, with Johnson doing a nice job here in the last month of the season, looks very solid for next season. Obviously, there are no guarantees that this will hold up, and questions remain about pretty much in the rotation (not about Sale's stuff, but more durability). I don't want the White Sox to go on an off-season spending spree, but would love another chance at landing another Garcia type from another club, but not sure how they do that without moving a Quintana type. 1) Chris Sale 2) Jose Quintana 3) John Danks 4) Hector Santiago 5) Erik Johnson

I'm assuming that the White Sox aren't paying any of Peavy's salary ?

I haven't followed Middlebrooks, but wasn't he sent back to the minors for not performing this season?

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 28, 2013 -> 10:17 PM) •The White Sox have shown no interest in absorbing any of the approximately $24MM owed Peavy and that, along with health concerns, are big issues for the Braves. Per Mlb rumors I think the consensus will be the White Sox didn't get enough back for Peavy (although that's probably the case for most trades when young/unknown talent is acquired). What are we thinking though as terms of adequate return - 1 top 10 talent in a minor league system? 2 in the top 15? 2 in the top 10? More? Less?

I think many are going to be let down by the return for Rios, should the Sox move him. It's not for a lack of trying, but the Sox have to be willing to pay quite a bit of that money to get a better return.

3-1 count, swing at ball 4, and then pop out in the OF. Horrible 2nd inning AB by Keppinger.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Apr 14, 2013 -> 10:46 AM) There are only three players on the current roster who are important to a rebuild. Sale, Quintana, and Santiago. Danks is fourth on the list because of his contract. Realize Viciedo is a bust, keep Konerko through a rebuild if you want, doesn't matter and do with the rest of the roster what you will. Deal by deadline: Peavy, Rios, De Aza, Floyd, Reed, Crain. I don't think Quintana and Santiago are anything more than parts. Yes, both may have solid/good future's, and cheaper priced guys are needed to balance the payroll, so in no means, am I saying that they should be traded, but I'm cautious to say that these are building blocks either. If the White Sox tank, everyone outside of Chris Sale are up for discussion, and I probably would be willing to deal guys like Peavy/Rios on a team going nowhere if (espeically in Peavy's case) if they can bring back 1 or 2 minor league prospects who can contribute in 2014 while at the same time, freeing up payroll. Let's face it - the minor league system's lack of talent is eventually going to catch up to an aging major league roster, and free agency shouldn't be a primary method of acuiring talent. If the Sox were to tank this season, think of it as more of a chance to get Santiago in the rotation so that next season, the rotation remains fairly solid with Sale/Danks/Quintana/Santiago and some other minor league option. Offensively is where the Sox need to start adding young pieces who can get on base, and it may take guys like Peavy/Floyd/Rios to do that.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 11, 2013 -> 07:53 AM) They've also faced Shields, Felix, Iwakuma, Gonzalez, and Zimmerman, as well as Jeremy Guthrie who may as well be Christy Mathewson against the White Sox. They've faced some really, really good pitching. The fact that they're 4-4 is, quite frankly, a surprise in its own right. That is a good point although 2 of the 3 teams that they have played (although the Royals have dominated the White Sox and many like them as a sleeper) our teams that most people on this board probably see as inferior to the White Sox. Also, in 8 or 9 games, every team has seen a #1 or #2 now in about half of those games, although the quality of some team's top starters in not always high.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 11, 2013 -> 07:49 AM) I'll give you that. But the fear that this team just makes too many outs to be a serious contender haven't been disproved yet. I like to evaluate the team every 27 games. We'll see where we are at the end of the month. Over the course of a season, though, there are too many hitters (Viceido, Keppinger, Ramirez, Beckham and Flowers) who just aren't likely to get on base as much as the offense will need to to operate without being overly dependent on home runs, which this team will certainly hit a good share of. There are older players as well in this lineup (Konerko, Dunn) who may begin a slow decline so I think there's a ton of pressure on the pitching staff to hold opposing teams down. Barring health issues, I do expect the top 3 (Sale, Peavy and Floyd) do hold up with some blemishes, but the bottom of that rotation could be a gas can. It's hard for me to see how this team out-performs last year's without unexpected play from some of the offense and the backend of the pitching staff surprising me (I do like the bullpen a lot). I see this team finishing somewhere in the 80 win area.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 19, 2013 -> 05:56 PM) Our pen looks very solid. The pitching staff, barring any other moves, is pretty much set. S1: Chris Sale S2: Jake Peavy S3: Gavin Floyd S4: John Danks S5: Jose Quintana S6: Hector Santiago Closer - Addison Reed Setup - Matt Thornton and Jessie Crain Middle Innings - Matt Lindstrom and Nate Jones Lefty Specialist - Donny Veal It's possible that Hector Santiago could also end up in the bullpen, but that could depend on the health of John Danks. Santiago has a lot of value and importance on this roster. As mentioned, he could be Danks' fill-in to open the season. If Danks is ready out of the gate, the White Sox still have to watch his innings as well as everyone else on that staff. Outside of Floyd (who did have his own issues last season), there's a cause of concern for everyone. I don't think they open with a 6 man rotation, but we could see it at times during the season or at least Santiago maybe giving a starter an extra turn of rest. As for the bullpen, there's probably 1 spot left, and it's probably another long reliever type. Lindstrom and Jones are both possible setup guys as well, so a very deep pitching staff is the obvious strength on this team

QUOTE (TomSeaverFan @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 09:53 PM) What a great gesture. I hope Flowers is ready to take the next step to greatness. That's the only way losing AJ will be acceptable to me. I'm convinced Sox fans will give AJ a great reception in the Cell next season, such a well deserved standing ovation it will be. I'd settle for just being average, or, not being bad (offensively). Defensively, I think he'll be an upgrade.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Dec 29, 2012 -> 09:16 PM) Kubel seems to make pretty good sense to me based on who's available. No reason why there's not room for him. If none of them got injured at all (very unlikely) and playing time was split exactly evenly between Konerko, Dunn, Rios, De Aza, Viciedo, and Kubel, that would be 135 starts per player. How is Kubel defensively? If we're looking at another DH log-jam, I'd rather avoid giving up pitching help for a team of DH's.

QUOTE (pittshoganerkoff @ Dec 28, 2012 -> 02:23 PM) Right, which is why I said he could be traded as part of a package. If Hahn swings some deal to acquire an infielder and needs to move someone, Beckham could be a throw in along with Floyd and Thornton for example. In the long run, however, I think it's more likely an outfielder gets traded, and we will be watching Beckham struggle at the plate again. I could live with Beckham for another season if he hits 18-20 HR and plays great defense. Yes, his .240 average, or less, would be hard to take, but he's still young enough I'd rather exhaust every opportunity with him and walk away knowing he was given every last doubt than moving him for nothing.

QUOTE (chisox2334 @ Dec 28, 2012 -> 04:08 PM) white sox could of just singed aj back if we were going the route of getting berkman Just don't see the point of adding Berkman if that means having one poor OF on the field, and creating a log jam at 1B/DH.

As much as I don't like the lineup, I think I'd be tempted to go into spring training keeping the pitching staff as strong as it could possibly be. If Gavin Floyd is the #3 or #4 starter, depending on John Danks health and production, that's a pretty strong rotation, and given the questions that will remain about Peavy lasting a long season, Sale piling up innings on his arm, Danks coming back from injury, and Quintana possibly turning into a gas can, I think keeping Floyd is pretty important in the middle of that rotation despite him being inconsistent from start to start. This rotation has the potential to be amongst the best in baseball if health is assumed. Add a guy like Santiago to the mix as an occasional 6th starter which I don't put past the White Sox doing for stretches to keep everyone as fresh as possible and it's a very deep rotation. Now, saying all that, Floyd is a free agent after the season, and the White Sox will eventually have to give Sale more money. Peavy and Danks are both making big money. They probably do need to balance out the rotation, and Floyd can return a solid prospect in return or be used to strengthen the major league team. It does make sense to move him for something rather than eventually lose him for nothing - this can also be done at the trading deadline, but I think they can get more from him now, considering a team would get him for an entire season at a reasonable cost rather than 8 or 9 late season starts.

It's obviously a lineup with 4 or 5 holes, but, as has been said, I think we'll still see 1-2 of those holes be filled (or attempted to).

Barring any trades, I don't see the urgency to spend any additional money on the bullpen: Closer: Addison Reed Late inning setup: Matt Thornton, Nate Jones and Jessie Crain Lefty specialist: Donny Veal That leaves 2 spots - Hector Santiago, should they decide to keep him in the bullpen, which may be unlikely, if he doesn't earn a starting job, could be one of these two spots, but, almost guaranteed, that one of these spots will be for a long-relief option so that could be a battle, if not Santiago, then for Axelrod and few others. If they end up being short one guy, and are in contention, they can probably find another middle reliever without giving up the farm.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 26, 2012 -> 11:40 AM) So letting a 35 year old catcher walk is the Sox being cheap, but replacing a 37 year old 1B with a 34 year old 1B on a longer term deal is prudent? Ok. I don't think the White Sox are in the market for any more 1B types with Dunn/Konerko hanging around. I'm fairly sure there will be a significant move made in the next few weeks, whether we like the move is another story, but I think Hahn may just prove to be a bit more patient in finding what he considers his best trading partner, and with the payroll pretty stretched as it is, it's probably causing him to think outside the box as well.