southsider2k5

I really wonder what the line up would look like if LaRoche had stuck it out and had been healthy. Would Avi be starting at DH over LaRoche? If not, would they have put Avi into the line up over Jackson or Cabrera?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 4, 2016 -> 10:35 AM) Yeah I know, it happens, but given some of the struggles this year, it doesn't make me feel any better. I would agree with that. I am still very nervous about going into the playoffs this year. I would be shocked if Crawford is anywhere near 100%, even if he is playing. The PK has been awful this year, and until yesterday, the one line that had carried the team has been very quiet. Hopefully they are saving it, but an early exit wouldn't surprise me.

Any word on Micker Adolfo?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 4, 2016 -> 12:52 AM) I agree. What I was trying to convey was the idea that Fulmer could potentially go from AA-AAA. And to ruin that point, I would guess Fulmer goes from AA-MLB and skips Charlotte altogether. I think this allows them to drag it out until September, and he gets a few months in Charlotte. I don't think they want to rush him, which is why they have kept adding more and more reclamation projects.

QUOTE (Jake @ Apr 3, 2016 -> 08:16 PM) Gonzalez's lost velocity is concerning Well now they will be able to see what the deal is first hand, and if it is something that can be fixed. If not, no big deal.

Excellent! Hopefully contract is very large too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I know it is only on HULU, but 11.22.63 was an amazing series. There were a few deviations from the book, but I was really impressed. Glad they did it over 8 episodes instead of trying to cram it into a movie.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 3, 2016 -> 08:17 PM) Q said "he seemed to be OK" afterwards. What a fun game, but yet another defensive implosion. Took a little fun out of the victory. They quit skating after they got up 6 nothing.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 3, 2016 -> 02:20 PM) Chris Kuc ‏@ChrisKuc Looks like a left knee injury for Marian Hossa. #Blackhawks Ugh, hopefully not serious.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 3, 2016 -> 11:14 AM) Rays are supposedly releasing Loney and eating 8 mil. https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/status/716657695114313728 For minimum wage, I'd be interested.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 3, 2016 -> 07:22 PM) Charlotte has a very formidable rotation. 1.) Erik Johnson 2.) Miguel Gonzalez 3.) Jacob Turner 4.) Chris Beck 5.) Scott Carroll Fulmer potentially joining too. Looks like some rotations in the NL. It makes is pretty for sure that Fulmer starts in Birmingham.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 3, 2016 -> 08:27 AM) Yeah, that is pretty bizarre. The reason big name college coaches fail at the NBA level is because they are usually hired to coach horrible teams. Stevens was 25-57 his first year, and the Celtics have improved. Hoiberg was set up to fail. He was given the same injury plagued roster, and was replacing a competent coach. You seriously believe that Brad Stevens will be the best coach since John Wooden? Ha.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 10:41 PM) When's the last time a college coach came in and did really well in the NBA? It's hard to think of many examples. Pitino is probably the one standout who coached both well, along with Larry Brown. Most of the big names, though, have fallen pretty flat on their faces and returned with their tails tucked between their legs. Can't say the Hoiberg situation has been especially surprising. Hurt both the Cyclones and the Bulls in the process. In the end, Brad Stevens might be the best basketball coach since John Wooden. He's going to have to win some NBA titles to prove it, but he definitely has a chance if he doesn't burn out first. What? Seriously?

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 07:34 PM) Lol - well, I was just working off of your "while not ideal...doing the best we can with what we have" sentiment. I certainly wouldn't equate that to some sort of excitement buzz that I then came in and trampled all over. And I also wouldn't call replacing many of Tyler Flowers' at-bats with those from Avila as a "ton of improvement" at that position. But I did account for the improvements expected at 2nd and 3rd when I said the team would be better offensively than they were last year. But when you see all of the at-bats earmarked for the likes of Jackson, Avila, Rollins, Garcia, and Cabrera, well then, you tell me. Last in the league in offense again? There's as good a chance at that as there isn't, unfortunately. Not really, no there isn't. This team does not have a 50/50 chance at being the worst in baseball. This is about you taking a lot of key improvements and going instantly to needing things to go right to avoid being the "worst in baseball". There is a minimal chance of that happening this year. If you look around baseball the White Sox line up is probably middle of the pack-ish. The other fun part is every single guy on your list is not going to be a full time starter. All of those guys are either sharing time, or have a platoon partner. It also again leaves out the huge improvements at 2nd and 3rd base, along with any minimal improvement for guys like Cabrera and Rollins make back towards even historical norms, without seeing any improvement out of a guy like Garcia. You are quite literally assuming worst season scenarios for most of the line up, again.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 07:18 PM) Not as bad as Oklahoma. They couldn't hit the broadside of a barn in the second half. They were playing hard generating turnovers and offensive rebounds, but NOTHING would go in. It was surreal.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 06:31 PM) Oh, it's far from ideal, wouldn't you say? The team that was dead last in offense in the league last year STILL features Melky Cabrera in the middle of the order, STILL will be giving regular at-bats to Avisail Garcia, and NOW is graced with the offensive juggernauts that are Austin Jackson, Alex Avila, and Jimmy Rollins. That's not very promising at all. We will probably be better overall offensively than we were last year, but seriously, with this cast of characters, we could still be last in offense once again. We are going to need some big time career years and surprises to avoid that outcome. Leave it to the King of the buzzkill to take the absolute worst out of an off season that saw a ton of improvement in this line up, especially at 2nd, 3rd, and C. We don't need a ton of career years to avoid being "last in offense". We need career average years from most of the team, which we didn't see from a lot of players last year.

QUOTE (professa @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 02:12 PM) Not that we haven't seen this already this spring, but Robin confirms Rollins will bat 2nd and Melky will bat 5th start the season. https://twitter.com/ChiTribKane/status/716333332192043008 While not ideal, it is the best use of the players we have.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 01:32 PM) Even if the sox had to pay a dollar, he's a waste of a roster spot. As bad as he was last year, that is still 25 OPS points better than LaRoche was last year. He wouldn't play a position for the White Sox, but if they were willing to give him to us for basically nothing, you could try him at DH.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 05:50 PM) 17-13-1 spring training. Doesn't mean anything, but I think they had a decent ST, except for the one issue--and even that's a positive if you ask me. Their first winning record since 2004. If nothing else, it is a positive mental thing.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 2, 2016 -> 04:14 PM) It would be delicious crow if he puts six good months together, with passable defense. He could even get to the point where he hits OR defends, and most would be happy.

T.J. Quinn ‏@TJQuinnESPN 45m45 minutes ago MLB suspends journeyman Taylor Teagarden for 80 games. Remember, he was the only athlete caught on tape in the Al Jazeera documentary.

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 27m27 minutes ago Orioles Outright Zach Phillips http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/04/orio...h-phillips.html …

Avi Garcia's defense summed up in one kids picture. https://twitter.com/gaboeca/status/715972467546845184

How long until he sees Dr Andrews? Vincent Goodwill ‏@vgoodwill 51m51 minutes ago Derrick Rose getting an MRI on his elbow right now. Precautionary measure