2nd_city_saint787

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 5, 2013 -> 12:53 PM) Before his Sept. dead arm period, Santiago was actually right around Samardzjia stat wise I'm giving Samardzija the slight edge just due to his ability to get deeper into the game. Do I think Santiago can get to point where he's going 6+ next year? Sure. Does AZ believe that as well? Ya, they probably should. I really like AZ as a trade partner so I hope Hahn gets in there before the Cubs do. The deal I suggested my last post for Santiago or expand it a bit and try to get Aaron Hill as well. Probably over valuing Q here if I think they could get Parra/Hill/Owings/Barrett, but I can dream right?

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 07:44 PM) CF - Gerardo Parra (L) SS - Alexei Ramirez RF - Avisail Garcia 1B - Jose Abreu C - Jarrod Saltalamachia (S) LF - Dayan Viciedo DH - Adam Dunn (L) 2B - Marcus Semien 3B - Matt Davidson AZ is expected to discuss with the Cubs about Samardzija so they're looking for pitching. Q should be considered the better pitcher, not sure if I can say the same about Santiago. ERA wise Santiago put up a better number but everywhere else I'd probably give it to Jeff. I'm actually ok with giving Gillaspie/Kepp another year, he's a LH bat who wasn't THAT BAD. I'd rather try to snag Owings/Parra/Barrett which would then open the door to trading Lexi and Reed.

Worth noting that he changed his approach this season so the results could be legit. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/06/...eMVI/story.html

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 12:08 PM) At this point, the team is not very good. It would take a ton of creativity to get this team to a competitive state After seeing that they lost more than half(55) their games by 2 runs or less, and over a third(36) of them by 1 run I kinda convinced myself that they're closer than people think. If they make the right moves offensively I think this can be cleaned up sooner rather than later. That's all probably just wishful thinking/homerism on my part.

Since I don't know where to put this.....Rock kinda teased that the Sox may be interested in David Dejusus...He was just resigned. It's too bad Avisail didn't look that good in CF because Matt Joyce may be non tendered and he could be a good mid-tier addition.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 11:05 AM) That makes it even less likely that the Sox will sign him, even if they "only" have to give up a 2nd round pick. Also, the idea that he'll sign for 2 years is a bit of a pipedream at this point. You're looking at 3 years minimum right now and probably $15 million per. Ya, as much as I wouldn't mind the signing, if he gets a QO I probably wouldn't do it. This years draft is supposed to be stacked and with how high the Sox are picking there's a good chance they can get 2 damn good players out of it. I used the word probably because I would still have to think about. I guess it depends on what Hahn thinks of the team, and it this point I really have no idea.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 01:45 AM) Admittedly, I 'm just sick of Dunn, making me say, "next." If Grandy stinks I'll probably hate him as well. I don't see the Sox paying 20 million a year for Ellsbury who would be ideal because of his Rowand-like grinderism, and I think DeAza and Viciedo played so absent-mindedly last year they should move on as well. Though I guess I mentally could give Viciedo one more chance. It seemed like DeAza and Viciedo took a huge step backward last year and I don't quite understand why. Maybe all these guys just had an off year and next year they will click (including Lexi, Flowers, Beckham). If we stand pat, that will be the only hope. I can't imagine people spending money for season tix if our only real addition is Abreu to go with A. Garcia. That makes little sense to me from your standpoint. Granderson struck out 195 times last year with a batting average just 14 points higher while putting up a lower obp. You suggested in the past that Dunn wasn't worth the 15M a year but are now advising they pay Grandy 15M. Like I said, I'm indifferent as long as he produces, but from your standpoint it makes zero sense to me.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 4, 2013 -> 01:04 AM) Amen. Free agency is one, big risk nowadays (see Dunn, Pujols, etc.) but the Sox are due for a lucky break and actually sign somebody who will be good. It's not my money and the Sox aren't going to reduce prices anytime soon, anyway, so I say, spend, spend spend and bring Grandy aboard. Why not? He's a huge upgrade from DeAza as you said!If he stinks, well shucks. But everything's a risk. We just signed a guy for six years who has never played in the USA. He could suck for all we know or he could be amazing. This concern about money in all the threads baffles me. Why do I care if Jerry gives his offspring more money in his will? Spend it, baby. Whomever signs Ellsbury at some point will surely regret it (if he gets 6-10 years at 15 million a year, cmon, he'll be a bust sooner or later; maybe sooner if he gets hurt). McCann and his 15 million a year also will be ridiculous. So pay Grandy between 12 and 15 and be done with it til the next guy comes along. Until the Sox tell me they will reduce parking to 5 bucks and hot dogs to 2.50 or 3 bucks and a beer to 3 bucks, I don't give a flip about the finances of the chairman and his group. SPEND! Hmm, you hate Dunn but want Grandy? They're the same type of players offensively, low average, high production, walks a lot, and Ks a lot....I for one am fine with it as long as they're producing but you on the other hand....

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 3, 2013 -> 10:20 PM) Right, which I why I don't think it makes a difference. Well if bucket is to be believed the Sox do plan on at least attempting to compete the next 2 years.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Nov 3, 2013 -> 10:52 PM) I think even I would rather have De Aza and his contract than Granderson and his contract. I love Granderson, but I don't want him unless he's signing a 2 yr/$24M deal at the most. He should be a 3+ WAR player, but he had an injured 2013 and his defense, sabr speaking, is all over the place. But a 2 yr deal doesn't really make a difference, so I'd rather not sign him at all. Makes a difference if they're trying to compete those 2 years.

As long as the contract isn't anywhere near what that bookie said a little bit ago I'm cool with Granderson.

Gonna go 3-0 for the 2nd straight week, win my 6th straight in 2 different leagues. Winning is fun! Sitting at 181 with my kicker to go in 1 league...Would have had 200+ plus if I chose Foles over Pryor as my starting QB off of FA. That team has been a fun one...My QB situation has looked like this.. -Drafted Dalton and Cutler -Dalton wasn't great so I picked up Foles -Foles and Cutler both get hurt -Put a waiver claim on Dalton, lose it, Dalton goes ham -Dump Foles for Eli Manning -Eli Manning has a bye so I've gotta pick up another QB -Pass up Foles to go with Pryor, Foles goes ham And through all that I'm 7-2 with 1 of those losses decided by 4 points.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 29, 2013 -> 03:47 PM) So who do I start at flex...Victor Oladipo, Arron Afflalo, or MKG??? I kid, kinda, really though Chris Johnson, Joseph Randle, or Marques Colston? QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Oct 29, 2013 -> 03:56 PM) Probably CJ1K QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Oct 29, 2013 -> 04:00 PM) Ya I'd go CJ2YPC as well. More like CJ2TDs

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Nov 3, 2013 -> 12:28 PM) Carlos Martinez wasn't thought very highly of (on this board) when the rumor appeared. I doubt that, I remember some questioned his size, or maybe they simply wanted Hahn to get hitting instead of pitching. Ramirez has value, but not enough to get you the 26th prospect in all of baseball.

I went with the first option but I kinda doubt it happens because I don't think they'll wanna give up the draft picks. Like I've spewed out there in another thread the Sox lost more than half(55) of their games by 2 runs or less so I don't think it's unrealistic to think that if they upgrade 3-4 guys that the Sox can win half of those games. But of course, like Cali said, they wouldn't make all those upgrades in just FA, so it's really a mix of the 2.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Nov 3, 2013 -> 12:36 PM) At the end of the day, the Cardinals stuck with Peter Kozma. Because they weren't gonna give up Carlos Martinez in return. Hahn didn't have to trade Ramirez, so you shoot for the moon and if they don't meet your price then you move on.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Nov 2, 2013 -> 10:16 PM) He had a career high 23.2% line drive rate and a career low 7.6% infield fly rate. I'm all for trading him if a good offer is there but I don't want this post to get lost in the mix. Real good rebuttal to the conversation at hand. I still have hope that we can get the guy we say the first 3 months of the season last year. I suspect that if a team trades for him, they have similar hopes as I do. I think the stance change did him some good. If Hawk is right in that his power will return next season I think they could do worse. You can also do better though. A couple guys I wonder about are Aaron Hill and Daniel Murphy, Daniel Murphy in particular. I have no clue how good he is defensively, but as a LHB who has a pretty good stick I think he'd be a good addition. The Mets look like they wanna play Wilmer Flores at 2B and the DBacks might wanna move Prado to 2B to make room for Davidson.

Red Sox declined Thorntons option...I know a lot of people here hate him, but I wouldn't mind him back as a Loogy.

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 2 Nov RT @psmyth12: Talked to Coach Fox a few minutes ago. Did not have a heart attack. Is in good spirits and undergoing testing at hospital.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 2, 2013 -> 03:19 PM) Jose Quintana had a 3.51 ERA last year, threw 200 innings, had the #42 ERA in the big leagues and the #17 ERA in the AL. #16 in ERA in the AL was Justin Verlander (who has an easier ballpark to pitch in), #18 was John Lackey. Last year he was an above-average #2 starter. While we're talking ERA....Guess what Hectors ERA as a starter was???? 3.51

For comparisons sake Q had a 1.35 WHIP his first year as a starter, Santiago who got jerked around a lot had a 1.39 WHIP as a starter. Q in his 2nd year got down to a more respectable 1.22.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Nov 2, 2013 -> 02:38 PM) Well, I hope you and bucket are wrong. As this team is currently built, they're really, really bad at winning baseball games. And I'll just leave it at that I think if you upgrade 3+ offensive positions to a team that lost 55 games by 2 runs or less that I don't think the team will be really bad at winning ball games. A good table setter, like Ellsbury, does a lot to this team, it adds a ripple effect. Batting Lexi behind Ellsbury makes Lexi better(50 points higher with runners on the last 3 years). Same can be said for Dunn who has an OPS 134 points higher with runners on. Then you throw in Abreu over last years Konerko, and an upgrade at catcher to go along with all the guys you think will improve and the offense becomes much, much more potent.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Nov 2, 2013 -> 02:19 PM) Ramirez almost had 50 XBHs last year and is a fantastic defender. I sure as hell don't want to pay him anywhere near that. If the Sox want to spend the money on Ellsbury, I'd be happy. It's not my money. I still think its a foolish decision and it reminds me of something the Mets do. Rebuilding teams don't invest 1/6th of their payroll (optimistically) into risks like Ellsbury. I think the difference we have here in our argument is I don't think this is a rebuilding team. Like bucket, one of our resident insiders, has said this team isn't punting on 2014. Do I think they actually do add Ellsbury? No, I doubt it, but I think it'd be far from a foolish decision if they were to do it. Like you said in your post about defense you're not gonna change my mind on this so I guess it's pointless to continue arguing.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Nov 2, 2013 -> 02:04 PM) You want to pay Juan Pierre and Coco Crisp $20M a year? You don't pay guys that rely on speed that much unless their name is Ricky Henderson. Honestly, any stats that use defensive metrics to place value on a player don't mean a whole lot to me. Like Balta said, he may not be worth that much come the final 2 years of his contract but he's gonna earn that contract the first 3-4 years of it and I'd say chances are he's still gonna be a valuable player the last 1-2. It's not like Ellsbury is a guy who lays down a ton of bunts to get on base so speed isn't the only component of his game and I wouldn't say he relies on it. He had nearly 50 XBHs last year in 134 games, he's much more than a slappy speed guy.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Nov 2, 2013 -> 02:00 PM) Trust me, you don't have to explain how bad Konerko is. I'm one of the few Sox fans that was never much of a Konerko fan. I believe in Abreu, but even if he is a stud, we've upgraded at exactly 1 position. I expect Viciedo and Gillaspie to improve. I expect Beckham to lose his job. I expect Ramirez to have a better year in the field. Even if all those things happen, I still don't expect to be close to contending. If all those things happen and you also add Ellsbury, who improves the team both offensively and defensively, and then also improve the catchers position why couldn't that team compete? Then going into 2015 Dunn comes off the books and you have plenty of money for an upgrade there and you're in even better position.