2nd_city_saint787

Man I was about to beat the #1 team 2 weeks in a row in the soxtalk league...Then Le'veon Bell happened and I lost by 4.

PFFers can you telll me how long Jay has had to throw this year vs last? He seems to consistently have no time and it wasn't until yesterday that he really started to create time with his feet. Why it took so long for that to happen is beyond me. Perhaps Trestman wanted him to be more of a pocket passer, for whatever reason, and he stuck to it to a fault.

I for one would be ecstatic about Miller and Robertson if they add 1 more SP to the mix. Once they add Rodon to the mix with Sale, Q, said SP, and Danks/Noesi/Bassitt that's gonna be a pitching staff, as a whole that's gonna win you a lot of ball games. It might be a lot of low scoring games but a W is a W.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 03:13 PM) The Vikings defense may be bad, but this is why Cutler still deserves a chance. We're finally going down-field more and guess what, it's working. Actually, Vikings are 7th in total defense. 3rd least passing yards allowed. Perhaps even more surprising is they are 3rd in sacks and Jay has been fairly clean today...Though most of that is because he's creating plays with his feet.

Wait, we have Jared Allen??

I'm a bit weary of Duke, good last year, a dumpster fire the year before, great the year before, then trash the rest of his career, but he's certainly worth a shot assuming he doesn't get a lot.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 11:54 AM) We have had a lot of injuries at the oline but more importantly, I think the tackle position has became a major area of need. Sure looks like it. Bushrod and Mills gave up 8 sacks all of last year, neither were hurt last year so a combined 32 starts between the 2. In 15 starts between the 2 this year they have given up 7.5. Can't differentiate Ola's time at guard and tackle (I'm using Stats.com) but he has given up 3. Chances are at least 1 of those was at tackle so through 9 games tackles have given up more sacks than all of last year.

I hear a lot of people say we fixed the OL, and I just wanted to point this stat out.... Jay has been sacked 6.5 sack% of the time this year (including the SF game where he was sacked just once)....An OL that featured J'Marcus Webb/Chris Spencer/Roberto Garza/Chris Williams/Lance Louis with starts also coming from Gabe Carimi, Frank Omiyale, and Edwin Williams, gave up sacks to Jay 6.8%. (Just 5.1% last year) This has magnified Jays biggest issue, and that's fumbling the football. His INT% is actually better this year but in 9 games this year vs 11 last year he's fumbled the ball 10 times vs just 5 last year. Jay has statistically been better this year than last and I struggled to find out why this team has sucked so hard and I think I just found it. *Waits for excuses comments*

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 16, 2014 -> 11:14 AM) Coleman is amazing. Gordon, Cobb, Langford, Gordon, Abdullah, Elliott and I'm probably missing someone. All are legit. I miss Venric Mark =(

Now win out boys! I wanna watch a pointless bowl game.

These Wildcat "receivers" make me sad...

If it means having to give up anything of value I think I might rather have Ryan Doumit or AJP. Or if want a defensive catcher, even though Flowers hasn't been a bad defensive catcher at all, go grab Nick Hundley. Castro has been in the bigs 4 years. His 1 good year he had a .355 BABIP. I don't think it's crazy to think that he's more of the player he was in those other 3 years than his 1 good year. Again, like everyone has said, he's an upgrade but not by much.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 15, 2014 -> 01:15 PM) Where did Flowers make progress exactly? His K%, BB%, & ISO last year were all near his all-time lows in those stats. Line drive percentage. Believe it or not Flowers 23.7% ranked 6th among catchers with 250 PAs in LD%....His previous high was 17.7% which would have ranked 32nd. It was apparent to me that when he did hit the ball he was making much better contact.

I'd be extremely iffy on trading for Castro if the Astros don't offer a big discount. Here's a fangraphs article from last year that predicted his regression. http://www.fangraphs.com/community/the-cur...f-jason-castro/ ...They of course were spot on. He's played "significant" time in 4 seasons. 3 of the 4 were bad. He's more than likely an upgrade, but enough to sacrifice a few useful pieces. Highest I'd go for him is something like Beck and a few no bodies.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 12:12 AM) I am not trading Ramirez straight up for either. Neither would I, but as the main piece I, personally would rather have Niese. QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) And he is less talented and is going to cost more to get based on his "proven" moniker. I guess maybe I'm just a bit weary of trading Lexi for a guy who was never really that good in the minors. I mean I know prospect rankings should be taken with a grain of salt but looking at many prospect lists this Greene fellow never even ranked in the top 20. I've read a few scouting reports of his since you posted this and ya, I'm just not impressed. I certainly could be wrong on this and maybe something he learned at the major league level clicked with him and he will continue to be the pitcher he is now.

I'd much rather have Niese over Greene. Niese is just 2 years older.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 01:24 PM) Why does everyone think A.) the Mets don't value Lagares and B.) they would want to create another hole by trading him? I think I'm the only one that suggested it and it was simply a thought were they not to give up Syndergaard/Wheeler. I even asked in my Op if Niese/Lagares was even less of an offer than Sy or Wheeler straight up. I admittedly don't know how to value guys who most of their value comes from D. At least I didn't call him a back end of the roster player.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 01:06 PM) No, I'd agree that Niese is a 3-4. He's a nice starter and I wouldn't mind the Sox acquiring him in a separate deal, but you can't trade Ramirez straight up for him. Certainly not straight up. I know this is in reply to something that got buried pages ago but I suggested Niese and Lagares+. I'd love Lagares but I'm kinda backing away from him being the 2nd piece now that VMart is off the market. I don't think they can significantly upgrade DH enough to be able to get by with Eaton and Lagares in the OF offensively. Defensively it'd be a lot of fun though.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Nov 11, 2014 -> 08:17 PM) Niese is not a 3 (neither is Noesi). More like a 4. Those are back end of the roster players. Pass. Niese is certainly more than a #4. Last 2 years he's ranked 57th in total WAR among SPs. His FIP ranked 37th. His xFIP was 40th. An arguement could be made he's moreso a low end #2 than a #4. Perhaps you can use the NL to AL argument to lessen his performance but still. QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Nov 11, 2014 -> 08:36 PM) I can see the logic behind the Mets perspective though. Niese and Gee have two years of control left just like Alexei and are younger/ cheaper than Alexei so in the eyes of the Mets, it makes sense . Problem for the Mets is that Alexei is quite valuable in the eyes of the Sox, and rightfully so. Niese has team options in 2017 and 18, so unless he blows up, that's 4 years of control.

Curious to those of you with PFF, Jake I'm looking your way, how has the WRs ranked as blockers this year? I believe they keep track of that yes? I think one of the main components that seems to be different from last year to this has been last year those little short passes would turn into more because our WR/TEs were up in front blocking, but now though it seems like those are consistently not working.

Actually, now that Brian inspired me to put my booker cap on.... Rollins/Kane/Wyatt/Harper/Rowan vs Cena/Ambrose/Ziggler/Show/Henry- Of course the Wyatts and Show/Henry splits would have to have been delayed. Gold/Stardust/Miz/Mizdow/Swoggle vs Usos/Matadors/Bull- This might still happen. Heel Divas vs Face Divas Ryback vs Cesaro Sheamus vs Rusev

This has kinda morphed into a bullpen thread so I'll bring this up here. Last year Hahn brought in a bunch of guys that didn't give up the long ball. If that philosophy (If it was indeed a philosophy) continues then none of K-Rod, Romo, or Janssen make sense. All rank in the "top" 20 in HR/9, Gregerson comes in at 60th while pitching predominately in a pitchers ballpark. Conversely, Andrew Miller ranked 47th in least HR/9....Zach Duke 51st I'm fairly content with the RH relievers sans maybe a closer, but Burke Badenhop(4th) and Joba Chamberlin(44th) are the only other FAs in the top 50 of least HR/9.

QUOTE (Brian @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 10:01 PM) I saw you posted and just skipped it, assuming you were talking about independent superstar, Rodney Hawk. Don't get me started on Rodney Hawk. But ya, it's gonna be real entertaining, hope you guys check it out. Card is loaded with a lot of fun matches.

QUOTE (Brian @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 06:11 PM) Jim Ross doing pbp for the NJPW ppv on Jan 4. Ya don't say, slapnuts. QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 11, 2014 -> 02:07 PM) Speaking of new promotions. Good Ol JR will be announcing for Jarretts company. I'm not real sure what type of thing he's running but "their" first event will be a partner show(?) with New Japan Pro Wrestling in NWJPs wrestlemania Wrestle Kingdom 9.....Gonna be kinda cool to watch that show with JR announcing. QUOTE (The Critic @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 08:11 PM) I haven't been to a WWE live event since Chris Jericho made his debut on Raw. There is nothing the current product has to offer that would make me consider going to one now. They're in a tough spot right now, esp. for Survivor Series. No Bryan, no Orton, no Brock, no Reigns, no Jericho, and no Barrett, and all the while headlining the show with a match that features 10 guys.... I'm not sure what the could have done differently.

The twitterverse is making it sound like the 4th year was the tipping point. Guessing the Sox went 3 years.