Lillian

One of the things that I find most notable is that Avisail Garcia has just 1 strike out this Spring, in 28 at bats. If he can continue to put the bat on the ball, look for big things from him!!!!

I'd love to see some video of his 3 hits in yesterday's game. I'm curious to see if his swing was really any different. As long as he has been struggling, in his career, wouldn't you think that he would have changed his swing, a long time ago?

After yesterday's performance, I was looking for the inevitable piece on "Beckham Makes Adjustments", and saw this: http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/113...wing-adjustment So, does anyone have an idea what the mysterious "swing adjustment" might be?

Wouldn't you know it? All of this "ragging" on Beckham, and then he has a day like today.

Thank you, "Stan Bahnsen". Well put.

QUOTE (GREEDY @ Mar 17, 2015 -> 08:11 AM) Really could use a right handed outfield bat to spell Laroche at DH vs LHP. Adam would still be very valuable in a pinch hit role where you can force an opposing manager to burn two relievers, or let Laroche hit in a plus matchup vs a righty out of the pen. Thank you. That was precisely what I said, and that was the point of starting the thread. I really like having a good left handed bat, or two, on the bench, when there is a lefty starting for the opposition. Having those bats available to face tough RH relievers is a point, which you and I are making, but few here seem to want to comment on. Until your post, that point was almost entirely ignored. Again, thanks for bringing the discussion back to the central point.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 16, 2015 -> 12:10 PM) So let me get this straight, we need a good RH bench hitter, but JB Shuck should be that good RH bench hitter even though he is a lefty, because of his 628 Major league at bats over 4 seasons? I understand that it might seem confusing, so let me clarify what I said: I suggested that, ideally, the bench would include a good hitter vs LH pitchers, because both Gillaspie and LaRoche do not hit them very well. Many suggested that the Sox would not be willing, or able to make any further additions, and that bench would likely have to consist of guys already on the roster. I responded by noting that Shuck, although left handed, does hit LH pitching very well, in fact better than RH pitching. Therefore, if they are not going to add anyone, he may be the best candidate to spell LaRoche at DH vs. LH pitching. If you don't like that plan, please suggest a better one. Moreover, maybe at 35, it wouldn't be a bad idea to give LaRoche some time off. He really has struggled versus lefties, particularly in recent years.

QUOTE (flavum @ Mar 16, 2015 -> 10:56 AM) He threw one into CF yesterday. You know Shuck is a lefty? Yes, I know that he is left handed, which I stated. However, in his brief career, he has actually hit lefties very well. Last year, at AAA, he hit .355 vs. lefties. His career stats in the Major Leagues are: .293 .333 .353 vs. LHP, which is better than his numbers vs. RHP. He has been a better hitter vs. lefties, which although is unusual for a left handed hitter, seems to be a consistent trait of his.

Regarding Soto: Can he still throw? Isn't there an issue with his arm? He used to have a good arm.

Do you guys think that Shuck is good enough to replace LaRoche as DH, on days when a tough lefty is starting for the opposition? La Roche has really been pretty bad vs. LHP, in the last few years. Moreover, I really like the idea of having Adam available as a late inning pinch hitter, on those rare days, when he isn't starting. If Shuck took La Roche's spot at DH, would the lineup vs lefties be as follows?: CF Eaton LF M. Cabrera 1B Abreu RF Garcia SS Ramirez DH Shuck C Soto 3B Beckham 2B Johnson

Now that it appears more and more likely that Micah Johnson has reinforced the front office’s sentiments, that he is indeed the guy who should get the starting job at second, the regular positions are probably all decided. Sanchez will be headed back to Charlotte, where he should get regular playing time, as the starting second baseman. So, who will comprise the 4 position bench players? Beckham will likely be the platoon partner for Gillaspie at third and, or the defensive replacement for Johnson at second. Bonifacio will be a reserve outfielder, and the one who is most capable of playing CF, if Eaton has to miss any time, due to injury. Of course, he can also play second. Although it isn’t yet decided, one of Brantly, Soto or Kottaras will be the back up catcher. That leaves one spot open on the bench. The most likely candidates are J. B. Shuck and Tyler Saladino. That isn’t a bad bench, but lacks one solid right handed bat. Would you really ever want to use any of those guys as a pinch hitter versus a tough left hander, much less bench LaRoche as the DH against a lefty? Shuck actually has hit LHP better, even though he bats left handed. However, he doesn’t have any power. It’s too early to have much of an opinion on Saladino. I’d like to see the Sox acquire a solid RH hitter vs LH pitching, who could take LaRoche’s spot in the line up, vs. tough lefties. That would leave both Gillaspie and LaRoche available as late inning pinch hitters, against tough RH relievers. He wouldn't have to have a lot of power, but at least provide a respectable OBP, perhaps with some speed. Is there any player out there, whom the Sox could acquire, who might fill that role of a RH hitting bench player?

Thought many of you would want to see this: "30 Clubs in 30 Days" on MLB.COM Tonight it's the Sox, with Dan Plesac, at 7 P.M. EDT

Apparently, we are seeing why he is ranked as the 2ND best prospect in Baseball, at his position, .

If Johnson is the starting second baseman, Sanchez has to be in AAA, getting playing time. He is still very young. Beckham could also be used as a late inning defensive replacement at second. That might be his best fit on this squad, as he really doesn't offer better offense than Gillaspie vs. LHP, bad as Connor has been against southpaws.

If this is representative of how Micah turns double plays, I don't want to see him at second: http://m.mlb.com/video/v43049883/cwsoak-sa...-vs-as/?cid=cws He makes several plays on this clip, but the one that caught my attention was the double play. The play starts at :25, and demonstrates his foot work at the bag, and a not very pretty throwing motion. He'll have to do better than that

Starting the season at Charlotte, ostensibly to work on his change up, makes the most sense. That provides "cover" for his not being on the parent club, right out of the gate, for those who might question the organization's motive. Actually, it also wouldn't hurt for him to be able to rely on that pitch, as it would put much less stress on his arm, than throwing all of those sliders. If he used the change enough, he might be able to throw more innings, than he is accustomed to, with the collegiate schedule. If he can add that pitch to his fast ball and that devastating slider, he could become something really special.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 13, 2015 -> 05:36 PM) He's nowhere close to being the best defensive 2B in the league. He is good at turning the double play. That's been my take. Thanks for clarifying your opinion on the subject. Wouldn't you say that his range is his weakest factor?

None of you have commented on what was, at least for me, the most interesting and debatable thing that he said. He asserted that Beckham was the best defensive second baseman in the League. He also said that he was the best at turning the double play. Many on this board would disagree, vehemently. Even the notion that he might be the starting second baseman raises questions. Hawk said that Sanchez could not cover the ground, or throw like Beckham. Thoughts?

This is a happy thought: http://bleacherreport.com/tb/dfJaD?utm_sou...icago-white-sox Please discuss.

Here is a surprising stat: In 2012, which was his last year at AAA, he had the following line, in 100 at bats: .283 .351 .414 .765 Maybe there is hope for him to figure it out, at the Big League Level. You guys know that I love his approach vs. RHP. I just remember the guy hanging out line drives all over the whole field, for most of the season. Until Dunn left, and Robin put him in the 4TH and 5TH spots in the order, he was terrific. His last 24 games were just brutal, and really messed up his season. He was on pace to be our second best hitter. Hahn and the scouts saw something in his approach that they really liked, and they have been vindicated. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up being our second best hitter vs. RHP this year, as long as he hits in a suitable lineup spot. Although he won't hit the long ball much, he could continue to be a very good Average and OBP hitter, vs. RHP.

Avi also had a pretty solid Winter League Season: http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?si...&pid=541645

Just to inject a note of optimism, regarding Avi. He is very young, very talented, and has exhibited some pretty good results, in his very limited opportunities. I will be very surprised and disappointed if he doesn't at least put up a line like the following: .270 AVG, .325 OBP with 25 - 30 doubles, 20 - 25 homers and 80 - 85 RBI's. He has speed and power, and if he can develop a little better plate discipline, he could be a very potent offensive weapon. He should get plenty of opportunities to drive in runs, hitting behind Eaton, Cabrera, Abreu and LaRoche. But then, what the hell do I know? It does appear that the organization is extremely high on him, as were the Tigers, before he was traded.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 15, 2014 -> 08:32 PM) All you guys take the fun out of being a baseball fan, My team did all it could in a short period of time to get a lot better. I will impatiently wait for spring training and wildly cheer for my team. I don't care about what Steamer, Zips or Gladys Knight and the Pips say about the Sox. The only projection I care about is that spring is the time for optimism. What were all those projection systems and scouts saying about how Abreu would perform in his rookie season ? And guess who nailed it ? I did . A little bit of optimism combined with common sense and good health projects the Sox to be much better, which was the point of signings. I will let it unfold and enjoy it until the Sox are eliminated wether it's in the regular season or the playoffs. I don't need a computer simulation or 2 years of calculus to help me root root root for the White Sox. LOVE IT!!! Eloquently stated, and very uplifting. Thanks.

Well, to answer my own question, if Detroit has a starting staff of Scherzer, Verlander, Sanchez, Price and Greene, I think they win the Division. The Sox would likely be several games behind in the standings, with Sale, Samardjiza, Quintana, Danks and Noesi. We all seem confident that Rodon will not pitch more than a total of 120 or 130 innings, and we don't know how many of those will be in the Minors, nor how he will perform. I will say that the Tigers would still have to shore up their bullpen, however that is probably going to happen, before much longer.

Another way to think about the potential of adding Scherzer is to consider the difference between his resigning with the Tigers, or with us. How would you like our chances of taking the Division with our current staff, and Detroit having a staff with Scherzer back in their rotation? Then, think about our prospects if the Sox signed him. Of course, he may not sign with either club, but it just provides another perspective.