Dick Allen

I saw an amazing number yesterday. Since the beginning of the 2011 season, Tom Brady has a 26.8% completion rate in the end zone to receivers not named Gronk.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 08:49 AM) I think Hahn is brining in someone to compete. I personally like Jones as the set up man. I wouldn't mind Bailey depending on his health. He doesn't seem to be linked with any team, and being a closer is probably what he wants. I think an incentive-lased deal maybe multi-year. At worst, if he performs, you can flip him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 08:29 AM) Yes, I note this...he's given up guys who have established themselves on the MLB roster, but in over a year, he hasn't traded away anyone from the minors. I think that's a trend. It could be, or it might be that he can't acquire what he wants with the guys who are available in his system. KW got ripped for trading minor leaguers. Gio haunts him. Everyone else........who cares? It might have cost the Charlotte Knights some wins, but not the White Sox.

Why would anyone come close to the asking price for Jeff S. when you can sign a guy like Garza for ultimately the same coin and keep the prospects Theo wants to buy himself even more time before he has to start answering for all the losing?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 08:19 AM) One interesting thing to note is that Ricky has not traded away a single "prospect" at any point this offseason. Or hell, I can't remember if he's done so at all. Last offseason we didn't trade for anyone and we didn't sign anyone who cost us a draft pick, this offseason we haven't traded away anyone from our minor leagues and we haven't signed anyone that cost us a draft pick. I think that's a trend as well. Hahn isn't "flipping prospects for players". He has traded 2 of his young guys with value however in Santiago and Reed. It would really be awesome if all these young players pan out.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 08:12 AM) Striking out slightly less than Reynolds is a big deal, frankly. If he struck out slightly less but hit fewer HR, there's a good chance it would make him a more consistent ballplayer. He can't because that's not his game, fine I get that...but the difference between 200K's a year and 150K's a year is very large. That is where the assumption that a strike out is just like any other out, therefore they don't matter comes into play. If he has 50 less strikeouts, those other 50 ABs are either walks, HBP, or balls in play. Assuming they are all balls in play and he has a .300 bipba, that is 15 more hits, which is 30 more points on the batting average and OBP based on 500 AB. A strikeout is NOT like any other out.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 04:20 PM) So very doubting this will happen. We're not there yet -- not to the point where we blow our cash, no matter how tempting it might be. It seems like a player of this sort posts every year or two so the opportunity will come. It just doesn't seem to jive with the whole "young AND inexpensive" thing. Heck, even a borderline-blockbuster contract like Abreu's might be a cost-effective down the road, whereas $120MM+ to sign Tanaka is not likely to carry the same value. This guy is beyond special. If the Sox added him to the rotation, they really would be setting themselves up for years. If they draft another pitcher with the #3 pick, their rotation s potentially Greg Maddux Atlanta Braves good in a year or so. A couple of these trades pan out, a Beckham or Viciedo plays up to their potential, you have a sustained success roster.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 04:03 PM) You get the point though. We're pretending Abreu's money doesn't count against payroll if we quote $83 million. Fine, spread it out however you want, it still is getting paid, in addition to a big expansion of draft spending this year. Tanaka's posting fee you're talking an extra $5 million a year in off the books spending. This is a unique opportunity, although it is obviously a very small possibility, but IMO it is something you stretch the budget to participate.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 04:00 PM) That's only if you don't count Abreu's signing bonus. If you're talking about Abreu's signing bonus, a posting fee for Tanaka, and big spending on the draft, you're talking about a huge amount being spent that isn't being counted in that payroll. A $20 million posting fee, for example, plus a chunk of Abreu's signing bonus, plus $11 million in draft spending, and we're talking $35-40 million not being counted even before Tanaka's actual salary. He makes so much more sense for a team that isn't working in so many rookies. The $20 million is done in installments.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:54 PM) BP BA BA list comes out in January, as does the FutureSox list. I do know Phil Rogers has had a lot of input with BA on White Sox lists in the past. It was all part of Wilder's scheme. He would talk the frauds up with Phil to kind of hide his crime.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:49 PM) Had an off-convo with John Manuel from BA. Pretty sure Hawkins is not in the Top 3. Abreu, Johnson, and likely Anderson are your BA Top 3 (based on his hints about infielders). Davidson 4. Semien is likely in the 6-10 range, my guess. He wouldn't give straight answers, but that is the picture I got. BP top 3 is Johnson, Anderson , Hawkins. I guess they didn't consider Abreu a prospect, but he certainly would have to be considered #1 if he is.

I think Hahn will be thrilled with 3 out of Abreu, Garcia, Eaton and Davidson working out. But I am sure he is praying Abreu is one of the three. It is worth a shot. If they all work out, you have a new core on the fly.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 03:19 PM) You're probably right as far as what they have. How someone could have Hawkins higher than Davidson or Semien I'm not so sure but this isn't the right place to discuss that. It is all about the ceiling. Hawkins still hit with power. I read some scouting report that if he could learn to shorten his swing and use all fields the scout swears he will be a star. That is easier said than done.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 02:50 PM) This trade has the 100 percent Soxtalk seal of approval. Damn it, Davidson is going to suck. No offense to anyone, but not only Soxtalk, just about every Sox message board. Scary.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 09:49 AM) Pretty sure the Cubs own a portion as well. I dont think Reinsdorf plays into it at all 20% Comcast 20%Bulls 20% Blackhawks 20% Cubs 20% White Sox

I read an article about the Cubs perhaps starting their own network. The problem is programing. Sure they will have people watch the games if they are good, but what about all the other time when there isn't a game? There are only so many times you can run an Inside Ernie Banks special.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 07:41 AM) No. I hope he does well in 2014. Then I don't understand your original reply, because that is all I was writing, and you apparently agree.

Conte strikes again.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Dec 15, 2013 -> 12:06 PM) Balta, do you really need an explanation? Do you not know who John McEnroe is? If so, do you not know about his famous question to a linesman? "You can't be serious? Or, do you think Hawkins will have a "snapback season" as Dick Allen hopes for? So you hope he continues to suck?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 15, 2013 -> 06:03 AM) It seems that most of you feel that Elmore's main asset is his unusual ability to play every position, thus automatically relegating him to a utility man. While that skill is useful, I had the impression that his best skill was his ability to execute the tasks of a number two hole hitter. His ability to bunt, take and foul off pitches, hit behind the runner and the other things about which Brett Butler raved, are the tools that intrigued me. Think of it this way; the Sox have been using Ramirez and Beckham in the two hole. Neither of them is very good at those skills, and neither sports a respectable OBP. Given the chance, which most here feel will not happen, it would be interesting to see how Elmore would compare, in those respects. Because you are basing his ability as a 2 hole hitter on one year in AAA in a league that is very offense. In the major leagues, albeit a very small sample size with 2 teams that thought so much of his ability to bat second, they waived him, his splits as a 2 hole hitter are pitcher-like, .135/.200/.362. Posters are being far more realistic that if he sticks, it is because he has the ability to play several positions, which could give him a place on the bench. Elmore as a regular player is most likely a disaster. For a guy with supposed 2 hole skills, and again I realize sample size is small, his stats don't back it up. He hits over .500 swinging at the first pitch, and under .200 when not. If he was 22-23 years old, there probably could be reason for more optimism, but he is only 9 months younger than Gordon Beckham and not nearly as polished. It is way more likely he is what he is.

Hooefully Hawkins has a snapback season. Coming into 2013, BA considered him a better prospect than Garcia or Eaton, and he was only slightly behind Puig.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 09:54 AM) Just randomly chose Buehrle to compare. Wins: 1.89 No decisions : 4.10 Losses :6.67 I would say 99% of pitchers would have it break down like that, but even Buehrle"s no decision ERA is better than his career mark. If Floyd isn't racking up wins, he is pretty much getting rocked.

I know W-L isn't a good way to judge pitchers, but Floyd seems to buck the trend. In games when he gets the win his career ERA is 1.97. In games when he gets no decision, it's 4.85. In games when he gets the loss it's 7.32. Naturally they should break down this way in general, but to this extreme? Maybe it just shows when he is good, he is really good, and when he is not he is really bad.

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 08:13 AM) Maybe but I wouldnt be surprised if that was actually true He had surgery last May for 2 tears. The initial recovery time was estimated at 14-19 months. To think he will be ready to get MLB hitters out in 11 is a dream. So figure a miracle happens and he is ready to go by June. He is a notoriously slow starter even when healthy his first couple months of the season are awful, so IMO, if everything goes perfectly, maybe by August or September he actually can be effective.

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 07:59 AM) Uh isnt he saying he should be ready for opening day? That is the agent talking.