iamshack

Well, if he truly did revamp his swing, old habits die hard. It's possible that he struggled to revert back to what's comfortable for him when he began to struggle. Honestly, it took me about 10 PAs before I thought we had made a mistake, but that's just my uneducated opinion. Ultimately, this really isn't the end of the world for the time being.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 2, 2016 -> 08:19 AM) While I wouldn't have any problem pouncing on the right return to sell him at what is most likely his peak value, I don't think it's wise to shop him. As mentioned before, five years of control make him every bit as useful to our next competitor as any of the 5+ year controllable brekaout prospects we're talking about targeting with Sale. Further, OF bats are one of the only things that actually ARE available in this year's free agent class (although many have been signed already), making it at least appear to not be an ideal trading market. I think the key indicator for your most valuable guys, like Sale, Q, and Eaton is you need to get back that elite piece. You're not trading these guys for depth. If someone is willing to give you an elite prospect, plus other quality pieces, I think you make the trade. If St Louis for instance comes along and wants to offer some package based on depth for Adam Eaton, you tell them to move right along.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 1, 2016 -> 05:28 PM) They do? Well, they do play on the Turner Broadcasting Network.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Nov 30, 2016 -> 11:01 AM) The White Sox helping the Tigers to obtain Iglessias while we watch Avi try and play baseball is reminder enough of the risk of trading within your division. I can tell you that 100% of my frustration resulting from that trade is the failure of our scouting of Avi, and 0% the production of the pieces the other teams, inside our division or otherwise, received back.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Nov 29, 2016 -> 09:04 AM) I don't see 3.33, I see $133/MWhr, and the referenced report explains where the number comes from: So based on a 2008 study but still believed to be accurate circa 2015. Removing regulations so that coal plants can spew more mercury and other heavy metals (including radioactive particles!) into the air would drop costs some, but since that Vox piece doesn't include the typical new MWhr cost of a natural gas plant, it's hard to say how much coal prices need to come down. this is from a nuclear industry lobbying group, but it's at least a baseline for new generation costs given typical nuclear cost overruns, probably tack 50% on top of that estimate. I'm typically looking at costs on an incremental energy basis, and perhaps not an "all-in" cost which includes things like long-term maintenance, and perhaps other chemical costs, but those numbers for coal and gas both look very high to me. Generally, at the moment in the west, reasonably modern gas resources are running around $13-20/mw and coal around $12-30, depending on where the coal is sourced, etc. From my understanding, most western utilities are still looking at retiring coal units much earlier than the end of their anticipated lifespans, simply because it does not make financial sense to keep operating them.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 30, 2016 -> 09:33 AM) Looks great shack. When do you start working on the backyard for your kid? Haha...I know, I know...but honestly, we have been bringing him out there and he absolutely loves it. Gives him a big open space to throw stuff and chase stuff at his leisure. We ordered him a little car to ride around on for Christmas. I suspect he will enjoy using that on there.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 29, 2016 -> 01:48 PM) Again, if the Cubs were the best/only suitor, it changes things dramatically. But there are still four teams in the hunt with at least as much ammo to make a move, and another 5 that could put together a really nice package should the top of the market collapse. I don't think there's any scenario where a good deal with the Cubs gets the Sox theoretically closer to contention than a good deal with another top contender. Well just because one has the ammo doesn't mean one is willing to expend it. What if the Cubs were the only one?

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Nov 29, 2016 -> 01:10 PM) Cespedes is not worth $27.5M a year and not many players are IMO. I for one am glad we aren't out there even thinking of throwing that kind of money around. Cesepdes wanted to stay with the Mets anyway And for those who continue to post things like "Sale's value just went up again," I'd actually make the converse argument and say this only makes it more difficult to get a package back of top-end prospects.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 29, 2016 -> 01:06 PM) Except it will be years before that actually happens, if it ever does. I'm not sure I am willing to concede that, but even so, it will be years either way, using your logic. The White Sox being better, sooner, is so much more important to me than anything the Cubs are doing, whether with former White Sox players or not. I guess all I'll say is I hope our FO aligns with my thoughts, and not yours.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 29, 2016 -> 12:02 PM) I don't know -- I get what you guys are saying (and it certainly never should have gotten out), but as a fan, Sale winning a WS with the Cubs would certainly make me feel bitter. And feelings of bitterness are bad for brands. Unless you think SOx fans wouldn't care at all, it's a defensible business move. I think it would be different if the Cubs were one of a few teams on the hunt for Sale. But with plenty of suitors out there, I think it makes some sense. But yeah, you absolutely keep it under wraps. If Sale wins ANYWHERE else, people are going to be bitter about it. Now I concede that the Cubs/White Sox nonsense would add some flavor to this that would simply not be present with other clubs, irregardless if they won with Sale. However, that being said, would that bitterness go away if you were watching a young, exciting club like the Cubs are actually winning again on the southside? If that could come sooner, rather than later, you wouldn't accept Sale being on the northside versus the Red Sox? Or in Houston?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Nov 29, 2016 -> 11:51 AM) In Buster Olney's piece today, he implied that Sale wouldn't be going to the Cubs because the White Sox told the Cubs they wouldn't trade with them. Matt Abbatacola from 670 The Score reported today that he was told that the Sox won't trade with them at all. 670 has been hammering the Sox all day and rightfully so. I don't expect the Cubs to have the best package for Sale without including Schwarber but negotiating with 28 partners instead of 29 because of a fake rivalry is one of the stupidest f***ing things I've ever heard. I hope that it's not true but this reeks of Jerry Reinsdorf. It's also incredibly stupid from the perspective of the Cubs can be used for leverage as well. Given their mlb roster, they can compete with anyone in an offer for Sale. Removing them as a leverage piece from this equation is outright stupidity.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 28, 2016 -> 10:32 AM) Just in time to move to Vegas. Sqwert, you can always stay at my place when you come see them play

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Nov 25, 2016 -> 03:56 PM) Psh at least her birthday isn't the day after Christmas. Or the day before... Rabbit, my wife asked for a matching pajama set, flower bomb perfume, a handbag, potentially that Dyson hair dryer, some warm workout clothes from Nike or Lulumon, something from Tiffanys.... There you go, plenty of ammo...

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 25, 2016 -> 10:01 AM) Do you have to have any sort of separate insurance policy for that? Like, if you are playing with a bunch of friends and one of them blows out a knee, are you on the hook if the guy wants to sue? It looks fantastic shack, really nice job We actually do. My wife is somewhat paranoid like this and so she got an umbrella policy a few years back. I do need to talk to my insurance agent though because I have not made him aware that we put this structure up on the property.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Nov 25, 2016 -> 08:53 AM) Yea I'd love to play out there right now, very jealous. Have you been talking to friends out there to start a pickup league or something? Yep. The inaugural basketball game will be tomorrow morning! Likely going to play Saturday mornings and then shoot for one evening night a week.

And we're complete! I couldn't be more happy with how this all came out...took about 5 weeks...but much less of a pain than the kitchen remodel last year Now we have to organize a Soxtalk Vegas BBall Challenge!

QUOTE (maxjusttyped @ Nov 24, 2016 -> 01:22 PM) Am I the only person who would want Anderson moved to CF if the Sox acquire Bregmen? I've made a few similar type comments...I don't think we want to play Bregman at SS if it's a major drop-off defensively, but I think it's definitely beneficial to keep him in the middle of the field.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 23, 2016 -> 09:04 PM) I don't disagree with what you're saying, but Walker has accomplished basically nothing. He obviously has a huge ceiling, but right now it doesn't look he's going to reach it. It's very possible they're selling high on Walker. I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

QUOTE (Ro Da Don @ Nov 23, 2016 -> 07:54 PM) You're acting like we'd be paying a premium getting Bregman in a Sale deal because he was drafted as SS, when in reality Houston is paying the premium for Sale having to include Bregman. We'd be getting Bregman plus at least 4 other players. Not just Bregman. Why does he have to be a LF or SS for you? He played mostly 3B in the majors. Frazier will likely get moved if we blow this up. Why can't Bregman play 3B or 2B? Or better yet SS, 3B, 2B, AND LF? See: Kris Bryant, your versatile 2016 NL MVP. Versatility is extremely valuable. Because Houston is going to sell him as an elite bat at a middle of the field position, irregardless of whether he played that position for them or not. You're damn right you are going to pay a premium for that.

QUOTE (Ro Da Don @ Nov 23, 2016 -> 07:47 PM) Between 80 games in AA and AAA in 2016 Bregman slashed .306/.406/.580 with 20 HR. That doesn't just profile at SS. That profiles anywhere. Yeah, that is not being disputed. What excites you more, your SS doing that or your LF?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 23, 2016 -> 07:33 PM) Bregman may provide the most overall value at SS, but his bat profiles anywhere in the infield except 1B and I think he could be a plus defender at 3B or 2B. In other words, he shouls be incredibly valuable no matter where you play him. Honestly, I'd be absolutely ecstatic having a Anderson-Bregman middle infield combo for the next six years. Sure, if he can play up the middle, great. But I just don't want to pay for his bat at ss only to then slot him at a non-premium defensive position.

QUOTE (Ro Da Don @ Nov 23, 2016 -> 07:17 PM) Why does Tim have to move? He showed some phenomenal tools at SS and better than expected defense at the position. Bregman has already proven his versatility at SS, 3B, and LF. Then it makes no sense to pay a premium for a ss prospect, only to put him in f***ing left field.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 23, 2016 -> 06:07 PM) No offense guys, but the Astros aren't giving Springer & Bregman for Sale. If you honestly think that's possible, you're in for a world of dissapointment. You certainly cannot fault them if this is the ask though. Personally, and I raised this in another thread, with Bregman, it depends on what the Sox want to do with Anderson. It makes little sense for them to trade for him only to put him at 3b. Can Anderson play 2b? And what does that do to his value?

Hmmm...not really sure what the point is there. It might be, or it might not be... Okkkkkk

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 23, 2016 -> 04:35 PM) Springers production is proven. Bregman is more of a prospect than Beckham ever was. Of course you can't assume it but you can weigh the risk. Yes you can, and you better believe I am factoring that into the price. I just can't emphasize enough that these "projected" war for prospects should not be weighed evenly with Sale's past production or projected war.