iamshack

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 14, 2013 -> 08:19 AM) Yes, but that idea was good on paper. It wasn't like the plan was to spend a lot of money to sign a guy whose career would instantly implode. Oh, I know...and as you probably also know by now, I am one of Dunn's bigger supporters here. I'm merely pointing out that what seems like a simple decision on paper doesn't always work out like everyone thought it would. Look at it this way...Dunn had about as consistent of a career as one can produce in the mlb for a prodigious run producer. There was a lot more there to go off of than Abreu. And we all know what's happened. Just pointing out some of the risk in the path that everyone seems to be advocating.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 14, 2013 -> 07:46 AM) I think sunshine is nicer than snow, but right now, winning and losing may as well be interchangeable because the temperature is 30 below. Oh Wite...that is delectable!

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 08:49 PM) The Sox need a 1B and a middle of the order bat. They have cleared a lot of money off the books and already said they would use it for international signings. If this is the best guy available, the Sox should pay whatever the market price is for him. Isn't this pretty much the same reason we signed Dunn?

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 07:32 PM) Well I got it Guest I'm going to be a cheese head Congrats, Row! I didn't know there were still parts of the midget porn industry centered in Milwaukee...

I went Sale/Avisail/Beckham/Hawkins/Semien

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 01:04 PM) I would argue that his HOF tickets was ALWAYS more or less his homerun total. Right, but in order to earn the PAs he needs to get to 600 home runs, he needs to be viewed as a productive player. Balta was pointing out the decline in his OPS numbers as evidence of his decline from a skills perspective. I was merely asking a question about whether that production might have been affected by the shift.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 01:02 PM) I don't understand how "the shift" can be used as an excuse for decreased productivity. Isn't the name of the game to hit the ball where the defense isn't? When he steps in the batters box, the defense is already lined up in the shift. I don't buy that it's bad luck for him, it is up to him to adjust. They shift for David Ortiz and he seems to be doing fine. I'm not arguing that it is an excuse for decreased productivity. Just pointing out that the League has made an adjustment to his hitting pattern that might have affected his production.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 01:00 PM) Oh, well I'm sure the shift has affected his AVG (and thus his OBP and SLG), but at this point in his career, his HOF ticket is more or less his home run total. Right, but his ability to be a everyday player in the future might be effected by the shift.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 12:56 PM) I did some very thorough statistical analysis and determined that the shift has not had any impact on his home run totals. I mean on his OPS numbers.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 12:49 PM) I could actually see people finding an excuse to keep him out. But yeah, the idea that he's going to continue hitting 27 HR's a year with how he's declined in his early 30's seems seriously ludicrous to me. Even ignoring '11, his OPS has declined from >.900 to ~.800 between 31 and 33. He's definitely on his way down. Ludicrous? I dunno if I would go that far. I do wonder how much the proclivity of "the shift" has hurt his numbers in recent seasons...

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 12:21 PM) A lot of the things I say on here come true. But only Dick Allen has pointed that out on occasion for me. As far as Dunn and Rios. Yes they are my whipping boys for this pathetic baseball team. And yes, Paulie's dropoff has hurt the team just as much. I guess I give Paulie more wiggle room because he had 4-5 really good years in a row. Dunn pretty much was the worst player in the history of mankind for a long long time in Sox uniform. What's the lowest he got that one year, .145, .150? As I said before, even a broken clock is correct twice a day. You simply trash certain players all day, every day. Ultimately, this means you will be "right" when they fail. That doesn't mean your methodology or opinions for arriving at those conclusions have any merit.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 10:37 AM) The top 10 highest salaries in the MLB features 3 first basemen and 1 OFer (Vernon Wells of all people)...Why are we acting like OFers make more money than first basemen? A lot of those were handed out before clubs really started valuing defense correctly though...

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 10:01 AM) Maryland Live is not far from me and they just started table games this year, and I was really rusty and I'm getting it back, so hopefully I don't go there more than once a month, lol. I prefer to waste my money on the NFL for the most part these days

QUOTE (lostfan @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 09:47 AM) Yeah sometimes I go "off-book" but I try not to be too cute with it. 12 is an iffy, s***ty hand, and I hit 4 straight times on them and busted all 4 times. 16 against something high on a table where you can't surrender also sucks... you're thinking "I know I'm gonna bust but I can't win this hand if I don't hit unless I just get really lucky" Yeah, the 12's suck. Everytime I hit it I bust and every time I stand the next card is like an 8. I can understand splitting 9's, but I wouldn't split 10's unless I was absolutely on fire and the dealer was busting like a mother. Living in vegas, I can play basically everyday if I want, but it's just not worth the stress for me...I usually play once a month or every couple months if I am out with the guys, but even then, I just try and hit them hard and get out of there. No patience to sit there for hours.

Yeah, but whether someone plays basic strategy or something else, it has no bearing on what your hand will be or what the dealer's will be. As many times as you will get f***ed by someone playing stupidly, you will get saved. You just don't tend to remember or even recognize the times you were saved. But, yes, superstition, as well as the peace of mind of being able to anticipate what another player at the table will do can be nice.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 08:32 AM) Really? I thought that when Jay-Z became his agent, it became a lock that he stayed with the Yankees. Colin was on this morning saying that the negotiations thus far have been an absolute mess.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 08:01 AM) One thing that might keep his price a little lower is the Dodgers have no place for him. A lot of speculation that the Dodgers might really emerge as the favorites to sign Cano, too.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 13, 2013 -> 12:18 AM) Where's that picture of a dead horse when you need it. And yet you still don't seem to understand the point. I just don't know what more to say. As Jake has mentioned, the market is finite and it is actually growing more illiquid as the years go on, and yet people want to dump productive players for nothing all for the opportunity to jump into this increasingly illiquid marketplace.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 08:08 PM) We hear the comparisons to Ryan Howard. Remember what Ryan Howard looks like when he plays a little worse than expected - bad. We'd be rewarding this guy with what is basically the contract Ryan Howard received in his prime. It's kind of insane. I'll try to trust the White Sox, but hot damn is there a lot of risk if the price is as high as some speculate. Seems like an odd expenditure when you've just put yourself in an amazing position financially. It's the problem that comes along with having to turn around an offense on a quick timeline...you're stuck with what the market provides...which is why you can't afford to be giving guys like Rios away for nothing, because then you go and struggle to replace him.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 08:02 PM) For people that hated the Dunn deal, it's a little funny to see how eager everyone jumping on a guy who we would give twice as much money for a lot less certainty (and we see how far certainty gets you w/ Dunn) Can't say that hasn't crossed my mind...of course I actually value Dunn more than most, apparently.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 03:50 PM) Marty is definitely right about the market for Cubans (and Japanese imports for that matter). There is tremendous risk and if I was a betting man, I would immediately bet that he provides no surplus value on a $50M deal. However, talent is finite and I've been saying how money can't always buy you talent...well, in this case it can. With no other real long-term answers at 1B available for that money on our team or in FA or likely in trade, it might be the wise thing to do. So are you interested at 6/90?

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jul 29, 2013 -> 10:18 PM) Picked up a shift at my old Chilis job this Saturday purely so I could play in the huge softball tournament in Elgin on Sunday. Can't believe the GM there is letting me essentially walk on to the team after not even working there anymore, or attending a single practice. He must have really liked me for the short time we worked together, or they really need another guy who can play. This post made my day. I am happy to have stumbled upon it. In fact, this is one of my favorite posts in the history of Soxtalk.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 02:33 PM) I think it was the 3rd. If not that, then it was the 4th. 3rd

Anyone see what's been happening with the A's and Rangers and Adam Rosales? He was designated by the A's and the Rangers claimed him. Then he was DFA'd by the Rangers and the A's claimed him back. Then he was DFA'd by the A's again and the Rangers claimed him again! Poor guy probably doesn't know what to cheer for at this point

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 12, 2013 -> 12:22 PM) Mantle had BLAZING speed (before the catastrophic injuries) and 550 foot home run power...Trout rarely hits homers like that...and Mantle also had a gracefulness about his game whereas Trout's more just brute force and dynamic energy. Would never put Trout out there as a comp. Did you read the article? I know Mantle was a switch hitter, but Trout has home to 1st times out of the RH box at 3.7-3.8, and he has the highest stolen base % success rate of anyone with enough attempts thus far...89.5% or something. Dunno about pure power, but he's the closest thing to Mickey Mantle we've ever seen...since Mickey Mantle.