witesoxfan

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 08:41 PM) Hahaha that was exactly what I thought of.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 10:08 AM) Andy Wilkins's defense and pitch calling while mostly DHing and occasionally relieving Abreu at 1b would matter a whole lot less than Phegley's defense while at the plate. Every time he's been mentioned it seems like that's what they focus on now. So then don't have him catch. Start playing him in the outfield. Given the Sox pitching and catching numbers over the past month or so, it's not like Flowers is doing a great job right now anyways.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 09:56 AM) Sorry, Butler has been a better player then Dunn the past 4 seasons. This year Butler has had a down year though but Butler is a much more complete player then Dunn at the plate. Butler is actually capable of hitting good pitching, something I have pretty much zero faith in Dunn doing. The Sox also have plenty of right handed hitting. The call has been to make sure the Sox have a left handed bat. Why would they bring in Butler if they need a left handed bat? I'm not opposed to Butler and agree he's been a better player the past 4 years, but, production wise, it's remarkably similar the past 2 years, so the sample you use comes into play here.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 09:26 AM) While we're talking about guys like Dunn and Alvarez, what about Granderson? He fits in the same category with those guys, and was supposedly a target in the offseason. Maybe some home cookin will do him well. Probably wouldn't trade for him unless the Mets, or a 3rd team takes back Danks though. Granderson seems like a terrible idea.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 09:19 AM) Except all of these explanations don't matter one bit in the court of public opinion, which formed pretty instantly in the 24 hours after they heard about the incident or saw the footage...it's going to be quite difficult to change anyone's opinion...either way. Right, and they also don't mention how difficult it is for these things to stop. They're cruising and they're built to move very, very fast around corners. They aren't meant for leisurely drives around the park on a Sunday.

You do not know s*** about f***, my man! His golf skit is probably my all time favorite.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 08:24 AM) Robin might be worse than average, but let's be honest, this isn't a thread about him being anywhere in the realm of acceptable: this is the thread called "Is Robin the Worst Manager in the HISTORY of MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?" and it includes several examples of posters claiming that, with a better manager, our team would be in FIRST PLACE. It includes several other references claiming that, with a different manager, our team would be a shoe-in for one of the Wild Card berths. It has posters honestly watching games, looking at the roster, and claiming that a different manager would be able to coax OUR BULLPEN into success. It has posters blaming defensive errors on Robin Ventura, poorly executed bunts on Robin Ventura, the role of freaking Paul Konerko on Robin Ventura. It has poster blaming the entirety of the person named ALEJANDRO DE AZA on Robin Ventura. That's what this thread is. And this thread is a joke. golf clap

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 02:24 AM) Why in the heck would Sox re-sign Dunn? He's not been productive. This is not true and it totally debunks your argument immediately.

No, if the Sox said Sale was available and they wanted Stanton, the Marlins would pull the trigger so fast your head would spin.

There is not a lot of visibility in these cars to begin with, and when it's dark, it's even harder to see. It's not like they have headlights. It's unfortunate what happened, but having spoken with all the guys I know who are involved with dirt track racing, they pin the blame 100% on Ward. You never, ever, ever get out of your vehicle on the track. Never.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:18 PM) Doesn't he have the right to get out of his car when there's a yellow caution flag out? Not to walk into the middle of the track and toward oncoming traffic, but at least get out under his own power...? A caution does not mean the race stops. You remain driving your car. On dirt style tracks, at the very least, it will mean the person who caused the crash will move to the back and once the lines are reset, you start the race again from the lap the caution was caused. The only time it would be safe to get out of your car is on a red flag (on red flags, everyone stops moving immediately. This is almost 100% of the time due to a medical emergency) or if you are safely in the pits. I haven't seen the video yet, but this guy should have never, ever gotten out of his vehicle.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:38 PM) If you don't need to see him on your television, you have an easy way to take care of that. Yes, glue playing cards over the spot where Konerko stands.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:42 PM) Those are only two of the three teams though, you would have to imagine that Upton was headed elsewhere if that were the discussion. Right, I was about to post in here about a swap of Danks and De Aza for Upton and Minor (which can make sense to some degree), but that missed a 3rd team. It's still possible the package the Sox would have gotten would have been Upton and Minor with small pieces moving elsewhere too.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 03:46 PM) Unfortunately there are those nice perky ones, and then there are the ones posting at Soxtalk. You better not be calling me a boob or I am going to report you to the head administrator.

QUOTE (sammy esposito @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:00 PM) We can't get a high draft pick if we win. So keep it up Robin bad players playing losing baseball.

The Angels also drafted some guy named Jake Locker that year too.

Yes, small market teams like the Detroit Tigers who will [reportedly] only spend $174.2 million this year in payroll.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 02:25 PM) So are the top 11 picks protected this year because of the Astros' extra pick? I believe this was an issue a couple years ago as well, I just don't remember the outcome. Yes they are.

And maybe the Sox know they have the next young superstar in Wilkins and are holding him back to save time and save the adjustments pitchers make on him so he can come out of the gates next year on his way to the Sox second straight Rookie of the Year and a runner up finish in the MVP race (to none other than Jose Abreu, of course).

Dunn hasn't been given up on either. He's at .232/.359/.449/.807 and a 124 wRC+ against RHP this year, which should be his sole role in the lineup. I think the Sox would like to move Dunn shortly but I think there is a non-zero chance that he comes back to the Sox next year. I personally think a change of scenery seems like a good idea for him, but I'm also not him. If it feels like I'm arguing against Wilkins, I'm not. You just have to look at it from the Sox perspective - they have professional scouts who know and see what these guys are doing and have a good feel for how they'd play in the majors. I also don't think it's going to be a big difference if they come up now versus September 1st. I'd also like to see Taylor and Semien up on the roster, as well as maybe Sanchez. They also have to look at what offers they have on the table for a lot of these guys and try and extract any value they can. If Gordon gets hot, maybe they can get a live arm with no control. Maybe some team sees that De Aza is an OK player against righties and they bring him in as a pinch hitter and 4th OF, getting a AAAA reliever who's never put it together at the MLB level. Maybe the Sox convince a team that Adam Dunn is a very valuable guy to have in the 6th spot and they get a toolsy but raw infielder. All of that, especially if they can save money, is valuable to the organization as well.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) Generally whenever i go online to see 'giving love', it is behind a paywall awesome

QUOTE (Lillian @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:46 PM) I just found an article which makes your argument: http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/i...without-fielder I'm going to study it, because I'm afraid that I am one of those ignorant, missinformed fans, who still believes in the validity of the "line up protection" concept. Perhaps you're right, and this article may convince me. My mind is open. Here's a whole list of them, though I don't have time to read them. https://www.google.com/search?q=line+up+pro...&gws_rd=ssl Either BP or BTF or FGs did an extensive look into this and the studies have indicated little to no change no matter who was hitting there. Again, the only guy we've ever really been able to say protected the lineup was Barry Bonds, and that was with inferior players hitting in front of him. Aurilia, Santiago, and Snow all good years (Santiago's was more a first good year in a really long time, and even it wasn't that good) hitting in front of Bonds.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:38 PM) Not really sure what the point of the batting-behind-Miggy stats was - he's always had credible threats behind him is what I gather from it. If you allow Abreu to be treated like a #8 hitter in the NL, he will suffer. For some reason, I doubt that Leury Garcia is going to be the cleanup hitter moving forward. Abreu is not going to get that treatment. What I'm wondering is this...with all the struggles Flowers has had this year, why is no one in this thread suggesting that the Sox give Phegley a look? Wilkins's line is at .295/.338/.570/.909, yet Phegley's at .286/.344/.550/.894 in the same ballpark. And, on top of that, Phegley's done this 2 years in a row and is virtually the same age as Wilkins.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) Is there really any doubt that it's important to have a solid threat batting behind the kind of dominant hitter that both Cabrera and Abreu represent? Entering a series, an opposing team would otherwise simply make the conscious decision not to let that particular hitter beat them. He would subsequently be pitched around the entire series. He would not likely be able to produce much, aside from the walks. This clearly explains why Abreu has had such a good year with guys like Gillaspie and Dunn hitting behind him (who, BTW, have both played fairly well this year and represented enough of a "threat" so as to force opposing pitchers to throw to Abreu).

QUOTE (Lillian @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:07 PM) He may not be the "top prospect", but he could well be the most important position player prospect, precisely because of the need, which he could potentially fill. Not even close. Based solely on that, I'd rate guys like Phegley, Kevan Smith, Marcus Semien, Micah Johnson, Tim Anderson, Carlos Sanchez, and Courtney Hawkins over him, and that's without putting much thought into it. Guys that hit from the left side with power are always available. QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:26 PM) i dont think it is a stretch to say it doesnt matter one bit who is hitting behind Cabrera Abreu, he will get his. I just wanted to fix this for relevancy.