witesoxfan

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 12, 2014 -> 05:49 PM) In general, trading up is a bad idea, trading up for a wideout, especially one who I personally dont' think projects near as good as some of the other elite ones, that just doesn't make sense, imo. What other elite ones? Sammy is/was in a class of his own. I think Sammy's the best receiver to come out since AJ Green, but most others think that too. You won't see people making those comparisons for Beckham or Evans or anyone else in the draft, and if you take one later - several of whom I did like a lot - you better be damn sure those guys are #1 receivers, otherwise you're just adding depth. This is a move made for now and later. QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 12, 2014 -> 08:20 PM) He's got to basically be Calvin Johnson or Julio Jones for this to work. Or Dez Bryant or AJ Green or Eric Moulds or Terrell Owens. Anywhere in that range, or in between, or better, or slightly worse. He just can't bust.

QUOTE (sammy esposito @ May 13, 2014 -> 04:53 AM) Does plate discipline have anything to do with swing at a curve ball a foot outside and in the dirt for strike 3. If it was once in a while but there is more than one that can't lay off those pitches .Can anyone tell them how to recognize those pitches. With 2 strikes, that's an incredibly difficult pitch to lay off. Good ones look like fastballs coming in and all you can try and do is foul it off. My dad says this same kind of stuff. All I can tell him is to step into a major league batter's box and try it for himself. It's not easy.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 12, 2014 -> 01:55 PM) I wouldn't say we have zero chance, but I would put the White Sox not winning the central at about two standard deviations of certainty. I said it in my post and I agree with this, but it has nothing to do with their current records and everything to do with the Tigers being a more talented and well-rounded (no pun intended) team. QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ May 12, 2014 -> 02:01 PM) Most of of know winning the division isn't probable but since it's only May we can still think we're in the wildcards race. The team is pretty resilient so far. Just need to hold it together for a little longer until some issues are resolved. Get through these next 9 road games at .500 and go from there. Sox showing some TWTW . De Aza needs to exorcise some of those demons left over from 2013. Frankly, I just want the team to keep playing hard. That's all you can ask for. I think they'll ultimately get a little worn out come August, but the team showing some resiliency has got a lot of people much more optimistic about the team's future. Anywhere between 78-84 wins is a successful season as far as I'm concerned.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 12, 2014 -> 12:43 PM) Really wish he had some upside. Unfortunately he just looks like a AAA guy to me -- control is his kryptonite, but it doesn't look like he has the stuff to survive even if he develops 50-55 control. I think he can make it in the bullpen as a 2nd lefty, but yeah, I don't have high hopes for him.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ May 12, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) Yeah, I get that. But injury concerns apply to most any pitching prospect. Chris Sale and Tyler Danish were thought to be risky. Erick Fedde and Jeff Hoffman didn't seem any more likely to go down to TJ than the next guy. It is a super important concern, but I don't think it applies more specifically to Kolek (who I think is clearly behind Aiken and Rodon but ahead of the lower-ceiling college guys) than others. Injury concerns considered and weighted among the risk/reward, Kolek is still a better prospect than the others. Now, if the Sox feel that another prospect grades out ahead of Kolek, by all means they should draft him. Don't get me wrong, I don't disagree with this and that pitchers in general, without ever being injured, should all be considered injury risks. I don't let that deter me from taking a pitcher at 3. All I'm saying is that if they feel that Kolek is more of an injury risk then others (or if they feel he will get injured and it will hurt him long term...impossible to know exactly, but the Sox seem to have a pretty good feel on this stuff) that they should hold off on making him the pick. I have no problem if they pick him. Primarily just trying to play devil's advocate just to say that it's not a given that they immediately take Kolek because he has good stuff.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 11, 2014 -> 10:53 PM) 1. We're eight back in the loss column. I'd say we're out of the Central race right now considering Detroit wins the division every year. I agree with the rest of your post though. The Tigers have played 6 fewer games, so you also have to take into consideration that, even at sub .500, the Sox are only 2 back in the win column too (nless you assume the Tigers are going to win all 6 of those games, which is a damn near impossible assumption). The Sox still have 123 games left to play too, the Tigers 129. Saying anything is settled on May 11th or 12th is absolutely ridiculous. I, too, believe the Tigers are going to win the division, but you don't see me saying "the Sox are out of the Central" on May 12th when the standings don't mean anything until Memorial Day anyways. EDIT: Let's put it this way greg: do you think the Brewers are celebrating a division title any time soon? Do you think the Cardinals or Pirates feel they're out of that race already?

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ May 12, 2014 -> 01:18 PM) Of the big 3, I am the most skeptical of Kolek but, all things considered, I would still take him at no. 3 over the likes of Nola, Beede, injured guys, etc. I hope that the Sox would too. Once all the dust settles, maybe it'll turn out they were just doing due diligence and exploring all options for their draft strategy before simply taking the BPA (i.e. whoever's left of the Big 3). The thing I don't like about that mentality is that if the Sox feel there is strong reason to believe that he will get hurt within 3-4 years, and the guy they draft will not and will contribute at the MLB level, who do you take? It's easy to just say that you'd take the talent, but that could easily end up with the player making 0 contribution to the MLB team either in the form of trade or production. They should draft their #3 guy, no matter media expectations and rankings.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ May 12, 2014 -> 11:54 AM) I feel the exact opposite of Wite. We'll see. It's a winnable division and a weak conference, but they do play the AFC West which is suddenly looking like the best division in the conference and they could end up struggling to win 2 games against them. They could also win 3 games too as they've handled the Chiefs well (again, a minimum 10 point swing in the game last year when the 3rd string QB Jeff Tuel threw a pick 6 on the Chiefs 1 or 2 yard line, and they'd won 5 of the previous 6 matchups). I wanted one more pass rusher, but the pass rush wasn't a problem last year with 3 guys getting 10 sacks (though in a hybrid defense) and they'll still get good pressure from the front 4. The biggest problem was stopping the run and adding Spikes and Alonso (along with Preston Brown in the 3rd backing up Spikes) should help stabilize that. There will be differing opinions, but I honestly couldn't be happier with the Bills draft.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 10, 2014 -> 10:42 PM) Damn, what happened to the Blazers? The Spurs are dialed, buddy. If Tony stays healthy, nobody's beating them this year.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ May 12, 2014 -> 11:10 AM) Only time will tell, but I don't think they are one player away from being a great team. They won 6 games last year in an awful division. I would be surprised if they even won 8 games next year. They won 6 games, but they were within a score of winning 4 others and played very competitively in 3 others and that was with a new head coach, rookie QBs (or essentially rookie QBs in Thad Lewis's case), and young talent all around. Frankly, I think with Thad or EJ playing in the games against KC and Cleveland (instead of EJ getting hurt in the 3Q), they win 8 games last year. There are weaknesses, like with every team, but I think the Bills have a pretty rock solid foundation all around. I'm obviously biased, but the team is absolutely loaded with talent. Their need for a true #1 WR could have very well been their biggest need and they weren't getting that had they stuck at 9.

Can't believe the Bills draft caught as much flak as it did on here. #1) Watkins was absolutely the best talent at wideout in the draft. He's fast, strong, quick, a great route runner, and there are really no questions about off-field issues or injury history. I've seen comparisons to Dez Bryant, AJ Green, and Demaryius Thomas, though the last one seems more as a route runner and performer than his height. The most comparable talent to Watkins is Beckham, and he's inferior at all aspects. #2) Stevie Johnson was traded because he's constantly hurt, didn't fit the Bills new offense, still had some value, and admitted to not giving 100% effort all year, including not lifting the previous offseason. I've always loved Stevie, especially as a route runner, but he's not an elite talent and so much of his value was his creativity in a spread, pass first offense with Fitzmagic at QB. #3) I have no problem with them giving up the 1st round pick next year. If the team is as close as they think they are, then it's going to be a mid to late 1st anyways. If it's not and they start to fall apart, then it was never going to matter in the first place and they'll start another rebuilding process in relatively short order. The Bills were pretty competitive in every game they played last year with the possible exception of the Saints and Bucs games and the difference, a lot of the time, was the lack of talent among the receivers and offense in general. Manuel has a full season to practice with these guys and has had a full year to study the playbook, he gets to work with his new and holdover receivers, and he has an upgraded offensive line. Frankly, it's all on him now, but the Bills have done everything in their power to address both sides of the ball this offseason. Beyond that, they did a lot in the draft in conjunction with what they did in the offseason too. They have running back depth like crazy now with Brown and Dixon behind Spiller/Jackson, they filled a lot of their holes defensively and worked at patching up their offense in the draft. The two biggest holes that they seemingly could have looked at were safety (where it appears Corey Graham will play, though it seems he'll move around) and DE (where it could be that Jerry Hughes and Manny Lawson end up playing similar to the Leo backer in Seattle anyways). I love the Bills draft. I'd be OK with an 8-8 season, but I honestly expect them to win 10 games this year.

I'm one of the biggest Semien fans on the board, but him getting sent down would qualify as a non-issue in my mind. It's not like he's dying. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 7, 2014 -> 04:44 PM) His option was exercised in March. He can be sent up and down an unlimited number of times during this season. I understand your point, but there is a limit because of stipulations following an option down (I believe you are required to be down for like 5-10 days) plus the number of days in the season is finite, so the most he could be sent down and brought back, even without the time required to spend, is only like 180 times.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 7, 2014 -> 02:27 PM) Seth Lakso ‏@SethLakso 1h With a perfect 10th, Frank Francisco has not allowed an ER in six appearances (8 IP) with @KnightsBaseball. Has 1 BB, 4 H 12 Ks They have to find room on the 40 man, but I definitely think Francisco is the next call up.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ May 7, 2014 -> 01:24 PM) keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 2m RHP Jeff Hoffman of @ECUBaseball will have Tommy John surgery next week. Had been a probable top 4 pick in the draft before injury. Wow. Ok well cross him off the list. He's only a junior, so he can go back, but I would still consider drafting him late in hopes of signing him.

That's a more lucrative contract than the Astros offered George Springer. They offered 7/$13, which is an absolute joke.

Well there are two schools of thought to this in my mind: -Abreu is new and is adjusting to MLB pitching and he's still putting up these numbers. How good could he really be? -Pitchers haven't adjusted to him yet, so perhaps there will be an adjustment and he won't keep this up, while Rizzo has adjusted already. Personally, I'd take either one and I'd be happy. It's not like one is filet mignon and the other chopped liver.

QUOTE (Dunt @ May 7, 2014 -> 10:39 AM) Would be nice to get his bat back. Gotta believe Semien is gonna be sent down. Perspective is amazing. There is absolutely no one on here who would have even thought that coming into the season.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ May 7, 2014 -> 09:39 AM) Indeed, and this looks like it's a pretty natural thing: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/pitcher-agi...s-introduction/ Yes sir. Even Felix has lost a lot of velocity, but he's been able to remain good (or improve) as a pitcher overall, which is incredible to consider. I really do wonder how much of Lincecum falling off has to do with his height and not being able to get downward angle on his fastball.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ May 7, 2014 -> 09:12 AM) I wonder what's causing him to suck so much the past 3 years. Velocity is way down. He averaged about 92 during his and it's below 90 this year. He's also changed from a straight over the top curve to more of a slurve, and his changeup usage is way up, which I'm guessing he leaves up too often. His HR/FB was at about 5-6% during his Cy Young seasons, and it's been 14%, 12%, and 18% the last 3 seasons.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 6, 2014 -> 01:51 PM) Adam Dunn seems like a very nice guy but he's been 'stealing' money from the White Sox during his pathetic tenure on the South Side. Why can't some just accept the fact that some of us fans despise what he's done in the batter's box and on the field for the White Sox? If you all like Dunn, fine. Some of us think he's been horribly bad and a symbol of our franchise's decline in the standings. If Adam Dunn resigned, what would you do?

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 6, 2014 -> 02:31 PM) Why is everyone scared about paying Rodon for 1-1 money? If we had truly tanked even worse last year and ended up with the #1 pick, we would be paying anyone we chose 1-1 money. I get that our draft pool size is not as big at #3 as it would be at #1, but s***, if it means we punt our 4th RD pick to make up the difference, then the hell with it. Frankly, it's not solely punting the 4th round pick. It's practically punting picks 2-10.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 6, 2014 -> 02:08 PM) Mine got delivered around 11 - will start the install when I get home since apparently it takes forever. Anyone who has the game - I really want to see what Jose Abreu looks like... Jose Abreu!

Picked it up at noon. Can't wait to put that glorious bastard in.

QUOTE (bmags @ May 6, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) He kinda looks like Wolfman from That Thing You Do LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THE ONEEDERS

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 6, 2014 -> 11:50 AM) http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/matt-bu...o-prison-050514 Gabe Kapler interviews former 2004 #1 overall pick Matt Bush in prison...will be released in 2016. Wonder if he gets one last shot at redemption? For the Sugar Land Skeeters, perhaps.