witesoxfan

The more I read about this guy, the more I want March 31st to just get here already. Also, to those that feared Konerko would get 400 ABs and so would Abreu, you can just tell from everybody's comments within the organization that that's simply not going to happen.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 18, 2014 -> 03:58 PM) Piazza was drafted as a favor. This isn't black or white like you're trying to make it. I understand players overcome all types of odds but considering he was only drafted because of his father it's fair to assume at the least part of his success is owed to PEDs. It's a moot point but still. That is one thing I wouldn't disagree with. There was definitely some benefit and it wasn't all natural talent that got him there. We just have no idea what he would have been, whether it is a journeyman minor league player or a backup or a half ass starter or what. That much is just hard to say.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 04:37 PM) $105M for Homer Bailey. Wow. He's actually a pitcher I think is going to get better, but that's a hell of a commitment for a guy who really didn't figure it out until the second half of 2012.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:32 PM) If that was the result of a punch, absolutely not. Looks like it was the result of a punch. Or at least a really hard slap.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:34 PM) Thornton is such a solid, mismanaged player. Now he gets to go play behind Joe Johnson. Yay for him. I was really just wondering why the Kings would take such garbage in return. They can't even get a 2nd round pick from a team? (I am aware of salary cap workings and stuff, but even considering that, this makes no sense at all) This is a move a bad team makes, rather than package him next year as an $8 mill expiring for anyone else.

I love Paulino too, but the injury concerns are very real and worth mentioning. If he stays healthy, it could be a very good move.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:56 PM) Would Gatewood take 2nd round money? I would say that's highly doubtful. May have to pay up for him, but it could definitely be worth it in that instance. He's a USC commit.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 03:46 PM) Law's the one that actually likes Rienzo, right? Yes, absolutely loved his cutter. He thought his future was out of the bullpen, but he thinks everyone's future is out of the bullpen.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 03:42 PM) I wouldn't go that far. Davidson has a pretty big bust chance. Of the 4 (well 5, but I don't even consider Jacobs in this context), I think Davidson definitely has both the highest ceiling and the lowest floor. The Sox have done pretty well trading for DBacks players in the past too, though Javy kind of sucked in years 1 and 3.

I thought the book on him coming up was that he was a fastball/curveball guy. I didn't really hear about the cutter until Law talked about it.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 03:31 PM) I really dont understand the Peter Bourjos dicksuck fest. I get he is a great defender, but come on. The guy is theoretically worth 2 wins in defense alone. If he hits .270, he's got enough speed and power to steal 50 bases and get 50-60 extra base hits. He's a 3-5 win player.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 03:17 PM) Imagine that 1-2 punch at Charlotte though! With Rienzo and Surkamp mixed in? It's just too bad Brett Pill went overseas, as he'd be a great addition in the middle of that lineup.

I was wondering if Davidson would end up on this, and he did as an honorable mention. 3 of the best 17 moves (according to Dave Cameron)? I just can't fathom how they didn't have the best offseason.

I would pass. His velocities and stuff didn't impress me when I saw him pitch, and his minor league numbers in the higher levels are pretty mediocre. I think the Sox already DFA'd Liam Hendriks, and then picked him back up. We call him Dylan.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:57 PM) Doom 4 beta comes out with Wolfenstein:The New Order It's not gonna Duke Nukem us, is it?

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:53 PM) So Paulino is blocking Rienzo. Who would have though that? Seriously though, they should groom Rienzo as a set up guy. I think that's his ultimate role and I think he has the stuff to be a good one. Still, I'd keep him in the rotation for now and keep him starting and stretched out.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:31 PM) That's been a rumor for a couple days now. Chris Broussard says it's been submitted to the league office. I don't want to post a link because AMERICA

Marcus Thornton to the Nets for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans. lol wut

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 02:13 PM) No one mentioning what happened in the session... The sheer dominance of two great forces meeting caused a white out and nobody saw what happened.

If nothing else, this board sure knows how to make and continue analogies. Holy criminy. Also, Scherzer scares me in the way I think most people get scared of Sale. He just seems to have such a violent delivery that I can't help but think that UCL is just going to snap one of these days.

In the sense that Paulino is a better pitcher than Rienzo, plus he's on a major league contract, so there's no need to deny it.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 12:35 PM) Now younger pitchers on the market are going to cost a lot more than that. It's doubtful that the Sox can outbid the big spenders for that type of pitcher. The Sox were rumored to be willing to spend $120 million on Tanaka. Say they're willing to spend that on other free agents too of a similar ilk. If you give out the $48 million, that pool of money has now decreased to $72 million, and over the 6 year deal, you can now only commit $12 mill per year rather than $20 mill. That is a huge, huge difference. Players like Price, Latos, Iwakuma, and even Fister become virtually impossible to sign 2 years from now, and we don't know what's going to come over from Cuba, Japan, and even Korea. If the Sox trade for someone, they may not be able to extend them. They may not be able to re-sign all the guys they'd like to on the current roster to extensions, thinking specifically of Quintana and Jones right now. It's like when you get a big check and someone says "don't spend it all in one place." This is like that, except that the Sox already had that money.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) It's not the idea of signing a guy now because he won't be available later that is giving us problems, it's the guys that are available. Abreu is 26 and fills a huge organizational hole at 1B. Santana is 30 and represents a slight short-term upgrade and a very likely long-term problem. I think for the right guy, we wouldn't have issue at $48m + draft pick for a pitcher, but the guys on the market are just not the right guys. If they're the best available over the next few years, then we need a different strategy. If you needed a bullet proof vest but there was no kevlar around, you wouldn't use toilet paper just because it was the best option available for a vest -- you'd try to find a different way to avoid getting shot. That is an awesome analogy. Also, I mentioned several times after Tanaka signed, I would have had no problem with the Sox giving up a draft pick if it was absolutely required. The draft pick just adds incentive to NOT sign these guys.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) Don't use El Duque. He was pretty awful as a White Sox. He did have one incredible inning. And Freddy when he came back was mediocre at best. If Santana put up the numbers these guys did, if the Sox signed him, you would point out how awful he was. I like Jimenez better than Santana, but Santana eats innings. One thing your saber cohort ripped me for was valuing IP, but a guy that gives you 200 IP near the bottom of your rotation does wonders for your bullpen. Of course I would. Contreras was actually pretty terrible after his stretch of about 30 games, so naturally I was unhappy with that, but he was bargain shopping and he was the #1 starter during their World Series run, so I'm letting bygones be bygones there. Freddy Garcia put up an ERA in the mid 4's over 200+ innings between two seasons at an average of $1.25 mill. That's 10x the amount that Santana will probably get on the open market. If Santana were to do that, you're damn right I'd be upset. IP are valuable, but the Sox have inning eaters with the like Danks and Quintana. Frankly, for the upcoming season, you don't ALWAYS want to save the bullpen because you want to see what a lot of these guys can offer to help them build value and/or confidence. It's nice to do to keep guys healthy, and I hope Ventura manages the pen better, but if Rienzo starts and bombs, then let's see what Webb can do over a couple innings. Let's see if Boggs can figure out how to pitch again.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 19, 2014 -> 12:07 PM) As you made the terrific argument for in the other thread DA, (or was it his one?) it has little to do with spending and more to do with how good the scouting is. So then if the Sox signed Santana, we'd be f***ed because that would mean the Sox scouting likes him and the Sox scouts don't like anybody good.