witesoxfan

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 04:07 PM) Jose Quintana put up a 3.7 WAR last season. That's top 25 in baseball. He was in the same rankings as Madison Bumgarner, Homer Bailey, Patrick Corbin, and Jordan Zimmerman. These are all very good #2 type pitchers. I don't know if Erik Johnson will ever get there, but he certainly won't get there in the near future. I don't personally think he's a better pitcher than most of those guys though. I agree with raBBit that it's selling high, which is what you like to do. I think he's closer to a 3 WAR starter, while those guys I all view as 4 WAR starters. There's not a huge difference, but it's there. In any given year, though, those can change depending on which way the wind is blowing.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 04:06 PM) Its just the hilarity of the internet these days. Anyone can post something random, its just who cares. Even if hes got an inside, hes going to be at what, 24 hours in front of the real news? This isnt like D-Rose is going to be back tonight so you better watch... Too soon? Not too soon. It's a perfect example. Sorry Steve, but seriously, something catches fire and people run with it.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 04:02 PM) I expect to be in the minority in this argument and that's fine. People respect the last two years Quintana has put together and rightfully so. I know it's a big if, but if Erik Johnson pans out, he will be a much more valuable commodity than Quintana as soon as next year. Honestly, I have no problem trading Quintana, but again, I want to aim higher than Castro. Right now, he's a very valuable #3 starter at the worst. That has a ton of value on the open market. Castro does too, but I think you can get him for Johnson+, while I think you can get more than him for Quintana+. Feel me?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 04:01 PM) You're now banned for saying banned twice in a post. Edit: s***. Banned. What about homophones? And homonyms? Like "Because the band wore bands on their wrists, they were banned."

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 04:00 PM) Selling high on and striking when the iron is hot on a guy who lacks an out pitch. I personally think that Quintana would bring back much more and Erik Johnson has a higher ceiling. Guys like Quintana don't always flourish after going through the league a couple times. His fastball is his out pitch. He mixes his stuff well enough that you can't sit on the fastball, but then he pops it at you around 92-94. He also has excellent command and control. There are some arguments against him, but ultimately I think he's a fantastic pitcher. I have no idea what Johnson's ceiling is. I've seen him anywhere between a 2 and a long-term innings eating #4 starter. His stuff wasn't overly impressive last year either.

There's no way I'm keeping Erik Johnson over Quintana. You can probably get Castro for Johnson and a couple of OK prospects who will ultimately mean nothing to the Sox but might contribute at the MLB level. You may not even get Castro for Quintana, and he's proven far more at the MLB level.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 03:51 PM) I saw where he said that before, but since then the Cubs/Yankees stuff really started flying so I was hoping he had something new. I don't think there will be any change. The next meaningful update I think we will see is one from either Casey Close announcing "we're close" or it will be Tanaka landing stateside. I think where he lands will be the first indication we have. The only place he can land where we will know he is signing for sure is New York. If he lands in LA, I'd say 80/20 Dodgers. If he lands in Chicago, I'd say 50/50 either way (and if the Cubs really want to spend close to $25 mill a year over 7 years for him, then they can have him).

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) No problem dude, keep posting related material as it helps to keep myself and others on the topic at hand which is Tanaka. Maybe a combo of a chill with Mr.Danks washed down with a cold beer is the key, works for me when necessary. What amazes me is there seems to be more complaining on the rumor sources than the other unrelated talk that I admittingly have been a part of. Makes no sense. I completely skipped over the latter half of the conjecture. Read the first sentence, saw it was Star Wars and Brony and Strawberry Shortcake talk and completely ignored it. It didn't even happen because I didn't immerse myself in it. Same as Ultimate Champion's horoscope or whatever and hi8is unicorn comments. When a guy that has the obvious bias and track record of Loxas gets posted on here, I'm going to object and make my feelings known. If he turns out to be right, then I'll gladly eat my crow. I just don't buy his bulls***. I'll take back my "don't post his stuff." If you want to, go ahead, but I think it's bulls*** and I think everyone on here does too, so what does it add in the end?

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) Now would be a great time for an update from bucket. His update is going to remain the same - anybody who says the Sox are longshots are mistaken. They are very much in this.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 03:47 PM) Can't tell if sarcasm or not It's fact. We actually got into a bit of a feud with Joe Cowley at one point too.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 03:43 PM) Okay you're right. Then we are better off blowing up this thread if no one can post speculation or pass information that is conjecture on people who are paid to do so. Open up a thread about my little pony, I'm sure that thread will also get to 120 pages. I just don't get why this board is turning in WSI and how people blow up posts about this topic. I'm fine not posting it anymore, I'm just saying it was never like this on this site. All I'm saying is that you are linking a guy who has a biased view who has a horses*** track record. You can continue to post him - I have absolutely problem with that. I'm just saying prepare have that source be lambasted. I put as much stock into what Tom Loxas is saying right now as I do what Soxbadger's cats are telling him. If you post Levine, we are going to say the same thing. Frankly, I put a little more faith into MLBTR, but I still don't even believe that. It's interesting to read that these are what "people" and "industry sources" think, but then again, these "industry sources" also felt that the Giants, Red Sox, Rockies, Mets, Yankees, and White Sox were all at one point favorites for Jose Abreu. A lot of these guys know jacks***.

Pretty sure Soxtalk rumors have made it onto Chicago Radio Shows too, and all we do is talk about My Little Ponies and penises, so there.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 03:24 PM) The Loxas tweet was also mentioned on Waddle and Silvy Dude, you are still defending this Loxas asshole. Stop. His track record is garbage. BRUCE LEVINE HAS A BETTER TRACK RECORD.

My achievements were -33,000+ posts over 10+ years on Soxtalk.com, showing commitment -Drunk blogged the NFL Draft, showing ability to work in extreme conditions outside of normal circumstances -Pwning b****es, showing EXTREME knowledge

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 02:48 PM) For those with little background on Loxas, here is what one poster on NorthSideBaseball said regarding his recent tweet that it was down to the Cubs & Yankees: On top of that, he reported a Cubs-Blue Jays trade involving Shark was "close" to happening in November and even knew what the Sox would require from the Cubs to trade Sale as if he listened in on some actual trade discussions. Apparently, this blogger has sources throughout the MLB, in multiple sports, and even across the Pacific Ocean! Thanks for this. Now can we stop posting s*** this moron says?

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 02:12 PM) This one is just for you Whitesoxfan: https://mobile.twitter.com/TomLoxas/status/...357433561546752 So are the Sox and Dodgers and Yankees and Diamondbacks and probably even the Angels. Also... What the hell does "good confirmation" mean? MY BARBER KNOWS THEO'S DOG GROOMER AND SHE SAID HE LIKES TANAKA. Unless someone can show me that he has a credible reputation, why should I buy into anything he says?

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 12:38 PM) No s***. What wite said reminded me of that, so I posted it. LOL. It's good. I don't doubt that he is a very intelligent person, because regardless of special help or easy majors or whatever else, just that we don't know how intelligent he is because we really don't see him speak about anything unless he's trying to sell it or it's about football. He's obviously a really, really funny dude which I think leads towards intelligence.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 02:07 PM) "You know, I didn't decide until this morning. I'm taking my talents to the South Side." *Cubdom implodes* It would be an absolutely devastating blow to the Cubs front office and would be a huge victory for the Sox. And yes, the reason this matters is because of fair-weather fan draw. The Cubs would still get some, but the Sox would go a long way towards evening it out this year alone.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 12:49 PM) McGwire hit 49 homeruns in his rookie season, and nobody was getting close to the 50 homerun mark back then. He may not have had the body look, but his numbers certainly looked like it. George Bell hit 47 in '87 and won the MVP. Also, Andre Dawson hit 49 and Dale Murphy 44. 1987 was kind of a crazy, outlier year offensively.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 02:02 PM) Unraveled CubsDen's tweet just now.....if you couldnt tell it was BS the first time you can after he said some teams are backing off. No team is backing off from him now. Maybe from the money but not from the player. Seriously, why would teams back off? Nobody is backing off this late in the game. Tanaka might have it whittled down to 3-4, but there are going to be late minute pushes and frankly, he probably has his mind made up already.

Frankly, if the Sox sign Tanaka, I have no problem dealing Johnson plus leftovers for Castro. The rotation is Sale, Tanaka, Quintana, Danks, Rienzo/Surkamp/Paulino. You have 2 additional starters and all 3 #5 guys have a bit of upside. That's manageable.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 01:56 PM) So there won't be a whole twitter-fest like with Abreu? When Tanaka get back to the states, it'll probably blow up a little bit. Right now it's incredibly difficult because of the time zone differences. With Abreu, he was always within like 2 hours of central standard time.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 01:51 PM) Here's a question: How will it be announced? Via a press conference w/ translator? Just randomly out of the blue? Will we get a "decision coming at 4 PM" warning or anything? It'll be announced to websites privately and they will spread the breaking news. There will be an update on sports channels and websites. You don't hold press conferences to announce decisions. I think we learned with the LeBron thing that it really does not make the player look very good.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 20, 2014 -> 01:48 PM) No problem. I won't post any more conjecture. Please, go back to talking about star wars and erections. Oh for f***'s sake dude, I said I appreciate it. Quit with the sob story. I'm just pointing out that, within a stretch of about 8 posts, you totally flip flopped. You said "looks like it's over" to some fanboy Cubs fan posting that it's between the Cubs and Yankees. Post updates all you want, just be prepared when people shoot them down, especially when it's a Cubs fan posting the update.

Tanaka is likely going to take the offer that makes the most sense for him financially. I don't believe you are going to see a straight 6 year deal get him signed. I think it's going to involve some creativity, ie the out clauses. He just turned 25. I think you are going to see him sign a 6 year deal worth around $120 with an out clause at year 4. He'd enter free agency again at 29, which allows him the opportunity to get another 4-6 year deal on the open market. If he flops or is less than expected, he gets to earn out the contract and move back to Japan. Has Theo ever done anything that creative with his contracts? Hahn and Cashman have. I think Theo is going to throw money out there and say "come to us" and they are going to rebuke it. They won't want him to be a free agent again at 31, because he'll be exiting his prime years and likely only looking at a 2-4 year deal.