witesoxfan

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 08:49 AM) I don't like this. Seemed like they tried to fill a need rather than taking the most talented player. I would rather seen a pitcher that could actually be stashed while Cooper works with him. This catcher has like a 5% chance of making the roster. Then they release him. This organization has enough success with no-name arms that I have absolutely no problem with them trying to bring in arms in other channels. They feel this guy is talented enough, which is why they took him 2nd overall. Even if it was A ball, they felt he was strong enough at the plate and defensively that he's worth a shot as at least a back up player.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 08:49 AM) True, though pitchers still have a lot better chance at sticking than position players, hence why there are always so many drafted. It's definitely easier to stash them, but to actually realize results and see success is incredibly rare. These are guys that are so far away from the majors that their original teams decided they weren't even among their organization's 40 best players. In some cases, teams legitimately have up to 45-50 players that can play in the majors, but most do not.

QUOTE (elwood5892 @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 08:47 AM) Giants just signed Mike Morse to play left. There goes trading with them. Knowing it's the Giants, I'm guessing they gave him a 3 year, $42 million deal.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 08:46 AM) Moran went fifth. Would have preferred him to add to our collection of dismal LH arms instead of adding to our collection of dismal catchers. Mateo from the Cubs was the 8th player selected. Little surprising there. He seemed to be the top of everyone's list. Two position players drafted compared to seven pitchers. I imagine the position players are both longshots. Everyone drafted in the Rule 5 portion is a longshot

QUOTE (striker @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 08:40 AM) Of our four outfielders, De Aza is the only proven one. Garcia, Viciedo and Eaton all still have something to prove. It would be nice to have one non question mark in our outfield. The entire team is one giant question mark. At this point, the Sox need talented players on the roster that they can build around. De Aza is going to be 30 next year. Don't get me wrong, I really like De Aza, especially in LF, but the team is not in a good position to keep him. It's far better to keep a high ceiling guy like Viciedo and give him one more year than it is to give De Aza another season.

Also, in the minor league portion, you are rarely ever going to see those guys returned to their original teams. The cost is even less prohibitive in those. I want to say it's like $25K to draft someone in the AAA with a $12.5K return and like $10K or $20K in the AA with a $5-10K return. Plus it's the minors, so it's far easier to stash someone.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 08:34 AM) With the Nieto selection, two of Flowers, Gimenez, and Phegley have to start in AAA, so why another AAA catcher? This is turning into a big middle finger to all our current catchers They gave a big middle finger to the White Sox major league team last year too. Stockpile young talent as much as possible.

This has become something Hahn has done far differently than Williams. During Williams' tenure, I can really only remember the Sox taking Jason Grilli with a Rule 5 pick. Hahn attempted to settle the utilitiy infielder role with a Rule 5 pick last year with Angel Sanchez last year, and now they are at least attempting to add to the catcher's competition this year with Nieto. At such minimal cost, there's no point in at least attempting to bring someone in every year unless your 25 man roster is virtually set already. I like this quite a bit.

That's the guy they liked

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 04:58 PM) Unless the Sox know something we don't about this guy, I see no reason to go after him. He's a 24 (just turned) year old who just played in High-A last year. And he has nice stats, but IDK if I would want them to carry him on the 25-man all year. If he's not very good, they'll give him back or work out a trade to demote him to AAA. It's not a big deal.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 04:36 PM) Baseball is an extraordinarily segmented and discrete game. I really doubt there was any real synergy between the two, much less that they will be able to replicate anything at the Major League level. Certainly Elmore should have to earn playing time and it should have nothing at all to do with Eaton. I think the one thing you can see is that guys are more comfortable around the other and can play a little better. Still, talent levels being what they are at that level, you are just not going to see a .240 guy suddenly start hitting .320 because he's back with his buddy.

http://deadspin.com/this-is-the-peyton-man...ning-1481431619

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 04:07 PM) I hate Boston. I wouldn't have minded DC again. I guess Boston isn't terrible since it's the next great historical city, but I still hate that city. Philadelphia would have been sweet

http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=29486543&c_id=mlb http://wapc.mlb.com/play/?content_id=28672435&c_id=mlb There's a big hitch in his swing and it's rather long. If he hit .250 over a full season, I'd be surprised. He's not going to have good plate coverage and he'll have to choose whether he is looking in or out. Guys like Konerko in his prime hit .300...they can be looking in yet have a quick and strong enough swing to poke balls to center and right. Elmore does not have that. I do see a little Zobrist in the swing, but he's also a switch hitter. Either way, I don't think he's a starter.

If Elmore puts up a .300/.375/.400 season as the starting 2B, I would s*** my pants

QUOTE (Lillian @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 02:39 PM) My "love" is based upon his specialized skill as a #2 hole hitter, which is a unique offensive role. A left handed hitter, per se, has never been an issue with me. It is the need for a left handed, middle of the order bat, to break up the succession of right handed hitters, about which I have written so often. In fact, for a number 2 hitter, batting from the right side can be an advantage because he has a better look at the runner on first. He also has a bigger hole to hit in, providing he can take the ball the other way, at which I suspect Elmore is quite adept. I'm very intrigued by the way he worked so well with Eaton, in front of him. Don't you agree that the ability to foul off pitches, work the count and take walks are skills that translate well to the Big Leagues? Beckham has more potential, but he has never demonstrated that he can hit in the 2 hole. They are different players. If Eaton and Elmore could work some magic at the top of the order, and set the table for Abreu, ?, Garcia, Viciedo and whoever else the Sox stick in the heart of the order, the offense could be very interesting. I guess you can think of him as a perfect #2 hitter. I honestly think of someone like Yadier Molina as the perfect #2 hitter. Good contact, gap to gap power, occsional ability to hit one out. Iguchi was a good one too. Elmore doesn't even offer gap to gap power.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 01:46 PM) Me thinking that has nothing to do with being a Packers fan. The contract the Cutler or Marshall sign will be the biggest of their careers. Players usually get one big deal, for them this is going to be it. You think Marshall is going to come play for free because Cutler is here. He will get Larry Fitzgerald sized deal. 40 - 50 million guaranteed. Same goes for Cutler. He isn't going to pass up millions of dollars. He will say give me the Matt Ryan deal. They may give the Bears a little break, but they are still getting big bucks. And there's no way in hell I'd ever consider giving Cutler that kind of money. Marshall is a definite possibility.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 01:47 PM) Wite: "I don' think anyone has said ADA sucks." Me: "JoshPR only posts to say ADA sucks." Psshhh that was ss2k, ruining my good reputation

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 01:39 PM) Dunn is 14 million. Weeks is 11 million with an 11.5 million team option if he reaches 600 PAs in 2014 or 1,200 PAs over '13-'14. Not sure how a trade would affect the option. The option vests with 600 PAs, so you'd be on the hook for another $11.5 mill

QUOTE (Reddy @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 12:24 PM) he's in the 10% I thought you were just saying that 90% of good players are good looking, not that 90% of good looking players are good. I am entirely confused now, thanks

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 12:27 PM) Can't do it because he's the one guy some team might overpay for. I don't think that's the case at all.

Wieters hasn't exactly been a shining example of success. I honestly would have no problem giving up De Aza and Beckham for him, but that's where I draw the line. No need to include cost controlled pitchers.

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 11:51 AM) The catcher idea was pretty obvious....but the LH bullpen help is probably not going to make some people happy though Namely, Charles Leesman and Donnie Veal. No one else should mind.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 11:38 AM) I think the real question is how many playoff caliber teams currently have a closer worse than Reed(not that I think Reed is bad)? And what is the price of acquiring Reed vs simply singing Balfour or Benoit to a short term contract? What about packaging Reed and De Aza to the Yankees? That could easily net us Sanchez + a couple of other prospects. I agree entirely with the first part. I'd much rather spend $8-10-12 million on a closer than give up prospects for one. On the second one, refer to your first thought. Also, the last thing the Yankees need is another outfielder.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Dec 11, 2013 -> 11:41 AM) Also, he's good lookin' 90% of good players are also attractive Anyone else ever notice this? This does not apply to Gordon Beckham