witesoxfan

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Nov 17, 2013 -> 02:00 PM) Does "if everything goes right" mean Beckham leads the league in batting. Flowers and Viciedo each hit 50 homers, DeAza steals 60 bases and Sale wins 20 games and doubles as the closer. Lets realistically hope that they go from 99 to 80 losses next year. That may reguire a lot of things to go right. He said compete, not win 120 games. We do realistically hope they win 80 games next year. If everything goes right - no matter your lineup - this team will be competitive. In the scenario, you are probably talking about Abreu with an .850-.900 OPS, Viciedo, Garcia, and Dunn with an .800-.850 OPS, Beckham/Semien/Gillaspie/De Aza at .750-.800, and the catcher and Ramirez at .700-.750; defensively, they are back to near the top of the majors; pitching wise, they take a step forward from good to very good (Sale 2.75 ERA, Quintana 3.25 ERA, Santiago 3.00-3.50 ERA, Johnson and Danks 3.75 ERA; bullpen is stout and studly). None of that is ridiculous to see happening. It's also incredibly doubtful that it all happens. Realistically, I am expecting the team to win 75 games. It doesn't mean you don't put yourself in an "if everything goes right" sort of position. You don't tank.

Sean Lowe

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 15, 2013 -> 02:54 PM) It was Bill Ballou from the Worcester Tele & Gazette. The Yankees didn't make the playoffs, the other teams did. 1. Davis 2. Cabrera 3. Donaldson 4. Cano 5. Beltre 6. Pedroia 7. Trout OW-AH PEDROIAH what a horrendous list

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Nov 15, 2013 -> 02:41 PM) Except Hanigan hits RH and Jaso hits LH and Hanigan is a very good defensive cathcer in both throwing out runners and pitch framing while Jaso is pretty bad defensively but other than that, yeah, very similiar. Haha

I don't mind that as much. You want home town guys to represent. Molina, Carpenter, and Donaldson were all really, really good this year.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Nov 15, 2013 -> 09:15 AM) Sorry, I didn't realize that BP had their minions monitoring this site. It's actually to prevent BP's minions from monitoring the site.

QUOTE (toasty @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 10:46 PM) I actually think that if the Sox could get some kind of return for Dunn, while paying a bit, there actually is indeed a good fit for AJ. He could be used as DH if not catching. LH bat and decent contact hitter. not to mention the impact on the clubhouse and fans. Not sure why you insist he cannot come back. It's not necessarily a high possibility, but stranger things have happened. DHing Pierzynski, who is an incredily overrated and mediocre hitter, is an incredibly poor idea. People need to stop thinking about AJ. He's gone.

Alex Liddi is Italian for Jayson Nix

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:15 PM) Isn't he really bad defensively? Career CS% of 18%. I like Jaso, but yeah, Rienzo is the most I'd give up. That he's going into his age 30 season and is a free agent next year, I probably wouldn't even do that. Bassitt seems more reasonable.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 04:38 PM) Viciedo's "problem" is that he has never lived up to the hype the Sox organization put on him when he was signed. He's not to blame. There have been times where Viciedo looked incredibly good at the plate, but most of the time he has looked like a hacking, impatient free swinger. I wish he would use the approach he used off the DL last year at all times. It may have been him being tenative to swing, but I have never seen him look so good at the plate.

QUOTE (ron883 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 04:06 PM) 16m+? yeah right. It will probably be around 13m, and only for 1 year. I expect Wieters to command more than that. The qualifying offer is already $14.1 million this year. It's not far fetched to believe that it could be upwards of $16 mill 2 seasons from now. It's an average of x number of the top contracts in the majors; do you really believe that teams are going to start suddenly spending less?

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 03:42 PM) The question is if he fails, then what? There are many options in the pipe to help out. It is a risk, but if you are planning on a big re-build it is probably one you take. I think Ramirez is probably the player most likely to be moved as I think there will several teams looking to upgrade the position this offseason and he probably has a much or more value as any veteran on the club. If he fails, then you try Semien. That's his most comfortable position, though I don't think he has the range that Garcia has. If he doesn't work there, you keep trying to find new options. Maybe someone emerges in the system. When the team looks like it's going to be this bad, you may as well keep running guys out there till you find someone who works.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 03:24 PM) Once again, we're stuck in this constant negativity loop around the idea of the White Sox developing/improving hitters. If someone can work miracles with Viciedo and Garcia on pitch selection/plate discipline, maybe the same is possible with Garcia. But I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not saying he would hit; I'm saying you have to see if he can hit and if he has the defensive tools to cut it at shortstop every day. Really, do you want to do that sort of thing when the team is actually competitive, only to see it fail and cost you big time down the road (as Brian Anderson did in 2006)?

QUOTE (fathom @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 03:07 PM) Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Sox would be losing a lot of their draft allotment money if they lose their 2nd round pick. Looks like it's about $1.25 mill or so

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 02:58 PM) Odds are WAY higher at #3 versus #33 or whereever the sox second pick is. With the system in the shape it's in, I don't think that matters. You need as many draft picks as possible. Besides, how much future value are you likely to get out of Granderson? With players like him, especially those with contact issues and injuries to hands, wrists, and forearms, their careers can wind down very quickly. On top of that, the Sox have 3 capable outfielders right now, even if they aren't great. The minor league system is bad. The major league team is bad. Curtis Granderson on his own is not going to affect that much. It would be better to take any money that they allotted towards small pick ups that they don't have to give up draft picks for.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 02:51 PM) Which goes to the point of what are the odds that any second round pick the Sox might give up would put up better eventual numbers than what Granderson would with the Sox? (if he were to sign?) That's kind of a misguided philosophy though. What are the odds that the #3 pick is going to do more than what Granderson would? Pretty small, but you don't want to give it up anyways. Same thing applies for the 2nd round pick too. You are still talking about one of the 50ish best amateur baseball players in the country.

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 02:27 PM) What do you think it would take the Sox to get Sandoval straight-up? Keep in mind, he's a free agent after 2014. I think we're still looking at Quintana or Santiago+. Sabean really seems to like him and doesn't want to move him.

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 02:08 PM) Wouldn't be surprised if Hahn pulled off another three-team trade to fill our holes in the outfield (?), third and catcher. How about a blockbuster with Colorado and San Francisco that nets us Rosario and Pablo Sandoval? Good bye Quintana and Santiago

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 01:53 PM) That would give us 2 positions below 600 OPS wise, then Beckham. Frankly, they're going to need a better option back than Garcia who can play everyday, and better than Carlos Sanchez or Semien (fielding-wise at SS)...the tricky part is no team other than the Red Sox has/had that kind of major league ready talent to part with. If they took all the savings from his (Ramirez's) contract and invested it fruitfully in the Dominican, Venezuela, whatever. Just develop a plan and stick to it, that's all we're asking for. I don't think Garcia is that poor of a hitter, but besides that, what better time to start evaluating and developing a SS at the MLB level then now? I've said it elsewhere, but I fully believe Garcia will be a 2 WAR SS and he could get as high as 4 WAR. I don't view him as an untalented throw a way piece. He's been lauded for his defense and the speed is absolutely for real. He can work on his hit tool a bit and develop a bit of patience at the plate, we could be looking at like .270/.330/.370 sort of player with 40+ steal potential. Again, not incredible, but that would be very nice out of the shortstop position.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 01:33 PM) Dead Reed (HAHA STEVE) signed with the Jets Just in time for EJ to torch him, right? Right?

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 01:41 PM) My friend took a train to Minnesota to watch that game. Then took the train back. I did that for the Jenks game that year too. I was with my girlfriend. It was not a good time.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 01:34 PM) And it doesn't mean they're actively shopping Viciedo or Ramirez, it just means they're not untouchable and Hahn is willing to listen. I would be pretty shocked if Viciedo or Ramirez is traded before next July. I would not. I don't think they will be traded, but I would not be shocked in the least if they were. I think the organizatoin is beginning to sour on Viciedo a bit, though I think they give him one more season. Ramirez is an expensive, older SS and the Sox have a couple different guys who can play SS at the MLB level right now. I honestly would really like to see Leury get a shot at starting.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:55 AM) Boras obviously doesn't understand the Cubs fan base very well. Seriously. There are a ton of people who DO go to Wrigley because it's Wrigley.

QUOTE (jhonnydanks @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 11:54 AM) Didn't he end up hitting a monster walk off dinger against us that year in Minnesota off Thornton? That was awesome. Just a blast. That sucked so much

QUOTE (farmteam @ Nov 14, 2013 -> 10:49 AM) Yeah, I didn't get that. Trying to just say he just smokes a lot of weed, but then he feels he's low when he's below 5 pounds? WHAT? 5 pounds could last one person 5 years. I get that he was sharing with friends, but still, for him to say he was feeling low on weed whenever he had less than 5 pounds is just absurd. Given what he was saying at Morton's, he was trying to become a kingpin, he just hadn't really done much yet. Life without parole would have been silly. Life after football. He signed a "lucrative" deal with the Bears, but with how much he was looking to move, he was trying to make millions.