witesoxfan

I actually have relatively few concerns about Sale's durability, and I think he ultimately wins a Cy Young award. If I were the Sox, I'd try and get his first two years of free agency bought out at this point.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 2, 2013 -> 09:54 AM) I don't care if he has injury concerns, you don't trade a pitcher like Sale if you plan on competing in the near future, even for a hitter like Stanton. There is simply no way for us to replace a potential ace anytime soon. I tend to agree, primarily due to these exact scarcity reasons. In theory, a 4 fWAR from a pitcher is the same as it is from a hitter, but consider that 43 offensive players put up a fWAR of 4 or better this year while only 18 pitchers did. The only way I am dealing Sale is in a deal for a Trout, Cano, McCutcheon. Stanton does have MVP potential, so it'd be tempting, but I do think I'd have to turn it down.

QUOTE (kapkomet @ Jan 1, 2013 -> 07:05 PM) We'll call you half of ss2k. s1k

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 1, 2013 -> 08:41 PM) I think both he and Lovie are on Buffalos list. As is Denver's OC, who is on the Bears list. Buffalo is interviewing everyone. I haven't seem them connected with Lovie, but I have seen Lovie say he'd be a great fit in Buffalo (which I agree with 100%, as I said on here). Whisenhunt seems to be at the top of their list, but he'd be stepping into the same problems he had in Arizona - no QB, good skill position talent, shaky and injury prone offensive line, plus the defense would be worse and he has generally used a 3-4 which the Bills simply don't have the talent for right now. I think Whiz is a terrible fit in Buffalo.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 02:24 PM) I believe there was someone on here who posted some advanced stats or abstract knowledge that said Dunn was an ideal #3 hitter. I'd be ok with Dunn in the 3 spot. If you bat him behind guys like PK and Rios he'll never get anything to hit. Basically, you approach this from a first inning perspective and then, with reasonable expectations, assume the same for the remainder of the game. In the first inning, there are about 3 primary scenarios one can expect: #1) There will be no one on base (50%) #2) There will be one person on base (40%) #3) There will be two people on base (10%) In #1, a walk continues the inning, a strikeout is the same as anything else, and a home run is a run. In #2, a walk continues the inning, a strikeout prevents the inning from ending, and a home run is worth 2 runs. In #3, a walk loads the bases, a strikeout prevent the inning from endining, and a home run is worth 3 runs. With his TTO%, one of those scenarios is likely to happen around more than half the time (he was at 56.7% last year), so it is essentially that his strikeouts do little harm in the 3 spot while his walks and homers are just as worthwhile.

Holmgren was always a fantastic coach and terrible executive.

QUOTE (2nd_city_saint787 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 12:45 PM) I said I didn't understand the bold part of the statement. I understand it from a coaching aspect but his playing career looks like someone the board would be calling for his DFA. Ozzie Smith is in the Hall of Fame. Have you ever looked at his career numbers? He could steal and draw a walk - and that's about it. There were a few years where Ozzie Guillen was actually a borderline star in the league based upon his WAR. He was an incredibly gifted defensive shortstop. He also made a lot of contact and generally had great control of the bat. If Alexei Ramirez puts up another year like he did last year, he'll be well on the Ozzie Guillen path.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 01:27 PM) The part that makes no sense is that the Bears are basically giving Emery the keys to the castle when he has much less experience than Lovie. If anything I would have thought the Bears should have given Lovie more power (after getting rid of Angelo) and seeing if that actually made a difference. Instead they got a new GM, said he cant fire Lovie for 1 year and you have a clusterf*** from the start. That is the ultimate problem for the Bears. They have no clue what they are doing in the front office. Lovie had to be the longest tenured coach with the least amount of power. I cant imagine that Lovie wanted McClellan in the 1st. The Bears need 1 person to steer the ship and everyone else to follow directions. 2 generals with equal power does not work, the Romans found this out at the Battle of Cannae in 216 BC. Yet almost 2000 years later the Bears are still mucking it up. There is recent history for this as well. Remember when Dunder-Mifflin tried to have both Michael and Jim run the Scranton branch? Pure chaos and disaster.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 12:28 PM) Another personal attack? I think the board is awesome, so I am taking it as a compliment.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 12:16 PM) James Walker ‏@espn_afceast RT @JamesWalkerESPN: Teams like CHI and SD will be much more attractive to coaches than Buffalo because franchise QBs are already in place. Except that Fitzpatrick is going to be released (at a cost savings) which allows an incoming coach to pick his QB rather than go with very mediocre options in Jay Cutler and Philip Rivers.

Working on Christmas and New Year's Eve sucks

Oh, and I am talking as a head coach. I think he could immediately turn the Bills into an 8-8 team with a rookie QB, and they could be a playoff team if they bring in a motivated veteran (like a Michael Vick).

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:42 AM) Would be crazy if NE hired him... That wouldn't be fair.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 11:25 AM) Javy Vazquez wants to pitch again...for a contender. Have fun with that 5.5 ERA you'll receive said contender. He was great with Atlanta in 2009 and that team won 86 games. I think, given the right situation, he can be successful.

I would love to see Lovie in Buffalo.

Gailey fired too. Can't wait to say that again in 3 years.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 31, 2012 -> 09:18 AM) Funny you say that, NYE and the 4th are my 2 favorite holidays. But that's because drunks like us have an excuse, even though we don't need one

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Dec 29, 2012 -> 04:05 PM) The $ is serious.... BUT the Cell is the AL version of Coors... I think he will be fine. No it's not. It's not even close. It allows a lot of home runs, but batting average and gap power falls at the Cell. The Ballpark at Arlington is more the AL version of Coors Field.

You don't use Viciedo in a platoon. You either let him play and develop as a complete player or deal him if you are going to trade for Kubel (in separate deals).

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Dec 28, 2012 -> 04:39 PM) Not to pick on you since I say things like this quite often but is there ever a scenario where an NFL team sleeps on an opponent and comes unprepared? With so few games in a season I'd think every opponent is taken seriously. I think the saying only works for fans and gamblers. In 2004, the Bills were 7th in the NFL in points scored, 8th in the NFL in points allowed, and 6th in point differential. They finished 9-7. They did, however, control their own destiny as they squared off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 17 of that season. The Steelers were 14-1, had homefield wrapped up throughout the postseason, and rested their starters. The Bills knew this coming in. The Bills were also one of the hottest teams in the NFL, having won 6 in a row and 8 of 9. They lost. To be fair, Tommy Maddox was good one time. And it was Willie Parker's coming out party, and he was good for like 3 years. It's still pitiful that a team that had won 8 of 9 lost to a second string team. You think maybe the Bills slept on the Steelers that game? I do. And I think it happens a lot. You just aren't expecting what you've prepared for all week.

Better bring Ozzie aboard too.

Also, I didn't realize it, but Octavio Dotel set a record last year when he played for his 13th major league team.

Of Jeff Passan's top 25 free agents, only 4 remain unsigned. The list is not surprising. #8 Michael Bourn - Scott Boras #11 Rafael Soriano - Scott Boras #14 Adam LaRoche - inconsistent and no high demand for 1B around the league #18 Kyle Lohse - Scott Boras I also haven't noticed nearly as many players signing with Boras in recent years, though they obviously still exist. He does a great job of getting money for his clients, but he is very slow and non-deliberate when going about his process where I think guys would rather be relaxing in the offseason knowing they have a job. From what I see, you primarily see second tier players sign with Boras because he will upsell and get them the big contract or yearly contracts they desire, whereas your genuine top flight players sell themselves far more. Just thought it was interesting.

Perhaps as opposed to "not respect" they meant to say he was disrespectful at times.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 28, 2012 -> 12:20 PM) Giants did not need help Week 17. They got in solely by winning. Well, they finished 9-7, so they needed the other 3 teams in the division to suck all year. Boom, backed in.