witesoxfan

There is plenty of reason for them to "tank" next year, but not to this extent. A top 10 pick gives them protection for the following offseason, and that offseason is going to be a hell of a lot more important for them in the long run than this offseason. They will not be investing in much of anything as far as free agents go this year, but I could absolutely see the purse strings open up quite a bit following 2018. They are looking at maybe $40 million in commitments beyond the 2018 season, and that's if they keep everyone they currently have. They could easily trade Shields ($2 million buyout), Jones ($4.65 mill option, $1.25 mill buyout), and maybe Abreu (~$13 million) and Avisail (~$7 mill), while Rodon may not get the number I figured for him ($6 mill). Their payroll was like $150 million just a few years ago (B-R shows $170 million, but I don't recall the kickbacks from other teams, and that number seems high). They'll have money to spend.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 30, 2017 -> 08:37 AM) I have always thought if there were no speed guns on scoreboards or on TV screens, the game would be totally different. I'm not saying he doesn't throw hard, because he does relative to the average American, but Corey Kluber has the second highest fWAR in the majors this year among pitchers and he has "below average" fastball velocity at 92.6 MPH. It was 92.5 MPH last year and at its highest was 93.2 MPH. I believe you are right, but that involves a lot of learning and tinkering and repetition to fine tune the mechanics and increase the movement of pitches while being able to command it. Corey Kluber was 27 years old when he had his first real full season and wasn't the dominant pitcher he is until a year later. In today's society in general, we want the explosion and the zip, because it's sexy and it does get guys out, but Corey Kluber has proven why velocity is not the end all be all. You need to have some - guys that throw 84 only make it once in a blue moon - but you don't need to throw 99.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 01:34 PM) I was one of a few very pro Albies voices when we thought he may be here in a trade. Slashline for first 54 games .281/.354/.443 with 5 hrs, 8 doubles and 5(!) triples. 36 Ks to 21 BBs. 7 of 8 stolen bases. Soxtalk slapped a Yolmer Sanchez label on him and couldn't see past it. I was the one who was big on the Carlos/Yolmer comparison, so I'll eat my crow on that. All the same, they likely would have given up Quintana for Albies, and I'm perfectly fine with Eloy.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Sep 30, 2017 -> 11:20 AM) I just think that Adolfo's BA and K's would have him start in Kanny to begin the season. But, with the log jam of outfielders in both A ball levels, there's not much room to work with so one or two guys will have to move up. IMHO, Rutherford needs to start in Kanny and I think that's what happens if Robert impresses next spring. Adolfo and Basabe could help ease Robert's transition to playing ball in the US while it gives Rutherford time to find a groove at Kanny. Funny you mention Hawkins. Not that he has earned a promotion but with the OF talent the Sox have at AA and below, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sox force him to Charlotte. It's s*** or get off the pot time for Hawkins and I think the Sox patience has about run out on Hawkins. He's on borrowed time. May as well put him on the mound at this point, it's not happening in the outfield.

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 09:51 AM) Am I the only one that thinks Avi moves over to LF once Eloy (RF) gets called up? Considering Eloy has a league average arm, no, I do not think that will happen.

f*** it, there's a series left, why even send him to AZ? Suit him up, dude's ready to play.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 04:09 PM) It would help if we'd sit Abreu and Garcia; I'm not sure why they are playing every day, regardless of the need to tank. Detroit is showing teams how tanking is properly done. They aren't even trying. Detroit is a poor excuse for a baseball team.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 04:27 PM) I thought the correct answer was always Lyle Mouton? That answer is also correct.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 03:12 PM) Walk rate doesn't really vary that much. It's hard to teach a guy to take more walks and it's not a skill that erodes very much with age either. If there is one thing I'm sure about WRT to Moncada it's that he's always going to carry a 10-12% walk rate. So even if he's only hitting 230 he's going to have an OBP around 330. That is very valuable. If he hits 280, that makes him an elite OBP at the top of the order. If he hits 25 HR on top of that and steals 30 bases, he's an elite run producer period. At 2B. Get excited about the rebuild folks, many good players, with good strike zone command and overall well rounded games, are coming through the pipeline. This is important and I think people still skim over it. Even if Moncada's contact skills never improve a ton, if he maintains a 10% walk rate and about a 25-28% strikeout rate, he only has to hit about .230 to be a valuable player. This is why I keep bringing up BJ Upton (because he wasn't yet Melvin Upton). He hit about .250 for Tampa for 6 years and still accumulated like 25 WAR. He was a very good player, even if it was frustrating being teased by the obviously tantalizing talent.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 02:32 PM) Where are those guys? The only place I know of is my heart.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 01:26 PM) Yea, right? Fangraphs also has a "Aaron Judge had the least clutch season ever". They are doing some clickbait articles lately. Must need to make some quotas. Because, according to how they calculate "clutch," Aaron Judge has had the least clutch season of all time.

If we are going to change, I nominate the true heroes of this franchise's history - Chris Widger and Timo Perez.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 12:46 PM) The lack of sustainability is severely tied to the the lack of walks I actually disagree. Walks help stimulate production, but do not signify production. Rather, it's his .392 BABIP and his 25.7% K% over that time that is causing the unsustainability. If he were hitting .310/.330/.520 with a strikeout rate around 15% or even 20%, I'd feel a hell of a lot better about it. All the same, Austin Jackson was a good player early in his career with a K% around 26%, so it's not unreasonable to think that he could succeed striking out that much. This isn't to say that Anderson shouldn't draw more walks - we're in agreement on that.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 12:06 PM) Yes. Franco. Watch a tape of Anderson and that huge bat. It's like Franco waving that huge piece of lumber. Anderson needs to use a smaller, lighter bat and he'll see the results of Moncada since he switched bats. Over his last 210 plate appearances, since his OPS cratered at .601, Anderson has hit .312/.329/.522/.851. There is likely a lack of sustainability in that line, but the size of his bat isn't the problem.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 12:09 PM) I'll take it. OK post. Man this is a mean board. No love for a 33-homer guy and 100 plus ribbie guy. The guy is a stud. There's always something. Just cause he was an older rookie. Damn, it's a tough crowd here refusing to praise anybody but one of the young guys Hahn got in a trade or Robert. (not everybody but the majority). He attacked the baseball (again) last night. Greg, if you seriously think that there is no love for Jose Abreu on this board, then I suggest you read more posts.

QUOTE (Greg Hibbard @ Sep 27, 2017 -> 11:42 AM) The pieces that will be here haven't proven they can take walks. Tim Anderson is one of the only ones we know WILL be here, and he's arguably the worst at it. There is no question that Anderson needs to walk more, but typically players do become more patient as they age. And if he doesn't, he'll be just fine in a super sub role or wearing another uniform.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 26, 2017 -> 09:29 PM) In Timmy Anderson's case, a smaller bat. Like Moncada did, he needs to suck it up and go to a smaller bat. He looks silly waving that big piece of lumber ala that former Ranger who played til he was 50, I forget his name. Are you talking about Julio Franco? Because I'm pretty sure you're talking about Julio Franco. If Tim Anderson hits like Julio Franco, then Tim Anderson can walk however much he damn well pleases.

Jose, I like that you play for the White Sox and that you are a nice person.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 25, 2017 -> 03:27 PM) That's not exactly what I meant but I see how it could've come off that way. I read in Keith Law's book that anyone who can steal bases at a 71% clip or better is most likely helping his team, so at that point, I'm all for stolen bases. If you're 2015 Avisail Garcia, though, my position changes. It will vary depending on the run scoring environment. A few years back, 67% or better would have helped the team, while during the middle of the steroid era is was 75%. All the same, right around that 71% is a safe estimate.

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Sep 26, 2017 -> 11:01 AM) We will draft Beer and sign him underslot at pick 4 or 5. Then pick the biggest faller out of HS with our second pick and sign them overslot to get them. That would make some sense.. QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Sep 26, 2017 -> 11:31 AM) That is what I see happening as well. The last time a true 1B prospect was taken in the top 10 was Eric Hosmer in 2008. Brendan McKay was taken this year, but the Rays are using him as both a hitter and a pitcher. I don't see Beer being taken in the top 5 unless he has a monstrous year.

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ Sep 21, 2017 -> 05:16 PM) Depending on what happens with Burger. Someone would get moved. I think Burger could just as easily end up at 1B. All of this will sort itself out in time, as long as one of them isn't traded for James Shields.

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ Sep 21, 2017 -> 05:07 PM) Right. If TA ends up good you move Turang for a cost controlled all star at our biggest need. Or you play him at 3B, where he can be a home grown cost controlled star. Regardless, I think it's way too premature to be having this conversation.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 21, 2017 -> 04:13 PM) 670 The Score‏Verified account @670TheScore 1h1 hour ago #Cubs' Kris Bryant isn't a sabermetrics guy http://cbsloc.al/2xxDxmo I am perfectly fine with this. He basically says that if he paid attention to it, he wouldn't enjoy baseball as much for what it is, and that is OK. He also doesn't put down those that do enjoy that kind of stuff, like Hosmer, who is still a total douche in my book.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 21, 2017 -> 04:32 PM) Right, the guy we draft in 2018 may very well just be fuel we need to get us over the hump in 2020 with a trade. I'm hoping the first rounder next year is more than a trade chip.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 21, 2017 -> 04:06 PM) Over that six weeks he is slashing .317/.328/.532/.860 Dan Hayes‏Verified account @CSNHayes 35m35 minutes ago #WhiteSox SS Tim Anderson has hits in 36 of 44 games from Aug. 1 on. Still needs to draw more walks, but he definitely has the talent to be a very good hitter. He was a nice find. I remember being upset that the Sox just missed JP Crawford, but I definitely like Anderson more.