caulfield12

Let's not forget they can pick up players in that August waiver wire period as well... Although the big DH/OF bats on the market like Bruce, Reddick, possibly Beltran, possibly Cargo, etc., are likely to move now. CoCo Crisp would be a nice veteran to have on the bench, but Austin Jackson will get the first shot to prove he's back before they make that kind of a bench/depth move. But he's used to the AL Central wars, that's the kind of player who is helpful in August/September.

Who is the center now for GSW? Varejao? Do they have any money left over to replace him? One of their weaknesses will be interior defense without Bogut. Very popular player, organization was basically forced to part with him for financial reasons. Ezeli's out too, guess they'll come up with someone, as every C in the world not currently attached to an organization will want to play for them. Greg Oden, come on down. Joking about that one. Maybe Rush can get some more playing time with their smaller line-ups. He's a very solid defender as well, at least he was at Bishop Miege and at Kansas.

Beltran would seem to be more likely. Or Bruce. Knocking the Yankees back would be helpful to their own chances of picking from their roster. The Yankees just aren't getting a cohesive attack from that combination of all those veteran hitters in the middle of their order. And their starting pitching after CC and Tanaka has been a complete mess. Eovaldi, with all his talent, is close to being banished to the bullpen. Pineda might belong there as well. If one or both of those elements (middle of order/starting pitching 3-5) don't come together soon, they'll have to sell.

Avi needs to be gone, a 650 OPS at DH is embarrassing, it would be pretty bad for a middle infielder even. Second point, that LaRoche money is free and HAS to be spent, at least for the remainder of this season. If they find the right fit for a player whose deal goes through 2017, great, because the offseason FA market is crap and will force more overpays. Finally, you're probably right about the Sox not wanting to give up top talent for a veteran RH reliever. They'll monitor Burdi, Danish, Jordan Stephens, Alec Hansen (that's a very low probability event) and Fulmer and hopefully one or two of those guys really click in the next month or so. Maybe, just maybe, Ynoa takes the next step but that's asking for a lot. Albers is almost at the end of his rope. His last 20 or so appearances have been terrible, and Ventura pulled him after just one batter today. His patience is now at zero to turn things around for Matty.

Predicted record-breaking season again for GS? The biggest benefit is that this takes some of the pressure off Curry. And he showed in the playoffs he's capable of playing defense when motivated. Being around Green, they will push him to up that side of his game. He has the wingspan to be more of a presence.

Morneau has grounded out softly on the infield and hit into a double play so far. 2 LOB. http://www.milb.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=...mp;mode=gameday Jacob Turner rocked pretty hard.

Navarro was only hitting .182 with a 619 ops against lefties in 50+ ab's, although that should be higher after today. .239 and 667 OPS vs. RHP. (675 overall now) Avila at 706 vs. RHP with a 228 average...just 7 AB's vs. lefties. That's at least workable now. One of the main reasons we're only 10th (still, after today) in the AL in runs scored is Avi Garcia. They need to be in that 7-9 range of having close to an "average" offense if they want to have a real shot at the Wild Card. Tim Anderson at 833 vs. Garcia at 650 is embarrassing.

Wow, Anderson golfed out that sinker to CF. Got all of that one. 2-2.

At least the 9 ERA so far this game's still lowering his 11.07 with the Sox. So there's that.

Well, that didn't last very long. Threw the exact pitch the catcher wanted, decent location...Shields seems to be irked. Bad game plan or execution? Navarro is calling the pitches, Cooper or Shields?

QUOTE (Condor13 @ Jul 4, 2016 -> 12:26 PM) I like the bunt attempt by Spanky, if he gets it down its an easy hit. But not at least advancing Anderson or getting it down makes it a pretty terrible play.

Wow, Junior Guerra's on fire. 6-1, 7.1, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 BB, 7 K's against a quality Nationals' team. Guess Eaton can't pick up the ball against Sabathia. Pretty terrible play there. Yankees arrived around midnight in Chicago, fwiw. Hopefully Shields can get his ERA as a Sox to sub 10. Started today at 11.07, yikes.

Also, you've got Bogaerts, Lindor, Correa and Manny Machado at that same SS position. Tough competition, although officially Machado's still a 3B until this year...even then you've got Machado/Donaldson/Longoria.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 4, 2016 -> 08:13 AM) Yes, the White Sox will make the playoffs IF they add an impact bat AND a reliever. If they stand pat like idiots again, they will miss out. And do you believe they will do BOTH or at least one of these things? And that it will be enough to push them over the top (to at least get Chris Sale to a WC start)?

Parity or parody?

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/time-fo...truggling-team/ Morrissey: Maddon needs to be more honest/realistic and less of a perpetual cheerleader for these Cubs

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/i...ns-to-deal-with

I think you mean 2010? That was around 25-5 or 26-5, but we started the run that late May/early June well below .500. It was mostly on backs of blowing through the interleague competition, think it was the NL EAST that year. Our record in the AL Central really held us back, vs. the Twins, who dominated us in the 2nd half of the season.

All six ESPN baseball experts picked their teams and they all had Sale but maybe only one Quintana. One had Eaton, the other with Adam as the last one cut. There's no way we got 3 guys, and I think two would be pretty fortunate. The Twins will have Nunez, the Rays probably Longoria or Pearce, the Angels with Trout and the A's need to have one representative as well (maybe R.Hill or a reliever). They're having the same problems with the Indians, everyone has Salazar, but Carrasco/Kluber/Tomlin and even Bauer merit some consideration. And he's still got that record under .500 and an ERA a touch over 3. Don't think he's automatic, because his ERA in June was 4+ (despite that lousy string of run support for like 9 consecutive starts). Plus, Yost will pick his own guys like K.Herrera...and obviously Wade Davis.

If Hoiberg, Butler and Rondo can all peacefully co-exist...that's the question. Or they start pulling the Cavs' trick (against Blatt), ignoring the coaching staff and just freelancing and running their own plays.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 3, 2016 -> 11:17 AM) So you're projecting how many world series wins in a row for them? The far superior mid to late 90's Indians didn't win one. The early 00's Mariners. 2006-2014 Tigers, etc. It's all a crapshoot. I think it's safe, though, to assume they'll make the playoffs pretty frequently the next 3-4 years. There's nobody to challenge them. Royals will be torn apart after 2017. Tigers and White Sox will have older cores that need to be deconstructed. Twins are a long ways off with pitching and really need Berrios and Buxton to figure things out.

What is the gun at Winston-Salem typically at...high or low? Or it was a scout's gun that is almost impossible to corroborate? Any one else besides his agent? Wonder if the White Sox want him to be throwing that hard....or if they're waiting until the offseason or next year to make adjustments in his repertoire? Or possibly starting...

I guess I should have made up two poll questions...one for 2017. But it would be highly theoretical, do you believe the White Sox organization is responsible for putting a playoff team on the field in 2017? And do you think they (whoever they are in October) will be able to pull it off successfully? Greg, no negativity in this thread. But we appreciate your "Hawkism." I'll be watching the highlights on the ipad and Harrelson will shout "hell, yeah!!!" and my wife will automatically know something good happened with the White Sox. Then she'll ask if all American sports announcers curse and I'll just respond, "Hawk is Hawk, he's one of the last remaining vestiges of a bygone era in sports broadcasting." To which she'll roll her eyes.

Just curious. How many of those are from Sale/Q/Latos' first 4 starts?

Who thinks the Celtics are actually going to be better than the Cavs in the East? That's really pushing it. Anyone heard exactly when Durant will announce? Supposed to be Sunday night/Monday morning....any rumors? Warriors? OKC?