caulfield12

Sounds like a combo of Tyler Danish and EJ.

I think it's MUCH more likely that Ventura comes completely unglued and hits someone in the Sox line-up (Lawrie is too obvious, maybe it's Eaton, who has been struggling offensively) and/or there's a huge brawl because the White Sox are frustrated with not getting to (Y)Ventura and/or Rodon pitches poorly coming off a skipped start. I would have a terrible time trying to bet that game (and I never have bet baseball once in my entire life)...anything seems possible. Since the start of the 2012 season, Robin Ventura’s first as manager of the Chicago White Sox, the Royals have had great success against Chicago. The Royals are 52-29 against the White Sox, and that record includes a lopsided advantage in games decided in the late innings. The teams have played 21 games that were tied after the fifth inning, and the Royals have a 19-2 record in those contests. Additionally, the Royals have rallied 11 times for a victory when the White Sox led after five innings. Chicago has won 7 such games. That’s 30 wins when the Royals were tied or trailing after five innings, compared to nine for the White Sox. That’s a .769 winning percentage. Exactly 3 out of 4 if the White Sox win on Sunday in that situation. Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-colum...l#storylink=cpy

I think it's MUCH more likely that Ventura comes completely unglued and hits someone in the Sox line-up (Lawrie is too obvious, maybe it's Eaton, who has been struggling offensively) and/or there's a huge brawl because the White Sox are frustrated with not getting to (Y)Ventura and/or Rodon pitches poorly coming off a skipped start. I would have a terrible time trying to bet that game (and I never have bet baseball once in my entire life)...anything seems possible.

Also, like the Harvey game, Poor Jose Quintana was once again on the mound to receive nothing in the way of support. He lost his sixth straight decision despite pitching well. He allowed more homers today (three) than he had all season (two), but they were all solo shots that didn't clear the wall by much. The ball was carrying on a 91-degree day, and Cheslor Cuthbert benefited more than anybody, hitting two out. Otherwise, Quintana struck out 10 while walking nobody over his eight innings. *White Sox run totals in Quintana's losses over the last two seasons: 1-0-1-1-1-0-0-1-1-3-2-1-1-3-0-2-1. www.southsidesox.com (Jim Margalus) Attendance is completely irrelevant if we have the ability to add another $10+ million to payroll this season regardless of whether we're 22nd-26th in that category. Otherwise, it's germane to the issue, because it has been used as justification for front office moves a number of times, specifically for signing off on the Melky Cabrera deal.

Bourgeois is going to be up for Shuck or Coats soon if they can't start to heat up a little bit.

Rodon has to repeat his 2nd half 2015, Abreu a mix of 2014/15...that's like adding another player. Of course, you can't simply assume Eaton continues to be one of the Top 10-15 players in baseball, either.

31,183 in attendance. Not the greatest weekend, +30K performance (seems that's the norm more often than not the last 5 years). Royals and Tigers pass the White Sox again... Verlander looking better and better each time out. CLE (Bauer) vs. Shoemaker (LAA) at 9. 4 1/2 GB is getting to be danger territory. Luckily, all the Central teams will theoretically beat up each other and someone (DET/KC) can hopefully stop the Indians at home. Nice moment for the Thompson family. Klay and father Mychal are watching the Dodgers' game in SF...Trayce just took a bases loaded walk to tie the score at 3-3 going into the bottom of the 7th. About the only negative on the season so far is his .125 BA with RISP.

Lawrie is not the problem as much as Cabrera and Frazier. You're talking about replacing 2 of the 4 best offensive players on the team, assuming Abreu returns to his power-hitting form and Eaton's the other. You're betting an awful lot of money on James Shields and Ryan Braun when you should be doing everything in your power to find players in their 26-30 age range to have an elongated contention window. How confident is anyone in guys like Braun, Cargo or Bruce lighting up the AL Central? If you're going to add someone, it's better to go "buy low" on Puig than pay at maximum possible price...that almost never works out favorably. And, as Balta noted...you're having to spend even more money on the rotation (on top of bad) if Shields is a flop, Gonzalez fades...which is incredibly expensive on the FA market. Burdi looks more like a reliever (although his LOU coach is convinced he has the array of pitches to start) and Hansen could become a diamond in the rough or never make it past AA. That would just leave us with zero depth, because Fulmer and Adams would definitely be going in that trade, there's no way around it.

Lucroy and Braun in one megatrade. http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/...ing3/ryan-braun 886 OPS this year, 60+ points over his average from 2013-2015. His strength is bashing lefties. The problem is he will be 33 when next season begins...and we all know over the last decade how many sluggers (let alone ones with PED's in their background) have just completely lost it in their mid 30's. You're buying Braun at a price where you're taking on his entire contract, whereas there have been times over the last 3 years where they would have dumped him and paid 25-40% of his salary, arguably. That's on top of the Shields commitment.

http://www.espnfc.com/european-championshi...aw-at-euro-2016 Russian fans getting more of the blame. From personal experience, I have seen some insane behavior out of Russian hockey fans in Moscow, Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg. Wouldn't wish a wave of those hooligans on my worst enemy. Granted, drinking is always involved...some blame has to go around to BOTH sides, but it's like comparing LeBron and Draymond, one is tyipcally the instigator.

The only reason for Melky bunting there is because of his lack of confidence hitting righty against LHP. But if you look at Frazier's contact rates...or Lawrie's, both have been abysmal lately. Of course, if that liner to LF drops in and two runs score, we're not belabouring the point so much about wasting an out, just had some bad luck hitting it right at Merrifield.

Posey's smaller in terms of overall size/build, a better all-around offensive and defensive player. Hard to make comparisons between one of the 2-3 best catchers in baseball over a 5 year period and someone who hasn't swung a wooden bat as a professional yet. Right now, Collins' game is 2/3rd's offense and 1/3rd defense, roughly. However, from everything Hostetler says, they plan on him sticking there as long as possible and won't contemplate a switch to 1B/DH/3B or corner of.

Saving his job, he might, especially with the argument the new pitchers in the fold will compensate from the anticipated losses of Fulmer and Adams in that deal. For the long-term future of the Sox and JR's perspective, no way he okays that deal. I think a lot of determinations on both Ventura and Hahn have to be made this season before they can figure out a plan for 2017 (all-in/rebuild) and beyond. Adding Shields, Braun and Lucroy would force all-in, and I'm not sure JR's ready to commit to that much extra money. Plus, you have the PED's issue with Braun. Lucroy makes sense, in that Collins could be ready in 2018 to replace him. Braun also makes sense, but ONLY if his performance this year is indicative of future performance and not an anomaly. Too risky, IMO.

This is one where the forces of God were against the Sox. Q only getting 1 or 0 run of support for like the sixth time in a row, something that hasn't happened in MLB for like a quarter century. Whatever he is now against KC lifetime, 1-7 or 1-8. Duffy coming in with the lowest ERA of any pitcher ALL-TIME at USCF, 1.55 (second is Cris Carpenter of TOR/STL). The bettors of the world made a ton of money on this one, because the Sox had to be the favorites (home game/KC losing streak and depleted line-up.) How did Anderson look this game? I was trying to listen but fell asleep after he popped the ball up to the OF and then struck out. Defensive chances? Tmrw's game has a lot riding on it. Rodon going against Ventura, two struggling pitchers with lots of hype and not much to show for it this year, at least yet.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 11, 2016 -> 01:34 PM) I thought Duffy was pitching Sunday. Did Royals pitch him today cause they knew he'd end the losing streak? Smart move. Q might have beaten whatever stiff they were going to pitch. It's possible anyway. We're 2-5 a lousy KC team this year Royals had five home runs in last nine games, lol. Yeah, yesterday was the first time in a week they scored more than 1. Chris Young was originally scheduled to pitch, but he was passed over...Ventura tmrw. Quintana had only surrendered two homers all year, two more today. Bad luck, as they should have been outs but they still count.

Duffy has the lowest opponent ERA at USCF, 1.5ish. Cris Carpenter of StL, second. Seems Cabrera was bunting on his own, but you don't want to put the bat in Frazier's hands right now, even though Melky doesn't hit that well as a RHB. Coats still doesn't have a hit. Avi with some bad baserunning. Clock is ticking. Quintana has something like only 0-1 run scored for him in 5 consecutive. That hasn't happened since 1993 in the majors. Two fly ball homers probably would have been outs 90% of the time if not for the weather conditions.

Hahn is 50% crazy just for mentioning May and Engel as possible options. No opposing GM would take that seriously. Not like mentioning them will give him more leverage, since they're not close to ready for the big leagues.

That goalkeeper really got deked...was going totally in the wrong direction, couldn't regain his balance in time. Hard to see behind the wall, guess he anticipated it going to the near post.

Probably doesn't want to inflict more pain on Avi's fragile psyche to bench him for a rookie (in terms of playing Coats in RF instead). That said, it's hard to imagine anyone much WORSE...if so, the list would be a short one. Maybe Ventura feels Eaton will be more comfortable playing with someone he's more familiar with.

Could there be someone with an actual Norberto Paco Martin or Esteban Beltre jersey out there? I would probably choose Melido Perez or Craig Grebeck.

That's the Astros' site, right? Hostetler said they would focus on players with unique or standout "plus tools" as well as "baseball players," so that means you should see improve in the overall quality of play in the minor league teams (with a focus on collegiate hitters), even if not all of those players are going to make it onto the prospect lists.

I think the NBA ends up having Green miss Game 5 just to make things interesting again...could be wrong. It's about entertainment, after all.

COATS (coming out of university) [plus athlete; very strong; special bat speed; decent to average speed; average arm; plus raw power; corner outfielder with good range; pitch recognition could make or break him; 6-2, 195 pounds] Half Glass Full: Pitch recognition and overall approach at plate improves to the point his plus power allows him blossom as an above-average everyday corner outfielder Half Glass Empty: Awesome power goes to waste as 4A slugger due to Jeff Francoeur-level plate discipline Jason Coats: Similar speed gives Coats similar range (to Courtney Hawkins), but having watched them both play and listening to some scouts, the routes and instincts are superior here. He looks like he's likely above average on the corners, and he can and does play a little center in a pinch. Call him 55 or 60 on this grade. Jason Coats: Coats doesn't have the arm strength Hawkins does, but it's close. And having watched him in outfield drills in Charlotte, he was putting on a show compared to his cohorts on throws to the plate, with good strength and striking accuracy. Again plenty of arm for any slot, he's at least a 50 here, and might be closer to 60. http://www.chicagonow.com/future-sox/2015/...nd-jason-coats/ So all indications are the Coats should be an above average LFer and at least an average RFer.

Young was on a pace for about 200 homers surrendered... Suicide to start him at USCF with the ball flying out like that. It's bad enough starting Ventura, between his mental frame of mind and the fact that his fastball's gone from a weapon to one of the most hittable pitches in the majors despite roughly being at the same speed as a year or two ago (maybe a drop of 1-1.5 MPH).

https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-hole-withi...-000000238.html Good column, The Black Hole Within Donald Trump. There's just no way any Republican with a conscience can help to elect this guy...they can still vote for down-ballot GOPers, but should pass on checking off Trump if they truly love their country.