caulfield12

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 09:49 AM) Some of the Mets pitching prospects to the Cubs for a SS makes too much sense in my opinion. I agree with an earlier poster about the pitching staff. They have Arrieta and Wood. If they got Wheeler for one of their SS and signed Masterson or Lester, they'd have a pretty decent rotation. They have like a $30 million payroll. I'm pretty sure they will spend a little next year. You have to include Edwin Jackson in that rotation. He's just not going to up and disappear. Lester has been good the last two seasons, but he was struggling there for a while 3-4 seasons ago before righting the ship. Masterson could just as easily be another Edwin Jackson. There are no guarantees with pitching, that's true. I think there are a lot of Cubs' fans not entirely convinced that Arrieta's an ace, but they're billing him as one for now, so we'll see how long that holds up. But I would tend to agree at least having all your pieces in place (Lester and Wheeler) makes a lot more sense than waiting and waiting and waiting for the right moment to strike and then it has already passed you by because half of your prospects have deteriorated in value or been exposed in the majors like Olt and Junior Lake.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 09:10 AM) ???? The PEAVY DEAL??? That's your formula for a Q deal? REALLY???? No. No. No. If you take back 4 spects/unproven MLB guys for Q they are all excellent. Read: they are all at Garcia's level or less than that but are still better prospects than Montas was, and none of them are anywhere near Rondon/Wendleken status, they're waaaaay above that. Nick Swisher brought in Gio and De Los Santos from us plus Sweeney, and DLS at that point was our most celebrated prospect. To move Q you need twice that return. No, it's not my formula, what I'm saying is that you're not going to get those 3-4 young prospects back for Quintana. You're going to get an offer of the Peavy deal, essentially, but not with Stroman/Norris as the headliner. As soon as those two names are off the table, then the deal dies quickly (in the hypothetical Jays example). Maybe AA is getting desperately/antsy to get back in the pennant race and sees this season getting away from him with the Angels and Mariners making charges...we don't know. We do know there's a lot of pressure on him to reach the playoffs, finally, but it's going to be through smaller moves (like Liriano/Myers/Youkilis) and not a blockbuster in-season involving his top two prospects.

The problem is, does anyone believe Phegley is the answer? If no, then there's no point in bringing up Kevan Smith. I think we're all agreed on that. So the options are very limited, other than playing Nieto more (not advisable) or bringing up Phegley. If the White Sox don't view Josh as being capable of holding down the position defensively or just in terms of his general make-up as a ballplayer, nobody's really being blocked. It's kind of the same situation as Adam Dunn right now. Unless they really want to give those at-bats to Saladino, Davidson, Sanchez, Semien, Sierra or Michael Taylor, there's no real reason to trade him, except for saving money to carry over for next season. Perhaps Micah Johnson, but that's more of a September call-up, and maybe they would rather he plays in the AFL instead of getting exposed by big league pitchers. Quite the quandary.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:55 AM) I disagree. Rodon could slide into the #3 slot long-term and Danks could be the #5, and a quality option at that. I still DO NOT see us long-term having a 4 lefty rotation. It'll be L-R-L-R-L. Of course our best lineup there would be Sale-R-Q/Rodon-R-Q/Rodon but IF you can get a big time haul for Q to where we feel we are getting a RHSP slot filled plus we're filling an OF hole or picking up that big lefty bat, or grabbing a true SS, etc. then that's something you have to consider. But we'd have to be very careful. Trading Q for anything will likely at least set our rotation back a year, but if we trade Q and we don't get also back a quantity or quality then we'll set ourselves back *and* will likely lose the deal on the scorecards as well when it is all said and done. But let's say there is a 3-way where we get back Gregorius from AZ plus a top-end starting pitching prospect and a slugging lefty 1B/DH/corner OF prospect who we think is up by midseason 2015, and we're also getting a couple high ceiling MiLB pieces in Low A ... it would be very tough to pass that thing up. I don't think our FO would. Too many moving pieces, and way too much risk for the GM's involved. The Peavy deal is a better example...where we got Garcia and Montas. I just don't see GM's of playoff-contending teams mortgaging their future. The Cardinals refused over and over again last season, same with the Pirates. Now the A's, that's a different story...but they wanted veteran starting pitching, and Q's not quite considered to be in that category as of yet.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:41 AM) Stroman looked terrific. That's the kind of return you'd need, Stroman+ 2 much smaller but still interesting pieces, but that's the kind of deal that probably has both GMs worrying too much to get a deal done. Q has a LOT of value, and he's already very good and lefthanded. Stroman does look really good though, and maybe you can see him as being just as good or even better. Tough to do that kind of deal. IMO a Q deal is like 5-for-1 or 6-for-2 where we send out something like Q and Petricka and get back a ton of really good prospects in the AA and below range and probably with a MLB piece or 2 thrown in of lesser quality. I think the Haren deal is a great comp for what we'd need out of Q. The Texeira deal with the Rangers is another great example but I don't like using that one because so many of those players turned out, it just makes it seem unrealistic. That was a lot of good luck there IMO, not exactly "Braves are stupid Rangers are geniuses" or anything. Trading Petricka now would be dumb because he's likely to be the next closer and his value would increase significantly (like Reed's did) if he could put together a couple of seasons of 30+ saves. He's not established enough yet as a major leaguer where a contending team would pay a premium, even as a set-up guy. When the playoffs come, managers are much more comfortable with vets.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:34 AM) It's more exciting to talk about a pitcher that would bring back an actual haul rather than a second basemen who is hitting .244/.298/.389. If Beckham's average was his OBP and his OBP his slugging, then he might have some real value. Dammit, reality!!!

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:31 AM) I'm sure Piazza is an upgrade behind the plate at this point, but I'm not about to bring him in. Also, if I felt the Sox were in contention for a Wild Card birth, and I was looking to upgrade at catcher (which affects the chemistry with pitchers), I'm going to shoot a little higher than John Buck. Buck wRC+ - 65 Flowers wRC+ - 62 There is no way you can logically or reasonably justify bringing in John Buck. I honestly believe, playing 4-5 days per week...that he would put up better numbers and provide more leadership than Flowers does. But maybe that's just me. Yes, it's a SAD state of affairs in terms of catching all around baseball. With Wieters down, Zunino in Seattle and Sal Perez are the only impressive guys out there in the AL. But I don't think an upgrade's out there that won't cost you SOMETHING decent you don't want to give up in return.

QUOTE (striker @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:04 AM) I disagree. I think you could get Sanchez and one of Stroman/Norris for Quintana. Quintana is better than Samardzjia, is 25 vs. 29 and is controlled through 2018. Sox might have to throw in a low level pitching prospect to go back but I think the Jays make that move. If I'm Hahn I wouldn't do it. You know what you are going to get from Quintana and Stroman and Norris are still question marks. The White Sox don't need more un-projectionable players when they have a great duo in Abreu and Sale to build around. Harrelson's already said Stroman is the best young RH pitcher (best stuff, etc.) he's seen this season. Those quotes would be used against Hahn, haha.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:20 AM) However, the number of people owning guns has dropped dramatically as well. Fewer people are owning guns but more people are stockpiling them. I blame it on the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club.

Well, there's only ONE way to justify it. If you thought the White Sox had ANY chance of competing for a Wild Card spot this season and didn't want to give up any talent to try something different, and just because you're JR and tired of seeing Flowers hit .100 and strike out at a historic, Dunn-ish rate.

If you go back to some of the names bandied about: S.Smith has signed an extension Victor Martinez will be an overpay based on his age and production this season LaRoche with the Nationals, the same Adam Lind...meh Kendrys Morales...that's a possibility, but he's not a 30-35 homer guy by any stretch of the imagination Colby Rasmus...you're going to get the second coming of JD Drew/Alex Rios, all potential/talent but inconsistent production Cuddyer is injured Kubel is falling off the face of the earth Zobrist and Gerardo Parra are two of what are just a few interesting names on the trade market, at least to me. The Twins aren't going to just send us Josh Willingham, although he fits the profile (unfortunately RHed). I kind of doubt we're going to bring back Carlos Quentin.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 08:00 AM) No history of 80 years of leaded gasoline. There is, on the other hand, a MUCH higher suicide rate here, and in fellow Asian countries like Japan, South Korea and even Singapore.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 07:55 AM) Depends if you have thump elsewhere but generally you want at least one of your OF'ers to be a middle of the order guy if possible. With Avasail I would take another Eaton out there in a heartbeat. I know you love Garcia, but I'm going to have to see a lot more than one hot series in Colorado to think he's a legit 3-6 hitter next season with the White Sox. He might be forced into that role, but the jury's still out whether he will be able to produce power numbers to belong there and protect Abreu from being walked 125 times. And we don't have thump elsewhere. We have catcher, Conor, the possibility of even less power from SS and 2B (with Ramirez and Beckham trades or Alexei simply reverting to his offensive form of the last 2-3 seasons), and the probability of less or equal power from DH.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 07:51 AM) I'd take zero HRs out of the entire OF if every player hustled and played the field like Eaton. I'd certainly like to see Eaton use his legs a lot more, but 3 Eatons and a ton of speed on the basepaths, a slap-it-down-the-line approach with men on, and a f***truck load of run prevention will work for me. Seriously, ideally I'd like to have lots of BA OBP and SLG and speed and so on out of every single position on the diamond but Dayan Viciedo is as much of an OF as I am a Ukranian figure skater. You have to be able to play the position first. For me Tank is a DH if he stays here, but it looks like Hahn doesn't have him in his plans. But that's fine, if you trade Tank for a SP or something then great, you can sign a DH as a FA. But no matter what Tank shouldn't be in the OF. Based on what?, the fact that he was listening to offers...that Dayan is intriguing to other MLB teams isn't necessarily indicative that he's about to be traded. The fact that only Abreu, Eaton, Sale and Quintana (and one would assume Avisail) are his will not trade list? Have you actually looked at the free agency market for DH's? If it was so easy to find outfield/DH bats, then the Red Sox, with money pouring in, wouldn't be in the desperate situation they are right now. They wouldn't be gambling like Lilian on a Grady Sizemore career renaissance against all odds. There wouldn't be five AL playoff contending teams with DH numbers below or close to a .700 OPS. The best outfield bats right now are probably going to be Melky Cabrera and Colby Rasmus...do you want to give those guys $40-80 million to replace Viciedo's $5 million? Is that even going to be a clear upgrade...and are those players going to lead you to the playoffs in 2016/17/18? Maybe, but probably not.

Tyler Flowers won't make it to age 34 in the big leagues. Well...we had our chances to go after guys like Suzuki and Ruiz in FA and we passed. And yet there's still not solution in sight. It's clearly not Josh Phegley (and take all those offensive numbers in Charlotte with a huge grain of salt), and reports are that Kevan Smith is raw defensively (still) as well. So time to get creative, Rick Hahn.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 07:45 AM) Thank you for this history lesson, I did not know this. I think a lot about Hawk is vastly overstated, mainly when people question his knowledge of the game. The guy, as Stone says, knows the game backwards and forwards. Maybe he wasn't cut out to be a GM but neither are any of us fans. And also I'm not sure about that era but I am guessing that back then getting good video on someone was probably next to impossible given the technology and it would have been a s***load more difficult to gather current, quality scouting observations and then access all of that information when necessary. Back then I imagine being a GM was a lot more of a "he said/she said" sort of thing than the pseudoscience it has become today. You trusted your scouts and network of close advisors. They were like gold.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 05:59 AM) What can you trade for that puts your rebuilding in a better position without Quintana? Two top 10 prospects? I think I'd still prefer the 25-year old proven starting pitcher with the team friendly contract until 2020. They're not going to give you Stroman and Daniel Norris. In all likelihood, you're not even going to get one of those guys. You might get Sanchez, but how does that help the White Sox, exactly? The Blue Jays weren't willing to give up EITHER Stroman or Norris straight up for Samardzijia, let alone both of them.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 07:37 AM) Also kudos to Dayan, keep bumping up that trade value. Mariners were watching right? They should have been. Watching and dreaming all over him. And slobbering. The Padres extended Seth Smith yesterday. Options are dwindling for LF, especially a LH-hitting LFer. Do you want to be like the Red Sox and have 12 home runs combined out of your outfield on July 8th, 2015? If Bradley Jr. is the equivalent of Adam Eaton, then Nava/Holt/Sizemore/Victorino/Gomes is a fair approximation of what we'll have next season.

The confusion isn't about the White Sox. It's more to do with the up-and-down nature of the Red Sox over the last three seasons. Maybe that Carroll actually won another game as a starter, but it's pretty clear from the body language and lack of hustle/fire (except for Pedroia) that they're going through the motions right now. Bradley Jr. has been playing really hard too, hitting finally and 10 outfield assists, from CF of all places. As far as the Red Sox go, all you need to know is their outfielders have 12 homers on the entire season, COMBINED. Viciedo, who lots of people want to trade now, is at 11. In fact, Gordon Edes is the one who started the Viciedo to Boston rumors....over names like Workman and Dubront...because of how little offense they're getting from their corners, and the fact that LF would give Viciedo a lot less territory to cover in Boston, and he would have more opportunities to take advantage of Green Monster singles to throw runners out at 2B. It's logical enough for Viciedo to be a fit in Boston. Just hoping he wouldn't go all David Ortiz Jr. after arriving there, like Big Papi when he left the Metrodome.

Yet another reason for the Cubs not to assume smooth sailing with all their prospects... What would have been the odds a month ago that prized rookie Xander Bogaerts could walk onto Yawkey Way within a half hour after a game was over and not be mobbed by autograph seekers? But there was Bogaerts, accompanied by a friend, looking like just another college kid with a back pack, blending into the crowd and walking down the street unbothered. That comes with the territory, apparently, when you’re batting just .107 (11-for-103) since June 4. Before he left the park, Bogaerts was a postgame visitor in Farrell’s office, but contrary to what you might think, there was no demotion in the offing. Farrell made that clear before the game. “The one thing we have to do is be consistent with him, and he feels and senses the positive view of him,” Farrell said. “This is a long-term player for us and we’re not going to abandon someone because there are some growing pains along the way.” Bogaerts had a couple of hits in Sunday’s 7-6 loss, the Monster taking a home run away from him and converting it into a single, but he was 0-for-3 Monday. www.bostonglobe.com/sports (Edes)

Or Doubront for the bullpen. Good luck getting anything but salary relief for Peavy with his numbers this year.

and they don't feel comfortable with Phegley as the #1. Mariners Designate John Buck For AssignmentBy Steve Adams [July 8, 2014 at 12:04am CDT]The Mariners have designated veteran catcher John Buck for assignment, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). He notes in a followup tweet that it seems likely the Mariners will recall Jesus Sucre from Triple-A Tacoma. Buck, who turned 34 years old Monday, inked a one-year, $1MM contract with the Mariners to serve as the backup to young catcher Mike Zunino. He’s struggled to get on base and hit for average in recent years, but he’d shown good pop until this season with Seattle. In 27 games (92 plate appearances), Buck was hitting just .226/.293/.286 with one home run. Divish notes that the move likely won’t go over well in the Mariners’ locker room, as Buck was popular among his teammates. He adds, however, that there had been growing concern from the Mariners’ decision-makers over Buck’s receiving and blocking skills with the staff — particularly the team’s harder-throwing pitchers. Indeed, Buck grades out poorly in terms of pitch-framing metrics (per StatCorner.com’s Matthew Carruth and per Baseball Prospectus), although that’s hardly a new trend. Buck had one passed ball on the season and had been behind the dish for 11 wild pitches in just 164 innings, so the Mariners likely felt that some of those could have been blocked. A veteran of 11 Major League seasons between the Royals, Blue Jays, Marlins, Mets, Pirates and Mariners, Buck is a lifetime .234/.301/.398 hitter.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/americans-ar...-190304928.html Dedicated to Greg775 and the denizens of Lawrence (KS) Applebee's family restaurants.

As Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle explained in late June, Aiken would become a free agent if he failed his physical and the Astros did not make an offer of at least 40 percent of his slot value (roughly $3.17MM). Clearly, based on Heyman’s report, Houston is still comfortable enough with Aiken’s elbow that this scenario is unlikely. However, the Astros would also lose the value of Aiken’s slot from their bonus pool should he elect not to sign, which would be problematic. The Astros were set to save about $1.4MM on Aiken’s original $6.5MM bonus, and a great deal of those savings were reserved for the $1.5MM bonus they’ve agreed to with fifth-rounder Jacob Nix – a bonus that is $1.13MM over slot. It is in Houston’s best interest to get some form of deal worked out, as losing Aiken’s slot would drop Houston’s overall pool to roughly $5.44MM, leaving them unable to officially sign Nix at that figure without incurring penalties in future drafts (the maximum penalty, which is enforced if a team exceeds its draft pool by more than 15 percent, is the forfeiture of a team’s next two first-round picks and a 100 percent luxury tax on the overage). Also, reports from the Chronicle's Drellich that Flores (Aiken's personal trainer) says Brady is "absolutely healthy." Interesting to see how this one ends up. Maybe Aiken's camp is going to ask for some kind of addendum where if he doesn't go down to TJ surgery within 6-10 years they will have to pay back the $1.5 million they're subtracting for the physical results.

Maybe there's TOO many religious movies? 1. Grander than the Grand Budapest. Thought “The Grand Budapest Hotel” was the biggest indie movie of the year? While no slouch at $58 million, it was actually beaten out by a couple of movies you may have never heard of: faith-based dramas “Son of God” ($59 million) and “God's Not Dead” ($60 million), as well as animated comedy “The Nut Job” ($64 million). TriStar Pictures 2. Believing in God trumps believing in ghosts. Faith-based dramas far outgrossed horror movies in 2014 thus far, with “Heaven is For Real” leading the pack with $90 million and “Son of God” and “God's Not Dead” both near the $60 million range. The highest grossing horror movie of the year? “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” which has only made $32 million.