caulfield12

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 07:29 AM) Well it's 0 for 1 since the new system went in, so there's that. And they have had 4 legitimately good teams in the last 8 years, and 5 in the last 9. The pitching broke down in the second half of 2006, they made it in 2008 (against all odds), they won 88 games in 2010 and missed by like 4 games thanks in large part to petty differences between the GM and the manager, and the entire team broke down due to fatigue and mild injuries the last two weeks of the season last year. Acting as if this team has been garbage over the last 8 years is absolutely wrong and you know it. Now, acting as if this team is good is also wrong. Father time appears to have finally met Konerko, the shortstop's once dwindling power has finally become non-existent, third base has nothing but mediocrity or worse set up, they've been running with a catcher who can't hit a fastball without cheating, the young left field prospect has been a colossal disaster, the centerfielder who got on base last year is, for whatever reason, trying to hit home runs now and striking out like crazy. Add on to it injuries and an older team in general with no real good answers on the way, and yes, it is time to rebuild. To what extent I think only the front office and Hahn know, but it's absolutely time. You're going to judge Viciedo that harshly based on 2 months of 2013? C'mon, you're better than that. His OPS is 670 now, that's still quite bad, but he's also two good weeks away from being in the same range he was last year. Now, of course, we expected him to get all the way up to the 800 OPS number, and that might not be in the cards, but watching him hit last night, you just can't give up on someone like that at age 24, especially considering how long other more highly rated prospects have taken to come around (in ages 26-28). And, even though Beckham's hitting well this year, it's not like he's is tearing it up with XB hits. Now, sure, we don't want the 15 homer, 50-55 RBI, 625-650 OPS Beckham back either, but it's way too early to likewise count Gordon has a lock for the 2014 team.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 09:02 AM) Hector might be one of those Cooper pitchers who gets better as his K/9 totals fall. He wastes a lot of pitches right now, and it makes him a 5 inning pitcher. He has got to figure out how to go 7 innings instead of 5, if he wants to be an effective starter. It doesn't help your team much if you have to burn up your middle and long relief to balance out his starts. In fact by using your worst reliever on a regular basis, it might be a net detriment to the team, no matter how good his five innings are. His average is 5.6, including all starts. That said, Quintana has ALSO had some of the same issues with stamina, pitching into the late innings (more this year than last). Santiago was throwing 93-94-95 still after nearly 120 pitches in one of his recent outings. If we fix our bullpen in the offseason, we can get by with Santiago, as long as he can consistently give a max effort for 6 or more innings. But yeah, going to the pen in the 6th extends it too much with how shoddy the back of our pen is, let alone the 7th and 8th. 5.1 7 5.2 3.1 6 6.1 5.1 8 2.1 7 5.1 So 6 starts out of 11 with 6+ innings pitched. It's definitely an area he should improve on in time, and I'm pretty sure at least two of his starts in September last year also went 7+.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 10:27 AM) Article said Zapata isn't ranked Then I doubly-disagree. Our system is so horrid right now, he has to be in the Top 25, based on sheer talent, potential, age and his signing bonus, along with all the plaudits from Bell, Hahn and Paddy.

The most interesting discussion would be Wong vs. Garcia. Frankly, I'd go with Garcia because he has more upside...and we theoretically will need to replace DeAza and Rios in the next two weeks, if not the offseason. I have no great hope that Carlos Sanchez is going to be a starter someday, but I'd rather wait more on him...and find an outfielder under cost control who would fit more appropriately with our rebuilding efforts. Now if you package Crain and Alexei together, you can improve your return, but still no Castellanos unless Illitch is REALLY desperate. If Peralta's only suspended 50 games, then they'll get him back in September and I'm guessing that he would also be included on the playoff roster (not how that works with suspended players and their status on Sept. 1, might need to be negotiated with the player's assocation)...so that would make them not quite AS desperate to trade for Alexei. They could get by with Santiago, unless the Indians really start putting the pressure on them and/or Verlander goes on the DL.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 08:37 AM) So the top 10 is the following in some order: Erik Johnson Courtney Hawkins Trayce Thompson Tim Anderson Carlos Sanchez Josh Phegley Keon Barnum Chris Beck Daniel Webb Tyler Danish That means Micker Zapata's in the Top 10 as well. Don't like seeing two relievers in the top group, but hopefully Danish can remain as a starter...although short relief would be the fastest route to the big leagues, it wouldn't help him develop his full repertoire of pitches. And we can assume Jared Mitchell is completely out of the Top 25. Not sure I agree with that, either.

Who has seen NOW YOU SEE ME? Worth checking out?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 07:34 AM) ugh Babel was so awful But the Japanese segment of that movie was so quirky and wonderfully acted.

QUOTE (mike65 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 07:21 AM) Cardinals fan here. I have enjoyed reading this thread and learning of all your insights into a potential Ramirez trade to the Cardinals. I suspect that the Cardinals have interest in Ramirez but I am unsure if the Cardinals GM (Mozeliak) will pay the pereived price. One question that I have for you is whether the White Sox would have to get a SS in return from any trade of Ramirez? If the answer is yes, then the Cardinals two choices would be Kozma or Jackson (Ryan)/AAA Memphis. I am not a GM but would this cause Hahn to pull the trigger: Wong Kozma or Jackson one additional prospect (probably on the pitching side) Just the name RYAN in any post about a future SS is scary, whether it's a first or last name. The Sox would want nothing to do with Kozma, simply because they have to be looking for players across the board who could put up league average or better OPS numbers. And that's not Kozma in the AL in a million years. No doubt, they're not going to want to part with Freese, Adams or even Wong. They'll let Beltran go and stick Tavares or Taveras or whatever his name is out in CF. I'm not sure the White Sox would want Jay back in return, either, and the Cardinals probably want to keep him, as he's a better fit as a 4th guy on a playoff team than as a starter on a rebuilding team like the White Sox.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 07:01 AM) But I thought the game "matters" and it's about winning, not marketing. That's why Leyland took Zobrist over Longoria, more flexibility.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 06:57 AM) Magic number down to 88 It will be even a bigger miracle if Axelrod wins tonight.

Terrible. Plus the interviewer, while knowledgeable, sounded like he came from the set of Deliverance or The Cabin in the Woods.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jul 10, 2013 -> 06:28 AM) I was advocating the White Sox basically just cut him back in early May. But I gotta admit, he's been a joy to watch the past month or so. He's been playing as a borderline all-star as of late Dunn is now 58th highest OPS in MLB for the moment. Rios at 68th, 10th out of 20 qualified RFer's. RF, interestingly, has stronger numbers than LF, especially the bottom quintile.

Pacific Rim has two of the best performers most people have never heard of (until now)...and not really featured prominently in the trailer. Jax Teller (Sons of Anarchy)/Charlie Hunman and the Japanese actress who stole BABEL away from Brad Pitt and got an Academy Award nomination in the process. Picture predicted to be a massive failure in the line of Lone Range/John Carter/Battleship...despite the great reviews. (I actually think word of mouth will prevail and it will make back its money, especially in Asian markets, but the lack of a bookable headline star with such an expensive movie hasn't been seen since Sam Worthington in Avatar) http://variety.com/2013/film/box-office/pa...ing-1200560676/

By Bill Plaschke July 9, 2013, 11:13 p.m. The most important member of the Dodgers' lineup doesn't wear a uniform, doesn't have a contract, and is not even allowed in the dugout during games. The most important member of the Dodgers' lineup doesn't pitch, or catch, or even remotely attempt to hit. Tim Bravo watches. This is important, because he is watching Yasiel Puig. The 51-year-old schoolteacher watches the 22-year-old phenom from his morning steak-and-eggs breakfast to his midnight walks with his two English bulldogs. Bravo lives with Puig, drives with him, hangs out with him in the clubhouse before games, then watches him play from darkened tunnels next to the dugout. Bravo is there to make sure Puig doesn't drive too fast, or party too hard, or forget how to use his ATM card to withdraw some of his new major league millions. He is there to protect Puig from nutty autograph seekers, aggressive groupies and anyone else wanting to take advantage of an unsettled Cuban refugee who lives as hard as he swings. Bravo originally signed up to be his English tutor, but he has become his life tutor, this compact man with a shiny bald head and dark goatee becoming so vital to Puig's comfort and safety that the outfielder refers to him not by his name, but his job. "Teacher!" he shouts to Bravo in English when he needs him. "Teacher!" Bravo is the keeper of the flame, the curator of the masterpiece, the guy in charge of harnessing the most exciting — and combustible — player in baseball. And right now, he might be the only person in Los Angeles who isn't doing cartwheels over Puig's potential appearance in next week's All-Star game. "The All-Star game is on my wedding anniversary," Bravo said with a sigh Tuesday at Chase Field before the Dodgers' 6-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks."But if Puig goes, I go." By taking on Puig's life, Bravo has given up much of his own. He is a special education teacher at Las Cruces (N.M.) High. He has six children and six grandchildren. His 7-year-old son, Zechariah, is recovering from a rare form of cancer that was discovered under an eyelid. Bravo will leave the Dodgers for a week after the All-Star break to accompany Zechariah on a Make-a-Wish trip to Disney World. It will be his longest absence from the team since he joined Puig at double-A Chattanooga this season. The Dodgers will be holding their breaths. When it comes to anything involving the mercurial Puig, they hold their breaths, but Bravo is the one part of the kid's game that cannot disappear. "Every day I thank Yasiel for taking me on this great ride, but I'm a daddy first," Bravo said. How important is Bravo's success as a father figure so far? When he is gone next week, the Dodgers will replace him with the first guy who tried to do the job. The interim caretaker will be Eddie Oropesa, a former big league pitcher who was chronicled in this column during spring training. Oropesa, however, barely lasted a month with Puig, as he became frustrated with the stubborn and hard-living kid before taking a break to tend to personal business. "It's been obviously a fast rise. Yasiel comes from a different place, a different culture, a totally different environment. There's adapting that needs to take place in a lot of different areas, including off the field," acknowledged Ned Colletti, Dodgers general manager. "We think we've got a good support group around him. Bravo is a teacher, and that's what he does, he teaches." The schooling is endless, particularly during home games. Bravo sleeps in one of the three bedrooms in Puig's downtown apartment, and his day starts when Puig knocks on his door at midmorning. "Teacher!" he yells. "Breakfast!" From there, they are together the rest of the morning and early afternoon, running errands and doing the mounds of paperwork that come with being a new resident in a strange land.

Jen-Ho Tseng, Cubs Close To Deal By Charlie Wilmoth [July 9 at 11:34pm CST] The Cubs are close to a deal with Taiwanese pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng, MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reports. Sanchez expects that Tseng's bonus will cost the Cubs a little over $1.5MM. Sanchez had tweeted on Monday that the Cubs had emerged as the favorite to sign Tseng. Sanchez ranked Tseng the No. 29 international prospect. The 18-year-old Tseng has a fastball that reaches 95 MPH, along with a curve and slider. He was the youngest player on Chinese Taipei's WBC roster. The Cubs have already signed Gleyber Torres for $1.7MM, Jefferson Mejia for $850K, Erling Moreno for $650K and Johan Matos for $270K, and they have an agreement with top outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez for $2.8MM. That means they will have exceeded their $5.52MM international bonus pool even before the Tseng signing. The Cubs can still trade for the right to spend more bonus pool money, but Sanchez notes that they can only do so up to a 50 percent increase over their original $4.56MM pool. If they traded up to the maximum amount, that would leave them with a bonus pool of $6.84MM. Assuming Tseng signs for an even $1.5MM and that the Jimenez deal is completed, the Cubs will spend $7.7MM just on Jimenez, Torres, Tseng, Mejia, Moreno and Matos. If the Cubs exceed their pool by 10 to 15%, they cannot sign an international prospect for more than $500K during the 2014-15 signing period. If they exceed it by more than 15%, they cannot sign a player for more than $250K. In either case, they would have to pay a 100% tax on this year's overage. It now appears very likely that the Cubs will exceed their 2013-14 bonus pool by more than 15%, which may be a plan they developed on the fly -- they recently traded for more pool space in the Scott Feldman and Ronald Torreyes deals, and it's hard to see why they would have done that if they planned on paying the stiffest penalty for exceeding their pool. MLBTR's Steve Adams wrote last week about the Cubs' international bonus situation.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 10:39 PM) Sanchez steals bases, plays SS and 2B and has gotten better every month so far in AAA. I'm still fairly bullish on him at this point. Still think he has a good chance of realizing his potential as a MI who hits 300+ and steals some bases while playing good D. The problem is that even hitting .300 his OPS might only be 640-660. You're going to have to get similar defense to Gordon Beckham the last couple of years to justify him taking a place in the line-up when there are so many offensive issues (with the exception of last night, of course).

K/9 Ratio (as a starter) 1. Yu Darvish, 11.84 2. Max Scherzer, 10.63 3. Matt Harvey, 10.18 4. Hector Santiago, 9.78 5. Chris Sale, 9.77 6. AJ Burnett 7. Shelby Miller 8. Tim Lincecum 9. King Felix 10. Matt Latos 11. Samardzija 12. Verlander 13. J. Masterson 14. S. Strasburg 15. Jose Fernandez 16. Lance Lynn 17. Bumgarner 18. M. Moore 19. Homer Bailey 20. Gio Gonzalez 21. Ubaldo Jimenez

QUOTE (jthunder93 @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 08:06 PM) I don't see the Tigers moving Al Al, as he's a bullpen arm. Who had to be sent down to the minors because of control issues. That said, his ERA's still in the mid 3's and BAA is .182. So yeah, they're not just going to give him away.

We should try to get Alburquerque AND Garcia/Dirks for Crain and Thornton (Coke has been spotty too, with Smyly probably their best overall performer behind Scherzer and Sanchez)...

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 08:00 PM) Phegley sucks. 3/14 we want Flowers!!! But what's his OPS? Viciedo is alive again, Rios is alive again for a trade and Quintana is proving something AGAIN vs. a very formidable Tigers' line-up.

Both of those homers were off fastballs. Verlander's still not right. The Tigers announcers claimed that he was comfortably throwing for most of his last start in the mid 90's, but he was mostly 91 and 92 except for when he was facing Adam Dunn and he put up 94 and 96. Even saw a couple of FB's come in at 89. Scherzer has definitely passed him for now. If Verlander's not 100%, the Tigers become a bit vulnerable to the Indians and Royals.

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 07:27 PM) I think heard somebody say (maybe Buddy Bell) that he needs to put more movement on his pitches. Maybe they're working with him on that. Didn't they try this same philosophy with Nick Masset to mixed (at best) results?

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 07:25 PM) Webb continues to struggle in AAA That was expected if he hasn't mastered his secondary pitches and he's getting behind in counts with the fairly straight fastball..no matter how hard he throws.

PACIFIC RIM poised to be the breakout hit of the 2nd half of summer movie-going season. 33 positive reviews, only 7 negs, amazing for a big budget summer popcorn flick. Guillermo Del Toro's "Pacific Rim" is as clear and celebratory an expression of what film at its most creative, earnest, and exuberant can achieve as any in recent memory, and one of the very best films of 2013.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 9, 2013 -> 06:51 PM) Nice game for Tim Anderson tonight. That Bristol offense is awful. Anderson's been really hot but his OBP is 30 points higher than his SLG percentage. That said, the offensive results, overall, have been quite encouraging considering the aggressive placement.