caulfield12

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 04:34 PM) I'm going to try and stay positive and suggest that who knows, maybe this will keep the team in the top 10 draft pick when the season ends. I just feel bad for Flowers but especially Jose Quintana. He pitched his heart out and didn't deserve that terrible fate of 4 earned runs after entering the inning with a shutout. It seems he just completely comes undone this year whenever something bad happens in an inning, whether it's an error but also as things unfolded today...you just KNEW that big hit was coming as soon as you saw Belisario entering the game. Hopefully this play, the one in the Reds/Marlins game....and the earlier one where a forceout was accidentally reversed because the catcher was blocking the plate even without a tag play being on.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/redsblog/2...rlins/13448865/ Everyone should read this story....after the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton threw out a runner by 15 feet but it was overturned just like the play today. Lots of good comments from Mike Redmond, coaches, players, etc. Completely agree. Make sure to watch the embedded video. That was even worse than the Flowers call today IMO.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 04:28 PM) Umpires don't write the rule book. The problem is that there are going to be 30-50 different interpretations of the same rule...it's way way too subjective, as the Posey play illustrates. What will they do next? Make a circle around the plate area and force the catcher to wait outside of it for a throw to be delivered to home from the outfield or infield? Or just make EVERY play at home a force out/tap the plate play where there is never going to be any tag or contact at all?

Why don't they just do like high schools which have the policy that you must slide into home plate and not try to take out the catcher or jar the ball loose unless you can clearly score standing up without a play?

Guess that MLB wanted to keep the NL West interesting. Harrelson's 100% correct. They might as well have the catchers wear skirts, stockings and garter belts. Catchers should simply catch the ball, back up behind the plate and let every run score. Ty Cobb would be turning over in his grave. As far as Rick Hahn goes, he's done one good thing in the last year or so, and that's Jose Abreu. (I'm not even going to give him credit for Rodon, because the Astros are 50% responsible for bungling that one). Other than Jose, there would be a tremendous amount of pressure on him to keep his job for 2015. Adam Eaton is injury prone (he will have missed about 25% of the games this season by the time he returns), and the jury's still out on Avisail Garcia (whether he can hit, play the field or keep from getting hurt). Matt Davidson has been a complete disaster. You can add that to Jeff Keppinger, Scott Downs, Paulino and Ronald Belisario. If Hahn had any cojones, he would DFA Belisario and admit that signing has been a debacle as well before the bullpen returns home to be murdered by the Blue Jays and Orioles power hitters. Poor Jose. http://www.foxsports.com/florida/story/ray...ion-rule-022414 Another viewpoint on the "obstructing" home plate rule from Joe Maddon...hadn't thought about that side of things http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11129670...ons-controversy How the rule was misinterpreted on a force play where the runner was STILL called safe when he was clearly out but the catcher was "blocking the plate"...this rule doesn't even seem clear to the review panels

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) But Dunn's not terrible at hitting right handed pitching (see HR last night) and Viciedo is He's not Gordon Beckham bad, and he was doing great in this statistic about 2 or 2 1/2 months ago, but right now he's only at .669 OPS-wise against righties.

Well, and it was mentioned after that first series in COL, that hitting three homers right off the bat like that could have been the worst things that happened both for Baez but also fan expectations.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 09:03 AM) This narrative is already getting old: http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/america-i...ople-1620169913 I would say it's equally old considering it's almost 150 years since the Civil War and things like this are still happening in America...when I was teaching in Colombia, my students were constantly asking me why the U.S. government was treating all the people in New Orleans so poorly after Hurricane Katrina, and I didn't have a good response for them. I suggest reading ZEITOUN by Dave Eggers and asking you after you've finished if you still feel the same way about how the government and police have acted at different times in our country's history. It's not always something to be proud of...and trying to banish the media seems to be 100% CYA time.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 11:29 AM) Alcantara down to .679 now and this is coming off a game of 2/3 with a double. Baez down to .784 and dropping fast. Amazingly, he has no walks in 37 at-bats. He's going to give 2010 Dayan Viciedo a run for his money in the walk category. Also, no homers yet outside Coors. I think some Cubs' fans are starting to come to the realization that IF these guys turn out to be studs, it's still a few years down the line. I think most Cubs' fans thought as soon as they brought these guys up, they were going to have an immediate impact and top 5 offense in baseball as a result but never underestimate the growing pains that come with the jump from the minors to the majors, especially when expectations are enormous (unless you're mike trout, who is the very exception to every rule) The real panic would start if Bryant struggles at all in 2015. Anything less than a 900ish OPS is going to be a huge disappointment, and that's going to be extremely difficult to live up to, right away...as a rookie. Basically, the weight of a half decade of pent up hopes and frustrations on his shoulders. If the Cubs are lucky, Soler can "sneak" up and start performing well a bit under the radar, with more of the focus on Baez for now.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 11:45 AM) For the record, you bring him up all the time as an acquisition target But more to demonstrate there's almost nothing desirable that's going to be out there on the free agent market...certainly not in our price range.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 12:16 PM) Top of the list, is that anyone who expects the Sox to spend $100 million on a starting pitcher is delusional. All the John Danks experience has done is probably strengthen the resolve that long terms deals for SPs are not a brilliant idea. Maybe they hit on a guy who is down, that the teams thinks can be fixed, but they aren't going to spend top dollar in the free agent market for a pitcher. And of course when the Cubs eventually/finally do sign an ace (probably Lester) and the White Sox don't, there will be the usual penny-pinching stories in the media, despite our payrolls from 2006-2013 being evidence to the contrary.

Seems they're really shopping Dunn hard right now. No Viciedo two days in a row. Certainly part of it's the fact that Danks HAS to play CF out there in SF, DeAza would be a disaster with that much ground to cover.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) I believe there are some restrictions. If you send a guy down, I do not believe you are allowed to immediately call him back up unless there is an injury that occurs. I think Danks can technically only be called up another 5 or 6 times this year. Doesn't have have to wait at least 10 days before he can be recalled again when he's sent down? Maybe I'm imagining things.

For the record, I want no part of Colby Rasmus. I do find it interesting how many are interested in signing Victor Martinez at his age, when he's just as likely to go south right when the White Sox most need him to be competitive in 2016 and 2017.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-...-153055373.html Well, Ward's father obviously isn't content with the explanations that are out there...obviously, he's going to be emotional too, the funeral is today or tomorrow, right? Some pretty direct accusations made at Stewart. This isn't going away anytime soon.

Then I'm going to go by "past demonstrated ability to succeed" in the majors and try to sign Colby Rasmus over trotting out the likes of Taylor, Danks, Wilkins, Willingham, Sierra, Tuiasasopo, etc. Taylor's already 29. There are reasons (just like Joe Borchard, for example) he was never given an extended look in the outfield, despite his obvious potential/ability at one time. We could just as easily argue that Jared Mitchell should be given that opportunity...since it seems whatever statistics are being put up in Charlotte have almost zero grounding in reality with what we're actually going to see in terms of major league performance. It's for this reason alone they're more likely to stay with Viciedo for 2015. Sure it would be nice to say, I'll take Melky Cabrera for LF, Russell Martin for C, James Shields for the #2 starter, Andrew Miller or Gregerson for LHR, Uehara/Robertson/K-Rod/Soriano/Janssen as a closer...but I will be believe it when I see it actually transpire.

So he's 0 for his last 13? He was 13 for 25, I think...hmmmm.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 08:22 AM) The White Sox are not going to spend a lot of money on their pen at this stage. The might sign a set up guy, but it will be mostly reclaimation projects and internal promotions. With the Tigers being vulnerable finally, I think they have to give some serious consideration to making a more than half-hearted attempt to compete in 2015. If nothing else, take away Butler from the Royals or Victor Martinez from the Tigers. For example, if Matt Lindstrom's projected to be the closer again next season...forget selling any season tickets. I'm with the crowd who says you can't keep wasting years of Sale and Abreu in their prime. That doesn't mean sign Scherzer, Lester, Shields, Hanley Ramirez or Sandoval...but they can definitely compete in 2015 if Hahn makes the right moves and all of the core pieces (Sale/Quintana/Eaton/Garcia/Abreu) can stay healthy.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 08:23 AM) It will be really interesting to see who gets moved. Jordan Danks is the last guy on the roster, but then either De Aza or Garcia is your CF. When can Eaton come off the DL?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 08:04 AM) I do not think that is a better idea, I think it is equally bad. I would not give up Viciedo for Morneau. Next year, he will be a 34 year old 1B coming off his first good season in 4 years with 1 year remaining on his contract. What future value is there in that contract? If you think Viciedo's done as a prospect, and we're not going to compete until 2016...then it carries the same amount of logic as signing Lindstrom for next year. Even as a huge Dayan fan since 2008, I think the odds are 5-10X greater that Morneau would help this team (just from being left-handed) and line-up a lot more. I also thinks the odds are higher he could put up monster numbers at USCF and bring back a good trade return if the Sox still aren't competing for the division. Finally, some are advocating signing Adam Dunn for $5-7 million next year. Isn't he basically the same exact age as Morneau? Those same people want to sign Dunn for 2-3 years, or just one? Besides, everyone keeps saying the Viciedo has a negative WAR, can't play the outfield and can't be a DH with a 700ish OPS. Which is the higher probability of success, Morneau slugging 800+ or Dayan when his average for 3+ years is 746? Finally, 75% of the board doesn't even want him on the roster for next year, so controlling his arbitration rights through 2017 isn't a HUGE advantage if he doesn't produce any more than Beckham or DeAza statistically. Finally, there's a MUTUAL option for 2016 on Morneau, so it's not just 2015. $9 million dollars. There are also escalators for 2015 (550+ plate appearances, All-Star selection and Top 3 in MVP vote, $500,000 each). But there's more. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7063/splits/ An 858 OPS on the road...where everyone's going to suspect it would be less than 800 and plus 900 at Denver. And we kind of have left-handed power hitter right up there as possibly our top off-season need.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 08:09 AM) I'm guessing the brain trust decided to go a little further into the dictionary now that the national media has picked up on the game. It was funny the way whoever was interviewing him just shrugged it off and went on to the next point about his near hit off Vogelsong...I think I might have said, "what the hell?" but then it would have ruined Chris' moment of being able to throw that new word out there each time with a straight face and proper contextual support to demonstrate word mastery.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 08:03 AM) Sounded like suserration. He was saying that he either did or didn't hear any "negative murmurs" from the crowd, lol. At the buzzer. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/susurration Wow..I'm an English teacher and am familiar with all the words he's previously used, but that's definitely a new one for me. How would/could he not hear any negative murmurs? It's a Giants' home game!!! He has superpowers to block them out, lol? Guess he was just "in the zone," so to speak. I honestly feel the Sox players get up more for big enemy crowds than playing at home sometimes. Hard to blame them for feeling that way.

As reported by The Score and CSN Chicago. Too bad he's going to miss Jake Peavy by less than a week. That would have been a fun match-up.

http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/white-...bullpen-failure Can't even figure out what word he was trying to say...it's around the 1:20 mark "negative assesserations"? accesserations asseccerations....those aren't even words assertions...? Speaking of Sale, this scouting report from back in 2010 was pretty amusing to read. Claimed his fastball was only 90-92 then but COULD be a plus pitch, and then goes into long and detailed description of his mechanics and why he's so flawed and likely to be injured in the future. http://projectprospect.com/article/2010/05...scouting-report They were right about one thing, his weight and difficulty of adding to his frame. Looking strictly at future potential, Sale could have a plus fastball, plus change up and average slider to go with well above-average command. If he can stay healthy, that’s solid No. 2 starter upside. Let’s take a closer look at that last prepositional phrase. Mechanics Special thanks to Baseball America's Conor Glassey who took the video used below. Follow Conor on Twitter @conorglassey. Up until now the picture of Sale’s prospects has been pretty rosy. A team looking to draft him in the top 10 is likely relying on his stuff/production combo. Those who rank Sale lower, will do so predominately because of concerns about his throwing motion. Standing nearly 6-foot-6 and weighing 47 pounds (approximate), Sale could be broken in half by a strong wind. On the one hand, he has plenty of room to mature physically, adding functional muscle. On the other, if this is what he looks like after the freshman 15, his body just might not be made to handle a lot of weight.

Justin Morneau is a much better idea, but it would suck to have to give up a lot (of talent) when we could have had him this past offseason for pennies on the dollar if not for the fact that we were still suck with Dunn on the roster. Wonder if they would take Viciedo for him?