ILMOU

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 11:28 AM) Man you guys have thin skin. Maybe it's living in such close proximity to the toilet itself and their fans! Seriously though who gives a crap bout a spring training lineup? I can guarantee pretty much every player is ready to head north almost 5 weeks into spring and Maddon is just giving some guys a day off. Of course, but he has to know that a lot of people were looking forward to this thing today, and they could have easily planned for it.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 11:11 AM) As a 22 year old in AA .355/.458/1.160 As a 22 year old in AAA .295/.418/1.036 Spring training this year .435/.500/1.804 We would be going nuts if Kris Bryant did this in a Birmingham and Charlotte and Camelback Ranch. Frank Thomas as a 22 year old in AA .323/.487/1.068 And when you are playing half the time in Iowa the PCL numbers aren't as exhaggerated. Bryant does strikeout too much, but he gets on base. One reason why he is probably a tick or 2 below Frank as a hitter. There is nothing to suggest he is going to be anything but great unfortunately. Yep, he should be outstanding, but the tiny sample size and not-truly-competitive ST numbers aren't really a part of it for me. I don't think he'll be at 3B for too long, and he's not Schmidt defensively, even if he unexpectedly sticks. Could be every bit of him offensively, or even Jimmy Foxx-good. But maybe not. The hype machine says yes, but the hype machine always says yes. And, ya know, just few years ago, Anthony Rizzo was actually better than Bryant in a similar Iowa stint. They're completely different players, and Rizzo is very good. But, probably not great.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 08:46 AM) I feel like the Sox commercials and marketing have tailed off in quality over the past few years. Brooks Boyer, it would appear, is among the elite in Reinsdorf's Ring of Loyalty, as he can't even put something exciting and fresh around an awesome offseason.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 07:35 AM) well i didn't think he would break camp with the sox, considering his performance last yr. however, i would like to see how he does during the season. Definitely make or break for him in 2015, and I know people will say "he's only 25", this time next year, but if he can't find a way to hit in the Paradise of the Knights new park, in two seasons, he's as much a prospect as Mitchell. Really hope he turns it around. Needs to get completely healthy soon, so not to start Charlotte on the DL or playing hurt.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 10:01 AM) He did Cubs lineup v White Sox http://t.co/VFxmbxScoC https://twitter.com/CST_soxvan/status/578940245841829890 Yeah, WTF, Maddon? It's the best game of ST, and televised, and you give us this? You, d***!

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 08:00 AM) bingo, i was thinking of him yesterday about finding a better option on the waiver list. i would even trade for him, depending on the cost. i just want another sp to be there for 2 things, insurance for an injury and to help in the dog's day of summer, to help the pitchers with their workload for the run at a playoff spot. Just say no. If we acquire another depth arm, I'd like him to be better than TW.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 09:34 AM) Eaton CF, Cabrera LF, Abreu 1B, Laroche DH, Garcia RF, Ramirez SS, Gillaspie 3B, Flowers C, Johnson 2B, Noesi P Looking like the OD lineup again. Will be interesting to see Noesi vs. a team of HR threats, on what is likely to be a similar lineup from the Cubs. Keep it down, Hector.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 20, 2015 -> 07:39 AM) Chances are, he is going to be a monster. Can't disagree, chances are, but will just remind all that we're looking at ST performance here, and a lot of straight fastballs from pitchers getting their "work " in. He's been incredibly impressive at all levels, but the K rate has been borderline, and that's a giant bugaboo for players making a leap to the better-than-ever pitching of MLB. And, before too long, he probably won't be the biggest, tallest, 3B in the history of the game, he'll be playing in the OF, who knows how well? 1000+ OPS for a 22 year old in the PCL is awesome, but it's not Haley's Comet. I think he'll be great. He may only be good. It's not like we haven't seen a hype machine spin out of control a bit in the past, and set an impossible expectation.

Penny is the "clubhouse leader", though, for a start or 2 in the 5th spot, til Sale returns, is he not? I'm hopeful, but not optimistic, that it won't be ugly. I don't see Carroll, Johnson, Beck or anyone else on the radar getting it, so I guess we're going to find out. Been a long while since BP was any good at all. Maybe Carroll has a chance, but that's not too exciting either. Who knows if RH won't still be bargain shopping for a waived stopgap or 2 to improve the depth?

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 02:48 PM) Signing Gordon Beckham prevented absolutely nothing. Yeah, it's a drop in the bucket - not so much that they won't be afraid to eat it if he's not getting the job done. I disagree with the acquisition, but have made my peace with it - we'll see how he does. What I reserve the right to still get peeved about, is how they use him. Most importantly, who will be Conor's platoon partner? GB or EB? I don't think they'll start the season with any platoons outside of 3B, and I hope that Beckhams role is D replacement for Micah or Conor, day off for the starting IF's, second pinch runner after EB, and little else. Do NOT want to see him as CG's complement. If Shuck is the last bench spot, will Boni really need to be in the OF more than the IF? Likely not. Gordo's high leverage AB's, and AB's in general, if we're using him properly, need to be kept to a minimum.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 02:15 PM) I agree. it's just a matter of opinion. But being in MLB locker rooms and watching rookies struggle acclimating to the MLB makes me very hesitant to have any rookie in that role, regardless of how much more talented he may be. That's why you rarely see a rookie like Saladino get the role like Beckham. It's more that mental adjustment than physical. If they are trying to win that mental adjustment for the rookie compounded by the talent of UT player is just too unstable. But Saladino could tear the cover off the ball as well but the odds are against it. That's why bench players are usually failed regulars or older vets nearing retirement. Tyler has taken a circuitous, longish path to where he is today, but has not lacked for talent or tools. Bench players, especially young ones, can frequently excel at the dish, before a pitching "book" is developed. Many times they fail only when they're subsequently given an everyday role. I'm saying the prospects for actually improving the performance and versatility of the bench exists with TS, but it's moot until he gets the chance. Maybe GB will take to the utility role and perform - we're all just spitballin' til the damn season starts.

Nicely done, North. Argument well made. I'm cautiously optimistic that his bat to ball skills are a little better than some of his detractors have estimated, but time will tell.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 01:15 PM) If they are truly in win now mode as you say then the last thing you want are unproven rookies as backups. You have now idea what you will get. With a veteran like Beckham you know what you will get. It's not much but you know what is limitations are. With the rookies and lesser talented rookies at that (ceilings of utility) the sox know they will have rookie struggles as well as difficulties adjusting to bench play. Beckham will not have these issues. If they want to win now the Sox aren't going to risk rookie struggles during the season. Both rookies may end of being better than Beckham but they don't want to take a chance this year. I respectfully disagree. What you know you're getting from Beckham isn't enough, imo, to justify the roster position. The ceiling of Saladino in particular, as a utility player, is higher than Gordo's. If RH's endorsement is to be believed, he's better and more versatile defensively. He's better suited to plug weakness vs. left-handed pitching. He likely has more power, because all of GB's seems to have vanished. He's probably a touch faster. He'll be 26 years old in July - he looks ready. Outside of concern for his injury situation, and GB's under-contract presence, I would really liked to have seen him get his first chance now. But it's no biggie. Gordon could conceivably be decent in the role.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 03:23 PM) Missing a few weeks will cost him a ROY? lol, no. Plenty of rookies have been called up late or didn't play a full season and still won ROY or finished at the top of voting. Abreu missed 2 weeks, and he won. DeGrom didn't make his debut until May 14th, he won. Wil Myers only played 88 games. Jose Fernandez only made 28 starts. Trout and Harper both debuted on April 28th in the years they won. You get the point. They could wait for Bryant's Super 2 to pass and he could still win ROY. Although I'm still taking Kang for my NL ROY. I hope so. Pirates are a team I like and root for.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 03:48 PM) Another double for the Baconator Nice to see him hitting a bit. And Geo really looks good at the dish - behind the dish? not so much.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 03:15 PM) Q 4 innings 2 hits , 1 R, ! BB, 3 K Q having a great spring. Last year, he had a lousy ST prior to a terrific season. Hope this isn't a bad sign. But seriously, I won't be too surprised at this point, if he makes another year-to-year incremental improvement.

QUOTE (Señor Ding-Dong @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 11:50 AM) So Hawkins is still around? I've enjoyed watching him play this spring. I'm kinda bummed about Thompson and Saladino. I thought they'd stick around a bit longer, and in Thompson's case, challenge Shuck for the 4th/5th OF spot. I love what Trayce brings to the table defensively, and I hope that RH can assemble a roster where the luxury of a defense-only OF stud can occupy the 25th spot, but we should pump the brakes, I believe, on Trayce's offensive output here in ST. He's spent more than two whole seasons in AA, and hasn't exactly mastered it. It stands to reason that he may also need significant time for offensive adjustment to AAA, let alone the bigs. It's possible, I suppose, that he's made adjustments that will accelerate his progress going forward, and the hitter's haven in Charlotte could make him look like a prospect again - at least as a solid reserve OF.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 18, 2015 -> 12:41 PM) Unless they miss the playoffs by just 1-2 games... A possibility that should not be discounted. Could certainly happen, and oh how fun that s***storm of bad publicity would be. Still, the % play is to get the extra year of control, vs. the 2 weeks of ABs that he'll get in Iowa instead of Chicago.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 17, 2015 -> 06:55 PM) i would like to disagree, Gordo is going to get paid 2 mill, Gordo will make the team, whether the fans, agrees or whether they like it. No, I'm aware GB is on the 25 no matter what, it would seem. Just think he won't be given the longest leash, even as a utility guy. They'll realize they made a mistake, and move on, relatively quickly.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 17, 2015 -> 06:37 PM) I'd rather take chances at guys who actually offer upside than going conservative with a Beckham type. He can't hit LHP/RHP, can't pinch run and him being this great defender at 3B is baseless conjecture. The bench has versatility whether they carried Beckham or Saladino. Hahn told me himself the Saladino is the third best SS in the organization and that's behind Alexei and a "plus-plus" fielder in Rondon. So if you like versatility Saladino would better serve your taste. Beckham has barely played 100 innings away from 2B after '09. Saladino hasn't played much away from SS other than 2B (because he's very good at the position, a position GB couldn't cut it at mind you) but has played 1B, 3B and worked in the OF. As far as value, I'll take Saladino at 500K over Beckham at 2 million. I don't know Jason I feel like you're reaching here. When we have to guess on the intangible value Beckham brings it's pushing it. What intangibles does he bring? The ability to be good with the media? The ability to feel much better at the plate every year? The ability to change his stance and hands every few weeks? I'd rather Micah coached up by Eaton who has already been helping him along this spring. Exactly. There were many other ways to go that could have been a better fit to round out the bench. But, in the end, it should be a minor quibble, and hopefully Saladino or Sanchez or somebody else is given a chance to supplant Gordo at some point. But I have faith. They ate the bulk of the Keppy deal. When and if Gordo sucks come April, they won't wait around too long to send him packing in a year they expect to contend. I'll make my peace with what I feel was a bad late addition to Hahn's offseason masterpiece.

Trayce with a tying blast.

Frankie getting hit a bit. Hopefully a learning experience. Would like to see him drop 30 pounds - tough to see him long-term healthy, given where he is at 22y.o.

oops wrng thread

Montas looks like the MLB meal per diem will kill him.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Mar 17, 2015 -> 02:52 PM) I just hate everything about Flowers game. Bad swing, mediocre defensively. Ugh C is definitely the weak spot overall. I believe that RH's pursuit of Jason Castro and other options is far from over.