ILMOU

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 17, 2014 -> 11:31 AM) Speaks very highly of Dunn as a positive clubhouse presence: This is the type of thing, I think, that might explain why Hahn hasn't just given Dunn away for salary relief. I have no doubt he'd move him for even a marginally interesting prospect, but it very well may be worth the salary to keep him around the clubhouse. Sorry, E, generally love your insight but must take exception here. For the vast majority of Dunn's time here, the team's culture has been a losing one. Losing cultures need change - more than we've had to this point. I hope the guy gets to a contender and gets to see the playoffs for once in a terrific career. By all accounts he's a great guy. But his clubhouse presence really should not be a consideration, at all.

QUOTE (QuickJones81 @ Aug 17, 2014 -> 10:58 AM) As a fan I want what's best for the team in the long term. If there is no chance for glory this year, and the best chance to win down the road is to hit bottom wins wise, then that is the best strategy. It's ok to lose a battle to win a war. Wise people should see that. Case in point, I don't see a lot of value for Rodon to come up this year in terms of getting closer to another World Series. If nothing it would worsen the chance slightly by starting the clock early on a guy we know will be hard to hang onto once we lose control. And the payback is? Excitement in meaningless September games? No thanks, stick to the best strategy, not taking lesser steps to placate the fans that need something shiny in front of them to feel better. I cringe listening to the fans across town who demand their top prospects join the team immediately. It shows they either don't understand the situation, have no patience, or both. Let's not pay for meaningless September short term enjoyment with future victories and success. The payback is a taste of the Show and preparedness for a whole season of being in the rotation, and working with Coop, while also increasing his overall innings load for the season slightly to help with next year's durability. The excitement is really just a bonus. If the staff feels he's ready, we should trust them, imo. We're talking about pitchers here - the track record for promotions is decent.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 17, 2014 -> 09:41 AM) Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 10m #WhiteSox lineup for 8/17: De Aza 7, Ramirez 6, Abreu 3, Dunn DH, A. Garcia 9, Gillaspie 5, Beckham 4, Danks 8, Nieto 2. Carroll 1.` More Dunn, more Gordo, yay. Unless I'm pleasantly surprised with a trade that yields something worthwhile, I have to side with the Clown on how RH is handling the situation. Holding out for that surprise, because, overall, I really think Hahn is terrific, but feel he's been left a little "mouth agape" by the trade deadline deals not working out. Fearing that he stubbornly is holding out to the long-term detriment of the club. I guess we'll know in 14 days or less.

And keep an eye on Guerrero.

IF they bring Rodon to the big club in Sept, the Plan will be to have him on the OD roster, or very soon thereafter, so it will be irrelevant. If they don't bring him up this year, more strategy could be involved. I have a feeling, that with Sale and Abreu comprising the cream of an at-peak core, the future is now, and Rodon's ascension to the 2015 rotation will be part of this philosophy.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 15, 2014 -> 11:47 AM) Away from what's best for the organization, I need reasons to watch this team in September. It's selfish but I want to see Semien, Taylor, Wilkins and perhaps even Beck to give me some moderate excitement. All of this, of course, but practical reasons too. Are we ever going to give Wilkins and Sanchez particularly a real legit look at being part of the future? Their best chance started August 1. Both could easily be squeezed out next year, and there's currently no good plan for DH, so that could be an area of offseason expenditure - would sure be nice to know if there's an internal option that could save, oh $50M or so - the kind of info a 200 PA audition would have provided. I guess we'll just assume Wilkins has no chance to be a big leaguer. That seems prudent. If this goes another two weeks with no action, we get nothing, save nothing AND, most importantly, learn nothing.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 14, 2014 -> 03:44 PM) It's because they don't serve any purpose for us, since our window is a year or more into the future. They could certainly serve a purpose for a team this year. You would think, but yet...

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 14, 2014 -> 03:10 PM) If the conventional wisdom is that all of these guys suck and need to be dumped, why is it assumed that somehow someone else wants them? No one does, or they'd be gone already, right? How about a couple of phantom injuries, or something? Anything. Admittedly, just a venting rant here, but in a rare acknowledged rebuild season, we haven't yet moved forward or given a healthy audition to future pieces, for whatever reason, and it rather perturbs me.

QUOTE (beautox @ Aug 14, 2014 -> 03:57 AM) my takeaways from tonight AAA: - Wilkins continue to hit 2/3 tonight with another double and a BB, Really want to see what he can do in an extended look at the major league level, even if he flames out and is nothing more than a AAAA player, the sox would be well served in finding out if he can be a serviceable DH and 1B backup. AA - Rangel 3/5 with a BB, a HR shy of the cycle and back at 3B for game one. Is there anything to read into this? Looking forward to when he eventually gets to AAA. Nice article from the 12th on our other Cuban first basemen link, Andy still killing it. 7 BB 0 K in last 10 games. Near equal platoon splits. What else you want? Want him to get quality time with Steverson. What the hell, Ravelo's Cuban too? and we haven't promoted him yet? Really, too bad he didn't get to Charlotte this season.

Sept. will be overcrowded with all the guys we'll want to look at, on top of Paulie's farewell AB's. We're just not going to get the sufficient looks we should at guys like Wilkins, Semien and Sanchez particularly. ST basically provides bad data and tells little if anything. This is the chance to give guys looks at MLB pitchers who are actually competing - and we're blowing it. Beckham and Dunn needed to be gone already on Aug 1. Hell, Dunn has homered in back to back games and has a 828 OPS vs. righties, and is still, apparently, immovable. If it hasn't happened yet, why would it now? It would have been nice for us hardcore fans to get a look at possible pieces of the future, but no such luck. Patience is waning. This sucks. Next year needed to begin on July 31st. It didn't, and the fail continues...

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Aug 13, 2014 -> 11:08 AM) Freudenberg has given up two runs but has struck out six over three innings. Good peripherals for today, anyway.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 03:18 PM) Why is Rodon being moved up? He'll get his 2 or 3 innings and then the starter will take over. Not really a big deal, imo. Still enough innings to go around for all of those guys. Maybe Rodon moves up but it isn't because of a numbers game in Winston Salem. Naw, you're right about it not being due to overcrowding, I just have a feeling that they're giving Carlos the "tour", and it will be heading to B'Ham soon - then again, maybe it's better to keep him with the changeup guru in WS. I guess we'll see soon enough, less than 3 weeks left in milb seasons, so any moves are cups o coffee at this point.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 03:05 PM) That's just insane depth. My guess is Rodon goes up, and Danish has at least 3 more starts in him. Yeah, won't be shocked if tomorrow is Rodon's last WS appearance.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 12:00 PM) When Anderson gets back, who they going to send down because as of right now its C Navarez 1B Barnum 2B Peter SS Rondon 3B Trey LF Hawkins CF Engel RF Walker (May when he is healthy) That is a good line up. And... Rodon, Dykstra, Danish, Brennan, Wendelken and soon Montas again is a sick rotation

QUOTE (Charlie Haeger's Knuckles @ Aug 12, 2014 -> 10:34 AM) I think Jonathan Mayo writes the MLB.com lists and I seriously doubt he has ever scouted Sox minor league affiliates. Its all likely secondhand info he uses. Somebody here informed me it was Callis that did the mlb.com stuff.

And yet, he continues to rake, 3-5 with 2 2B again last night. OPS now at .916 on the season. His last 50 games: Jun 16 to Aug 11, 2014 50G 213PA 193AB 47R 78H 18 2B 1 3B 18HR 46RBI 18BB 26SO .404BA .455OBP .788SLG 1.243 OPS That's a pretty good slice of let's get a damn look already.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 07:14 PM) Michael Taylor 3-4, double And Wilkins with two more 2B. Let's get a look, already.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 04:53 PM) Ortiz was already busted though. If he were busted again, though, the conversation would immediately turn to asterisked World Series results, seeing how last year's BoSox were completely, 100% carried by him in the playoffs. Of all the things Bud doesn't want on his legacy, such a black eye would be at he very top of the list, I would think. I've wondered as well whether we'd ever find out about another failed Papi test, were it to happen.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:56 PM) Put me in the camp that wonders what the hell that moron is doing walking around on the track while the race is ongoing. Nothing good comes from that. A tragedy, but a tragedy that was entirely avoidable. That kind of stuff happens on dirt tracks all the time. It's even common at Bristol.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:29 PM) Yes. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/07/top-...2015-draft.html Right, but we still need to have one of the 10 worst records to have the protected pick. I think we "win" tiebreakers vs. all except Astros, Marlins.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:26 PM) And maybe the Sox know they have the next young superstar in Wilkins and are holding him back to save time and save the adjustments pitchers make on him so he can come out of the gates next year on his way to the Sox second straight Rookie of the Year and a runner up finish in the MVP race (to none other than Jose Abreu, of course). Yeah, better to hold off until next June-July to avoid the Super 2.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:27 PM) I don't love the Michalczewski promotion but that Winston-Salem team is full of talent. Danish, Montas, Rodon, Dykstra and Wendleken on the pitching side. Hawkins, Engel, May, Michalczewski, Anderson and Rondon on the pitching side. This does beg the question, what are they going to do with Rondon/Anderson following Anderson's return? It should only be a "problem" for a few weeks but I still believe both of these guys should start 2015 in A+. Based on their historically aggressive approach, I think they'd like to get Anderson to AA to start next season, along with Danish, Montas, May and others. It may depend on how he performs at season's end and in fall/winter leagues. Rondon to stay at A+, most likely. And is Anderson yet another AFL candidate? Or too early?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 01:14 PM) Dunn hasn't been given up on either. He's at .232/.359/.449/.807 and a 124 wRC+ against RHP this year, which should be his sole role in the lineup. I think the Sox would like to move Dunn shortly but I think there is a non-zero chance that he comes back to the Sox next year. I personally think a change of scenery seems like a good idea for him, but I'm also not him. If it feels like I'm arguing against Wilkins, I'm not. You just have to look at it from the Sox perspective - they have professional scouts who know and see what these guys are doing and have a good feel for how they'd play in the majors. I also don't think it's going to be a big difference if they come up now versus September 1st. I'd also like to see Taylor and Semien up on the roster, as well as maybe Sanchez. They also have to look at what offers they have on the table for a lot of these guys and try and extract any value they can. If Gordon gets hot, maybe they can get a live arm with no control. Maybe some team sees that De Aza is an OK player against righties and they bring him in as a pinch hitter and 4th OF, getting a AAAA reliever who's never put it together at the MLB level. Maybe the Sox convince a team that Adam Dunn is a very valuable guy to have in the 6th spot and they get a toolsy but raw infielder. All of that, especially if they can save money, is valuable to the organization as well. I'm with you in the camp of not fully understanding why no one seems interested in Dunn, due to his #'s vs. RHP, but it's become obvious that no one is. Bringing him back next year is a PR nightmare that we're not going to see - non-zero, but pretty close. I understand all of the motivations of your last paragraph, but I feel they are outweighed by the opportunity of an extra month of auditions for 2015. We'll see what is acquired/saved as a result of this more patient approach. If it's peanuts, then it's a fail.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 23, 2014 -> 08:31 AM) Because of the Presidential hate, it would be more of a distraction for baseball than it is worth... [wait for it] How can unpopular former presidents ever get a footing in society with prevailing attitudes such as this? smh

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 11, 2014 -> 12:48 PM) For some reason, I doubt that Leury Garcia is going to be the cleanup hitter moving forward. Abreu is not going to get that treatment. What I'm wondering is this...with all the struggles Flowers has had this year, why is no one in this thread suggesting that the Sox give Phegley a look? Wilkins's line is at .295/.338/.570/.909, yet Phegley's at .286/.344/.550/.894 in the same ballpark. And, on top of that, Phegley's done this 2 years in a row and is virtually the same age as Wilkins. Well, AW is left handed and leads his league in HRs, and while his season OPS is only slightly higher than Phegs, it's been about 1200 since the summer equinox, and that's approaching a decent sample size of awesome. Add to that, we've already seen Pheg's inability to adjust to MLB last year and his atrocious receiving skills. That said, Phegs deserves another look based on his bat alone, and maybe his future is as a DH, so yeah let's get him up. However, unlike the others I'm clamoring for, the incumbent Flowers has not yet been "given up on" and the backup can't be sent down.