ILMOU

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jul 19, 2014 -> 09:21 AM) Indeed. Stuff like this happens all around baseball and I'm glad it's found its way here. I was saying it all last year, or perhaps it was just the offseason, this team needed guys like Moises down in that dugout. Seconded. A transition away from Paulie-style seriousness as new clubhouse leadership comes to the fore is not a bad thing, and doesn't require a loss of professionalism.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 18, 2014 -> 09:06 PM) Hopefully Webb's coming around and becoming the pitcher projected of him. Viciedo giveth and taketh away. Who is our closer, by the way? Putnam or Petricka? Are they trying to showcase Putnam for a possible trade? Finally, did anyone think a month ago that DeAza would be worth a lot more than Beckham before July 31st? Remains to be seen, but more than nothing may not be a whole lot.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 18, 2014 -> 07:43 PM) Wilkins is on fire, another homer Killing it in July. Figure he'll get a Sept. look at this point.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 18, 2014 -> 06:59 PM) GB DP Please be gone, Gordo. Let's make this divorce short and sweet. We ain't gettin' squat, so even a DFA is fine with me at this point.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 18, 2014 -> 03:47 PM) Not sure how that works (I'm guessing you're correct), but I don't mind either way having a protected or unprotected 1st round pick. Odds are very good that the Sox will not sign someone requiring draft pick compensation next year anyways, and if they do, I can pretty single handedly assure you that we as fans won't give a rip because we will either love or hate the signing itself. I'm thinking that you're probably right, and they'll likely stay in the non-QO FA sector, but who knows? Even a big signing won't have me feeling great about losing an 11-15th pick when there are so many holes to be filled. I want a big (or fairly big) signing AND a 1st rounder. Does Russell Martin get a QO?

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jul 18, 2014 -> 03:36 PM) Can you think of another team probably in the mix for a top five pick that this hurts? I hope we finish in the bottom ten at least, from a FA standpoint. This means 11 protected picks next year given that Houston will have two, correct?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 18, 2014 -> 03:00 PM) Read: "Teams should be interested in trading for Alexei still" Yep. Also means they won't be trying to enhance Beckham's value anymore. They know they're getting peanuts.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Jul 18, 2014 -> 01:01 PM) I'd be interested to know the rationale behind Chris Beck at 5. I'd take each of the 6-10 prospects in a one-for-one swap for Beck. Yeah, that's an outlier on an otherwise good list. Including Rodon, I'd have May at 11 and Beck at 12. If SAdams shows anything positive in a boxscore between now and end of season, I'll bump him ahead of Beck as well - perhaps Adolfo too. Beck really needs to step up with some tangible results one of these days.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 05:59 PM) Semien with a HR Dykstra looking real good in his Dash debut so far. Good pitching all around so far. Between the 4 main affiliates, 14 IP, 4H, 0 R.

Just forget the "right deal now". "Right damn now", regardless of return, is what I want. Debating his value is hairsplitting - t'won't be much.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 03:33 PM) It’s a little deeper than that. They specifically mention HIS defense and fielding ability, not just the guys playing behind him. Not to mention his ability to completely shut the opponent’s running game down. I had long felt that this was a key component of his underrated-by-advanced-metrics-ness, and I'm not sure that it's total effects are fully measured at this point. For instance: The article mentions that no one has even attempted a SB against Mark this year. But it's not just about the SB's and the pickoffs. It stands to reason that a baserunner on 1B is physically closer to the bag and/or leaning toward it in fear of the pickoff move. This means that they are a bit less likely to advance to 3rd on a single and a bit less likely to score on a double, I would think, and I don't believe these effects are currently part of the equation. I could be wrong, or the effects could be so tiny as to lack significance, but it's something I've wondered about.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 02:34 PM) All of this is beside the point I was making. Yeah, okay, maybe he develops a way to shoot lasers out of his eyes that distract the batter and he throw 9 straight no-hitters or whatever. He's a consensus top 4 pitcher in the Majors, that's about as high a "ceiling" as anyone has ever layed on a prospect. Huh? His K rate is going up, his walk rate, BAA, ERA etc. are going down, appreciably. Don't agree with the flukey/lucky characterization at all, sorry. The talent was always immense and the recent spate of pitching injuries tells me that we ALL know far less about mechanics than we think we do. Someday soon, someone will admit this. Kodi Medeiros being drafted 12th, way, way higher than any mock I saw, is an indication of this, imo. Do you really think the Brewers took him there on a 1 in 20 chance he remains a starter? Of course not.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 02:22 PM) I actually saw a breakdown of Kershaw's mechanics at one point - not sure if it was MLB Network or on a site somewhere - but with the way he comes to the plate, you really don't pick up the ball until very, very late, probably as late as you do with Sale, if not later. It's hard to see it watching him from behind, but if you watch him head on, it's incredibly difficult to see it. Yeah, it looks like he keeps it behind his body longer (from the batter's eyes) than most pitchers, opening up at a later juncture. I suppose there are different types of deception. Sale's length and low slot create so much horizontal movement that batters don't know if it's going to be a foot outside or inside until it's too late. That's how you get quality RHHs to literally lunge at a ball that winds up crossing over their right shoe tops.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 02:28 PM) Abreu 300 50 130 roty Sale 1.89 18-4 Awesome that this isn't crazy. I'm just hopeful that Noesi, or Carroll or whatever we might get in trades emerges as a preferred BOR option (or better) heading into next season. Will make the rebuild much shorter, potentially.

Only way 56 achieves the longevity milestones, imo, is if he becomes a Cardinal and feels like he's able to have his ideal family life while still playing.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 01:33 PM) Eh, I think Kershaw is a better pitcher than Sale overall. I don't think he quite has the wipe out slider, but he has a cleaner delivery, it's harder to pick up the ball, and he's better at holding runners. They're both incredible pitchers. Right now, sure, but as mentioned, Sale is getting tangibly better. Perhaps Kershaw is too. Yes, they're both incredible. Delivery issues are irrelevant unless they lead to injury and I'd argue that Sale has even more deception regarding picking up the ball, but I'll give you the runner-holding advantage. Sale's longish delivery will likely always make him mediocre in that area.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 11:48 AM) I don't know, he wrote a pretty empassioned All-Star snub piece on Chris Sale that made him seem almost like a fanboy: http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/...ses-and-snubs-2 I still think everything Law said about Sale in draft was totally reasonable. Sale DOES have a funky delivery, unconventional body, and a low arm slot. Those things typically lead to relievers with durability and platoon issues. We're all aware that flukey things happen and guys occasionally reach their ABSOLUTE ceilings like Sale has, but on paper (where, let's be honest, most of us are forced to get most of our info), Sale was a guy who ends up as a lefty-specialist 95%+ of the time. Sox gambled and won, and I'm glad they did and I'm glad to give the credit to their scouting dept., but it was still a gamble and thus the argument not to make the gamble in the first round is defensible. Actually, he's still getting better, across the board, so this is premature. While he's definitely regarded as one of the best in the game currently, his ABSOLUTE ceiling is the best-of-his-generation, IMO. Kershaw is the guy with the best possibility of achieving that status, but does Clayton, or anyone, have more raw talent than Sale? I don't think so.

Fear of seeing him on South Side one last time now abated. A good day.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jul 17, 2014 -> 08:56 AM) I guess when you have MVP potential you should be ranked in the top 50 even if you are scuffling a bit. I'm surprised he didn't drop more though. I think folks here and elsewhere generally underrate the ego factor in the making of these lists. These guys are going to like who they liked before until they're absolutely proven to be wrong. See it all the time.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 05:38 PM) They had Saladino at short for most of the season with Sanchez at second. Should we assume Saladino is the better defensive shortstop? Wouldn't surprise me one bit if it's Saladino or Sanchez that get the first shot on the heels of a Beckham trade. Regardless, really looking forward to Gordo's departure, sadly.

Just saw that my guy Chris Bassitt is in a rehab assignment with the AZL Sox, striking out 5 in 2 innings last Saturday. The Hound ought to be in B'Ham again soon, and can hopefully be a consideration for BOR or the pen sometime next season with no more setbacks. Imagine he'll be in some fall or winter league. Would like to see Lopez back soon as well. Can't be too much longer, I'd think.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 16, 2014 -> 12:53 PM) If that's true, that's just horrible of Ozzie. I mean you can't wait til you get to the hotel to drink some beer? It's even worse than texting and driving, though not by much. Very very dangerous to drink/text and drive. I thought all teams got rid of alcohol in the clubhouse. Is your story true? As far as Ozzie, I won't go into all the reasons I love him again, but BRING HIM BACK. He's a winner! As far as Ozzie again, tell the truth would you rather have Ozzie as your manager right now or Robin?? And why? I'd take Ozzie for reasons you probably don't want to hear again. Neither. Org needs to break out beyond the "immediate family" in the worst way.

Sometime between flag day and the summer solstice of 2015 would be most strategic for bringing him up, would it not?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jul 11, 2014 -> 12:53 PM) Kluber is so good. Another 10 k night, methinks. But if Noesi has another stellar outing, we could be reaching the point where it isn't just a hot streak soon. Oh, let it be so. One of the things that must come out of this rebuild season, imo, is a reasonable plan for the back end of the rotation next year. We've batted zero thru EJohnson, Paulino, Rienzo, and Carroll is doubtful, despite the recent performance. Injuries to Lopez and Bassitt, and Beck's treading water this season, seems to have stalled any help from below. It will substantially boost my optimism in 2015 if Noesi finishes the season strongly, and it would make the FO task far more feasible. We need more than Conor to be among the found/developed pieces to result from this rebuild season. It would be wonderful if we look back a year from now and think of Hector as our new Quintana. Won't be holding my breath, but it's possible.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 10, 2014 -> 05:37 PM) May leadoff HR Coats 1-1 Barnum RBI double May really taking off as a prospect. Maybe he gets a small taste of AA this year if the recent surge continues a few more weeks. Barnum's numbers almost identical to last year, now, after the recent hot streak. If he continues his recent production, and gets the K rate down some, he's firmly back on the radar. Lots of doubles OK for now, but will need to turn into more HR's of course. Both will be interesting to follow, and any recent scouting info about either is appreciated.