ILMOU

Jose was outstanding today. He was a little too careful, I think, trying to keep the no hitter going and it bit him with the two walks to start the frame. Will likely be the difference in the game. He was basically perfect otherwise, and it comes off of two scoreless outings. He IS getting better, and has really hit a stride with the curve lately. I'm confident he'll stay in the 2-3 range, and could perform closer to a 2. He's also an innings-eating workhorse. A ridiculous bargain.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 01:02 PM) More Beckham in the 2 hole, Gillaspie batting lower in the line up, and Flowers catching Gotta hope this is for trade purposes only. Should be seeing, Eaton, Conor, Oso, Dunn, Dayan, Lexi, De Aza, Gordo, Flowers, IMO. Gordo not making it any easier for RH to trade him with the way he's hit lately. Screwing us one last time, thanks. Seems to me Conor is the obvious choice for the two hole (at least vs. RHSP), once Beckham is moved. Would now like to see Saladino get the 1st look at 2B, after this happens.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Jul 7, 2014 -> 12:58 PM) Trading him doesn't make this process years longer whatsoever. If their realistic goal is 2016, this trade did nothing to push that backwards. He's a FA by then anyway. Who cares about attendance? The Cubs are at rock bottom, haven't won in 100+ years. If I'm a Cubs fan, I'd rather have a plan in place and try to have some sort of direction rather than band-aid the whole thing to maybe sorta kinda stay in a race here and there. A few extra wins in these last few seasons or this year doesn't do a whole lot. We haven't seen this scenario over and over again. Find me the farm systems that have been quite this stacked on the position player side. Are all of them going to succeed? Probably not. But they won't need them to. They'll have all this cost-controlled talent hitting the team at or around the same time, and they are going to make 2-3 huge splashes in free agency to grab some pitching (because they'll have a TON of money to spend), and someone like a Stanton etc. to fill whatever other holes they have in the lineup. As far as making that up overnight, that's where the Cubs fan base is different (and much larger) than the Sox. The instant they start winning and getting exciting (and it won't even take a playoff appearance to do it), they'll be selling out. They can absolutely make that up overnight. The Cubs fans aren't going anywhere, they just aren't buying tickets as often. The INSTANT this looks exciting, they'll all be back. Sox don't have that luxury. Will this whole thing work? Who knows. But it's a pretty smart, well-thought out plan. I think they've done a great job assembling talent, and that they will be very, very good soon. Bosio has been able to get a lot out of most of the pitchers they've brought in - Arrieta's development is huge for them. Not a Theo fan, but have to admit the future is super bright for them.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 5, 2014 -> 05:02 PM) You think that was the reason they lost? Just a factor. But not an insignificant one. Obviously, there was plenty of suck to go around.

Third or 4th time this year, at least, Robin has left a reliever in for a third inning/pitch count of 50+/seeing batters a 2nd time, leading to a loss, and this time he still had a long man Rienzo, and Webb in the pen. The man truly has the magic touch.

What a bunch of killjoys around here. The hackneyed clichés are the thing that makes Hawk most distinctive and tolerable. I suppose a more random old-guy surliness is preferable? And the WE thing shouldn't be bothering anyone. Some of us have been rooting so long, and have spent so much money on merchandise and at the park, that it's natural to describe oneself as part of the collective fanbase with the term WE. Noone is fooling themselves into thinking they share the same desires and goals in lockstep with the org itself. It's harmless, get over it.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jun 30, 2014 -> 04:15 PM) I think the reason Micah is playing 2B is because he's an iffy defender there and it's unlikely to increase his value to move him off the one position where he is becoming serviceable. They know that Semien is competent around the IF and are less concerned with his getting reps at IF positions because they are less critical for his development Could be. No plan, if there is one, will be revealed until Beckham is traded. They may start with Carlos, since he's had the most AAA AB's and is performing the best there. Micah hasn't exactly been an error machine this year, despite the non-glowing defensive reviews. I think it's obvious they want him at 2B in Chicago sooner or later, if the hitting is sufficient.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jun 30, 2014 -> 03:28 PM) True, but that's why Alexei should bring a much higher return than Beckham. And if none is offered, keep him. Could be some bidding for Beckham, though - a lot of teams need 2B. And he's not so easily replaceable. Plays pretty good D. Beckham's level of production is plenty replaceable and we've never had more potential depth at the position. They could all bust, sure, but the odds may actually be in our favor for once that at least 1 will be a MLB average player. Regardless, the tea leaves tell me the org favors Micah - if he has a good July, his era may begin soon.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 30, 2014 -> 01:15 PM) Also could be because Semien profiles better as an outfielder (than Micah would) in some ways. Yes, Micah has speed. But he's got rocky hands, and his arm is a potential issue. Semien has a decent arm and soft hands, and he already had played all three skill IF positions and showed good adjustments to them. We'll see. Hopefully, a Beckham trade happens and the guys in Charlotte make a compelling case for getting called up. I think Gordo needs to go regardless, though. Starting next season, his incremental value (if any) over whoever they like best at 2B - be it Micah, Marcus or Carlos - likely won't justify his 2nd year arb figure. I think we hang on to Lexi unless blown away. Competent defensive SS's that hit better than a Leury Garcia are no easy trick, and no one is saying with overwhelming confidence that Carlos, Marcus or eventually Anderson will fit that bill.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 30, 2014 -> 12:22 PM) Hill got ripped for 8 runs. Boggs continues to be employed in professional baseball, mysteriously. Charlotte attendance already over 400K. Semien under .200 on the season. Sanchez close to .300, Micah hitting a soft .281 (687 OPS), Phegley with a homer. No Davidson in the first game of DH. Not worried about Micah - his AAA numbers have likely been affected by playing hurt/returning from injury, and he's required a bit of an adjustment period at each level. I also think they favor him developing his SB technique at the MLB level, and his lower #'s there may also have something to do with the injuries. I think it's telling that Semien is getting a look in the OF and not Micah. Rightly or wrongly, I believe the org see's MJ as the 2B of the very near future - maybe 1 month from now if a Beckham deal happens. Semien is their ideal super-utility. Things could change.

QUOTE (Charlie Haeger's Knuckles @ Jun 30, 2014 -> 12:26 PM) I was on my soapbox in the offseason, and I think went as far as to say the Sox offseason plan should center around trading for Castro. Crap... He's been TERRIBLE this year. And as a sidenote, his statline exposes Flowers' entirely EMPTY batting average. Castro 218/297/363 - 82 Ks Flowers 237/296/326 - 92 Ks and for s***s and giggles.... Grandal 196/285/354 - 49 Ks Maybe keeping Flowers wasn't such a bad thing? *shrug* I don't know if there's a catcher worth trading for out there. Anyone who does well for one year - Castro last year, Grandal in 2012 while on PEDs - is bound to be crazy overpriced if sold near peak. Many of the other top catching prospects have stalled in their progression. Maybe it makes more sense to live with catching mediocrity, like most teams are seemingly compelled to do, and improve everywhere else. Sure would be nice to develop a Lucroy type - damn that dude's a bargain for the Brew Crew. No confidence whatsoever in the farm achieving this, though.

Ridiculous to compare the BEST three months of Rizzo's career with the ONLY three months of Abreu's. Current performances may hold, or not. Abreu's OBP will likely go way up once pitchers realize that he has little protection behind him.

May and Barnum rising from the depths of horrendous starts to near-respectability. Both can bust through 700 OPS soon, and maybe that's just the start. May also on a SB tear of late.

I was a Soxtalk Meathead who held out some hope for the guy after last season, and it seems to have been rewarded. Davidson looks way too much like a Mike Olt clone for my tastes, though we're running out of positions from which to get sufficient power in the lineup, if Conor has indeed seized 3B.

EJohnson remains the biggest mystery in the org. Looking forward to eventually learning SOMEthing that could explain his decline in stuff. W T F.

Anderson, Hawkins, May and Barnum all with strong Junes. All could really improve their prospect status with continued results.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 08:07 AM) We have 2-3 players that are legit all stars during a rebuild. Thats pretty amazing. The one thing that really hurt the process is Garcia's injury, though I think he will be back before the season is over. Whatcha hearing on this front? If he's really fully healed by Sept., let's get a bit of a look.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jun 26, 2014 -> 08:37 AM) I don't care about the record really. There's nothing he can do to make this team a contender. I also think he at least is pretty good at getting his players to play and keeping the clubhouse in order. I just think he's a s***ty baseball manager. I agree with you TUC, but like others have said - he ain't going anywhere. He's mgmt.'s guy and the anti-Ozzie. He'll be here awhile longer at least. Hopefully, the org realizes when they're at point B. I think next year there will be more pressure on him for the team's performance. I also think we'll be improving the team through FA, so the expectations will be different.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 07:29 AM) I've been thinking along these lines as well. The Sox and Dodgers match up well because of the OF situation: the Sox could use a good one and the Dodgers have one (or two) too many. My dream would be to somehow pry Joc Pederson from them. I don't think Beckham gets that done, but maybe if there is some kind of package deal or if Alexei is involved there's a slight chance. And it also prepares them to deal with things better if they lose the offseason Hanley sweepstakes to the Yankees. The loser of that bidding war will likely find Lexi VERY attractive, if in fact, we make him available.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 10:23 AM) Arrieta's FIP is 2.58 I stand corrected. Still think he's about to get bombed. Every time I see him, he's leaving the bases loaded with multiple lineouts.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jun 11, 2014 -> 11:03 PM) lol Hawk hates scouting i guess. Hey, i wish there was such a thing as advanced stats to help him out.. The advanced stats actually like Abreu's defense too. SSS to this point as far as I'm concerned.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 11, 2014 -> 05:57 PM) Arrieta has been a pretty savvy acquisition as well, FWIW. Huh? He had a nice start last time out. Most of the time he has no idea where any of his pitches are headed. Fip will catch up to his ERA any day now.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 11, 2014 -> 02:35 PM) Not for a rental. But for what then? And what do you think the Pads will get for Smith? Despite his terrific season, I doubt there's a QO coming.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 11, 2014 -> 02:12 PM) They are brothers. One of them clearly has a false birth date on MiLB. The thought is that the older one is incorrect in his age and is actually much older. Interesting, thanks. They certainly resemble one another.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jun 11, 2014 -> 02:02 PM) as much as I would love to be in the running, we do not have the pieces to put on the table for a trade unless we deal some of our young prospects. Of course. Which ones are most expendable? Sanchez and Beck are two I could part with. Then there's Beckham, and quite possibly Tank from the big club. De Aza another throw-in.