ILMOU

Would really like to see Gordo moved, and Semien starting at 2B ASAP. Love ya' Slayer, but maybe a change of scenery is best for all. I won't be crushed, though, if we give him one last chance in the first half of 14. If we can move Danks without eating TOO much of the remaining contract, that would be a huge coup. BUT, I'd really like to see what Hector can do this offseason to improve his command and offspeed offerings and don't want him traded until at least then. Danks' value may increase dramatically with a couple upticks in velocity, too, so maybe patience is the best path. A little concerned, from reading the Coop tea leaves, that maybe the org isn't as high on Hector as many of us here are.

No weekend games, that blows.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 12, 2013 -> 10:54 AM) Exactly. We just think that because Theo and Jed are there now that they are going to become a contender within a couple years. Truth is, if they miss on this next manager selection and the prospects don't pan out, Theo is the blame. And the decade-of-suck Tampa rebuild format will look absolutely idiotic in a large market, because it is.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Oct 11, 2013 -> 02:26 PM) How many Cardinal fans have you actually heard say that? Agreed. I think the national media promotes this idea much more than Cardinals fans themselves. If you're looking for the self-congratulatory fan base, look no further than Beantown. THEY are insufferable.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 10, 2013 -> 12:03 PM) I can give you a brief on Goldberg: power arm righty with a fastball that can be mid-90's, limited secondary stuff. 10th round pick, had control issues in college, but very successfully corrected them in his 2013 pro campaign. Stuff profiles reliever. Possibly vulnerable due to low ground ball rate, but the velocity combined with the 2013 control make him a guy to watch. See his part of the interviews I did in Kanny here. Also, we're working with a guest writer to do a feature on Goldberg this offseason, so we'll get to learn a lot more then. Winiarski is more of a mystery, I've had a hard time finding any meaningful scouting data. This isn't a surprise, since he was a 36th round pick. He produced well at an age-appropriate level (23) at High A, very nice K numbers, reasonable but not spectacular control, then was promoted and did well in 5 games at AA. I'd love to know more about what he brings to the table. Thanks again, I look forward to the Goldberg piece.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 10, 2013 -> 11:25 AM) If you are looking for a name of a Sox prospect who might break onto the scene next year, one to consider is Adam Lopez. I've found him interesting this year, and Nathaniel Stoltz now has a detailed write-up on him. Good read. Thanks, NSS, good read indeed. Sounds like he may be legit with better command of the change. Brad Goldberg and Cody Winiarski are other guys I've been following and I'd like to know more about, specifically stuff-wise.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 9, 2013 -> 04:43 PM) I have a hard time seeing Micah as a super-sub. Even if he improves at 2B, he'd still have to learn SS and/or 3B. Semien has a better defensive tool kit for being a super-sub, but he also (IMO) has more overall offensive potential, at least with the bat. I want to see the pair as our 1-2 hitters starting in 2015, or even late this coming year if Micah develops quickly. These guys don't have to be utility guys just because the scouts haven't seen them define their positions yet - that would be a major blow to our future hopes of success, imo. We've got other guys who clearly profile as utility/D replacement types, LGarcia and CSanchez being the obvious choices there. Tim Anderson, if he's legit, will play SOMEwhere in the infield, but probably not until mid-late 2015 at the earliest. The more I think about it, I'm glad Lexi is still here, and I expect a bounce-back season from him defensively. Would certainly like to know more about his father-in-law's death, and it makes me wonder if the families of defectors become targets for extortion and other evils - pure speculation on my part here. And perhaps in part because I see the system in better shape infield-wise than outfield-wise, I also want to see Micah get a look in CF before too long (thought it might happen in this AFL, but maybe it's premature). Right now, I like JMay more than any other potential CF in our system, and he's a long way off, obviously. Still have a modicum of optimism about Trayce, but a light needs to go on this coming season, or it likely never will.

QUOTE (whitesox901 @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 02:32 PM) Agreed. Hence why I said that I highly doubt it has any truth behind it. That would be awesome if true. What Rocky has done for the Hawks in a short time is amazing - that's who we're talking about, correct?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 4, 2013 -> 01:45 PM) I didn't see this Scot Gregor article about the Sox interest in Abreu posted yet. Here it is. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/2013100...?interstitial=1 Don't like that KW will be so instrumental to judging Abreu's talents for the org., and it's downright scary considering his recent draft busts, and specifically their common flaws. Don't want to be too paranoid, but the message to the media that KW is so involved in a potential foundation acquisition is, possibly, another example, of JR trying too hard to keep everyone happy, and as a result, the current GM is moderately undermined by legacy FO personnel, and doesn't have the authority he needs and should have. We saw it with Ozzie/Kenny, we're seeing a different version of it now, maybe. I hope not. Would love new ownership. Realistically, what are we looking at 2018-2020? Was glad to hear the son has no baseball interest - need new blood all around.

The problem with this "process" is that ARod is the only one with the crazy money needed to hire a legal dream team and potentially gum up the works enough to remain on the playing field and collect his money. The crazy money was made LARGELY THROUGH CHEATING. Therefore, Bud needs to go KMLandis rogue and ban him for life, outright, with no process or appeal. Period. Done. He's retiring in 14 months - he can take the heat. He DOES have these dictatorial powers as commissioner from what I understand.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Sep 29, 2013 -> 08:31 PM) Ha, I can't believe people have complaints about that. It wrapped up perfectly. This times 10000000000000.......

Already missing BB, Badly, need therapy. The little details throughout the series, in the writing, cinematography etc., were just amazing, AND they make subsequent re-viewings more enjoyable. One thing I noticed in rewatching the finale last night: The last words out of Todd's mouth, as all the other Nazi's lay dead/dying, and right before Jesse begins to strangle him are "Jesus! Mr. White". It's pretty clear that the sick bastard was about to compliment WW on his brilliant scheme in taking them all out, and while the words were not literally calling WW "Jesus", they juxtapose Jesse's line during the video confession to Hank and Gomie when he says "Mr. White, he's the Devil", and also the casual poolside banter as Hank walks back from his fateful trip to the toilet and hears someone say "you Devil" in a playful description of Walt. IOW, to the sick and evil Todd, Mr. White was like Jesus, to everyone else he was the Devil.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 29, 2013 -> 05:35 PM) They play in two weeks. Mind. Blown. Has there been a betting line in excess of 25 or 30 pts in the past 30 years, or longer?

Broncos will shatter points record and positive points differential this season, from the looks of it. Jags may shatter negative points differential as well.

It seems like we've given up an insane number of HR's in the home park over the past couple of months.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Sep 29, 2013 -> 08:14 AM) It's Sunday and football is not the first thing on my mind. I hear ya. At 8:15pm tonite, I'm going to be a little bummed, regardless of how satisfying the finale is.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 29, 2013 -> 12:31 PM) Is DeAza one of the worst baserunners in Sox history? Worst I've seen, by far.

As we discuss these coaching situations, and the actions of the FO bringing former players back into the fold, I can't help but feel that the 800 lb. gorilla is ultimately being ignored. Specifically, is JR, as he ages, running the team more and more like a family, and less and less like a business, as he needs to? Position player drafting and development philosophies throughout our org. need a serious enema, but will RH be able to do the housecleaning that's necessary? Just one of many ?'s I have about our future. Is the "Reinsdorf Ring of Loyalty", as flavum hilariously called it, inhibiting us from making the necessary changes? When I see what the Pirates have accomplished this year by lowering BABIP Against through defensive positioning in conjunction with pitching strategy, and what Maddon accomplishes in this area annually, it seems obvious that we seriously need some new approaches to get with the times. The way we seemingly value power more than hit tool/OBP in our draft/development looks like a strategy better suited to 2000, than to 2013 onward. Does it trickle down from a narrow "we play in a HR hitters park, therefore, we need to develop HR hitters" mindset, rather than a (preferably to me) "become a good hitter FIRST and trust that the power will come" philosophy? I fear that we won't get to where we all want to be until JR moves on. Probably a topic for a new thread, but I'm lazy.

Hooray!

3 outs to avoid 100.

Wow, didn't see that coming til Monday if it was gonna happen. Glad, though.

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 28, 2013 -> 10:40 AM) It would be wild, but I'm leaning toward just wanting to see the Rangers come up short. Then the Rays beating the Indians and then it would be Rays-Red Sox, Tigers-A's. Definitely rooting for an A's-Pirates World Series--but it won't happen Actually, if it's Dodgers-Red Sox, I may puke. Feeling the warm spit in my mouth, just thinking about it. QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 28, 2013 -> 11:46 AM) Everyone reporting Pence about to sign an extension with the Giants for 5/90....yikes This is a crappy Jason Werth-like precedent for the offseason.

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 28, 2013 -> 12:28 PM) I'll take your word for it. But that said, De Aza is a meathead of a player, and I really hope he's gone soon. Can't disagree with either side of this discussion. IMO, if better options don't happen, we still need to get him the hell out of batting leadoff, and we need to give him ONE OF position to concentrate on.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Sep 28, 2013 -> 06:11 AM) I follow the Rockies very closely, Stan, and I gotta ask if you have seen something about their trading Cargo. Not that I wouldn't like to have him with the Sox, even though I am very familiar with his shortcomings. Any trade talk would start with Sale and include other pitchers as well. I saw it speculated by some writer recently, can't remember where, but it's also a gut feeling based on the huge salary escalations in his and Tulo's contracts starting in 2015, and the storied cheapness of the Monforts. I'm not sold on Bettis, Pomeranz, or any of their other pitching spects, outside of Gray and Butler, and I don't think the Rox are either. Nicasio and Chatwood are still major ?'s. Pitching depth was, is, and always will be the Rox biggest obstacle because no agent will ever let their FA clients sign here, unless it's a no-other-options scenario - they have to get it done with kids and trades. There are also the recent injury concerns with Cargo, but equally or moreso with Tulo, granted. The top position spect is lefty OF David Dahl. In any case, I don't think Sale is a necessary part of the package. Given Pomeranz' failure to this point, and De La Rosa's age and injury history, I think Quintana could be the centerpiece, accompanied by several pitching prospects. IMO, the deals that the Sox are able, or not able, to make will depend largely on creating a logjam of starting pitching blocked by the established MLB'ers. What we really need is for a few of the group that includes: Beck, Snodgress, Cose, Jaye, " the Hound", B. Ortiz, Olacio, Hansen, Danish etc. to emerge as real prospects with quality first-half performances next year - then wheel and deal at the deadline. God knows, the folks around here have seen enough of Jeff Francis.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 28, 2013 -> 11:27 AM) Thoughts? Would you give Choo 5/90? Given how right-handed dominant the pitching is in our division (other than the Sox, obviously), we're the perfect landing spot for him. Will be interesting to see how high the bidding gets for guys like him and Ellsbury, especially with the new TV money coming and limited FA studs available. Also, since my wife is Korean, this would go a long way toward making her a Sox fan, which would be nice for planning future vacations.