ChiliIrishHammock24

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 01:28 AM) We still have a bottom quartile farm system. We don't need to be trading our young players yet. We are talking about older minor leaguers for young major leaguers. That's not typically something that kills the youth in an organization.

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 11:52 PM) I think in that scenario, it'd have to be Quintana, Beckham (stop gap and still kinda cheap option for a couple years until some of their really good MI prospects are MLB ready), and maybe a couple minor league arms like a Snodgrass type. I'd do that trade still. I don't see them interested in De Aza for LF when they have a younger more upside version of him in Robbie Grossman. If anything, they'd probably be more interested in Dayan Viciedo and how his power would play with the Crawford Boxes. I'm not throwing Dayan in to that deal unless I'm getting George Springer back. lol. I'd definitely toss them Beckham and Snodgress, or just Carlos Sanchez.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 09:55 PM) We are a bad shootout team. Yep. I don't know what winning percentage is in shootouts, it's probably readily available information, but I'd bet we are around .333.

I'm unemployed for a few more days sooo.....

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 10:04 PM) I didn't realize Castro is 26 already. That's not old and he's entering his prime but maybe Quintana should be used for a younger player. We shouldn't be trading younger players for older players even though 26 isn't that old. That comment was all kinds of contradictory. lol. I'd still rather see Quintana for Castro and Altuve, rather than just straight up. I think Quintana has a ton of value that should warrant more than just 1 player who has only been good, albeit very good, for just 1 season. If they want De Aza for LF, fine. Make it Quintana + De Aza for Castro and Altuve.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 06:06 PM) Let's say the Astros will give you Jason Castro for 4 unproven prospects in E Johnson, Danish, M Johnson, Hawkins and are not interested in moving Altuve... do you make that deal? All 4 guys are very intriguing, but only E Johnson looks like he's ready now. All have question marks, but there's lots of ceiling there. Hmmmm, there is probably an argument for both sides here, but I personally would say no, simply because the ceilings of all those guys are so massive, except for maybe Micah, who I don't want to give up on at all yet. I'd rather see something like Nate Jones, Erik Johnson, and Snodgress but I don't know if Houston does that deal.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 06:01 PM) I'm sorry...but somebody explain to me again why the hell the Astros would even consider trading Castro?...do they have a stud C waiting in the wings? Max Stassi apparently, but I'm not sure why they'd prefer Stassi over Castro, unless they just figure they can rebuild a little through Castro and are crossing their fingers that Stassi is good enough.

QUOTE (Paulstar @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:53 PM) I actually think Houston and the short porch in LF probably helped him sneak out a homer or two. With Altuve, you get your power from doubles and triples. Looking at his spray chart from last year, he hit 5 HR in Houston's park, and he would have hit 5, possibly 6 HR in US Cellular.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:52 PM) That great year amounted to a 1.6 WAR. You're the one who called it an outlier, as in, way above what would typically be expected of him. I never called his 1.6 WAR year a great year, but I also don't expect it to be his career high, not even close.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:46 PM) You are the one that brought up and overstated his HR hitting ability as something that made him lucrative. For what it would take to get him and the players we already have in AA/AAA/MLB there is absolutely no reason to trade for Altuve. I have no idea why Steamer is so bullish on him I would bet that he falls below their projected WAR number. I was merely stating a baseline of stats I think he can achieve playing in Chicago. It's not like I ever called him a power hitter, you simply challenged my thinking that he would hit 3 more HR in a more HR friendly park, as if that would somehow make or break his value. Even if Altuve only produces a 2.0 WAR next year, well short of the Steamer projections, that is a lot better than what Beckahm has managed to accomplish is every season outside of his tremendous rookie year. And I didn't propose an idea FOR Altuve, I said what I would like in addition to Castro if Quintana is to be involved in a deal. Castro is obviously the centerpiece of the deal. Altuve would help balance the trade out, so it wouldn't be costing us players, it would be evening the trade. De Aza + Beckham for those 2 minor league pitchers would just be icing on the cake, but that's the only instance of needing extra players from the Sox in that deal.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:40 PM) Altuve has a career wOBA of .307 and that's including his 2012 season that figures to be an outlier of a year for him. If you trade for him because of his table setting ability you have to realize an injured Beckham had a better OBP. Why is 2012 an outlier for him? Because he peaked when he was 22?

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:34 PM) In two full seasons his career high is 7 HR. He plays the one position we have several cheap options at both this year and in the upcoming seasons. Why trade talent for such a marginal upgrade? Because Steamer expects him to surpass his career high WAR by a whole WAR? I think it's fair to say that US Cellular Field is an easier part to hit HRs in than Houston. I would not be shocked to see Altuve hit 10 HR here in Chicago. But even if he only hits 7 or 8, that's not his strength anyway. His strength is contact and speed. He doesn't need to be trying to hit HR from the #2 spot, where he would fit in nicely on this team.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:25 PM) I think there are 3 ways of potentially obtaining Castro 1) Quintana. Straight up that's a fair deal but a tough pill to swallow. It's one step forward one step back, however, it would have to be very seriously considered given that pitching is our strength and we do have a couple guys that look promising on the farm along with Johnson ready to step in this year 2) Quantity over quality/a depth move. Sox trade a s***load of quality organizational pitching depth rather than the uber prospect type. Would anyone here be comfortable giving up something like Johnson, 1 of Danish/Beck, Snodgress and another piece for Castro? That's a ton of potential value and would also be a tough pill to swallow. I'm not sure we have anything positionally that we could give up that they'd really want either. 3) Something involving Viciedo and/or another team, where we send Viciedo plus prospects or we get another team to take on Viciedo and send a prospect to HOU with whatever we're sending. That's also tough. No matter what the cost though, Castro could be a multi-year solution. He looks extendable. You can trade for him thinking about buying out his arb years. He shouldn't be the type who would have to force a team to play the arb game every year looking for that big FA payday. The gigantic catching headache goes away. You also add a lefty bat to your new righty-dominated middle of the order. You're starting to look like you may already have your new core of position players. Tempting. I don't think Quintana straight up is a fair deal, which is why I mentioned Altuve. I think Quintana for Castro and Altuve is fair. Or if you want to give them a couple extra players in return, since we have so many, expand the deal to Quintana + De Aza + Beckham for Castro + Altuve + RHP Vincent Velasquez + LHP Reymin Guduan.

QUOTE (TomPickle @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 05:15 PM) Altuve isn't much of an upgrade over Beckham, if he's one at all. Ehh, I think he is. He is only 23 years old, career .285 hitter, should hit close to 10 HR, steal 30+ bases, doesn't strike out much. He would be an ideal #2 hitter behind Eaton. He just needs to learn to take more walks. Steamer has him at 2.7 WAR next year, which isn't bad in his year 24-year-old season. Plus, Altuve has 4 more years of team control.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 03:20 PM) Do people throw AFC Championship game parties? I suppose those teams fans' might, but that's it. Ahhh you right. I forgot they are both in the AFC.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 04:37 PM) http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?sh...5&start=525

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 04:18 PM) I'm pretty high on Quintana myself and would prefer if he was traded it would be for a higher impact player than Castro. Nothing wrong with Castro, would love to have him but outside of Q I don't see what else the Astros would be interested in that we are wiling to offer in a trade. Ideas anyone? I mean, Castro and Altuve would be natural fits on this team.

State of Emergency right now. Yaaaaaaaaay fun!!

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 04:20 PM) I've only seen the first episode (going to use it as a gym/tablet show), but yeah. Also, I was shocked when her German clone got shot in the head. Somewhat of a spoiler, but almost kind of the premise of the show....

Baseball Report ‏@NickHamelinMLB 3m Reports say #Astros Star C Jason Castro could possibly be on the trading block.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 01:29 PM) I'm not sure I want to listen to the announcers in that game. Yeah, but do you usually hear the announcers during a Super Bowl party? We usually only quiet down for the commercials.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 09:59 AM) Concur. Some later episodes drag but still can't believe that girl got snubbed by EMMYs. She is incredible in that show. I often forget it's the same actor playing like 5 different people all at once.

Actually, my Honda something or another may be my best car, it's close.

Just finished "Season 2" of the WSR league in Grid 2. And it cut to another SportsCenter broadcast. Seems to be that after every season they do this recap of the sport. The driving in this game is so slick. Although it sure is taking a while to get to some premium cars. Maybe that's a good thing, but I just now received the best car of my 18 cars, and it's a Nissan Nismo R34GT-R Z-Tune with only about 60% top speed bar, 50% acceleration, and 50% power. I wonder what cars I'll get when all these bars are pushing 100%. Really crossing my fingers I come across a Tesla Roadster at some point.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Jan 4, 2014 -> 03:21 AM) Society is in pristine shape. Impeccably pristine shape. Was that a jumper? And who was taking a picture of a girl taking a picture of herself? And HOLY s*** HOW MANY MEXAPIXELS IS THAT CAMERA?