Y2Jimmy0

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Apr 29, 2015 -> 08:16 AM) Have you watched game tape of Ray? Or do you just not know how leverage works? It doesn't matter if he can't play in space, he has a far more valuable skill in his ability to defeat the opposing team's best pass blocker and get to the QB. Valid points. I think he's either a 4-3 DE or a SLB that kicks down to end on passing downs. I hate his fit as a 34 OLB but I think some teams would play him there. And yes, I've watched game tape of Shane Ray.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 28, 2015 -> 09:01 PM) Engel's also kind of similar to Eaton (tools-wise)...but with the pop to hopefully hit 7-10 homers a year? Is that too optimistic? I realize physically he's much bigger (at least six feet) and more reminiscent of Trout than Adam. I like rabbit's Greg Gentry comp for Engel.

QUOTE (Hawkfan @ Apr 29, 2015 -> 12:12 AM) It is too late now, but 8m a year sure seems cheap looking back at the crap we went through. AJ4L. If it wasn't for the recent awareness of personal attcks I'd tell all the sabermetrics fans to suck a dick. Wow. Now that's a hot take. fWAR is a better tool but according to bWAR, in 2014 Flowers put up a 2.3 WAR season. AJ was -0.9. Flowers was a better player than AJ Pierzynski last season. Would I upgrade from Flowers/Soto if possible? Absolutely. AJ isn't an upgrade at this point.

QUOTE (shipps @ Apr 28, 2015 -> 11:41 AM) You may wind up being right but you sound as though you are 100% sure of this. How the hell does anyone really know who is going to be great and who is not? Its a crap shoot. Everyone thought the Bears reached for Kyle Long and he became one of the better OL in the league. Well because it's a hobby of mine and I scout players. That's how I feel. Many people that aren't in the "big draft" portion of the national media don't like Ray all that much either. I don't think he's a bad player. Just not a top of the 1st round guy. Now he definitely won't be.

Phil Rogers actually did this with the Youkilis trade. It's the only time I can remember where it actually comes to fruition though.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Apr 28, 2015 -> 11:23 AM) If players can't refrain from smoking/driving under the influence/getting in to some kind of legal trouble right before the combine or draft, you gotta question the intelligence, character and drive of the person involved. The physical attributes and skill don't really mean much if he's going to get on the roster, get his money, and then screw around and never become a good player. I wouldn't take him at 7. 2nd or 3rd round maybe. Taking Shane Ray at #7 without an injury or character concerns would be a terrible decision. He's just not a top ten player.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Apr 28, 2015 -> 10:33 AM) Some people are saying he could fall to round 3 or 4 now, too, which I think is ridiculous. If he's there in the 2nd for Kansas City I hope they jump all over him. That is exactly how they got Justin Houston (3rd round) a few years ago Justin Houston is a much better play than Ray though. I think Ray was always going in the 2nd round and probably still will. He's just not that good. Stiff, straight line pass rusher that is bad in space. Meh.

I don't really mind playing games later in the season. More potential Carlos Rodon and Erik Johnson starts.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 27, 2015 -> 01:32 PM) Yes but he's been traveling a bunch lately and since they blocked this page from his work he doesn't make it back much. If anyone was going and wanted to shoot him a PM it might get a response. He's also on twitter constantly if anyone follows him.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Apr 24, 2015 -> 11:13 AM) it's busch-league NL central and it always will be. Teams have zero depth, you can't name half the #2 starters and guys like Ted Lilly, Arrieta, and Jason Hammel become good pitchers and tradeable commodities all of a sudden. Unfortunately, they really don't need much more pitching, becuase it only has to not suck completely. They do have the tradeable pieces to acquire a Hamels or Cueto though. Would be a really good rotation if they could push Arrieta to #3.

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 24, 2015 -> 10:17 AM) I'll be at this game. Sox are 2-0 when I follow on a plane. 0-2 in attendance. gulp. I'll be in attendance as well

I'll be in attendance tonight.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 23, 2015 -> 10:16 AM) Three games and drama each time out. Can the punk Ventura behave tonight? I'll be in 127 tonight. I'm going tomorrow.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 07:50 PM) Newman is loved by Kiley and Law and not really touched by other baseball writers. Hipsters vs. Oldtimers. Yep. Law and McDaniel both highly value guys that can hit and definitely stay at SS. As they should.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 10:25 PM) Your logic is valid but I don't think you're accounting for the low barrier for entry. The guy who is in front of Davidson happened put up a 101 OPS+ as 24 year old in the PCL in almost 500 PAs, he got a chance right after that. If Davidson hits how he has this season, and can field any bit better than Gillaspie, I would think Davidson gets a chance. I believe Gillaspie's wRC+ is 65 since the All Star Break last season.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 02:18 PM) Conor is not getting it done with the bat. I wonder how long of a leash they'll have with him before Beckham starts getting more ABs. Gillaspie has like a 65 WrC+ since All Star Break last year. Yikes.

Here is Keith Law's top 50 for the draft. You need insider to read it: http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/...er/post?id=3876 He also has another piece where he mentions White Sox linked to Buehler, Funkhouser, and Nikorak.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 01:18 PM) Isnt that bye bye KD? I thought he was pretty happy with Brooks Not if they hire Ollie. Durant may go to Washington regardless though.

Thunder have fired Scott Brooks

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 11:28 AM) After this offseason i dont think they could tank even if they wanted to. They set the team up to be competitive. Not great, but not terrible. There would have to be some serious injuries in order for them to tank I agree with you. I think 6-10 or 7-9 is very possible. It will be tough to go like 3-13 or 4-12 though.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 11:10 AM) He's intriguing, but tanking for him seems like a bad bad idea. He needs to show some major improvement this year for that. I never said anything about "tanking". I just said that I hoped they'd be bad enough to get it done. They would never do it on purpose though.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 10:49 AM) Adam La Roche is 35 years old. This isn't likely to improve. Here is what he hit vs. LHP last year, and the year before: AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS 137 13 28 3 0 5 16 0 0 15 43 .204 .284 .336 .620 131 11 26 6 0 3 12 1 0 9 38 .198 .254 .313 .566 81 strike outs in 268 at bats (33%) and an OBP well under .300. I'm sorry, but you simply can't have a clean up hitter hitting that poorly, vs. LHP. The opposing manager will go to the pen, for a LOOGY, every time he comes up, with men on base, in a close game, after the 6TH inning. Robin hasn't been batting LaRoche cleanup against LH starters though......

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Apr 22, 2015 -> 09:30 AM) Is Hackenberg really that big of a prospect? I could see "suck for Luck", but Hackenberg wasn't all that good last year. People that box score scout think Hackenburg is bad. He was excellent 2 years ago under O'Brien. Wasn't really coached by James Franklin. This is an excellent piece about Hackenburg that sums up my thoughts on him very well: http://www.footballsavages.com/christian-h...ithout-context/

For me the goal of this Bears season is officially, Be Horrible for Hackenburg

At first, I was in the camp that was vehemently against him pitching out of the bullpen ever. I have changed my mind on that. People are acting like he's going to be a reliever for the whole season. I think the people that believe he should be starting right now would also complain when the Sox shut him down in early August. You can't have it both ways and I've accepted that. Rodon will most likely make 20-25 starts this season and be a rotation fixture for the next 6 years. It's really not that big of a deal.