Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 07:32 PM) I'm shocked Engel even got to that ball. Dude covers a ton of ground, can’t deny his defensive abilities.

Jesus f***ing Christ, i cant believe I’m going to say this but don’t be hurt Engel.

I don’t like Saladino without the mustache.

Timmy! Was just about to post that he should hit a HR to make up for the error!

Gonzalez was going to give up some runs, so no worries there, but I’m not optimistic about the offense tonight.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 06:58 PM) Even if I were one, he profiles as more of a 6 hitter. Having him at 4 just kills rallies Exactly, I don’t want him batting directly after my best hitters. I’d rather have Delmonico in that spot.

I really don’t like Davidson batting cleanup. I’m simply not a believer.

I feel like we’re 0-2 every at-bat.

f*** yes! Atta boy Nicky!!

That K really sucks.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 05:18 PM) Let me ask you this...what are the odds he turns into a better player than Avi? Right now I’m not optimistic because of how poorly he performed in 2017. Even with BABIP regression, Avi is probably a 2 to 2.5 WAR player and it’s hard to automatically assume any prospect in low A is going to be that good in the majors short of the most elite prospects. Rutherford is definitely not that type prospect. But I’m a huge fan of prospects who are considered to have plus hit tools, strong plate discipline, & projectable bodies. I get why scouts were intrigued with Rutherford, although I do think he was bit overrated even before his poor 2017 season. But the talent is there IMO, the question is can he be harnessed. I am concerned whether the Sox are the team that can actually do that or not and the Yankees selling him at a low point is an obvious red flag. I’m still taking a wait and see approach on this deal because the preliminary returns from their other big trades look fantastic and the Sox were obviously high on Rutherford and hopefully did their homework.

We gotta wait and see how Rutherford performs this year. At the time of the trade, I felt Rutherford was a solid centerpiece if the Sox felt he was still a top 50 caliber prospect, but that Clarkin as the second piece was incredibly weak given how much we gave up. The early returns have obviously been ugly with Blake and I think it’s perfectly fine to be a bit concerned about the trade. However, I think we have to wait and see what the Sox saw in the kid before saying they undersold on Kahnle. If Rutherford shows no improvement this year then I’m prepared to call the trade a bust, but he if regains some helium it’s the possible the Sox made a shrewd move and bought low on a very talented kid. We’ll know more come September.

Renteria mixing up the bottom of the lineup: 1. Moncada, 2B 2. A. Garcia, RF 3. Abreu, 1B 4. Davidson, DH 5. Castillo, C 6. Anderson, SS 7. Engel, CF 8. Saladino, 3B 9. Delmonico, LF

I think if Nate Jones stays healthy and dominates over the first four months of the season he'll be our best trade chip. He can be an elite reliever when all is going right and is dirt cheap going forward (I think he'll only make the league minimum due to his recent surgery).

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 2, 2018 -> 10:23 AM) Even if Avi continues to hit well, I'll still see him as too high risk for a long term investment. Unless the power shows in the next four months, there is no point in extending him IMO. His speed has helped him over-compensate in certain areas and when that starts to go it could quickly get ugly for him. I do not want to pay big money for that player.

QUOTE (GenericUserName @ Apr 2, 2018 -> 08:07 AM) From every report out of spring training and the hitters camp, the raw power isn't there. I think it was Kiley at Fangraphs who said after seeing him at the hitters camp he would put a 45 on his future power. So his upside comp as a below average power corner OF is basically Christian Yelich. That is a hard profile to achieve. I’ve read those same comments but question how his raw power would actually deteriorate so quickly. Again, I think he was overhyped to begin with and people are now over-compensating given the poor power output he’s shown to date. I still see average raw power potential in the kid. That along with a plus hit tool can make him an effective everyday OF. The question is can the White Sox get him to translate that raw power to in game power. That will obviously make or break him, but I don’t buy that in 12 months he went from 60 grade raw power (FV) to 45.

It’s way too early to write Rutherford off. For whatever reason, the kid was overhyped since draft day and I think those unrealistic expectations have caused some people to view him as a flop due to his poor 2017 production. This is going to be a huge year for him as he needs to show some level of improvement in the power department. Playing half his games at BB&T Ballpark should help out. The raw power is there, just needs to find a way to harness it.

Thank god for domes. I feel like I’m having withdrawal with all these off days.

QUOTE (Sox-35th @ Apr 2, 2018 -> 12:55 AM) Attendance used to matter more. Now it's all about TV deals. Unfortunately for the White Sox (and many other MLB franchises), the teams negotiate for local right on their own. The good news is, the "salary cap" is going to help us long term, as the Sox make enough money as an organization to afford the entirety of the cap. What salary cap are you referring to?

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 1, 2018 -> 03:18 PM) It's as if there's a highly rated prospect they have very strong connections to What are you implying here fathom?

QUOTE (buntforahit @ Apr 1, 2018 -> 09:24 AM) Will there be a "loaded up" MILB team this year? Seems like last season's Kanny squad may have been! WS perhaps?? Yeah, Winston Salem should be pretty loaded. I’m predicting something like this: 1B: Sheets 2B: ? SS: Yrizarri 3B: ? LF: Rutherford CF: Basabe RF: Call DH: Adolfo #1: Dunning #2: Cease #3: Flores #4: Pinto #5: Martinez Robert will be up at some point in the not too distant future as well.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 1, 2018 -> 10:06 AM) Well, I'm not getting my wish. Lopez, Gonzalez, Fulmer in Toronto. Shields is getting the home opener. Sorry guys. I’m not even sure I want to go to the home opener at this point.

If you can get a quality return for Nate Jones at the deadline you do it in a heartbeat. He is 32 years old and has a terrible injury history. We really can’t bank on Nate being a key part of our next competitive team.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Apr 1, 2018 -> 01:58 AM) God I’m wet thinking about the potential options for our starting 5. Rodon Kopech Giolito Hansen Cease 2018 draft pick ala Hankins Lopez Dunning That’s 7 or 8 dudes, many of whom have ace potential and most of which have #3 floors. Those who don’t make it will be dynamite in a pen role. Stoked. Add Burdi as closer and a few other interesting relief prospects and the makings are there for a dynamite staff. If it all works out, it will allow us to splurge on the positional side in free agency which is a much sounder approach than buying pitching. Just got hope these can keep developing and make this dream a realization.

Caulfield, if this dude was Dominican and not Cuban I doubt you’d have interest in adding him. That should tell you something.