Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 20, 2016 -> 07:22 AM) Why are you so gung ho for Leury Garcia and/or Carlos Sanchez? I'm not, but utility infielder is lower on my list of needs than OF, DH, & C.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 19, 2016 -> 10:14 PM) You're dreaming if you think we get any of those guys. Cespedes will stay with NYM, Encarnacion will sign some outrageously large contract, Trumbo too... Sure maybe we'll get Bautista/Reddick as consolations but it's not like they're that good anymore regardless I'm not sure what you're arguing. I don't want to waste $5M on Brett Lawrie. Whether we're rebuilding or going for it, I'd rather start Saladino. If we were to go for it, I sure as s*** wouldn't waste $5M on a 2B when we have gaping holes in CF, DH, & C. And quite frankly, we're not going to be legit contenders next year if we don't sign one of those guys I mentioned in my previous post (among other moves). I'm not suggesting that's going to happen, but am implying that's what it's going to take to turn this team into a winner. Again, wasting a chunk of our limited financial flexibility on a position of low need would be incredibly foolish. What part of my argument do you disagree with exactly?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 19, 2016 -> 09:02 PM) Unless we are getting a nice return, I don't see a need to open up a spot for Leury Garcia or Carlos Sanchez. We aren't getting a nice return for Brett Lawrie, so it sounds like you're good with going cheap somewhere else (CF, DH, & C), because we aren't going to have the money to fill all these holes. Not sure how that makes us better, but hey, I'm all for rebuilding anyways.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 19, 2016 -> 09:01 PM) Uh... who? Cespedes, Encarnacion, Bautista, Trumbo, Fowler, Desmond, & Reddick.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 19, 2016 -> 08:50 PM) What free agent? This class is the worst in modern history. Hell, Lawrie would be one of the top players on the market if he were a FA> So I take it you're all for rebuilding then? How do you expect this team to get better if you don't plan on signing any free agents? BTW, there are several DH/OF types that could help us next year. If we decide to "go for it" I'd rather commit my resources to one of them than Lawrie when we have a cheap in-house option place for 2B.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 19, 2016 -> 07:35 PM) To get the next Latos or Rollins? So ignore the holes all together then? Is that really what you're suggesting? Also, why can't we use that $5M towards a quality free agent?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 19, 2016 -> 04:58 PM) Unless you get a big offer for Lawrie, there is no reason to not bring him back again. He isn't cost prohibative. Not sure I agree there. We have several significant holes and the $5M+ Lawrie will earn next season could best be used to elsewhere.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 17, 2016 -> 11:05 PM) So did you know that Lawrie is younger than Saladino? Just curious. Why is Tyler still developing and Lawrie can't? The simple answer is because Lawrie has 2,417 major league plate appearances while Saladino only has 565. Age and development don't always go hand and hand.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Sep 17, 2016 -> 03:42 PM) Guys...there's nothing wrong with him in a backup role. Sure, but not if Brett Lawrie is starting ahead of him. Saladino is a better player IMO for a fraction of the cost.

QUOTE (StrykerSox @ Sep 17, 2016 -> 02:19 PM) Saladino has had an 18 game hot streak (OPS of .935 in that span). Before that, he was at a .674 OPS. That puts him dead last among qualified MLB 2Bs. Now at .738, there are only five MLB two-baggers below him (Phillips, Gennett, Panik, Utley and Harrison). Let's not act like Saladino is some proven hitter who can only be prevented from starting at second next year by the acquisition of Moncada or better. He's had a nice 18 games, but he's been BAD for most of his career. If regular Tyler (as in the player we've seen for 88% of his career) shows up and he's a starter, we are going to sink hard. Tyler Saladino has 565 career plate appearances. His entire career is effectively a rookie season. You act like he's sucked for years and ignore the progress he has made this season, in particular when he's gotten consistent playing time. And why do cite offensive comps and ignore the value he provides in the field and on the bases? If he simply he kept up his current production over the course of a full season he'd be right around 15th or so in fWAR among 2B. Honestly, I can't quite grasp your hatred for him, but it's really, really bizarre.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 17, 2016 -> 01:04 PM) The White Sox were .500 when Rollins was let go. The decision didn't cost games. Did you just cite the team's record as "proof" a -0.1 WAR player didn't negatively impact the team?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 17, 2016 -> 09:14 AM) And for the record, after last night Tyler Saladino has an OPS+ of 102 on the season. That is without including his plus defense on the season. Accorinding to Fangraphs he has put up about 1.2 WAR and about $9.7 million in value when he has played somewhere close to half a seasons worth of baseball. Going by baseball reference, he is at 1.8 war. Thanks for posting this. And this is a guy who is still basically a rookie based on playing time. I think a lot of posters on here underrate him because he was never considered a top prospect and overall has underwhelming minor league stats. However, those of us followed him closely since being drafted always knew he had pretty solid tools with a decent amount of upside. His 2011 season at A+ clearly demonstrated that upside. And despite stalling a bit in the upper minors, he eventually worked through his issues and started hitting AAA pitching. If you look at his minor league BB & K rates, he's still got plenty of room for growth at the major league level. With his defensive & base running abilities, it's not going to take much more improvement with the bat to make him a 3 WAR player. Unless we acquire a Moncada type prospect, Saladino should be the starting 2B in 2017 whether we go for it or rebuild.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Sep 16, 2016 -> 03:09 PM) I hope they get swept in the NLDS. I've been the "Sox guy" ever since I was a little kid. Back in the day, we'd have some fun and go back and forth with it and then once the Sox won most of the s*** talking went away. All of a sudden everybody became Hawk fans. Recently, a bunch of people who don't know baseball and have never talked baseball with me have started talking the s*** again. I am annoyed by it. I don't hate the Cubs team or their players but I wish their fans' suffering to continue. Maybe that's immature, but oh well. 100% this. I'm married to a diehard Cubs fan who used to share season tickets with a couple buddies of mine. There's nothing she wants more in this world than a Cubs championship. Call me selfish, call me immature, but f*** that team. I can't stomach the thought of a Cubs World Series. I may not openly be as big of an asshole as I was during the 2003, 2007, & 2008 playoffs, but deep down inside I will be cheering against them.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Sep 15, 2016 -> 06:49 PM) Wouldn't the more relevant statistic in determining if there's a racial bias in police shootings be the percentage of victims that were shot where lethal force was not justified (the percentage of times where lethal force was justified but not taken could be enlightening too)? If the percentage of unjustified shootings is the same between white and black victims then it shouldn't matter that the numbers don't match the demographics of the general population. The fact that minorities tend to end up in such situations more often is definitely a problem, but that's really a separate issue than what we're talking about here. Great post. Was hoping someone would post this.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Sep 14, 2016 -> 01:46 PM) if greg's actions in this thread don't convince many he's a troll, I don't know what will. POTY.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Sep 13, 2016 -> 06:14 PM) He does play with a lot of energy, swagger and flair...Hawk overrated it early, but it's not a negligible factor, either. I love those traits and he can be fun to watch, but you don't make roster regions over things like swagger and flair.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 13, 2016 -> 02:13 PM) I don't know how you can see an argument that Lawrie is regressing. He looks to me like 100% the most consistent player I've ever seen. His OPS since that cup of coffee you refer to is .718, and it's .723 this season. His OBP outside of that season is .310, and in 2016 it's .310. He's hit the disabled list once every year other than 2015, and he hit the disabled list once in 2016. He's good for something in the range of 100-140 games, and he'll put up a .720 OPS. He's the most consistent ballplayer I've seen in years. You're using a stat that isn't park adjusted. His wRC+ has gone from 103 to 95 to 91 over the past three years, while his K rate has gone from 17.4% to 23.9% to 28.4% during this same time period. His BB rate is up a little bit this year, but that appears to be the result of a flukey April & May and it was dropping significantly before he got injured. The power numbers haven't really fluctuated much either. Like I said, I think an argument can be made he's regressing and base case scenario you can say he is what he is. And I'm not sure how using a 40 game range of missed playing time demonstrates consistency, but you do bring up another mark against him which is that he's frequently hurt. We're lucky we have a quality backup in Saladino, because if we did not, the overall production at the position could be drained by being forced to play replacement level players there more than you'd ideally like. Outside of slightly above average power for a 2B, I'm not sure what the big draw is to be honest. There is a reason Beane paid a hefty price for him and promptly gave him away. The dude is a physical freak, but a pretty mediocre baseball player. With only one year left of control and a better option already on the roster, I don't see the reason to keep him another year.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 13, 2016 -> 09:50 AM) So you posted their ages and career PA, and then immediately put their 2016 numbers below them? For anyone who is justifiably confused, Lawrie's career wRC+ is 100, and Saladino's is 80. And that is why Lawrie will get the first chance to start over Saladino. I posted their career PA's to show that one is a finished product and the other is not despite their similar age. And I would have expected a lot more from you than simply comparing career wRC+ of a guy who has played 4+ full seasons vs. a guy with less one full season. One guy is improving and the other guy is arguably regressing. And take out Lawrie's ridiculous cup of coffee, which clearly has been an abberation, and he's closer to a 96 wRC+ hitter for his career (or basically where Saladino is right now). Factor in 2B defense, where Saladino has been the superior player this season (SSS) and I'm not sure what the argument is. Seems like you're expecting Saladino to regress for some reason and I can't understand why.

If we're rebuilding, let Sanchez & Garcia battle for the spot. If we're going for it, sign a veteran for the bench. Either way, Lawrie has no spot on this team IMO.

I needed like 7 points from Gurley and the Rams defense last night to win and those chumps got smoked. That teams looks like a complete disaster.

Player A Age 27 550 Career PA's .737 OPS 95 wRC+ 14.3 UZR/150 1.2 fWAR Player B Age 26.5 2,417 Career PA's .723 OPS 91 wRC+ -7.7 UZR/150 0.8 fWAR Those are only 2016 stats and the UZR/150 values are for 2B only. Regardless, I'll easily take player A as my starting 2B over player B. Not only has Saladino been far more productive this year due to his defense, he's also a less developed player and has room for growth despite being slightly older than Lawrie. I'm certain that with a full year of regular playing time his BB rate would increase (look at his minor league numbers) and he could become a 3 WAR 2B. Factor in the team control and there really is no argument for starting Lawrie over Saladino.

The Rams look like worst team in the NFL right now.

There goes the no-hitter and shutout in one fare swoop.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 11, 2016 -> 02:44 PM) First time I ever joined a Fantasy Football league, and ESPN.com's page has been down the whole day. Great work ESPN, not like anyone checks that on opening day! Glad I didn't have any last minute roster decisions, would be super pissed right now.