Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 9, 2015 -> 07:36 PM) Couple points - for one, I'll say Micah was bad but you will not find me saying he was "historically" bad anywhere. I agree with you on the sample size issue there. Second, I don't expect Micah to step in and be all that great with the bat. Yes an upgrade over Sanchez, but he was still a pretty easily exposed hitter in his stint up here and I expect struggles are the norm with guys who come up from Charlotte. Therefore I think the upgrade in the bat is easily offset by the downgrade with defense since I'm not projecting him to do what he's doing at charlotte for a while. That therefore is why I made that point - because you can't assume Micah's going to come up and hit .300 in the big leagues just because he is hitting better in Charlotte now. Third...some whispers we heard a week or two ago suggested that the reason why Micah was not afforded an adjustment period with the glove is that the pitching staff, possibly Samardzija specifically, were becoming particularly frustrated with him and that was the #1 reason why the defense improving swap was made. If the pitching staff is standing strongly behind Sanchez...at the very least that will buy him extra time. And finally, thanks for the cheap shot. Obviously we agree on point #1. As for point #2, I don't envision Micah being anywhere close to a finished product at any point this season. I do think with some moderate improvements on both sides he'll at least be a positive WAR player, which would be a huge upgrade from what we're currently getting. And I don't doubt point #3, but once Shark is traded and the season is officially ceded, it won't really matter. Micah clearly has more long-term upside than Carlos and needs development time at the major league level now if we want to count on him in 2016 & more importantly 2017. And I apologize for the cheap shot, I misinterpreted the logic behind your initial post.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 9, 2015 -> 06:55 PM) Just to note the contradiction - Kottaras's defensive shortcomings are likely to offset his offensive gains but that's not considered for Micah. Contradiction? I don't believe Micah is anywhere as bad defensively as we saw earlier this year. I know the cool thing to do on this site is state he "was on a pace for a historically bad defensive season" despite the fact it was an incredibly small sample (therefore not enough to be predictive) and was a rookie playing on a team with expectations of competing for a playoff spot. I don't think it's much of a reach to believe the guy may have been pressing a bit in the field. Furthermore, I'm not sure why guys like Sanchez are given an adjustment period with the bat, but Micah isn't afforded one with the glove. Kottaras on the other hand has been a league average hitter in the majors who happens to play one of the weakest positions in baseball. The fact he is rotting in AAA (for a parent club with catching issues) and not even a backup for a major league club suggests he must be terrible defensively. Despite that, I said he was still worth a look, I'm just not optimistic. But obviously I'm not surprised this post came from you. Only the most recent history for a player matters and clearly Micah will be a disaster defensively for the rest of his career because of his first six weeks in the majors.

While I want to believe in this team because of the pitching, the offense is simply too flawed to fix during the season. I have faith in Eaton, Abreu, Melky, & Avi being league average or better bats going forward. Same goes for LaRoche if he was actually used effectively (i.e. platooned). Problem is we have holes at four spots (2B, 3B, SS, & C) and limited options to fill them internally. I 100% believe Micah will be called up soon amd effectively plug our 2B hole. I'm very skeptical that our options at other positions will be enough of upgrades (if at all) to make a difference. I simply don't believe in Davidson, feel that guys like Thompson & Saladino will have a rough learning curve, & that Kottaras is more likely to offset any offensive gains with his defensive shortcomings (still worth like a look IMO). At this point, I really think our best approach is to trade Shark (hopefully for a major league ready prospect), fill his spot in the rotation with Erik Johnson, and hope the pitching doesn't fall off too much. Give some of the young guys I mentioned a look and hope a couple of them show enough to be considered for spots next year. I hate giving up on this season, but I think we'd crazy to pass up on a possible strong return for Shark in hopes of a long-shot attempt at the playoffs. All roster moves between now and the offseason should be focused on setting ourselves up better for 2016 & 2017.

Given the way the SP market appears to be shaking out, Shark may have some real value. IMO, Hahn needs to be aggressive and push a Shark deal sooner rather than later. I think being first to market will maximize the return. Only takes a few more sellers to turn this into a buyers market and that could happen between now and the 31st. Would like see a trade shortly after the All-Star break.

Offense finally breaks the 4 run curse at home!

Way to go Adam!

Totally f***ing out, the f*** this ump looking at??

Safe!?!

Remember when we all felt bad about s***ting on the Beckham signing a few weeks ago? Amazing how quickly he's destroyed the little goodwill he had earned on this site. Hahn should be embarrassed for spending a combined $6.5M on him & Bonifacio.

Here's my blow this s*** up lineup for the rest of the season: 1. Eaton, CF 2. Johnson, 2B 3. Abreu, 1B 4. Cabrera, LF 5. Garcia, DH 6. Thompson, RF 7. Kottaras, C 8. Sanchez/Davidson, 3B 9. Saladino, SS That lineup would likely be hot garbage, but at least we'd be giving some young guys (& Kottaras) a look.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jul 8, 2015 -> 10:34 PM) put lexi on the 60 day. Like now. Honestly, I'd much rather see Saladino at this point. Alexei just looks done IMO.

I can't recall a worse base-running Sox team in my entire life. I feel like we're constantly making outs at second & third trying to stretch single & doubles into doubles & triples. Haven't we already done so twice tonight?

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jul 8, 2015 -> 05:10 PM) Micah Johnson has been discussed by#WhiteSox GM Rick Hahn and staff but no call up imminent https://twitter.com/scotgregor/status/618901552120598528 Since the season is most likely lost and probably going to trade at least shark, the sox might as well bring him back up to play. He's batting over .300+ in Charlotte At this point you might as well keep Sanchez at 2B until Shark is traded. While I wholeheartedly believe Micah is the better player and would help us win more games, our short-term goal should be maximizing Jeff's trade value and Carlos' defense is more important towards accomplishing that.

Complete game win for Sale!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 6, 2015 -> 08:58 PM) He's still a debacle. Lol...it's like you assume future performance is 100% dictated by season-to-date results. One bad half a broken player.

Sox lead!! Yes!! Yes!!

We did it, we dit it! Two runs! Tie game!! Woo hoo!!!!

Yup Stone, I'm sure Flowers & Sanchez will make them pay for that error!

There goes the record, at least get this guy the win you chumps.

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Jul 6, 2015 -> 08:10 PM) 6 more K's. He's on pace to go 9 innings, so he's still got a chance. Not likely, but 3 Ks every two innings is possible.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 2, 2015 -> 09:21 PM) Alexei's D has been dropping off from year to year, so you can't just say this is some unexplainable act of God. Melky and Samardizija both had similar rough seasons just in 2013, so I don't see how this completely out of a standard deviation for them. Either way, those two players aren't the only thing keeping this team from being a contender. I mention Flowers & Beckham because they are on the roster and have to start the majority of the time. That's not Robin's fault, he didn't make up the roster. Then who's fault is it? Maybe the people who put together the roster? The people who acquired both years ago and are too stubborn to give up on them? Melky had a tumor on his spine that season, I think he gets a pass for that.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Jul 2, 2015 -> 10:00 PM) Trey Ball, Michael Kopech, cash of some sort. Holy f*** no.

Gordon Wittenmyer was on the Score this morning and said the Cubs were looking for a young starter, under team control for multiple years with a good contact that could start a game 3 in the playoffs. Quintana meets all those critieria and would be an elite #3 starter for them for years to come. I still think they are the best match for us, although I know it's incredibly unlikely the two teams make a deal.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 2, 2015 -> 06:20 PM) Could be a big story here (Samardzija traded or Danks sent to bullpen?) or maybe he's just fatigued. Nothing on twitter so far. Danks is the starter tomorrow, so this may have some legs.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 2, 2015 -> 10:36 AM) http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index.jsp?c...mp;ymd=20150702 Charlotte- Johnson Birmingham- Jaye & Blackmar Winston Salem- Clark Kannapolis- TBA Great Falls- Banks AZL- TBA If Johnson has another strong start tonight, I'd like to see him replace Danks next time around. We probably won't see him until Shark (or Quintana) is traded, but I really think calling him up to replace Danks in the near future is the right move.