Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 3, 2013 -> 04:02 PM) And if any of them don't...then Castro, Rienzo, and a couple of the iffier-guys like Axelrod and Leesman, plus the usual Cooper Fix-em option give us a number of candidates already in the org who could step up and take that position. You're not even accounting for our two best pitching prospects in Johnson & Snodgress, who will both start the season in AA. There is a decent chance one of these guys could challenge for a rotation spot in 2014 if not at some point this season. Finding starters won't be a problem for us next year. The real concern for us is developing a replacement for Peavy in 2015 (i.e. a #2 starter). Maybe Johnson or Beck can put it all together and reach that level, but if not, that's an area we'll need to go outside the organization for. And if we have do, I'd rather have that $12 million to use towards a legit front of the rotation starter than an overpriced #4 starter who is getting up there in age.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 3, 2013 -> 02:46 PM) No, I prefer a tear down. Since they aren't going that way and have the 28th farm system, they are going to have to spend their way out of this middle-of-the-pack mess they are in. Yup, nothing like going the full blown rebuilding route right after CBA changes that makes rebuilding much more difficult and time consuming.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 3, 2013 -> 02:35 PM) What's the going rate for starting pitching upgrades these days? Doesn't matter what the price is, we don't need a marginal upgrade in our rotation right now. We already have six quality starting pitching options. Look around baseball and see how many rotations have utter crap in the 4th & 5th spots. I just don't get how you think paying $12 million to get slighter more production than Quintana or Santiago (and that's a maybe) makes any sense. And if you want to sign Lohse to trade Floyd then you've just weakened the rotation IMO.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 3, 2013 -> 01:54 PM) Lohse at $12M per for 3-4 years doesn't tie up the payroll. If you want a similiar pitcher it's going to cost more in 2014 and beyond This is just a terrible idea. Committing to $36 to $48 million for a marginal upgrade (at best IMO) is completely stupid.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 3, 2013 -> 10:27 AM) Give me a break...people deserved to know the guy wasn't really at the Super Bowl? It's not like he said he had cancer and was collecting donations or something...whatever, I'm over it. I don't get what your agenda is here. The guy was trolling, everyone was suspicious and it was becoming a distraction for the board. The mods were able to confirm he was trolling, communicated it to the rest of the board and now we all know the truth and can move on. I don't get why would anyone advocate protecting a troll from public humiliation.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Feb 1, 2013 -> 11:19 PM) Wow, I love the hate that I get here.. Thanks so much for spending much of the day talking about me... Go 49ers!!! We will destroy the Ravens this weekend..

I think he put the nail in his own coffin when he claimed to be a fire fighter/tattoo artist from San Francisco who can afford $12k Super Bowl tickets because he's also a classic car resterator in his free time, which is whenever he's not in Chicago using his White Sox season tickets or traveling the country in support of his 49ers.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Feb 1, 2013 -> 10:54 AM) 25.1 WAR since 2009. 3rd in baseball behind only triple crown boy and Pujols. But he makes $5.5 million next year!!!

QUOTE (3E8 @ Jan 31, 2013 -> 12:10 PM) Viciedo's line against RHP two years ago in Charlotte was .305/.357/.501 in 373 PAs. Better than he hit against LHP that season. He's not going to be as bad against RHP as his major league split suggests. Thanks for posting that. The kid has a much better hit tool than people realize.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Jan 31, 2013 -> 12:30 PM) I give two s***s if he likes the Niners or not. I told anyone on this site back in feb, that the 49ers would win the SB. Why are you even posting on this website right now? Shouldn't you be out on Bourbon Street getting f***ed up and celebrating your upcoming victory!

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 31, 2013 -> 06:10 AM) This article suggests that Ethier might be available: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/art..._la&c_id=la I don't know what it would take, and that contract is pretty expensive, but he is the kind of left handed #3 hitter who could really help versus RHP. If Viciedo were not traded, he would make a great platoon with Ethier in LF. I suggested that once, some time ago, in another thread. That would be one expensive platoon.

QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 30, 2013 -> 07:38 PM) In your baseball world wins don't matter. It was about run differential. Of course wins matter. They're ultimately what get you into the playoffs and what you need to win a World Series. Unfortunately, wins don't tell the whole story, since output and outcomes aren't always equal. Look, I'm not arguing that the Sox are the better team on paper. I think the Tigers are the favorites heading into 2013. I just think the two teams are a lot closer than a lot of people realize. A big part of that IMO is the defensive advantage we have, which was my original point all along.

QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 30, 2013 -> 07:38 PM) You're cracking me up dude. But, if you're under 12 years old I seriously apologize. In your baseball world wins don't matter. It was about run differential. Now, it's all about defense. But, you don't want to address the fact that the already far superior World Series appearing Detroit Tigers were better than the Sox prior to adding Torii Hunter, Victor Martinez and a full year of Anibal Sanchez? That somehow improves the Sox chances? Are you feeling alright? And, for your information, I never stated that Detroit's defense was better than the Sox. Please try to repsond to actual comments. Let's see, my original point was about defense, specifically how the White Sox's defense was far superior to the Tiger's defense in 2012 and how I expected it to remain a signicant advantage in 2013. QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 29, 2013 -> 03:07 PM) I think the defense part is what needs to be emphasized here. Detroit was horrific last year, while we were very good. I anticipate we'll be much better than them in 2013 as well. Seems like a lot of people are overlooking this. Then you come along to discredit my opinion, using the Tigers' World Series appearance as proof the difference was minimal or non-existant. QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 29, 2013 -> 04:46 PM) Yep. It killed Detroit so much last year they ended up having to play all those World Series games. I then use run differential to show that if the Tigers have a better pitching staff and offense, then the Sox must have significantly better defense. Again, my point was always about defense. QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 29, 2013 -> 05:38 PM) LOL...we had a higher run differential than the Tigers last year. If the Tigers' offense and pitching staff were so much better than ours, as you've already implied, then how do you explain this?

QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 30, 2013 -> 07:24 PM) And, if you are going to respond to my comments please learn how to respond to the comments that I've actually made instead of fabricating them in your head. LOL...I've asked you the exact same question three times and you've dismissed it three times. Not sure what I could possibly be fabricating.

QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 30, 2013 -> 07:24 PM) What a lame response. Where's your run differential trophy? What an ignorant response. Obviously you don't like using stats to try and tell the whole story, just wins and losses right? Just admit you're wrong here, that we have a much better defense than the Tigers. I don't see why this is so difficult for you.

QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 30, 2013 -> 07:12 PM) Talk about an irrational response....In waht presure packed playoff games did Detroit's "horrendous" defense destroy them? Answer: none. Secondly, it's quite obvious that Detroit has both a better pitching staff and better offense. The team had a horrible start and took time to jell and then easily blew past the overacheviving White Sox. And, they actually won playoff games beating the Yankees for the second year in a row. So, yeah they are a lot better than the Sox after adding Hunter, getting Martinez back and having Sanchez for a year The Sox rotation is FAR from solid. Peavy, Sale, Floyd (the guy Sox fans have been bashing for years), Quintana?, Santiago/Danks? C'mon. the only two guys there that Detroit would even be interested in would be Sale and Peavy. Only a cool aid drinker would even compare these two rotations. So how did we have a higher run differential last year?

QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 30, 2013 -> 07:12 PM) Talk about an irrational response.... Thanks for playing. Now go back to b****ing and moaning about how the Sox are doomed and the Tigers are the greatest team in the history of baseball.

QUOTE (Cali @ Jan 30, 2013 -> 06:52 PM) Didn't Gio's Dad have some other issues back when Gio was in High School or something? That was his mom. She got in a public fight with his HS coach over his brother's playing time. The coach ended up kicking both Gio and his brother off the team as a result.

QUOTE (WilburWilhelm @ Jan 29, 2013 -> 04:46 PM) Yep. It killed Detroit so much last year they ended up having to play all those World Series games. LOL...we had a higher run differential than the Tigers last year. If the Tigers' offense and pitching staff were so much better than ours, as you've already implied, then how do you explain this? Unfortunately, I don't expect a rational response, considering you just used a team making the World Series, despite underachieving all year, as proof their defense didn't suck.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 29, 2013 -> 02:43 PM) I think the Sox have the best pitching staff and defense in the division, and by quite a bit too. That alone is going to keep them in a lot of games. If they score at the clip they did last year, they're going to be in the race until the end. I think the defense part is what needs to be emphasized here. Detroit was horrific last year, while we were very good. I anticipate we'll be much better than them in 2013 as well. Seems like a lot of people are overlooking this.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Jan 28, 2013 -> 10:22 PM) I don't think the left-handed bat argument has any merit here. Gimenez is a switch hitter, which by that argument would make him the better option. Regardless, I like Gimenez just a little more, but let the two of them fight it out. Reminds me of 2005 with Widger and Davis. I agree with what you're saying, but some switch hitters just suck from one side or the other. What I'd really like to know is if Gimenez is naturally a lefty or a righty. Regardless, I'm not sure how much it matters. While we all like to think about the big picture and how a left-handed backup better complements Flowers, we often forget that it only matters if Robin will use the backup effectively. Unfortunately, based on last year, he didn't really play into matchups much, as it seemed like he always played the backup catcher in day games after a night game. If that's the case, then I'd probably go with Gimenez regardless who is better from the left side of the plate.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 28, 2013 -> 05:07 PM) Hopefully neither, but getting a lefty hitter than can play for Flowers against the tough righties in the division would be great. We talked about this briefly in another thread, but the bench as it stands right now is awful and I'm not quite sure what the front office is thinking. Agree with the overall bench issue. Assuming Gimenez, Wise, & Sanchez make it, I'm still not even sure who the last guy on the bench would be. That's a huge concern IMO given that one of the four guys on the bench is a minor league journeyman catcher and another is a Rule 5 pick infielder. I'm actually perfectly fine with Wise as the 4th OF, especially with Danks, Tekotte, & Mitchell as left-handed OFs in AAA who offer similar skills. A left-handed hitting IF would help big time. Against tough righties, it would be nice to plug in a left-handed bat at 3B, SS, or 2B. Who knows, maybe Hahn thinks Carlos Sanchez will be ready by mid-season and can fill the role then.

Regarding Mitchell, his ability to get on base is why he's still a solid prospect. If he can cut down on the strikeouts and make a little better contact, he can still be a special player. He's got more than enough speed and power as long as he's getting on base at a very high rate. The other thing I'd be interested in his splits. Given that's he a lefty, he could be a very valuable platoon player or 4th outfielder, assuming he hits righties much better than lefties.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jan 28, 2013 -> 12:27 PM) You need a reality show. For someone with three jobs, he apparently doesn't spend much time at any of them.

QUOTE (kevo880 @ Jan 28, 2013 -> 12:20 PM) Pretty shocked to see Simon Castro at #3. Yeah, I was high on him at the beginning of last season, but I was very underwhelmed with him in the 2nd half. I think he should be more like #9 or #10.