oldsox

"Trade Deadline" is misleading and titled improperly. It should be called something like, "Trade Deadline in which Waivers are not Required". Or, August 1st should be called, "Beginning of Waiver Required Trading Period". Trouble is, announcers and writers might not understand it, and then we are all in trouble.

QUOTE (The Wiz @ Aug 31, 2014 -> 01:45 PM) So if you are saying having Gordon Beckham batting behind Jose Abreu wouldn't be any better or worse for Abreu than having Giancarlo Stanton behind him, I would have to say without a doubt that you are unequivocally wrong. "Lineup Protection" is a cliche'. Announcers and writers use it ad nauseum. Then, the public buys it and uses it ad nauseum. But your argument is flawed, because Beckham, as we know him, should never bat behind Abreu anyway. Sure, I would rather have Stanton over Beckham. Duh?? If writers and announcers keep using the same expression, it's usually gobbledebunk. They copy each other, and then the public picks up on the expression, and everyone gets dumber (figuratively).

Sox just feel like a better team now. Three guys gone, PK will be retired soon, bullpen is much better, Avi will hit, Eaton and Abreu can still get better, Alexi and Gillaspie solid, Semian and Sanchez are ready, Rodon will excel sooner or later........

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Aug 30, 2014 -> 04:00 PM) Two too many in my world. which two?

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Aug 30, 2014 -> 09:10 PM) And even in the 9th, Robin "Gutteridge" Ventura pinch hits for Nieto but lets L Garcia hit. I have not seen that nickname before. I remember him as a first base coach in the 1950's. I think he succeeded Al Lopez as Mgr. in the 60's.....did not do too well.

QUOTE (BaconOnAStick @ Aug 30, 2014 -> 07:17 PM) The Sox might just be demoting Bassitt after the game, then promoting him again Sept 1 (like what's going to happen to Carroll). Might just be a little hat tip to the season Wilkins has had by bringing him up a day early. Wilkins will be eligible for post season play.

QUOTE (BaconOnAStick @ Aug 30, 2014 -> 02:42 AM) There is no hope for Matt Davidson. Doesn't say much for our scouts. Watch out. One of the Mods is gonna come get you. Meanwhile, Reed got his 31st save last night. Bad, bad trade.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Aug 29, 2014 -> 06:09 PM) I think drafting FOR a reliever is about the absolute worst move you can make with your first round pick, probably even your first couple picks. What was that guy's name from yesteryear? Last name Ring. First Round pick as a closer, made it to Mets for a cup of orange juice.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 29, 2014 -> 06:52 AM) This philosophy is strange to me. I follow and write about the Sox farm system, and even for me, I do not care one iota how much talent depth is in the farm system at any given moment. What I care about is how effectively the organization can get MLB-ready talent staged up for a job. While those things obviously tend to align, you have to make sure your goal is about getting the talent there, not having a farm system that looks good. There is a subtle but important difference there. If DJ Stewart is that much more polished, that isn't a bad thing, it is a good thing. It only becomes a bad thing if his ceiling is notably lower than others they could draft. Farm system depth is very important if your team is a perennial playoff team, just from the standpoint of trading chips. Plus, it's nice to see the minor league teams be successful.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 28, 2014 -> 07:34 PM) I still can't believe that if the Sox offered to pay all but $1 million of Dunn's deal over the last 2 months that there wouldn't be a team in the AL who would take that, giving the Sox a chance to bring Wilkins up and improving the DH spot of some contender. It seems ludicrous to me. I can easily believe that no team would pick up Dunn under those conditions. No other team wants him, especially a contender. Not ludicrous, at all. You and your two buddies will take your infatuation with Dunn to the grave. Now that is ludicrous.

Dunn's final acts of futility just add to the legacy of KW. Rios and Dunn. Terrible signings.

QUOTE (knightni @ Aug 28, 2014 -> 07:15 AM) Micah Johnson and Matt Davidson should be in the picture, as well. Davidson? Why? What do you think the Sox have planned for him for next year?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 28, 2014 -> 11:50 AM) If the White Sox thought Wilkins' hit tool could actually play at the next level, they already would have parted ways with Dunn a LONG time ago. His not being promoted despite the hottest hitting streak in the minors (and Charlotte's homer frenzy in general) should tell you everything you need to know. There's clearly some flaw or hole in his offensive game/swing/approach that MLB advanced scouts are already excitedly waiting to exploit. Nonsense. When Wilkins got hot, there was no place to put him. Sox could not get rid of Dunn, other than a DFA. That's why Wilkins wasn't promoted. If Dunn had been hurt, Willkins would likely have been brought up If he is not traded, he'll get a shot at making the team next year. Clearly, he should be brought up next month.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 28, 2014 -> 03:54 PM) I still don't really get a feel of what you mean by barreling up. You mean getting great wood on the ball or the ball exploding off the bat? Some guys just don't make contact enough. Hitting it in the sweet spot. Makes a great sound. Scouts supposedly look for this.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 03:42 PM) His ISO is around .240 both last year and this year. Consider Abreu's current ISO is at .290 and Dunn is at .200, he's got plenty of pop. He's going into Arb next year and isn't eligible for FA until 2019, so I think he's gotta cost us at least Montas or Danish + f**edaboutit, IMO

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 26, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) Yeah, it's unfortunate seeing people say that. I always liked Beckham and wanted him to succeed, but it just wasn't meant to be for the Sox. Another guy that comes to mind when thinking about this is Uribe too. He had turned into a pretty terrible hitter by the end of his Sox career and he's gone on to have a really nice career. Steroids? He sure got bigger.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Aug 24, 2014 -> 01:28 AM) And it should never be brought up again, but because it only proves the point, considering Derek Jeter is/was a garbage defender. Weak arm + limited range = DJ. Are you giving the intro speech for him at the HOF in 2020?

Players are not going to lose on purpose, and any discussion of that is silly. They don't have to, and they don't care very much about a #5 draft pick vs a #10 pick the next year. The losing takes care of itself. IOW, there are teams either fighting for a playoff spot (or trying to get home field adv) or teams with not much if any hope of getting into post season play. Not much in between. Call it Group 1 and Group 2. Now I don't have any stats to back me up, just decades of watching MLB. When Group 1 above plays Group 2 at the end of the season, there is a huge disparity. If the same teams meet in April-June, not nearly as much. Why? Because in September Group 1 teams are playing much harder and certainly with more emotion than Group 2 teams. This translates to wins and losses. There will always be exceptions. There will often be a Group 1 team go into the tank the last two weeks of the season and a Group 2 team can get hot and be a spoiler. But the Sox are clearly a Group 2 team this year. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 24, 2014 -> 07:37 PM) Schwarber was expected to dominate the pitching in A ball. He won't be in the top 50 for prospects going into next year. With that said, he's having an incredible start to his pro career. Just hit a home run in 5 straight games in High A. Got my attention.

QUOTE (LDF @ Aug 24, 2014 -> 07:39 PM) question, why not adams of the sox, second rounder. I kind of meant first rounders, just didn't say it.

QUOTE (ron883 @ Aug 14, 2014 -> 05:50 PM) Doesn't matter. Sure it does, if they sign a FA who received a QO from his old team. Or. are you just sayin that Sox will not sign a FA, therefore it doesn't matter?

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 24, 2014 -> 06:49 PM) If he's still eligible for prospect lists, I see no reason why Rodon won't be in the top ten going into next year. To me, he's the best pitching prospect in the minors. Probably right. Quite a coincidence that the two best prospects from the draft this year are on Chicago teams. Rodon and Schwarber (sp?) for Cubs.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 24, 2014 -> 10:46 AM) You are talking about a kid learning on the job at the major league level. He and Sanchez both would typically be making these types of mistakes in the minors. But in a rebuilding situation, they are going to be making them here. Welcome to rebuilding. Both Sanchez and Nieto are in their sixth year of pro ball.

....and. Beckham played third base.

How do you guys have a handle on next year's draft already? We're talking 10 months from now.