oldsox

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Dec 17, 2013 -> 07:30 PM) Prior to Reed, we built a closer out of a former shortstop. He pitched even better than Reed. There is probably no "position" in baseball more overvalued than closer. Also, we didn't give Reed away for free. I know we didn't give Reed away for free, Vance. That's why we made the trade. No one knows more about Davidson that Dbacks; they got a real good look at him and made the trade. We'll all have a good idea by mid season. Until then, it will be interesting. I hope he starts the season with Sox and plays every day. Reed will prob do well at Ariz regardless.

Been thinking a lot about this trade for two days now, and I don't think I would have made it. Reed is a very good closer, only going to get better. His ERA got too high because of 2-3 really bad outings. He took the ball and saved 40 games for a lousy team. The kid has guts and big time experience. I would have kept him. Dbacks got a good deal, IMO.

Aggresive move, to say the least. Too bad Sox could not have included Keppinger in trade. Wonder if Hahn tried?

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Dec 15, 2013 -> 04:10 PM) This guy's made it clear he has a vendetta against Hawkins. A lot of his posts are just railing the kid. Taylor, why would I have a vendetta against Hawkins? I don't, okay? I also do not have a vendetta against Dunn, whom I really can't stand as a ballplayer. When he comes up, I hope he hits one out. I just thought it was a lousy signing from day one. I never railed againt Hawkins personally. I even questioned once that he might have a physical problem, like eyesight. What I have railed against, if that is the right word, is his continued ranking as a Number 1 prospect. I think there are a whole bunch of guys who should be ranked ahead of him, starting with Abreu.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 15, 2013 -> 01:33 PM) So you hope he continues to suck? No. I hope he does well in 2014.

I have several pals who are hard core BoSox fans, and they watch everything. To a man, they do not like Middlebrooks. He had a big final month in 2012 ??. He might still be living off the reputatio from that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 10:24 PM) ? Balta, do you really need an explanation? Do you not know who John McEnroe is? If so, do you not know about his famous question to a linesman? "You can't be serious? Or, do you think Hawkins will have a "snapback season" as Dick Allen hopes for?

Charlotte infield could get crowded. In no particular order, Garcia, Elmore, Sanchez, Seimen, Micah J, Rondon.......with Morel clogging up third. He might be gone. Only one of the above likely to make Sox opening day roster unless a trade comes up.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 15, 2013 -> 03:33 AM) I don't think we have any chance of contending next primarily because of lack of pitching depth. But I do credit hahn with adding 3 quality hitters to this team. If he can do it again over the next year, then we might contend in 15. But we'll need a couple of pitchers too. His name is Beck.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 04:01 PM) Hooefully Hawkins has a snapback season. Coming into 2013, BA considered him a better prospect than Garcia or Eaton, and he was only slightly behind Puig. If John McEnroe were a member of this board, he would say, "You can't be serious."

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 12:54 PM) I don't know if Eaton can sustain Lofton's numbers through a 17 year career but that is a good comparison for Eaton if all goes well. Expecting Abreu to become the best hitter on earth is a stretch. I think a better comparison, while not perfect, would be a Billy Butler with more power and a little less AVG/OBP. I give Avisail Garcia the wait-and-see approach. The Magglio the Sox had from '99-'04 would be a perennial MVP candidate today. I've always liked the Juan Encarnacion comparisons as the most likely. If Garcia went .275/.320/.440 with 19 HRs and 70 RBIs I would be very happy. Didn't he just get linked to steroids? Just wondering. Or was it Edwin? And, as an aside, I expect Abreu to be a runaway ROY next year.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 04:58 PM) Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 7m Sources: Uribe to return to #Dodgers for two years. Good.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 09:11 AM) That is the agent talking. Agents are paid to lie. It's a given. Then, if the agent is an attorney who is afraid of the courtroom, then the probability of his lying exceeds 100.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 13, 2013 -> 06:15 PM) Which is probably really sound advice for a lot of White Sox prospects toiling in high A. What, you don't like the W/L record at Bristol the last two years?

Adam Eaton -- can't wait. (same with Abreu).

"I Can See It Now" category: If the Sox keep him and he does really well, there are going to be a lot of "Yo, Adrian" signs and comments next year.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 10:56 AM) Which is easier to find than video of any other Sox players taking a walk. LOL. Plus, he stays in the batter's box during the entire AB, without the need for walking around the plate ten times.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 12:02 PM) The way catcher is, you could play Flowers, hope for an early season hot streak(Oliver '14 projections are kind)...and actually get something for him. A little something at least. The minor league numbers being what they are, you can surely sell someone on a potential light switch flip having happened. That is, if you are fine with 2014 being experimental jazz "Experimental Jazz". Love that metaphor.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 11:54 AM) Can't give up on him only because he doesn't get you anything. If another team wants to give me a much lower ceiling but higher floor usable MLB-ready position player for any of our K machine OFers apart from Hawkins, I make that deal yesterday. Agreed. However, I bet that by mid-2014 season, you will add Hawkins to that artificial list.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 11:53 AM) FutureSox write-up of the Rule V draft selections (and one player lost). Northsider, thank you for that post. It is the perfect summary I was looking for. You guys really do good work.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 11:48 AM) Still not done with Thompson. He's inconsistent, but can't give up on a guy who could easily put be a 20/20 player with plus defense in CF. au contraire (sp?). Unfortunately, he is very consistent. He had been a consistent .237 hitter through five, count 'em, five minor league seasons. Five minor league seasons in some places would constitute a career. And, in some places, he would be considered a prospect.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 9, 2013 -> 08:00 PM) He only pitched 14 innings for the Rockies in 2011. He had an ERA of 4.11 with around 120 innings pitched for the Royals that same season. He didn't pitch more innings with Rockies because they released him.

He was awful with Rockies a year or two ago. He pitcheld like he was hurt, and he probably was.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Dec 9, 2013 -> 02:45 PM) Personally if I'm Hahn I'm telling Towers he can keep Bradley and that I want as many pieces as possible. I feel like the package diminishes a good deal if Bradley is involved. Skaggs Chafin Owings Davidson Trahan Eaton Spruill Lamb Drury Pick your favorite 6 and tell them that's the package for Sale. Then you can rename Sale Herschell Walker.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Dec 9, 2013 -> 01:53 PM) I don't trade a starter. Our pitching depth is grossly overrated. Part of that over-rated pitching staff was caused by below average defense..