Eminor3rd

The armchair GM in me can see the benefit to considering this line of thought. The other armchair GM in me would NEVER make this trade from the Dodgers perspective, because it's a MASSIVE risk to take in order to acquire something I already have more of than most teams -- elite front end pitching. The fan in me would absolutely hate not having Sale anymore. The fan in me would hate even more the idea of someone ELSE having Sale. I don't want to do it. The answer is no. Now go to your room and finish your homework.

I am coming out of the bushes to make this gamethread because I will be enjoying this fantastic pitching match-up from a luxury box at Yankee Stadium and I could not resist the opportunity to gloat about it. I would love nothing more than to bask in the anger of those around me as our Sox play spoiler behind our dominating, enviable ace. I shall endeavor to post lineups when said lineups become available to post. As usual, I forgot to put the date in the thread title. If a moderator would be so kind to rectify this, I would be grateful for minutes on end. If not, none of us will lose any sleep.

QUOTE (3GamesToLove @ Sep 23, 2015 -> 10:14 AM) It is a little odd that if you want to be a major league manager, you start by coaching and managing in the minors. If you want to be a major league player, you start by playing in the minors. If you want to be a major league GM, though, you're probably not going to be starting out as a minor league GM. I completely understand why (future GMs are in baseball ops/player development positions throughout the organization), but from the outside it seems strange. It makes more sense if you focus on who is employing who -- Players, managers, coaches, training staff, are all employed by the Major League organization. The GM of the milb team is emplyoed by... the owner of the milb team. The affiliates are (mostly) independent businesses that are contracted by the MLB teams to provide a playing environment for their players. The milb team is a third party. The milb GM doesn't "work for" the MLB affiliate.

Nice!

You don't have to be overhyping Trayce Thompson to choose him in this context.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 02:07 PM) The post I quoted described him as "one of the bright spots this season" and said that the White Sox basically got what they paid for from him. Oh Jesus, it does, doesn't it?

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Sep 21, 2015 -> 04:10 PM) I don't think he's tipping hit pitches so much as leaving hanging breaking balls over the middle of the plate.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 10:17 AM) Since we're in a thread on Viciedo, it's worth noting that I'm still amazed at how many people are genuinely ok with Melky producing basically Dayan Viciedo's 2012 and 2013 numbers while being paid $13 million for it. Who are these people?

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 22, 2015 -> 07:36 AM) He has at least proven that he can hit at the MLB level. I'd take him hitting .235 with 25 homers (or whatever his 2014 numbers were) at DH over LaRoche's .205 with 12 homers any day. I am not advocating that he start in a non-DH position nor do I think he's a good player. I just think he would produce better than LaRoche in 2016 at DH. He has not proven he can hit at the ML level. To put those 2014 numbers in perspective: despite those 21 homeruns, he somehow ended up with a 90 wRC+. A league average hitter is 100 wRC+ and each point represent 1% below or above that. In 2014, the average wRC+ for catchers was 93. So, essentially, despite 21 homers, 2014 Dayan Viciedo hit like a slightly below-average hitting catcher while playing a terrible LF and running the bases poorly.

We should unquestionably offer the QO.

Wow. I just tuned in to see that Samardzija has managed to record FIVE outs without giving up a run. Nice!

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 21, 2015 -> 12:32 PM) Do you really think, if given the same number of 2016 PA's, LaRoche would outperform Viciedo? Maybe not, but they'd both play like s*** and we'd lose, so it doesn't matter.

Dayan Viciedo was/is a replacement-level player. By definition, those players belong in AAA until an emergency/injury situation presents itself.

QUOTE (Coach @ Sep 18, 2015 -> 06:54 AM) I think if Garcia works hard in the off season of his angles, he would be a better outfielder. Right now, he is above average. At what?

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 18, 2015 -> 06:44 AM) His bat would be fine if you gave it to a player that contributed average defense. The problem, if you think of it in WAR terms, is that he can have a ~1.5 WAR bat and still be a 0 WAR player because of his defense. Even with average defense it wouldn't play in RF. At 3B with average defense he'd be an average-ish player. But listen to what we're talking about. If Avisail's defense improved a miraculous ~15 runs while being moved to a more difficult position he's never played, he might be an average-ish player.

His bat doesn't play at third, either. He needs to get better, simple as that. If he doesn't we don't want him ANYWHERE on the diamond.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Sep 15, 2015 -> 11:57 PM) Is it as shocking as people thought he was really good? I think wins can still define a pitcher. He has a losing record every year except for one. Look at Sale. He is on a bad team and he had one losing season. I look at Smarj's stats and where does it in any way say "big contract" or ace. What separates and ace is the team and fans feel more confident of a victory. But Q destroys this theory. If he were pitching for a team that produces runs - 15 game winner, Sale 17 game winner. The title of this one hurts. http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/contin...amardzija-trade Guys can we please stop pretending that we KNEW s*** ALL ALONG? Samardzija has had a s***ty year that no one should have predicted, even if you didn't like the original acquisition. You're all lying if you claim you knew he would be this bad.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 14, 2015 -> 11:54 PM) People that say he quit slay me. How come that is never mentioned in the media? Cause it's stupid. The Sox wanted him gone and he quickly negotiated a deal. This is big-boy sports. The White Sox did not want him. They chose KW. He bolted. So who cares?? Seriously. This quitting thing baffles me. I've NEVER seen it mentioned in the media. The only thing they mentioned is the hatred of Ozzie/Kenny and all the non-PC stuff Ozzie said to the press. Quitting? That team quit on Ozzie and he merely left. None of you wanted him back for the final year on his deal, anyway. He did you all a favor. Who cares if he quit with a week to go and why is that NEVER mentioned in the media?? Cause it's a non issue to most. Um. https://www.google.com/search?q=ozzie+guill...+on%22+the+team

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Sep 14, 2015 -> 08:46 PM) The problem with Avi is that pitchers own him. I love the idea of a Good Avi too, but everyone agrees that he's almost being bullied by pitchers right?? Trayce looks way smarter at the plate...and that has absolutely zero to do with BB%, BABIP, OBP, K% or any stat. Zero zilch nada. Agree? Yes? QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Sep 14, 2015 -> 09:12 PM) I didn't say to ignore it, I made clear my reasoning that it could be a blip. I'd feel better if it was higher, sure. It's part of the reason I've said I want to see more from him. And I'm not holding it against Avi, the main evidence I have against him is his 1000+ PA in the majors with no improvement (again - worse than Dayan Viciedo at the same age at the same level), I was just using it against the whole "Avi destroyed the minors" stuff. You know what I like about Trayce RE: his K rate? His O-Swing in the Majors this year is a very sexy 25.7%, substantially below average. His Z-Swing is a bit beklow average, too, but not by much (65%). This means he's being patient and selective but not OVERLY patient and selective. That, as much as anything, is the formula for TFT being a good player. His contact rates are below average and will likely always be unless he sacrifices a ton of power, so he needs to continue to choose the right pitches to punish. Essentially, also exactly what Avi needs to do but has shown no sign of even trying. Btw, Avi's O-Swing is up to 47.1% (!) somehow, second worst in the entire Majors behind only Pablo Sandoval. Holy s***.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 13, 2015 -> 06:26 PM) If that is a sign of future success, explain to us the hate for the younger Avi Garcia. In short, because Trayce hasn't failed in the Majors for three years yet.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Sep 13, 2015 -> 10:13 AM) One thing people sleep on because of low batting averages was that Trayce was an above average hitter for EVERY league he played in bar rookie ball in his debut season and 20 PA in his first go at AAA. (wRC+, far right, 100 is average) If Trayce really CAN strikeout only 17% of the time in the majors, I have no doubt he'll actually be a decent player. But that would be a miracle. I can't think of any reason to expect that to happen.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 14, 2015 -> 04:57 AM) Avi's walk rate this year was higher than Trace's in AAA. And it's still bad.

1. Jason Bere 2. Estaban Loaiza 3. Javier Vazquez 4. John Danks 5. Raaandy Williams Honorable Mentions: Jim Parque, Bartolo Colon, Danny Darwin, Brian Anderson

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 11, 2015 -> 01:11 PM) I think the trick is that "you're paying $6-$7 million based on what the guy did last year". You then wind up paying $9.5 million because "what they did last year" doesn't take into account the chances of a guy going all LaRoche/Melky/Rios/etc. And that is so common - guys underperform so incredibly much - that failures like them are the norm, not the exception. You sign a couple guys and you're bound to find someone who completely disappoints. Especially if you sign a dude who just had a career year. This is why I'm going to be vocally against Yoenis Cespedes all offseason when half this board is clambering for him every day.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 30, 2015 -> 02:40 PM) 80-82. I don't believe in Avisail Garcia, I don't believe in the back end of the rotation, and I have to predict that a couple guys get hurt just because usually a couple guys get hurt. If those things happen, the team has some real holes. That said, I'm absolutely hopeful for an awesome season, and even if the team jumps from 60-something wins to 80 wins, it'll still be a very positive thing. A playoff appearance very much COULD happen. But I think it's less than 50% that the team makes the playoffs, so my my best guess seems a little negative. Not too far off. Looks like it'll be a touch high.