Eminor3rd

The worst thing about Robin, IMO, is that he doesn't signal for the homerun nearly often enough. We all complain about the bullpen a lot, but how many games has the bullpen blown that couldn't have been salvaged if Robin just had his guys hit a few homeruns the next inning? It makes. No. SENSE! It's like he's not paying attention to the score.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 02:30 PM) I also don't think De Aza will be back next year. Neither do I. He's an even easier non-tender than Beckham given that Hawk hasn't brainwashed the fanbase into loving him for five years.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 08:04 PM) Do people still think Leury Garcia is worthy of a roster spot for next year? .182/.216/.236. You just can't carry that from someone who's not a pitcher. I'd like to see him get consistent at-bats for year before I write him off, because he's the best defensive option we currently have when we say goodbye to Alexei. He's never going to be a GOOD hitter, but he could be a nice player by just not being terrible. And it sure is hard to get a groove going when you play infrequently, especially when your skills are fringey to begin with.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 02:21 PM) I fully agree; I've long thought BAPIP, while interesting, is a pretty overrated / overrelied upon stat. I'm sure 20 years ago people would have been talking about Tony Gwynn's BAPIP as being unsustainable. I think you'd be better focusing on line drive rates and actual indicators of how a guy is hitting. If I were in the majors, I'd have a BAPIP of 0 (this is assuming I actually was able to put a ball in play)...does that mean I'm the most unlucky hitter in the world and should revert to some better number; no, absolutely not; It would be because I am a BAD hitter. I understand BAPIP a bit when it comes to looking at larger sample sizes of players who have proven themselves to see if potentially they've hit a string of bad luck, but again, I could just as easily focus on average and line drive rates vs. historic line drive rates of an individual player and probably get a more meaningful result. It's an extremely valuable frame of reference. Sure Tony Gwynn breaks the mold, but he's a Hall of Famer and a generational talent, and even he couldn't keep it over .400. That should tell you a LOT about when guys like Beckham or Flowers are over .500 for stretches. It's a critical factor if you're trying to decide if a guy has figured something out or not. The thing about line drive rates is that they are not particularly stable either, which is what makes xBABIP an interesting stat too.

At this point, Beckham doesn't matter at all. You bring up the next guy when the next guy is ready. There's no pressure to get "help" on the ML roster this year. Beckham will play every day until they deem Sanchez/Semien/Johnson ready. It's nothing to be concerned about.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 01:42 PM) So the Sox aren't ready to sign major free agents yet, but the Cubs are ready to take on a $100M contract and should give up significant talent do so?? Who said the Sox aren't ready to sign major free agents yet? Not me. They sure as hell weren't ready LAST year, but I have always supported a stance that a team that bottoms out should improve every year. I just don't think James Shields or Max Scherzer are good ideas for us. Also, the Cubs are as flush in positional prospects as they are completely barren in pitching prospects, to the point that trading hitting for pitching is inevitable at some point, it's just a matter of when the right deal comes along. Maybe this is the right deal (though as wite pointed out, waivers make it difficult to execute). Don't you put words in my mouth Mr. Chicago White Sox! (I'm not really mad, in case I sounded like it. I'm just being dramatic)

Thanks for the PBP, caulfield.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 06:41 PM) Certainly agree. But for some of these guys they only know one way. You can't take the Derrick Rose out of Derrick Rose and I don't know if you can take the Spanky out of Eaton. In his mind that's how he has to play to be a success. That said, the sliding headfirst has to stop, unlike making a spectacular catch at the wall diving headfirst usually has zero benefit. Teach him the hook slide in the offseason. You can be aggressive and not run full speed into a wall to try to catch a ball that landed like five rows back.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 09:13 AM) Yes, I agree, they should trade Addison Russell and Kris Bryant for Cole Hamels. Not those two. I was thinking Baez+Almora+two small guys and pick up all but about $20m of the contract would be a mutually beneficial situation.

If I were the Cubs, I'd strongly consider throwing a couple of those big position prospects their way and trying to get a deal done. It's time for them to take a step forward and they've got the depth to do it without wavering from their course. And if it doesn't work out, they could trade him at any point over the next few years assuming he's healthy.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 09:12 AM) Here it is - the full Midseason Top 25 Prospects list by FutureSox. Let's hear your thoughts! And of course, feel free to spread the link around if you see fit. This is a really, really good list with really, really good write-ups. Only things I'd disagree with are: Adolfo's ranking seems very aggressive, Engel's ranking seems a bit low. I'm getting more comfortable with seeing Davidson below Montas and Adams, but I think it's spot on that he's still above Danish. Good list, guys. Thanks

Wtf is wrong with Eaton? How did he have NO idea the fence was coming up?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 11:48 AM) Well my material is used up. So much for this game thread. All that is left to complain about Beckham. Haha, I'm sorry. I just knew I wouldn't be able to post much during the game and had to get it all out front. Poor class on my part.

In a similar half-joke: When the bullpen blows the lead tonight, and the FIRE-ROBINs come out of the woodwork arguing that he should have used a different guy, who is going to be the first to suggest he should have gone to Dunn? EDIT: And then who will be the first to say "no, he shouldn't have, since Dunn pitched last night and wasn't stretched out for working two days in a row."

QUOTE (scs787 @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 11:26 AM) Filthy That was seriously a solid pitch in a solid location.

Srs question -- if Sale only goes through 7, and we need to protect the lead in the 8th, do you go to Belisario or Dunn?

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/adam-dunn-as-a-pitcher/ An awkwardly detailed breakdown with lots of gifs and charts, lol.

The past three posts all highlight great reasons why pythagorean record is a horrible metric that no one takes seriously anymore.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) If it meant his option was getting picked up, yeah, I would think he would. Yeah, maybe. Still, the guy is at 98 wRC+ this year thanks to his power disappearing. While that's way better than Viciedo, it's still not good, and so I'm not sure it's the best use of those funds.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 09:16 AM) Who is going to play the other OF position? Viciedo unfortunately, but would Rios play LF without moping?

There's a lot I'd rather do with $12m next season than block Avisail Garcia.

QUOTE (beautox @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 04:00 PM) its like he is throwing a whiffle ball out there, that is some sick movement. That's just the camera jiggling

Definitely deserves QO now

Thigpen out to the mound to inform Danks that he's been designated for assignment

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Aug 5, 2014 -> 07:57 PM) Chuck Garfien ‏@ChuckGarfien 1m Jim Hendry is scouting at White Sox game tonight. Asked him about Javier Baez. He gave all the credit to then-scouting director Tim Wilken. Hendry is a scout for the Yankees. Damn it... Whoops