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QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Apr 1, 2014 -> 07:31 AM) Definitely more of a PR/fan risk than an actual baseball risk. I think it's one of those things that would get picked on if we sucked, but it would just be something else if not the draft anyway, you know? LIke if we just win, then it won't matter. If we lose, the fans will find something to hang their hat on regardless.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 1, 2014 -> 08:20 AM) Plenty of people have said he isn't. The thing is, I don't know how you can rip Jeter for being flawed and use that negotiation of his contract and an example where A. he didn't negotiate the contract, his agent did. and B. There were absolutely no quotes of Jeter whining. What is he supposed to do, just tell his agent to accept whatever the Yankees offer? Here is a quote from his agent about the Yankees taking things public: There's a reason the Yankees themselves have stated Derek Jeter is their modern-day Babe Ruth. Derek's significance to the team is much more than just stats. And yet, the Yankees' negotiating strategy remains baffling." Then Close said: "They continue to argue their points in the press and refuse to acknowledge Derek's total contribution to their franchise." It was a fiasco. He's the only player in history to have dragged a $50m+ extension into free agency and end up eventually re-signing with the team offering the extension prior to free agency. It doesn't make him evil, but it does make him a greedy athlete like all the rest, not a beacon of justice.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 1, 2014 -> 07:04 AM) If you have a problem with Jeter and that negotiation, there probably are very few players you don't have a problem with. Many negotiations become nasty, but for some reason this one became public, and I don't think that was Jeter's idea. Certainly. But none of those other guys are being heralded as legendary "ambassadors for the game" and considered flawless role models. I mean, my favorite player ever is Frank Thomas, and let's be honest, he's always been an egotistical asshole. But no one ever tried to say he wasn't, you know?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 1, 2014 -> 07:04 AM) I read the SI article you linked and it seems Jeter said nothing publicly about his contract. Maybe his agent did and the Yankees, but he certainly did not. Yeah, I don't remember Jeter ever saying anything publicly until after the process, when he expressed his frustration that the situation was so public. The public voice was all Close and Cashman. But that doesn't change the fact that he was "offended" at the contract offer and held the line on it all the way into actual free agency before caving. I'm not claiming he cried to the media, I'm just claiming he busted the Yankees' balls over what was, in reality, a generous contract offer simply because he felt he was owed high-end money for his past. It just seems childish and greedy to me.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 10:29 AM) The real risk for the Sox is passing on Rodon and him going to the Cubs a pick later and becoming David Price. This draft will be forever held under a microscope if the Sox get a bust and the Cubs get a star. I would argue that this is the farthest thing from a "real risk" that has been presented in this thread.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 12:06 PM) He never refused to move. He was never asked. "The idea's never come up from anyone in the organization," Jeter said at a retirement news conference Wednesday that he refused to call, you know, a retirement news conference. Actually, Jeter himself brought up a position change seven years ago in a trainer's room conversation with Gene Michael, telling the longtime executive that he wanted to play another 10 seasons and would be willing to switch to first base or designated hitter to do it. Michael was among the team officials in attendance at the news conference and among the many in Yankeedom thrilled that Jeter, 39, would finish his career right where it started, right where he always belonged. And the contract he signed seems fairly reasonable. I am assuming it was the one signed previously. e's guaranteed $15 million in 2011, $16 million in 2012, and $17 million in 2013. In each of those three seasons, the Yankees will hold back $2 million in interest free money. In the 2014 season, his income depends on his achievements the first three years, and the 2014 season. In 2014, his base salary is $8 million, of which $6 million is the deferred money from the 2011-2013 seasons. He can earn extra based on the following incentives: Not being privy to the actual truth, I can just say that I've read dozens of times over the years that there was real heat in the clubhouse when they acquired Alex Rodriguez. After Googling around a bit, though, the only things I see are random bloggers and commenters referring to his "refusal to move," which causes me to doubt its veracity for the first time. If that was all a media hoax or hearsay, then I stand corrected. As for the contract -- I don't have a problem with 3/45 at all. But Jeter absolutely did: http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2...=blogs&_r=0 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ...es.jeter.close/ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/sports/b...l/24kepner.html http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball...rticle-1.454099

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Apr 1, 2014 -> 12:29 AM) The 2 outs he made were bad ABs. The broken bat single he had was lucky. But what was wrong with that single he smashed up the middle? He almost took the pitcher's leg off on that rocket. Yeah, you're right. It was three horrible at bats. The hanger he crushed was fine.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 11:35 PM) He is 22 correct?? He will change once he gets time and understands the game more.. I would say not looking good and still being 2 for 4 is encouraging. Shows how much potential he has I'm just saying that as long as he keeps getting lucky on broken bat shankers, his BA will stay reasonable and he may look at his results and refuse to change his process, that's all. I would rather that he looked at yesterday and thought "damn, I got played really hard," than, "alright man, batting .500! Keep it up!"

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 09:30 PM) Great win today. Watched the game with my dog lol. Sale, Abreu, Eaton, Gillaspie, and De Aza were great today. Nitpicking negatives: Avi and Semein pitch selection. Alexei did look slow at SS today. First game of the year though Yeah, Avi with four horrible at bats, still ends up 2 for 4 somehow. That's discouraging because it makes me think he'll never change. But f*ck yeah to everything else.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 10:46 AM) Viciedo's arm actually makes up for some of his deficiencies out in LF, or at least it did in 2012 before we adopted circus music as the team's official theme in 2013. He'll never have spectacular range out there but he's shown he could potentially be a tolerable fielder out there if he hits well enough to hold down the position. Benny Hill Theme to replace "Don't Stop Believin'"? Yeah, you're right, he can fake it. I'm just saying I wouldn't mind seeing a Jordan Danks-ish defense guy out there instead against lefties when Viciedo would DH and Smith would be benched. Plus it's not too hard to find mediocre OFs that mash lefites -- the addition of a Smith/lefty crusher platoon might be a sneaky substantial upgrade.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 11:28 AM) The guy had a .305 obp last year with a .695 OPS. Adam Dunn would make 100% more sense (.320/.762). Anyone would make more sense than Conor f***ing Gillaspie. ^ Connor can bat third if he's legitimately the hottest hand, but that's it.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 09:51 AM) Most realistic option without giving up a draft pick or paying a lot of money? Seth Smith. Can be the primary DH but also spell guys in left and right. This is a realistic choice. Good call. He's a straight platooner, but we don't really want Viciedo in LF that much anyway, right?

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) A 3-4 combination of Abreu and Davis.... The problem is that if Davis proves he's for real, he's going to be unavailable.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) Thank you for starting this thread. A lack of a middle of the order left handed bat continues to be the most glaring flaw in the Sox organization. There isn't a single candidate at either the Major League, or Minor League level, who could realistically be expected to contribute any time soon. It's a shame that there probably isn't even a candidate to fill this void, in the upcoming Amateur Draft, and that's picking third, with likely all of the position players, from whom to choose!!

Jeter is a first ballot HOFer. THAT SAID: There are two reasons that I don't think he is as "classy" as everyone gives him credit for: 1. His refusal to move off of SS as he aged. If the team needs you to move, a "classy" guy moves. 2. The public hissy fit he put up about his last contract. No one owes you money for your past. He was coming off a garbage season and was offered a better deal from the NYY than any other team. So I tend to play a strong devil's advocate role when he comes up, not because I think he's a bad guy, but because I'm not seeing this whole "greatest ambassador of teh game evarr" crap. Guys like Jim Thome deserve that, not Jeter.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 07:13 AM) Well, I should modify my statement. You can show you completely suck in Spring Training, but you can't show you're awesome. Every professional player has a good couple of weeks. There's no way to know whether those couple of weeks are sustainable, though. Thus, Boggs can pitch his way out of a job, but Semien shouldn't be able to play his way onto the team unless he's completely proven his mettle in his development process. He hasn't yet. Soon. But Beckham is hurt, and so he IS playing in the Majors now. So how he performs during the season SHOULD count toward whether or not he stays. I don't THINK he's ready either, but since we're going to find out now anyway, it would be senseless to jerk him around if he's raking. If he still looks rough around the edges, then sure, send him down. My point is just that there should be a scenario where he keeps the job, and that is that he looks ML ready when he's filling in.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 31, 2014 -> 01:07 AM) But Jeter is a starter, Konerko is a bench player. I just hope he wasn't implying Konerko should get the attention Jeter is going to get. He's just saying Konerko wouldn't want it.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 10:11 PM) Wrong thread? He's implying that PK is humble, whereas DJ is controlled by his ego.

Too many good arms to think Sale is THE favorite. Certainly he'd be a preseason contender. Abreu as ROY is much more likely, but I think Tanaka is a better bet in NY, given they're much more likely to contend and, of course, they are NY. There's also the potential for a Xander Bogaerts breakout, and that's another nice East Coast story. I voted neither, but both are certainly plausible.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 02:58 PM) Would the emotional joy of getting rid of Beckham be worth the risk of having Semien jump to the big leagues without much time at AAA (when we already saw him struggle somewhat last year with the 2nd jump, with his walk rate declining both from AA to AAA and then big time from AAA to the big league cup of coffee)? If Semien is even average, he goes down for seasoning, IMO. But there should absolutely have the opportunity to steal the job. If he decides he's going to break out this year, the FO would be insane to interrupt it.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 02:52 PM) You're nuts. Beckham has had his chances. I'm not going to give him another year. Screw that. If Semien plays good, he should play, period. This ^

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 09:19 AM) For us that was clearly talking about the early-2nd round pick, I thought. Sorry, I was referring to the #10 rank on mlb.com earlier in that post.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 27, 2014 -> 05:46 PM) Gettys is likely long gone by the time the Sox pick. Some have compared him to Buxton with an ugly swing. MLB.com has him ranked as the #10 overall prospect. This was interesting though: "It's a bad swing, but I can't just ignore the other talent," an AL Central scout said. "It may only end up a 45 [on the 20-80 scouting scale] hit tool, but when you're above-average to plus everywhere else, I think you can still be a major league regular, in my opinion. It's going to take some time, but his skillset is a special one." "...can still be a major league regular..." No thanks in the first round, lol.

Gotta get team control in trades right now