Eminor3rd

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 04:55 PM) One thing he routinely does is to refuse to use a better reliever in a high leverage situation if it isn't in the last 35% of the game. If a pitcher is in trouble in the 4th, out comes the worst arm in the pen. You just described practically every single Major League manager.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 04:48 PM) If we had a real professional manager who was building this team for the long-haul, I can understand. But the Sox gave Swisher away because he smited Ozzie, after we paid a heavy price for him a year earlier. You can't just give players away. And if teams do that, why haven't we gotten our share of gifts? Getting some replacement level or a little above players is fine. But we won't do anything if we don't have a couple of really stud hitters around them. This team has several of those replacement+ types - Alexei, De Aza two name two, although they have debased themselves this year with poor defense and clowning on the basepaths. We have. Thornton, Quintana, Gillaspie come to mind.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 04:32 PM) He's been struggling and pressing like crazy. This is his worst season as a professional by far. There's no reason he shouldn't at least be adequate against righties, but he seemingly swings at everything. I hope it's pressing, but I fear it's just that he can't recognize pitches well enough to hit consistently in the Major Leagues.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 04:35 PM) How is this guy not headed to the Yankees at the deadline. He has an OPS of like .960 over the last two months and is on pace for 44 homers. What's left on his contract? 21 million? That's nothing to the Yankees since they're going to get back like $30 million from A-Roid's impending suspension and they have such massive dicks. Stay hot, Donkey. I need the Sox to be rid of you. /rant He won't go to the Yankees because they are desperately trying to remain under the luxury tax threshold for next year. The money to pay him isn't a big deal, but that he would contribute $14m to the magic luxury tax number is a massive problem, especially given Cano's impending free agency.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/07/red-...of-infield.html

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 01:47 PM) I think teams will wait 2 outings before they would make a trade for Peavy. #1) See how he looks #2) See how he recovers Personally, I don't think Peavy is going to be traded. I'd be content being wrong, but I don't think it's going to happen. Garza will be gone by this weekend -- hopefully to someone we don't want to trade with anyway like the Indians. The timing will be perfect for Peavy to come in and make a quality start against the #Barves and look like a SEXY pick-up for all the teams that missed on Garza. Let's just hope he looks good. I really think we can get a good haul for him if he does.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 03:27 PM) And if he did like the players people would say it was proof he didn't know what he was doing because they can't play. RV cannot win on this board. It's funny, posters say the Sox talent level is weak but they don't win because the manager is bad. This is so true. You loved him last year. He's the same guy. Please, everyone, admit to yourselves that you just need a scapegoat. RV should not be causing any stress to anyone.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 01:40 PM) The sharpness of play, particularly in the field and in basic fundamental moves (hitting the cutoff man, doing rundowns correctly, people calling for the ball correctly, people in the right position when a play needs to be backed up) that we saw in 2012 was the best compliment I could give him. That team did darn near every basic baseball move correctly for 5 months. And this year it's the opposite despite the same managerial staff. Do we need any more evidence that the best thing an AL manager can do is stay out of the way? We were quick to give Robin all the credit last year and are just as quick to give him all the blame this year -- but I have a really hard time believing he just decided to prepare everyone differently from how it was "working" last year.

I really feel like the Pirates need to grab Rios. Would really help both franchises.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jul 14, 2013 -> 01:22 PM) Schierholtz blows. No, he's solid. He's just not as good as Rios

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 11:47 AM) He profiles better than Barnum. Most everyone has Barnum top 10. They're comparable prospects and Jacobs is better just about across the board. I have him ahead of Sanchez at 6. I think we all like Barnum because he looks like he might actually have a 50 grade hit tool. We're all so tired of seeing guys never develop the contact skills to reach their potential.

QUOTE (danman31 @ Jul 14, 2013 -> 08:48 PM) I'd put him at 6. I can't squint him higher than 7 -- I think Phegley has to be up there now just given that he has had a modicum of success at the majors. 1. Hawkins 2. Johnson 3. Thompson 4. Anderson 5. Phegley 6. Sanchez 7. Jacobs? Walker? Snodgress? Beck? Barnum?

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 11:20 AM) I'd prefer to see more of Castro and less of Troncoso. Fair enough

This is a weird thread

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 10:39 AM) There is no wrong move at this point +1

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 10:09 AM) Simon Castro got sent down, so maybe they're activating Peavy on Friday. I think RV said that he "might start against the Braves"

I guess I could technically care less, but I couldn't possibly care enough to "make a case" either way.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 11:44 PM) Is there anything such as a low floor high ceiling guy? If so, let's target that guy. You mean like... Brandon Jacobs?

Love Matt Thornton -- was one of my favorite players for a while. I proudly wear a Matt Thornton shirsey around town and always will. Best of luck, Matt!

Lol, the internet. Anyone can say anything and make it look official.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 02:09 PM) Well, in theory we could have already picked up Francouer, who got released and Manny. Those would be 2 new guys for the second half run. We could have traded Viciedo for our first batch of prospects, Francouer taking over in left. We could sign Manny and have him DH and trade Dunn for our second batch of prospects. Of course Francouer would hit .200 and Manny worse than that. I can see how this "rebuilding" stuff works though. There's always somebody out there who can be acquired. LOL

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jul 11, 2013 -> 07:09 PM) If we add 4 or 5 more quality bats to our lineup, we can be favored in many of these games. This week's series shows we already have Detroit's number and that's the most important challenge to conquer. There's no reason we can't win this division if Hahn goes out and picks up 4 or 5 guys who can hit .300 and drive in 50+ runs after the break. I like that everyone doesn't get that you're being sarcastic yet. You ARE being sarcastic... right?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 04:56 PM) OK, yeah, I didn't say that QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 04:56 PM) And Joe Crede and Ventura both had incredibly quick first step reactions....absolutely doesn't mean either one of them had the range or overall athletic ability to play 2B. The same was/is true for Mark Teahen or Gillaspie or Morel. Now, if it's Brett Lawrie, or Brandon Inge, that's a different type of player. Also, Eminor3rd is the best. Yeah you did, look

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 04:42 PM) I think we have different meanings for All-Star. Does one of you have a definition other than "makes the All-Star team at some point?"

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 12, 2013 -> 02:37 PM) One pitcher and some good defense can shut down the opposition. One hot hitter in your line up, and you still probably lose. The Sox have one or two guys hot at a time often this season. Defense (which pitching is a part ) has always trumped offense in sports. I do think that has changed in the NFL. I still disagree with the premise. Our record this year is a testament to what happens when you have good pitching and no offense. Yes, the bad defense is an additional factor, but the majority of our games have still been very low scoring games -- you hear them quote all the time the high percentage of games decided by less than 3 runs. As for a hot hitter versus a hot pitcher: a 3.50 ERA is good, a 4.50 ERA is mediocre. That's a difference of 1 run per nine innings, and it includes the contributions of the defense (in terms of range, not errors). A single hot hitter can always hit at least solo homerun, which is a difference of one run over nine innings. One hot pitcher and some good defense CAN shut down the opposition -- once in five games. Unless you're Chris Sale, and you have a below .500 record despite a sub-3 ERA. Outscoring your opponent has equal parts to do with adding and preventing runs, the ratio is 1:1.