Eminor3rd

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 15, 2013 -> 01:48 PM) This is a silly question. No one can guarantee anything. What can you promise? You can go off of history. The history of Sox fans is that they abandon the team wholesale at the mention of a rebuild. A "rebuild" is an extreme measure to be taken when the whole system is trash, a la, Astros/Cubs/Nats. Outside of Danks, we don't have nearly any long-term money tying our hands. But we also don't have a good team -- we flat out missed on some investments and the team blew it last year down the stretch -- and you can't put lipstick on a pig. We don't have to ever say the word, but that doesn't mean we don't need to take a year to get some younger talent into the system or promoted. You need Dunn's salary to clear and you need Danks to become useful. You need to replace Konerko and you need Viciedo to get more mature. Unfortunately, Rios and Peavy aren't on that timetable, so they need to be converted so something of value that will help us when we're ready. It doesn't need to take more than a year or two. The fans may not like it, but they aren't showing up to see this loser either. The meatballs don't care about the team's strategy, the want a winner to brag about. It's going to take winning to bring the fans back, nothing more or less. So you have to do what is going to build a winner. If you can't weather the storm (especially one that's only a couple years), you aren't a viable business. The Brewers can do it, the Rays can do it. Even the Indians are doing it. If they can handle it, Chicago can handle it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 14, 2013 -> 01:48 PM) We desperately need offense now, not in 5-6 years. Not that it's a bad idea, but it also shouldn't distract from the pressing needs of the moment, either. Why would it? Acquisition of amateur talent is completely different than the ML team. Not making stuff like this is a priority is exactly why things look so bleak right now. There's no shortcut, we must start investing now.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 14, 2013 -> 10:20 AM) So this guy hits a ton of balls a mile in BP. When the games start, he whiffs. Sounds like a White Sox prospect. He's 16 years old.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 15, 2013 -> 01:38 PM) Twins' announcers now bemoaning the fact they don't have a prototypical leadoff hitter like Rickey Henderson, lol. Well, Revere and Span weren't bad at all, but they got too expensive...and they also felt Hicks had more potential, but, this one game against the Sox notwithstanding, seems he was rushed a bit and might eventually go down to AAA. Revere was pre-arb and Span was signed WAY below market. I think they just decided to look a couple years down the road -- they need pitching prospects and expect Hicks/Buxton to man CF for years to come, and Mastroinanni was an acceptable stopgap.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 15, 2013 -> 12:41 PM) So who they play and when they play them doesn't matter? Ok, great. Keep living in a fantasy world where the Sox are better than the Tigers and they'll go 13-6 against them after July 8. The thing about baseball is that anyone can win in a given night. The best teams only win about 65% of the time each year. It's not likely that the Sox turn it around, but it's definitely possible, and it's possible no matter how tough the schedule is.

It's going to be a good trade market for Jake Peavy, too.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ May 15, 2013 -> 11:20 AM) The anemic offense has nothing to do with Tyler Flowers. Compared to other catchers in the league he is fine. It is the leadoff hitter and $28M combo of slow white 1B/DH that are killing this team along with the $3M platoon player trying to play everyday. Now go win one before heading out west. This is true. Let us pray for regression!

QUOTE (iamshack @ May 15, 2013 -> 11:01 AM) Agreed...but there are some here that are acting as if moving from a bad situation to a good or great situation is near impossible in a relative short period of time. They've asked us to provide examples that it can be done. Indeed, my response was aimed more at those asking for the examples.

You can't compare our situation to anyone else's situation. The teams that have sucked did so because they made bad draft choices/acquisitions and failed to develop their players. The ones that have been successful have done just the opposite. Those results don't have anything to do with what the Sox should or shouldn't do in 2013. The answer, as nearly always, lies between the two extremes. It may require punting next year, but it doesn't have to come down to SPEND MOAR or SUCK FOR DECADES. It's just making sound long-term decisions, one-by-one.

I actually think I'd be pretty happy with Judge. I'd rather see a guy that's a purer hitter at that age, game power is an easier thing to find than a hit tool, and the guy is so big that there's no question he has the strength. Yeah, he's another low floor OF, but he's a completely different type of low floor OF that we've been drafting.

I would think that if Manaea falls that far, there's probably a good reason. Damaged goods

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 8, 2013 -> 02:57 PM) Strawberrys report was from 1995. Yeah, I just thought it was interesting that he put his personal opinion of his make-up in the report. Not surprising, just made me think about how these guys have to grade the tools but also try to decide if the personality will allow the player to work out, too. I remember seeing Strawberry around then play with the Columbus Clippers as he was making his "comeback."

Latest SI Mock is the second I;ve seen predicting Dominic Smith for the Sox. Not sure how I feel about that. Seems like a good chance that Stanek drops, is he worth the risk?

How about this Aaron Judge? #17 on Law's latest rankings: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/draft/playe...312/aaron-judge

QUOTE (Andrew @ May 2, 2013 -> 12:30 AM) *Edit - It occurs to me that you don't know what it means to say someone's statements are "hyperbolic". In fact, I'm 100% sure you have no idea what it means. Where did this asshole come from?

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/adam-dunn-r...ering-identity/

It's because no one cares because we're in last and show no signs of life.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 2, 2013 -> 02:42 AM) Words/phrases like "pathetic," "fluke/flake" (for Gillaspie), "we all learned this in Little League," etc. Essentially, your last post is saying they've basically been average for much of the time period since 2005 (minus 2006 and 2008, when they were clearly above average, as well as 2010 and 2012). If a team is usually between 78-84 wins every year, the argument is there's no need to exaggerate or use hyperbole to stress your points...that things are not QUITE so dramatic or as dire as they may seem. Yes, all of this.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ May 8, 2013 -> 03:54 PM) someone has to get hot, right? Unfortunately, no

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 8, 2013 -> 03:29 PM) His Iso is .160 in 1300+ AAA plate appearances (which includes a .685 OPS his first year), and it's right around .200 over his previous 300 plate appearances at the level. He's got about 55 power too. I can see 55 power on the high end. And I think he has a decent approach. The problem is the long swing. It's the same thing with Tyler Flowers. He's got maybe 65 power, but the hit tool is probably 35, so you'll be happy if he reaches 20 homers. Could Danks hit 20 in a full season in the MLB? I can squint and see if he manages a .260 BA or so, but I can't see a .260 BA over a full season. And all that's fine if he's playing a scratch or slightly above average CF, but at first base? I mean a very good season would look like .250/.320/.430 with 20 bombs, right? I'll take .220/.340/.520 with 35 bombs from post-prime Adam Dunn instead. And that season from Dunn has to be way more likely. EDIT: but yes, in a situation where pieces move, there's no reason not to use him rather than a stopgap FA.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ May 8, 2013 -> 03:26 PM) His numbers are similar to Rick Ankiel's. I'm not suggesting he's going to become a middle of the order hitter at any point in the near future, but he certainly has pop in his bat. With regular playing time he might turn into a decent player. A guy who tops my personal list right now is Michael Taylor from Oakland. If there was something Oakland wanted for him in particular, I'd absolutely consider it. They have Michael Choice who is younger in AAA too, so he can be insurance for Reddick if need be. Give em Beckham and get Green, Weeks, or Barton back along with. I really can't see him being more than a 4th OF. If he improved his defense a lot, maybe a second division CF. To my eye, he's got maybe 50 grade power and MAYBE a 40 grade hit tool. Am I off base?

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ May 8, 2013 -> 03:16 PM) It's very lonely around here being a Jordan Danks fan. But I would love to see him play more. If you send him down, pack a 1B glove and teach him play the position. Waitt... what? Jordan Danks at first base? Why the- What... his only tool is speed.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ May 8, 2013 -> 01:17 PM) 102 reports from Doug Laumann. Jorge Posada: "Could be a valuable late inning guy that could fill in a couple games here and there." Darryl Strawberry: "Would not want this guy in our organization for obvious reasons. Baseball skills dictate he could be used as a LH DH." These are really fun. Scouting must be hard.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 8, 2013 -> 12:16 PM) Wow. This is pretty cool. Where did you find this? Dave Cameron from FanGraphs highlighted it: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/link-the-in...uting-database/

Some highlights from Frank Thomas reports: ".250 hitter TOPS if that but will hit HR. 20 in a bad year" "If his defense improves, could go in the first three rounds" "One huge person"