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QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Sep 11, 2014 -> 03:03 PM) Yeah, Sale isn't enough above Felix in performance to make up for the 50+ IP difference. Getting his ERA under 2 might sway some voters though. Felix only has 6 more starts than Sale, but has pitched 49 more innings. Meaning Sale would still have to pitch 8+ innings in those missed starts to match Felix's IP. The consistency to go deep into a game is also something the voters look at.

McHugh is a 27 year old who has only pitched 70 innings prior to this year. He was also someone who was DFA'd last year. No way am I trading Anderson plus for him.

He took a huge leap forward this year by all accounts. And mind you he was someone he was someone batting in the lower 3rd of the lineup last year while repeating rookie ball. So he must have made some pretty significant improvements to his game for the organization to invest the spot in him.

In other news, Spain lost to a France team that was lead by Boris Diaw and Nic Batum today, the team that was supposed to be the only threat to the U.S.

Garbage piece. It's solely based on the word Potential. There is a strong chance guys like Polanco and Baez will not even be regular players. I also disagree with Tanaka at 1, he's only 2 years younger than Abreu, and is prone to losing a year due to injury. But this piece kind of made the "Sale vs Abreu" debate we had a couple months ago lopsided, as we can agree Sale is superior to Tanaka, and has a much more friendlier contract.

Nor do I think Viciedo will be back. Without the roster holds accounted for, Sox have $56 mil committed on 17 players. And I expect 3 spots to be filled by Wilkins, Sanchez and Snodgress. Meaning Sox should have $32 mil to spend on 5 players to reach a fair estimate of $90 mil payroll.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Sep 9, 2014 -> 02:44 PM) Assuming the Quintana bonus refers to the way his contract escalates if he would qualify for arbitration. $1M next year without it, $3.4M with it. The $56M estimate includes $3.4M dued to Q. I do not know where the $65M figure comes from

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 9, 2014 -> 02:22 PM) The reality of course is that if the Sox's current payroll is just under $65 million with a Quintana bonus in there, and the payroll is going to move up to ~ $85 million, the argument against James Shields is that they're not going to sign just James Shields and leave no money to do anything else. Since Shields probably will be above $15 mil per, that's your message right there How much is the Quintana bonus? I am not aware of a significant bonus amount due to Q next year. Either way, I have Sox at $56 mil currently with the guys likely to be brought back in arbitration. Meaning they will have $34 mil to spend to reach $90 mil. Even if they go the Shields route, they can afford him along with a couple other quality guys. I won't rule out that possibility just yet.

The payroll was around $85 mil this year, as the BR figures does not include the contracts traded away. The Sox will spend money to bring the payroll back up to around that range, we just don't know which direction they want to go with this, i.e. buying low on Masterson and others or bring in James Shields

BR is a great resource to get a quick snapshot of Sox payroll for next year. http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CH...-salaries.shtml In a nutshell, with the committed salary and pre-arb and arbitration deals, Sox should have around $56 mil on their payroll (let's assuming they will not go through arbitration with Viciedo and Belisario). Realistically, their final payroll will be around $90 mil, giving them $34 mil to spend. But if they decide to be aggressive and go all out, sources say they can afford a payroll slightly over $100 mil, giving them close to $50 mil to spend. But judging by the team's history of free agency spending, that's not going to be realistic. And I think the salary of the high draft pick will be factored in here somehow.

Forte is such an underrated blocker

Have anything to do with his shooting form? It should not. If rust is holding him back, it shouldn't impact something he's worked on for the past 2 years. This is just something I will believe it when I see it, right now it just sounds like one of those Rose talk with confidence thing.

So much for that improved outside shot he's been trying to convince people he now has. It's not a matter of finding his timing or rust, his form is just bad. He's already have a few air balls in 6 games so far.

One thing I haven't hear people talked about yet. Chris Sale's pitches per PA. It's at 4.04 pitches / PA, which is ranks 88th out of 94 qualifying pitchers, and I would bet that number is driven up by the last 6 starts or so.

I think Abreu has gone Joey Votto in the second half

The best thing for the Sox is probably Detroit resigning VMart to a 4 year or more deal for over $60 mil. They already have a lot of money committed to Miggy and Verlander who will soon under perform the value of their contract. Add in a bad contract to VMart and perhaps to Scherzer or Price, they would soon become the Yankees of this division.

Hey Rock, have you been hearing anything on Viciedo's future? At this point, I think it can go either way. But personally, I've seen enough of him and is not confident that he can ever put together a strong season.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Sep 5, 2014 -> 12:22 AM) Avasail is going to be everyday next year, bank on it. Second, they will spend, but im not convinced its next year. The rotation is an issue however and I dont know if they are going to see if they have it in the system or if they have to trade or buy it. Hahn would obviously like to fill the pen through fringe trades like he has recently as well as a garbage heap pickup but the rotation is going to be difficult to patch. I'm hearing there is a ton of payroll room, a TON. But Hahn is reluctant to do a KW and spend money horribly with a team that finishes 10 games out of the division. That is LITERALLY the best thing anyone on here could have ever said.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Sep 5, 2014 -> 12:10 AM) They'll test the waters but it makes zero sense for the Sox IMO. They think they may have the offense, the pitching on the other hand..... Also, I believe they want to keep Alexei for awhile Good to know. I am fine with Alexei for another year or two until Anderson is ready. We obviously have a hole at DH, and as fans we'd like to think we have a chance with the best free agent DH out there. But reality is harsh. We have bigger holes in the bullpen and could use another free agent starter, and perhaps an outfielder. I just don't see a reason for Martinez to leave Detroit, and whoever signs him will be paying for his production this year, which he will have a hard time maintaining for the latter part of the new contract. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives out there that I am sure the Sox will look at.

There is a 0.1% chance Victor Martinez is coming to Chicago. You're more likely to see Konerko playing for the Sox next year than VMart.

8 Team PPR League QB - Brees RB - Charles RB - Vereen WR - Julio Jones WR - Andre Johnson TE - Gronk W/R Sanders K - Crosby DEF - Denver Bench QB - Cutler RB - Ray Rice RB - Pierre Thomas WR - Kendall Wright WR - Maclin TE - Olsen First time in an 8 team league, all the teams were stacked, I would say I came away with a pretty good team.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 4, 2014 -> 04:02 PM) The biggest reason why I didn't put Hawkins in the Up category is because the home run total was disappointing to me. He did a great job improving his K rate (while walking a decent number of times), but I think he needs to be in the 30 home run range to regain his above average prospect status. He's likely never going to have a strong hit tool, so the power better carry him. You look into the power numbers too much. Power is usually the last thing to come for a prospect. You can't keep swinging for the fences if you keep striking out 40% of the time. He's second in the league in HR despite being almost 3 fulls years younger than the average player in Carolina League. Like others mentioned, the fact that he cut down his K% by nearly 10% and improved his BB% by 3.5% is definitely encouraging. Overall, he didn't have a remarkable year, but his OPS did increase by .150, and that a step toward the right direction. Stock up for me.

Sanchez also has the highest floor of the 3. At present, he's at least a solid defensive 2B, can hit .270, and swipe 15 bags.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 2, 2014 -> 09:05 PM) Joshua is getting thrashed here, maybe for good reason, but I do agree with him on something. Danks is doing exactly what you'd figure, which is what Peavy did after his injury year too. The real test to see if he's back is 2015, and I'd be even money he's significantly better next year. Marginally? Yes, just because he's awful overall this year. Significantly? Highly doubt it. Peavy was injured in 2010 and was already back in shape by 2012. Danks was injured in 2012 and we thought he would regain his form by 2014, he did briefly in the beginning of the year, but actually fell apart down the stretch. There has to be a point when you realize a pitcher can long pitch like he used to, for Danks, we are at that point.

The notion that Q is not a 2 is valid to some extent. His stuff is average and he doesn't have a true swing and miss pitch. His swinging strike rate is at 7.8%, which ranks 66 out of 95 qualified pitchers this year. With his stuff, hitters foul off a lot of his pitches and runs his pitch count up, and as a result he starts to reach his pitch limit around the 5th or 6th inning, that's why we often see him implode during that span. He should not be your second starter in a playoff series, especially with the added pressure. But given that, I still don't think we should trade him. He's got one of the best contracts in the league, and if we can put a legit #2 starter between him and Sale, that would be one of the best 1-2-3's in the league. I can live with him being a #3 with that contract. And we may already have that #2 starter in the system, and he can deliver as early as late 2015.