cabiness42

Absolutely yes to this, and to add to it a bit: (1) Long before they are actually able to read, but after they are mature enough to handle books without ripping them up (somewhere around 2-3 years), in addition to reading books TO them, get books into their hands and get them used to turning pages. At that point they will just be looking at pictures, but it gets them in the habit of having books in their hands. (2) Expose them to vivid colors and instrumental music. Studies have shown that both of these things stimulate early brain activity. We bought the entire Baby Einstein DVD series. There are some that are appropriate to expose kids to as early as 6-9 months and there are others that hold their attention until they are 3 years old. [Our kids have outgrown them so if you don't mind buying them used, I would sell you our set pretty cheaply.]. Another good developmental visual/music tool is Baby First TV.

I think a lot of that scenario really depends on what other moves are made in the offseason and what the Sox realistically think their chances are of making the playoffs in 2015. If you think you have a playoff team, you can't afford to let Danks start several games if he isn't one of the five best starting options available. The Sox have until April 4 to find a taker for him. If they can't unload him by then, I don't see what letting him start some games in April-May is going to change. Also, if the Sox really think they have a playoff team in 2015, then Rodon needs to be starting for the Sox as soon as they believe he is one of the five best starters and not worry about future salary implications.

I'm not familiar enough with it either, but it certainly seems like somehow, defense is getting overvalued in the calculation of WAR.

OK, but that seems to be a different issue. One one hand, you are saying that a replacement level 1B hits better than a replacement level SS, so a 1B needs a better wRC+ than the SS in order to generate the same amount of value. Yet on the other hand, the baseline for defensive runs saved is being adjusted because an average SS saves more runs on defense than an average 1B. It seems like the 1B is getting dinged twice for the same issue.

OK, but I guess my point is that nobody is ever going to put Abreu at SS, so saying that Andrelton would save 60 more runs than Abreu at SS is really meaningless. If you replaced both players with guys who were replacement level players at those positions, there is not going to be a 60 run swing between the two teams. Teams allow an average of 665 runs per year. I think that article stated that 86% of run prevention is pitching and 14% is defense, so defenses are responsible for allowing 93 runs per year as a team. No single player is 60 runs better defensively than another player. Something is out of whack, here. I just haven't taken the time to figure out exactly what that is.

Well, the players' union could stop them from doing this, but they apparently aren't willing to risk the PR damage it would do.

If the Sox (1) can't trade Danks without eating more than 2/3 of his salary and (2) he is not one of the five best starters at the end of ST, then I am 100% behind sticking him in the bullpen. I know other teams have done it, but that may be too "outside the box" for Robin.

I just wonder if there is any kind of "statute of limitations" for new video evidence. Suppose that tomorrow somebody discovers a video from 2007 of Michael Vick killing dogs. Does he now get a new punishment because of public outrage?

Yeah, I've been trying to find a way to say that without sounding too insensitive. While I think that domestic violence is really, really bad in any situation, I also think there's a difference between a guy who has otherwise been a model citizen and hit his wife one time while drunk and a guy who has a history of abusing women. Just the same as I think there's a difference between a one time DUI offender and a five time DUI offender.

While I have the statistical background to do a very serious analysis of WAR, I've never really taken the time to do it. I think one of the problems is that we are basing metrics on "replacement level" instead of "league average". I get that replacement level comparisons create better marginal difference when comparing players, but I think it runs into some issues when comparing across positions. If you are a league average 1B, you receive negative credit for your defense. If you are a league average SS, you receive positive credit for your defense. In one way it makes sense because SS defense is much more important than 1B defense, but at the same time you can really distort the value of the two positions. Maybe instead of having predetermined offsets for defensive value, just compare each player to the positional norms for both offense and defense to determine value.

I think we're long past the day of there being a finite number of copies of anything.

Thank you. I just now noticed the fine print in Quintana's contract, and he is indeed almost certain to qualify for Super 2.

You will think having one kid is the hardest thing ever. Until you have your second. Then you will think having one kid is the easiest thing ever.

Somebody please correct my errors, but this is what I have: Guaranteed: Keppinger $3.5M Konerko $1M Danks $14.25M Ramirez $10M Abreu $7M Sale $6M Quintana $1M Arbitration eligible (salaries estimated): Belisario $4.5M Viciedo $4M Flowers $2M Jones $1M I feel fairly confident that Belisario gets non-tendered, so that is $49.75M to fill 8 roster spots.

I thought a 6-8 game suspension was appropriate in February and I still think that is what is appropriate.

I'm not terribly concerned about those stats. Abreu is 1st in MLB in SLG, 10th in OBP, and 2nd in OPS.

OK, but then isn't an indefinite suspension an overreaction the other way? They just came out with a policy that gave first time offenders a six game suspension but now he is retroactively getting more? Not to absolve Ray Rice for what he did, but it isn't his fault that this tape didn't come out until now.

I'm a little conflicted by this. On one hand, I agree with a policy of zero tolerance for violence against women. On the other hand, life is about second chances and unless Rice has some history that I'm not aware of, he isn't getting one. I guess one big question is: Did Rice lie about the severity of the incident to the league and/or the judicial system and did this video counter his lie? If so, then I can justify what happened today. If not, then I find it hard to justify suddenly changing his penalty just because video evidence surfaced.

I realize that this is much easier said than done, especially when you are targeting specific players, but this would make for a nice offseason: FA signings: Melky Cabrera (OF-S), Brandon McCarthy (SP-R), Matt Lindstrom (RP-R), Luke Gregorson (RP-R), Joe Thatcher (RP-L) Starting Lineup: Eaton CF Cabrera LF Abreu 1B Gillaspie/Viciedo DH AGarcia RF Ramirez SS Sanchez/Semien 2B Semien/Gillaspie 3B Flowers C Bench: Phegley, Sierra, Danks/LGarcia Rotation: Sale L Quintana L McCarthy R Danks L/Noesi R/Rodon L Danks L/Noesi R/Rodon L Bullpen: Lindstrom R Gregorson R Thatcher L Putnam R Petricka R Guerra R Carroll R/Danks L/Noesi R Let Danks, Noesi and Rodon battle it out in Spring Training for the #4/5 spots. If Rodon loses out he goes back to AAA and Carroll is long relief. If Danks or Noesi lose out then they go to long relief. Yes, I am potentially taking a guy making $14.25M and putting him in the bullpen, but if he isn't good enough to be one of the five best starters and he can't be traded, then the bullpen is where he belongs. I don't know if the Sox have shed enough payroll to afford all those guys, but it would be a nice get.

I know a lot can change in a year, but the last 20 games next season are all against teams that are 5+ games above .500 this season

Finally a summer weekend series vs DET. My mom's extended family goes to one Saturday game every year. 4 members of the family are Tigers fans and won't go unless it's against DET. For the last 3 years, there have either been no home Saturday games vs DET or they have been in April/September.

https://twitter.com/whitesox/status/5090250...5195905/photo/1

Dammit, you guys and your stupid time zone.

OK, it's past noon, anybody see a schedule yet?