Jose Abreu

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Dec 3, 2017 -> 12:53 PM) 1) More consistently (the standard deviation in balls has been dropping for a decade, as shown in your linked article) 2) The ball doesn't explain the significant reduction in his K rate or the increase in his walk rate in the second half. I don't think that the ball is the sole reason for his improvement, nor do I think it's the biggest reason. I just wanted to point out that it is at least a factor. The walk rate/K rate changes are more likely just a better approach, or pitchers respecting him more.

QUOTE (Dam8610 @ Dec 3, 2017 -> 10:58 AM) The ball has been juiced since the 2015 all star break. Yes, but MLB only began consistently using the juiced ball in 2017 (see the link in my above post).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 3, 2017 -> 11:00 AM) Why would it apply more to one player than the rest of baseball? There are a lot of different theories for that question. One that can be defended somewhat easily is that every ball is different, and MLB only began using the juiced ball consistently very recently. It's possible that Avi just lucked out and got to hit against this ball more often than other players on other teams. Another idea is that a player's approach and swing mechanics are simply better suited for one ball versus another, unintentionally. For example, if the league became a slow-pitch softball league, you obviously wouldn't have the same leaderboards for hitters- some hitters would have drastically improved stats, others just marginally improved, even with the same approach.

Don't forget to factor in the ball when you're comparing someone's 2017 stats to their 2016 stats. Avi isn't the only one who had a sudden outrageously good season. Scooter Gennett is another example. The ball is a factor

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Dec 2, 2017 -> 11:15 PM) Of course the white sox are a forgetful team.. espn, ESP freaking N forgot that we even ever won a championship. THE WORLDWIDE LEADER IN SPORTS forgot that... Not one worker thought of us and brought it up.. It was embarrassing and it shows what people outside of the fan base think of us.. Oh well. I love us so that's all that matters You're right that they forgot us, but they're also a joke of a company. They appeal to the lowest common denominator, only cover Lonzo Ball, etc. There's unfortunately no real alternative to them at the moment, as FS1 isn't very polished, but their forgetting of us isn't that big of a deal in this context.

Matt Adams, Danny Santana, and Hector Rondon intrigue me

Scott Merkin‏Verified account @scottmerkin 5m5 minutes ago White Sox decline to tender 2018 contracts to RHP Jake Petricka, RHP Zach Putnam, RHP Al Alburquerque and IF Alan Hanson

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 03:13 PM) Right now, for the sheer bargain money maker he will be, if any team isn't interested, they need a new front office. I agree- Keith Law said that some teams didn't even respond to the questionnaire.

Oh it ain't easy being white

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 01:57 PM) Any second piece is going to have question marks. To get anyone as the second piece that we could immediately plug into the MLB would be a cant turn down deal. He has potential and is a great defensive CF. He's the second piece not first.. If you think that trade is light then people are going to get really upset if we wind up trading him and we see what we get. However, I hope I'm wrong I still think this is all smoke and we don't trade Abreu. But, in the event that we do trade him, I think people are actually going to be very pleased with the return rather than upset. Hahn has repeatedly stated that he'd need to be overwhelmed to actually pull the trigger on an Abreu deal, and no Heyman tweet is going to change that.

Brutal

QUOTE (GenericUserName @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 01:50 PM) I know Flaherty is pretty good, but is Sierra at the level where that's a deal we can't turn down? No. He's good defensively but very raw offensively, and there are questions about his polish and on base skills.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 01:15 PM) I don't think it means that at all. Teams need two catchers. Castillo would not be blocking Flowers, they could easily both be on team together. ... yikes

Xenophobia has been overused, so why not keep it going?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 12:41 PM) The leadership is important but how are we going to convince impact free agents to sign with us next season if we’re coming a worst in baseball finish? I get money is the most important factor, but if multiple teams are offering roughly the same you don’t want to be the one club coming off a last place season with tons of question marks. The Sox are not going to sit out the best free agent class in years, so this has to be considered as part of their offseason strategy. I don't get your point. If you don't want to finish dead last, wouldn't you want to keep Abreu?

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 12:18 PM) Off the top of my head and if I sound like a moron I apologize but is he better than the two guys we had last year? Better than both for sure. Narvaez is at least solid at getting on base and he should be the backup, but Castillo brings better framing/defense (not great, but still a step up) and better offense.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 12:00 PM) I'm all for veteran leadership, but not at a cost of $20 million per season on a losing team. But now you've oversimplified it- he's veteran leadership and a damn good hitter for $20 mil per season. Sure, it's a losing team now, but having one good hitter in your lineup isn't gonna stop us from getting a top draft pick. He has shown no signs of slowing down yet, meaning he could very well be the same Abreu when we're competitive in a couple years.

Goodbye Smith

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 11:43 AM) We are losing 90 games with or without Abreu in 2018, why not fully commit to tanking? Having the #1 or #2 overall draft pick in 2019 would not be a bad thing for our future when we aren't going to the playoffs anytime soon. Sox fans need to be prepared to admit that 2018 and 2019 could be ugly still as rotation questions get answered and we build a bullpen from the ground up. I do think we can compete in 2019, but that's beside the point- I value his leadership more than most, I suppose. It's not just an on the field issue to me. We've had major clubhouse issues over the years and he has been vital to maintaining it

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 1, 2017 -> 11:16 AM) I think we need to be realistic and not expect a return on the levels of Sale/Eaton/Quintana. Abreu is a great middle of the order bat, but with only two seasons of control teams will not be willing to empty out the farm when they can sign a Hosmer or Santana for only cash. I would be shocked if the Sox were offered a top 40 overall in mlb prospect for two seasons of Abreu. And that's exactly why it makes more sense to keep/extend him. The return isn't worth what we'd be losing.

Quit tweeting, Jordan Stephens.

Don't know if this was posted here, but Heyman said on the radio yesterday that the Cardinals and Rockies were the other teams who were talking Abreu with us

Not a surprise. Avi has always been a very hard worker with lots of hustle, but he'll never be able to surpass the bond that Abreu has made with Sox fans on and off the field

Haven't we used xenophobia enough by now?

QUOTE (Tony @ Nov 30, 2017 -> 12:59 PM) Seems like the Sox will be holding open tryouts for 1B/DH in Spring Training..... I don't know where you get that. I feel like Abreu and Delmonico are set to have those roles, maybe with Davidson (if he isn't traded) and Cordell DHing every now and then. I think they're just stockpiling on AA/AAA 1B since Delmonico, Gillaspie, etc. will be lost to the MLB team.