SCCWS

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2015 -> 11:01 AM) I think Trace Thompson would do the same thing. Johnson is intriquing, but I would give it a couple more starts in AAA. Guerra is up, and I am sure will get more innings when his performances warrants them. I don' t think you call up Johnson until you actually move a SP. The trade deadline is coming and the hope should be Shark and Danks have a decent 3-4 weeks and someone takes them. Sitting Danks now only ensures no one will want him in July.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 11:21 PM) Except Greene's back in the minors and Guthrie is on the verge of losing his spot in the rotation to Blanton/Duffy (DL)/Medlen (DL). Add Porcello of Boston who is their#4 and Kelly their number 5 both have 5+. CC in New York is mid-5 as well. There are more starting pitchers than Danks over 5. Meanwhile Danks dropped his some last night.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 10:41 PM) I'm all for trading him, as he's worthless on this s*** team, but he won't get much. He'll get as much as Papelbon probably, which is a B level prospect and maybe another intriguing arm thrown in. Boston got Balttimore's #3 prospect for Miller at trading deadline last July and he was only a 2 month rental.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 10:30 PM) Actually, he's among the top of their problems. He's a waste of a roster spot, a waste of around 15 million dollars, and in today's MLB, an ERA over 5 means you are DFA material. THis isn't the steroid era where an ERA over 5 means you are a 5th starter. Check the 5th starters around league, most of them are no worse than 4.5 ERA, if that. Actually just in AL Central, Guthrie KC 5.79 and Greene Det 5.82. are worst than Danks.

QUOTE (harkness @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 08:05 PM) Most players don't like losing for sure... But year after year in all sports the majority of players sign for the higher paycheck - because for their/family futures. Then we agree

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 06:55 PM) I'm assuming you never played professional sports. It's about the paycheck. By your theory Robertson would have signed with someone else. I think players are happy here. There's no accountability for threat of replacement because it applies to everyone in the whole organization. So according to your theory the Bulls players are just as happy as the Blackhawks??? After all it is just about the paycheck. Somehow I don't think so. Eaton wasn't happy in spite of his paycheck.

QUOTE (harkness @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 05:19 PM) If I were a player I'd love to play for Ventura and Cooper. So you like being a loser!!!!! I am assuming you did not play any competitive sports. I doubt any players are happy playing on this team at this point.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 01:15 PM) In today's game I almost think it's a requirement that your manager be an ex catcher. Relying on Cooper and Flowers to call the balls and strikes and RV to know when to start the running game and when not doesn't seem to be working very well. The whole thing with how Parent handled Eaton rubbed me the wrong way as well and is indicative of a fractured clubhouse imo. Yea Eaton needs to grow up, play better, and not say dumb s*** like "stir the drink" but how about standing behind the guy you just committed 25 million dollars to instead of having the acting f***ing manager bench him for a career AAAA player? The whole org is a mess right now and the stench goes much deeper than just RV, unfortunately. You don't play a guy solely because of his salary. The manager should bench any player in order to send a message or to incent them to perform better. Sometimes a player needs to re-focus and sitting them for a game or two may light a fire. Again, we as fans have no idea how much effort a player is expending. I saw a piece recently where the Boston media were complaining about Hanley Ramirez putting in minimum work in the outfield during pre-game warm-ups. He is learning and struggling to play LF in Fenway. Typically that is not something the average fan would know.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Jun 17, 2015 -> 04:34 AM) Bob nailed it. That was a great post. When Robin was hired, I thought it was a bad move because he had no experience. But a lot of posters here differed saying a manager in baseball had a minor impact. At this point, I would not fire Robin unless JR thinks the next manager is on staff. Instead I would fire Hahn and/or Williams and bring in a new GM. Let that person then pick his own manager next year where the field of candidates is larger. I think Hahn/Williams has assembled a roster that is flawed and is being coached by a manager that is also flawed.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jun 16, 2015 -> 10:08 PM) I can't say that trading 4 young players for a rent, and wasting the opportunity of not selling a single player high were great moves. Hahn's one confirmed great move was the Peavy trade, and in that case, there was a tradeable commodity and KW was involved. I have no problem giving him a chance without Williams. But this org. needs a real cleansing. Not sure it was a great move. He could have had Iglesias but opted for Avi. I thought it was a great move but in hindsight did the Tigers get the better of that deal.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jun 16, 2015 -> 08:35 PM) 21 innings. Q is killing this offense. He has struck out twice

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jun 16, 2015 -> 03:56 PM) In 78 ABs...Micah Johnson for example has 74 ABs. Sample sizes are your friend. Agree but those numbers would be great for a Number 2. He also has one of the highest averages in ML for throwing out baserunners.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jun 16, 2015 -> 04:14 PM) Werent they talking about putting Abreu at 3rd for interleague play? Or was that them just trying to be cute? What is the worst that could happen? Our defense stay awful? He get hurt

John Farrell is on very thin ice in Boston. Some media think it is a waste to fire him now but he will be gone by end of season. He won a World Series two years ago w some of these same players. Now he has had 2 lousy years. I don't think his personality changed. I don't think leaders like Ortiz, Pedroia and Napoli have changed. Basically the 2013 team performed and the last two years the team w changes has not. Maybe the GM takes a hit as well since they spent a ton and may end up just as bad as the White Sox. The good thing is I think Hahn might be able to scoop some young talent from them since Boston will be desperate for pitching. Hopefully they don't take Hamels and are in market for a young pitcher, Q, in the off-season. Mmaybe we need more of these types: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/pr...4da4411660.html

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jun 15, 2015 -> 04:48 PM) What exactly do you hate about the Shark trade? Yeah, he's been pretty damn mediocre. But it looked worse when Semien was hitting, but he is hitting .180 the past month and is literally one of the most comically bad shortstops in recent history. Phegley is garbage, Ravelo hasn't appeared in a game this year and Bassit has been Ok but unspectacular in AAA. It hasn't really panned out to this point, but let's not act like the SOX gave up their future. Actually Phegley is having a good year so far both offensively and throwing out runners.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 15, 2015 -> 02:12 PM) So the pitching has been great 2013,2014, and 2015? 2015 13th, 2014 13th, 2013 9th. I would venture to guess the pitching was awful in 2007 as well, 12th out of 14. Those are the years the team was totally dreadful, which accounts for the below .500 record since winning the WS. People don't like trading prospects for hitters because too many people think guys like Montas will be stars, when, in reality, the odds are still against him. I'd hang on to Q. Trade Montas and Danish for hitters. If they are thought of anywhere near where some have placed them on this site, there should be plenty of offense coming back. That, and some bounce back from guys who have struggled. I am not talking Tyler Flowers. I think he is what he is, but realistically, Melky is a better offensive player. Eaton is a better offensive player. So is Alexei. Sanchez can't be as bad as he's been. Abreu should do better. LaRoche should hit some more home runs. I'm as sick of watching 1 or 2 runs scored as much as anyone. But this team will hit better. Whether that is this week, next month, in August or next season, they are better than they have shown. Good post. I do have a few thoughts: 1. Montas and Danish are 2 good AA prospects. I would assume packaged they would bring back 1 MLB ready player like a 2B or 3B. But I would guess Q would bring 2 MLB ready players in prime positions like SS, C and SP( end of rotaton). 2. There is also the opinion Alexei may be on the decline. 3. Don't agree onLaRoche. He has averaged 21 HR per season and he is on pace to match that. His BA is down and we could expect a bump and his BB are way up and nis doubles down. 4. I also caution that this team is thin offensively . Any injury would be a major hit since the backups and AAA recall candidates other than maybe Johnson are a real stretch. For example, if an outfielder went down for a month or two , I am not sure they have a lot to choose unless Shuck is the real deal average wise. But he has no pop.

I still think Sale is a keeper and Q is the one to trade. Sale is a Top 10 pitcher in baseball, one who doesn't come along too often. Q is the next level down ( top 30 in our eyes but maybe we are prejudiced) . I think Q could bring 2 starters and obviously Sale could bring 3+. But I think Q will eventually be our #3 starter or is now and could be replaced. Maybe Fullmer is that guy in a year or two. But I am not sure we could find a number 1 to replace Sale.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 07:16 PM) you make a real good point, but teams in the hunt for the playoff will not give up players on the roster. that is why i am saying players who are on a cusp of breaking in with the big club. now remember this, taking what i am saying, those players would undoubtedly be on the every day roster with the sox and many other teams. Understood, but I am not trading Q at the deadline. I would see what offers I got in the offseason where every team is a potential trade partner. By then you will also know how desperate the situation is.

QUOTE (Real @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 06:58 PM) dunno I see people talk up their farm system a lot and theyre always successful every year Sale should be untouchable. He is the franchise right now. Also forget farm system. When you are looking to trade a stud player-say Q, you want ML players not ML ready AAA players. The Sox cannot gamble on minor league prospects to turn this around. Now with Shark, you may have to take a AAA ML ready player since he is a rental.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 05:17 PM) Not sure. They aren't going to trade players that they just signed though. They didn't give up a 2nd round draft pick for Robertson to then trade him immediately. They have a good bullpen. Trading Robertson and Duke makes it so your bullpen is awful again. I'm not even sure they trade Samardzija. Comp pick may be better than the return. Again, they have to trade someone valuable to acquire multiple young players. Maybe Johnson by next year can play 2nd which would be major in that you filled internally . But you still have holes at catcher, 3B, SP and probably SS. Now if the FO is convinced Fullmer is the real thing, I trade Q and try and get a catcher and infielder. I trade Shark at the deadline this year and try and get a 3B back. If Shark and Q returned a catcher, SS and 3B, Johnson played 2nd and Fullmer took Q's spot that would be a solid step in the right direction. That still leaves a hole for 4th starter assuming Danks is the 5. My fear is Q may not bring back 2 ML ready players realizing we need SS and Catcher which are hard to find. Instead maybe he brings one and a #4 type starter.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 04:55 PM) Who said that? It's a reasonable objective to me, but if that was the objective you don't trade 4 players for 1 year 2015 rents, you don't spend $4 mill on utility infielders, etc. I am saying based on where they are right now, barring a big spluge in FA, that is probably where they are headed. I don't see them improving by 10 games next year.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 04:45 PM) No it's not. It's getting this year's team to around .500. That's a 8-10 game improvement. Then you try to win again next season with a front 3 of Sale, Rodon, and Quintana. They really don't have anyone to trade off of this team anyway. I don't really see much young help coming. Still more likely to add than subtract in my opinion. You have Sale, Rodon and Q in the rotation right now w Shark and Danks. My guess is they move Shark at deadline for an Avi type. Rodon gets shut down in late August and w/o Shark and Rodon down the stretch they finish below .500 ( 5 or 6 games) I think next year w Sale, Q and Rodan we are looking at .500 ish. Now if you tell me Hahn is going to spend big money in FA market then yes next year could be better than .500

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 04:11 PM) 2015 team will not be over .500 again. The object is to get the 2016 team to .500. Then 2017 we shoot for the wildcard

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 12:28 PM) Shuck's OPS is .670. Eaton's is .656 Shuck is 4 for his last 15; Eaton is 4 for his last 15. He's also 4 for his last 11. Shuck has never shown anything other than utility level level talent. Eaton had an excellent year last year. Sox do this repeatedly. A utility player has a decent game, and they get in in their heads he's as starter. Pinch hit Bonifacio; play him at DH. Same silly stuff. I am not sure anyone thinks Shuck is the everyday CF. But while Shuck is hitting over .280 on a team that is struggling offensively, he should be playing until his bat cools off. Let Eaton and Melky sit more until they start to hit better.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 14, 2015 -> 12:14 AM) I got fooled by Gordon's hot start. I thought he'd found himself. At least he's now considered good glove/no hit. His glove is pretty OK. Maybe he should have found someone else.