The Wiz

QUOTE (TRU @ Sep 4, 2014 -> 01:00 PM) Right, so a guy hits .450 the first month of the year and then .200 the next 5 months and you look at his avg and see .280 and go "that guy can play". That's not how it works. His month of .302 is much more likely to happen then the .330 and .394 months. Just like I wouldn't expect to see many .177 months like you pointed out earlier. Im not going to look at his season avg and make an overall judgment on him, especially when you consider the ridiculous avg he put up WAY early in the season. Baseball is quite possibly the only sport where a superior month can make your end of year stats look pretty solid even if you were pretty bad the rest of the rest of the season. The only thing is that he was actually pretty solid for the first 4 months of the season so even if he doesn't finish strong, he was still good for over half the year which led to those good numbers.

I couldn't care less if he hits 0 homers for the rest of his career as long as he continues to hit line drives and be a .290+ hitter

Sign Victor Martinez, Justin Masterson, and bullpen arm. Trade for Matt Holliday (need to make room for Piscotty and their glut of OF prospects) and other minor deals for relief pitching help. Trade Alexei and let Semien/Sanchez/Johnson/Gillaspie battle it out for PT from the 2B/3B/SS positions. Offense will be much improved with two impact bats behind Abreu. While they are older and expensive, they will only be on the books for a couple years so you can compete with them and have time to find younger replacements. Rodon will be up sometime in June most likely. Whatever you do, hold on to Danish, he will be good and get a cup of coffee in September. 1. Eaton, CF 2. Semien/Sanchez/Johnson/Gillaspie, 2B/3B/SS 3. Abreu, 1B 4. Martinez, DH 5. Holliday, LF 6. Garcia, RF 7. Semien/Sanchez/Johnson/Gillaspie, 2B/3B/SS 8. Flowers, C 9. Semien/Sanchez/Johnson/Gillaspie, 2B/3B/SS Also look for a left handed hitting catcher who can platoon with Flowers. Easier said than done. 1. Sale 2. Quintana 3. Masterson 4. Danks 5. Noesi Bullpen still a crapshoot but can't get much worse.

Masterson definitely could be a guy the Sox bring in though. A 1 year deal worth around 6 million with incentives is exactly the type of deal he should get and wouldn't be a major risk for the Sox. If he blows, oh well wasted a couple million for 1 year. If he rebounds you have a great trade chip or possible QO FA for 2016 to get a draft pick out of. Plus the White Sox track record with pitchers could make him extremely interested in the Sox.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 4, 2014 -> 11:59 AM) Yeah well then he's gonna get his head cryogenically frozen and when they figure out how to revive people 225 years from now, he's going to be asking for a back payment with interest included, and that will end up somewhere around the billion dollar mark. Inflation will make that billion dollars easily affordable

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 4, 2014 -> 08:33 AM) I was thinking of this last night - I'm not sure how much it will matter if the Sox have a protected pick or not. They will likely be semi-active in free agency, but as we saw last year, if there's a marginal talent that will cost the Sox even a 2nd round pick, they are not likely to pursue that option, and there is no one attractive enough in free agency this year for the Sox to concede either a 1st or a 2nd. Victor Martinez is the one that comes immediately to mind, but I think the Sox would be absolutely insane to give up even a 2nd round pick to the Tigers to sign a 36 year old player. If he's not offered a QO - which, why wouldn't he? - then I can see the Sox interested, but even that'd be a really short term deal. Given Hahn's signings in the past, with a tendency towards guys who produce ground balls, I also can't see them being interested in James Shields either. Basically, getting a higher pick isn't a bad thing, but they're already going to end up with a good pick, so the best thing to do is hope the young players hit well and keep developing, win or lose. (not trying to thread-jack or say this thread is stupid, as the work put into it is appreciated) I don't understand how the previous offseasons relate to this one at all. First off this upcoming offseason the Sox will literally have at least 30 million to spend I'd say. 2nd off, 2014 is/was clearly a rebuilding/retooling year while we wait to clear the roster of the deadweight. The Sox aren't the Cubs, they can't commit to a long term rebuild over several years and still expect to draw fans to the park. They definitely are going to make 1 big free agent signing because they have to and try and get some excitement around the team, 2nd round draft pick be damned.

While he has cooled off considerably since August, I think if you watched a lot of the games you'll see that he's been hitting a lot of line drives at guys. Personally, even if he winds up being only a .275 hitter with 10-15 HR power, he is still a good bat to have your team because he's a solid contact guy and has a good short line drive swing that will cause him to go on steaks where everything he hits finds a hole.

The other main issue about Martinez as the DH is how do you get his bat in the lineup when the Sox play in the NL? I guess putting Martinez at C would make the most sense. Maybe have Abreu play a game or two in LF?

I still don't understand why more people don't complain/comment about possible under use as a problem. I mean pitchers in the MLB and MiLB are now on schedules where they are used the least amount ever any pitchers in the history of baseball have ever been used, yet injury rates only increase. I guess another part of the problem is that pitchers are also getting stronger and bigger and throwing harder than ever before and that could be a cause as to why. It's so complex too because everyone is different and there are people who can go out there and throw forever and be fine, and others who seem to have a limit on how many pitches they can throw until their elbow blows up.

A Viciedo for another struggling young player who's worn out his welcome with his ball club swap makes too much sense. Dustin Ackley actually seemed like the perfect candidate until he started to heat up this second half.

Holy crap, of course the main goal is to get a good power bat for the middle of the order because the goal is to get good hitters and lineup protection isn't the main goal. But it certainly doesn't hurt having a good hitter bat behind your best hitter because without a doubt there are times when that lineup protection will help. Runners on 1B and 2B in a tied ballgame in the 8th inning with two outs with Jose Abreu up, a pitcher, manager, and pitching coach will definitely have a different approach to facing Jose Abreu if he had Victor Martinez batting behind him instead of Dayan Viciedo or Adam Dunn. And I don't think it is a huge deal either, if anything lineup protection goes hand in hand with just trying to build a good lineup. But you'd definitely want your two best power hitters batting back to back in the middle of the lineup because even if it is just a minor and small advantage, of course you'd want to take it because it is an advantage.

First thing let me say I am a big fan of Conor Gillaspie the hitter and think he has a great approach and can be a useful bat for any team as his approach is very unselfish. Do I think he is a future .300 hitter every year? Probably not, but definitely someone who can live in that 270-290 range, decent OBP, a little pop, good contact, and a good platoon partner. However, as much as I try, it has become inevitable that he is not very good at 3B. He has been ok at times, but for the most part, his bat isn't good enough to offset his lack of defense at 3B. I think it might be wise to give him an outfielders glove for next year and work at LF. Might not produce the power you want from the corner OF, but I think if he spent all offseason working at it, he can't be any worse than the options we have thrown out there in LF over the past couple years. But if you do move him to LF, you have to find someone to play 3B. Matt Davidson really has screwed things up and will almost certainly have to start next year in AAA to try and prove he is a legit prospect again. In the free agent market, someone like Chase Headley is starting to make sense. You can get him probably on a 1 year contract with an option for a 2nd so he can try and prove he can hit again and maybe get that big contract we all thought he would get two years ago at the age of 32 or 33. And even if he doesn't ever hit like he did in 2012 again, his 2013 line would be more than fine with the defense he would provide at 3B. You maybe sign Martinez for DH and find a right handed partner for Gillaspie in LF, and it's not a bad looking lineup for 2015 regardless of what happens with Alexei, Flowers, and the whole 2B situation. 1. Eaton, CF 2. Semien/Sanchez/Johnson, 2B 3. Abreu, 1B 4. Martinez, DH 5. Garcia, RF 6. Gillaspie, LF 7. Ramirez, SS 8. Headley, 3B 9. Flowers, C

I don't mind Noesi but I think his best role on any team seriously trying to contender is the swing man out of the pen who can spot start or maybe a 5th starter if he does improve in the offseason.

I too am worried about his age and how it would relate to his performance, but it is also because of his age I wouldn't be too worried about any deal he could get because there is no way he gets a deal longer than 3 years and it is unlikely that a 3 year deal could cripple a team financially.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 31, 2014 -> 10:34 AM) Lineup protection is a myth. Eventually, it will become an idea left in the past. So if you are saying having Gordon Beckham batting behind Jose Abreu wouldn't be any better or worse for Abreu than having Giancarlo Stanton behind him, I would have to say without a doubt that you are unequivocally wrong.

I don't understand why it has to be either or, I personally would love to see all three of Semien, Sanchez, and Johnson up next year each getting around 400 ABs and competing for starting jobs and playing time between SS and 2B. Plus Semien can get occasional PT at 3B or LF and Johnson could as well in the OF. Of course this means trading Alexei which would hurt but if we actually want to get some young quality pitching or a power bat this off-season, Ramirez being traded offers the best chance of getting that back.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 12:43 PM) Nava isn't blocking ANYONE in Boston. He had a surprisingly solid year last year out of nowhere, but I think many people don't realize how mediocre he's been this year. And he doesn't have much of a track record to suggest he'll "bounce back." I don't think anyone is saying Nava is blocking anyone for the Red Sox. However, I do think it is silly to just think of him as a write off and nothing but a AAAA player. The guy has a good eye and you have to love his work ethic and passion for baseball. And considering he was able to produce a .800 ops season as recently as last year and owns a career .360+ OBP over the course of the past 4 (albeit it has only been really only 1 full season he has played in the big leagues) suggests that he has some talent and hitting ability. I'd much rather take a chance on him in LF next year than another year of De Aza and Viciedo.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 10:20 AM) We are not trading alexei ramirez. Thanks for your input Kenny Williams/Rick Hahn I'd say if anything if Semien shows he can play a solid SS over the next couple weeks and in September, the odds of Alexei getting traded do nothing but increase. And this offseason is probably the time to sell high on Ramirez as you will likely never get as much for him as you can this offseason.

I automatically like any hitter who goes to bat without batting gloves. And a good slide by Sanchez.

The only thing Flowers has shown me this year is that he looks like a solid candidate to be a backup C who plays vs. lefties. I'm impressed by his adjustments at the plate and his work ethic, but when it comes down to it, Flowers work ethic does not make up for a lack of physical talent to be a good everyday player, in my opinion.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 22, 2014 -> 10:39 AM) What do they have to do with Castillo? a DFAed free agent, AAAA bench player and first full season player have no impact on Castillo In what world is Daniel Nava a AAAA bench player? I'm not saying he is anything special, and he is already on the wrong side of 30, but there is no reason to think that Nava can't still be a useful offensive player for someone next year. Even with his OBP in the .335-.340 range this season, that is still a nice upgrade to what the Sox usually get from De Aza and Viciedo in the OF.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 19, 2014 -> 08:35 AM) With this team, the White Sox ought to be trying to find someone like Viciedo - talented guy with several arb years remaining who has failed to break out and whose team has soured on him. That's the only way you'll prossibly get any value for him. I think someone like Dustin Ackley would be a realistic target.

I feel the people who are really in support of De Aza being back are the people who really put a ton of stock in stats. On paper sure he isn't bad. But when you actually watch him play and all the little things he does wrong, he doesn't really fit into what I assume Hahn and the rest of the FO are trying to build here. I think they are gonna be looking for fundamental players who can be counted on to actually catch most routine balls in LF and not get picked off at 1b when down by a couple runs in the late innings. De Aza has tools, but he isn't developing anymore and has been one of the main reasons why it looks like a circuit act on the field occassionally over the past 2 years. A lot of these reasons are why I also feel Viciedo will be gone.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 18, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) I am thinking something in the 4/60 or 5/75 range. That'd be incredibly foolish to give someone with Melky's ped past a contract like either of those. Some team will take the risk, but there is no way to tell how his body will hold up as he progresses into his 30s and if he even is clean now. Someone with his past should be a year deal with an option for a 2nd only. I trust Melky as far as I could throw John Kruk

I haven't listened to B&B in a long time because I never found them entertaining or enlightening to listen to, but aren't they pretty harsh and blunt most of the time? I figure they have said things in the past that are worse than what Hawk has said, so is it something they really care about or do they just personally have something against Hawk and use it as a tool to use to hate on him? Also, I love Hawk, but he has been going downhill for at least the past five years, but this has been his best year he has had in a while. With that being said though, I wouldn't mind his schedule being cut down to home games only, and maybe Wimpy or a classic PBP guy being brought in for road games and emergency announcer.