AlSoxfan

I think it's our best option to trade starting pitching for a good bat. I think EJ can easily duplicate what Shark has done this yr. but trading another arm such as Q or Rodon might hurt. If I were to trade either I'd look to the Dodgers for someone like Seager + an not Puig.

Well I for one was pretty happy with the trade for Shark. I was fooled. Of all the games, he should of been up for this game. I'm very disappointed. Thing is he'll go somewhere and be the pitcher we thought he should be for another team next yr. I guess thats White Sox luck. In any case bye bye, I'd much rather take a chance with someone else. A scary thought...I don't think he's worth the QO and might believe this himself and except the offer. 16 mil. is not chump change and would be a 6 mil. dollar raise.

QUOTE (flavum @ Aug 9, 2015 -> 10:59 AM) You can do that when you're 65-44. Moustakas too. Saw Zobrist playing 3rd, that might be interesting to see, but any help getting Q a win off KC is a welcome sight.

No Cain in the line up for KC. Thats good news Cain is batting .357 off lefties this season and is 5 for 8 with two doubles against Quintana this year.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 6, 2015 -> 01:27 AM) If Avi turns it around hitting wise many may point to the 2 consecutive HR's in 2 separate games. I would point to the walk that brought home the winning run as an AB that may be even better. 2 straight IBB to Abreu and Cabrera loaded the bases with one out. That kind of thing tends to piss a hitter off and he's got to have an itchy trigger finger wanting to drive home that winning run. That's just what the pitcher is counting on knowing Avi doesn't take many walks and also hits the ball on the ground a lot. Perfect double play fodder. But Avi ,surprisingly, shows restraint and doesn't offer at any of the crap the pitcher throws . He refuses to get himself out . He realizes the pitcher has to come to him with the bases loaded and he stays focused only looking for a pitch he can drive. A walk with the bases loaded might not be the most exciting way to win but it's effective. If Avi can do that more often , the classic "stay within yourself" he might just have turned a corner. Or maybe the pitcher was wild and Avi was frozen in fear very good unless the last part is true..lol Avi just might be learning

Do you think Avi's lookin over on the bench at Thompson thinkin he wants my job or maybe Tray's his good luck piece. I 've been hoping to see Tray play a couple games but Avi's hitting pretty well. Really though they should bench LaDunn and let Avi DH an play Tray in RF. Nice win in any case

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Aug 5, 2015 -> 10:36 AM) What about a platoon? lol yea I was thinking Good guy Bad guy routine

QUOTE (Knackattack @ Aug 5, 2015 -> 10:40 AM) I don't think a full rebuild will ever happen, and I think we are about halfway ready to compete now based on the pitching. What we need to be a winning ballclub (imo)- - A new RF. This is a free agency need, I think Heyward fits the bill perfectly with the age/defense combination and his bat plays pretty well. Removing Avi's horrible defense and popless bat is a massive boost to the team. - Micah Johnson at 2nd base. Even with Carlos Sanchez recent hot streak with the bat, I can't forget the amount of time he spent batting under .200 this season and don't think he will ever hit well enough to warrant the starting role. While his defense is stellar I truly believe Micah's offensive profile is something this team desperately needs. - Dump LaRoche and get away from this player profile at DH. A high slugging lefty bat worked when Jim Thome was here - but that was Jim Thome. Adam Dunn and LaRoche have been cancers on offense and payroll. Rotate players through DH and find a strong defensive sub (Carlos Sanchez/Trayce Thompson?) to cover infield/outfield to hide liabilities on defense (Melky, Eaton, Micah) - A 3rd baseman that plays at least league average D and can put up close to a .750-.800 OPS. This is probably the hardest piece to find nowadays. - To continue drafting quality starting pitching. While it seems silly to say I don't have faith in paid professionals producing position players, we haven't had a good one in awhile. I think the key to us getting quality players is to continue pumping out high quality pitching and then eventually deal it off for young, cost controlled players. I love Heyward but I just can't see the Sox signing him. I'm not sure about Johnson yet defense is pretty important love the rotating DH idea...It drives me nuts to see a shift put on a DH and him not able to hit it the other way especially if he's not hitting 40 Hrs a yr. I really don't care if he hits left or right just as long as he hits. you can add catcher to that list of hard to find players an we need 1 of each.

I'm not sure at this point a complete rebuild is the way to go. On the other hand I thought Hahn did a pretty good job this past off season. How wrong I was. I think you would have to say good bye to Sale, Q an Abreu and maybe more. 3 very good contracts but that should give us a big jump start on good young players. I'm also a bit leary of this FO selecting the right players in trade. Other than pitching I don't see much in players in our minors.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Aug 5, 2015 -> 07:23 AM) Kenny Williams ala Dan Jennings in Miami. That would be fun. love it an yes it woud be fun..on the other hand it hasn't worked out to well for Miami Just a couple names no one has mentioned K Gibson Sandberg

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 03:43 PM) If the Sox do anything in free agency I think it will be Cespedes. The term of the deal won't be as long and no draft pick compensation attached make him a solid match. Upton and Heyward will be out of the realm of possibility for the Sox. I've never been big on Cespedes...not sure why.. He does have a nice bat but he doesn't seem to want to play RF and thats our biggest need other than a much improved defense. One of the biggest reasons why I like Heyward. ..but you're right I think he or they are out of our realm.

QUOTE (Buehrlesque @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 02:24 PM) And he'll probably get an opt-out halfway through so if he's really good, he's gone, and if he's not, you're stuck with the contract. I like Heyward but doubt the Sox will come anywhere near the ludicrous contract it will take to sign him. I think you're correct. I was thinking more along the lines of a shorter contract of 3 or 4 yrs and then hitting the FA market again at 29 or 30 yrs of age. The way things today seem to be, are the opt-out deals. I would love to have him but like you I doubt the Sox will sign him. If they do by chance sign him I can't see them signing anyone else or taking on any other bigger contracts such as Shark or any of our other needs.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 4, 2015 -> 01:53 PM) I don't know that he'll be able to correct it in the minors. He was able to hammer pitching in AAA his last year there because he is able to make contact on a lot of swings; the pitchers weren't good enough with either control or stuff to beat him. Now that he's in the big leagues the pitchers are able to spot stuff better and they're no longer giving him pitches that he can easily handle with his approach. The end result is that he's swinging and missing or making weak contact all the time. So how do you fix it? But my biggest question is Is he aware of it and working on it? The way he acts sometimes makes me think he thinks he's a star. I can't disagree with your thoughts. I think you're correct but if he is to be what this team's hoping him to be then he needs to spend all his time with the batting coach and thats not saying anything about his fielding.

It was the first game for me. It showed who we (they) were. It was a big let down. I had hope then and I no longer have any.

I go back and forth with this myself. Pete was a heck of a baseball player. He has the most hits of anyone but he's not in the Hall? Then again he broke the rules. I personly don't like him much but....Then there's Bonds. I don't want to see him in the hall at all but he has the most Hrs. I think Bonds cheated to get his stats while Pete earned his. If it's only about stats (which I don't think it shoud be) then I think it lessens the value of being a Hall of Famer. Just my 2 cents.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 31, 2015 -> 01:45 PM) I feel the same way about closers. I can agree with you about closers. The save stat is the most bogus stat of all. They sit out there knowing the only inning they have to worry about is the 9th. I think the inherited runners stat is by far the most important stat for a relief pitcher. A closer more often then not gets a fresh inning with no one on base, and it may only be the 7th, 8th and 9th hitters. At least thats how it seems today vs. the days when guys like the Goose were pitching the 8th and 9th innings.

wow..I can't stop grinning

Defeat the Green monster we shall...good stuff an thanks for the grins

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 11:16 AM) (nothing). Oh come on he's 23..this is really his first yr. I think he gets better

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 10:55 PM) I'm going to "pretend" he has value . If Avi was in the minor league putting up a .325average , with his speed and arm and power potential he'd be considered to have 4 of the 5 tools , defense being his only weakness . He'd probably be a top 100 prospect , maybe top 50, the kind of guy most teams are hoarding now. But because he hasn't quite figured it out yet at the advanced age of 23 in the majors he has no trade value ? Yes I will admit he has no value to a competing team but a high level talent is still worth a premium until he's at an age where it's apparent he will never figure it out. He isn't even close to that point yet. Agree

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 03:22 PM) If we're going to spend $20 million this offseason on someone, finding a corner OF who can hit and play some defense fits this team a heckuva lot better than signing an expensive RHP. Yes, I agree, plus it would make Avi. a trade chip for whatever he may be worth

Nice article and I agree 100%. I've been feeling kinda guilty for wanting to keep him this past off-season. Most everyone wanted to sell high on him. I don't think he's worth much in trade now though. I've been hoping he'd bounce back so it's kinda nice to see some of the numbers on him, maybe he can still play decent ball. I think we have other issues that need fixing before we need to worry about Lexi. As for next yr. they can always buy him out and offer a lesser amount.

I liked him when we signed him. He's been a good pick up so far and I wouldn't mind seeing him get more at bats. It really can't hurt

Pretty cool..I like it

I'm a collector myself though not of bobble heads. I do have a few and have thought about diving in and collecting more bobble heads. Thanks for the read and good luck in your collecting.