SoCalSox

Shark & Avi for Puig? Then turn around & attempt to re-sign Shark in the offseason?

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jul 24, 2015 -> 02:10 PM) He was the 10th best pitcher in baseball last year. 20th this year with a historically bad defense. If they aren't paying up for him, they don't get him. What stat is that, that shows he was the 10th best last year & the 20th this year? Hawk mentioned it earlier & I can't find what it's actually called.

Who would be an ideal return from the BlueJays? What about Pentecost since they need a C? Hoffman worries me, since he's already had a TJ surgery.

Interesting tidbits from Jerry Crasnik via twitter. 1. I'm also hearing #WhiteSox are active in trade talks even though they haven't thrown up the white flag publicly. 2.#WhiteSox think they can still get a significant haul for Samardzija at deadline. #BlueJays among several clubs interested. He also said the Astros & Rays just fit better to make a deal, didn't have anything to do with Hahn/Williams being indecisive.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 15, 2015 -> 04:44 PM) Hope not. Off injury, terrible year, free agent in 2017. Wait... What? He's 29, under control for 2 1/2 more years on a 5 year $12M deal & would be the best Sox C since early AJ. If Shark could ultimately net him, why not?

IF Saladino is here to stay, the only player to get rid of would be Conor. Beckham's glove is too valuable and Bonifacio can play anywhere & is the 2nd OF. I'm not sure what to make of Tyler so far but he seems to have a better glove than Conor, slightly below avg speed and little to no power. With Beckham forgetting how to hit again, he may provide a better bat but all together, they can't afford another sub .200 bat.

Pretty stupid that they blacked it out, outside of Chicago and there is going to be no way to get it...

I want to give him at least half the year to really show he's worth that $$$. I know it's just spring but he left the ball up a lot and had too many bad innings for my taste. I'm sure after a few good starts to start the year, I'll come around.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Feb 22, 2015 -> 09:53 AM) Crain threw from the mound again today and came off smiling. Man, if he's even half of what he was 2 years ago, Sox have a steal in the pen. Was looking at this pen from top to bottom, there is going to be a lot of competition but I think this group could be a strong point for the Sox this year. With guys like Petricka and Putnam being put where they fit and getting a true closer in Robertson, things have really improved. Add a real lefty or two and stiff competiton with Webb, Guerra, Crain and Albers for the last two spots and Jones coming back around July and this could be the key to the playoffs.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 12:51 PM) I love the Sox, but there's no way Robin should be expecting playoffs with this club. Sox have to come out and play ball and reverse the mojo from the last few horrific seasons. What should they expect then? They spend a ton of money and check almost every box of the checklist and they should expect to be a 90 win team?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 20, 2015 -> 08:16 AM) I know they have offered him less, but I believe this is the target his people are aiming at. IF that's the case he better enjoy his last year in Chicago because that's ridiculous for a pitcher who will be 31 years old has had one actually "good" year as a starter. Shark's combined WAR over his 3 years of starting is less than either one of Sale's last two years. Shields was two years old than Shark will be & got 4 years at a touch under $19M per year. Looking at how they stack up, Shark is about a 5 year/ $20 per year pitcher. A 5th year is the added bonus for less innings and 2 years younger. That's it.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Feb 15, 2015 -> 01:46 PM) I will truly never understand this. What's not to understand? I don't like him as the Sox manager. Yes, his teams have lacked talent and I don't hold that against him but his game management and certain key decisions have not sat well with me. Seems to me he makes too many of the same mistakes and worry that he won't learn from them. The jury out ultimately out on him but I for one don't like what I have seen so far.

I can honestly say I'm not a big fan of Ventura at all. Think he's ranked a bit high but this year will really show his true ability, IMO.

QUOTE (dewssox79 @ Feb 12, 2015 -> 11:55 AM) yes. KW wanted him bad in the rotation. Glad to see you on the boards, man. This is Aaron from Twitter btw.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Feb 13, 2015 -> 01:52 PM) At the risk of sounding like a s***-head, I have to take issue with people characterizing this move as "low risk, high reward." First of all, such a signing is inherently impossible - that's not how risk and reward work. Second, I would not call Matt Albers a "high reward" guy. That would imply some kind of big upside, but realistically, the most we'll get out of Albers is a pretty good groundballing middle reliever. And while that'd be lovely, it's not going to change the outlook of the team. Low Risk= minor league contract with a $1.5M ceiling. High Reward= a good bullpen arm that throws 50 innings and doesn't consistently blow games. If you honestly don't think players like this can change the outlook of the team, you obviously didn't watch much of last year or any team that had a bad bullpen.

Another very nice move. I fully expect that one if not both of Crain & Albers could be key pieces for this bullpen moving through the season and providing stability for this pen. Can't beat these low risk/high reward moves. Brad Penny could be in the mix too.

Via Kaplan, the Cubs are in on Shields... Interesting.

I think if he didn't cost $4M, he could have be that Carl Everett type player for this team. Play the field occasionally and DH. I'm sure Viciedo took it hard being tendered and then Melky being signed. Was hoping they would hold on to him but the Beckham ($2M) and Bonafacio ($4M) moves made it to where he didn't make financial sense to keep.

This offseason has been pretty incredible. I will say that I distinctly remember being beyond excited for the 2005 offseason, especially the additions of Iguchi, Hermanson, El Duque, and most of all Pierzynski & Dye. I just got done looking at the 2005 roster going into opening day that year: C A.J. Pierzynski 1B Paul Konerko 2B Tadahito Iguchi 3B Joe Crede SS Juan Uribe LF Scott Podsednik CF Aaron Rowand RF Jermaine Dye DH Frank Thomas Bench OF Carl Everett C Chris Widger 1B Ross Gload UT Pablo Ozuna IF Willie Harris SP Mark Buehrle SP Jose Contreras SP Freddy Garcia SP Jon Garland SP Orlando Hernandez RP Neal Cotts RP Bobby Jenks RP Damaso Marte RP Cliff Politte RP Shingo Takatsu RP Luis Vizcaino CL Dustin Hermanson Kenny also acquired Geoff Blum and called up Bobby Jenks. The way it all happened that year was magical. I remember my dad telling me a few weeks into the season, to enjoy the season because there's something special about it.

Not going to lie. It's pretty cool seeing JD Martin get signed to a Minor League deal. I come from a small desert town in southern California and JD pitched here his whole life until he was drafted by the Indians. In high school he was throwing 97 and had an extremely bright future ahead of him. Sadly he had two TJ surgeries and lost most of his velocity. In two seasons ('09-'10) he started 24 games for a bad Nationals team and went 6-9 4.32. He's kind of a Scott Carroll kind of guy. Won't blow you away with his stuff but could be decently effective as a LR. It's like a dream come true to see him even get a chance with the Sox. My small hometown would go nuts.

Does anyone have any clue what the attendance numbers were for the weekend?

Really mods? You're really going to take this caliber of a move off of being posted?

QUOTE (Andy the Clown @ Dec 18, 2014 -> 12:42 PM) The problem is that we already have offensive holes at C an 3B. You can't expect to be contenders with huge gaps at a third of your positions. You just named two positions where there is a lack of good talent at in the whole league. Each player will serve their purpose at their position, though. The Royals almost won the WS w/ Moose at 3rd hitting terribly.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 07:50 PM) This was KW's possible plan before the Melky signing. The article said it's a moot point now. Oh okay, I missed the article. Was worried for a minute. My apologies there.

QUOTE (daggins @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 07:39 PM) Actually re-reading, he mentions getting "creative" which probably means trading Danks and eating a lot of his salary, or taking on another bad contract. Maybe a Carl Crawford trade? Why would they take Crawford if they just paid $14M per year for Melky?