Sox make more roster moves

[Kyyle23]

Why would people be angry? Many here have thought losing for draft picks is the proper strategy? If Baez and Bryant were White Sox prospects, and if the Sox have won the bidding war with the Cubs for Soler, I think most here would more pleased with the prospect of future White Sox seasons than they are right now.

 

Yea I am sure they would totally overlook the 3 years of last place because they managed to draft high, and be happy about it. Tanking has worked out so well for so many major league teams

[witesoxfan]

I believe the Cubs have better talent, but I understand the differentiation that is going on here, and I too agree that the Sox have a better, more stable core in place.

 

That said, people continue to reference Baez as a virtual can't miss prospect. Prospects like him CAN miss.

 

Brandon Wood, as a 20 year old at High-A, put up a .321/.381/.667/1.047 season with a 134/48 K/BB rate. He continued to put up good numbers as he progressed. He has been absolutely brutal in the majors. Those are very similar numbers to Baez.

 

Until they are producing at the MLB level, prospects are always suspects.

[royoung]

Yes, but you said that after the fact. You included him him your original White Sox core.

 

I hope the Cubs suck forever. The fact is, if their pieces were White Sox pieces, you would be talking them up more than you are talking up Matt Davidson right now. Some of these guys on both teams are going to not amount to much. Right now, the Cubs have more room for error just because they have more highly thought of prospects in quantity if not quality.

 

I think we are arguing semantics are this point. Hahn referenced Eaton, Abreu, Garcia, and Davidson as the White Sox "future core." He can say that even though between the four players only one has ever put on Sox uniform and that was briefly. I am sure the Cubs consider Baez, Almora, and Bryant part of their future core as well.

[southsider2k5]

I think we are arguing semantics are this point. Hahn referenced Eaton, Abreu, Garcia, and Davidson as the White Sox "future core." He can say that even though between the four players only one has ever put on Sox uniform and that was briefly. I am sure the Cubs consider Baez, Almora, and Bryant part of their future core as well.

 

The difference is the proper caveot is being used there. "Future core" is different from "core".

[royoung]

The difference is the proper caveot is being used there. "Future core" is different from "core".

 

Right. Theo and Hahn are VERY aware of service times and windows of opportunities. The Cubs are simply targeted 2016-2021 as their window to compete and are working towards achieving that. Hahn is doing the same thing effectively with a quicker time table.

[ILMOU]

I would argue the opposite. The Cubs have bigger bust potential, because none of their top guys are actually major leaguers yet. The ones that are have regressed. The Sox have a real, true to life ace the front of their rotation, under control until the next decade, and cheap. The Cubs #1 pitcher refuses to sign, and is on the trade block. The Sox have a #2 pitcher that is still under team control for the next SEVEN years. Even if you want to look at it from a prospect standpoint, the Cubs have minimal pitching prospects, even compared to the Sox. The guys the Sox are looking to fill jobs are here now. For them it is months to years away.

 

But for some, the specter of the Cubs looms larger than anything.

 

FIFY

Edited March 24, 2014 by Stan Bahnsen

[southsider2k5]

FIFY

 

[Leonard Zelig]

I am still really concerned about the White Sox offense this year. Considering the changes were Garcia for Rios, Eaton for De Aza and Abreu for Konerko, De Aza and Rios were 2 of the more productive hitters last season. The Sox are going to need a lot of guys to improve and Abreu is going to have a lot of pressure to put up big numbers. The schedule is tough early, when Abreu may need some adjustment time, especially if it's cold.

 

I read the Sox scored 2 or less runs in over 50 home games last year.

 

Yes, I read that too, but it still is not true.

[Dick Allen]

Yes, I read that too, but it still is not true.

Yes, it was 28, which is still a lot of 2 runs or less at USCF. 15 times they scored 3. I wonder where they got 50. Maybe they added them with the road numbers where they scored 2 or fewer 25 times and another 15 times scored 3.

 

53 times in 2013 they scored 2 or fewer runs, and 83 times they scored 3 or fewer. That is pretty brutal.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Dick Allen

[witesoxfan]

Yes, it was 28, which is still a lot of 2 runs or less at USCF. 15 times they scored 3. I wonder where they got 50. Maybe they added them with the road numbers where they scored 2 or fewer 25 times and another 15 times scored 3.

 

53 times in 2013 they scored 2 or fewer runs, and 83 times they scored 3 or fewer. That is pretty brutal.

 

As bad as those numbers are, I don't think they're quite as bad as they appear on the surface. The Red Sox scored 3 or fewer runs 60 times last year in the regular season and another 6 times in the playoffs, and they won the World Series and had the best offense in baseball. The Sox had an absolutely terrible offense - worst in the AL, second worst in the MLB. Frankly, I think natural regression will cut that by 8-13 and then the additions of a few players plus the roster construction should take out a few more. I could easily see that number being 65-70 (not that that's good or bad, just that they'll score a bit more).

 

I think the more important number here is how many times they score 6 or more. My thought is that close, low scoring games increase stress and increase players pressing, which is bad on all fronts. Last year, the Red Sox scored 6 or more runs 69 times. The Tigers - second best offense in the majors - also scored 6 or more runs 69 times. The White Sox scored 6 or more runs 29 times. That's not a magic number by any means, but suggests you actually have an offense that can make up for a bad pitching performance. That number, more than the 83, is the pathetic one in my mind.

[cabiness42]

As bad as those numbers are, I don't think they're quite as bad as they appear on the surface. The Red Sox scored 3 or fewer runs 60 times last year in the regular season and another 6 times in the playoffs, and they won the World Series and had the best offense in baseball. The Sox had an absolutely terrible offense - worst in the AL, second worst in the MLB. Frankly, I think natural regression will cut that by 8-13 and then the additions of a few players plus the roster construction should take out a few more. I could easily see that number being 65-70 (not that that's good or bad, just that they'll score a bit more).

 

I think the more important number here is how many times they score 6 or more. My thought is that close, low scoring games increase stress and increase players pressing, which is bad on all fronts. Last year, the Red Sox scored 6 or more runs 69 times. The Tigers - second best offense in the majors - also scored 6 or more runs 69 times. The White Sox scored 6 or more runs 29 times. That's not a magic number by any means, but suggests you actually have an offense that can make up for a bad pitching performance. That number, more than the 83, is the pathetic one in my mind.

 

If you don't think 69 is a magic number, the you're doing it wrong.

[Buehrle>Wood]

So what are we looking at for the final roster? Just cut Semien definitely....and Leury I'm guessing and we're good to go?

[flavum]

So what are we looking at for the final roster? Just cut Semien definitely....and Leury I'm guessing and we're good to go?

 

If Beckham starts on the DL, Semien will probably start at 2B.

 

SP- Sale, Paulino, Quintana, Johnson, Danks

BP- Webb, Cleto, Veal, Downs, Lindstrom, Belisario, Jones

OF- Viciedo, De Aza, Eaton, Garcia

IF- Gillaspie, Ramirez, Garcia, Semien, Dunn, Abreu, Konerko

C- Flowers, Nieto

DL- Keppinger, Beckham

 

To be cut- Purcey, Putnam, Gimenez, Tekotte, M Johnson, Liddi

[cabiness42]

So what are we looking at for the final roster? Just cut Semien definitely....and Leury I'm guessing and we're good to go?

 

Still 33 players in major league camp. Still need to reduce by 8.

 

Tekotte, Gimenez, Liddi and Johnson are 4 position players who will be cut. Semien and LGarcia probably stay because Keppinger and Beckham go to the DL.

 

Also still need to cut 2 pitchers, but I've lost track of which ones are still left in camp. Hopefully somebody else knows.

 

EDIT: OK flavum had it: 2 pitchers who will be cut are Purcey and Putnam

Edited March 26, 2014 by HickoryHuskers

[Buehrle>Wood]

If Beckham starts on the DL, Semien will probably start at 2B.

 

SP- Sale, Paulino, Quintana, Johnson, Danks

BP- Webb, Cleto, Veal, Downs, Lindstrom, Belisario, Jones

OF- Viciedo, De Aza, Eaton, Garcia

IF- Gillaspie, Ramirez, Garcia, Semien, Dunn, Abreu, Konerko

C- Flowers, Nieto

DL- Keppinger, Beckham

 

To be cut- Purcey, Putnam, Gimenez, Tekotte, M Johnson, Liddi

Ah okay. Chisox.com had the roster listed at 27. Forgot about Gordon and didn't realize Keppinger was heading to the DL too. Maybe that online roster is indeed finalized then. Same as what you have.

Edited March 26, 2014 by Buehrle>Wood

[Marty34]

If Beckham starts on the DL, Semien will probably start at 2B.

 

SP- Sale, Paulino, Quintana, Johnson, Danks

BP- Webb, Cleto, Veal, Downs, Lindstrom, Belisario, Jones

OF- Viciedo, De Aza, Eaton, Garcia

IF- Gillaspie, Ramirez, Garcia, Semien, Dunn, Abreu, Konerko

C- Flowers, Nieto

DL- Keppinger, Beckham

 

To be cut- Purcey, Putnam, Gimenez, Tekotte, M Johnson, Liddi

 

Seeing it broken down like this, that is one ugly roster. On a positive note, it's a good thing that bullpen won't see a lot of leads.

[Balta1701]

Seeing it broken down like this, that is one ugly roster. On a positive note, it's a good thing that bullpen won't see a lot of leads.

Clearly that's why we should have made a big signing this year, because one middle-of-the-rotation pitcher would fix all that. Right?

[flavum]

If Beckham starts on the DL, Semien will probably start at 2B.

 

SP- Sale, Paulino, Quintana, Johnson, Danks

BP- Guerra, Cleto, Veal, Downs, Lindstrom, Belisario, Jones

OF- Viciedo, De Aza, Eaton, Garcia

IF- Gillaspie, Ramirez, Garcia, Semien, Dunn, Abreu, Konerko

C- Flowers, Nieto

DL- Keppinger, Beckham

 

To be cut- Webb, Purcey, Putnam, Gimenez, Tekotte, M Johnson, Liddi

 

Updated

[Bigsoxhurt35]

@scottmerkin: Beckham and Keppinger to DL to start season. Semien starting at second. L Garcia utility. No closer yet.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

@ChiTribKane: Javy Guerra pickup changes Sox bullpen situation. Ventura said they will iron it out today. Has idea who closer is but won't announce yet.

[RockRaines]

@scottmerkin: Beckham and Keppinger to DL to start season. Semien starting at second. L Garcia utility. No closer yet.

This was known a week or more ago. In wouldn't be surprised to see Keppinger gone before he plays a game for the White Sox.

[Bigsoxhurt35]

This was known a week or more ago. In wouldn't be surprised to see Keppinger gone before he plays a game for the White Sox.

I sure hope so

[Marty34]

Clearly that's why we should have made a big signing this year, because one middle-of-the-rotation pitcher would fix all that. Right?

 

You think these are one-year deals. You have your mid-rotation starter locked in for 4-years Balta at a nice, comfortable price.

[southsider2k5]

You think these are one-year deals. You have your massive powerhitting lefty DH locked in for 4-years Balta at a nice, comfortable price.

 

Even using your own words, now we have a mid-rotation starter locked in for 7 years at a massive steal of a price.

[Balta1701]

You think these are one-year deals. You have your mid-rotation starter locked in for 4-years Balta at a nice, comfortable price.

Just like we had our DH locked in for 4 years at a similarly nice, comfortable price. No obvious downside risk there either.