Jim Bowden ‏@JimBowden_ESPN 22m22 minutes ago

Mike Rizzo just told us that they haven’t been contact with Ian Desmond’s people in a long time…but he said he’ll never say never #Nationals

 

oh yay, this is how the Cespedes stuff started as well

Levine says that the Sox didn't think Desmond was a fit due to his K rate and defense

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/02/18/lev...hahn-white-sox/

Levine says that the Sox didn't think Desmond was a fit due to his K rate and defense

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/02/18/lev...hahn-white-sox/

 

Well if they didn't like Desmond's defense, they probably aren't interested in Fowler either.

Well if they didn't like Desmond's defense, they probably aren't interested in Fowler either.

Yes but Fowler would be a defensive upgrade at any of the corner outfield positions and Desmond would have been a defensive downgrade. Plus Fowler has a much better OBP than Desmond. Desmond was a terrible fit on this team at so many levels. Strikeouts, low OBP, over 24 errors averaged over last 3 years. Not too mention our best minor league player is a shortstop. Don't want him no matter what his ridiculous War number is.

Levine says that the Sox didn't think Desmond was a fit due to his K rate and defense

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/02/18/lev...hahn-white-sox/

 

God damn Levine is so dumb. Even though Alexei was the better defender in his prime, each of the last 2 years, Desmond have graded out better according to Fangraphs D-WAR.

 

Desmond went from plus defender to just above average. Wow, what a shortcoming for him...

Yeah, pretty surprising "modern day" Chicago baseball writers are still referencing total error totals after the infamous Valentin/Clayton debates of 15 years ago. Back then, much of the argument was about total chances and non-errors when runners were safe because of the way Clayton fielded or (usually) threw the ball with little on it.

Edited February 19, 201610 yr by caulfield12

If anyone actually reads what Levine wrote, he said high k rate, and average defense. I think average is being pretty fair.

If anyone actually reads what Levine wrote, he said high k rate, and average defense. I think average is being pretty fair.

 

Many thanks for including that.

I will repeat my periodic observation that Melky "professional hitter" Cabrera also had a negative war, and he is paid a substantial contract. He was also not in his first full season of play. They both need to get better. It may be that they keep 2 reserve outfielders; this may be necessary to platoon with Laroche at DH and to get better OF defense in late innings.

That will put a lot of pressure on the reserve infielder; and Sanchez play 3rd, or do we have to go the L Garcia route and completely give up any thought of offense from that position.

The biggest offensive question on a macro level is who hits second?

 

At some point they can use some of the second-tier prospects to get an outfielder if needed. And that leaves them with those three early pics to invigorate the farm with three pieces of top talent.

 

In the meantime, 2+ war out of melky and 1+ WAR out of Avi and this team contends.

Edited February 19, 201610 yr by GreenSox

Yes but Fowler would be a defensive upgrade at any of the corner outfield positions and Desmond would have been a defensive downgrade. Plus Fowler has a much better OBP than Desmond. Desmond was a terrible fit on this team at so many levels. Strikeouts, low OBP, over 24 errors averaged over last 3 years. Not too mention our best minor league player is a shortstop. Don't want him no matter what his ridiculous War number is.

Only in a discussion about the White Sox outfield defense would Dexter Fowler's name ever even remotely be mentioned as a "defensive upgrade". We should keep this in context, as in, we'd be replacing really bad defense with bad defense if he were to join the team.

Only in a discussion about the White Sox outfield defense would Dexter Fowler's name ever even remotely be mentioned as a "defensive upgrade". We should keep this in context, as in, we'd be replacing really bad defense with bad defense if he were to join the team.

 

I also don't even necessarily believe it. We all thought Melky would be a defensive upgrade. He had once been a center fielder! "Even an average fielder is a huge upgrade over viciedo".

 

I will repeat my periodic observation that Melky "professional hitter" Cabrera also had a negative war, and he is paid a substantial contract. He was also not in his first full season of play. They both need to get better. It may be that they keep 2 reserve outfielders; this may be necessary to platoon with Laroche at DH and to get better OF defense in late innings.

That will put a lot of pressure on the reserve infielder; and Sanchez play 3rd, or do we have to go the L Garcia route and completely give up any thought of offense from that position.

The biggest offensive question on a macro level is who hits second?

 

At some point they can use some of the second-tier prospects to get an outfielder if needed. And that leaves them with those three early pics to invigorate the farm with three pieces of top talent.

 

In the meantime, 2+ war out of melky and 1+ WAR out of Avi and this team contends.

 

As far as Sanchez playing 3rd....They can always just play him at 2nd and move Lawrie to 3rd when Todd needs a day off.

Yeah, Viciedo in 2012 was much better than Cabrera last year...2013-14, not so much, but you expect either a significant offensive OR defensive upgrade for $14 million or so per season.

 

And Avi was projected because of his "tool box" to be a possibility for CF.

Edited February 19, 201610 yr by caulfield12

Only in a discussion about the White Sox outfield defense would Dexter Fowler's name ever even remotely be mentioned as a "defensive upgrade". We should keep this in context, as in, we'd be replacing really bad defense with bad defense if he were to join the team.

 

1. And yet, it IS a defensive upgrade.

2. Fowler is a bad defensive center-fielder. That almost certainly means he will be at least a significantly better defensive right-fielder.

In the meantime, 2+ war out of melky and 1+ WAR out of Avi and this team contends.

 

...assuming absolutely nothing goes wrong anywhere else on the diamond.

 

1. And yet, it IS a defensive upgrade.

2. Fowler is a bad defensive center-fielder. That almost certainly means he will be at least a significantly better defensive right-fielder.

Southpaw would be a defensive upgrade in right field. Let's keep this in perspective!!

 

Southpaw would be a defensive upgrade in right field. Let's keep this in perspective!!

 

 

Southpaw would also add another left handed stick to the lineup. I like it!

As far as Sanchez playing 3rd....They can always just play him at 2nd and move Lawrie to 3rd when Todd needs a day off.

 

If Sanchez is not starting at 2B, and I doubt he does, he should be playing every day in Charlotte. He really isn't ideal as utility unless he can play SS as a backup.

 

If Sanchez is not starting at 2B, and I doubt he does, he should be playing every day in Charlotte. He really isn't ideal as utility unless he can play SS as a backup.

He has been working out at SS. I think they will keep him although he doesn't bring great speed to the bench. But the defense may get better when Frazier or Lawrie get some time off.

@mibeltrodriguez

 

 

Developing: The #WhiteSox are back on SS Ian Desmond #MLB #Sox

 

Wtf!?

@mibeltrodriguez

 

 

Developing: The #WhiteSox are back on SS Ian Desmond #MLB #Sox

 

Wtf!?

 

For what? LF? I mean, I guess getting Rollins doesn't really block anyone since it was a minor league deal, but I can't imagine Jimmy would be happy whatsoever if this were to happy. He would have essentially been to lied to.

Watch those Twitter rumors, they'll suck you in. No offense to milbelt, but hasn't he been way off base on more than one occasion this winter?

 

Grain of salt...

For what? LF? I mean, I guess getting Rollins doesn't really block anyone since it was a minor league deal, but I can't imagine Jimmy would be happy whatsoever if this were to happy. He would have essentially been to lied to.

 

 

If it were for LF/RF I'd hope they get him in ASAP so he can be with the team and start working. Rather have Desmond though for that. Could be agent too we've literally been linked to every single bat with a pick attached to them outside of Heyward. Or it seems that way

@mibeltrodriguez

 

 

Developing: The #WhiteSox are back on SS Ian Desmond #MLB #Sox

 

Wtf!?

 

Never heard of this guy before.

 

The Twitterer I mean.

Edited February 27, 201610 yr by Brian

@mibeltrodriguez

 

 

Developing: The #WhiteSox are back on SS Ian Desmond #MLB #Sox

 

Wtf!?

 

 

For what? LF? I mean, I guess getting Rollins doesn't really block anyone since it was a minor league deal, but I can't imagine Jimmy would be happy whatsoever if this were to happy. He would have essentially been to lied to.

It is Milbelt. What I don't understand is some of the sympathy Desmond is getting from many writers. They guy turned down$107 million, then after having a bad year, turned down the QO., thus knowing he would have this pick attached, and how it has hurt previous free agents. Sorry Ian, you need a new agent.