GreenSox

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 10:23 AM) When was the last time the Sox went into the season billed as a legitimate playoff contender AND had a top-half ranked farm system? THIS is what it's supposed to look like. This is the "sustainable competitiveness" model in its infancy. It doesn't matter if you think Law is too high or too low on the system or Sullivan is too low on the Sox 2015 chances, the point is that they are in the running and somehow still on the upswing, both in terms of the ML roster AND the farm system. Exactly. Hahn pulled off a great balance - built the major league team, while actually improving the farm system. Very happy that Hahn had no interest in trading real prospects for some 32 year old who had a decent year last year.

QUOTE (Stev-o @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 12:12 PM) Envision a rotation of Sale, Szamardija, Quintana, Shields, Rodon! All of a sudden, October baseball becomes a reality! Get 'er done, Rick. He wants $20 mill a year for c. 5 years. He had a bad post season. 2 of his last 3 seasons have been nothing special. 4 of our top 6 prospects are pitchers.

No We need our young players. The world doesn't end in 2015. the virtues of renting Shark are dubious enough. The love for the 2008-2013 model is beyond belief.

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Jan 19, 2015 -> 01:33 PM) Look at what the Cubs just gave up to get Dexter Fowler from Houston. Are you meaning to tell me Hahn couldn't match that to get Castro? and the White Sox should trade assets for a .650 OPS for, uh, why exactly? As for Fowler, he does one thing: he walks. That's it. Otherwise, he's terrible in the field and has no power. Now the board is becoming fascinated with Astros players. Good lord, does it ever end?

QUOTE (BamaDoc @ Jan 19, 2015 -> 01:49 PM) With the budget being exceeded and a lot of new players, we may be at the point of owners wanting to see how this team comes together. If it is in contention or playing well you may add a further piece during the season. If it was your money, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say "lets see how this is working out'' before dropping further big bucks. That's true. And leave yourself some flexibility until you find out where the weaknesses are. What if A Garcia doesn't hit? Or Gillaspie? And I know, I know, we could have traded all of our prospects for the beloved "proven veterans" for those spots and made the point moot, but that's not realistic. You need to use young players or you will never field a winner. As it is, I think we may have some bullpen excess this year; whether we have the guts to use it mid-season, I don't know, but it could be used.

I'm good. Could use another starter and a 4th OF, but pitching help could easily come from the minors. And I'm willing to give Vic his one last stand. It will be nice to have someone with some power off the bench, as inconsistent as he may be. The Sox kept several of these unproven inconsistent relievers with great stuff on the 40. If a few of those guys prove out, we could actually have some trade chits among them or the incumbents.

Fowler isn't that great - no power, a lot of walks, bad defense. What kind of return were the Astros supposed to get for a 1 year rent of a walker? Astros got a decent return. Straily is decent; Vilbuena had a career year, but that's 2 career years in a row for him, so he may just be a late bloomer. Okay deal for the Astros. They made a terrible trade for Gattis, but this one was fine.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 18, 2015 -> 03:42 PM) Cotillo tweeting that industry thinks Nats are moving in on Scherzer. Could move Zimmermann. Good to get him out of the AL

I wish he could have hit a little bit. He'd be a good 4th OF if he could. No reason for him to quit; he's perfect for AAA and will have more 4th OF opportunities in his future.

QUOTE (peppers312 @ Nov 14, 2014 -> 01:37 PM) http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/mlb/451...or-jason-castro how is a kid who hit .222 last season with 151 in 465 ABs any type of improvement over Flowers? because of his age? not the type of news that WOWs me. :/ He's not. But he plays on another team, and the other team's grass is ALWAYS greener in these parts. To real use assets for him would be mad.

he's minor league filler. He never was very good - just better than anything else we had for a few years, although the manager wouldn't see it. They Sox simply aren't getting full value out of their roster if they keep these all field no-hit types purely for defensive replacement. Because of that, Adam Dunn, e.g., always had to hit against lefties. Need a better rounded bench this year. i.e. no L Garcia. (and we kept him for Semien last year; a lot of teams wouldn't have done that).

Can't L Garcia play CF? Well there you go...if there's a need for that level of play in CF, just put L. in there.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 8, 2015 -> 03:17 PM) Ultimately, it's Jordan Danks. Who cares. thanks, Dick. Thank you, Dick

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 03:54 PM) Would anyone sign Lindstrom again? I wouldn't. I was surprised we picked up the option last year as he wasn't particularly good in 2013 (but I guess we had no choice really).

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 5, 2015 -> 02:14 PM) Better than the Saladino alternative I was thinking would happen, and I think it hints at the strong likelihood of Johnson winning the 2B job. That's who they want to win it, for sure.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 3, 2015 -> 09:17 PM) Things have been pretty slow around here, so I just wanted to create a discussion regarding how things have gone so far this off season and what you expect the rest of the off season. For me, I don't think I would of done a single thing different. I have loved every move so far whether it was the small Dan Jennings deal, to the huge deals with Samardzija, Robertson, and Cabrera. The rest of the off season, I would love to add Emilio Bonifacio, another bullpen arm (Adams? Crain? Cotts? Janssen? Ogando?), and possibly another starter depth wise. What are your guys thoughts? Well, you got your wish. I'm cool with the Bonifacio signing - beats trading from someone. to answer the question, I would have waited another year to go "all in" and wouldn't have signed Cabrera or Robertson yet, nor traded from Samardizja. (would have done most of the rest, though). Would have used some Samardzija or other assets to acquire a young outfielder instead. But given the decision to beef up this year, the execution was excellent.

Why the fear of rookies covering one position?

QUOTE (lvjeremylv @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 12:57 AM) *sigh* When's the last Sox position player prospect that amounted to anything near what Ben Zobrist will produce over the next 5 years? I agree Hahn probably wouldn't do it, but he really should if presented with the opportunity. NO, he really shouldn't. First, he has 1 year left on his deal, not 5. Second, he will be 34 year old next year, and the numbers have already tailed off a good bit over the last 2 seasons. Over the next 5? Yes, I would take my chances on young players. Third, his high WAR, as pointed out on here, is mainly from defense and defense from multiple positions. He would be 2B only and those defensive metrics are still in the dubious category anyway. (see DeAza with a positive war). And should I point out that his splits against RHP is a .703 OPS? he kills lefties. Looks like a platoon hitter these days. Top prospects for that? No way. Trade top prospects for young talent, not declining veterans.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 1, 2015 -> 11:24 PM) I think most of us here would peg the Sox for around 83-85 wins next season. Now add 4-5 wins to that for the difference between Zobrist and Carlos/Micah. I think 87-90 wins gives us a pretty great chance at a wild card. That being said, I don't think there is any chance the Sox get Zobrist because his asking price will be Anderson +, and that's just not something I can see Hahn doing. There is no team in MLB that would trade Andeson + for 1 year of Zobrist. He is ridiculously over-valued here, and his value is highly likely to continue decline given his age. In fact, his numbers are down a full 100 OPS points over the last 2 years, a fact ignored hereon.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 31, 2014 -> 12:47 PM) The question to ask in reply is...would you be willing to miss the playoffs this year if Sanchez and Johnson can't provide decent performance out of 2b? That presumes that the Sox would make the playoffs with the good old 34 year old veteran at 2nd. Dubious assumption. These Rays are like these As players...they are heavily managed. Their metrics absolutely max what they are - sort of like college teams who know how to gig the RPI. No reason to fawn all over these Rays players.

No, you don't do it. you don't trade our only decent OF prospect. Play the young players - don't squander them on 34 year olds on 1 year contracts The world doesn't end after the 2015 season. The idea is to contend for years...not make a bunch of short term moves on a team that is and will be less than 50% to make the playoffs.

Honestly, if the Sox are so fearful of, oh my gosh, a single young player in the lineup that they would sign a hack like Drew or woefully overpay for an aging sabre adoring Zobrist, then then when will a young player get a chance? It's like age is a security blanket and if we get lousy numbers at 2nd, at least they'll have the security of getting them from an old player.

I doubt any GM is loony enough to give a top 50 prospect for 1 year of a to be 34 year old and his .750 OPS. I believe 1 top 50 prospect has been traded this trade season...teams simply don't do that much anymore, and certainly not for aging veterans, so beloved in these parts. The Blue Jays made a terrible trade for Dickey. They made a terrible trade with the Marlins. That's what the Sox should emulate?

Lord no.

No reason it should be out of circulation. His was one of 30 or so numbers on the WS team; and he was a pretty good player for a long time. None of which warrants number retirement.