TaylorStSox

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 03:55 PM) Yeah, just read up on the founder of Planned Parenthood. And Hitler.

I don't think Viciedo guesses as much as he presses. He lacks patience and is easily frustrated. He can be an easy out because he tries to kill everything. It's almost like a macho thing. He also swings at bad pitches because he has good plate coverage. He needs to learn that just because you're capable of hitting it, it doesn't mean you should. As he gets older, he should mature and relax. Based on normal progression, he's probably still slightly ahead of the curve or right on time.

Great thread.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:22 PM) On the other hand, it's not like wage labor provided to capitalist firms as the only way to earn a living for an overwhelming majority of people is a historical norm. In the past Americans were able to get skilled labor and manufacturing jobs that enabled families to have a decent standard of living. As those jobs dissipate, the disparity between the classes grows. It's unsustainable. We've seen it on the south side.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:33 PM) Nevermind that Viciedo has never shown the level of sustained success that Beckham did his rookie year. Nor the level of ineptitude since.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:22 PM) You mean like Beckham after his 3rd season? Most believed he was a bust at that point, but you still give them time to improve. Beckham doesn't have the tools Viciedo does and Viciedo has been better. Viciedo has been a disappointment, but nowhere near a bust. If Viciedo was projected to be a superstar, he would have signed for a hell of a lot more.

If Viciedo was a high draft pick that received a $10M bonus, would he be a bust already?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 12:04 PM) As of this moment, absolutely I just can't believe people call a guy that hit 25 home runs as a 23 year old rookie a bust. He struggled last year. A sophomore campaign in which he only had 470 PA's due to injuries.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 11:36 AM) Viciedo is the first one. Concepcion has been terrible too Viciedo is a bust?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 11:26 AM) Given the struggles of some other Cuban players, I am a bit worried about how well he will play in the majors. But I absolutely love the move either way. Fact is, with the price/age of MLB free agents, the Sox lack of 1b prospects, and other team's unwillingness to give up young players, this was a risk that is necessary and worth the gamble. It's impossible to just find a 26-year old slugger and only have to pay him $10 million/year for a long contract. Look at the Tigers. They wanted a slugging 1b. Now they have a declining fatboy who can't get a postseason hit, and they still owe him $168 million. Which Cuban players have really struggled though? The ones I can think of have been very good to league average. Are there some busts I'm missing?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 18, 2013 -> 08:50 AM) When they had some old scouting reports out on the internet last summer, did you happen to read a few of the reports on Frank Thomas? One said it was doubtful he could hit .250. I wouldn't be too freaked out about certain reports. He obviously can hit at least a little bit or teams like Boston and Texas wouldn't be offering him at least $40 million. And again, I wouldn't be freaked out about a guy who might not hit perfect pitches. There aren't many guys that can do that. This is an exciting signing. Enjoy it. Maybe he won't live up to the hype, but at worst he should be serviceable. The other benefit is, supposedly this guy, just like Cespedes and Puig, is in a lot better shape now than he was when he was putting up these ridiculous numbers. I probably would have seen Frank and thought something similar. I like bat speed and effortless swings. Frank had a slow bat and a very mechanical swing. It worked because he had an unbelievable eye and strength so he could start his swing early and make adjustments. It caught up with him late in his career when he morphed into a power hitting beast.

You guys can thank me for wearing my Cuba WBC hat today.

Some of you guys like following this s*** more than the actual games. Well, we do suck so it's understandable.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Oct 17, 2013 -> 05:31 PM) Eh its a double edged sword. Higher cost of labor = jobs moving to where lower cost of labor is. Add in the fact that our labor market is artificially controlled through immigration and you have a situation where the labor market is not operating properly. Basically you have labor supply artificially reduced which equals higher cost. You then are also putting a floor. But then again, Im pretty much the only person who actually believes in laissez faire capitalism anymore. So if we are going to run this bastardized protectionist economy, we might as well just do whatever. (insert general grumbling and annoyance) This is where corporate responsibility comes into play. There's too much of a social and economic divide growing larger by the day. If American based corporations don't want to share their immense profits while continuing to outsource labor, tax the s*** out of them. At some point, the 1% will either share or have it taken from them.

The issue is that the minimum wage has to be raised. Whether you put little value in a fast food job or not, the people working those jobs fill a role in society and should be compensated with a living wage. At some point, there has to be some corporate responsibility. You can't have it both ways. You can't complain about government assistance while not supporting a raise in wages. This country is filled with people working 60-80 hours a week that still can't make ends meet, while receiving no benefits. This model is unsustainable.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Oct 16, 2013 -> 06:06 PM) Saltys OPS vs LHP was .628, McCanns? .616. I wouldn't want either.

$8m per for a platoon player in a rebuild year? Um, absolutely not.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 15, 2013 -> 10:11 AM) I was sighing at your bulls*** "SOME OF US STILL LIKE TO WATCH GAMES" line. Was I talking to you? J4L doesn't watch the games.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 15, 2013 -> 09:33 AM) sigh We value base running mistakes differently. "Sigh"

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Oct 15, 2013 -> 12:44 AM) Let it go, dude. 2k5 subscribes to twtw. Advanced stats are the best thing to ever happen to sports. I've never enjoyed baseball/basketball/football more than I have the last 5 years due to advanced statistical analysis. Jesus Christ. Some of us still like watching the games. I'm with SS2K. After watching ADA run the bases all year, I can't call him a positive on the base paths. He made too many decisions that I couldn't believe a major leaguer was making. I wouldn't just dump him because he can hit and he's the best thing we have, but I'm not sure I want his influence on a rebuilding team either.

Stupid baseball is also contagious, as we saw this year. Is there a stat for that?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 14, 2013 -> 09:55 AM) If there is anyone who was a legendarily bad base runner on the Sox this year, it was Konerko. He was hurt for quite a bit of the season, he was only on at a .313 clip, and he still almost cost the Sox a full win due to how poor he was on the base paths. There's a difference between being slow and running into outs every 6 games because of boneheaded decisions. De Aza was comically bad at times.

ADA is generally just a stupid baseball player. He makes bad situational decisions offensively and defensively all the time.

Has there ever been a player in Chicago sports that has been given more excuses than Beckham? It's just bizarre. Sox fans are usually the opposite when it comes to busted prospects. He's a hall of famer. Scratch that, he's Chase Utley. Scratch that, he's Brandon Phillips. Scratch that, he can't hit for s***, but plays good D. Scratch that, his D's overrated, but he's hitting for average. Scratch that, he doesn't do anything that well, but he's hurt. Well, he does turn a good double play. I know it seems like I have a vendetta against him, but I really don't. I would love for him to succeed. It's not happening though. Enough with the excuses.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 10, 2013 -> 01:23 PM) Now we have returned to the land of reality in fantasy trade theater. I think it's actually a good idea. You're trading your bloat for theirs and it has the potential to be a trade that really works for both teams. I'm not sure if its realistic, but I like it.