Lillian

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 9, 2017 -> 09:34 AM) If that is the scouting report, I don't know why anyone would trade a #1 or #2 starter signed for 4 years at a bargain for a package headlined by a guy who might be almost as good if everything goes right. My sentiments, exactly. If the Sox can't acquire 1, or 2 top position prospects, they might as well just keep Quintana. I fully expect that some team is going to blink and include one of the "untouchable" position prospects, whom we have been discussing The Sox will likely get either Bregman, Frazier, Meadows, or someone comparable, plus other pieces. I personally would like a package from the Yankees which included Frazier, Acevedo and either Mateo or Torres. I understand that Cashman is determined not to trade his top prospects, but that's what it should take to acquire Q.

QUOTE (peavy44 @ Jan 6, 2017 -> 04:44 PM) Scott merkin said astros high on tucker and wouldn't be in a deal. Of course, and the Sox are "high on Q." So what? Therefore, the best position player prospect that the Astros are willing to include is the #83 prospect in baseball, Fisher. If this is true, I hope Hahn tells Houston to stop wasting his time and stops negotiating with them, until they are ready to be reasonable.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 18, 2016 -> 08:36 AM) If you couldn't get Bregman for Sale, you're not getting him for Quintana. And adding Frazier doesn't change that. As BlackSox13 says; "Then they can keep him". Thanks for the input.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 18, 2016 -> 08:43 AM) Whoa, slow up for just a minute. I like the idea of Bregman as much as anyone but in no way, shape or form is it a good idea to trade both Q and Frazier for Bregman. If that's what it takes to get Bregman then Houston can keep him. The Sox will find the right fit for a Quintana trade, just takes some time and patience. Same for Frazier, though we may end up waiting until July which is fine. Trading Q and Frazier in separate deals is the best way to get more talent into the Sox farm. Would you take Bregman, Tucker, Reed, one of their highly ranked pitching prospects and one more prospect for both Quintana and Frazier?

Not having read every post in this thread, I would insist that a deal with Houston start with Bregman. I understand their reluctance to part with him, but the deal for Sale set the bar pretty high. Would including Frazier, to replace Bregman at third, satisfy the Astros? I recognize that Frazier is only one season from free agency. Nevertheless, what would be a fair return for Quintana and Frazier?

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Dec 10, 2016 -> 01:05 PM) 1. Because they want to win now 2. A prospect being "ready" now doesn't mean they'll be good now 3. No guarantee any of them pan out 4. "Their number one prospect" means nothing. Some team's number one prospects aren't even highly rated 5. Because that's the price if they want an ace pitcher & the Sale/Eaton trades have shown this Martes is the #5 RH pitching prospect in baseball. I really doubt that this happens.

Please explain why a team that needs pitching would be willing to trade away 2 starters, to get just one back, especially when one of them is their number one prospect and ready to contribute next year.

This article might be of interest: http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/davi...ke-baseball-fan

So Chicago would be a "Sanctuary City", which violates the Second Amendment and my favorite team would be owned by Barak Obama. So, exactly why would I be a Sox fan? Oh, never mind, I wouldn't be.

I've been a Sox fan for over 60 years, however it would be very difficult for me to root for them, if they were owned by Obama. I'm afraid that I just couldn't subordinate my political ideology to that degree. As someone who reveres America's founding principles of liberty and limited government, that would be awfully hard to accept. Where did you see this story?

I hope that this is some kind of a joke, a bad joke.

Not having read all of these posts, in the various related threads, the question that keeps nagging me is; How long would it take, and with what probability, could this team build a contender, with both Sale and Quintana gone? This question is particularly relevant if the Sox focus upon position players, in their return of prospects.

I think that one additional factor which favors Boston is that they can afford to trade several top prospects. It is quite apparent that they want to win now, and Sale could make the difference for them. They won't need Benintendi, with Betts and JBJ in their outfield. They have enough depth at 3RD, to part with Devers. They can afford to trade at least one of their young starters, if they acquire Sale. Despite Dombrowski's insistence that he won't part with Moncada, they don't need him either, for this championship run. Even if Chicago couldn't pry all of those guys loose, there is Travis, as a substitute for one of Moncada or Devers.

QUOTE (knightni @ Nov 15, 2016 -> 09:08 AM) Drafting well with your #1 is a priority as well. The Sox have had middling results with their top picks. (Cubs in brackets) 2011 was a total waste - (No #1), Walker, Soptic (Javier Baez) The 2012 draft has been a bust - Hawkins, Barnum, Beck (Albert Almora Jr.) 2013 has been better but its still needs time to grow - Anderson, Danish, May (Kris Bryant) 2014 has potential also, but hasn't been impact yet. - Rodon, Adams, Frye (Kyle Schwarber) 2015 is still green - Fulmer, (no #2 or #3) (Ian Happ) 2016 is inconsequential at this point - Collins, Burdi, Hansen, Call Don't forget Jameson Fisher, in the 2016 class.

The Red Sox already have two southpaws in their rotation, with Price and Rodriguez. It would be historically unprecedented for them to have 3 left starters. The presence of the short left field "Green Monster" has always dictated that their rotation be primarily right handed. Therefore, while they have they pieces to trade for a top of the rotation starter, I don't see how they would target Sale. What am I missing here?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Oct 10, 2016 -> 06:40 PM) I don't quite understand how similar WAR numbers, compiled during a full season, can be compared when it comes down to the Post Season. If you had to choose between substituting one of Boston's starters for Sale, versus replacing JB Jr., with some lesser centerfielder, in game one of the Post season, would it really be a difficult choice? My mind is open, but that doesn't make sense to me. In further researching this question, I can't seem to find the answer. WAR is calculated over an entire season. If a pitcher only appears in approximately 20% of the games, yet is able to produce the same wins over replacement as a position player, that would seem to indicate that he is much more valuable, in any given single game. That is consistent with everything else, which we know about the game, i.e.; "pitching is 80% of the game" and "Good pitching will always stop good hitting". Therefore, as I said in my previous post; A starter like Sale is much more valuable and critical, in a single post season game, than a player like Jackie Bradley Jr., even though they have approximately the same WAR. Could someone please clarify this for me?

QUOTE (gatnom @ Oct 10, 2016 -> 12:37 PM) He was a 4.9 WAR player last year (to Sale's 5.2) and is under control for 1 more year. I agree he's less valuable, but it's closer than you think. I don't quite understand how similar WAR numbers, compiled during a full season, can be compared when it comes down to the Post Season. If you had to choose between substituting one of Boston's starters for Sale, versus replacing JB Jr., with some lesser centerfielder, in game one of the Post season, would it really be a difficult choice? My mind is open, but that doesn't make sense to me.

How funny! I didn't think about RV being the initials for Robin. However, the mention of "camping" should have given you a clue. Sorry.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Sep 18, 2016 -> 11:35 AM) Walmart's parking lot Yes, where it is allowed, that's always a great solution. We have a generator, so it would work, however I've read that it's not permitted at the nearby Walmart. Thanks

I haven't been to Spring Training in about 7 years, after spending almost every March in Arizona, during the previous decade. I now have a truck camper, and am considering spending this Spring near Camelback Ranch, for Spring Training. I thought that I'd get started planning and wondered if anyone has any insight into some good possibilities for RV "camping" near Camelback Ranch. Your suggestions would be appreciated.

No one seems to mention the "eye test". The more I've watch both Lawrie and Saladino, the more I favor the latter. Perhaps it's that terrible hitch in Lawrie's swing and all of the accompanying strike outs. Whatever it is, Tyler just looks like a more fundamentally solid player. It's a shame because Lawrie has talent. Some guys just seem to have that baseball acumen and Saladino strikes me as one of those guys. When Lawrie broke into the Big Leagues, he was young, even for a rookie. He began his career with a world of promise, but has not developed, in fact, he has regressed. He should now be in his prime, but has not translated his physical tools into performance. Maybe that's something that requires good baseball acumen. Put another way; the better the baseball acumen, the better a player is able to use his experience, in order to improve his performance. Saladino gives one the impression that he is that kind of player. Do others here get the same impression?

Before going down with an injury in 2014, at age 24, Saladino had a very good season at Charlotte: Games 82 PA 325 AB 294 Runs 41 Hits 91 2B 16 3B 4 HR 9 RBI 43 SB 7 CS 1 BB 27 SO 50 AVG .310 OBP .367 SLG.483 OPS .850 He was on pace to hit 30 doubles, 8 triples, 18 HR, while driving in 85 runs, in a 162 game season. That's terrific for a middle infielder. This year, he had a terrific Spring, and has responded to increased playing time. If he finishes strong, over the next 2 weeks, he's my second baseman. At that position, he adds plus defense, and offense. Lawrie could be traded, or maybe he should return to catching, which is where he started. Incidentally, that's also where Saladino started. Maybe one of them should see if he can still get the job done, behind the plate. We could sure use help there. Either one of them would provide extraordinary athleticism, as a catcher.

I turned the game off, before Tyler's 3RD hit. What kind of single was it? Was it a solid hit? The fact that he has responded to more regular playing time is very encouraging. Unlike many bench players, who become "exposed" with more playing time, he has only gotten better. It shouldn't be surprising that a guy with his baseball acumen would improve with more experience. Last night he was facing a tough right hander and was very solid, once again. It's hard not to really like the guy. If he can produce like this, as a second baseman, he is certainly a starter, in my opinion. He brings good defense, solid contact, a little pop, high baseball acumen, versatility and is very affordable. What's not to like?

Rabbit, do you really think that your suggested starting rotation would constitute a post season level staff? 1.) Quintana 2.) Rodon 3.) Rodriguez 4.) Gonzalez 5.) Shields IMO, I see one #1, a potential #1, 2 bottom of the rotation starters and one complete disaster. Where might you find a candidate better than Rodriguez? Surely Boston has a better trade chip than that, for Chris Sale? Moreover, I would prefer to get a couple of Major League ready, really good players, rather than 5 or 6 prospects, in any deal involving Sale. Given that contract, I would think that some team would be willing to give up a solid, middle of the rotation starter, and at least one top position player, along with maybe 1 or 2 good prospects. I just don't see the point in using someone of Sale's caliber, with that contract, for a bunch of young, unproven prospects. There is both the risk that they will not develop their potential, and the time it takes to realize it.

It may not be realistic to hope to be able to acquire Votto, however that is the kind of bat that would go a really long way toward making the offense productive. If you inserted a hitter like that into this year's lineup, the bottom third of the order would instantly not be that big of an issue: Eaton Anderson Abreu Votto Melky Frazier Saladino Catcher (Outstanding Defense) Center Fielder (Outstanding Defense, some speed and respectable OBP) That is exactly the kind of roster I'd seek. With those top 6 hitters, why would it be so important to have real productive offensive players in Center and behind the plate? I continue to think that trying to fill every "hole" with a good offensive player is both unrealistic and unnecessary.