iamshack

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 30, 2017 -> 07:55 AM) Maybe it is the oldness speaking, but the White Sox were always a leader for Abreu. Most of the top spending teams didn't need him, and the Sox were the most obvious team, both in the media and in speculation. Yeah, the Rockies were really the only other choice. As for Otani, I agree it isn't likely, but if you buy into that article at all, I'm not quite sure how one could dismiss the Sox entirely. The guy is passing up what is believed to be hundreds of millions of dollars so he can come to the US two years early and play in the mlb. Why the hell would he care about the difference between $300k to sign and $5 million? He already has money and doesn't spend it as it is.

QUOTE (Wanne @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 06:03 PM) lol...I'll throw a C note down right now that Trubisky doesn't look a fraction of the incompetent boob Glennon looks like right now. The thing you're missing is when you have a QB that's rolling out of the pocket...and can actually run it shifts the defense...they have to accommodate for his mobility and it'll leave receivers open more. It changes the offense completely. Fans just want to see progress with the young guys and the team...with Glennon they took 3 steps back. Nobody is...I guess I'm not anyway...anointing Trubisky as a HOFer. BUT...what we will see is a capable QB back there that'll make plays with his arm and legs. Sure he'll make rookie mistakes...and most Bear fans can live with that. But I suspect you'll see a kid that actually has his s*** together back there and doesn't look like a deer in the headlights. I think this team will have some confidence in him as well.... Cutler had this mobility and actually played well when they took advantage of it. They never seemed to stick with it.

QUOTE (Quin @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 05:49 PM) Otani isn't coming to the Sox. Elaborate.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 01:25 PM) I heard for 2-3 years how Yolmer wouldn't stick at short because he had a weak arm, then we just put him at 3b and he's been awesome. All 3 of those guys can play "infield". Albies can play all 3. Moncada can play 2b/3b. If the cubs can make happ/zobrist/russell/baez/bryant work, we could have made them work. And while albies is not your typical power 3b, an infield of Moncada/Anderson/Albies would be unbelievably fast and athletic, and a very diverse set of hitters. It ultimately doesn't matter now. But with the draft next year we shouldn't shy away from MI because our current set-up. But more importantly, if there is a player i'd bet on to succeed, it's these 3 checkboxes: - Performs well at a young age - Good approach at plate - Plus defensive player (which likely means above average speed) Long term really don't think his power profile is that different than Anderson, who in juiced ball era is a 20 hr player. Well there is a difference between a guy you draft that is years away and a guy you acquire via trade that is ready now. Also, Anderson and Moncada are not veterans. They need to play everyday and focus on fundamentals of their positions, not on the fundamentals of 2-3 different positions. If we were talking about acquiring Gleyber Torres, I am more inclined to try and make it work; for Albies, no.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 03:33 PM) Really interesting read on the kid, especially his view on money. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-shohei...-htmlstory.html That is interesting. Sounds like he might be a guy who doesn't particularly care about the easiest path or what others before him have done. Could he be sold on a chance to join a young, budding powerhouse? Would we let him be a starting pitcher? Or a closer? It seems to at least be worth a shot.

Here's the thing though...you can't just throw in any old pos in at QB to allow Trubisky time to develop because then you throw everything else so out of whack as well. In order to properly develop some of your other young players, you cannot be so absolutely horrendous offensively that everyone just plays the run against you. Then you are harming the development of your entire offense. You might also harm the development of your defense because they are on the field constantly. I don't like Glennon at all, but IF you determine you want to give Mitch some time to develop, it does make sense to at least put someone reasonably decent in so that the rest of the team can property develop while your QB of the future learns on the sideline. This isn't baseball or basketball where stinking doesn't necessarily hurt the development of your young players.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 01:31 PM) Considering upcoming drafts and the current system, do people think there is really that much risk in holding onto assets like Abreu/Garcia even if it means no return (aside from performance)? I'm really not that worried and a lot happens in 2 years. See what we were like in 2015. I wouldn't trade Abreu unless some kind of package comes along where we almost can't say no. Something like a top 20 prospect plus others. Avi, on the other hand, as much as I love what he's done this year, I would consider moving. Not just for anything, but I wonder if he could be packaged with something like Fulmer to get Giancarlo Stanton + $30-40 million.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 29, 2017 -> 11:34 AM) I was one of a few very pro Albies voices when we thought he may be here in a trade. Slashline for first 54 games .281/.354/.443 with 5 hrs, 8 doubles and 5(!) triples. 36 Ks to 21 BBs. 7 of 8 stolen bases. Soxtalk slapped a Yolmer Sanchez label on him and couldn't see past it. Part of the issue is Albies would have had to replace either Anderson or Moncada. I think the Sanchez comparison was a way of hand-waiving away the somewhat troublesome process that would be.

Avi has reached 550 PAs. Joseph, oh Joooosseeppphhhh?

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Sep 28, 2017 -> 10:25 AM) How good would Houston be with Rodon and Bryant in their fold? That's the thing though...they had the draft position to take both and took neither. It just goes to show that it isn't necessarily whether you choose 1 or 3, you may end up getting the player you wanted anyway. The Sox claim they had Collins as their #1 prospect two years ago and got him at 11.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2017 -> 08:45 AM) And even more projectionable than that are kids who are in the upper minors or already with your ballclub. Right, guys that are on the team now have already beaten some pretty bad odds. This isn't to say that guys drafted at the top of round 1 can't do the same (and don't have a better chance than those drafted after them) but like you and I and others have been saying, the success of guys like Giolito, Lopez, Moncada, Delmonico, Avi, and heck, even Yolmer and Leury one could argue, is so much more important than the difference between the player taken at 4 or 5 versus taken at 2 or 3 (in fact, there may be zero difference, as we might end up taking the same guy irregardless). That doesn't mean I enjoy being passed by the Tigers, and I actually am looking forward to the season ending so this "tension" can be over. Hopefully this will be the last season for a very long time that we care so much about draft position.

I'll just be relieved when the season draws to a close. I don't care much for this tension.

QUOTE (Lemon_44 @ Sep 25, 2017 -> 06:02 AM) Eloy may turn out to be better and that would be great but he's 21 and in high A-AA. Avi was already playing at the MLB level at 21. I'm amused that people are constantly searching for flaws in Avi's game. First, it was he'd never hit. Then he was too slow. Now it's he'll not hit for enough power or walk enough. Why not enjoy the Sox lone All Star representative as we watch him grow into a potential top level player? Had he not missed time, we'd be looking at a line of about .330/20-25 HR/ 90+ RBI. I don't know about anyone else but I'd take that from any player and be ecstatic. Also consider he was playing with a bad hand/wrist for several weeks where he hit like .050. I suspect had he not struggled with that injury he'd have even crazier numbers.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 19, 2017 -> 09:55 AM) If we assumed Avisail went 0 for his next 40, he'd be hitting .307. That would put him at 555 PAs. I think Joe should buy you a sandwich. Also, just because I was curious to see - Avisail would have to go 0 for 54 to fall below .300. Joe agreed to lose some LBs if he lost! I expect him to be a mean, lean, horndog machine.

Hey Chili, What was your minimum PAs for Avi in our wager? 550? Could be close...

QUOTE (Tex @ Sep 17, 2017 -> 06:06 PM) This past summer while travelling up the east coast and across Canada we left our Canon DSLR at home and rarely missed it. First time in 30 years I took a vacation without a full bag of camera gear and my picture memories only suffered marginally. I agree. I bought a Nikon a few years ago when our son was born and it's more of a hassle than anything. I don't have the interest or the energy to really learn how to utilize its capabilities that would make a significant improvement over the latest camera phones. That isn't to say it doesn't take beautiful photos, but not any that really make it worth lugging around.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 18, 2017 -> 12:03 PM) There are a million reasons why Steverson didn't mention it and Abreu did. To overthink how it happened will cause a brain aneurysm. Be glad it was suggested by anyone and move on. Another thing to keep in mind is that Abreu isn't just some other player. Abreu is a mentor for him, speaks his own language, and has the credibility to literally be able to order the bats for Yoan and say "give these a try." Imagine Steverson ordering bats for Moncada himself

Jesus christ. I don't know how either of these makes sense to anyone. 1) Phillies - 53 wins with 23 games remaining 2) Giants - 55 wins with 20 games remaining 3) Sox - 54 wins with 24 games remaining

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 5, 2017 -> 07:08 AM) It's hard to look at Avi's advance stats and find anything to attribute this too, except he has been healthier this year and always has had hot BABIP streaks, he makes pretty good contact. He may end september on a cold streak. I think his ZIPs of .280/.330/.450 is Avi Garcia, and even with improved defense he's like a 2ish WAR player. No one to extend, no one you'll get much back for. He's settled in and that's good. BUT, if there is a backbreaking justification for why he may have higher BABIP than others, his spray charts are impressively all over the field. I believe he is played straight up traditional defensive alignment. WE've heard that teams care less about defense for players now that they can shift better to protect them from poor range. Maybe Avi will have a better BABIP than others because he has to get played straight up, and teams have put worse defenders out there to get more offense in game. But I don't really believe that. That said, let's just enjoy Avi doing well. Some players will fall through the cracks of good right now or good for future. He'll play for us for 2 more years and probably be gone. That's okay. They seem to play him up the middle in the infield a bit...I've seen him hit a few rockets right back up the middle and then suddenly there is a guy right there.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 5, 2017 -> 06:26 AM) We really need to cut the cord with our Comcast cable, I'm embarrassed to admit how much we pay right now. All I really need is sports, and most of those channels seem available with Sling. And all the kids shows are on Amazon which we already have. What's the best internet company to use in Chicago? If we do pull the trigger, need to make sure the internet speed is on point. I obviously don't live there, but when I called to upgrade to 100 mbs and give them the info on my modem, they were like "wow, you must have a lot of devices!" I'm about a week into this now and besides a couple instances where sling froze, we haven't had issues. I'm pretty happy with the decision at this point. The ultimate test will be next Sunday, when I have to watch football on the Red Zone channel instead of Sunday Ticket, but I suspect I will survive. Got hooked up with a free NFL Game Pass too as my best friend is a Bears season ticket holder and they provide complimentary access to that.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Sep 4, 2017 -> 11:45 PM) I'm the best Best Man of all time, and the Dbacks are an enormously generous organization for responding to an email asking for a simple Goldschmidt autograph. And then even sent the bride a jersey? That's pretty awesome! Well-done!

QUOTE (Tony @ Aug 28, 2017 -> 05:00 PM) CSN is on Sling And Directv now.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 4, 2017 -> 08:30 AM) I will say this much. I don't think most of baseball has bought in to Avi Garcia yet, or someone would have offered enough to pry him away from the Sox during the firesale. I am not quite sure if he is a victim of the lack of value in offensive only players that happened this year, or if it is more of just no believing in him as of yet. It will be interesting to see what his value is during the winter. I agree with you, which is why it makes even less sense to try and force him onto a market that doesn't value him.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 3, 2017 -> 04:56 PM) So what part of his approach do you like? He swings at terrible pitches and maintains a groundball swing path after five full seasons. "Barreling" the ball isn't an "approach," it's a "result." He's succeeding despite doing things that don't usually lead to success. Again, he may surprise us all and be the first guy ever to sustain a .390+ BABIP, but would you bet on it? He may finally learn to hit for 25+ HR power, but there's nothing to suggest he will at this point. A 3 win player is a nice player to have around. but if .395 BABIP Avi is a 3 win player, then normalized Avi is, AT BEST, league average. There's nothing wrong with a league average player, but you don't build around him when he's a year away from free agency. Look, I'm open to finding some evidence of something sustainable that changed with him -- I've just yet to see it. I just want what's best for this team and everything I've seen says is telling me this guy is a flash in the pan. You're right, fair enough. But how long are you going to dismiss the results? The dude has clearly sustained this through several different phases of the season. He hits the ball extremely hard and has the speed to beat out a lot of balls that don't get through the left side of the infield. Let me ask you this: Are there a lot of other guys who have the kind of exit velocity Avi has averaged this year combined with a much lower than average launch angle? And have good speed? Just curious.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 3, 2017 -> 03:56 PM) Maybe we have different definitions of approach. Maybe I should 've called it concentration level or hitting smarts combined with a looser/quicker swing from weight loss .You just cant pick out sabre stats and say his approach is the same because so much goes into it when there is a drastic change in results not just luck . Haven't defenses in MLB evolved to eliminate luck as much as possible ? We might be able to say it will be a career high in BABIP but he's hitting the ball all over the field so defenses have trouble with him. His improved speed has led to quite a few infield hits. I am at a disadvantage because I don't analyze the things you do. I only know what I observe and my understanding of the game. And right now Avi has made the necessary changes in many areas to improve his overall game. That cannot be denied and I hope that evolution continues even if an unusually high BABIP does not. I just hate the term luck when anyone talks about BABIP because it belittles the players very hard work to improve. He's barreling up balls all over the place. I know Eminor isn't high on his plate discipline, but his approach is just fine. His problem is the launch angle really results in a lot of singles, which limits his value as a corner outfielder.