iamshack

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 3, 2017 -> 02:39 PM) I'm sure he's hitting the ball harder, and that's good. But his approach hasn't changed much at all -- he's still swinging at more than 40% of the non-strikes he sees, where league average has dipped below 30%. His BABIP is .395 and literally leads the entire MLB. The last time someone ended a season with a BABIP in the .390 range was... Chris Johnson in 2013. No one (in the modern era at least) has ever repeated something like that. Avi has maxed out the level of productivity he can achieve while maintaining his terrible approach to hitting -- and the result is a ~3.0 WAR player. I'll admit that I didn't think he had this in him, and I suppose it's possible for him to repeat against the odds, but it would make him the first person ever to do it. Add the fact that his service time is running out, and the correct move is absolutely to try to sell high. The chance that it turns out burning us is non-zero, but it's extremely small. SMH

I want to see him start lifting the ball a bit more...imagine the damage he could do with his exit velocities if he got the ball if he increased his launch angle.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Sep 2, 2017 -> 12:44 PM) Eierman! Interested to see what kind of season he has.

Kelenic

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Sep 1, 2017 -> 08:10 PM) The Dbacks ALSO sent the signed line-up card for the day of the wedding, with a congrats and a "Thanks for the win". Arizona hasn't lost a game since the wedding. Joe....some context, perhaps?

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 1, 2017 -> 07:18 AM) Verlander at this year verlander is worth 20 mill. Can't believe how much Tigers got back for him, honestly. I think he's worth more than that...he's on pace for nearly 4 fwar. Now build in some playoff starts/value his postseason experience. It isn't an albatross contract. It's fair value. This was a nice deal for Detroit, don't get me wrong, but they didn't trade some guy who didn't have value himself.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 1, 2017 -> 06:49 AM) And a Texas team bails the Tigers out of another albatross contract. This sucks. They're supposed to have to suffer for the win-now moves, but they keep finding someone to overpay for the back ends of these contracts. What's next, a legit prospect for Jordan Zimmermann? Is that really an albatross contract? He's been worth every bit of it, even last year and this year.

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 1, 2017 -> 06:15 AM) Thursday: Phillies won, Giants lost, Sox lost, Reds won 31 days left Team (Games left) - Sox Magic Number to have higher pick: 1. Phillies(29) - 33 2. Giants(26) - 29 3. White Sox(30) 4. Reds(28) - 26 5. A's(29) - 25 If the Sox somehow go 14-16, the Reds would have to go 9-19 to have a better pick. The Sox are getting the 2nd or 3rd pick. Big series next weekend. You've got that right. Sox and Giants both on track for 64 wins. Giants have a tougher schedule. Dropping 2 of 3 or all 3 by either team next weekend could very easily decide who gets #2.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Sep 1, 2017 -> 02:15 AM) To be fair, the Sox took advantage of a couple prospects that had helium (Aiken and Kolek) while Rodon's stock was fading and they seemed to understand that Rodon was simply fatigued. We obviously know what happened after that. As frustrating as the guy is, the dude is obviously a special talent. Just gotta hope that if he is as advertised, the Sox can re-sign him when the time comes. Williams was never able to deal with the Boras Corporation. Hahn can. Need to find him a guy who can frame that slider.

MiGo to the Rangers

QUOTE (reiks12 @ Aug 31, 2017 -> 07:31 PM) Phillies lose! You mean Phillies win.

You guys should check out the podcast. Definitely one of the best White Sox (and Chicago sports) podcasts out there.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Aug 30, 2017 -> 11:28 AM) Actually my wife thinks Matt Davidson is cute and loves his hair. Darn! I remember Gordon used to always talk about Davidson's head of hair. He is a good looking man. Although his read for the White Sox Talk podcast leaves a bit to be desired...

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 30, 2017 -> 05:05 AM) Yoan and TA haven't exactly hurt my chances of my wife watching the game with me Talk about two dudes who look like they were born to wear baseball uniforms.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 29, 2017 -> 07:23 PM) 4 straight games for Timmy with a double He's got some freakish jump off his bat

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Aug 29, 2017 -> 04:17 PM) I'll go against the grain here and say I'd absolutely be interested in Stanton. Obviously it depends on what you'd have to give up but even if that contract bites you in the ass in the last few years he really has a chance to put you over the top these next 5 or so when our current group of prospects is ready to make moves. Let's assume that they aren't going to move him now as they are in the race, and then let's also assume that they will want someone notable in the offseason as he has become the face of their franchise. As much as you and I know it to be the case, they do not want to simply say they were trading that contract. They want to at least be able to hang their hat on someone their fanbase can look forward to watching for the next several years. I really don't see this being possible unless the team trading for Stanton is willing to part with some talent. I also don't see a team being willing to part with some talent without getting some kind of salary relief. So what are you willing to move and for what amount of money are you asking Miami to eat? I think I might go as far as giving them Lopez and a few lower level guys if they'd eat $35-40 million.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 28, 2017 -> 03:52 PM) Did you evaluate switching providers? I know every location is different, but I was on Uverse for about 4 years paying approximately $100 / month (whole home DVR with 3 receivers total) and had internet (albeit, speeds were not fantastic...24mb/s maximum). Every year they would do a good job of getting me back to my price (when my year contract was up...albeit I had to spend a bit of time on the online chat or phone to get them to whack the price with me always being honest...I am only quitting because your fees are too high and I would like to stay but can't justifying paying more then X. Almost every time they magically got me at the same point (last year they actually lowered my price). I actually switched providers this weekend to a cable provider and after taxes am now paying $110 a month (includes TV...whole home DVR in 3 rooms) but internet speeds which are capped at 100 mb/s. Price fixed for 2 years and comes with $100 gift card. I also get home service for free as part of it, but I could care less about that piece of the equation (just needed for the "bundle" savings). No installation fees, etc, for these, albeit, having to switch meant I needed to be home for the install. I'd love to cut the chord and just go ala carte, but whenever I've looked at the price of just those streaming packages and then the nonbundled high speed internet costs, I just can't get around it, since I would want a "sling" like service on-top of it because I need to watch my sports live. I've made my own unscientific conclusion that chord cutting was not designed for hard core sports fans (or at least that is what I always tell my wife who honestly would be fine if we had no tv at all). Of course. In fact, DirecTV called me today to try and get me to come back already. "What will it take?" I said nothing personal, but there is nothing you can do to convince me to remain your customer. The guy says "Oh I disagree. There is a LOT I can do." I said no there isn't. Have a wonderful evening. And hung up. At this point, it's not even about money anymore. It's about having to deal with these idiots calling me all the time, mailing me crap all the time, having to constantly upgrade equipment and have installation people come to the house, etc. I decided I'd rather just deal with it on my own through a device and the apps. If it weren't for Sunday Ticket I would have done this 2 years ago, but I suspect I will be just fine now with RedZone and Game Pass.

QUOTE (joejoedairy @ Aug 28, 2017 -> 01:00 PM) I cut the cord for about 8 months but then signed back up for directv. Will probably cut again once my two years are up. The Youtube TV seems like it has everything I want. I'm wondering with all of the packages you bought in addition to the added internet speed, are you going to see that much in savings? Thanks Joe, Good question... So previously, with a fairly basic programming package, but with many of the "bells and whistles" from the technology standpoint, I was generally paying about $180/mo. This did NOT include internet, which had risen to $78 a month from my cable provider after an earlier honeymoon rate of $60 or so. The $180 was for the Choice package, I want to say, plus HD DVR, whole home wireless with 4 TVs. They really beat you up with all the equipment fees and whatnot. Then I would order the Extra Innings package as well as the Sunday Ticket package on top of that, so my bill was almost never less than $200/mo. Usually closer to $300/mo if you count internet. I also was a Netflix subscriber already, and owned 1 Apple TV unit. With the new setup, I am looking at $50 on Sling, $15 for HBO Now, $10 for Netflix, $83 for faster internet, and possibly $100 annually for NFL Game Pass and whatever the annual cost is for MLB At Bat. For DirecTV's Extra Innings package, it was something like $180/year. That ends up being $165-180/mo after the MLB and NFL packages are added, including internet. So the monthly savings will probably be in the range of $75-125 in any given month. The big step was in the form of the initial investments into the upgraded equipment, such as the Apple TV units, two antennas, and a faster modem and router. That stuff, out of pocket, ends up being about $650. So the payback period is going to probably be about 6-8 months on the equipment. Then you figure you enjoy another 2.5 - 3.5 years of savings until you've got to spring for upgrades again.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Aug 28, 2017 -> 10:11 AM) Any reason why you didn't choose to save several hundreds of dollars and just get Chromecasts instead? Yeah, everything I own is basically in the Apple ecosystem. Was something to consider, but bit the bullet and spent an extra couple hundred because I've owned Apple TVs for years and am familiar with them.

Been talking about it for years...finally pulled the trigger and cut the cord. Bought some Apple TV units, a few HDTV antennas, ordered a faster modem, bumped up internet speed to 100 mbs, signed up for Sling TV Orange + Blue with the Sports adder, Netflix, HBO Now, MLB At Bat, and may also do NFL Game Pass. Only downside is I won't be able to watch full Bears games live...have to rely on Red Zone channel and then if I get Game Pass, I can watch the full game on demand.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 26, 2017 -> 07:25 PM) Mayweather is down to like -350. Those are incredible odds, he should be like -2500. If only I had the $$$ Not sure who has those actual odds...everyone on the Strip is telling me its -550/-600 unless you are willing to bet the tko/ko.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Aug 25, 2017 -> 04:46 PM) Either this place is dead from the Sox poor record or this thread has run its course even before the whole thing started. This is supposed to be fun,celebrate the little leagues, honor people who made you the player you are now and those who support you. Wear colorful cleats, swing a colorful bat . it's a pretty big deal around the league this weekend. Are they selling it ? Of course what good idea doesn't get promoted and sold these days ? It's a consumer society. I'm not going to spend any money on it but I still think it's something to promote baseball, it's cool it's fun , it gets people talking . Baseball is losing interest in US kids. It's a problem that must be dealt with. This is part of that process. Lighten up all you Francis's. Back in my day, people didn't have fun....

I think it is the opposite...UNLESS you are the lead dog/horse, the scenery never changes...meaning, you are always looking at the ass of the dog/horse in front of you.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Aug 18, 2017 -> 03:38 AM) Jose Abreu is pretty damn awesome. Him as the DH on the next contending team just makes way too much sense, it's impossible not to respect him. I went to the game in LA on Wednesday night. It was VERY clear that Jose is the on-field leader of these kids. He was keeping them all loose, particularly Anderson and Moncada. He's also the ambassador with the fans. He signed every autograph, even right up when the game was about to begin. He threw balls into the crowd for kids, Sox and Dodgers fans alike (even this big kid who stood up in a Sox jersey in a sea of blue). He also happens to have played in every game this season, I believe. This s*** season where he's a 30 year old veteran in the middle of a contract and his team is 30 games under .500. Every single game. I couldn't have come away more impressed with him. He is the perfect guy to help teach these kids how to be professionals.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 10, 2017 -> 01:30 PM) Can we stop acting like Hahn invented the wheel with those contracts? The defending division champion who was one run from a WS title has more than 3 players signed to similar team friendly extensions. They were good deals on Hahn's part, but they're pretty common around baseball. ESPN The Indians were doing this 10-12 years ago.