[5/18 Games]

I'm not saying "bring him up", but I'd be curious to know what the opinion of people watching him everyday is on his readiness. Obviously more seasoning would be a good thing, but the thought of a true under-25 rookie in the everyday lineup is an exciting prospect for a contending team.

 

He's not yet hitting as well as Sanchez was when he was down there. Or Leury. And I don't imagine his defense has surpassed either of them. And it doesn't look like he's improved on his selectivity at the plate.

[5.16 games]

Would like to see Hawkins cut down his K-rate to 25% instead of 15 in 40 at-bats, but it's not like the K issue is even news anymore.

 

Theoretically, he profiles as a prospect a bit like Moya on the Tigers...with perhaps a bit more defensive ability.

 

Would like to see him step away from the buffet.

[5.16 games]

Davidson has really turned it around. Now hitting over .270

Waited until the Sox were winning, with all-stars at 3rd and 1st, and no need at DH and no chance of him being called up.

[Sox attended Lincecum showcase day - Angels expected to sign him]

So, the same as Latos?

And Miguel Gonzalez, who has been better than Lincecum over the last 4 years. And it's not even close.

[Sox attended Lincecum showcase day - Angels expected to sign him]

The 2016 Chicago White Sox, your go to media manipulation team of choice!

 

Strange continuing trend.

 

I don't know if it's strange. White Sox are both in 1st place and known to have a potential #5 starter opening after dfa'ing Danks. It makes perfect sense for Lincecum camp to lie and say Sox are interested. It's plausible to other teams who are interested and therefore provides leverage for him.

[Playoff odds]

Ha, yeah that plus insane bullpen really make you a great manager.

And 4 starting pitchers having career years at the same time.

[Austin Jackson]

There would be some problems with re-signing Jackson. The first is that he's likely to hit FA this winter and, since this is the last big contract he's going to get, he's going to want maximum value. The upcoming FA period is also going to be a player's market, so Jackson will be able to command more than he's worth (I'd guess in the 4/$30M-4/$40M range).

 

Why in the universe is anyone offering him a 4 year deal? He had to sign a 1 year $5 million deal this year.

[Austin Jackson]

The fact is, Jackson has been pretty terrible offensively for almost two full seasons

 

The average CF in the American League last year put up a .683 OPS.

 

Austin Jackson put up a .696 OPS.

 

People still have a bizarrely, insanely inaccurate view of what is league average and what is terrible in the present, non-steroid era.

 

 

[Sox attended Lincecum showcase day - Angels expected to sign him]

John Danks fastball velocity fell 2mph this year to 87.2.

 

Lincecum's last year was 87.5. His WHIP was 1.48. His 4.13 ERA was his best since 2011 in part because he lucked his way to his lowest home run rate since 2011 while playing in cavernous National League park. How would moving to a home run park and having to face DHs help that out? I have no reason to think Lincecum is as good as Scott Carroll.

[Sox attended Lincecum showcase day - Angels expected to sign him]

Good lord. Lincecum has been complete dogs*** since after 2011. ERA+ of 75, 75 in 615 innings from 2012 through 2015. 1.40 WHIP. 4 walks per 9. 4.68 ERA in a pitchers park in the National League. John Danks over that stretch 82 ERA+ coming off shoulder capsule surgery. Miguel Gonzalez over that stretch 107.

 

It's not like Lincecum was good, got injured last year and now is coming back. He's been absolute dogs*** for years, has been sent to the bullpen. But the meathead media omits all of that- they know he's a former Cy Young winner and that's literally all they know. There's no reason to assume Lincecum is as good as Erik Johnson, Miguel Gonzalez, Chris Beck, Scott Carroll, John Danks, Mark Buehrle or anyone else. Someone will give him some money though. Angels have like 2 starting pitchers. Some bad team can offer him a little money, hope they get a lucky streak from him and flip him at the deadline.

[Frazier Potential Extension]

7 / 100 = ~14 million a year

 

I'm sure he'll be worth more than 1.5 WAR per year.

 

Every year until he's 39? Why?

[Frazier Potential Extension]

Better than any third baseman the White Sox have had since 2006.

 

Probably not 2009 Beckham, 2012 Youkilis, or 2014 Gillespie.

[AND THAT'S A WHITE SOX WINNER!!!]

Are they sending Kevan Smith back down? Kinda need a 2nd catcher.

[Avi Needs to Go]

Unless the Sox become competitive enough to win a playoff round, I think there's a good chance that they go through a significant rebuild in the winter of 2017, as Anderson is their only position player who projects to be an every-day starter.

 

Jose Abreu? Adam Eaton?

 

[Pitching numbers are unreal]

The back end of the rotation, Danks and Latos, have a combined 3.34 ERA. That would be the greatest coup in baseball history if it continued for the whole season. It won't. Latos isn't that good. Danks isn't that bad. It's pointless to care about these numbers now. Pick any baseball player and you can find a 15 game stretch last year where they were peak Ken Griffey Jr./Greg Maddux and another 15 games were they were busted feet Conor Gillaspie/2005 Shingo Takatsu. People are irrationally overly invested in this particular 15 games because it represents "THE ENTIRE SEASON." It pointless, it's stupid. Trevor Story, though he might be good, isn't Roy Hobbs.

 

The only actual meaningful facts to note regarding Danks is that he's in the final year of his contract and the team has absolutely zero reason to do anything bother than use the best 5th starter they own, unlike the last few years. If he stinks amazingly and terribly enough for long enough the guys in Charlotte will get a shot and assuming we're competitive in June, a trade acquisition becomes a top priority. Thank you, Drake LaRoche.

[Rotation changes]

Move Danks out for good.

 

Danks isn't great but he got hosed in that first start. Ump blew an obvious called strike 3 for the 2nd out, turned it into a walk. With 2 outs, Avila would've gone straight to 1st, unrushed, for the 3rd out. That's 3 runs that shouldn't have happened. That's what happens when teams get extra outs. Danks is fine. Look at back of rotation starters around the league. Everyone sucks. You're only overly emotionally invested in the sucking on your own team.

[White Sox Sign Miguel Gonzalez]

I was gona ask if that was even possible. Skipping AAA and going straight to the majors

 

If there was a need and the situation was right. Jose Quintana pitched 9 games at AA. Never pitched at AAA.

[Sands gets the 25th spot]

Going with Shuck over Murphy is dumb.

 

I'd take Shuck and Murphy, not Sands. Team is too not-good-at-hitting-righties. Pitchers are mostly right handed.

 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Sands doesn't finish April with the Sox.

[Sands gets the 25th spot]

David Murphy still doesn't have a team.

[Spring Training Cuts thread]

One thing to keep in mind is that the Sox remain committed to Avi.

 

I'd rather see what a 24 years young Avi Garcia has to offer instead of a 31 year old James Loney. At least with Avi there is still some potential upside and untapped power.

 

Nope. After 3 straight losing seasons and after Avi's 1000 unimpressive career plate appearances, he should play if and only if he is producing. He doesn't get any more development time on the major league club. If he's hitting and can manage the outfield or can be hidden at DH great. If he can only provide value as a platoon bat, great. If he can't do that send him to AAA and see if he can figure it out. If James Loney or anyone else can hit righties better than Avi, then Avi shouldn't be playing.

[Rollins is our starting SS]

Rollins better be benched if he start out badly after a few weeks (but he won't be).

 

I would disagree that he wouldn't be benched. They have no reason to do anything other than play whoever is playing best.

[Spring Training Cuts thread]

As greatful as I am of LaRoche's 13M donation towards building a better Sox team without him, that money does not need to be spent right now. At least not on James Loney. I like Loney but for what he would cost in comparison to the marginal upgrade he would provide, it would be a dumb move this late in ST unless the Rays eat a big chunk of that salary. Save the money for future trades in June/July/August that could help the team more. That 13M is not going anywhere.

 

We'd get Loney for nothing. I'd guess less than $2 million.

[Spring Training Cuts thread]

Against RHP, he wasn't much better in 2015 than Adam LaRoche.

 

LaRoche, unfortunately, has retired. We can't get him back. Loney isn't good. But Ishikawa is more not good. I'd rather have David Murphy than either.

[Spring Training Cuts thread]

Only thing Loney provides is he's a first baseman. Outside of that, he does nothing to help this lineup.

.296 batting average with a .340 OBP vs. righties last year. In line with his career averages. Ishikawa can't do that.

[I love Hawk Harrelson]

Hawk is a character. Virtually all other broadcasters in baseball are pointless, worthless, flavorless and devoid of personality. They suck. They're grown in a laboratory in Orlando. They're if khaki pants could talk. They are audience-tested by the corporation. They are not people. They are not interesting. They suck. Cubs are unwatchable.

 

You can dislike some of what Hawk does, and I'll agree it gets way worse when the team sucks (3 straight seasons). But good god, give me anyone with a personality over the Len Kasper/Chip Careys of the world.