Special K

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 30, 2015 -> 04:13 PM) I never said anything about Garcia. I think it's dumb to have two expensive, premier closers on one team. He has improved over the past week or so, though I was just noting that... the two were not related... apologies.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jul 30, 2015 -> 04:09 PM) Kimbrel and Robertson on the same team? Avi not starting tonight...

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jul 30, 2015 -> 08:58 AM) 3 of the guys are top 100 prospects: Jake Thompson - 60 Nick Williams - 64 Jorge Alfaro - 69 The other two are in the 20's in the Rangers system. And Matt Harrison used to be a top of the rotation pitcher, and may return to that, and can be slotted into the rotation right away. I think it's a pretty damn good return. Yeah, guess you're right. Just thought the deal was missing that stellar prospect. None in top 50.

Doesn't look like that good of a deal for the Phillies, who also apparently sent $9.5 million in cash with Hamels. Guessing the Astros put together a better package but were stymied by the no trade clause.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 29, 2015 -> 03:57 PM) With the way he's hit over the last month it seems like neither of them would actually want him. Both teams have been interested in Lind as an actual option. LaRoche has been a much bigger disappointment than Adam Dunn has ever been, except just not on such a larger scale. I knew that signing was awful. When you invest in players for $12-$13 million a year, you need to make sure they can hit left handed and right handed pitching (at least to some varying respectable degrees). LaRoche could never hit a lefty and is generally struggling against all pitching, which is why we have the results we have today. When you spend the kind of money you do on a guy like LaRoche, your literally dropping $12 million for a part-time platoon player. That's a bad signing, IMO.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 28, 2015 -> 10:29 PM) Not for $22 million a year...forget that. Alexei's been fine since the Cubs' series before the All-Star Break, more or less. I forgot to mention my scenario had Colorado taking on some Of that scratch.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Jul 28, 2015 -> 10:26 PM) Not only no but hell no! He's like 2nd worst in SS runs saved. We either take it on the jaw on the offensive side or defensive side. I'm guessing Alexei has been the least productive at his position this year offensively in the league, tho I don't have the stats on hand, so somebody tell me I'm wrong.

Is there any chance were looking at Jose Reyes? I'd love a corner outfield power hitter, but we are in desperate need of an upgrade at short. Alexei is a black hole. Now slashing .228/.255/.305. Offense could really benefit from brining in some new life with a guy like Reyes.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 28, 2015 -> 04:48 PM) It's 100% the wrong move. If you think your team really has a shot then make that decision and add a bat. If you don't think this team has a shot then sell him. Standing pat is just silly when it's clear your team has holes you could fill. If your GM isn't bold enough to make a decision, then hire me for his salary. I'll make one and if it's wrong you can fire me. At least I'll have made a decision. If you're paid that much to make decisions your decision better be "something". Depends what the market is. If were just getting offered very low level prospects for shark, and the draft pick has a better chance of turning up a better prospect, then don't trade Shark. I also don't advocate giving up a ton for a rental bat. So maybe just ride out the squad. Maybe look at a waiver bat. But he should make some internal moves that can be made.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jul 28, 2015 -> 05:40 PM) I'm at peace with the Sox standing Pat since the rotation is playoff worthy and some bats have come alive. For right now, what might be the best moves the Sox could make are... 1- DFA Boni and recall Micah 2- bat Micah at DH and use LaRoche for pinch hitting/ defensive sub at 1B. 3- play Shuck more in a platoon with Avi. Shuck improves defense and production against RHP. 4- option Jennings back to Charlotte and recall Erik Johnson 5- Danks goes to the pen and Erik becomes the 5th starter These move cost the Sox zero money and prospects while improving their contending status, on paper anyway. Edit: subbed Jennings for Leury Love every bit of this. Danks in pen sounds great. But getting LaRoche out of the lineup sounds even better. One big remainder though, how on earth do we get Alexei out of the lineup? Can Sanchez at short and Micah try second again? Can we just stomach Gordo at short? I can't watch Alexei anymore. He is the worst hitter maybe ever.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 02:34 PM) Who else is in danger of being exposed as a fraud? Jorge Soler isn't exactly looking like a superstar. I would be shocked if Baez would be enough to serve as the centerpiece for a Hamels trade. His stock is way down. He can't hit. That's the nice thing about being the Cubs, you have a newspaper there to just pump up all of your prospects. They've been doing that for years. Castro of most recent.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 27, 2015 -> 11:36 AM) It's entirely reasonable that he could get better, but no one is going to trade anything of value for him on the hopes that he will. He may eventually turn into a solid player, but guys who struggle early and get replaced rapidly because a team wants to win now are common around this league. If you have an opening on your roster for an OF you can find plenty of guys who can be what Avi is right now. He's also a first-year arbitration eligible player this fall so his salary is going to go up...which means the clock is ticking rapidly only him. 2016 he's still somewhat cheap if you pick him up, but if he struggles during 2016 he's exactly where Viciedo was last offseason salary-wise. He has exactly as much trade value as Viciedo had at the end of 2013, when the White Sox kept pretending they were going to successfully trade him somewhere and then never did. Agreed, but if we pick up a corner OF, I'd rather see Avi hit DH then LaRoche. Trade LaRoche for whatever you can but if you can't let him at the very most platoon DH with Avi. Personally, I could stomach Avi in the OF again next year if it meant a serious upgrade at 3b, SS, 2b or C, which I think we need more than an corner outfielder.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Jul 22, 2015 -> 09:46 PM) Don't feel like wading through this thread in it's entirety. Is there any actual rumors regarding the White Sox and Puig? Or is this a 14 page thread with posters just making random trade proposals? No this is speculation. There are no rumors. In fact, it's been extremely quiet so far. Doesn't anyone else agree? Deadline is not too far away and there have not been many whispers. We've went on for 65 pages in the Shark thread and we haven't really seen one rumor about a possible deal or significant interest from another team, have we? Kind of frustrating.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 21, 2015 -> 01:40 PM) He is a "replacement level player". He's been just about as valuable at his position this year as Adam Eaton. If we had a strong team around him, that'd be ok. A team can live with 1-2 replacement level players in their lineup if they're strong elsewhere. OTOH, we're weak everywhere. Our OF is easily the worst in baseball. 3b, 2b, SS all are terrible. Flowers being a replacement level player is therefore a problem, but it's not even as big of a problem as say, Avi Garcia is. If we could find a major upgrade at catcher, fine go ahead. But it's not our biggest issue. If we upgraded catcher solidly and brought the IF up to tolerable with Micah, Saladino, Sanchez, and maybe a FA signing, we'd still have major issues in the OF and elsewhere in the lineup. Edit: Other way to look at it? The White Sox are 16th in MLB in fWAR out of the Catcher's spot. The White Sox are 17th in MLB in fWAR out of the 1b spot. Soto has helped that, but that should scale where the catcher's spot sits right now. Couldn't agree with this any more. Flowers is not enjoyable to watch, but he is somewhat average at his position, and handles the pitchers quite well. Most importantly, Flowers is the LEAST of our problems. Flowers is decent enough to be in a lineup surrounded by other good players. It's just that his production is highlighted when you have guys like Beckham, Sanchez, Ramirez, and other under performers (Cabrera, LaRoche, Garcia). I am pessimistic that our internal options will be sufficient to produce MLB acceptable players at 3b, SS and 2B. Those positions we should be looking to upgrade. I am of the thought that we should be able to pick up a power hitting stick in FA that could fill a corner outfield spot or DH spot, as long as it is not a former National named Adam that hits lefty.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jul 21, 2015 -> 10:32 AM) Addicts. Just hoping that the next series of moves are in our favor. Sox are due for some good luck, right? I would suggest the Sox have had plenty of good luck (or very good pitching) to only be 6 games under given that this may be the worst offense in the history of baseball. There is legitimately 1 MAYBE 2 position players worth keeping on this roster. Everyone else should go.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Jul 2, 2015 -> 12:48 PM) How do anyone of those teams continue to have money to sign all these international guys Yes, could someone please explain how this works? The Dodgers outspend everyone every year and so do the Cubs. I thought there were caps. The Cubs keep stockpiling their minors.

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Jun 26, 2015 -> 12:55 PM) When the Twins were doing bad under Gradenhire they also started firing people who weren't doing the job in their farm system. http://www.twincities.com/golf/ci_18729647 Eventually they fired some people in the minors. BTW this was interesting. http://hdtrbch.org/jo/201505/a_Will_Ron_Ga...is_season_.html I liked both of those articles. Assume that Chicago references was to the Cubs. Reaffirms what I think needs to be emphasized a lot more around here, he is focused on fundamentals. I don't agree with the proposition that some players should never have to bunt because they don't know how to, e.g. Alexei (and im not referring to power hitters). The Sox are abysmal when it comes to fundamentals on defense, running the bases, bunting, etc. That stuff starts with the coaching staff (majors and minors).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 26, 2015 -> 01:08 PM) Sure feels to me to be more a part of the problem than anything else...get the "sloppy and unfocused" feeling from him a lot. I didn't mean it from that perspective... I just meant that he seems like he gets along with the players, from my limited perspective.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 26, 2015 -> 01:02 PM) His defensive numbers are in the bottom 1/3 of the league, comparable to Jhonny Peralta and Jimmy Rollins. Replacing his defense and in fact upgrading his defense might not be all that hard, we could probably do that from our system right now. Those guys wouldn't hit, but neither is he. And also, what would be the point of holding on to him (again, assuming the unlikelihood scenario that we could find something of value to trade for him)? The Sox are not going anywhere this year, and his skills are only declining with age. He seems like a great clubhouse guy, and was very good for the Sox for several years, but we should definitely trade him if we could ever get something for him.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 26, 2015 -> 11:51 AM) You have to make deals that make sense at the time. Even now who replaces Alexei if traded? I do expect the Sox will listen to offers. Now if Tim Anderson is ready or we are willing to put up with a season or two of youthful mistakes ok otherwise wait. But, don't trade just for the sake of some move so complainers can be placated. Heck we could see this team torn apart every year they don't win the world series if you bow to the demands of some rabid fans. One I do think might get offered around is John Danks. But, we know his contratc will be an albatross We can find a minor leaguer to replace Alexei's offensive production of .222, .243, .293, and -1 (WAR). That has to be dead last in shortstop production. Even if their not a long term solution (assuming we could find a suitor for Alexei, which obviously is a long shot given the aforesaid production).

For the most part, I agree with your statement. I do think Alexei is just old and it's time for him to go. He really can't hit anymore and his Defense is declining. A sign age is catching up. We would've been wise to trade him last year when his value was quite high. We need more offense. We cannot win with a collective OBP sub .300 a negative team WAR (not sure if that's still the case, was a few days ago), and being dead last in offense in just about every category. This will not all turnaround with a new coaching staff. Guys like Flowers, Gillaspie, Beckham, Ramirez, Sanchez cannot make up half of a major league roster. Maybe 1 or 2 could play on a roster, but not 4-5. None of those guys belong starting at the big leagues. Our minor leaguers don't look much better, unfortunately. Therefore, we do need to get some new players in. In order to do that, you need to trade something another team wants, and no other teams wants anything to do with those guys. I'm staunchly opposed to moving Sale, but in order to get something of value, we might need to move Quintana and/or another valuable piece. As for coaching, the current staff is bad and they need to go (exception Cooper). I honestly don't know why the Sox can't bring in a guy like Gardenhire. He had a lot of success with some mediocre to slightly above average ball clubs. The Cubs saw Maddon come available and immediately picked dropped their manager and picked him. We need a little bit of that, and unfortunately, that's not going to happen with current ownership.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Jun 3, 2015 -> 01:05 PM) 4 games under .500 on June 3 does not end the season. With 2 WC in today's game, a .500 record on August 1 and you're in the thick of things. That means the SOX need to play 4 games over .500 the next two months. The season is over if the Sox continue to play as they have the first 50 or so games, but c'mon...these comments are just stupid. Sox are 23-27. They've played 50 games. Since 1995, less than 10% of the teams that won their division had won 25 games or less after 54 games of baseball played. As for wildcard spots after 54 games played, less than 25% of the teams that made the wildcard had 25 wins or less. The odds and history are not on this team's side. And, as I said, Sox do not appear to be the "exception to the norm" with respect to these statistics. So tell me, why are my comments stupid?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 3, 2015 -> 08:33 AM) http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0602-story.html Hahn still wants to add to the club but has contingencies in place if they continue to flounder. The team is in dead last in its division and 7 games out. We have the 5th worst record in the AL. Their offense is just brutal by every measurable category. I don't see the Sox hopping the 4-5 teams it will take to make the playoffs. Sad to say, but it's June 3 and this season is already over. Would love to see if someone can dig up the stats to see how many teams in the past 5 years have made the playoffs while being in dead last at the start of June. Betting it's very few. And this Sox doesn't strike me as the "exception" to the norm. Would give this team 3 more weeks to turn it around, and then start putting some of those contingencies in place.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 12:29 PM) The problem with that is, you didn't solve the problem. Milwaukee and Miami fired their managers. That probably satisfied some meatheads in their area, but the results remain the same. Firing the coaching staff does not address the problem, and KW thankfully said that and understands that. I agree with him that the players will start playing closer to their norms, which should mean many will do a lot better than usual for a while to get there. And if it doesn't work, they will change some players. Under what scenario do you ever consider changing the manager and his staff?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ May 26, 2015 -> 08:48 AM) They don't have much to sell though. Samardzija and Ramirez is about it. Who on earth would give up anything of value for Ramirez.