Eminor3rd

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 10:28 AM) We signed him to hit, not to be a good baserunner. His batting war should be somewhat weighted because that's what he's here to do. Doesn't change the fact that he isn't a good baserunner. QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 10:28 AM) His batting war should be somewhat weighted because that's what he's here to do. What? Why would they make it inaccurate on purpose?

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 10:07 AM) That should tell you that WAR isn't the most reliable stat. No, that should tell you that people don't accurately factor defense/baserunning into their mental impressions of overall value. He's on pace for a 6.0 fWAR season, which is pretty incredible for a .330 OBP.

If they are buyers, I wouldn't expect any big moves. If the team contends this year, it'll be because it's hot. Best case scenario is that we find some breakouts -- that's the goal of any rebuilding year. But there shouldn't be anyone that thinks our pitching staff right now (injured + bullpen) is that of a real contender. Hahn's ultimate goal this year SHOULD be to hover around .500. That'll mean that most of the guys panned out like they were supposed to. This gives him a foundation from which to add for next year. He dumps/DFAs/lets walk the pieces that didn't pan out and retains the ones that did, going into the offseason with a good idea of what his team needs to improve again. Trim the fat, develop the muscle. A couple iterations through and we've got a healthy franchise.

You know who else isn't looking good? Ubaldo Jimenez: http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playe...&position=P

Jesus.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 08:25 AM) I whole heartedly agree with the bolded and have been critical of this foolish notion in several threads especially when pertaining to the rotation. I just believe there is a need to have a LH in your lineup somewhere from 3-6. To be clear, I wasn't saying that we should draft a LH hitter because our probable staples in the lineup are RH hitters (away from Eaton), rather that the system as a whole is lacking potential LH impact bats. I for one am not expecting much at all from the likes of Keon Barnum. Yeah, I'm just saying that when dealing with non-ML talent, either in the draft or in trades, you're opportunity is so limited by myriad factors (team x's farm system, quality of amateur draft pool, etc.) that you have no real choice but to just take talent over type. In free agency, you have a larger, more diverse pool of more known quantities from which you can select as many times as as you can afford and have the impact felt immediately. That's where you have the luxury to be very picky. As far as the value of a balanced L/R lineup, I totally agree. You just can't let that leak into farm talent acquisition, IMO.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 08:48 AM) I don't know if that's fair. Lillian is obviously overzealous with his love affair of left-handedness (and now right-handedness with the current construction of the rotation) but we are bereft a LH option in the middle of the order. Those who figure to be in the middle of the order are obviously Abreu, Garcia, Viciedo, Davidson, and they are all righties. If the team is going for it next year it is inevitable that they bring in a LH option and I should throw out Victor Martinez for the 100th time as a guy I'd welcome. Since we are on the topic of handedness, and I don't want to go all Lillian, but I would think we should see a LH bat taken very early in the draft. Our top hitting prospects are all RH hitters with Davidson, Hawkins, Anderson, Thompson, etc. I think it's crazy to prioritize handedness over talent. If all else is equal, sure, take the lefty. But if you have a chance to get a better RH player, you do it every time no matter what your lineup looks like. In the draft, where guys are typically 3-6 years away from regular ML playing time, even moreso. Sign your lefty in free agency if you must, where you have much more control over the timing and opportunity.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 08:29 AM) One key for me is going to be whether or not the White Sox can get a LH bat back. Either a really high level starting pitching prospect or someone who can fill in the LH bat need. Looking at how guys are hitting this year, the LH bat need is just going to be magnified with time. It'd take a whole lot for me to really look at a RH hitter with the way things are shaping up. Did Lillian hack your account?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Apr 28, 2014 -> 08:23 AM) Obviously you would have to see the trade package. Ask yourself this: Does the trade give you a better chance to win a World Series? If the players you get in return could be part of your next championship team, you make the trade. If not then you probably keep him. It just depends. But I'd listen on any number of the Sox veterans to improve the young core. Look at the Pirates for example: You ask them for SS Alen Hanson and one of their top line starting pitching prospects like Kingham or Glasnow. I would end up taking 1 of those guys as a headliner for Ramirez and then some lower level type guys as well with Pittsburgh paying the salary. If I'm paying the salary, they are giving more. That's just one example of a team that could potentially be interested. Man. I've always liked Alexei, really. I think he's still underrated. But guys. If he stays relatively hot, and has his best offensive season at around 110 wRC+ or so, THEN we could be talking Hanson. There is just no way at all he's ever going to net us Glasnow, and he'd have to be a borderline MVP candidate to net us Kingham. I literally don't think anything he could realistically do from now until July would stop the Pirates from laughing off the phone if Glasnow was brought up. There are guys that like him better than Syndergaard. You guys can argue what "should" be the return, but the reality is that these prospects do NOT move unless teams are getting big time game changers these days. They are treated like ancient, precious gemstones. And the small market teams are even more stingy with them. In my opinion, he's still going to be worth more to this team than any other come July. Garcia/Sanchez haven't shown they're ready to take the keys -- I think you hope one of them steps up next year and you can move Alexei.

Abreu's dingers gif: http://gfycat.com/MediumJealousIraniangroundjay

f*** YEAH

Backup Catchers pinch run for Paulie

Did Hawk just say that Greg Maddux and Tim Hudson "fed off each other when they played together in Atlanta?" Because they didn't play together in Atlanta.

Excellent work, my friend.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 25, 2014 -> 01:41 PM) I think he's just a classic case of a guy that was always trying to do too much instead of relying on his natural tools. He's always been a very gifted hitter. He doesn't need to try to hit the ball 500 feet on every swing. That would definitely explain the increased Z-Contact rate, but the O-Swing is what I think is the real key, which comes either from newfound patience or improved ability to recognize s*** pitches.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 25, 2014 -> 03:06 PM) But a lot of the list for Cooper wasn't really reclamation except the names I mentioned. Dye and Thome and Konerko were reclimations as much as most of the Cooper list. Cooper doesn't get scrutinized for guys failing nearly as much as the Sox hitting coaches or manager have. That's just a fact. If Darin Erstad is horrible and Andy Gonzalez doesn't hack it in the 3 spot, Walker was an idiot. If the Sox botch a rundown, Ventura hasn't shown them the proper way. If the bullpen walks 5 out of 6 batters, the pitchers just suck. Several guys weren't so good with the White Sox but had pitching success later elsewhere. Other than Nick Swisher, I don't think there is any White Sox who had far more success offensively after sucking it up with the White Sox. Of course, many of the White Sox hitters were veterans who were either done or nearing the end of the line, but no one was able to "fix" the other guys. It's true that he doesn't get the scrutiny that other guys have, but that's because we haven't had a disaster of a pitching season during his tenure. We've definitely had clunkers of offensive seasons and a lot of it had to do with horrible hitting approaches. I'm not saying it's fair or isn't, but based on how it appears that managers get hired and fired, at least from the public's point of view, it's not hard to see why it's the case.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 25, 2014 -> 01:41 PM) Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Lee, Aaron Rowand, Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, Jim Thome, Joe Crede...... Just some names Greg Walker coached. According to most here, he was turrible. I see your point, but that's not a good example because of those, only Crede wasn't already really good or a top prospect. No reclamation projects there.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Apr 25, 2014 -> 01:21 PM) Do you really like Nate Jones as a prospect? If so, I defer, but what makes you think he will be adequate to special? I know you guys love stats but Nate truly truly does not pass the eye test. I can't remember too many guys I've deemed eye test failures who ended up good. Hopefully I'm wrong. The problem with the "eye test" is that it's just a matter of your opinion. What's the difference between your opinion and mine? Doesn't really matter. Do I think he passes the eye test? Yeah. He's been an average to above average reliever when healthy. That kind of guy can absolutely be a closer. He just probably won't be good for very long. Very few relievers ever are.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Apr 25, 2014 -> 01:15 PM) 2013 Addison Reed 2.9 BB/9 2013 Aroldis Chapman 4.1 BB/9

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 25, 2014 -> 12:18 PM) fangraphs has a helpful link up that shows the historical league average for the past decade or so: http://www.fangraphs.com/library/offense/plate-discipline/ 30% is league average...Viciedo was at an awful 42.5% last year, and was trending in the wrong direction entirely, as that was up from 36% and 40% in '11 and '12. So, for him to now get back down to 34% is pretty impressive. Usually these numbers start to normalize around 100 PA so he's onto something here. If he's still at around 34% by July you can probably say this is a new, improved Viciedo. edit: ht to Eminor. Awesome news on the normalization sample.

Another promising number: 91.4% Z-Contact compared to a career 83.7%. No idea if that's sustainable, but if so, above average zone contact + above average power is really promising. League average is usually ~87%

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 25, 2014 -> 12:09 PM) I'm not calibrated on that number...is that actually good or is that just good relative to what he was doing before? League average is usually ~31%. Visiendo's year by year: 38.7%, 36.4%, 39.9%, 42.5%

Used to LOVE this guy. Thought he was way under the radar with the Yankees. Has been extra bad though. Hopefully he's a Coop candidate.

34% O-Swing! If he keeps that up, I'll fly in to Chicago and have a session on the upper concourse where you guys can all stone me for hating on him so hard. Still waiting for the other shoe to fall, though. Hope he proves me wrong.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 24, 2014 -> 09:59 PM) Our offense is good enough to make almost anyone a winner. No not you Felix Diaz. Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaandy Williams?