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From FanGraphs chat today: Comment From Concerned White Sox Fan What do you expect from Jose Abreu? 12:21 Dave Cameron: Everything I’ve heard so far has been positive. I’d say maybe top 10-20 hitter in MLB. That's high praise coming from him. He's cynical about everything.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 01:18 PM) Or Chris Carter Or, if you combine them... Trayce Thompson!

I think this was BEFORE he went out and got Corey Hart AND Logan Morrison.

Haha nice.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) But similarly, Beckham outperformed Moustakas with the bats last year. He was injured a portion of the time so it didn't pile up the fWAR, but to borrow a phrase, the difference between 77 and 88 wRC+ is nothing to sneeze at. And yet that better hitting wasn't even enough to end up with a better fWAR number because Moustakas added so much more value on defense. Beckham only played 33 fewer games, so it's reasonable that he may have picked up another 0.2 fWAR or something, but whichever way you shake it, they both had similarly mediocre seasons. The difference is that Moustakas is younger and one year removed from a 3.1 fWAR season, whereas Beckham is four years removed from even eclipsing 1.0 fWAR

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 01:16 PM) Not exactly. A more accurate way of describing it would be Beckham ('09) and Moustakas ('12) have each only had one good season in their careers. If you're going to go there, you have to note that Moustakas has played 2.5 seasons, and Beckham has played just under 5. So we could say almost half of Moustakas' career is good seasons, and only 20% of Beckham's. There are lots of ways to cherry pick the numbers. The reality is that of his two full seasons, Moustakas' best season is significantly better than Beckham's best season (which was four years ago and not even a full season), and his bad season is better than all of Beckham's four other seasons. They have both been dissapointing on some level, but it seems pretty cut and dried to me that Beckham is worse.

QUOTE (staxx @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 11:08 AM) As time goes on, i feel like its less and less likely that we draft Turner. I could honestly see us taking Jackson over him. I think I'd be okay with that (assuming everything looked like it does today). I think the reality is that the most precious tool for position players, in this offensive environment, is the hit tool. To me, middling speed and power is fine if you have a plus hit tool, even in the first round. There just aren't more than a few guys in each draft that seem to have it. Without it, you're Keenyn Walker.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 11:59 AM) So basically he's been demonstrably better than him based almost entirely on his defensive performance in 2012? That's the plurality, yes, but it's more accurate to say he's been better because of ALL of 2012. The difference between 80 and 89 wRC+ is nothing to sneeze at. Further, last year's defensive ratings corroborate the idea that he's a true talent ~10-12 defender, which is a level Beckham has never touched. EDIT: Another way to look at it: Moustakas had a rough rookie year, in which he substantially outhit Beckham's THIRD year in the majors. He then had a breakout sophomore season in which he was better than any season Beckham has ever had, including his rookie year. Finally, he had a rough third year that added up to marginally more value than Beckham's "injury-interrupted comeback" last year.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 12:03 PM) I'm surprised McDade is still in the org. He's behind three 1B's in Chicago and at least one in the minors (Wilkins), possibly two. I'd rather see Wilkins and Black get time. Omogrosso I thought might stick around longer, but he's behind at least Webb and Petricka for maybe one roster spot in the bullpen, possibly also (indirectly) behind Leesman and Rienzo effectively. He's a long shot, though he certainly could be in Chicago during the season. Well, two of those three 1Bs are gone after this season.

QUOTE (sox2013 @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 10:48 AM) McDade played every game I believe. I saw Bassitt pitch on Monday (he got the W), saw Omogrosso get W on Sunday. Frazier went in on Friday. Looks like Phipps, Robles and Smith didn't play. Welcome to the board!

QUOTE (hi8is @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 11:51 PM) Oouuuhhh oouuhhh! Pick me!!! Pick me!!!! POOP

As of today, I am hoping we stay away from Turner. The tools are loud, but the pitchers seem like safer developmental bets with similar upside.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 5, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) Do you want to bat 2nd tomorrow? I'm not enough of a grinder.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 04:10 PM) Beckham career SLG .380 Moustakas .385 and Beckham out-slugged him last year Moustakas has been demonstrably better than Beckham. 2011 Moustakas: 84 wRC+, -1.1DRAA, 0.2 fWAR Beckham: 72 wRC+, 4.9 DRAA, 0.5 fWAR 2012 Moustakas: 89 wRC+, 18.0 DRAA, 3.1 fWAR Beckham: 80 wRC+, 3.7 DEF runs, 0.9 fWAR 2013: Moustakas: 77 wRC+, 9.0 DRAA, 1.1 fWAR Beckham: 88 wRC+, 1.0 DRAA, 1.0 fWAR

I like where this thread is going

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 06:07 PM) That was the best vacation I've ever taken. Phoenix is beautiful. Camelback Ranch is an amazing facility. The weather is great. I hiked Camelback Mountain and it might have been the coolest experience of my life. And Old Town Scottsdale and ASU make for some fun nights. Legitimately depressed to be back in Chicago. Yeah man, I felt the same way last year. Such an underrated vacation experience. I'll go do that again before I ever go to LA or Orlando or whatever.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 05:08 PM) This is about the one area where we disagree at all because I still think that Viciedo has a good chance to develop into a good hitter, but at his current numbers, he's a platoon partner. That was referring to Gordon Beckham, srry 4 confus But yes, I also do think nothing of Viciedo. I will (very) gladly eat it if he turns into something, but I don't think he can see the ball well enough to recognize what it's going to do. Hacker 4 Lyfe

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 04:52 PM) No, but I think Viciedo will be the DH and we need another OF for 2015. Gordan Beckham does not suck. Maybe compared to what was expected of him, but he is at least a big league average player. With Sanchez, Johnson, and Anderson in the wings and no OF prospects that can hit, I am not sure we need Semien more. But, yes there is probably no way that deal gets made, more wishful thinking on my part. He isn't average though, that's the problem. Career fWAR by season since his rookie year: 2.5, 0.6, 0.5, 0.9, 1.0 A league average player is 2.0 fWAR. He's been substantially below average for 4 consecutive seasons, making up 80% of his career. His career wRC+ is 86, or 14% below league average. UZR grades himout as about scratch on defense, and even if you think he's a little better than that, it's not nearly enough to turn him into an average player. EDIT: this is Gordon Beckham, for clarity. He is not just disappointing to those with high expectations, he is an all out bustaroo

Gordon Beckham sucks, and even though Pederson is better than Semien, we actually need Semien more. Unless you're ready to give up on Viciedo, which...

From the few at bats I've seen of Abreu (first game only), I'm very optimistic. They were good at bats, and he has demonstrated a level of strike zone patience that no one on our team has except Dunn. By contract, he made Viciedo look ridiculous.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 11:48 AM) There was a time when I believed he was one of the better GMs in the game. He has been terrible to a Krivsky/Bill Smith type of bad over there. I read somewhere that basically he just gets players that he personally likes, dumps the ones that don't fit his "mold." Seriously, think about how embarrassingly bad they'd be right now if Goldschmidt hadn't randomly turned into a monster. And he had a lot of talent when he got there.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 01:01 PM) I think they are looking to move Gregorius and just say a "young SS" to make them not look desperate. I agree. I think they really like Owings. Which just makes the trade to acquire Gregorious even more baffling.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Mar 4, 2014 -> 11:15 AM) I'll be watching Hedges closely and hoping he performs well enough to make your scenario a reality. Will similarly be rooting for Max Stassi with the Stros'. And, will also be watching Trahan in the AZ system as thev'ye committed long-term to MMontero. We really need a lefty or SH in this position, with a modicum of power. AZ recently said they were thinking about trading a SS for a young C to come up after Montero, so I'd guess Trahan is probably either unavailable or very disappointing. Then again, practically nothing that Kevin Towers does makes sense to me.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 09:04 PM) That's what happens when you need to win now. He's played all of 4 spring training games. That is insanity. I'm not buying this at all.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 3, 2014 -> 05:29 PM) Jim Bowden says the Dodgers are poised to move on from Alex Guerrero and get a 2B that they feel can better help them to a WS. He then lists Dee Gordon, Chone Figgins, Justin Turner as internal solutions and Stephen Drew, Nick Franklin, Darwin Barney, Scooter Gennet or Rickie Weeks, Daniel Murphy, Beckham, and Danny Espinosa as external options. I'll add Uggla as an option for them as well. But thinking of the big picture, what about a Semien for Pederson deal? I know Pederson is more highly rated, but Semien can contribute right now. Which side says no? Wait, what? They are giving up on Guerrero, who they signed to a ~$30m contract like 5 months ago?