Eminor3rd

Only if you're p**** whipped

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 6, 2014 -> 09:57 AM) Since people seem to be so high on this, let me just ask this - what's the difference between acquiring Castro (or someone similar) next year versus this year? I don't see him being more expensive. I think the Sox will be in a better position to deal prospects at that point with another year of drafting, developing, and acquiring prospects. They'll know for certain whether or not acquiring a catcher is a good idea. I don't see them being competitive this year even if they do acquire Castro without giving up Quintana. So what reason do they have to acquire him? It simply doesn't make sense yet. Well, the biggest reason is that he may be traded somewhere else instead.

I'm pretty sure that Jason Castro is worth more than Quintana. There's certainly no way we'd ever get both him and Altuve for Quintana and Sanchez. I'd say QUintana and Sanchez sounds about right for Castro alone.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 5, 2014 -> 09:36 AM) Wasn't there some article written years ago which pointed to the zits on Piazza's back as some proof he was juicing? Yeah, Murray Chass cited it in his latest "personal vendetta" blog: http://www.murraychass.com/?p=7013

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 4, 2014 -> 09:37 PM) Blame Bud for that. From that era, if he looked like a steroid user and hit like a steroid user, then I would say he was a steroid user. Don't see why he should get the benefit of the doubt. So like Frank Thomas?

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jan 4, 2014 -> 08:43 PM) Put me in the opposite camp here. He's WAY better than any of the options being discussed, and would have cost a lousy ~$20M for three seasons. And I'm no fan, mind you. Same here. I was wary of him at 4/48 and all, but 3/21? He doesn't even have to be a league average player to be worth that, and you'd only be stuck with him through age 31. I can't believe we wouldn't have offered 3/24 or something considering that NO one needed a youngish C coming off a breakout season more than us. Letting him go to Miami for 3/21 is Hahn's worst move of the offseason, IMO.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 4, 2014 -> 04:45 PM) Do the Sox have an interest in John Buck the catcher? MLB network guys were making a case for the Sox to sign Buck

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 4, 2014 -> 12:19 PM) Abreu will play 145 or more games this season barring injuries. We're not paying him what we're paying him so that he gets front row seats to games. It's weird when you refer to yourself in the third person.

I have a Ron Karkovice shirsey, so that would work for me.

http://www.mlbgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/...tonHighFive.gif

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 02:33 PM) Trea "Burner" Turner does not sound like a #3 overall pick to me. Yeah, after reading his and then Hoffman's profile, Hoffman sounds like a much better choice. Especially considering our system's much better track record for developing pitchers.

Ok, so turns out that book comes to your email via PDF. Cool stuff, here's the write-up on Trea Turner (assuming the guy won't be angry at me for posting a "teaser"):

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 1, 2014 -> 03:05 PM) Coop pitchers have tended to opt for the cutter for that purpose in the past, since it can be easier to learn. Wouldn't shock me if he starts throwing one. Would give him a Maddux-like fastball repertoire. He already has a ton of lateral movement on his fastball though. Seems like a cutter would just be a worse pitch. Knowing nothing about him other than what I just read, I'd much rather see him develop something with more of a velocity drop-off. I think you're right that he needs to go balls out on learning the change.

The more I think about this, the more I'm convinced that someone is going to be traded soon. Even if it's just giving Keppinger away. There's no room for guys that we've acquired this offseason.

Check this out: http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/12/2014-draftbook-preview/ Draft prospect preview book for $1.99. I just ordered one, I'll let you know if it's good. But I imagine it won't be hard to be worth two bucks, haha.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 11:29 AM) I'm thinking they would like this, at this point: Konerko [backup catcher TBD] 4th OF that isn't ADA or Viciedo 3B/2B/1B/emergency LF Gillaspie Jake Elmore or similar player (RH bat, all IF positions and in his case OF as well, eliminating need for Gillaspie to be emergency player ther) I forgot about Elmore. They really need to dump Keppinger somehow.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 11:24 AM) 6 innings** Shows how much White Sox baseball I turned off last year. I stand corrected. Maybe they do consider him an emergency SS.

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Jan 2, 2014 -> 10:57 AM) With Alexei's durability, I'm sure Beckham can step in to play short once or twice next year. He did play short a bit in his minor league rehab last year and I think at one point was the only backup ss on the mlb team. Everyone seems like like that theory, but the reality is that Beckham has played zero innings at SS in his ML career. There's no indication at all that the team believes he can play there.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 1, 2014 -> 11:16 PM) I'd be shocked if Gillaspie can't play 2B at least well enough to be a Keppinger-like "anything but SS" utility player with solid platoon splits for that purpose. But that's the problem -- we need a guy that can play SS. If Davidson makes the team out of ST, right now the bench looks like: 1B/DH Konerko C Flowers/Nieto OF De Aza/Viciedo IF Keppinger ?? That fifth slot, which they probably would rather not even carry in lieu of another reliever anyway, absolutely must be someone that can play SS, as that's the only position not covered. Battling for that final slot will be Garcia, Danks, Gillaspie, and Semien at a minimum. Semien can start in AAA, and Garcia is the only other one that can handle SS. That leaves both Gillaspie and Danks without a job, and I'd be surprised if we didn't lose one or both to waivers because neither has anything to prove in AAA.

I'm pleasantly surprised that Frank's chances are looking so good for this year. It seems all of the ballot-clogging and Jack Morris-ing and PED-use issues have sucked up all the vitriol that I expected would be used on the DH issue. It seems Frank is quietly floating in with almost no discussion.

SOMEONE has got to go soon. Otherwise, there may be some DFA's in ST. I can't see Gillaspie with a long-term role here as the roster currently sits. He'd have to go for not being versatile enough defensively.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 30, 2013 -> 09:31 PM) Did you have any luck at the job fair? I did -- I got a couple offers, one which I'm considering, and I'm also still interviewing for another. Had my second interview this morning at 10, actually. Minor league stuff, promotions and marketing. Thanks for asking!

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 03:36 PM) so past the J4L porn talk and NPB sucks talk, how long will this process take? I think it's like 25 days

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Dec 31, 2013 -> 10:06 AM) And I still don't care about any of that, but whatever. You win, I'll retract my statements about NPB players being incapable of making it out of AA and being far lesser than AAA guys. Of course I still stand by everything else I said, i.e. that the league sucks, the stress level on a pitcher is far lesser than anything they'd have to experience in MLB & as such the pitch count worries are probably overblown, and if quality AAA players/fringe MLB guys are the equivalent to most of your star NPB players then I don't see why they wouldn't beat the unholy dogs*** out of the NPB league if enough of them ever went over there at once. Caulfield says there are rules in effect preventing that, and good, there should be, because it would be embarrassing overwise. The goal over there is to win; the goal here in America is to create enough competition to develop the few legitimate prospects that exist around the league while creating an opportunity for fringe-roster players and rehabbing MLB vets to get playing time. Should the games matter as they do in Japan you wouldn't bench your best performers to let a top prospect struggle while you're contending, nor would you give out gift organizational promotions to under qualified prospects simply to maintain an organizational status quo. In Japan you throw a 1000 pitches to be a living god, in America you throw 50% breaking balls in important games/situations just because your pitching coaches want you to develop the pitch. But otherwise, I agree that your work here is impressive and you are definitely devoted to the numbers at a level where you should honestly pursue a career in baseball if you're not doing so already. And I don't like it when you disagree with me. Please refrain from doing that, just agree with me please. Deal. Thanks