ChiSox59

Love what little I've seen of Avi this spring. Looks like a man on mission.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 6, 2016 -> 09:19 PM) Looks like AAA outfield will be Daniel Fields, Jacob May and Sands/Shuck (if JB doesn't end up catching on with another org)...MAYBE Avi if they keep Sands to DH with LaRoche? Leury Garcia and Sanchez as infielders, among others. Thanks for the depth chart update.

Do wonder if this creates LaRoche / Avi platoon, or if Avi still gets plenty of starts in the OF and Melky to DH more often.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 3, 2016 -> 03:23 PM) All you need to know about Hahn's comments is this, they supposedly stretched the budget for Jimmy Rollins, who, if he sucks in spring training, they owe nothing but the same contract they just gave Loe. It's all just words. Hahn has said they were looking at and needed OF help. He will get one. Just watch, and Uncle Jer will be his competitive self and OK the "stretching of the budget". I would have loved if they signed any of the FA, including Fowler and Desmond, especially if Desmond could play the OF. But they can still upgrade. I am w/ you. I obviously would have loved to see Cespedes or Gordon or Upton, but I am not going to lose sleep over it. Avi is nothing special, but he still has some upside and clearly the Sox aren't ready to cut bait after 1 full season of at bats, and I am OK with that. I'd love to see them add another guy, but I am OK with them giving Avi one more chance, because he could become the type of player you can live with in the OF due to his bat.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Mar 2, 2016 -> 04:02 PM) I'm starting to think we may not see an addition until towards the end of ST when teams such as Houston, Tampa and Oakland have a better idea of who they want to keep for their 25 man roster. At this point, you sort of have to assume the Sox want to give Avi everyday at bats in RF. Otherwise someone would have been signed by now.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Mar 1, 2016 -> 05:33 PM) I don't know. Maybe Frazier if we threw in another prospect. (and yes, we would have had to bring in another team). Or maybe a better LF or RF. Thompson was no hole in CF. Try again. Take a look at Thompsons career minor league numbers. He was a bum w a good glove. He'll be a 4th outfielder in the big leagues, or be out of the game. The Sox sold high on him. Trading one of the few good offensive peices we had last year (Eaton) is not the way to improve the offense.

I hope Lawrie turns out to be better than "BAD" at 2B. I think he has it in him to be average to slightly above average with the glove. He was considered a great defensive 3B early in his career.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 29, 2016 -> 01:21 PM) Regarding the bolded, just to keep pointing this out: UZR in the 2015 season: Ian Desmond: -3.7 Jimmy Rollins: -6.8 Defensive runs saved: Ian Desmond: 1 Jimmy Rollins: -8 Yeah Rollins has been better in previous years but he's graded as a below average fielder 3 of the last 4 years, which isn't surprising for a SS in his late 30s. At the very least, if "due to his defense" is a reason not to be interested in Desmond, that reason should apply equally to Rollins. Yeah, I guess I don't really expect Rollins to start more than half the games at SS. I expect Saladino to get a fair amount of time there, and he should, so I am not going to get wound up about Rollins D. I don't watch the Dodgers much, so I can't really speak to his D, but I am guessing he's still pretty good out there, just has limited range (compared to when he was younger) and not as much on his throws as he used to.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 29, 2016 -> 12:51 PM) I think his bat is fine, but the bat is what makes him far more valuable at short (and it isn't like he's an awful defender). Which is why I presume we could have gotten him for 1Yr 8M and played him at short. Now he may look at the Rangers environment and how hitters have excelled and view it as a way for him to get back on track offensively and then he can slide back in a year from now. However, every decision Ian has made from a contractual perspective has been awful (from turning down his mega deal to turning down his qualifying offer, he has made brutal decisions and/or gotten brutal advice). Boras (who I think is representing him) normally doesn't miss, but what Ian has done has to be the most brutal whiff in player history ever (thus far...maybe he mashes and gets a huge offer a year from now) but I feel bad for the guy. He's lost just a massive amount of money because of his contract decisions. I have a hard time feeling bad for a guy making $8M to play baseball for a year. I am surprised by the way Desmond went with this whole deal. I thought he'd accept to QO. I didn't think he'd accept an offer to play in the OF. It really cuts down on his value - his bat can make him one of the better all around SS in the league if he bounces back to his career norms. In the OF, its a different story. I too am a little shocked he couldn't find an everyday SS job. I am also shocked that the Sox weren't interested in the cost was only $6M more than Rollins. But someone (Merkin I believe) said that the Sox were never really interested in Desmond due to his defense. But on a one year deal, even with a team option for next year in case Anderson isn't ready in 2017, it made a lot of sense. But oh well, I am fine with where things are. I actually want to see Saladino out there at SS most days.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 28, 2016 -> 07:46 PM) He isn't, but he's better than Avi for sure. Defensively, by far. Offensively, they're similar but Avi has much more upside. I still think the Sox will bring in another OF, but I won't be disappointed if it's not Jackson.

Austin Jackson isn't very good at baseball. He's not the difference between the Sox being a playoff team or not.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 02:24 PM) http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article/165...spects-revealed Actually, it was Jim Callis not Merkin.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:14 PM) It isn't really "everyday" though. Most teams have one left starter, MAYBE two. The AL Central lefty starters are pretty much all White Sox. Ugh. You get the point. He's not a guy you want to run out there against LHP.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 12:56 PM) You'd platoon LaRoche first, Reddick isn't so bad against lefties that he has to sit. Right, but he's still pretty s***ty. Not someone you want to run out there against LHP everyday. .214/.291/.334 over the past three seasons. Not as s***ty as Laroche, but still s***ty.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 12:42 PM) The fact that Fowler just signed for $8m and an option actually doesn't upset me as much as the 3/$33m deal that fell through did -- this choice was clearly about an opt-out. I get that Hahn didn't want to put Fowler back on the market after one season if it meant losing a prospect. Right, but the trade off is likely losing a prospect that is closer to the majors if they trade for an OF now, or in June/July.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 11:32 AM) I wouldn't mind Reddick, even as a rental. Worst case scenario is that the Sox send a fringe prospect or two to the A's and get the compensation pick back next year when he leaves. I wouldn't mind Reddick, either, but not exactly my first choice. If he comes cheaply, sure, why not. We certainly know there is an open line of communication between Forst and Hahn. He is pretty terrible against LHP, but I suppose him and Avi would make a decent platoon. Still wouldn't have a platoon partner for LaRoche, though. Can't carry Sands on a roster with Cabera, Eaton, Avi, Shuck and Reddick.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 12:39 PM) Don't waste your time with him. He, even with hindsight, thinks the Sox were stupid to trade Reed, Morse, and Olivo for Freddy Garcia. Prospects are better no matter what. They don't have to be good. They just have to have prospect status. I know I shouldn't. I should have blocked him months ago. But his logic is just so off base it is frustrating to read! But its all KW's fault!!!!!

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 11:36 AM) Fringe prospect is the best case and highly unlikely with Hahn and Williams running the negotiations You keep saying s*** like this. I just like 2 hours ago in this very thread asked you to list who of any of significance the Sox have moved in trades that burned them, outside of Semien (still an unproven player that didn't fit what the Sox needed) and Gio like 10 years ago. Unsurprisingly, you didn't list any. Because there aren't any! But that wouldn't fit your narrative.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 05:15 PM) It is frustrating because this is the exact same approach Ken Williams has taken for years and it has repeatedly failed. He moves young players for veterans; but leaves significant holes, such that the team is a not real contender (without injuries the team is a marginal contender, as constructed). The org. remains outrageously insular and insider. He says he has a volkswagen budget. Well if that's your budget, you need to use the farm more, and he refuses to do that. And if they really couldn't afford the modest Fowler* salary, then they positively are going on the cheap and cutting the budget and they have to use the farm. *And yes I didn't them to sign Fowler because I'm hoping they can do gangbusters in the draft and because, frankly, I don't think this team contends with him anyway and because i think there's a decent chance Avi becomes competent and the alternative would have been to sell him for dimes on the dollar. They use the farm plenty. Just not always the way you want them to. Again, besides Semien (hardly a proven asset) and Gio years ago, what prospects/young players have the Sox traded that blew up? No one. And I am not ready to anoint Semien anything more than an average major leaguer on a whole at this point. I don't have a problem with mixing in young talent every year, and I feel the sox do that just fine. Maybe not as much on the offensive side of things, and obviously we'd all like that to change (I think they're working on it), but that is more a player development/drafting issue than it has been a failing to give young players an opportunity issue. They haven't had many offensive pieces worthy of giving an opportunity to. I personally like the way the Sox run their team. No, it hasn't worked well recently. But they're working on diversifying they way they go about things. Its not all about trading young players for veterans and signing FAs. They have a nice mix of home grown talent through the draft, trade acquisitions, international FAs and regular FAs. They're spending more internationally in recent years, have adjusted their focus on draft day away from safe picks and going for more upside guys, they're drafting more position players. I want my team to be competitive every year - and I appreciate that they try. It hasn't work much lately, but I personally think the Sox are in a pretty good spot right now and for the next 4 seasons. I am excited, and don't see the need to b**** about what could have been with the Semiens, Phegleys, Ravelos, Thompsons, Johnsons, Wendelkens of the world who are unlikely to amount to anything better than league average players at best.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 07:51 PM) You realize that Semien had nearly 3 times the WAR that Lawrie had, don't you? You realize that Semien had a higher OPS than Melky, don't you? You do realize that Phegley would have had the 3rd highest OPS on this team (behind Eaton and Abreu) don't you? How many playoff appearances has Kenny Williams delivered with his "proven veterans"? So don't lecture me about mediocrity, sonny. KW didn't trade Semien. Hahn did. Semien is a nice player and one I'd like to have back. But he wouldn't be playing SS for the White Sox. He'd be a nice offensive 2B with a below average glove - something the Sox thought they had in Johnson, who they clearly liked more, with further insurance in Sanchez. The Sox really need to improve IF defense and Semien is not the answer to their problems, but he'd be a nice guy to have around. Josh Phegley blows and isn't even remotely on my radar.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 05:15 PM) It is frustrating because this is the exact same approach Ken Williams has taken for years and it has repeatedly failed. He moves young players for veterans; but leaves significant holes, such that the team is a not real contender (without injuries the team is a marginal contender, as constructed). The org. remains outrageously insular and insider. He says he has a volkswagen budget. Well if that's your budget, you need to use the farm more, and he refuses to do that. And if they really couldn't afford the modest Fowler* salary, then they positively are going on the cheap and cutting the budget and they have to use the farm. *And yes I didn't them to sign Fowler because I'm hoping they can do gangbusters in the draft and because, frankly, I don't think this team contends with him anyway and because i think there's a decent chance Avi becomes competent and the alternative would have been to sell him for dimes on the dollar. And those young players KW gave up almost never amounted to anything at all. And I couldn't be less concerned about the prospects we gave up This summer. I'm not a mediocre young player lover like you.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 12:53 PM) You make a lot of great points. The only thing I'd say to you is that Chris Sale is probably not all that interested in the team being competitive towards the end of his current contract. He actually made the comment the other day that he has yet to play in a "meaningful game" in his entire career. That's a pretty strong statement to make, and is obviously indicative of where his mind is at in terms of the team competing sooner rather than later. He actually went on further to say that it's all about making the playoffs, with anything less unacceptable. So at this point, for guys like Sale and Abreu, they might not be too interested in looking at this as a long term project, waiting for the likes of the Adams, Danish' and Michalczewskis to come along before the team is competitive once again. Fortunately it's not really up to Sale. His job is to go out there and pitch, and I am pretty convinced hell do just that.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 04:30 PM) I'm still waiting for the day where a player says, "My play will do the talking this year. No more questions, I'm done talking until October." Theyd get fined.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 03:50 PM) Laurence Holmes is of the belief that the Sox were never REALLY in on it with the FA's but had the thought of putting it out there that they were so it might look better to fans...which ended up back firing. I really dont know what to believe. Such a frustrating and strange off season. Any offseason in which the Sox acquired basically an entire new infield to go along with their superstar 1b and one of the best 3B in all of baseball doesn't to me seem "frustrating". I would have liked to see the Sox sign one of Upton, Cespedes or Gordon too. I do think they really wanted Gordon. I was always pretty meh on Fowler, but his deal isn't exactly going to burn you. The sox want to give Avi one more chance, and I hope it pays off. I also hope they bring in a LHB that can compete with him...Hernandez would be nice if he comes relatively cheaply. The thing that bugs me the most, is that if the Sox are around .500 ish June and in contention, they're going to have to pay alot more for a RF then than would have this offseason. That part bugs me, but I also get why they didn't want to relegate Avi to the bench or AAA just yet.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 09:58 AM) So 3/$33 million was not budging from his demands? Great source Bernstein. So guessing Sox were in the 2 years/$20M range.