Jose Abreu

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 17, 2013 -> 09:22 PM) UZR is the absolute best way to evaluate player defense - it is predicated on humans reviewing video with objective (ie, not opinion-based) measures. The belief is that UZR is best evaluated with about three seasons worth of data, though. This is of course true for lots of other statistics; we know that batting average and other conventional stats tend to be unreliable over short periods of time, even single seasons can be predicated on luck or random fluctuations. So, I look at UZR with smaller sample sizes, but always take it with a grain of salt. One season isn't a bad amount of data, but when one season sticks out as different from the player's other years, you should definitely look upon it skeptically. This is especially true because defense isn't nearly as prone to things like slumps as offense, so in most cases a brief change in UZR is nothing to be alarmed about unless there is a clear cause like injury. Some players will have an upward trajectory in the early parts of their careers and many others will steadily get worse defensively. I thought it was opinionated. ESPN is also responsible for some of these new stats, for instance "Total QBR" which is a QB rating out of 100 rather than a PASSER rating up to 158.3. I guess Sabermetrics is doing the same.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 17, 2013 -> 08:53 PM) UZR does a pretty good job of evaluating how a player does in the field, positive UZR means a player is above average fielding, a really good fielder will have a UZR of +10 or more. It varies a lot from year to year with players though so you have to be careful about how you interpret it, but with Beckham UZR agrees with the eye test, he's not getting to as muh as he did 2 years ago. War tries to rate a players overall impact, taking the position they play, their defense, their hitting, and their baserunning all into account. Again pretty good but you have to decide sometimes how you compare things. Thanks. Sometimes I just prefer the classic fielding percentage.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 17, 2013 -> 08:20 PM) I checked the other day and his UZR was about 1.5, so basically just slightly above average. The stats definitely show him regressing and getting to quite a few fewer balls this year. I'm new to all the sabermetric stats. Are UZR and WAR and all of this stuff really indicative of how they're performing in the field. (#TWTW but not really)

Wow. Still amazes me that we had a three game lead right now last year. Makes me wonder what will happen in the Wild Card/ NL Central races...

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 17, 2013 -> 05:47 PM) If the Sox play a game and no one is there to see it, do they still lose? Hopefully someone will be there as Quintana is pitching

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 10:25 PM) McCann had played in 120+ games for 7 straight years prior to this season. That's pretty damn good for a catcher. Maybe twice a year is an overexaggeration, but he has been on the DL for about 5/6 of those years.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 08:48 PM) McCann is 29 years old right now. He'll be 32 at the start of the 2016 season. I didn't realize guys suddenly fell off at 32 years of age. I've got to be honest, if the Sox can get McCann for 4/$60M they should do it without hesitation. Even if he only gives you two years at catcher, I think that would be a good deal for us. We're talking about his age 30 to 33 seasons. I don't see his bat falling apart during that time-frame. Sox fans are used to AJ being injured once per 5 years... it would be a tough adjustment seeing McCann on the 15-day DL twice a year.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 10:03 PM) Lexi has so much talent. Hopefully this was just an off season. I'd be OK with keeping him in the infield while letting go Gillaspie, Becks and Paulie and of course making Phegs the backup to McCann or AJP or somebody. AJP won't happen. And Alexei is having a good average/stolen base/small ball year but a terrible defense and power year. Remember when he wouldn't stop hitting grand slams? Something like 5 in 175 games.

Dunn (32) and Dayan (13) go back to back to off of De Vries make it 9-0.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 08:17 PM) That's true although I believe they have already lost multiple 1-0 games with Yu on the mound Sort of like Sale.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 08:03 PM) And Garza was healthy. That 1-2 punch won't do the Rangers any good if they lose the play in game, because Oakland has run away with the division. Well they would obviously save Yu for that game. So the Garza move was a headscratcher although Olt is having a bad year

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 08:02 PM) Alright Johnson, don't blow it. Get the beer ready. 7 run lead, only guy who can blow this would be Axelrod

7-0! Alexei!

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 07:57 PM) What in the heck were the Rangers thinking giving up so much for Garza? Garza was seen as the number 1 pitcher on the market, which was annoying considering Peavy pitched better. Jake's 4.03 era was due to the 7 run/ 2 inning game @ Seattle. The Cubs knew that many teams would want him so they set the bar high. I agree though, Darvish and Holland is a good enough 1-2 punch.

Twins fan said that they have a brighter future with Buxton/Sano but I like us having a proven ace. Their "ace" is Kevin Correa.

Nice piece of hitting by Paulie, 2-0

"Garcia is hitting .225 since starting out .360 with the White Sox"

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Sep 16, 2013 -> 03:44 PM) Oh jesus, some of those comments. Yeah, some of the fans there aren't too bright but it's a nice page. Better than the other one that only posts about Notre Dame Football

Not much of a Facebook guy, but there's a good Sox page I follow. They're usually pretty good with info, they leaked the Peavy and Crain deals many hours before they were official. Here's what they posted recently on Beckham: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=433...5219&type=1