BlackSox13

I have to agree with Callis. Both have mid 90's fastballs, both have devastating sliders, the only differences are Sale's change up and command are better. No doubt in my mind Rodon will improve on both.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 07:31 PM) Lttle ditty bout" Jackin' Dayan , a Cuban kid playin' ball in the heartland. Dayan's gonna be a baseball star. Wait, no ,Dayan ,he ain't goin' far. Well done. I guessed wrong on Tank. I thought he would have SOME trade value but nope, not even jack could help Dayan.

QUOTE (Stev-o @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 04:07 PM) I can't do that, I'd rather wear a dress than anything Cubzzz related. So then you're really not all that confident in your statements about the cubs 2015 record...

Ha ha, maybe the Tigers call the Rangers about reacquiring Fielder. I'm sure the Rangers would listen.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 05:41 PM) Lol that was my reaction. I haven't seen one "expert" rave about their pen yet. Neither have I. I find it comical how he hates the cubs, complains about how there's cub love on this board, only to carry on a conversation about the cubs. Okay, back to Shields. The Dodgers are stacked, it would seem the Giants are set, latest reports say the Marlins aren't very likely (surprise), the Padres do not seem all that interested and the same for the Sox and Cards. So who's left? Yankees, Tigers, Cubs, ? . I'll stick with the Yankees I guess but at this point, who knows?

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 10:49 AM) I'll take that bet. They won 73 last year and will add Jon Lester, Jason Hammel, Miguel Montero, Dexter Fowler, and Kris Bryant (nevermind full seasons from Javier Baez and Jorge Soler too). I have them pegged as about a .500 team, but could definitely see them in the same 85 range as I currently have the Sox. I'm thinking .500 is a pretty good guesstimate as well. Their improvements should be good enough to net them more than a win or two over last season. The Sox fan in me wants to see the cubs lose as many games as possible but, putting my dislike of the cubs aside, I must admit they likely improve upon last season. QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 11:03 AM) I treat the Cubs like any other team: if they have prospects/players I like, why can't I like them? Because they're with the Cubs? To me, liking certain players on the cubs is like saying I like certain players on say the Rays or some random team. I don't hate everything they do just because they're the cubs. They only factor into 6 games of our season (actually more if you factor in playing other AL central reams this year). I want them to lose 6 games to us and win every other game against the AL central. Cubs win 60 games? Great. Who cares. Cubs wins 90 games? Again. Great. Who cares. This is 'Merica and you are free to like whatever players you want, even if they play on the north side.

QUOTE (Stev-o @ Feb 5, 2015 -> 10:33 AM) There is WAY too much Cubs love on this site. Book this...they will NOT win 75 games this season. Too many question marks. No, its people giving some credit where its due. The Cubs DO have plenty of young talent and they have Lester/ Arrieta at the front of their rotation which, for the cubs, is a good place to start considering where they are coming from. I dislike the cubs as much as anyone but a front three of Lester, Shields and Arrieta is pretty formidable and especially in the NL. I agree they have question marks but to proclaim "book this...they will NOT win 75 games this season" is juuuust a bit premature since the off season is not over and their young talent has yet to show what they can do in 2015. All youre doing is displaying your blind hatered and, should the cubs perform better than you expect, setting yourself up for backlash with your proclamation should the cubs win more than 75 games. Personally, I can give a toss what the cubs do but since this thread is about Shields and the cubs are supposedly in on him, expect some comments about the possibility. Were all here to discuss some baseball.

Lester, Shields, Arrieta would make a pretty formidable 1-3 in the cub rotation. Do the cubs have the money for Shields?

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 4, 2015 -> 10:29 AM) Dodgers don't have an open spot. Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu, McCarthy, and Anderson 1/10 mill deal) Good call. I forgot about Anderson.

QUOTE (PorkChopExpress @ Feb 4, 2015 -> 10:06 AM) This, but it's said he has a strong preference for a west coast team, and I could see the Angels swooping in and making this deal. With all of the other moves the Padres made this off-season, they should get involved to beef up that rotation, but who knows. Then there's always the Dodgers. I just read that on mlbtr about Shields west coast preference. If true, so much for my Yankees prediction. If the Padres ante up the money, that spacious ballpark combined with all their off season moves could be very tantalizing to Shields. The Dodgers could undoubtedly make sense too, I hadn't really considered them but they have the money for Shields and an open spot in the rotation. This is going to be interesting to follow over the next few days.

I'll guess Shields gets 3/54M with a 4th year option that vests based upon IP making it a potential 4/72M. I think the Yanks come in a sign Shields.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 1, 2015 -> 05:07 PM) Worst case scenario, they can get a compensation pick for him if he walks away. And we didn't give up a whole lot other than Semien in my eyes. You have to give value to get value. Comp picks have value but that pick will do nothing in the short term to replace JS if he signs elsewhere. I know this will not be a popular opinion but I think out of the crop of players traded, Bassitt hurts the most. His second outing against the tigers was most impressive and if he learns to be consistent he could be a pretty damn good pitcher that comes with 6 years of control. If he stays healthy he will thrive out there in Oakland long after JS is gone. QUOTE (LDF @ Feb 1, 2015 -> 05:30 PM) i did not like the idea of the trade, b/c Jeff S was not going to sign a pre-trade deal, and the sox gave up some players that i liked. but that was before, now he is a sox, he showed to be a great player who really embraces the sox and the fans. Same here. I am actually pretty high on Bassitt and Ravelo but I suppose it neither here nor there now. I was really hoping the Sox would have gone after Eovaldi but we all know how that turned out. I don't hate the trade, just not much of a fan of it. Also, Jeff's next contract will be a very costly one and the bidding could very well start around 5/100.

Samardzija has remained consistent with his words in that he wants to hit FA. This is his one chance to fully cash in on that opportunity and why I did not like the idea of trading for him in the first place. That said, I still look forward to watching him pitch for the sox this upcoming season.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 04:40 PM) Shields is heavily overrated and not WORTH the money. Why do you want us to take on another bad contract? We've already got Danks. Yup, this right here. ^^ If the Sox did not have the contract of Danks, I can see a much more realistic case to be made for Shields but even then I would not go beyond 3 years guaranteed and MAYBE a fourth year team option. Too many if's and the Sox still have Danks so Shields is just not realistic, at all. No chance JR goes after a 33 year starting pitcher that's looking for 4-5 years guaranteed. Accept it Sox fans.

Compliments to all the writers of the top thirty rankings, well done and I would not change a thing.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Jan 28, 2015 -> 06:54 PM) I don't know that 40 year old Ichiro is any better than Shuck. ... Or can play Cf. The Sox have enough corner outfielders and just dropped one off the roster today. What they really need is someone to backup CF but as someone has already pointed out, that could very well be Bonafacio. Or Brian f***in' Anderson!

In the last 24 months, wasn't Avi still listed as a prospect when the Sox acquired him?

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 28, 2015 -> 06:36 PM) Good one lol http://www.southsidesox.com/2015/1/28/7933...eason-tradition Haha, that's a very funny read. Thanks for posting that. As for Beckham, I think the worst part about bringing him back is the Hawk homerism. " the strong arm of Gordon Beckham" etc. I thought I would not hear that ever again but I was clearly thought wrong. I don't hate bringing him back but I'm no fan of it either. I know Saladino is coming off of TJ surgery but I think I would rather stick with him. On the plus side, Viciedo is gone.

I would be more than happy with Walker Buehler!

QUOTE (Springfield SoxFan @ Jan 27, 2015 -> 06:47 AM) Which of the nominees are LH bats? I voted for Brantly for that reason alone. Kottaras, Brantey and Nieto are left handed bats.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 26, 2015 -> 11:02 PM) +1 Kottaras gets a huge boost due to being a lefty. Agreed, plus Kottaras is a veteran too which makes sense to have in the backup roll on a team looking to contend.

I think Kottaras backs up Flowers. Soto and Brantley at Charlotte with Smith and Nieto at Birmingham.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 26, 2015 -> 09:11 PM) Ha yes we nailed it but I was always shocked when predictions for the 2015 payroll were going around here. I was like wtf doesn't anyone see the obvious ? The Sox were in a position that doesn't come along very often and to NOT take advantage of it would be akin to franchise suicide. You went from hopeful to not hopeful until I called you out on thinking Reindorf just wouldn't spend the money and we got you changed back to hopeful again. Yup, you are correct. I really did not think JR would open his wallet but he did and I'm happy to say I was wrong.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 26, 2015 -> 01:05 PM) don't get me wrong, i am ecstatic with what they have done. Not at all man. You are certainly one of the more enthusiastic members on the board LDF!

Didn't realize Avi gained that much but I can see how it would happen. He looks great now with the right attitude and that's what matters. Hopefully he stays with " little Miggy" and not turn into "big Miggy".