BlackSox13

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 03:58 PM) Would the emotional joy of getting rid of Beckham be worth the risk of having Semien jump to the big leagues without much time at AAA (when we already saw him struggle somewhat last year with the 2nd jump, with his walk rate declining both from AA to AAA and then big time from AAA to the big league cup of coffee)? Its not about emotional joy, its about moving forward from a player that has had more than a fair chance for 5 seasons now. I agree with what you say about Semien's declining walk rate and I myself would prefer he had more time at AAA BUT the Sox obviously feel he's possibly ready when you consider his September callup last year, his spring training this year and confidence in him to at the very least fill in for Beckham while he's out. As far as the cup of coffee, isn't filling in for Beckham just that, a cup of coffee? All I'm saying is if Semien plays well then he deserves his shot and the Sox should stick with him ONLY if he shows he can play major league ball. If not then we try and build Beckham's value while Semien gets more time at Charlotte. Honestly, what kind of return can you realistically expect for Beckham? Think about it , if Beckham had decent value would we be discussing this right now? No, Beckham is 27 and would factor into this teams future but his bat has shown otherwise the last four seasons. The fact that Beckham has guys like Semien, Sanchez and Johnson starting to nip at his heals makes it easy to consider moving on from Beckham.

QUOTE (JohnCangelosi @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 03:31 PM) There is no way this happens even if Semien hits 1.000. They need to give Beckham a full year to see if he is worth it or at worst deal him at the deadline and get something in return for him. If Semien does hit well I'd love to see him fill in at 3B for a while though, or at SS if we trade Alexei. Beckham has had 5 straight years of over 400 plate appearances in each to prove him self, how much time does he need? Would his return in a trade be worth as much as the experience Semien would gain this year playing 2B for the Sox?

I'm with you guys, f*** corporate sponsorship. Unfortunately it might be a necessary evil with low attendance and all.

Hopefully Semien plays well enough to make Ventura think long and hard about what to do when Beckham comes back. IMO, if Semien plays well then its his job to lose while Beckham rides the pine as the backup.

QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 03:02 PM) The concern with him isn't whether or not the Sox could clean up his mechanics and make him a great pitcher though, he is still going to want 1-1 money and if he doesn't get it he can still go back to school. I don't want to see them end up not signing a first rounder at all. This can only be speculated though. Rodon hasn't been quoted as saying he insists on 1-1 money or going back to school. Ultimately only Rodon knows what he will do since it is his decision. Also, seeing as how he has had difficulties ( happens to all players at some point), if he goes back to school and doesn't sort out his pitching issues his draft position could end up being worse next year than it is this year. Choosing to go back to school would be a pretty big gamble on his part.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 11:21 AM) Laws Rankings are: 1. Aiken 2. Kolek 3. Rodon 4. Beede 5. Holmes 6. Hoffman. 7. Alex Jackson 8. RHP Luis Ortiz 9. SS Nick Gordon 10. HS RHP Dylan Cease. So 8/10 are pitchers for Keith Law. Cool, thank you much. Despite Rodon falling a bit I would be more than happy to draft him #3 as long as he would sign for #3 money. I think its possible Houston grabs the local guy in Kolek and Miami drafting Rodon which still leaves Aiken, Beede and Hoffman open for the Sox at #3. But with two months to go its likely that things could change a bit more. s***, things have changed a bit already as it is. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 11:27 AM) Finnegan should be closing in on the Top 10. Agreed, he's been good so far.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Mar 30, 2014 -> 10:04 AM) Law's top 6 are pitchers, with Rodon now at 3 (stuff way down) and Hoffman at 6 (breaking ball not there). So who's 1,2,4,5?

AL East- Boston AL Central- Cleveland AL West- Texas AL Wild Cards- Detroit/ Yanks NL East- Atlanta NL Central- St.Louis NL West- LA NL Wild Cards- Arizona/ Nats AL Champ- Boston NL Champ- LA World Series Champ- LA Most Disappointing AL team- Seattle Most Surprising AL team- Angels Most Disappoint NL team- Cinci Most Surprising NL team- Brewers AL MVP- Mike Trout NL MVP- Paul Goldschmidt AL Cy Young- John Lester NL Cy Young- Clayton Kershaw

AL/ NL MVP AL/NL Cy Young I'm gonna fill out my predictions in a few. I like this idea.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 11:38 PM) Did you read the article? His agent is targeting Greinke, which is $147 million. He's going to be the second pitcher on the market after Scherzer, so he's arguably going to get at least $125-130 million and 5 years, so you're already in Tanaka territory there. Hahn/JR were willing to take that risk on Tanaka in his mid 20's. They won't do it with Shields in his mid 30's for roughly the same price. I admit, I missed it. If that's the case then I say no to both. Given Shields age I can't see any team giving him a contract like Grenke's. I doubt even the Yanks are that dumb. Unless Q regresses I would be fine calling him #2 and move on. Who knows, if Johnson has a good season he COULD project well as a #3 and if Danks can get even close to his old form he would be a very good #4. That would leave the fifth spot which is much easier to fill. Point is, this whole thread and all its posts is speculation until the 14 season is over. Then we will have an idea of what holes (if any) need to be filled in the starting rotation. I'll just go ahead and enjoy the next 162 games as best I can and see where were at afterwards.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 28, 2014 -> 09:37 PM) Shields is going to be 33 at the beginning of the 2015 season. Are you willing to give him a 4 year contract? Because someone will...at the very least, 3 years with options. I would rather go 3/4 years with Shields than 6-8 years with Scherzer. Just my preference is all. Plus I think Shields would be much more affordable than Scherzer which leaves room in the payroll for funds to be used elsewhere.

So the topic went from the idea of the Sox going after Scherzer next off season to trading Q? Another thread derailed into an utter train wreck. I'm with raBBit, I like the idea of going after Shields IF the Sox even need to look into a free agent starter next off season. In the meantime I'm willing to wait out the next 162 games to see how our starters pitch.

Here's a funny and very sarcastic article from bless you boys. Funny read. http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/3/27/5555...for-292-million

Not to s*** on anyone's rib but not only do I not want Max, I don't think it will happen either. Max is too costly in both money and length of contract for what the Sox are looking to accomplish and I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees made an offer next off season. Just not a fit.

What can I say that has already been said? Glad im not a tiger fan.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 06:42 PM) It's not about the stats, scouts are saying his fastball has been average and his control has been below average all year. I'd still be fine with Hoffman if our scouts believed he is still flashing/capable of plus stuff and his numbers are awful. Rodon has to show it at some point or somethings gone very wrong. Well said. Mock drafts have changed because of early scouting reports. When this thread was started, Rodon was the clear cut #1 pick by a long shot and here we are just a few months later talking about the possibility of Rodon being available for the Sox. Its changed that quick and likely to change more as time goes on. Will be a fun draft no doubt.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 05:09 PM) The amount or people overlooking Rodon is surprising. Best player in the draft and it's not very close. I think part of it is at this point nobody is expecting Rodon to be available at number three. As for the best player, its becoming very close. Iowasoxfan has been posting the numbers so far and according to that Rodon has serious competition nipping at his heals from the likes of Beede and Newcomb.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 03:49 PM) With the option of going to college, Aiken probably has more leverage than Rodon and might be looking for similar amounts of money. This is a possibility but Aiken hasn't been hyped all winter like Rodon. Rodon was listed as the first overall pick in a class all his own, he was the only player in the top tier but that has changed rather quickly . If Rodon drops to the third overall pick or insists on 1-1 money as the third pick , he can go back to college in an effort to rebuild his stock for next year as a possible number one overall. This is very possible if Borass is advising him. I think as far as signability and assuming Rodon does want 1-1 money despite drafted third combined with Borass advising him, Rodon is likely to be more of a pain in the ass to sign than Aiken.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 01:42 PM) Would you take Aiken over Rodon at this point? Honestly at this point I'm straddling the fence with circulation to my nutsack being cut off. If Rodon still wants 1-1 money as the thid pick then I take Aiken without question. If Rodon isn't looking for 1-1 money and pitches well then I lean his direction. Its a tough call at this point with a lot of baseball to be played between now and June.

I went with the 80-83 win range.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 02:40 PM) What's wrong with LLRLR? Breaking up the lefties equally. Thats what I would do. Sale, Q, Johnson, Danks, Paulino. Sale and Q feature different stuff so I would have no problem with them back to back. Danks separates the two right handers.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 11:27 AM) Sounds like Gio Gonzalez without the body frame/durability questions coming into the draft. That's exactly what I'm thinking as well. I never liked the idea of the Sox trading Gio away, twice no less. I'm no scout but I think Aiken could end being every bit as good as Gio if not better. Again, I'm just a fan and no scout. I wouldn't have a problem taking a hs kid like this for the #3 pick. Yes its a risk but one I'm willing to take.

Anyone think the rangers would trade for Alexei and move him to 2B? Just throwing s*** against the wall to see what sticks.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 09:33 AM) I think that Kolek goes in the top 2, either to the hometown Astros or the Marlins who have been known to favor high school talent with upside, though they have went with college guys in the last two drafts. If Rodon is there at 3, I do not see the Sox taking him as I don't feel that he will sign for what they want as a Boras client. When Appel fell to 8th, Boras still wanted 1-1 money, so I envision the same approach with Rodon. If he falls he will likely enter in the draft again next season and rebuild his value as a bonafide 1-1. There are too many good pitchers in the draft to take a chance on punting the pick to next season when the landscape may be murkier. I trust the Sox on which guy they will take, they will have ample opportunities to have seen each guy and cross-checked them, and they have a really solid track record identifying pitchers that have underwhelming numbers and correcting their issues as pros. The problem with college pitchers that put up great numbers is sometimes they are already at their ceiling and have little development left. I think there is still quite a bit of projection left in Hoffman. Rodon is better than he has pitched, Beede may be close to topping out. Newcomb is interesting in that he has pretty good stuff, but won't be challenged by his level of competition. He has three plus pitches but command hasn't been there. I would love to get Aiken if he is there, the upside is huge and I think he has more of a frame to be a ace type than Kolek does. OK, makes a lot of sense. I don't think Kolek's is much to be concerned with, but that's just me. I have also read what you say about the Marlins and how they aren't afraid to draft hs pitchers. After you posted about Aiken, I looked up videos and that kid is beyond impressive for his age. If I were Hahn and Aiken was available, he would be the third pick. His curve ball just impressed the s*** right out of me. Nice thing is he will likely add some velocity to his fastball with age. I just hope Aiken takes the money and get his professional baseball career started instead of going to college. QUOTE (oneofthemikes @ Mar 25, 2014 -> 10:09 AM) Has anyone heard anything about which way the Astros or Marlins are leaning? Last I read (a couple weeks ago) was that Houston was enamored with Rodon and that Miami had been linked to Kolek. That's the last I heard as well. Fine with me, I'll take the 18 yo southpaw ( Aiken) at #3.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 04:54 PM) Lawyers more qualified with union regulations may be able to fill in on this further, but I am about 99% sure you cannot release a union employee who suffered an injury while on the job. Hell, you typically can't release them if it's a non-work related injury. They can be "replaced" in the sense that their starting position may not be there when they return, but the only reasons you would be able to release someone is due to inferior performance for their expected level of play or player request (or are otherwise detrimental to the team). If they want, they could certainly banish both of them to the 60 day DL for the entire year (though I'm sure there are safe guards against that too), but that doesn't make a lot of sense anyways. In football, they have a work around because the injured reserve removes a player's eligibility for the remainder of the league's fiscal year, but if they are healthy, they can be released from their current contract with an injury settlement and that clause only stipulates that said player cannot re-sign with the releasing team. Good points, I didn't even think about it but I'd have to say you are correct. QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 24, 2014 -> 07:05 PM) Ummm, no, or we already would have done it with Dunn and Danks, Blue Jays with Santos, etc. Like it or not, we're stuck with DeAza, Beckham and Kepp until they're traded. Well, I did say it probably wasn't the wisest idea. I do think Dunn and Danks are a bit different seeing as how they make so much there's no chance a team would take them and their salaries if they were released by the Sox but the salaries of Keppinger and Beckham have a better chance of getting picked up seeing as how those salaries are much cheaper than that of Danks and Dunn. In the end you are very much correct, were stuck with them. Guess I'm just sick of both players.