OmarComing25

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 11:28 PM) Cuba falling to 20 is ridiculous to me. Torres, Contreras, McKinney, Cease, Almora and Happ have all appeared on top 100 lists. Even if the back end of their system sucks they have multiple marketable securities at the top of the system. http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/top-...cts-nos-51-100/ They just released their 51-100 rankings. Torres with be Top 50, but Contreras and Happ look like they'll be the only other 2 in BA's top 100. It seems they're a lot more down on McKinney and Almora than everyone else is. Fulmer is #70 here, curious to see where they have Anderson when they release the rest of the rankings later.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 11:33 AM) People are outraged about Avi, but really it's the inability to unload LaRoche and his 13 million which is a bigger issue IMO. Garcia is the bigger issue, because something can actually be done about it. We're stuck with LaRoche.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 11:00 AM) The talking up of Avi continues. He's gonna be the starting right fielder and I'm gonna lose my freaking mind. Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 8m8 minutes ago Todd Steverson said Avisail Garcia was very receptive to trying a new stance when they worked out for 3 days in Miami. Promises diff. look. Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 7m7 minutes ago Todd Steverson on Avisail Garcia: "“You can tell people, tell people, tell people. But until they get a hold of it in their own head." Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 3m3 minutes ago Basically, #WhiteSox know there's much to be done & it's early. They're hoping Avisail Garcia gets comfy w/ new stance in spring. If it does happen it will be the most confusing (non) move of the off-season, and that's saying something considering what the Rockies and Diamondbacks have done.

QUOTE (daggins @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 10:56 AM) I think that projection for the tigers assumes big bounces back by Verlander, Anibel Sanchez and VMart. Otherwide, it's hard to see them being that successful. Well I don't see Martinez being the worst player in baseball again. I think Sanchez was a bit flukey too, I doubt he gives up that many HR again. Overall I agree with you though, I think the Tigers are overrated, as even with Cespedes and Price last year they still weren't very good, though you still might be underrating them a bit. Personally I'd put their over/under at 82.5 wins. They're relying too much on bounce backs/healthy seasons from guys in their mid 30s who have already dealt with lots of injuries. They could be dangerous, but I could easily see them flopping again too.

2 year deal with an option for a 3rd, or 3 year deal with an opt out after the 2nd year.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 09:44 AM) Yes, but despite his improvements defensively, he's still not good defensively. If he continues improving, then who knows, but I see him as more of a terrific hitter/baserunner with poor defense in the Majors. Keith Law wrote that Anderson projects to be above average defensively at SS.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2016 -> 08:37 AM) The biggest problem is that from the sounds of it, most of the top talent is already locked up. It is too late. How do we know the Sox haven't already locked up some of that top talent?

Well this isn't like the Big 3 situation. There were plenty of logical suitors for them. The Sox are literally the only logical fit left for Desmond unless he wants to try and become Ben Zobrist with the possible exception of the Rays, and giving up a top 15 pick would be very against the way they operate.

So Nightengale is just going to s*** on every rumor linking us to a player this offseason isn't he?

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 06:34 PM) It is overblown. You don't see many righties with extreme splits against righties as lefties do against lefties. Also we'd still have three LHH in the lineup against RHP in Eaton, Melky, and LaRoche.

Is the LH/RH thing that big of a deal? For one, we were absolutely atrocious against LHP last year, and I don't see the Blue Jays and Tigers' lack of LH hitters as a big problem.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 06:16 PM) I know you're kidding, but imagine this lineup: Eaton (CF) Melky (LF) Abreu (1B) Frazier (3B) Puig (RF) LaRoche (DH) Desmond (SS) Lawrie (2B) Navarro © Hot damn. That lineup would be so f***ing fun to watch. Just get all the reputed assholes! Team would certainly be a lot more fun, win or lose.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 05:53 PM) Well, he may not have been able to hit those if he didn't have a starting gig. With the combination of the the opening available in our rotation, Cooper and Herm, it makes a lot of sense for Latos to rebuild his value here.

Wonder who the other 5 teams are that expressed interest. Rays and ?

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 04:25 PM) All I'm saying is FOs employ tons of people to evaluate players across all metrics, including intangibles. They aren't gonna go the lazy route to evaluate where they spend millions of dollars. We're talking about millions of dollars here, not fanboy fantasy leagues. You said "I don't think a front office would ever even consider looking at WAR numbers when putting together a team." That's a lot different from ONLY using WAR numbers when putting together a team. I don't think anyone thinks FO only look at WAR.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 03:53 PM) I will say this- I don't think a front office would ever even consider looking at WAR numbers when putting together a team. I couldn't disagree more. I don't understand the hate for WAR. It's the best way to compare across leagues and positions. A 3.00 ERA in the NL while pitching half your games in San Diego is a lot different than a 3.00 ERA in the AL while pitching half your games in Arlington. An .800 OPS for a 1B is far less valuable than an .800 OPS for a SS or a C. WAR just makes these comparisons quick and easy, and while it has its faults so does every stat, and I find its faults to be far less severe than the faults of most traditional stats.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/orga...-rankings-list/ BA ranks us at #23. I know they graduated a ton last year but still surprised the Cubs fell to #20. Texas traded a bunch of prospects for Hamels but improved from #11 to #7. Braves went from #29 to #3, pretty impressive.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 02:43 PM) I would love a Desmond signing. Infield would have serious power and then you could try trading for an OF piece to platoon with Avi. Couple of random thoughts if this were to happen: 1.) Do you sign him for 2-3 years or offer him a 1 year prove it deal where you recoup the comp pick after next season? 2.) If Saladino is moved to utility, that pretty much makes Carlos Sanchez expendable, right? I think Saladino can cover anywhere in the infield better than Sanchez Good point about Sanchez, he pretty much has no role in a Desmond signing. Seems pointless to send him back to AAA too as he has nothing left to prove there.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 02:12 PM) Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeyman 2m2 minutes ago Chisox are among teams considering Desmond. He'd be good fit there, better than another OF. Will discuss on @MLBNetwork at 6 Disagree with that, but if we can sign Desmond and still get another OF I'd be OK with it.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 11:38 AM) I've always chalked this up to "men are just hornier than women." In other words, the reason straight men have fewer partners isn't due to being more moral or being wired differently. It's due to the greater challenge in finding willing partners. If you're a guy and your #1 goal for the night is getting laid, your odds are better if you're looking for another guy than if you're looking for a girl. It's this, the sex drives are the same, straight men just have a much more difficult time getting casual sex on average. If they could sleep around with the same amount of ease as gay men, I'm sure most straight men would do it. It's not really a matter of lifestyle choice. There are exceptions of course, but we're talking about the average guy.

Follow-up article to this: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/how-you-defined-an-ace/

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 06:13 PM) The market played out so well for a potential steal combo of Desmond and Jackson, I can't believe the Sox haven't already jumped at the opportunity. That lineup would be pretty sweet: Eaton RF Cabrera LF Abreu 1B Frazier 3B LaRoche DH Desmond SS Lawrie 2B Avila C Jackson CF Problem is Boras. Jackson is likely holding out for $10+ million. Add Desmond and that's probably at least $23 million.

There's still a lot of surplus value in that deal, but probably not enough to justify the obscene amount you'd have to give up to acquire him, making him pretty much untradeable.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 03:48 PM) Law seems to be very conservative about mechanics -- he's got a history of expecting guys with funky deliveries to break down. IIRC he was very down on Sale initially, right?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 11:09 AM) Probably removes another suitor for Fowler. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/baltimores-...er-opportunity/ Cameron argues that a Gallardo signing would make Baltimore more likely to sign Fowler, because they'd be giving up a less valuable pick for him.