OmarComing25

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 03:06 PM) Not only that, they had a team pass on Bryant, Samardzija turn down their offer for an extension, and got a Cy Young award guy out of nowhere for nothing. So huge breaks get them the second WC. Don't forget defrauding the Padres for Rizzo. A couple of these things go differently, and the Cubs are still in rebuilding mode.

I don't understand the "hindsight" comments either. Even with hindsight we still take Rodon over Schwarber.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 02:46 PM) Here's an article I caught last year trying to qualify "average WAR" as a function of "spot in the rotation". Basically if you stuck Quintana's numbers into there he's roughly a strong #2 starter who is unusually reliable and healthy so far in his career. Under that criteria (#1 as >6 WAR), this is the number of SP that qualified for that spot per season in the last decade: 2014: 4 2013: 5 2012: 2 2011: 6 2010: 3 2009: 7 2008: 5 2007: 3 2006: 3 2005: 6 (Buehrle missed the cutoff by 0.1) This criteria eliminates basically everyone but 4 pitchers on average every season from being considered a #1 pitcher.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 02:07 PM) Because he has 35+ home run power and there is nothing in our entire system that is projecting that except the lottery ticket that Hawkins figures it out. OK but I don't understand how a DH who hits 35 HR would be more valuable than a top of the rotation SP who throws left-handed.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 02:24 PM) Already at a decade Haha not even close. The Pirates didn't have a winning season for 20 years. The Royals never came close to the playoffs over their period of futility. In the past decade we've made the playoffs and came very close three other times.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 01:59 PM) Honestly I'd probably take Schwarber over Rodon. Why? If he had any defensive value then I could understand it, but he can't hit lefties and would be our DH. After his hot start he's hitting .159/.278/.402 in his last 30 games with 40 Ks.

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 01:34 PM) Should have, or questioned with hindsight whether they would have taken Schwarber? I questioned that, but that doesn't mean I think they should have. Just curious, who said they should have taken Schwarber? Kiley McDaniel on Fangraphs said that Schwarber would go #1 if they re-did the 2014 draft.

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 01:34 PM) I would still be depressed, but that would be easier to handle because it would at least shut up the people that say that Arrieta is better than Sale. 1 start wouldn't shut anyone up.

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Sep 25, 2015 -> 01:30 PM) Nothing would make me happier than to see Arrieta fall apart in the Wild Card game. What if he falls apart but the Cubs light up Cole and win anyway?

I too think Rodon's a bit low at #9, but at least he's ahead of Schwarber. I can't believe some people think we should have drafted him over Rodon last year.

Eaton is 17th in the MLB this year in baserunning value according to Fangraphs. There's more to it than just stealing bases.

The Marlins are a great example of why I think some people get too hung up on titles, especially in a sport with playoffs that are as random as baseball. The Marlins had two lucky playoff runs when they didn't even win their division, and otherwise have been one of the worst-run franchises in sports. But because of those two titles some people are willing to give them a pass.

Career Walks at time of 1,000th Career K Chris Sale: 214 Felix Hernandez: 342 Clayton Kershaw: 345 Sandy Koufax: 515 Nolan Ryan: 580 Randy Johnson: 584

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 07:29 PM) Since June 19, basically excluding his first month, Sanchez has hit a whopping .263 with a .697 OPS. You're right, if those numbers are the best he can do, it is offensive to lump him in with Rodon. Agreed about Rodon, but with his defense I'd definitely take a ~.700 OPS from Sanchez.

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 09:31 PM) I have casually noticed that he tends to get hit the hardest the second time through the lineup, and these numbers support that claim. Thanks for the post. Those are Abreu's numbers, just to be clear.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 08:57 PM) Seems like he struggles late in games. No stats to back that up Innings 1-3: .285/.346/.509 Innings 4-6: .332/.379/.608 Innings 7-9: .252/.304/.387 Looks like you're right.

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 04:34 PM) Even if Fulmer only ends up being a solid #4 starter (which is the worst case scenario IMO), that still gives the Sox a great rotation with Sale and Rodon as their aces and Quintana being a very solid #2 or #3 and then Fulmer behind him. Those 4 are pretty much locks to be in the rotation for the next 4-5 years, but I would have to think that at least one of Johnson, Beck, Danish, Adams, Montas, another prospect, etc will pan out and be a serviceable #5 guy at the very least. All in all, the Sox have a very bright future as far as their pitching staff goes. The lineup is another story. The hope is that a bunch of those guys pan out (or look to be on the path to do so) and we can start trading them for hitting.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 04:30 PM) I would love to have the Abreu money back. Signing Q and Sale to extensions, laughable. Drafting Rodon... You are right just do the opposite they will be so much better. I get why people are unhappy with many of the decisions ownership and the FO have made, but the way a few posters here act like the White Sox never do anything right (or even rarely) is pretty ridiculous.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 04:24 PM) Ouch. The Royals are really stumbling right now. Davis will make a fine closer and they should have enough depth in the bullpen to survive. But I can't see them winning a 7 game series if Cueto isn't pitching well. All it could take is an offensive outburst in a game or two and a middling pitcher having a good start, even if Cueto sucks.

Nothing against Fulmer, but have to go with Rodon here.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 01:11 PM) Absolutely...and since then? It's pretty clear 2005 was an outlier (as was 2008) Rick Hahn himself said at his press conference the goal was to build "sustained success..." Now what that means is subject to interpretation but since the White Sox are the only one of the original 16 pre expansion MLB franchises to have never made the postseason in consecutive years, that would be a good place to start in my opinion regarding his comment. How close are the Sox to making the playoffs in back to back years? How close are they to even making the playoffs once? Ladies and gentleman of the jury, the prosecution rests. Mark Why do 2005 and 2008 have to be outliers? They still won 90 games in 2006, and that was with every starting pitcher performing significantly worse than the year before. Hell if Buehrle just has his usual season we would have made the playoffs that year. 2003 and 2004 they weren't too far off either (83 wins with your two best hitters out the whole year isn't too shabby, who knows what would have happened if Frank and Maggs were healthy). We were also a couple small things going our way from making the playoffs in 2010 and 2012. It's not like we're the Marlins who lose 90+ games every season except for the two completely random seasons when everything came together. The last few seasons have been rough but from 2000-2012 the White Sox were usually in playoff contention. Things certainly haven't been great, but it hasn't been quite as bad as you're making it seem.

That guy is 16? Holy s***

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 11:19 AM) I would argue this team has spent the last 10 seasons doing very much the opposite of what helped assemble that team in 2005. They were built through trades, drafting, and free agency...and in virtually every case the White Sox acquired someone who was undervalued. There was almost no one on that roster that they paid full price to acquire in either trade or free agency. Contrast that with what we did last offseason as an example, where we paid high prices for free agents to outbid people rather than looking for value additions and you might have a formula for why we've struggled to replicate that season. Outside of last offseason and Dunn, when did we pay full price in free agency in the last decade? I'm not seeing the trend here.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 11:56 AM) I continue to think it's also very smart to get him throwing extra innings at this time of year to stretch his arm out on the off chance that he is needed in a playoff run during these next couple years. This is endurance training. Agreed, I don't see any reason to treat him with kid gloves right now, if he's still getting tired at the end of the year then giving him an early rest isn't going to help him in the future if we need him for an extended run.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 24, 2015 -> 11:55 AM) I personally think Sale should finish #2 at the worst in the voting. Sadly, ERA is weighted too high by the voters for that to happen. The advanced stats are all in his favor. Would have agreed with you a month ago, but Sale's crappy September has changed my mind.