Black_Jack29

I don't expect Lawrie to keep hitting like he is, but even an OPS dip from .790 to .750 or so would be totally fine for a 2B. And despite the couple of goobers in Baltimore, his defense at 2B has been better than I expected.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 05:39 PM) Old ballplayers can never get away from that "five tool" way of thinking, comparisons to guys like Mays, Mantle (before the knee problems) and Clemente. Avi has elements of all five of the tools, although it's hard to argue at this point that "defense" would still be one of them. He does have a strong arm, has power (potential), batting average (potential) and can run well for his size, but needs a bit more time to get going full-speed and isn't first-step quick but is quite fast after he gets a full head of steam going. Realistically, he could say Tim Anderson is the most talented (potential) player in the organization and it would make more sense than saying Avi is the most talented. I'd say that Avi has elements of no more than three of those tools.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 05:29 PM) It's this line of thinking that had us giving almost all of the playing time to Alexei Ramirez in a lost season in August and September, instead of discovering what Tyler Saladino had to offer there. 95% of the time, the team that offers the most money wins the free agent, Drake LaRoche notwithstanding. And that's beside the fact that the White Sox just don't sign $100+ million, premier free agents. Or haven't yet at least. It was pretty obvious to me that LaRoche was done last season, yet the Sox not only kept him on the roster, but in the lineup for most of the season. Right or wrong, there's a reason why they do that.

Has Avi finally figured it out?

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 05:21 PM) Kenny Williams is not going to stand pat at the deadline. Either someone will step up play like a good ML pitcher (not just a good 5th starter) or the Sox will find one. I think the ideal postseason pitching situation for this team is a 4 mean of Sale-Quintana-Rodon- with Cy Latos coming out of the pen. Of course the more John Danks starts games the less likely it is that the Sox execute any sort of playoff plan. The Sox have limited trade options at this point, but I generally agree with you. Right now, I'd put Danks on the DL and bring Erik Johnson up. I recall reading somewhere that starters sometimes go through an early-season "dead arm" period in late April or May. If that's the case with Danks (and I'm not sure that it is), the 15-day DL might do him some good. But for the long-term, yes, the Sox need to trade for another starter this season.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 06:08 PM) Erik Johnson would be much better suited for that role. The Sox don't give a s*** about if his arm falls off and he's a far superior pitcher than Danks at this point or in the very least, not worse. Erik Johnson will be our #5 starter, not a mop-up guy. Young pitchers who have some promise need to get regular work. Making them sit in the bullpen with no work for a week or longer makes no sense.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 06:09 PM) Other than one bad start by Rodon the only time the Sox have been run out of games is Danks starts. This early 0-7 deficit is going to be exceedingly rare when Danks is no longer starting games. It'll happen at least once or twice a month. The Sox will not have a stud in their #5 spot after Danks is demoted to the 'pen and Latos is bound to eventually come back to Earth at some point.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 06:05 PM) I'm not sure about being counterproductive PR-wise... DFAing and under-performing veteran less than one month into the season is going to be noticed by other veterans and will not help the Sox's ability to sign free agents. I agree. That's why a trip to the DL/bullpen makes more sense.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 05:59 PM) Can we stop calling a eating innings an ability? Literally anyone can go out there and get destroyed while throwing a lot of pitches. Yes, but you don't want guys like Jones, Albers, and Putnam doing that. If you're down several runs early in the game and it's unlikely that you'll win the game, you want somebody out there who (1) can throw a lot of innings and (2) you weren't planning on using in higher-leverage situations. A washed-up starter is ideal for those situations.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 05:33 PM) At 16-7 the fans have more belief in this team than the manager. Hahn and Kenny need to step in and make this decision for Robin, and if they can't someone has to go wake up the Chairman. It is completely inexcusable for Danks to throw another pitch in this uniform ever again, especially if the team is competing for something meaningful. Winning teams would have John Danks sent far, far away... This is real life, not a fantasy team. Baseball organizations need to be careful in how they handle veteran players who were once pretty good and won a lot of games for that organization. DFAing Danks after a few bad starts in April would be counter-productive from a PR perspective, especially after the LaRoche fiasco. Not to mention a waste of money as well. It would be much smarter for the Sox to put him on the DL, and then move him to long relief. Danks' ability to eat innings and save bullpen arms might be useful when the Sox are occasionally down 7-0 in the fourth inning.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 29, 2016 -> 03:53 PM) While I share your anger, I doubt this is Robin's call. Yeah, I agree. I also don't think that Danks will be DFA'd or traded as part of a salary-swap. It's more likely that he'll end up doing mop-up duty in the 'pen.

I agree with the poster who predicted that we'll be trading for a starting pitcher. Sale, Quintana, and Rodon are the only three reliable arms in the rotation, and the latter isn't yet conditioned to throw 200 innings. I was also saddened to read Danks' comments. It wasn't his fault that he blew out his shoulder a few years ago, and he's gone about his business the right way since the surgery. It's disappointing that he's now a marginal player, but I bear him no ill will.

I love Eaton's hustle, but I'd rather not see him dive after balls when the Sox are down by eight late in the game and the backups are in. I don't want him suffering Rowand-like injuries.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 28, 2016 -> 08:41 PM) Orioles lineup is better IMO than Toronto Toronto's is older and may be on the decline.

Alright, Sands can learn how to scoop balls out of the dirt now.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Apr 28, 2016 -> 08:24 PM) He's been bad but it's hard to blame him for this inning. Lawrie booted a ball, he gave up that tapper that stayed fair, and I know this sounds like an excuse, but between the framing and the "wild pitch," Hector Sanchez is putting on a clinic for how not to play the catcher position. Yeah, I know, it's tough to overcome extra outs. But you can't give up the long ball with the bases loaded. Petricka looked like he was going to be a good setup man a couple of years ago. Then he was up-and-down last season. He's OK, but I've pretty much given up on him being a high-leverage reliever.

This would've been a nice evening to give Abreu and/or Frazier a rest.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 28, 2016 -> 08:12 PM) Hope that's the last we ever see of Danks Danks will be reassigned to the 'pen for mop-up duty before he's released.

Petricka seems to get worse every year.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Apr 27, 2016 -> 09:30 PM) I'd have fired gibbons the second the game ended. He left him in for like 3 innings after Estrada started showing discomfort then compounded it by extending him for the longest outing of his career. One of the worst cases of manager negligence I can remember. Pretty much all media covering the game were talking about it in the 4th inning, it was pretty clear Estrada was injured. You don't f*** around with shoulders, that's how you end careers. What is the deal with Gibbons and starting pitchers? Remember the fight on the field with Ted Lilly?

QUOTE (bmags @ Apr 27, 2016 -> 08:03 PM) Love this team. I think tomorrow with danks I say we give Abreu a day off and maybe even frazier I agree. I would've added Navarro to that list, but he's too hot right now. Even Avi had a nice series, which is something that I don't get to say very often.

Not only are they performing on the field, but they're confident and having fun. That's a great sign.

QUOTE (daggins @ Apr 27, 2016 -> 04:44 PM) The Stros should bounce back, but if they don't Rasmus is the guy i'm looking at. I kind of wanted him this offseason before he took the QO. Rasmus or Reddick would be great. The question is whether their teams will be bad enough to become sellers. I don't see the Sox taking on Freddie Freeman's contract, even if he did agree to become a full-time DH.

I have no idea what we can offer these teams, besides salary relief.

Not only did Sale own the Jays tonight, he gave Robertson/Jones/Albers some needed rest.