Carroll called up; Noesi DFA'd

[Chisoxfn]

Gillaspie and Abreu are not "worse defensively" than they were last season. They're actually better than they were last year per UZR. Flowers is worse and LaRoche doesn't play 1b much.

 

Those guys have actually gotten a bit better defensively, but "a bit better than terrible" is still pretty weak.

I discount 1B defense so I won't talk about it as much (or focus on it, plus hell with it, Abreu's bat completely outweighs any negatives at 1B). When you look at the opening day lineup you had awful defenders at 4 positions (3B / 2B / RF / LF) and a below average defender at 1B. You then had an above avg defender in CF, an avg to slightly above avg defender at SS, and an avg defender at C. Now you take bats into the equation and look at those awful defenders and almost none of them (except probably Melky) were what you'd consider safe projections for their offense to outproduce negative defensive value. Add in Flowers, who while an AVG defensive catcher is a below avg bat, and that is a heck of a lot of players who have what I'd consider overall "negative" value. Bright side is most of those guys were "cheap", and two had potential upside (Micah / Avi), but any way you slice it, it is bad.

 

Downside is, the one expensive player, Melky (and I won't really say expensive but obviously pricey in comparison) has also been a negative player (small sample size though with a positive 3 year arch though so I still am not writing him off). So, good news is, money isn't tied up to crappy players, downside is our farm talent is in the pitching crops so we have to get creative / find other ways for new position players.

[Balta1701]

So, good news is, money isn't tied up to crappy players, downside is our farm talent is in the pitching crops so we have to get creative / find other ways for new position players.

Which is exactly the logic where I've followed to reach the point that I'm ready to trade one of our top 2 lefties.

[Kyyle23]

There was a rumor he/Noesi were going to take Rodon's next start (against the Rangers) and let him take a breather. Unconfirmed, but logical.

 

lol

[Chisoxfn]

I know, i know, derailment. I have to.

 

It's hard to trend upward that much when you have the 2nd best record in baseball.

He was projecting into the future though. I think the Royals are a strong team and respect everything they do, but I don't see them as some unbeatable juggernaut with tons of talent coming to make them better. No one knows what will happen but no reason other teams can't contend with them. Very good team though and Caufield points out Twins / Indians as teams to be most scared of. I have little concern over Tigers (long term...this year, yeah, still relevant, but long term, they are a mess) and still think we are in as good a spot as Twins / Indians going forward (if not better). Royals are better then us, but we have benefit of larger market and potential to increase payroll (unless Royals decide to play at our level which is always possible).

[Chisoxfn]

Which is exactly the logic where I've followed to reach the point that I'm ready to trade one of our top 2 lefties.

I am open to trading. I'd probably prefer to move Q then Sale but it does all depend on the package. I think Dodgers are team that could offer a package that made sense. Doesn't mean they will though. I suppose Rays / Priates could as well.

[Balta1701]

He was projecting into the future though. I think the Royals are a strong team and respect everything they do, but I don't see them as some unbeatable juggernaut with tons of talent coming to make them better. No one knows what will happen but no reason other teams can't contend with them. Very good team though and Caufield points out Twins / Indians as teams to be most scared of. I have little concern over Tigers (long term...this year, yeah, still relevant, but long term, they are a mess) and still think we are in as good a spot as Twins / Indians going forward (if not better). Royals are better then us, but we have benefit of larger market and potential to increase payroll (unless Royals decide to play at our level which is always possible).

I don't know what the Royals broadcast situation is, but at this point they're massively outdrawing us and massively outdoing us on interest.

 

I very much disagree with us being in as good of a position as the Twins. The fact that they're already competitive this early, before the bulk of the talent they've built up arrives...should terrify us.

 

I probably agree about the Indians being as ****ed as us, they probably have a slightly better system but still weak and that's not something worth bragging about. They're similarly stuck with bad contracts for veterans and don't really have an obvious path to getting better in the next couple years without doing something drastic.

[Balta1701]

I am open to trading. I'd probably prefer to move Q then Sale but it does all depend on the package. I think Dodgers are team that could offer a package that made sense. Doesn't mean they will though. I suppose Rays / Priates could as well.

The Pirates would actually be a really interesting match for Quintana...although their rotation is so completely on fire right now that they probably don't feel much of a need to make a move. Earlier in the season they were talking around here about the need for a strong lefty in their rotation, and they actually have enough talent to move to make a deal. Now that Morton is back from the DL and on a roll, that probably is lessened. Maybe if Liriano or Burnett implode over the next couple weeks.

[Chisoxfn]

I don't know what the Royals broadcast situation is, but at this point they're massively outdrawing us and massively outdoing us on interest.

 

I very much disagree with us being in as good of a position as the Twins. The fact that they're already competitive this early, before the bulk of the talent they've built up arrives...should terrify us.

 

I probably agree about the Indians being as ****ed as us, they probably have a slightly better system but still weak and that's not something worth bragging about. They're similarly stuck with bad contracts for veterans and don't really have an obvious path to getting better in the next couple years without doing something drastic.

I continue to point out that our bad contracts for vets really consists of 2 players and given the better contracts we have, they ultimately negate each other (if not move us still to being in a positive position from a standpoint of "wasted" money):

1. John Danks (closer and closer to being gone)

2. Melky (still too early to fully write-off)

 

On the counter, we have 2 to 3 of the better contracts in baseball (which helps to off-set)

1. Sale

2. Q

3. Abreu

 

Note: I do not think Roberton's contract is a bad one (little upside to be a great one but if we wantd to trade him, someone would take him and that contract from us based upon his current production). Similarly, I don't think the LaRoche contract is a terrible one either. Hard for 2 year deal to set you back and LaRoche is notorious 2nd half player (and his OPS compared to historical norms through this part of the season is nothing to snide about). I also won't get worked up about contracts like Duke or others. If it is

 

I won't discuss Ramirez / Shark as it has no impact going forward at this point.

[caulfield12]

He was projecting into the future though. I think the Royals are a strong team and respect everything they do, but I don't see them as some unbeatable juggernaut with tons of talent coming to make them better. No one knows what will happen but no reason other teams can't contend with them. Very good team though and Caufield points out Twins / Indians as teams to be most scared of. I have little concern over Tigers (long term...this year, yeah, still relevant, but long term, they are a mess) and still think we are in as good a spot as Twins / Indians going forward (if not better). Royals are better then us, but we have benefit of larger market and potential to increase payroll (unless Royals decide to play at our level which is always possible).

 

 

There's the Lindor and Aiken become superstars and one of Rodon/Fulmer fall on their faces and/or get hurt thing.

 

Cleveland has a younger (position player) core in Kipnis (probably the best 2B again in the AL) Brantley and Santana that are more proven than anyone from the Sox younger core players (Abreu is obviously the exception).

 

I'll just put it this way, if you're Antonetti, would you trade Kipnis/Brantley/Lindor for Abreu/Eaton/Garcia? You could substitute Carlos Santana for Lindor, I still don't think you make that deal if you're CLE.

 

Actually, based on Brantley being a near MVP performer last season, I know you don't make that deal because Kipnis and Brantley play more important defensive positions than Abreu.

 

I am also sure they wouldn't trade their Top 5 starters for our Top 5...and I mean Carrasco (who's out) instead of Marcum.

Edited June 18, 2015 by caulfield12

[OmarComing25]

KC has the second oldest team in baseball, we're actually 8th youngest (though I know that doesn't mean we're brimming with young talent). I know that doesn't tell the whole story obviously (because Perez, Hosmer, and Moustakas are still in their mid-20s), but that pitching staff is pretty old. I'm not sure they have such a bright future.

[caulfield12]

I continue to point out that our bad contracts for vets really consists of 2 players and given the better contracts we have, they ultimately negate each other (if not move us still to being in a positive position from a standpoint of "wasted" money):

1. John Danks (closer and closer to being gone)

2. Melky (still too early to fully write-off)

 

On the counter, we have 2 to 3 of the better contracts in baseball (which helps to off-set)

1. Sale

2. Q

3. Abreu

 

Note: I do not think Roberton's contract is a bad one (little upside to be a great one but if we wantd to trade him, someone would take him and that contract from us based upon his current production). Similarly, I don't think the LaRoche contract is a terrible one either. Hard for 2 year deal to set you back and LaRoche is notorious 2nd half player (and his OPS compared to historical norms through this part of the season is nothing to snide about). I also won't get worked up about contracts like Duke or others. If it is

 

I won't discuss Ramirez / Shark as it has no impact going forward at this point.

 

 

But, assuming no new contract for Shark and not picking up Alexei's extension...

 

Back to Balta 101....how much "new" spending do you honestly expect in the off-season (assuming they finish something like 10-15 games under .500 again and season tickets are down another 25%)?

 

This is where it keeps going back to the trade Quintana scenario...since there's no way to spend ourselves out of the problem, and signing Alex Gordon or Heyward for $100 million isn't going to move the bar enough since it's not the NBA and one player can't change the entire complexion of your team enough (and that's assuming they both hit, which is far from certain with Heyward).

 

That puts us back in the box of going after guys like Zobrist and Chris Davis (cheaper options, but not without their flaws and risks) or rolling all the dice on Justin Upton, which would make a splash but still not really "FIX" anything, either.

 

Would they make a play for "aces" in Price or Cueto...? JR in the past said he would with Tanaka, but are Price/Cueto too risky because of their respective ages and more wear and tear?

Edited June 18, 2015 by caulfield12

[Balta1701]

Would they make a play for "aces" in Price or Cueto...? JR in the past said he would with Tanaka, but are Price/Cueto too risky because of their respective ages and more wear and tear?

Please no more giving up resources to add pitchers to this roster while also drafting pitchers non-stop. I'm begging here.

[caulfield12]

KC has the second oldest team in baseball, we're actually 8th youngest (though I know that doesn't mean we're brimming with young talent). I know that doesn't tell the whole story obviously (because Perez, Hosmer, and Moustakas are still in their mid-20s), but that pitching staff is pretty old. I'm not sure they have such a bright future.

 

 

That changes quickly when they get rid of Infante (probably Top 50 MILB prospect Raul Mondesi, Jr., who will be moved to 2B and come up in the second half). Rios and Morales are obviously older, but Kendrys is a key contributor and All-Star. Rios will be replaced soon enough.

 

When you look at the rotation:

 

Ventura

Duffy (when healthy)

Vargas

Chris Young

Guthrie

Blanton

 

So, yeah, right now.....their pitching staff (back end is older).

 

On the other hand, they've got Hochevar, Medlen (on the mend), Finnegan, Manaea, Zimmer....three more pitchers at the back half of their Top 10 prospects list, and a lot of scouts really love the kid (Ashe Russell) they took from Indiana and the second pitcher they drafted just recently.

 

The next thing is that the Royals are really doing well from an attendance standpoint (Top Ten) this year again and they'll have the financial flexibility if they want to make one-year/band aid moves to improve 2B and possibly RF, as well as adding one more starting pitcher.

 

I wouldn't even be completely shocked if they brought back James Shields. Well, a little shocked. But they're going to go after every top starter that's out there and they have the farm system to send back young pitching (and 2-3 guys) in the other direction.

 

Imagine how scary they would be adding Aroldis Chapman to that bullpen, for example. In that case, the starting pitching would just have to get them through five innings...but everything I've been reading points to a starter.

 

 

Edited June 18, 2015 by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

Please no more giving up resources to add pitchers to this roster while also drafting pitchers non-stop. I'm begging here.

 

 

This is the logical corollary to "must trade Sale/Quintana," which is, instead of blowing things up and taking a step back, turning around and giving $200 million to Cueto/Price in order to "fix everything" (which of course doesn't address the offense/defense/baserunning/overall lack of fundamentals at all).

 

Of course, history teaches MLB franchises that moves like this one have about a 10-15% chance of long-term success and almost always go bad.

[GreenSox]

Who in this org. evaluates Scott Carroll as a major league player?

Oh, he's so good in the clubhouse.

The clowning never ends.

[caulfield12]

Who in this org. evaluates Scott Carroll as a major league player?

Oh, he's so good in the clubhouse.

The clowning never ends.

 

Hey, he has that "cool hat marketing thing," he played QB for Purdue, he's a good "human interest story" and has a sense of humor to boot.

 

What more can you ask for with this organization? Results/performance, too?

[Balta1701]

Who in this org. evaluates Scott Carroll as a major league player?

Oh, he's so good in the clubhouse.

The clowning never ends.

He's been serviceable in the long-relief role.

[Dick Allen]

Hey, he has that "cool hat marketing thing," he played QB for Purdue, he's a good "human interest story" and has a sense of humor to boot.

 

What more can you ask for with this organization? Results/performance, too?

Who should they have called up? You know, they shouldn't "rush" anyone.

[southsider2k5]

Who in this org. evaluates Scott Carroll as a major league player?

Oh, he's so good in the clubhouse.

The clowning never ends.

 

MLB is littered with Scott Carroll's on pretty much every roster. The problem with this team isn't the 25th guys, it is the first 5 roster players not playing like they should.

[flavum]

MLB is littered with Scott Carroll's on pretty much every roster. The problem with this team isn't the 25th guys, it is the first 5 roster players not playing like they should.

 

Among other things.

[Soxfest]

Carrol up, Noesi DFA'd

Need to see a lot more than this in the next couple of weeks.

[OmarComing25]

Need to see a lot more than this in the next couple of weeks.

Who do you want to be DFA'ed?

[Soxfest]

Who do you want to be DFA'ed?

EB should of went today also.

[GreenSox]

He's been serviceable in the long-relief role.

And that's the problem.

The Sox waste roster spots for players who are "Serviceable" in limited roles.

 

The talent evaluators actually believe Carroll is a major league player. No wonder the team and org is so untalented.

[Balta1701]

EB should of went today also.

Who do we have available who can fill his roster role?