Community Projection Results: Young Starters

Danks looks about what I hope

his ERA is better than I predicted personally, but the other numbers are about right (except his HR's I think will be in the high 20's, low 30's)

Floyd's average projection, also, appears to be the recipient of some optimistic people on here. I don't think Floyd will go anywhere near those K/BB/IP totals. I think the ratio will be much different. Much worse. Because of that, I see Floyd sportin a low 5 to mid 5 ERA by September.

"God knows I gave my best in baseball at all times and no man on earth can truthfully judge me otherwise."

by Shoeless In SC on Feb 11, 2008 11:34 PM CST reply actions

One quirk

Floyd has better peripherals but a worse ERA...

Plugging in their community projected peripherals into the Fielding Independent Pitching formula...

Floyd: 4.58 FIP ERA
Danks: 4.91 FIP ERA

I think Floyd's K-rate is too optimistic -- projected 7.4 K/9 vs. 7.1 K/9 on his minor league career -- but the 3BB/9 is right on if he's going to be effective.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 11, 2008 11:44 PM CST reply actions

Right, but...

The commenters are probably figuring that Floyd will remain more hittable than the average major league pitcher, and thus have a worse ERA for his peripherals, as he has for every stint of his MLB career.

Some pitchers are just more hittable, so even with excellent component stats they just don't have very good ERAs.

by Stealfirstbase on Feb 12, 2008 12:03 AM CST up reply actions

Athletics Nation got a makeover

A major makeover. A major makeover that will be making it's way here, hopefully before the games start to count.

Head on over to check things out. Many of the features won't be apparent until the season really gets going (stats, boxscores, and stuff), while others will only be apparent if you're a member. But you can take a pretty good guess at how the aesthetics are about to change around here.

If you have an account existing account, you can go claim it, but also be sure to claim your SSS account at the same time. Since you're only going to have one account across the network, you'll have to decide on a network-wide idetity.

If you don't have an account there, there's really no reason to join AN today.

Really I just wanted to make a preemptive post to acknowledge the change, and the inevitable backlash, since I miss out on most morning posting.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 1:25 AM CST reply actions

just to clarify this

if you do want to keep your existing username, it's a good idea to head over to the site and claim it. those of you with "unique" names probably don't need to do this quickly but since i know there are competitors at other sites with my rather simple and generic name, i claimed 'larry' before anyone else could.

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 11:59 AM CST up reply actions

SB nation says

they have a system that "fairly" distributes usernames that have multiple people presently using them. i've always subscribed to the old maxim of not sleeping on your rights and asserting them right away. that way there's less chance for a screw up.

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

They've created a system to protect

against "theft" of legacy names...

Basically, as a very active poster who has been around forever, you've got more rights to the name you want. So unless a blogger wants to use the name "Larry," it will be there waiting when the time comes.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 12:40 PM CST up reply actions

color me skeptical

i heard that at another site and it didn't quite work out that way. glitches, they said. i'd rather claim now.

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions

I don't know to which site you're referring

but if it's the one I'm think of, I'm going to say user error.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

i rather doubt it is

you wouldn't be frequenting - let alone know of - what i'm referring to.

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

OK

One thing I've learned while we were testing this... without naming names, let's just say I'm amazed by the lack of computer skills demonstrated by some bloggers.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

indeed

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 1:32 PM CST up reply actions

Kumputer Skilz?

I'm changing my name to "soulja larry"

The most conflicted blog name...EVER!

"If Jose Contreras throws the ball the way we think he's going to throw the ball, we've got a chance." - Kenny Williams (2-10-08)

by tailgater on Feb 13, 2008 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

We already have a soulja larry

posting in this very thread

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 13, 2008 2:27 PM CST up reply actions

Iarry? with a capital "i"?

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Feb 13, 2008 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

You sick bastard.

Sox Machine

by Sox Machine on Feb 12, 2008 3:06 PM CST up reply actions

If it makes you feel better

there is only one "larry" as far as we're all concerned.

by palehose67 on Feb 12, 2008 2:17 PM CST up reply actions

Am I the only one...

for whom Athletics nation is running very, very slowly? I hope that they're not sacrificing performance for more bells and whistles.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Feb 12, 2008 12:02 PM CST up reply actions

first day kinks to work out, i'm sure

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

Without really knowing the why

behind the slowdown, I'll point to two issues.

One is that we're juggling servers to make the move, so AN may be on limited resources right now.

Two is obviously the avatars in the comments. It takes way too long to load a big thread, and I see assets.sbnation.com loading forever. This may also be a server type issue, as they're piggy backing onto Amazon's S3 service. I suspect -- again without really knowing how the server structure is designed -- that the S3 service is in charge of everything with sbnation in it's url, with own servers handling the other stuff.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 12:59 PM CST up reply actions

avatars are silly

all they do is clog up and obscure things .

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 1:16 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah

I was (still am) against them in threads, but I do like what they bring to the front page/FanPosts. It helps distinguish that it is fan-generated content, and also maybe provides a sense of ownership to the user.

When I read threads now, about 90% of the time I don't bother to read who posted the comment. Avatars would "help" me know whose response I was reading, but at this point, I just don't care.

You're all my children, and I love you equally.</mom>

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

Physically and chronologically

impossible, kid. But I do feel warm all over.

Jeff Cox: I'm going to call you "FN".

by winningugly on Feb 12, 2008 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

warm?

oh my...

:p

by The Wizard on Feb 12, 2008 3:16 PM CST up reply actions

I hope that these 2 perform this way because

if they do,along with my expected return to form of Contreras, the Sox should be in the hunt all year.

Go Sox!

by White Sox Randy on Feb 12, 2008 9:01 AM CST reply actions

With ya!

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Feb 12, 2008 9:28 AM CST up reply actions

I don't think

those projections are at all unattainable, but probably slightly optimistic.

by dantesox on Feb 12, 2008 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

Twins sign Livan Hernandez...

Ken Rosenthal wrote:

Livan Hernandez, who lingered on the free-agent market far longer than anticipated, finally has found a new team.

The Twins.

After trading Johan Santana to the Mets and losing free agent right-hander Carlos Silva to the Mariners, the Twins have signed Hernandez to a one-year contract in the range of $5 million to $6 million, according to major-league sources.

The deal, expected to be announced Tuesday, will include performance-based incentives that will enable Hernandez to approximate his $7 million salary with the Diamondbacks last season.

by SSH2005 on Feb 12, 2008 9:50 AM CST reply actions

I must say...

that if Danks and Floyd both put up numbers like that, the Sox will be in better shape than I think they will be.

For the Sox to be anything resembling a decent team in 2008, the starting pitching needs to be good. They can't be punting every fifth game, much less two out of five or three out of five.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Feb 12, 2008 11:25 AM CST reply actions

wow

60 pounds lighter...

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Feb 12, 2008 11:48 AM CST reply actions

Before & After

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 12, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions

I have no idea

who that is.

by palehose67 on Feb 12, 2008 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

CHEAT!!!

I tried to sign up at that Left Coast palce and I'm told "Chiburb" is unavailable. Does that mean I'll lose it here at the switchover? Or does that mean that I'm safe across the board?

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Feb 12, 2008 1:55 PM CST reply actions

I'm gonna say no

you're name is almost assuredly safe.

Did you have an account there before?
Did you try to claim your SSS account as well?

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 2:08 PM CST up reply actions

1. No account there

2. Don't understand the question. All I did was try to sign up over there and was told "user name not available". I'm wondering if they're cross-checking all the sites for availability?

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Feb 12, 2008 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

Don't sign up then

There's really no need right now.

If you've already signed up under a new name, I can help you claim the Chiburb name.

2. Yes, they cross-checked the usernames across sites. So until SSS is online, it's protecting Chiburb for you.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 2:22 PM CST up reply actions

Cool.

That's what I was hoping.
Thanks, Mom!

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Feb 12, 2008 2:34 PM CST up reply actions

One of the humorous results

of the switch is that a number of older users (in terms of time posting on the site, not age) are upset they lost a their low user ID numbers. It was a status symbol on AN.

We've lost most of our earliest users here. I just manually flipped through the first 35 up to you. And only Shaftr(6), Heads(22), 3e8(25), and yourself(35) remain active.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 8:26 PM CST up reply actions

i never noticed

there were numbers before.

by larry on Feb 12, 2008 8:57 PM CST up reply actions

The old SSS was great

But recently I feel a movement reminiscent of the early days

by 3E8 on Feb 12, 2008 9:21 PM CST up reply actions

The quality of the writing/blog

has shown a very high correlation with the quality of the team over the life of the blog.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 9:29 PM CST up reply actions

yes

I'm the oldest active member.

I don't mean to get political, but I just came back from Obama's victory speech in Madison and he's just an incredible speaker.

MrROFL.com

by shaftr on Feb 12, 2008 11:43 PM CST up reply actions

Obama's on a roll

Very exciting to see the country coalescing around him, maybe there's a chance the US will elect someone on some basis other than, "Gee, I'd rather have a beer with the guy with the fake Texas accent and goofy smile."

In other breaking news, Brian McNamee just dropped this blockbuster during the congressional hearings - he regularly injected John McCain with a massive doses of HGH, Stanabol, Cocaine, Viagra, Cialis, Vicodin and Oxycontin...disgusting.

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 13, 2008 8:17 AM CST up reply actions

No, I AM the oldest active member!

I may be #35 on the charts, but I'm #1 among the (old) farts.
That kid WU is closing fast though...

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Feb 13, 2008 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

6/2/51

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Feb 13, 2008 9:57 AM CST up reply actions

OK, Gramps. You got me.

Same year, 6 months later.
#2 among farts?
(And of course at our ages, never trust a fart either!)

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Feb 13, 2008 10:11 AM CST up reply actions

Who Made the Egg Salad Sandwiches?

Chiburb, you were one of the Five Neat Guys weren't you?

"Swisher's versatility allows us to give Owens a chance to come back and show he's ready to be that sparkplug like Podsednik was a couple of years ago." - KW

by ChicagoPete on Feb 13, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions

That wasn't Joe Flaherty, it was me.

But this is really the music that "informs" me:

http://www.shawnphillips.com/index.html

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Feb 13, 2008 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

Five Neat Guys

I was never that neat.

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Feb 13, 2008 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

As someone who really has

no idea how any of this works, it sounds to me like you deserve our thanks, Cheat. So thanks for working on all this. I look forward to seeing the final product for SSS.

by palehose67 on Feb 12, 2008 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

How about some retro colors, Cheat??

I vote for navy and red.

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Feb 12, 2008 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

NO!

We've experimented with some colors (both navy and red) in beta, and it's quite apparent that White, Black, and Gray is what works for us.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

I can't really take credit

for anything other than offering my opinion on things that should be included in the new platform and helping work out some bugs in beta testing.

This is an entirely new blogging platform, built from the ground up. Athletics Nation is it's first real testing. There's just no way to replicate the load of a few hundred comments an hour (and thousands of page views) without going live. So the slow performance of AN right now is actually a good thing (I hope) for us. They'll get those kinks worked out before we move over.

One thing that's not apparent right now because AN in the only site on the new platform, is that the site will linked together much more. Say I write a post about Buehrle's no-hitter against the Rangers. As long as I've tagged it properly, you'll get Mark Buehrle related posts in the sidebar as well as some of the latest posts from our Rangers blog.

The same can be said of gamethreads. We'll automatically generate an event page for each game, and if I write a post about that game it will appear on the proper event page along with the gamethread (as long as it's tagged properly).

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

Uno!

/beagle owner

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 9:59 PM CST reply actions

that was a bad ass beagle

are they as dumb as i've heard?

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Feb 12, 2008 10:01 PM CST up reply actions

No

They're incredibly smart, see?

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 12, 2008 10:14 PM CST up reply actions

Spring Training Reads

at ChicagoSports.com
i know i'm fiending for games to start up!

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Feb 13, 2008 7:40 AM CST reply actions

I forgot to post on Saturday.

I heard Levine interview Jeff Cox (new 3rd base coach) on Sat morning. I had thought the running and bunting party line was BS. But this guy sounds like Zimmer. A real scrapper. He just talked about the fundamentals, really just keeping your head in the game.

I really liked his enthusiasm. He's aware that our core isn't going to steal 100 bases a year, he talked about the little things.

I'm excited about him. As excited as you can get about a 3rd base coach.

"All this has done is put the Tigers in a better position to contend with us."

by ballyb on Feb 13, 2008 8:11 AM CST reply actions

Hi boys

I am new to this site how are all of you doing? GO SOX!

by Not Fooling Anyone on Feb 13, 2008 9:52 AM CST reply actions

You're not new to the site

You've been childishly playing around here for months now

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 13, 2008 12:51 PM CST up reply actions

You tell him Cheat

I think we've all grown tired of Larry. ;P

How do you fuck a nut?!

by omnipotent grab on Feb 13, 2008 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

Is that you Soulja Boy?

by BoKnows on Feb 13, 2008 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

Clemens Hearing live-blogging

at the Trib here:

http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/live_blogging_the_clemens_hear.html

Next time, Bhoov, do some research.

by Chiburb on Feb 13, 2008 9:56 AM CST reply actions

Looks like

Rocket is squirming and is pissed off.

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

"If Jose Contreras throws the ball the way we think he's going to throw the ball, we've got a chance." - Kenny Williams (2-10-08)

by tailgater on Feb 13, 2008 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

extensive ST coverage at the trib

six articles, including one with comments on each player invited to ST.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080212-white-sox-spring-training-preview,1,5046705.storygall ery

by larry on Feb 13, 2008 10:16 AM CST reply actions

i think these guys are learning, too

while there is a little bit of the usual jargon from baseball writers (odd love for pablo, for one) these articles are actually replete with sensible analysis:

from phil

Consider the year-by-year on-base-plus-slugging rankings among AL teams at those positions:

*In center, where Aaron Rowand was replaced by a cast including Brian Anderson, Darin Erstad and Jerry Owens: sixth in 2005, 13th in '06 and 14th in '07.

*In left, where Scott Podsednik was counted on as the regular all three seasons: 14th, 12th and ninth.

*At short, where Uribe has been the regular: 10th, eighth and ninth.

In 2007, Williams somehow permitted Jerry Owens (who needed 99 at-bats to drive in his first big-league run), Andy Gonzalez, Danny Richar and Alex Cintron to combine for 917 at-bats. In other words, one of every six at-bats for the White Sox went to these guys, who combined for 11 home runs and 62 RBIs.

Mike Caruso, as bad a big-league player as there ever was, got only 155 more at-bats during his career and drove in 28 more runs. So essentially the Sox had two Carusos in the lineup every game last year. This is the slingshot approach for slaying a Goliath.

OPS? surely you jest, phil. and is that a piranha reference at the end?

you're up, mark

The additions of Swisher, Cabrera, Carlos Quentin and Alexei Ramirez give manager Ozzie Guillen more options, including sitting designated hitter Jim Thome against tough left-handers.

The combination of Cabrera and Swisher at the top of the batting order will give the Sox at least a more competitive chance against lefties. The switch-hitting Swisher, who could bat as high as second or as low as sixth in the order, had a .458 on-base percentage against left-handers last season and a .291 average against lefties.

platoons? OBP? who are these guys?

and did they really include bill james' projections? my god, they did.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/chi-080213cactussox-gfx.jpg,0,13237 41.graphic

by larry on Feb 13, 2008 3:23 PM CST up reply actions

Phillies sign Kris Benson to a minor league deal..

Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Kris Benson on a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
The two sides have reportedly been working on a deal for at least a week, but Benson may not be ready for Opening Day after missing all of last season following surgery to repair a torn labrum. Director of professional scouting Chuck LaMarr said that Benson is at "60-70 percent" after watching him throw twice, suggesting that he's likely to begin the season at Triple-A.

by SSH2005 on Feb 13, 2008 3:07 PM CST reply actions

Joy

Zac (UT): Carlos Quinten or Carlos Gonzalez?

Jim Callis: Call me crazy, but give me Quentin.

by BoKnows on Feb 13, 2008 3:34 PM CST reply actions

who will start? set-up? spring pitching drama!

or not.

Jobs will be won over the next six weeks, some will be lost. And it all starts on Saturday, when pitchers and catchers are expected to report for the start of White Sox Camp 2008.
Until the position players check in almost a week later, however, don't expect much "drama.'' Unlike last spring, the starting staff is intact, and six of the seven bullpen spots are all but locks.
"I don't see a lot of drama as far as who is going to be on this staff,'' pitching coach Don Cooper insisted on Tuesday. "I have my own mindset right now on where it is, who I think, penciled in lightly. And let's face it, some guys are already inked in.''
The one battle that will catch Cooper's eye, as well as the eye of general manager Ken Williams, will come between Ehren Wassermann and Nick Masset.

The card:

Wassermann - RHP - age: 27
Pros: Limited right-handers to a .174 average and did not allow a home run in 33 appearances. Also, has that fearless look to him on the mound that manager Ozzie Guillen loves.
Cons: Lefties hit .533 off him, making him a right-handed specialist, while first batters faced hit .313.

Masset - RHP - age: 25
Pros: Was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA as a spot starter, and has long relief stuff, as well as an ability to fill in when a starter goes down.
Cons: Is out of options and never grasped the idea of being a reliever. His 1-3 record and 7.75 ERA out of the bullpen were evidence of that.

The Frontrunner: If the season were to start today, Wassermann would be breaking camp on the 25-man roster. As for Masset, expect the pitcher to be moved near the end of camp if he doesn't change some minds. He is a power arm and has better stuff than Wassermann, but that means very little. See Andrew Sisco and David Aardsma.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/whitesox/2008/02/so_it_begins.html#more

by larry on Feb 13, 2008 3:50 PM CST reply actions

I'm of the opinion

That MacDougal may be on the block along with Crede, and that Masset is a near mortal lock to make the bullpen even if Mac is back.

They're going to give Masset every chance to stick with the big club. Think of him almost as a Rule 5 pick. He's going to stick around until he's no longer able to be hidden.

If Mac's still here, that roster spot will likely send Wasserman, who has all of his options remaining, back to Charlotte. Though if Mac is flipped with Crede for Lowry, I would imagine Lowry would find his way onto the roster, again pushing Ehren to AAA.

AIM: SouthSideCheat

by The Cheat on Feb 13, 2008 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

This team needs...

a long reliever, in my opinion. The Sox are going to be going to the 'pen in the 3rd-4th-5th inning more than a few times this year, and assembling a bullpen with seven short relievers probably isn't a good idea, given that. I hope and pray the Sox realise that.

In that regard, I don't think Wassermann is competing for a job with Masset - he's waiting for someone to get hurt, or, as the Cheat suggests, waiting for MacDougal to get dealt.

If Masset's competing with anyone, he's competing with Charlie Haeger, or if the Sox deal for a starter, Gavin Floyd.

by The Jerry Royster Experience on Feb 13, 2008 4:21 PM CST up reply actions