Notes from Sabermetrics Night at the Cell
Frontpaged. Because who wants to read a recap about another crappy shutout? -- The Cheat
Kevin Goldstein hears from scouts that Poreda's breaking stuff is more consistent. Whereas in the past he heard the vast majority of scouts saying Poreda would end up as a reliever, the opinion is now split much closer to 50-50.
Goldstein is hearing that the White Sox are going to be looking for "upside" in the draft.
When Rick Hahn entered the conference room, Goldstein was discussing that the White Sox were going to be giving up far less for Peavy than the Braves were in the offseason. Hahn smiled at that description.
Hahn discussed the perception that the White Sox were in the bottom half of "sabr-friendly" organizations. He likes that perception because it helps them pull off deals. Noted that another organization that would probably be considered in the top few sabr-friendly had a deal for Quentin but that was nixed by that organization's medical staff. Noted that KW certainly is more comfortable with going with his "eyes and gut" but he listens to all the information and opinions.
Dan Fabian, the White Sox resident stat guy, has spent the most time working on relief/bullpen analysis, health, and the coaching staff. Noted the obvious that Herm and the staff at Rush Medical lets the White Sox take a gamble on injury-prone players.
Hahn was talking to one of his assistant GM buddies and they came up with two teams who will have money to pick up contracts this season; says there will probably be a couple more who can but expects lots more sellers than buyers.
He says the Sox spend "too much time" with their pitchers on trying to stop the running game. Says "too much" because it's not working and they should probably just focus on the hitters. Noted that the Sox take the whole player and not holding runners is a negative they'll accept if other things are good.
Reiterated that they strongly believe Flowers will be able to adequately handle being a catcher at the major league level. Discussed AJ's impact: sticks to a gameplan but also knows how to make adjustments in the gameplan.
Beckham has "marvelous makeup" and "special makeup". Beckham can handle the expectations placed on him but Hahn thought the hype in spring training was ridiculous. As for Beckham playing third at Charlotte, he sarcastically said "Don't read anything into that."
Responding to a question about BA being "mishandled" Hahn said BA had a chance in 2006 and he wasn't very good. Needed to go back to the minors to work on some things. Still needs to work on some things mechanically with his swing. Also expect to see a kind of platoon so long as BA has trouble with righties. As for being "mishandled", BA doesn't and never has lacked confidence so that wasn't a concern.
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Comments
oh yeah,
apparently it was the white sox who approached BP about hosting the event – who says they’re not friendly to the stat geeks?
and 67WMAQ is a real journalist and knows how to get the attention of an interview subject so i struck out in my attempt to grill hahn about the white sox foreign amateur scouting. knew i shouldn’t have sat next to him.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 6:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The trick is when they point randomly in your direction
you say “Who, me?” and start talking.
by 67WMAQ on Jun 2, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
thing was, i knew he was pointing at you.
i’m enough of a dick to do what you described but i figured that you, being a “journalist”, would have a real good question. i figured wrong.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I stand by my question of "who are you? and what are you doing?" shed light on a lot of things.
by 67WMAQ on Jun 2, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
true. kind of like the first few hours of the frost/nixon interviews.
thing is, for it to work, you gotta let me finish him off by bludgeoning him with wildergate.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ouch.
Settle down with the designer stats. This isn’t fucking algebra, it’s baseball..
by defensive indifference on Jun 2, 2009 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Excellent information. Thanks.
We’re a pack of a-holes.
by rhythm on Apr 14, 2009 1:45 PM EDT
by winningugly on Jun 2, 2009 8:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
this Hahn guy sounds dodgy
When Rick Hahn entered the conference room, Goldstein was discussing that the White Sox were going to be giving up far less for Peavy than the Braves were in the offseason. Hahn smiled at that description.
Why did he smile? What does he think of Poreda and RIchard?
As for Beckham playing third at Charlotte, he sarcastically said “Don’t read anything into that.”
So does he think that Beckham will not be playing at 3B?
Hahn was talking to one of his assistant GM buddies and they came up with two teams who will have money to pick up contracts this season; says there will probably be a couple more who can but expects lots more sellers than buyers.
Who are these teams?
and no I’m not trying to drill Larry. Thank you for sharing this for us(and I rec’d it), I just have a lot of questions.
Colon, who after pitching 5 scoreless innings, had to leave the game with an upset stomach.
by blackoutsox on Jun 2, 2009 10:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
sounds like the guy talks a lot of bullshit and is full of himself...
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart
by Jbasic89 on Jun 2, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if that's what you got from my notes,
i really need to work on my writing.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
probably not im just tired and need a drink
R.I.P. Nick Adenhart
by Jbasic89 on Jun 2, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think anyone who has been in the same room as him thinks this accurate.
If anything, I think it is awesome that the Sox make people like him and Boyer, Reifert etc, available for events like this. They have all always seemed very gracious.
by VictorB on Jun 3, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"sarcastically"
meaning, none of us in the room are dumb so i’m not going to insult you guys by blowing smoke up your ass about why beckham is playing third.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
as for, "what does he think of poreda and richard [and whomever the third player was]?"
those guys are nice. but i doubt there’s anyone in baseball who would take those three over the four the braves were offering. except the padres now. whoops.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
thank you
just wasnt sure which way the sarcasm was going or exactly why he smiled
Colon, who after pitching 5 scoreless innings, had to leave the game with an upset stomach.
by blackoutsox on Jun 2, 2009 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
rick hawn is awesome
widely considered to next in line when KW decides to hang it up. He’s interviewed for the Red Sox GM job and also was speculated to be a strong candidate for the Seattle opening last offseason.
Had a (for Sox fans at the time) eye opening quote in the NYTs about a form of proprietary WS that the Sox used when making the Thome deal.
He’s a great asset and no doubt has great influence with KW.
That’s great stuff that he mentioned about working on the bullpen and health, the Sox have put together what many analysts consider “magical” seasons from their pitching staff in regards to “luck” and health. Maybe Hahn and KW know something we don’t.
by madvillian on Jun 3, 2009 12:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the recap.
Can you please provide a detailed breakdown of “marvelous makeup” vs. “special makeup” and specifically, note how the two differ, but yet, can coexist?
TYIA
Formerly Crede's Crew
by Q!'s Qrew on Jun 2, 2009 10:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i would have thought the obvious implication of that
was that hahn was gushing about the guy he really, really, really wanted to draft last year and was really, really, really happy fell to the sox.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 10:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It was...it was my lame attempt at humor. Thanks again
Formerly Crede's Crew
by Q!'s Qrew on Jun 2, 2009 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, we've got a couple mental midgets above. sorry to lump you in.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
blame the new screenname
change it to 3e9 or shaftp then I’ll be the one getting confused
Twitter: @SouthSideCheat
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by The Cheat on Jun 2, 2009 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
rex grossman is posting on here now?
takes some real stones for the one certifiable cocksucker on here to jump into this convo.-mm
by furby2056 on Jun 2, 2009 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nice recap, lar
Three things that stuck out:
1 – I don’t believe Hahn is exactly telling the truth when he says only two or three teams will have the money to take on salary this year. After an entire winter of crying poor, the Sox were willing to take on Peavy’s salary (up to a point).
2- Viciedo is still very much a work in progress. Cuba is long on pride, but short on plate discipline.
3- Hahn said the success of Quentin and Floyd has worked against the Sox – kinda. Other teams are now reluctant to send their underperforming prospects to Chicago because they’re afraid they will flourish.
The BP people are affable folks who don’t deserve the shit they get from some “old school” baseball writers and commentators.
by 67WMAQ on Jun 2, 2009 10:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i thought he revised the two they thought up
to “a couple more”. so call it five or something. i think it also could be interpreted as “can take on salary and actually will be looking to make a trade.” i dunno. these guys are a lot more tuned into the gossip inside the game than we are. and a lot of these owners took tremendous hits to their net worth. will the rush of a playoff race get the better of some teams in a couple months? i’d bet on it, especially since i think you’re going to see some pretty quality players put on the block at cut rate prices – bargains bring buyers. but i think the point about the rather marked difference in the quality of the peavy trade packages is a somewhat illustrative point; if that’s what it takes to get peavy now, it seems like there’s been a decent shift in the market.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 2, 2009 10:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
To me
it sounded like he was saying more teams were going to be shedding salaries just to dump contracts off the books, and that only a handful of teams could absorb more salary. The trades you’ll see closer to the deadline are more likely salary dumps.
My question is: who was the White Sox player Hahn was talking about when he was speaking with the other assistant GM? Had to be someone with a big enough salary for the other team to reject. Jenks?
by Off the bus running on Jun 3, 2009 7:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
or cole armstrong.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 3, 2009 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that would get an assistant GM to laugh
but I don’t think salary would be the constraint.
by Off the bus running on Jun 3, 2009 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think you're conflating the two topics.
he said he was talking to this guy about a sox player, they weren’t interested, then they started shooting the shit.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 3, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK
Did you get the sense that Beckham was getting called up in a short time? When he said all they’d ask of him is to play good defense and have good at bats, sounded to me like a plan was already in place. All-Star break?
by Off the bus running on Jun 3, 2009 9:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i think they're leaving that option open.
White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry
by larry on Jun 3, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice recap
Thanks!
Always bet on black!
by onlysoxfaninboston on Jun 3, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
VG, thx.
Until you've looked at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day, you don't realize how often they go up in flames...
by Chiburb on Jun 3, 2009 8:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This is a lovely piece, thank you.
I think it's funny to picture them as completely different characters. One is Big and one is Hairy. But neither are both.
by homesickalien on Jun 3, 2009 9:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
good stuff
thanks man for sharing this. I kind of feel like there is not enough interviews of sox front office personnel. Maybe that’s a team thing, they are busy and probably would not disclose what they are doing to the public anyways, so why waste time.
Even considering the injuries this year, sox staff has been doing incredible job keeping the guys healthy.
As for the “Hahn thought the hype in spring training was ridiculous” regarding Beckham, I guess we are not the only ones that are not used to having top prospects around.
Lupe, release the balloons!
by LT_sox_fan on Jun 3, 2009 10:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the recap / insight
The only beef I have with Sabr night is that ya’ll didn’t bring home a winner. I guess you can’t have it your way all the time, no matter what Burger King tells me. ;)
...take your hobbit circle jerk to another thread
by larry on May 18, 2009 8:58 PM PDT
by rhythm on Jun 3, 2009 11:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
haha, well this is BK's way regarding climate change...i think tailgater and hoodie would like this

Always bet on black!
by onlysoxfaninboston on Jun 3, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
late in reading
thank you.
"I'm just here to provide street cred"
by Tdogg on Jun 3, 2009 2:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
thanks for posting larry
anybody else bought the blog night tickets yet? i’m getting paid this weekend so i will be signing up soon
takes some real stones for the one certifiable cocksucker on here to jump into this convo.-mm
by furby2056 on Jun 3, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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