It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

Why would that be an indictment of fWAR?

Jose Quintana was 9-7, had a 3.51 ERA with almost a full 3:1 K/BB ratio on a team that won 63 games in 2013.

Why would that be an indictment of fWAR?

WAR is a counting stat, much like your precious W.

Because it fits his narrative.

I would suggest that if Quintana was making ~15 starts in ATT Park, his numbers wouldn't be all that different than Bumgarner's. And conversely, Bumgarner would likely be less effective if his home park was at 35th and Shields.

Hyperbole aside, I think you are correct in that assesment, but that's the beauty of a Quintana. If Moneyball has instructed us on anything, it's the value in retaining undervalued assets. If Quintana nets you ~90% of Bumgarner's value through his arb years, at possibly 50%-75% of his marquee value, you have a nice chip. Which Hahn does. My greater point is that Quintana is part of the solution going forward... he has surprised me, like found money. More worrisome is probably the Danks contract, but it's not the type of elephant that's going to cripple the franchise.

Contract details for Abreu:

Abreu will receive a $10M signing bonus and be paid $7M in 2014 and 2015, $10M in 2016, $10.5M in 2017, $11.5M in 2018 and $12M in 2019.

Interesting. Hahn used the savings from the trades of Peavy and Rios to give Abreu a big signing bonus and a lower annual salary for the first couple years. This will free up some payroll space to sign another free agent or two.

Contract details for Abreu:

Abreu will receive a $10M signing bonus and be paid $7M in 2014 and 2015, $10M in 2016, $10.5M in 2017, $11.5M in 2018 and $12M in 2019.

Interesting. Hahn used the savings from the trades of Peavy and Rios to give Abreu a big signing bonus and a lower annual salary for the first couple years. This will free up some payroll space to sign another free agent or two.

Blue Jays are interested in Beckham and perhaps Santiago or Danks.

If you hate Laurence, then don't listen - don't comment. When he co-hosts the B&B show, take that day off ... listen to an old podcast of a Bernstein solo show and jerk off all day.

I love the Jays year in and year out plan of just throwing shit against the wall and hoping it sticks. I mean they dont really have any other choice in that division.

Blue Jays are interested in Beckham and perhaps Santiago or Danks.

Why the fuck would anyone want Danks??

Hahn must be offering to eat 70% of that deal.

What makes you think the Cuban first baseman is that good? He's going to break the bank. I can't see him being better than Cespedes who is really not anything special. Granderson is going to be a player in decline and taking him away from his friendly wall in Yankee Stadium isn't going to help his power numbers. Terrible idea. Who do you think the starting catcher is?

Ah, finally getting to brass tacks...

This White Sox team is going to be pretty hobbled for the foreseeable future.

I'm guardedly optimistic regarding Abreu. The Sox had to make a radical move to upgrade the offense. I hope this one works out and that they aren't done yet.

Well, I'm hopeful too, they need to either shit or get off the pot. The last vestiges of 2005 and the moves made after a gone or close to it. I am looking forward to this offseason.

I plan on going to more games this year so we'll have plenty of time to chat about it.

The Chicago White Sox have named Todd Steverson as the team's new hitting coach.

Steverson, 41, has spent the last 10 seasons in the Oakland Athletics organization, including 2012-13 as the organization's minor-league roving hitting instructor. He was the Athletics' first-base coach from 2009-10.

Also today, the White Sox have exercised the 2014 club option on the contract of right-handed pitcher Matt Lindstrom.

Lindstrom, 33, went 2-4 with a 3.12 ERA (21 ER/60.2 IP), 20 holds and 46 strikeouts over 76 relief appearances with the White Sox in 2013 after signing as a free agent on January 25. He ranked among the American League relief leaders in opponent GIDP (2nd,15) and appearances (3rd).

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.