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Johnnydollaz89
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How's it hanging? Early rise for me today, at work since 7:30.
The White Sox have re-signed right-hander Dylan Axelrod to a minor league contract, according to the team's official transactions page. Axelrod is a represented by Prodigal Sports Group.
The 28-year-old Axelrod appeared in a career-high 30 games for the White Sox in 2013 (20 starts), posting a 5.68 ERA with 5.1 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a 40.3 percent ground-ball rate in a career-high 128 1/3 innings. Axelrod found himself very prone to the home run, averaging 1.7 homers per nine innings pitched. Part of his struggles could be velocity-related, as Axelrod averaged 88.1 mph on his fastball last season.
The White Sox non-tendered Axelrod on Dec. 2 despite the fact that he's not yet arbitration eligible. Though they apparently wanted to free up a 40-man roster spot, the White Sox clearly see potential in Axelrod. Chicago signed him out of independent ball after he was released by the Padres, and he's posted a sub-3.00 ERA in the minors for the Sox since that signing. In 188 1/3 innings at Triple-A, Axelrod has a 2.58 ERA with 8.0 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9.
Axelrod will serve as a nice depth piece for the White Sox and could compete with Andre Rienzo, Erik Johnson and Eric Surkamp for a rotation spot in 2014. Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and John Danks are all locks for Chicago's rotation, and Felipe Paulino figures to get a crack at the rotation as well after sigining a one-year deal worth $1.75MM.
The Mariners are close to a deal with free agent catcher John Buck, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Buck, 33, is represented by the ACES agency.
The backstop played out the last year of a three-year, $18MM contract last season. After originally signing that deal with the Marlins, Buck was dealt from the Blue Jays to the Mets, and then to the Pirates. Buck raced out to a hot start in 2013 -- he had a .844 OPS and 9 home runs in April -- but faded over the course of the year. He saw only 24 plate appearances in his late-season stint in Pittsburgh, and ultimately ended the 2013 campaign with a .219/.285/.362 line and 15 home runs over 431 plate appearances. Buck has appeared in at least 100 games in eight of the last nine seasons and has a lifetime .701 OPS.
As things stand for Seattle, young catcher Mike Zunino figures to be the club's primary catching option for 2014 (and beyond), with 25-year-old Jesus Sucre and veteran Humberto Quintero also in the mix. At first glance, Buck would presumably fit in as Zunino's backup if a deal is consummated. On the other hand, as MLBTR's Aaron Steen has noted, the unseasoned Zunino could probably stand to spend more time in the minors or in a reduced role, and Buck's long history as a starter makes him a plausible candidate to see significant time behind the big league dish.
How's it hanging? Early rise for me today, at work since 7:30.
it should be a crime to be at work before 9am
You're telling me!!
Only good thing is i'm out at 4:30 and going to the Ranger game tonight!
I had a chance to see the Celtics last night. I laughed and refused instead. I wish death upon danny ainge. we are the boston Celtics, we should always be a contender every year. the other elite teams are, we should be too.
looks like another night of work until 7pm
it should be a crime to be at work before 9am
I dream of a life when I only go to work when I am actually feeling ready, willing, and able to do so.
Morning all!
Hey D, just been reading some stuff about the Rangers going with a platoon at DH this year, using the lefty Moreland against RHPs and some yet to be determined righty against LHPs. This topic has been discussed quite a bit on the Rangers board, with some posters saying that a DH platoon has little history of success. I think that might be right, but I'm curious what you or others in this thread have to say about that.
Saw Wolf of Wall Street last night and it was fucking fantastic. Also pretty fucking cool that his second job as a broker took place 15 minutes from where I live here on Long Island!
Saw Wolf of Wall Street last night and it was fucking fantastic. Also pretty fucking cool that his second job as a broker took place 15 minutes from where I live here on Long Island!
Who would have thunk that Martin Scorsese would do soft core ****? I am looking forward to this one myself.
I could see where a D.H platoon would not work. My angle would be in the inactivity of the players in the platoon. A lot of guys in the past have struggled just to be a full time D.H, as some have a hard time producing only so often. The same reason why it is hard to be a solid pinch hitter. However, I would think that the Rangers would not just have a D.H platoon, but maybe 4 guys to rotate the D.H/1B/OF spots, so each guys gets decent playing time. That would work. A straight and only D.H platoon, I see problems.