MY SABER SOX LINEUP

There was a bit of a debate amongst Sox fans on Twitter this morning about lineup construction and the way things are always done. It started because the White Sox signed Melky Cabrera, and we're all assuming that Cabrera will bat second in the lineup.

He's the ideal two-hole hitter!

At least, that's the common conception based on the way that managers have always filled out their lineups. But there are arguments that there are better ways to construct your lineup, ways that, by and large, most managers don't utilize.

Sabermetricians (henceforth to be referred to as NERDS in a loving manner, for I do appreciate the NERDS and would consider myself a bit of one when it comes to baseball) used years worth of data to determine whether or not the way that lineups are put together really is the optimal way to do things.

Turns out they aren't, at least not according to the data.

LACTOSE INTOLERANT: LEFT FIELD OPTIONS BESIDES THE MELK MAN

We know the White Sox need to upgrade left field. The White Sox know they need to upgrade left field. Rick Hahn himself basically went on the radio earlier this week and said it. While he spoke in his typical measured tones, if you read between the lines of what he was saying you could hear his brain screaming "Dayan Viciedo is so bad please don't make me go through another season with him as my left fielder."

That's why there have been all those rumors about the White Sox and Mariners talking Viciedo, with most of the talking coming from the White Sox end of things. Maybe the Sox are hoping that if they say Seattle's interested in Viciedo enough that it will eventually come true. Like an exasperated Jedi mind trick.

I don't know that it will work no matter how many times that Sarah McLachlan commercial plays.

WHITE SOX TO GO AFTER EVAN LONGORIA?

It's been a fun winter already, but apparently things could get more interesting.

The Score's Bruce Levine was on the Mully and Hanley Show Wednesday morning, and during his appearance he speculated about the possibility of another big trade for the White Sox. According to Levine, he believes there'd be mutual interest between the Sox and the Rays in doing a deal for Evan Longoria.

Which, if true, well excuse me I need to go fan myself for a few minutes.

What's not clear is if Levine is just pulling this idea out of his ass, or if he's seen or heard any possible chatter between the two sides, even if they're extremely preliminary discussions. All I know is that I found out about the talk this morning, and now I can't stop thinking about it.

Evan Longoria has taken over my mind.

WHAT'S WITH THE LOVE FOR YOENIS CESPEDES?

With the Red Sox signing both Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez there have been plenty of people willing to tell you that Yoenis Cespedes is now available for trade. Many believe that the Red Sox will have Hanley in left field before long, which makes Cespedes expendable.

And that makes sense.

What makes less sense to me is the amount of White Sox fans I know that think they should trade for Cespedes. I've even seen national writers like Jon Heyman tweet that Cespedes could be used by Boston to trade for a pitcher like Mat Latos which only leads to one simple question from me.

Why?