FT35

But man he started off great--lots of MLBTV guys agreeing he was the best player on the field for them...all kinds of ultra positive accolades. I'd like to think he just lost all confidence at the first sign of struggle, but then the truth hit me...the decline corresponded perfectly with the day I added him in a competitive fantasy league. He's got an Ian Kinsler skill set but a long way to go.

PLUS...you can not convince me that the "White Sox way" doesn't involve some sort of social media piece...it's too much of how they work. See...Nicky be DEL-MINE-ICO. Come on...it's too much a part of the fabric of how they operate now.

BINGO! All someone needs to do to divert us from what's actually taking place by, oh, I don't know...posting a bunch of random junk like videos of questionable hats, baby shoes, baseball gloves...let the masses consume the "stupid" diversions! It's classic "WATCH THE BIRDY!"

See!? The dialog sorta writes itself!!

Peeps...I don't mean to speculate, but think about this. There have been many people saying the Machado deal has been done for a while--it's kind of been a repeating theme with many random people...then you have Alonso saying "when" it happens. You have the Sox leaving a locker empty...it's like they know it's coming as if they HAVE KNOWN it's been official. They way they are speaking about Machado and letting these tidbits of info out--there's no way MLB would allow this UNLESS Machado was already property of the Sox. There is a LOT to suggest that it's POSSIBLE that the deal IS done and being kept from release. Now...let's make a critical mistake and make an assumption that it's true. Now ask WHY? Why would this be kept a secret? It could be that they are trying to navigate the corresponding strike of signing both Machado and Harper. Working out all the details of that so they can have 1 magical "reveal" that would consume the sports world for a long time. Maybe the solution to the super agent's standoff of "who signs first" can be solved by saying hey, we'll both sign together--on the same team...no one gets up-staged. They don't announce the Machado signing then a few days later--THAT'S over because it's all about Harper...or vise versa... Get what I'm saying? Coordinating strike? All the pieces coming together at once? Rock the world? Ra team?

Someone’s been to DC and taken good notes!

Still think this is all a big “organized chaos” PR campaign from the Sox to build up to the news. Kinda fits their M.O. —techy/quirky/off the wall. It screams “planted” to me. Also...something new comes out every couple days from “random” people. I think they’re playing us...

Then there lies the problem. This would suggest that the players are as much to blame for this FA mess as the owners. If they all want a big market team then why don’t we just can most of the teams in this league and go with an 8-team super league. It’s comments like Texiera’s that prove there’s more to this than owners manipulating profits. Guys turning down hundreds of millions of dollars cause...sniff sniff...”it’s not the Yankees...” Just makes me love our 05 team even more. They just showed up and played baseball better than you.

Yep. What this off-season has done so far has effectively shaved about $100M off the asking price of top free agents. With Giancarlo Stanton deal at $325M...you now have a player of Manny Machado's caliber (better all-around player imo) not able to get offers in the $225M range (obviously only using numbers that have been rumored). I think the owners saw Stanton's number and thought...oh...we need to put an end to this before the likes of Harper and Machado enter the market asking for a half-billion dollars. They're trying to stop the inflation.

Thought this same thing. But I still think the longer this drags on it gives a little more clarity to the Jay/Alonso signings. It might not have been done to JUST sway Manny, but to scare away other teams as well. It's somewhat of a foregone conclusion now that the White Sox have made the strongest pitch and have paved the way for Manny to play with his people. Other teams might not bother trying to land him because they know the Sox will likely get a chance to beat it--and likely will. A lot of work done to not just land this guy but to do so in a market that a (supposed) $175M "low-ball" offer would paralyze other teams from bidding higher. Rumors of that offer have made others re-evaluate the true "values" of other free agents. Ironic...a bubble-bursting low-ball offer that sent out shock waves that prompted public statements from his agent--assuming other teams would be drawn into the mix--and even IF that's ACTUALLY happened, no one has assembled the "pen-to-paper" offer that would beat ours yet?!? The public side of this story has been so cryptic. I'd love to see a truth documentary script when this is over...

A Stanton, Harper, Judge OF?? If not the best of all time, it’d certainly be the most expensive.

Who knows if this is an attempt to clear $ for Harper, but if it is, I still have to question the flip side... why a team would rather put THAT much $ into trading for Heyward, when they could just put it towards signing Harper.

Well that’s my point, they want the fast games, but the fast games are pitcher’s duels and lack extensive offense.

Double edged sword. Everyone wants to see more offense but great offense is where the extra time factors in. Long innings, pitching changes etc... Great pitching is where the time is saved--but no one wants to watch pitching duels anymore. Check out Buehrle's game times. His efficiency model--get it, throw it, induce weak contact that led to quick 1-2-3 innings. In other words...FAST = the new boring to baseball viewers. SLOW means giving the people more of what they want...offense. SMH.

Keep doing what you do, man. You bring a lot to us all and no one with any sense doubts it. This crap is particularly hard to pin down. It’s not like we’re signing Adam LaRoche—it’s a franchise face changing/MLB landscape changing off season and it’s more than something 1 person can predict. Looking forward to the time you can participate as a fan again! More fun that way anyway!

Well at least HE’S not on SoxTalk.

Yep. Love Garfein. He loves the Sox and you can tell. I’d love to know if he was on SoxTalk—think it’d be great.

Right but the lead up to it was talking about where he’ll sign and what colors he’ll be wearing. It’s totally a rumor like the rest of it, but maybe one to watch to see what they mean.

Exactly what I was thinking. He knows he’s got “stupid money” on the brink, but knows Manny will not come close. Only thing is, I think it will drive up Machado’s price if Harper signs first.

Movement on Bryce soon?? https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/does-message-mean-bryce-harper-will-announce-tuesday

In fairness...the rumors are out of control right now. They could have discussed--as an organization--to be careful with what they say to people outside the organization. The prepared quotes and winded "say nothing" responses...those could be more common now because their transparency that started this all off went "wild fire" mode. You're not hearing the same optimism that we heard earlier because you're not hearing ANYTHING of substance. Also, Hahn coming out with his statements are likely a mission of his to tone down the expectations. There was a time not long ago where the majority of his fan base was assuming we were getting Machado, Harper, Ottavino, Kimbrel, and Keuchel...plus anyone else available. Wild Fire.

I think this is a great take, but true whether they get him or not. If they DON'T get Manny, they will make 3-4 moves. They will spend to get a 3B, SP, and maybe a CF. If they sign Manny, they make 2-3 more moves (SP, CF, +). Either way, they still need a SP...how much money they have to fill that spot will determine whether they shell it out to Manny. Same thing with CF.

I kinda got burned a little for suggesting this on Friday... The problem is, all the insiders are team insiders. They know the White Sox and do great work scooping Sox info. But just as big of a piece to this is Machado’s camp. There just aren’t many leaks in that side because—ultimately—it’s going to come down to Manny. Unless he personally leaks info, every insider for every involved team, can only be 50% correct at best. The other 50 is Manny and only he can complete the puzzle. Also—the agent war doesn’t help. They’re playing big time games as well and that’s a whole other layer of unpredictability in this.

Yep. It’s starting to sound less like baseball and more like an episode of the bachelor...only a matter of time till Hahn gives Alonso his first White Sox assignment: delivering (to Manny) a folded up note containing the key to his fantasy suite...

This is beautiful. Thank you.