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Yes, and I suspect that Eloy is going to emerge as the stronger leader, in any case. He seems to be such a magnetic figure, with an infectious personality. If he becomes the star, most people envision, he will likely become the team leader. He is very likable and would make a terrific role model. He is "the bess".

Manny Machado, arch-villain: Chase Utley, beloved grinder, soon to be recipient of underdog online Hall of Fame support:

It did happen. AJ got hit in the cajones during practice and went down. The trainer came over and asked him how he felt. AJ punched there and told him, "like that."

Different situation. AJ batted left handed.

https://www.nj.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/01/44755201946874/mlb-rumors-predicting-where-top-7-remaining-free-agents-land-bryce-harper-to-phillies-mystery-team-lands-manny-machado-yankees-sign-starter.html NJ.com predicts Harper to Phils, Machado to Sox Bryce Harper Why it will happen: Philadelphia will find a way to make Harper a contract offer with the biggest annual salary and most money in history. Let’s say nine years, $326M. Team ‘stupid money’ gets its guy. At some point this winter, it feels like rumors pivoted from the Phillies truly pursuing Machado to going all-in on Harper. The left-handed slugger will join Rhys Hoskins to form one of the best lineup duos in the sport. Manny Machado Why it will happen: With Harper in Philadelphia, Machado’s best possible landing spot becomes Chicago over places like San Diego and Miami. For just over $250M, the White Sox get a future Hall of Famer and a building block to put prospects around. This could work, much like the majority of Machado’s time in Baltimore.

Do we know what White Sox hat that is yet? I don't recognize it.

Manny signs front-loaded deal with the Rams.

I would imagine because football is now over they can "load" baseball season.

No. If you don't get either Harper or Machado then I don't want any more moves

No. Too old, we're not ready to compete without Machado/Harper. He will likely want a multi-year deal.

Yes. Don't believe AJs version. Stan is a good guy. Stan was just checking on him as any trainer would do.

Seems like Rockies are trying to extend arenado. Sox really can't let machado get away.

I dont know Machado but AJ wasn't an act. He was an a$$hole as a person. Treated people like dirt.

Perhaps A. J. was more of a jerk than I thought. In any case, that does not however, make Machado any less of one.

Touche! LOL. Aside from "being left handed," A. J. was a very smart player, with a high baseball acumen. He could grate on opposing player's nerves, and I know that he had a reputation of being "one of the most hated players in baseball". If I had to sum up my impression of the difference between the two players, in respect to their character, I would say that A. J. seemed to enjoy playing a villain, but Machado seems to actually be one. With A. J. it was often a "work," in the tradition of Pro Wrestling, something for which he had a fascination. I think he enjoyed the theatrics. By contrast, Machado seems to be serious about being a jerk, at times. At any rate, it's all very subjective.

I just watched the "Manny Machado being Manny" video again. If the Sox don't sign him, watching that video might be a good way to get over the disappointment. He can be a hard guy to like, at times. I appreciate guys who play the game hard and play to win, but some of the stuff he has done is hard to appreciate.

Imagine Manchado onboard, Eloy stepping up, Jose being healthy and Polka dotting HR balls. That would be fun to watch even if it was repeated every day like Sonny and Cher on your clock radio.

I didn't think this thread could get any more deflated than it already was, but here we are playing hangman. Lmao.

"And hope that Bryce Harper does not yet know how to read a calendar, such that he does not realize there are no 3 hour outdoor games played in Chicago in January. Because the person who wrote this piece does not understand that concept."

Bruuuuuuce parody account=funny

I understand the concern about tanking ruining sports, but if the alternative is the ridiculous European Soccer model where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, I'll take some teams tanking. There are about ten football clubs worth anything anymore and almost every league is a two horse race.

I wouldn’t worry about him being a role model or influence on our young Latin talent. Those guys are going to be who they are regardless of Manny’s influence m. I truly believe his personality quirks have been way overblown. There are bad dudes somewhere within every lineup, they don’t ruin the team dynamic . Especially when they are Uber talented. When it’s a bad team everyone focuses on the personality flaws of each guy but it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the cause of the team failure .

I assumed that it was probably about the "dirty player" moniker and, or his comments about not being "Johnny Hustle". Those couple of plays at first base, where he kicked the first baseman's ankle in one instance and stepped on another's foot, looked really bad. I have been concerned about his character, from the start, because the Sox have a lot of young Latin players. It would be a shame if he were to become their role model. They all seem to be such good kids, and hopefully they would not be negatively influenced by any one player, with questionable character. To me, that might be the biggest benefit to having both Alonso and Jay around. They are purportedly really great guys and have mentored Manny, for a long time. They would likely keep him in line.

How dare you diss Ross Gload like that.

I don't care where Harper goes as long as the Sox get Manny.

Harper is a huge marketing opportunity and I don't think Padres needed Boras to convince them of that.

Covey Kluber

lol stop man, you were talking about drafting players to rush them up for contenders and that is clearly not the case here nor was it the case with any of the players you cited (other than Burdi which I agreed about). Collins was seen as around that slot in the draft, where the Sox took him, and it was known there were deep questions about his defense and therefore he might not move as fast if a team was going to try to keep him there. And we are debating here whether or not to promote a guy after a full year after AA, or maybe a couple months later. I'm all for pointing out it is a mistake, but this is not some "so White Sox" thing to do to draft Collins. Your perception is like 5 years old on this topic. Don't try to turn a single, IMO poor, developmental diecision into something unrelated about draft philosophy.