poppysox

This idea that it somehow works in the owners favor to finish second rather than first is nuts. Do you really think a 2nd place team is more valuable than a perennial contender? Value would be determined by many things. Bottom line profit, size of market place, attendance and merchandise sales among them. Full park and robust merchandise sales would attract the most potential buyers at the highest sales price IMO.

Wheeler & Keuchel...that would get the job done for me.

That was when a Yankee vs White Sox series in Chicago was can't miss baseball. A Sunday doubleheader between those two teams was sheer bliss. Good memories.

Jerry was probably trying to be funny. It wouldn't surprise me if some people on this board have said some things that on reflection weren't very smart.

My brother and I live in different States but manage to talk by phone a couple hours a week. Often the subject is baseball and now it's the offseason trades that are sure to help our respective teams. We both think our managers could be better and think coaches ought to be able to teach an outfielder to throw to the proper base. We both hate inner divisional play and think 1/3 of the teams making the playoffs is unfair to the team who played best all year. Playing half your schedule against 4 teams is simply boring...I want to see the stars of the Yanks & Boston more than 1 home series per year. You get it...we liked the game the way it was before the changes. We love that todays player is bigger, stronger and faster. I wish the average player would be baseball smarter...but you can't have everything. I guess I'm trying to say that baseball with all it's warts is a great pastime for your whole life. Try to enjoy it even when it's not easy.

My Cub fan brother (2 years older) has put up with disappointment longer than me. When we were young it would frequently break down to pushing & shoving bouts. I've learned with age to keep it in perspective. I seldom miss a game and the Sox have brought me many hours of enjoyment and yes...frustration. It's a great pastime...not life and death.

I enjoy your posts. Don't always agree but that's not a requirement.

Looking forward to it.

Probably because some people like to think the worse of people. Jerry seems like a very loyal and caring boss...probably to a fault when dumping a poor performer or two. I imagine there are more knowledgeable baseball people that he could have surrounded himself with but feels comfortable with KW and RH as people he trusts and why not...he owns the club. JR has always struck me as prudent rather than cheap.

As I stated in my post...the Sox are positioned to start a long lasting winning streak next year. We have probably the best assortment of potential stars at any time of my 65 years of Sox fandom....and the money to complete the mission. Why would I want to keep rehashing perceived mistakes of the past? I try to enjoy what I can regarding the Sox since I have no control over what the FO does or doesn't do. My next 5 months will be spent envisioning the great lineup and dominant pitching staff that is being assembled. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change...the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." That is version of the Serenity Prayer authored by R. Niebuhr in 1934.

I don't get the negativity so often expressed on all things front office. We are where they indicated the Sox would be when we started the rebuild. Actually we are probably ahead of schedule a bit. We are starting with 2020 a good long run of competitive teams. Probably the beginning of the longest stretch of solid teams since the 1950's. Enjoy the offseason as the final parts are assembled and enjoy the next decade or so.

I don't see us getting both JDM and Grandal. Part of the Grandal allure is ability to DH. The rest of your "wants" are how I see it as well.

I think you are correct. We will have some who think the additions of Robert, Madrigal and Kopech won't impact wins by 15 additional wins... but I don't think you are far off at 85. Now add 2 starters one of which is TOR...RF and DH...couple RP and you compete with our division rivals. In fact...we would probably be favored.

I think this is right. Slow workers are almost always over thinking it.

Full time right fielder has to sound attractive to him.

Better to take a shot rather than release him like some have suggested.

Gardner is one of the better ideas for a one or two year placeholder deal.

Wheeler is my hope. Don't let him get away while we get strung out on the top guys. If we end up with Cole and Wheeler...lucky us. If we end up with Wood and Nova because we waited to long...not so good.

Joe Borchard for Matt Thornton should remind Sox fans that 1st rounders get extra attempts to salvage something from a failed 1st rounder.

Envy of the league would be something to shoot for.

No way I make that deal. I can't stand Woo Woo.

I can appreciate that announcing a meaningless game that has little action is not easy...but Jason's comedy routine is not funny. Later in the season as some of the young guys played some interesting ball...he improved imo. I often listen to the opponents announcers and truthfully...not many are any better. Jason and Stone should stick to baseball and leave the comedy to the professionals.

I tend to be a trust my eyes type as well. In actuality...analytics and gut instincts both play a role in todays game.

No...I don't want the blind leading the blind. My comments were assuming we get Ricky like it or not. My actual thought is why take Maddon when Girardi is available?

This looks good but I too think they will go bigger. Time for Jerry to go all in.