greg775

Don Kessinger was Sox player/manager. That was a worst hire.

I hope we see the bad Nova during our many games vs. Detroit. When he was bad he was bad. He could be good on occasion as we all know. We could really tee off on him at the Cell hopefully.

My main beef is the all or nothing attitude of baseball execs. Players are expected to either hit a home run or strike out. This despite the fact some managers are still going to the bunt at times when no modern GM thinks bunting is ever a good idea. I also despise the shift caused by computer print outs. Everybody knows where batters are going to hit the ball if it doesn't go over the fence and is put in play. When I see a shift that has three infielders on the right side and up the middle and one infielder standing at shortstop, it angers me to no end when the hitter refuses to tap the ball to the left side and get an automatic single. I also hate the game of bringing in relievers for lefty/righty matchups as early as the fifth or sixth inning. Very boring. I also hate the umpires refusing to call a strike a strike. Baseball has no control over its umpires. Baseball is in a lot of trouble if ratings start to decline. They say the average baseball fan is over 55 right? Kids despise baseball. This is not good for the sport.

Abreu extension: A I love Jose. To haters, at least i didn't give him A plus. Grandal signing: B Why not? I got nothing against the guy. No reason to keep McCann though. Get rid of him now for a reliever. Mazara trade: C or B- We need him, so why not? Obviously I'd prefer Avi but hey I don't get my way. Maybe he'll be this team's Jermaine Dye. Keuchel signing: B I have no idea. It's not my money but obviously it's risky signing pitchers cause, well, they get hurt or suddenly stink. Whatever ... I hope for the best as I want a pennant. Gio G signing: F Remember I said this. He's finished. EE signing: A I don't mind his age. I want some more bombs and he can hit them. Luis Robert extension: B I'm OK with the extension; now please be a star, Luis. Cishek signing: B We need relievers. I'm Ok with this acquisition. Overall: C Front office is trying. I'm OK with Hahn. I'd be OK with a B- but let's see what happens. I'm skeptical we can top .500 with RR and an aging Coop.

Glad we've signed a potential eighth inning guy. Not to beat the dead horse, but Ricky has some pieces to work with this year. I hope Hahn pulls the trigger quickly and fires Ricky and/or Coop if it is warranted early. Look ... our team is used to LOSING. But there's no reason to come out losing this season and being 10 back in mid May with all these additions. All positions have good bodies to fill them. As much as I want an Avi in RF, I can't argue that our new 24 year old is a possible sensation out there. We got hitting additions; we got pitching additions. I think Ricky is a nice representative of our franchise and I love the fact he's a GREAT communicator in more than one language. And I love Coop in theory. But it's time to WIN and if our pitching blows and our W/L sucks early, please fire Ricky. As far as this post ... again, Hahn looks like the real deal. I despised the tank job/rebuild but on paper we should be ready to rock a bit. No more laughingstocks of the AL. Just.Win.Please.

Thank you very much. I'll cheer for him thinking about the 100 RBI season.

This is great. As much as I loved Hawk he got to be crotchety old guy. Stoney is somehow 72 years old but sounds and acts like he's 52. or 42. These 2 guys make it fun. Hawk had finally gotten too grouchy. Good luck Stoney and Jason. You two are a delight.

We don't need McCann any more. He doesn't fit as a backup who would see limited duty. The question is can we get a reliever for him? Hope so.

Is Nomar Mazara any good? I know he's only 24 which is great but isn't he one of our weakest links?

I wouldn't think so.

To those of us who refused to bury Hahn, we look good now. So many people had wanted to axe Hahn after Manny fiasco. Many of us were like meh, give him some more time, even those of us who added a caveat that we despise tanking. Now Hahn is a hero on the south side. Put together a plan for the pitching staff and we may win 105 games. Cmon Coop, get to work and develop a plan before ST.

I hear what you are saying. I'm not quite with you. A lot of people would take one WS win and no other playoff appearances as you say. I would gladly take 1 WS win, preferably early in the decade and three more playoff appearances and be very happy. And ideally have us in contention each of the other years of the decade. If the Sox have to tank again in the relatively near future, that will be annoying.

Thanks Eloy. I would say fathom, caulfield should be the first posters deemed board Hall of Famers. I blocked southsider so I didn't notice he was gone. I'm no mod, but if anybody ever needed a vacation it was he. He was so mad all the time. But the poster of the decade is El Rockin. What can you say about El Rockin. He doesn't care what is up with the team. He loves all players and never appears to get mad at anything Sox team related. Also Harry Chappas is a smart man and his Brother Rice connection makes me his supporter.

I could take some of my issues one at a time this offseason if I don't get put on vacation for it. 1.) W/L. For decade after decade, Hall of Fame ballot after Hall of Fame ballot, W/L was huge, maybe THE most important factor in a starter being named to Hall of Fame or not. And also huge factor in the Cy Young voting. Now if you mention W/L at all you are laughed out of the discussion. I do not care much for analytics but something like this is a huge pet peeve of mine. From one of the most important factors EVER involving a pitcher's performance to "nobody cares about wins and loss record!!!"

Glass half full guy: Our lineup is so good that it carries the team and we roll, baby, roll to 93 wins. Glass half empty guy: Our manager is so ordinary and our pitching so iffy and the teams in our division so fired up when they play us it never works and we finish 4 below .500.

Thanks sir. All I was saying is he reminds me of Manny Sanguillen and prior to last year his stats were dandy for a catcher. He also has a helluva arm. Let's not discuss this and re-cause a commtion. Just saying I had my reasons, not trolling. The Sir understands me apparently. Thanx.

Sounds like the Sox, who have been plodding along doing a nice, slow job of tank/rebuilding, have for whatever reason said BOOM, we're ready to complete a dominant, division winning, possible WS winning roster. Good job by the Sox. We are full of stars right now. Personally I think we could use a plan for the pen: 7th, 8th and 9th (does anybody really trust Colome to EXCEL again?). But aside from that, this team is amazing. Somebody wants to win now.

They used to be called blockbuster trades and you'd remain involved in free agency to maintain/or improve a team as well. I think a couple trades have been dandy and the signing of Robert. I am no expert and can't guarantee anything but I think if I had time to do a thesis on the matter I think there's a chance I could prove a couple blockbuster trades plus international signings plus free agency could conceivably give my team a chance especially in a division in which no teams have a ton of money. The tanking has not provided a lot in terms of stellar draft picks. Maybe I couldn't. Not saying I'm right. I am saying free agency is providing some huge pieces which always is part of a non tank guy's plan. Don't get upset it's just one person's opinion here.

Damn. This is finally happened. Sox are favorites to win division/and or and make playoffs. What does this tell us about the rebuild? Even though the tank job obviously kickstarted this, look as those of us wanting to never tank getting 3 huge pieces in free agency: Grandal, Keuchel and EE and Gio. Regardless the pressure is on RR. he will be fired in May if the team starts out lousy the first six weeks. Team motto: "Pain subsides; Sox rebuild hits stride"

So I've been busy and can't read the whole thread. Is there 100 percent consensus we love this new Sox pitcher? I have a couple simple questions. Thanx in advance. a.) Do we literally love getting Keuchel? Nirvana type loving it? b.) How do we judge him in a Sox jersey since Ws and Ls don't matter. Pure innings pitched and ERA? Ks vs. walks? c.) Does the addition of him combined with our stud youngsters in everyday lineup assure a title?

Why would Robert go for eight years at a paltry 10 mill per annum? Wouldn't he be smarter to sign through age 26 or 27 season at about 15 mill a season? Six years, 90 million; then when he's a free agent he'll be under 30. Or is that not allowed? Do you have to play 8 years before you are a free agent? I forget.

It's hard to judge starting pitchers in this day and age since wins and losses don't matter anymore. Not flaming just trying to figure out if I like the acquisition. his ERA has been very good and he's got good strikeout to walk ratio. How fast does he fling the baseball? 90s? 95?

The Gio of 2012 would be nice.

We have been adding a lot of bad players since Hahn supposedly said we may not be ready to contend or something about not rushing contention. Detweiler, Cuthbert, Delmonico ... run away as fast as you can from ticket broker.

If we trade for Betts so the Bosox can save money we need to win the trade significantly. Sick of these trades in which that are even or we give up too much. Give them Vaughn and some stiff who will never make it big and be done with it. They are the ones desperate to save cash.