greg775

If we signed Machado AND Harper, would we be a playoff contender now? I say yes. If we signed one, would we be a contender now? I say yes.

Do you expect a Br. Rice victory?

Why do we have to hit the road to play Marist in the semis if we win in the quarters? We have a better seed, better record, beat em (albeit narrowly) head to head.

If the Sox were to acquire Manny and Harper ... a.) I'd eat my words gladly since I felt and still feel we won't be factors in their pursuit. b.) I would expect us to win. In 2019. Yes I would. c.) I would bring in Girardi or somebody else who has a plan of winning now with Manny, Harper, Moncada, Abreu, Avi, Timmy. I mean, cmon. No excuses. That's a winning team now. You pick up a few bargain basement pitchers to go with what we got. Please get both players, Rick Hahn.

If the Cubs are strapped right now this is a sign that the Sox in no way are going to commit that kind of money to Machado or Harper. It's too big a risk for an organization that historically has led us to believe they are not rolling in money. Machado frankly is a risky proposition considering his red flags on the field; Harper makes too much sense for the Phils or Nats or even the Cubs if they are not strapped. That said ... what did Hahn say about free agency on the podcast. I've been too busy to listen to it? Can somebody fill us in?

Are you sure that's true? Team is 11-0. Can we beat Warren in the quarters? Any experts?

I am against the rebuild because tanking annoys and frustrates me. I feel like you should try to win every game/every year and if your team happens to be horsecrap, you'll still get a high enough pick. This losing on purpose bothers me greatly. That said ... I do follow the rebuild and I am not stupid, thus I (personally, don't suspend me for my opinions please) feel that from all I've read, we plan on stinking again next season rather than beefing up the team that figures to have 3 stars soon in Eloy, Timmy and Moncada. So since we are tabled to stink again in 2019 I fully expect NO ACTIVITY this winter. That means a low, low payroll again in which Jerry and his partners make mega dollars. We have a loyal fanbase of about 20,000 fans a game who will make sure to put $$$s in the owners' wallets to go with the TV money, concessions, parking, etc. Again on the rebuild ... I like Moncada, Eloy and Timmy. I like Palka and Davidson more than you guys do. I would like us to get through next season (in last place again) and hopefully the No. 1 draft picks of 2019 and 2020 coupled with Cease, Kopech, other pitchers, Robert, etc., will be good enough starting in 2021 to bring us pennants. I don't expect us to sign ANY great free agents this winter (one inning eating starter to replace Shields, if not bring back Shields for 5-8 mill for one year). The rebuild is annoying cause I want to win, win win!! But if we can't win til 2020 or 21 so be it. I do expect us to sign some impact free agents when enough young guys are ready to rake in the big leagues. However, I would not be shocked if the rebuild does not start paying dividends til 2021. YIKES!

Can't we steal Moustakas for 4/40 mill or something like that? Lock him up then we have flexibility with Burger. IF of Moose at 3B, Timmy SS, Moncada 2B and Jose first would be imposing for years to come. We could move Madrigal or Moncada to OF if necessary. I think Moose is a natural for the Cell. Lefty hitter ... boom, 35 hrs.

I'd say 5 percent Manny; 10 percent Harper.

Finally a great post regarding Jose and what they should do with him. This is what should happen.

Why would I be banned for having an opinion? Yes as hard as it is to believe I am not appalled by the end of the Ozzie era in Chicago. I think it was inevitable. They'll never re-hire him as manager so I don't know why we get worked up over people's opinions of his legacy. I think of him as a WS manager who deserves credit for leaving his starters in all those playoff games and not overmanaging. He won't ever manage again so what's the big deal? Managers are hired to be fired anyway. He wasn't going to be on a lifetime contract with the Sox with his ego and lack of PC. Personally my biggest beef with him was his "Sunday lineups" which seems silly that I'd care about that now considering how bad the team has been under Robin/RR.

I like Avi. I think he's learned how to hit. As far as injuries, they happen. If our medical staff thinks he's destined to be on the DL a majority of the time, I'd trust that. If they think it's possible he can stay healthy, why not have a few veterans for our WS teams? I still say we aren't going to win with ALL younguns.

The quitting on the franchise never bothered me because in my opinion the divorce was happening and Jerry and Co. were glad he made the decision for them. Ozzie was a runaway train by then and it was apparent he was the loser in the Kenny/Ozzie battle for Jerry's approval. Kenny had won and Ozzie was just completing the saga and leaving on his own before he could get fired. I know there was talk Jerry wouldn't fire him, but it was to the point Ozzie had to go and so he left. You guys who get mad about him quitting on the team? How would you have preferred the scenario to run its course? Just wait a week and then quit or get fired? His managerial style? What was wrong with that. His failure to panic and leave his starters in was pivotal that postseason. Four straight complete games in the ALCS!!! Why doesn't he get credit for that? He stood by his players; he took the spotlight off them with his colorful press conferences. So Quinarvy, my PC points are pivotal. The PC stuff is why he's out of baseball. I can't believe you don't think that's important. I linked a whole article for gosh sakes.

You'd think Jose likes Chicago and would sign for four/five years for reasonable Paulie-like money? Sign him to a 4-year deal and let's see if we have a feel-good story for our WS contending teams. It's doubtful he's going to pull an Alex Gordon and forget completely how to hit. How bout 4-years, 65 million and if he doesn't accept, it was fun knowing you, Jose. That's not going to break the Sox, and like I said, we aren't going to win the pennant with all new guys. Keep Jose and Avi or at least one of the two is my edict.

This is a great great post thxfrthmmrs. This is exactly right. Eloy has to be very very high on the Sox right now in taking care of his brother.

Ozzie seems like the kind of guy who would use some analytics, but go tell some analytics guys to go ... well you know what he'd tell them. Ozzie can't work for anybody obviously. He's unemployable. But Greg unequivocally loves Ozzer-oo. I truly do.

I think we all realize he won't ever return to the Sox cause of burnt bridges. Unfortunately for Ozzie, his ego (much bigger than most ballplayers even) and desire to entertain the writers/broadcasters with his outrageously funny (and offensive) press conferences that were inevitable in a long season when he spoke to media twice daily, were his ruination. He simply can't be hired by anybody cause of P.C. concerns. His past quotes will forever haunt him.

It's OK to discuss but I'm with you. If I'm wrong, great. But I see no chance at this point in time of signing either, because of the state of our rebuild. Doesn't make much sense. We don't need Machado for one (Moncada at 2B, Madrigal at 3B, Timmy at ss) unless he plays 1B. And I can't see Harper coming. Cubs and Phils beat us for him. And Nats.

I like the line in the column I linked. The writer wrote ... "Everybody freaking out at Ozzie Guillen needs to grow up."

I wonder if we took a poll how many on this board would love Ozzie as much as Greg. I won't give any examples why I love Ozzie and Sale both, as it probably would be considered trolling from those who don't know me. As I truly am a 100 percent fan of both. That said, no way in hell can anybody hire Ozzie now as political correctness is even more of a big deal now than when he got in big trouble in Miami for expressing admiration for Castro or some such thing. Here's some of the wild bleep he's said ... https://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2012/4/10/2938317/ozzie-guillen-castro-comments-marlins-suspension

Folks I'll say it. This postseason has shown we do not want Machado. Let somebody else deal with his alleged unsportsmanlike play, spiking people and taking out infielders as well as his loafing. Why do we want the guy when we already have a SS (Tim) and second baseman (Moncada) and 3B (Madrigal) for the future. I'd throw the checkbook at Bryce Harper and inform him the Cell is a hitters park. Just say no to Manny. Harper? Why not? Outbid the Cubs, Phils and Nats.

A-Rod says analytics don't work in October. Dave Roberts taking out Hill? Hmmm ... hopefully the analytics zealots will be reeled in a bit. No common sense in baseball anymore? Hill coulda kept pitching. Analytics says get him out of there before he gets hit hard.

I love this season. Rice, 10-0, has four shutouts in a row. BR has given up 52 points in 10 games. The offense has been supurb. What's the story on Oak Park River Forest? Can Rice pound OPRF or do they generally field much better teams?

I like it, but that's not what this rebuild is about. My perception (if it's wrong tell me) is the Sox prefer tanking (use the word stinking if you don't like tanking) and getting the highest draft pick possible while playing what I consider stiffs at several positions to go with studs Moncada, Anderson, Abreu. My take is they are loving saving all this money on payroll during the suck years. Ultimately the plan is to dominate starting in 2020. But til then they aren't going to be signing "gap guys" and paying them real money. No way IMO is that in the plan. It's suck until the prospects are ready, then dominate; nothing in between.

Sad stuff. You have to wonder if America's best days are long behind us. Can we become a kinder, gentler nation ever again? I can only imagine the pain in Pittsburgh.