greg775

Since this is the Trump thread, rate his performance so far. I'd give him a 5 out of 10. Despite all the screaming from never-ever Trumpers who would never give him a chance, he hasn't done anything despicable yet, though the new healthcare plan might be even worse than Obamacare. I could give him a 3.5 or 4 after that comes out. I'd give Trump a 9-10 as a businessman. I read somewhere he's worth $3.7 billion. That's a lot of loot. p.s. I'd give Obama a 5-10 as President. As a person I'd give Obama a 9-10. Seems like a great man.

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Mar 7, 2017 -> 09:44 PM) Shields may be cut before Opening Day. It almost looks like he is intentionally pitching poorly so he can get an early paid retirement. It is really hard to watch his nonchalant attitude and lack of competitive demeanor. That is what the Padres Owner got angry with him about in the first place. No way should the Sox have traded for him. So please, go ahead and cut Shields. That would actually help the pitching staff by not having to cover the remaining innings in games where he gets the hook early. Quntana, Rodon, Miguel Gonzales, Giolito, Lopez, Fulmer, and Holland (and maybe others) are all better options than Shields for the starting rotation. And unlike Shields, every one of them truly wants to win every game they pitch. The Sox made a mistake last season by having John Danks in the rotation to start the season because they were reticient to cut a guy they owed millions of dollars to. So they eventually had to cut him and pay him, but Danks left us with several losses to boot, including the Opening Day loss. Don't make the same mistake. Bite the bullet, eat his salary, and release him. The White Sox should reprimand all scouts who had any say in acquiring Shields. As cheap as the Sox are, they sure throw away a lot of money due to bad decisions. QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Mar 8, 2017 -> 12:00 AM) Shields' job in 2017 is to get f***ing shelled every start and allow the young pitchers to develop in the minors. I don't care if the Sox make him start every other game, he's crucial in the tanking effort. Then why not let you pitch or Fathom or Caulfield? Just sign some independent league guys to make sure we lose. I can't imagine anybody with a brain paying money to go to any game Shields pitches at the Cell. Same with Holland for that matter. Why would you pay good money to see those stiffs pitch?? I can't believe those of you who love the draft trust our front office to draft impact player(s). There have been so many busts in the past or guys not worthy of being a No. 1 pick. Just look at the Sox history.

Great post. You know what I'm going to say. They COULD have been way better if after only making the two trades starting the rebuild they decided to spend a little bit of money and acquire a free agent catcher and somebody like the Royals got in Soler, plus maybe sign the best of the free agent crop of pitchers. I've said it before but our infield is actually good with Frazier, Anderson, Saladino and Abreu and our outfield "could" be 2/3s OK if Melky has a bit better year than last year and Quentin (I mean Avi) finally puts it together at the plate and the guy we got from the Cardinals is OK in center. There's no reason to have as many vets as we have and not try to win. I know I repeat myself, but I didn't start the thread, either. Do u all agree with me?? GO SOX!

Do any of you partake in Lent? If so a.) did you get ashes and if so, what church? b.) What will u give up for Lent. My answer: Yes I got ashes at St. John in Lawrence, Ks. b.) I cannot reveal but it has to do with not cussing and not criticizing people behind their backs.

QUOTE (Sleepy Harold @ Mar 1, 2017 -> 11:32 PM) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Clyde This is just one name that came to mind for me, as I'm sure there are plenty of others out there. While this is true in certain sports (NHL, NBA {NCAAF is practically the minor leagues}), baseball isn't one of those. Players are all different, some learn and adjust significantly quicker than others, some take much longer to develop, but each case would be unique and needs to be handled individually. Putting someone in a situation that they aren't necessarily ready for would be detrimental to development and confidence. Not everyone can be thrown to the wolves because "you can either hit big league pitching or you can't". So how old do you have to be? The Royals have some slugger, Peter O'Brien, that was a second round pick and they acquired him this offseason from the Dbacks. He's 26. And I was reading he needs another full year in the minors. At 26?? Geez, you either can do it or you can't. Do people really believe Beckham was ruined by being rushed? I mean cmon. If that's true, that's pretty crazy. He's had a ton of MLB experience and frankly, he sucks. He every so often got on a tear when he ripped to all fields. Most of the time he was abysmal. If it is because he was rushed I'm amazed. Actually Beckham's best year might have been the 430 plate appearances he got at age 22. He hit .270 with a .347 OBP. 63 RBIs. After that initial burst he pretty much stunk. Either the scouts blew it on him or his refusal to hit to all fields turned him into a stiff.

Avi is a likeable player, albeit a bust so far. It'd be cool if he actually got real good. Seems like he busts his ass out there for the team. I know nothing about him personally, but he seems like he truly hustles.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Mar 1, 2017 -> 03:09 PM) Ah yes, the Gordon Beckham approach to handling and developing young, supposedly elite talent. Screw that development time in the minors! Bring 'em all up ASAP and let's get this thing going at the MLB level immediately! Terrific idea!! The Beckham topic is a pet peeve for me. I think it's totally absurd to blame Beckham's lousy career on rushing him. This is a tired cliche. I mean some sports you don't need any time in a "minor league." Have any sabes people done studies on whether this "rushing a player" phenomenon actually has ruined players' careers? I mean you either can hit big-league pitching or you can't. Beckham sadly fizzed. If he's smart though he's set for life. He made enough dough to be set for life.

Don't you naysayers at least LOVE the fact Trump is optimistic and a huge supporter of our great nation?? The man is an American through and through and doesn't apologize like some PC people always do. I mean isn't that SOMETHING to be optimistic about?? Don't you get sick of negativity all the time? p.s. I realize this is coming from a guy who is so so pessimistic about the Sox. I guess I need to work on that.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 10:00 PM) If I was going to say any of those guys took a bit longer, I'd have pegged it to be Moncada. That said, I still say it would be dissapointing if they weren't all on the major league roster come the summer. That's cool you say this. I agree. You are out on a limb here, though. My feeling reading the board is very few people want our prospects anywhere near the major league roster anytime soon.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 07:51 PM) Do you even know who you're talking about anymore? Yes. At least Alvarez is a former high draft pick. If you can sign him for 5 million, why not?? In our snail's pace rebuild we might surprise and be .500 at the break and then try to go for it. QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 11:12 PM) 3 trades in 2 trading periods, from a team with 8-10 players that need to be moved. Maybe not a snail, but not a greyhound either. Vindication! That's what I'm saying. QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 1, 2017 -> 12:36 AM) For someone who didn't like Adam Dunn, you would absolutely loathe Alvarez. All or nothing swings? Check Strikeouts galore? Check And greg's #1 pet peeve, swinging for Homers when the shift gives you a huge hole? Check. I do advocate bunting when the shift is on. It's absolutely absurd to not plop a bunt to third and take the gift base hit. QUOTE (daggins @ Mar 1, 2017 -> 12:54 AM) He isn't blocking any stud prospects and he has a track record of being decent. Exactly, but the Sox are counting their penny savings during the rebuild I guess. Remember that when you buy your 8 dollar hot dog and down it in 3 bites.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Feb 27, 2017 -> 02:14 AM) Just when you thought it couldn't get worse, Trump eats his steak well done. With ketchup! I know u are joking, but some people probably think Trump is an animal for eating meat. People are not always tolerant when they are vegetarian and others eat meat. I say we need a kinder gentler nation. I'm sick of all the negativity even though I am very very negative these days about the White Sox owner and front office re. the future of our team.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 07:02 PM) What's so hard to understand? Even if they traded all those guys, it's not like the rebuild would be over. There was no market for most of them this off-season. Have patience man. How can you have patience when Hahn has said they knew last year's fast start was a mirage and they'd be rebuilding. They could have traded Frazier and Melky and Robertson last year if their value allegedly would plummet to nothing. QUOTE (steveno89 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 07:10 PM) What does Alvarez do for us though? He is marginally better than replacement level with limited upside Our intention is to TANK the next 2 seasons, why bother making additions like him? We acquire pitchers all the time and Coop fixes them. Alvarez was a top draft pick and so many people on here are convinced if we tank we'll get top draft picks who will excel. More draft picks flop than excel. QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 07:36 PM) I'm definitely on board with this rebuild but Hahn can't force teams to trade for the Sox hot garbage. At this point there's no market for Melky, Frazier, Robertson, Shields etc. No choice but to play them and hope to trade them later. Who acquired this hot garbage to begin with? You guys trust our front office way more than I do. Sell the team, JR, please.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 28, 2017 -> 06:43 PM) No need for Alvarez since the Sox have plenty of would be DH's already. I'd like see Melky moved to the DH spot. I want Alvarez. The Sox rebuild is SLOW. So try to win this year as well. We need a DH desperately. On paper he'd be a prime candidate to blossom. We always sign pitchers who are on the comeback trail, why not hitters? Alvarez would fill a need. Then you add a catcher and a middle reliever via trade if we are in contention at the all star break. I can't figure out how the Sox are selling any season tickets at this point. They are just telling the fans we are rebuilding at a snail's pace. We have a ton of veteran players still but we have no intention of contending with them. Seriously ... Shields?? Robertson?? Frazier?? Melky?? Avi?? Abreu?? Lawrie?? Holland?? Q?? And we're rebuilding?? I don't get it at all!!!! Don't insult me, White Sox. Pick up Alvarez now please.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Feb 26, 2017 -> 05:15 PM) They are rebuilding remember plus having three guys who were going to be starters out with injuries doesn't help matters. It's OK. Mark Mark I respect you. Please convince me we really are rebuilding and JR isn't just cutting costs to make the team even more attractive to sell.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Feb 25, 2017 -> 02:50 PM) I still think that this so called rebuild is as phony as a $3 bill. I think JR is going to trade off and not sign any real talent the team has. He will have the lowest payroll in MLB in 2018. He will then sell the team after the 2018 season. I'm hoping he'll sell the team before the 2018 season, but I think he will wait until after the season is over. This team has absolutely no positive direction. I've read where the most talented player coming out of Cuba is a 19 year old outfielder named Luis Robert. Virtually every team in MLB wants to sign him. The White Sox are probably the only team who have shown no interest in signing him. The farm system is barren of any every day outfielders. Robert would be a good signing for the team and yet they have no interest in signing him. After Cabrera leaves the White Sox after this season the White Sox will probably have the worse outfield in 2018 in MLB. Wouldn't Robert be a perfect fit for this team? I truly agree. The Sox made 2 trades total and have blown it regarding trading Melky and Frazier cause now we'll get nothing for them as they enter their free agent year. So many fans on this board will just say, "You can't get anything for Melky and Frazier." Really? Last year we couldn't have dumped them after it was obvious our team was going nowhere?

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Feb 22, 2017 -> 09:06 PM) CFB is out of control. the title game was an absolute farce, all the way down to the ending where they put time back on the clock after a sustained delay. The B1G seems especially awful, but maybe that's just because that's mostly what I watch. College football games that go past 3 hours, 40 minutes are a disgrace. The NFL pretty much has got it together to three hours, right? I would say if college football can't get its act together, just eliminate halftime. Or cut it to five minutes with your team in the endzone.

Let's face it. Jerry and his group have been horrible owners. Somehow we got a WS during his era and we all should be eternally grateful for that. I can't hate Jerry cause he gave me one WS. However, he's a horrific owner. Thank you Ozzie and the players and, gulp, yes, Kenny for putting that team together. I'd give Jerry an A-plus for the title season. And he gets a D or C-minus for the rest of his tenure.

Nobody seems to care about the real cause of long games - umpires. In their little wink wink protest of how unfairly they are paid and treated, they won't call the strike zone. Can you imagine if they actually called a pitch just above the belt a strike? The games would speed up noticeably. But they won't do it so that's that. Also, the ridiculous specialization in terms of relief pitching has extended the games and turned the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings into a game of its own and a very boring one at that. When Cleveland starts playing the lefty/righty shenanigans in the sixth or seventh inning you know boredom has set in. I don't know how to cure this problem but it slows games to an unwatchable halt in the final 3-4 innings. And finally, the ridiculous stepping out of the box to re-strap one's batting gloves and to take practice hacks wastes so much time. Hitters were supposed to stay in the box last season but umps won't enforce it so you get the boring stepping out of the box every pitch to re-velcro ones hitting gloves. I love Paul Konerko but he was about the worst fidgeting with his gloves outside the box. Baseball has a serious problem with length of games. I wonder if any kids have any interest in going to games anymore with their attention spans so limited. Games should be two hours 30 minutes max. But the umpires have no interest in making that happen.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Feb 20, 2017 -> 06:02 PM) After the Sale and Eaton trades, I'm glad they didn't add any offense via FA this winter. I hope they do the same next offseason. This team is at least 2-3 years away from competing so might as well save that $ for when it is really needed like two winters from now. At some point, they do need to unload Q, Jones, and Robertson for position player prospects though. While it may be realistic to sign two players like Brian Dozier and Wilson Ramos two years from now, they are going to need a lot more than that to compete even if guys like Anderson, Collins, and Moncada are contributing. Save that money?? The White Sox?? I think they will enjoy the low payroll. Hopefully the fans won't come and won't buy any merchanidise and speed the rebuild which IMO is off to a slow slow start.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 20, 2017 -> 05:54 PM) In my forty fifty sixty years in the game, I have never seen a better collection of young impact arms. Not just arms...impact arms Stoney. Hope they perform well. I know we also have some horrible arms in Shields and Holland and many relievers.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Feb 20, 2017 -> 09:09 PM) Hi Gregg. I guess I am a realist too. The team ownership made a decision and I can't do anything about that except accept. We got some great prospects back and maybe there will be some more. I would like to see some free agent signings to help in the OF and catcher. It will be an interesting season I don't understand them conceding by having no catcher and no DH/outfielder of note. If you are going to keep all the veterans they are keeping, might as well try to compete til the all star break. They're too cheap, however. Won't spend any cash at all. Embarrassing IMO.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 18, 2017 -> 06:02 AM) Hawk f***ing loves minor leaguers. I guess he'll spend most of the games telling stories about the past and commenting on the minor leaguers then. I always thought he hated the idea of broadcasting horrific baseball.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Feb 19, 2017 -> 02:43 AM) Heard Scott Snodgrass may be returning on a minors contract Elrockin, how u handling the rebuild? You don't seem like a rebuild kinda guy. You like me want to win all games.

I really wanna know how Hawk handles the rebuild/s***ty teams the next three years. Doing only road games, he's going to be broadcasting probably 7 losses every 10 games. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is interested in following daily progress of minor leaguers. The guy played in the bigs for 20 seasons. He doesn't give a flip about minor league baseball is my guess.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Feb 17, 2017 -> 01:10 AM) I unfortunately agree with you. I see years of bad White Sox baseball ahead of us. My hope is that JR sells the team soon, hopefully after the 2017 season. Please, please JR, sell the team. QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 17, 2017 -> 03:29 AM) it is indeed happening. Like it or not. I don't like it at all. OK we've made two trades and made what could be a steal in Zach Duke for Tilson. But that's it. Pretty lame beginning to a rebuild when we still have all these veterans. My point is if we've got all these veterans, if the Sox weren't so cheap they'd have acquired a catcher (one is still available) and an outfielder and DH and a reliable seventh inning guy and we'd win the crappy AL Central. We could still rebuild while doing so. Why? Well we're not gonna trade Frazier now in his last year of contract and ditto Melky last year. If Rodon has an excellent year we have a great 1-2 punch in Q and Rodon. QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 17, 2017 -> 07:12 PM) Great points and I agree. The Sox have already established a very solid foundation for this rebuild. Sox fans just need to have some patience and perhaps a bit of faith in Hahn. Clearly this rebuild is Hahn's baby so let's give him a chance to see what more he can do. Personally, I like what he's done so far despite the trade returns bringing back more pitching than hitting. Everybody's assuming our rebuild will be as successful as the Cubs' was. We shall see.