LDF

QUOTE (Dunt @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:16 PM) Shooting for that 8th pick. That will get you in range for a guy like Banks. as someone mention, the idea of the draft now is to get the top 10 protection. other than that, at this time, it is a shot in the dark. but for this conversation. lets see what can be available. Alec Hansen, RH, a big powerful pitcher who has command issues, can he improve for next season. A.J. Puk, LHP, nice pkg but only 2 above avg pitches. can he develop the 3rd and 4th pitch. however off fields problems. Nick Banks, RF, he is exciting, but his hitting skills will be in question at this point. next season will tell if he continues to develop. Robert Tyler, RHP, ending the season with arm and possible shoulder soreness. ok. for me, i an still hedging on Puk as the player i would pick. however i am really frothing at the mouth for Bobby Dalbec, 3B. big and powerful power hitter. his defense will not hold up at 3b so maybe 1b / dh or one of the corner outfielders. but looking at a player who is compared to D.J. Peterson and Kris Bryant..... when was the last time the sox had a nice power hitter in the minors.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 06:46 PM) The real difference is in draft pool amounts, the difference in talent is negligible, however, every extra penny you can accrue to make a run at a guy like Michalzeski(?) or Spencer Adams, or Bryce Montes de Oca is valuable. The pick protection should really mean nothing in this offseason as there is no one that will receive a QO that the Sox should even consider. ref Trey Michalczewski, i really hope that i am wrong, but i really don't see him improving on his hitting, esp hitting what is a typical power hitting position. like i said, i hope i am wrong.

QUOTE (Jake @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 06:39 PM) I think one of the biggest big picture limitations the Sox have is the location of their ballpark. It doesn't make success impossible by any stretch, but I think it is a big part of the reason that the baseline for attendance is so low. this is a fable created by someone and is entrench in as a excuse used by some group. look at the attendance in 2005 and yes 2006.... now look at the attendance from 1990 - 1998 .... then tell me.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:00 PM) The nearly $200 million will be the problem, not the draft pick. correct

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:00 PM) Well said. The Sox simply refuse to accept change as a needed part of any organization. I'm not advocating change for changes sake or constant change (which leads to constant chaos) but you have to be willing to admit when things aren't working, when a philosophy (of rebuilding while contending) simply doesn't achieve what you want and move on. That and the fact that to me there is a group mindset on looking at the problems in the same vein, which complicates things. (Not blaming those folks, that's human nature when the same people have been together for so long.) Mark whew ..... deep. that what happen when some gets some educations or book learning. but in the end of the day, this idea has been used since the beginning of the ownership tenure. it needs to change, it is not working.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:54 PM) They have Toews, Kane, Hossa, Seabrook, Keith, Hjalmarsson, Crawford, Teravainen and a bunch of promising new guys. I think they'll be just fine. Not expecting another Cup this year but when you have the guys they have, they are in the conversation annually. maybe it is me and my excitement of this team, i still think if everything gells, the hawks can be in the hunt. i am trusting coach Q to get this team there. just my opinion.

quote name='Y2JImmy0' date='Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:52 PM' post='3240229' It's a 2nd round pick and something in the range of $160 million. When have the Sox ever spent that much $$ on a free agent? People here talk about the bad contracts the team is burdened with. Danks 5 years at $65 million ... that contract was given before his injury LaRoche at 2 years $25 million .... a regurgitate type of players the sox have hope in. Melky Cabrera at 3 years $44 million. .... i still like this contract. his numbers is what was needed. Those were seen as big commitments for the Sox. Heyward will be crazy expensive. and i agree, the owners will not spend that kind of money.... pretty much like SS2k5 have stated.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:46 PM) The Hawks have many more question marks on this squad then they have had for years. You know some of them will flounder, making the depth in the minors even more important than usual. oh man, i was really trying to be mr. positive here. you are not helping. you do make a point a really good point. it is the big "IF". if they can produce, if they can gell with each others, if the can merge into the team if crawford can continue to be a #1 goalie.....etc good post

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:46 PM) Depends on how it plays out. If we end up losing only a 2nd round pick for Heyward, I have no problem with that. excellent and that is where i am hedging..... now for the powers to be to pony up.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:44 PM) In Heyward and Upton's case, no. The players shouldn't have to take less money just because teams have to forfeit a pick to sign them. Now if we're talking about players who will cost a pick and won't garner much interest, ahemm Samardjiza, then there is a small chance than they might not end up getting the $$ they're looking for because there aren't enough teams driving the $$ up, or they might remain unsigned till June. an interesting point. but i am leaning to the ones who will cost a draft pick. i mean that is what the others are talking about.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:27 PM) Who from Rockford that Hawks should trade? They need those guys for depth when the current bottom 6 guys leave. Phillip Danault and Mark McNeill for starters.....

QUOTE (oldsox @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:34 PM) And yet, the Rockies drew over 40,000 on Saturday and over 32,000 yesterday, despite a worse team/record. and while you are right ..... about another team. i am talking about chi white sox and no other team. but if you want to use that to make a point, well you can.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:37 PM) Yeah, Johns and Pailotta are on that list as well, and Dahlback in the Vermette trade during last off season. You won't get anything for the Rockford kids, but you would get something for all of the bottom 6 guys they have now. Shaw, Bickell (retain salary or add prospect to him), Desjardins, Garbutt. Those guys will be expendable next off season I'm sure. oh i disagree.... there are some really nice looking kids that will not make this team, but looks great. many teams would love to get their hand on them. however the rest of your post..... spot on.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:15 PM) Unless you believe that it isn't the product on the field that brings Sox fans out, but it is fancy marketing, you are wrong. i really don't understand what you are saying.... but i will answer your statement. with this. i truly believe it is the product on the field that really sell the tickets. it makes the advertising and marketing people's jobs alot easier. without the product, and the visualization of that improvement, the fans will not come out.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:07 PM) And this thread has nothing to do with any of those perceptions. oh.... i really hate to disagree. it has everything to do with perceptions. every since JR rant on tv of the fans not spending by not coming out to support the team by buy season tickets.

QUOTE (captain54 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 04:04 PM) I think bottom line, what is keeping the fans away and what will continue to keep the fans away is the staid, unmoving, inability to change the approach and higher level personnel year after year, despite the same crappy results.. The Sox are 67 games and counting under .500 since late 2012, a one game improvement so far from 2014, and yet.. chance are high that the same bunch of mopes in the front office, Cooper, Ventura, etc. will all be back.. it just shows a lack of progressive thinking and stubbornness to stick to an approach that isn't working… and they wonder why people don't show up welcome to the status quo of the org called white sox. this was more true in the heydays of the 90's .... if one will go back and really look at that decade with an open mind. in today's economic situations, someone or fans will not spend the money without care or cause. so if someone wants to fans to spend the money, entice them with the product on the field. for starters. the white sox fans are the ones that has to work for a living and are smarter when it come to their money being spent.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:02 PM) I think it makes the most sense to keep those picks regardless, sign impact FA (ex. Zobrist & Kazmir) w/o pick compensation attached, and trade from your strength. That way, you improve the major and minor league product with very little additional cost to management. excatly ..... but is anyone thinking the cost fact the amount of $$$ that will cost. and will the owners allow it???

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:25 PM) The White Sox product IS the product on the field. A guy like Boyer or McD is only selling the product he has. What exactly is McD doing that is so good, besides having a 3 time championship team to market? ok i am at work and may not respond quickly.... but what you bring up is a viscous catch - 22. so the question to ask is how will the team or anyone expects to the team to improve???

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 02:17 PM) Are the people who are talking about McD needing to be hired really saying that they would go to more games if they marketed better, and not if the team was better? good point, however i don't think it for us the fans on soxtalk, but the fans of everyday fandom. i guess, and i may be a minority here, but continuing to put a better product, will show that the team is trying to improve the product on the field.... the fans will see this. i am sure of that. now will that convince the everyday fans. i really do think so.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 01:09 PM) FWIW, Dan Hayes, Tom Fornelli, and Scott Merkin conversed on Twitter last night about the Sox offseason. They speculated a signing of Zobrist, Cespedes, and they argued over whether trading Quintana could net a fair return. while i like the idea of anything to improve the team, esp if the sox have the protected top 10, i reall hate to be a kill joy or to spout off against the owner on this point. but it comes to the owners and if they are willing to sign any of the top FA's that are out there. what will the the salary available to spend. i really can't see, if the owners allows it, but this is what i would like. sign Heyward for either 3 - 7 yrs. after 3 yr, he can go back into the FA market. sign Daniel Murphy for 3b ss - undecided trade asset for catching prospects.... dodgers or yanks.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 12:37 PM) I tend to agree. The Sox are beyond marketing. They have plenty of fans, but the product is horses***. probably not according to the FO and higher up.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 02:30 PM) Not to mention guys like Adam Clendening, Ryan Stanton, and Jeremy Morin (the first time) of guys that are good enough to crack other rosters but not the Hawks. Mark McNeil will be on this list soon as well imo those two were, at the time nice draft..... imo they never took their development to the next stage. lets not forget the dman the hawk traded this offseason.... and still the org is still deep. they, the hawks needs to trade some of its offensive surplus at rockford for if anything more draft picks. keep replenishing the surplus.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 12:48 PM) Pirri didn't fit on this team because he didn't play defense. Kevin Hayes, the Hawks wanted him, but Hayes chose NY because it would be easier to crack the lineup. Pretty sure Hawks have done just fine without them. while what you are saying may be true, but it is not the whole picture. this was not meant as a criticism or chastising the hawks management, i was trying to, in my weak attempt to show how freaking deep this team is.

i am going on a trade redux here, my personal opinions not and will not be mentioned. Brandon Pirri traded from the hawks to the panthers for 2 draft picks. 2014 a 3rd and 2016 a 5th rounder. 2014 - 21 games 7g 7a 2015 - 49 games 22g 2a Kevin Hayes lost due to not signing a ELC. signed by NYR. 900,000 in 2015 salary. 2015 - 79 games 17g 28a and a +/- of +15

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 28, 2015 -> 03:43 AM) Reif should be there. And didn't Raanta somewhat recently sound off on how much he hates us? ref Raanta, if he made the require games and that is the only requirement, then yeah, he should be on it. it is only right. regardless of sounding off against the org.