LDF

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 08:28 PM) Unless baseball rosters become 1 player each, I don't understand how it can ever be pass/fail. i can see how a teams goals that may have been express were not completed, hence the fail part. i guess it is mostly subjective in someone interpretation. but this is for the white sox team only.

QUOTE (gosoxgo2005 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 08:43 PM) I could be incorrect, and hope I am, but to me it seems that all they have done is improve a bad product to a decent/slightly better than decent product. The goal for every organization is to win World Series titles. There were players available that could (should, perhaps) have been acquired to help aid the organization to reaching this penultimate goal, but for whatever reason, they weren't. I think the Sox can and will contend for a wild card; the World Series? Not right now, no. In that respect, I would have to say the off-season has been a failure to this point. I do, however, still feel that changes will be made and we will enter opening day feeling more confident in the Sox chances of making the post season in a long, long time. that is the point i am saying, the team is what it is and at whose fault, that is why the owners needs to pony up to fix this team. a fixed team will bring the fans back in droves, sell more tickets / season tickets, make a run for the playoff, make the playoff, the commercial money will come in at the same time the farm will be getting the time it needs to get better while simultaneously the parent team will be making a run for the playoff. and mostly build a team that can repeatedly make the run for the playoff

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 11:59 AM) Our society has gotten to the point where if you aren't valuable to a wealthy corporation or individual you are worthless. Our education system is in place to benefit the 1%. Uniquely human things like art and history do not have value to corporations so society at large can't support it. How have we decided that we will pay for 13 years of school but no more? Why not 10? The last battle was over free kindergarten. Why not take that away and add it to the other end? One year of free community college? And let's stop the worthless programs in colleges like sports. Society doesn't need sports, why are we investing in sports teams in colleges if they aren't necessary? when i was working in DC in the early 90's, there was a group, i really can't remember who they were. they were trying to improve on a bill for education. i remember some calling them elitist, socialist. but it went something like this. affordable colleges for the first 2 yrs, based on the results of tests and strict administration of the results.... want to continue college, those who can maintain a B will be given every opportunity to get free college for the last 2 yr and until graduation while maintaining a B avg. for the last 2 yrs, many collegians will need to work, so that is why the "until graduation ".

QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:20 PM) Given the tough competition in the AL. How many wins it takes to win the Central? 86? 88? i will now stay away from predictions. i suck at that.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:19 PM) AL East Toronto Boston Baltimore Tampa Bay New York AL Central Kansas City Chicago Detroit Cleveland Minnesota AL West Texas Houston Los Angeles Seattle Oakland Wild Cards: Houston, Boston Jesus the AL is stacked. a great visual post of the whole AL. ALC is still too tough for me, but for me, i think it is a race between kc and cle. however, if the sox gets OF'er, i can see them competing with det.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 06:43 AM) Hadn't thought of this. I wonder if that idea suggests bullpens will be extra important this year. I guess I'm making the assumption that due to extreme parity there will be more close games. But maybe that's not true at all i agree, that is why, imo you see teams getting that extra proven pen guy. i think most team will sacrifice a positional player for pitchers. that has been my thoughts for some time, that was why i have been ranting on getting another sp. i think many team will really use their pitchers more this season.

QUOTE (dmbjeff @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 12:03 PM) LaRoche at least has a track record of MLB success. Yes, last year was painful to watch, but he could rebound to put up similar numbers as he did in 2014, In fact, dating back to 2010, LaRoche has been great in even numbered years and down years in odd numbered ones, so maybe he is due in 2016. Most Sox fans trust LaRoche to bounceback more than they trust Avi to figure it out. Avi gets mentioned repeatedly because he has never ever had MLB success, EVER. Even in the minors, Avi had a .736 OPS in over 2400 AB's. If that's what he produced in the minors, it should be no wonder why he can't get over .700 OPS in the majors. It's not just the offensive numbers with him either. It's the awful baserunning, awful defense, awful decision making. He just isn't that great. Just because he has a body type that resembles Miguel Cabrera, doesn't make him Miguel Cabrera. That is the whole reason everyone has been calling for the Sox to find a replacement for Avi as a regular and maximize Avi's and LaRoche's worth by having them split DH duties as a platoon. a nice post, ref the bold, that is crux of the whole thing that some posters are talking about, get a defensive replacement OF'er and yes, utilize Avi as a platoon. to give him every chance to prove his worth just by batting in key situations.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 03:39 AM) I understand the frustration but then I look around the league at moves other teams have made that failed and realise it's not just the White Sox. For example, look at the Yankees, Boston and the Dodgers and the contracts they are stuck with, the Yanks especially. I'd bet the Yanks would love to go back in time and not sign a few players. At one point during the winter, I had read an article that speculated the Yanks would like to move Ellsbury to try and sign one of the big four. So I went and looked Ellsbury up on BR and FG to see if there could be a potential fit in a trade between the Sox and Yanks. I ame to the conclusion of, "f*** that", really fast! His numbers are steadily declining while under contract through 2020 and making 21M+ per season. Nope, the Yanks can have that contract and looking at that made me feel better about the contracts of LaRoche and Melky. There's also CC, Tex and ARod to go with Ellsbury. I much prefer the White Sox FO approach to free agents than the Yankees and some other teams. IMHO, the Yanks have proven that sometimes it's better to not sign that top flight FA rather than be saddled with a lengthy and costly contract. yeah, i agree with you 100%, teams with a big wallet can't buy the championship, just buy getting every FA they want. Bos of late, Yank, Dodger. but i always maintain that a smart GM with a game plan and pick and choose the right player may pull this off. however, back to the sox, the sox lineup, as of last yr, needed pieces desperately. mostly in order to compete but to bring the fans out. they really needed to fix the front end of the team, the mlb team via fa's, while fixing the back end, the minor league team. the back end is the future, several yrs down the road. these players will be 2+yrs away. so as i have said, this is a huge job to do, then again, they are expected to do this on a penny budget, with 28+ mil coming of the book. the owners need to pony up, just 1 more player.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 03:30 AM) I think caufield was being sardonic re the prolific apologetics re that ridiculous trade. And you're right, he was playing out of position. many thanks for that head up. humor really goes over my head.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 06:44 AM) I hear ya and I don't envy Hahn right now because he and KW are in a tough spot. The owners set the budget and its Hahn and KW 's jobs to work within that budget. What makes their jobs more difficult is that JR is 80 and wants to see another winner so, imo, that's why we keep hearing the " re-tooling" and "re-building on the fly" stuff from Hahn and KW. We've been hearing it for some years now. I don't blame JR for wanting to see another winner before he goes but his desire to win again and his set budget do make things challenging and pretty much rule out an all out re-build. But in fairness to the owners, Hahn and KW have taken some gambles that backfired on them. In all, the entire organization as a whole is responsible for the shape they are in, owners/management/players alike. I give the Sox credit though. They have been better at scouting and drafting the last few years and we're starting to see some signs of life in the minors, although alot of that talent is at AA and below. But, we do have Anderson, Fulmer and May appearing on the horizon so there's some hope. Plus, I think the Dodgers wanting Montas, Micah and Thompson from the Frazier trade says something about those players. Obviously the Dodgers felt there was some genuine talent in that mix to help the Sox acquire Frazier from the Reds and the Dodgers have been pretty good on evaluating young talent by the looks of their farm. To me, Micah was nothing special but Thompson should at least make a solid 4th OF and Montas should turn into a good reliever/closer if things don't work out for him as a SP. So, in all fairness, the Sox have been developing players in recent years and were seeing bits and pieces of it. that first paragraph is among the best counter this week ..... a really great job. i like to mention though, if as you said, JR is 80 and wants another WS, it would behooves the owners to allow the GM the flexibility to go out and fix this team, get the necessary pieces to make a run for the playoff. (you are right on jr age and req)

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 02:05 AM) Marcus Semien is terrible defensively and made lots of errors...being 6th in WAR for qualified MLB shortstops is meaningless. but if he wasn't traded, he would be manning 2b. i wonder how he would have done there.

as of today, with Batl signing of the pitching fa. where do you think the teams of the AL stands and who will they compete for 1 place in their divisions. for me, AL East, it has to be Balt followed closely by Tor. Al West, Hou. AL Central. i am being to much of a chi fan, so i will defer to what is posted.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 11:50 PM) Fortunately it's not really up to Sale. His job is to go out there and pitch, and I am pretty convinced hell do just that. and again, i agree, but i am sure he is like everyone else. wanting to keep an eye on his future and that is why i am betting that he will keep an silent eye on the FO and their doings.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:47 AM) There are $10M or so reasons that most are talking about replacing Avi and not Laroche. Laroche's contract is going to earn him another shot over Avi, like it or not. And while he has little to no value, other teams will take Avi and his contract. No one wants Laroche and his hefty salary. you are correct, laroche is the sore thumb here. but nothing can be done, esp in trading with a hefty ck to go with him. i really do like Avi potential to show if he has a major league bat, and that is why i was really content to use him as a platoon at dh, but an OF'er is needed esp for the defense.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:36 AM) These Sox fans that are upset with not signing Cespedes/Upton/Gordon are likely the same fans that were happy with the signings from last year who now hate the front office because they all flopped. To me, it's more the narrative throughout last off-season that none of those moves were going to impact our ability to sign players for 2016. And it's not even whiffing on Cabrera and LaRoche, it was those smaller deals like Duke and Bonifacio and even Beckham that would now be quite useful in being able to afford the likes of Austin Jackson. And not trading Samardzija at the deadline in a way forced Hahn's hand to hold onto that pick, at least that's one of the main justifications or rationalizations now. At this point, we're not even able to afford "second tier" options like Fowler, Jackson, Span, Desmond...so we keep bouncing back and forth and are so afraid to commit and make one huge mistake with an Upton or Gordon that we're ending up with much higher bust rates on the second and third tier guys. This isn't just a single year complaint, either, it's been standard operating procedure for the White Sox for many years, with the exceptions of Belle, Abreu, Dunn and Robertson being the only "top tier" players we've signed as FA's. While all of our moves look good in isolation (especially Rollins and Latos), we would need a LOT of things to go right in order to make the playoffs and anomalously good health again. http://www.redreporter.com/2016/2/24/11105...-the-2016-white http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2016/2/16/1101...0975.1456422238 Pirates/White Sox/DBacks three most confusing teams i have to ask this question, are there really posters out there in soxtalk that was upset on the top 3 not signing with the sox??? i am not trying to rant or anything, i just didn't see it.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:33 AM) They'll never admit this DA. Never. It doesn't fit their argument. Or you'll hear "but but but Gio Gonzalez!" Most have cooled off on the Daniel Hudson chip for bashing, rightfully so. As well as Chris Carter. KW & RH don't really lose trades but why give them credit. everything is judge in the moment, it is the hindsight that prove or disproves on who is right. so far as RH, he had some bumpy roads, but the jury is still out on the trades and again hindsight. the draft is where he is doing great and that is at the present as well.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:31 AM) Honestly, I don't know what else to say that we haven't already discussed. I'm looking ahead to the '16 season and not living in the past or dwelling on off season Twitter/sports writer speculations and rumors. Sure, I could allow myself to get disgruntled over it but what good can possibly come from that? It's circumstances beyond my control, man. I prefer to focus on the number of improvements that were made instead of the one that did not happen, yet. Baseball is #1 to me and literally the only sport I follow so after a long winter devoid of baseball, I'm happy as f*** ST has finally arrived! I'm looking forward to this season. ahhh i am just pissy, when the season starts, i will shut up. i will hope with the rest, that the sox will the best season. but baseball fans, sox fans, i feel as they will never be happy, as long as sox baseball is being discussed. ~~~ edit . but passionate sox fans needs a area to vent.

QUOTE (MDWhiteSoxFan @ Feb 25, 2016 -> 01:15 AM) I get what you're saying, but why can't people be happy with the huge upgrades he pointed out? We got a top talent at 3rd to upgrade a historically bad black hole from last season. An upgrade at 2nd over again a historically bad black hole last season. I will say not sure if we upgraded at SS. Seems we have defensively and potential offensively depending who wins the job. Yes only one of those additions are all star caliber but the additions to quality from what we had are humongous. We've upgraded 3-4 positions in 1 off season, that's huge. Is signing another solid positional upgrade going to put us over the top to be favorites? Maybe but not with what is left. These Sox fans that are upset with not signing Cespedes/Upton/Gordon are likely the same fans that were happy with the signings from last year who now hate the front office because they all flopped. Granted Gordon has less of a chance to flop as he knows the division but I just never felt he was leaving KC. Cespedes is an extremely talented yet streaky player, not sure 27 million this year is worth it plus I don't think he wanted to leave NY. He found his greatest success there plus a huge market. Upton apparently had no interest in joining us. I do wish they signed Fowler especially for 11 mil a year, but then again I only wanted them to sign him after I found out how cheap he did sign for. I am still happy with the off season, Rome wasn't built in a day. I will say if come mid year we trade for an OF and give up Anderson, Fulmer, Adams I will be furious. I still hope they sign Jackson, to at least push Avi if not push him to DH platoon. i will speak for myself, i look at the team at the beginning of the season, then i really never thought the FO will fix this many positions and still be in the range of 125-128 mil +/-. what i also knows that this team players comes with an expiration date, how long can players keep playing in their prime?? the other part is that the job is not finished b/c of money, money that the sox owners do have and are not going that little extra, esp when 28 mil+/- will be coming off the books. then how to replace some of those players? thru the minor league teams, there too are some heavy hopes on a couple of players to improve and if not, no backup players to fall back on, if that player does not produce or ready to produce. 1 of'er is needed, and yeah it would be nice if it was fowlers but there are other options, maybe not as appealing as fowlers, but anyone will be better than Avi in the OF and i am talking about his defense. the expiration date.... the clock is ticking.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 11:20 PM) Not sure anyone has really grappled with my point. That it's like 100-1 in ink about RF versus discussions about the rest of the team. A whole lot of White Sox players underperformed last year, not just Avi Garcia. Adam LaRoche not only sank the team offensively, he tied up payroll that could have been spent this year on a contract like Dexter Fowler's. Melky Cabrera was SO bad early, and even though he got hot in the middle, ended up with a very down year. Not to mention that his splits, which used to be pretty equal from both side of the plate, dropped off a cliff against left handers. When you add in that LaRoche was a zero against lefties, and Abreu had a bad year against them, it made the Sox particularly weak against southpaws. Melky also helped sour the White Sox brass on free agent contracts, I believe. Sanchez, Saladino, Beckham, Bonafacio, Olt, Gillaspie, Ramirez, Flowers. These are all guys who got plenty of ABs (not so much Bonafacio) and were TERRIBLE offensively. On the pitching side, Shark was awful, Danks was his usual pretty-bad self and without the offensive support had a bad W-L record. Robertson had 5 losses and plenty of blown saves. None of the main bullpen guys had an ERA under 3.41. Even Chris Sale had an ERA of 3.41. So the great pitching we are supposed to have never really materialized. I guess I'm just tired of reading AVI, AVI, AVI, AVI, AVI all the time, when he's only 1 player. If the team around him performed up to expectations, the Sox could absolutely win with Avi in RF. and you made your point, i agree, for me, the front office didn't help matters. by putting him front and center at soxfest. this tell me the sox have lost any and all sense with the fans. whom ever the sox have to gage the temperature screwed up, they should have skipped him and let him have a positive time this season. to get his new swing and hit, and hit and hit. reestablish his worth to the fans.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 11:14 PM) Frazier replaces Gillaspie, Olt and Beckham. Lawrie replaces Sanchez and Micah. Avila/Navarro replaces Soto and Magic Glasses. Rollins/Saladino replaces a well respected but aging Alexei. Latos was added for some ratation depth ( we'll see how the knee holds up). Jones is back and 100% Trying times for Sox fans everywhere! and improve on players they, the FO acquired to help the team. i can see one player, failing, but we are talking, pretty much a majority of the team. the team is in this state b/c of whom??? and the job is not done. b/c it would cost a little more money.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 11:20 PM) How would that make them look better to fans? Putting that out there seems like it has way more downside than upside. in my opinion to convince the fans that they were putting the product out in the field and then sell tickets, sell season tickets.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 11:15 PM) Any offseason in which the Sox acquired basically an entire new infield to go along with their superstar 1b and one of the best 3B in all of baseball doesn't to me seem "frustrating". I would have liked to see the Sox sign one of Upton, Cespedes or Gordon too. I do think they really wanted Gordon. I was always pretty meh on Fowler, but his deal isn't exactly going to burn you. The sox want to give Avi one more chance, and I hope it pays off. I also hope they bring in a LHB that can compete with him...Hernandez would be nice if he comes relatively cheaply. The thing that bugs me the most, is that if the Sox are around .500 ish June and in contention, they're going to have to pay alot more for a RF then than would have this offseason. That part bugs me, but I also get why they didn't want to relegate Avi to the bench or AAA just yet. ok i can see that it appears that you are looking at the golden side of this offseason. but while i can look at that, i can be very honest about it, who screwed up this team in the first place??? this took yrs of incompetence of someone at the helm, was this all kw, maybe was this all the owners fault??? yes. why, the buck stops with them. Avi, yes, try in new swing with best situation, platooning at the dh, while having a better defensive of'er manning the position. let him get comfortable hitting and then see what the sox have in him.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 10:30 PM) Light em up: Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 4m4 minutes ago Scottsdale, AZ More KW: "But you have to ask how much the Ferrari costs. We had a lot of great Ferrari ideas, let’s put it that way.” Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 4m4 minutes ago Scottsdale, AZ More KW: "It’s like going down to the Ferrari dealership when you can only afford a Volkswagen. It kind of is what it is in some cases... Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 5m5 minutes ago Scottsdale, AZ Ken Williams on CWS offseason pursuits: "Listen, we always check in on everyone that is of potential interest. But in some cases … man this guy really know how to f*** up a situation even further. the owners reminds me of a miserly, penny pitching people who wants to count their money ..... instead of just going for it once. this has vindicated me and my rants, but to be honest, i would rather have been wrong and have many call me out for being wrong on the owners. the owners gave up on the fans, if they were ever for the fans of the sox in the first place. instead of means to getting wealthy.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 07:39 PM) I have no idea what they offered, but Bernstein said Fowler wouldn't budge from his demands and signs for 3/$33 million when a couple of days ago the report said he wanted at least $45 million or 4 years. Seems like he budged. yeah i can see that, i am just wondering if and what is suppose to be the market value.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Feb 24, 2016 -> 06:53 PM) You make a lot of great points. The only thing I'd say to you is that Chris Sale is probably not all that interested in the team being competitive towards the end of his current contract. He actually made the comment the other day that he has yet to play in a "meaningful game" in his entire career. That's a pretty strong statement to make, and is obviously indicative of where his mind is at in terms of the team competing sooner rather than later. He actually went on further to say that it's all about making the playoffs, with anything less unacceptable. So at this point, for guys like Sale and Abreu, they might not be too interested in looking at this as a long term project, waiting for the likes of the Adams, Danish' and Michalczewskis to come along before the team is competitive once again. and the idea is to max the star player best yrs, not spending on draft picks and having to wait until they are ready to sniff the major league. as i have been saying this, idea of fixing this club needs to be done on several fronts simultaneously.