LDF

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 07:27 PM) Nitpicking a little bit here. But I don't think you can really count on this yet. The trio of Sale, Q and Shark has exactly 0 playoff starts at the moment, it isn't the biggest concern in the world, but it matters to a certain extent. On top of that, Sale has looked gassed in the last month of the season each of the past 3 years. We'll need some creative planning to keep him fresh in the postseason, but that will come at the cost of valuable regular season wins, and that matters a lot to this team as it stands. Lastly, I am not convinced Q is a quality playoff starter, at least not one where I would say he a clearly a better number 3 than the other team's number 3 in a series. Without opening a can of worm, Q doesn't go deep in games, and always seems to blow up in the 5th or 6th inning because hitters hit him better the second time around. It's hard to trust a guy like that, especially if he has to pitch 2 games in a series. and this is a major point of my spouting about a real good quality sp. to help in the rotation for the sp to have enuf rest, let alone help in the innings in the playoff. the biggest problem i had from this beginning of the offseason is they believe in sox management of no money. next, even Hahn said they needed more, but it is not going to happen. lets deal with the certainty, b/c the sox have most of the players now, finish the job. now, they may need to tap into the trade market, whereas before, they wouldn't had to.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:48 PM) True. However, it is also more of a gamble going with the prospects because you have no idea how good they will be. Plus it usually takes a couple of years for the young player to settle in, if they ever do. you have a better idea MLB proven player is going to do. It's less of a risk. exactly and the opportunity is now. oops i need to go, brb in 1/2 hr. peace.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:46 PM) The Sox are trying to be like the Cardinals. It takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day. haha.... i soo agree to this. nice one.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:45 PM) The Sox aren't taking the cautious route. The cautious route would have involved them not trading for Samardzija or signing LaRoche or Duke or Robertson or Cabrera. The cautious route would have had them going into the season with Viciedo in LF. They have not been cautious at all. They have also not been reckless, which is what I'd argue you are advocating. it was being reckless early in the off-season with the FA's to have address the sp situation.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:40 PM) So the answer is "15 years ago." Doesn't seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but considering how quickly the landscape of baseball changes, I think it's safe to say that this all looks about as clean as it has in a very long time. Long enough to have seen offense at near an alltime high and now offense at near an alltime low. Success is never guaranteed, but the goal is to get to a point where, if things do fall apart for a season, you aren't more than a quick reload away from being back in the picture. but the wild card there is to get there. all can be talked about, but this team needs to get into a position where what we are talking about can be fully explored. you also have to take 1 giant thing into consideration. FANs attendance. remember the owners are still crying no money.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:36 PM) The issue is that everything that Hahn's regime has communicated, both directly and implied, does NOT agree with the sentence above. The window is not simply now, it is (theoretically) every year going forward. If you resign yourself to the idea that Sale/Abreu cannot be "wasted," you're already accepting the cycle of going for broke and rebuilding, a model that is showing to be disastrous for the few teams still attempting it. Instead, ``1. - you need to realize that we need to take advantage of Sale/Abreu now while also developing their replacements down the road. If you want to see it in action, look at the ``2. - Cardinals. When was the last time they didn't enter a season with legitimate playoff chances? When was the last time they didn't also have at least a decent farm? And the result? A couple WS championships, and, since 1996, they've only dropped below 4th in MLB attendance ONCE, when they were 6th in 2004. They have signed a handful of big time free agents and also let ahndful of them go. They've been restrained at times so they could be aggressive at times. It's smart resource management and it's paid off in spades. It's balanced, patient, sustained winning where every part of the machine is running efficiently. It means assets have to be juggled. It takes time to set up, but you have to stay the course. ref 1 that is what i have been saying all along now. be smart, make the necessary investment to go to the playoff. 2. stl has a stack team with good, very good prospects. this sox team is trying to do both and at some point need to sacrifice a little of one to help the other.

at 5 yrs, no, at 4 maybe.... 3 most definitely. even if he doesn't do good in the playoff, at least he is added insurance for injury.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:31 PM) One thing, why the Fry high ranking? I like him, but not that high because I need to see more of him in the minors. Also, I think it's a little criminal that Peter isn't ranked in the top 30. He might not of been highly regarded, but he proved his worth in half a season to deserve a ranking between at least 20-30. i like fry, i have or would have him even higher. Peter, i agree. but let him produce.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:31 PM) Right. I know James Shields would be a good fit baseball-wise on the club right now, but what does he increase the Sox odds of reaching the postseason to? From 40% to 65%? Maybe? Meanwhile, the moves made prior to this increased the Sox odds of going to the postseason from like 5% (or worse) to 33-40%. The Sox have a team that should be very good this year and could legitimately be great. How much more does a guy like Shields, Zimmerman, or Strasburg really add to the current club? And then as a result, you are sending away a ton of money or a couple of very good prospects. i would then trust our chances with them in the rotation and help on the workload. what happen if you take that cautious route, only to learn the prospects does not fully develop as hope. it is like roulette: and betting on the double zero, it can be a long shot. waiting.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:30 PM) and what happen if Jeff S walks, Rodon is not the pitcher everyone thought he would be, Sale gets hurt again. there is many possibilities that can happen. the one constant is, this team, next yr can take that giant leap into the playoff. and i will say this again, i will trust Hahn skills to continue to make this team better in 2016+

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:27 PM) It's also diminishing returns for us. Under the current climate where there are TONS of teams in the running for some very shaky playoff spots, the difference between a "solid" team and a "great" team, in terms of WS chances, is smaller than ever. Pushing in more than we have takes a big chunk out of the core of the future just to add a couple percentage points in the present. and what happen if Jeff S walks, Rodon is not the pitcher everyone thought he would be, Sale gets hurt again. there is many possibilities that can happen. the one constant is, this team, next yr can take that giant leap into the playoff.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:20 PM) Washington's long man right now is Tanner freaking Roark. THAT'S a surefire postseason team. Their entire starting 5 could have sub-3 eras. Probably won't, but they could. btw, lets expand this discussion to other teams beside Wash. Wash has a great starting 4/5 sp.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:21 PM) that is not how you develop major league regulars. when the roster is full of talented players, they can ease the prospects in.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:13 PM) They are further than one starting pitcher away from being a guaranteed playoff team. Essentially guaranteeing a playoff team would result in them adding someone like Chase Utley at 2B, replacing Garcia in RF with a surer bet, AND adding a starting pitcher. That would result in a ton of damage to the minor league system and would be putting all the eggs in the 2015 basket, because that team would get really old with no replacement parts in tow in a hell of a hurry. I can see what you are saying and i will respectfully disagree on seeing players succeed. i also agree in wasting the young prospects. this is not what i am advocating. i am saying a few prospect to get that sp, of all all that has been discuss, this team need if it could get it is a sp. the sox can not plan for the future, when the window of making a really great splash is now.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:10 PM) The difference between the two is the cost of hte players on your major league roster. Kids are cheaper than the vets you trade them for. yes and the way the Fa's rt is going, i can see a need for a great farm. the problem is the uncertainty of there performance just removed from minor league and facing major league pitching. i would rather have them spend some time as a backup role in the majors. this team does not have that luxury, they had to rush players into a position of failure. rush a player who is not ready, b/c the team was really thin

don't get me wrong, this team as is, with the minor league is a team to build a dynasty with. i am really freaking excited in what Hahn has done. i am not saying the this team should be the Marlins of the late 90's and early 2000's where they spent a lot to field a team and completely dismantle it.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 06:03 PM) This team is not "one final piece" away. We have a few holes we could still use filled. That said, I'm very happy where the team is at compared to a couple months ago. with all due respect, but this team is really 1 very good sp away. most teams can deal with 1 or 2 weak hitting positional player. there is no way a team will field a team of 100% really above avg players. 1 sp to help in many ways. short term contract.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 05:58 PM) Look at the way the Royals and Giants are approaching this season. They didn't add any foolish risks or big contracts, in fact, they were almost risk-averse. With the price of pitching in the game today, you develop 5 Adamses (see the Nationals), go into April with six quality starters and expect at least one of them to get hurt. You also don't overpay middle or back of the rotation starters with long-term deals...but you do bust your balls to do everything possible to develop as many top-line starters internally. Giants have been there and won it, twice and their farm systems isn't in shambles. the sox were and are trying to play catch. by chance, lady luck is shinning us this team. she gave the team Jose A, Sale, Q and many more. the time is now. lets take advantage of the horses that this team been blessed with. next yr, the team may not have Jeff S, and let say anyone else. no mattter how talented a team is built, there is still luck.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 05:49 PM) how do you develop the minors if you have to trade prospects to get your "extra" pieces? did i say trade all the prospects??? i said if that final piece is needed and they might have to sacrifice an Adams, i said go for it. the payment coming back will be worth. cost of diminishing return. if the price is needed, do it and possible ensure a trip to the playoff and maybe more. so if that is the final piece, would you not spend, just b/c you want to save the prospect??

QUOTE (Reddy @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 05:42 PM) So what happens if you "go that extra" and then you don't win the world series? you continue to let Hahn continue to develop the minors. we are fans we do not have all the resource that we can make those smart decision. but we are smart enuf to know that the sox are not done or should be done in the rebuild. btw, getting to the world series, is good enuf, it is not the best wish, but it beats not making the playoff when the sox have great pieces to get the team there.

i am and have been a diehard sox fan. more that the normal, no, less than the normal, no. but this does not stop me from wanting the sox to do that little extra, to get that extra player. unrealistic, yeah if i want a team of a payroll greater than 150 mil. all this yrs, esp last yr, the owner rep has stated no money. the fans are not supporting the team. well with the economy being what it is, do anyone blame the fans, the diehard fans?? well we found out that the money claim is all false. a blatant lie and deceit. but this is not the point here. the point for this discussion is the art of patience. we as fans been as patient as any, but as some one said, would you spend, example of prospect Adams, let me put it this way. if a person cut him self, develop an infection and has no choice but to remove the limb or loosing their life. they will remove the limb. well the answer is yes, i would sacrifice loosing Adams, if the reward, may lead to a World Series attendance. i trust Hahn to do the right maneuvering to oversee the system. now it is not in the hands of Hahn, he answer to KW and the final work is the owner's rep. so remember this is the person who tried to embellish the situation. the fans will come out in groves, they don't need to be blackmail, put the product on the field, do and go that extra for winning the WS. this is a great time, the Sox can take over the Chi media in the summer, if they would do that little extra.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 04:05 PM) The trade market for Viciedo http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/just-a-bit-ou...-to-deal-012815 some just want to jump on the wagon ..... i believe if the sox could have traded him.... Hahn would have

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 03:47 PM) Here it is. Read it. We put lots of work into it, and I think it's a darn good list. Thoughts? Disagreements? Are we insane on someone, one way or the other? Anyone we missed? you mean you had me waiting for this, this, what you compile here... i can't believe it... i mean how do you expect ..... this is what i think of it. great work... fantastic job... i can't believe i i actually agree with you. now i can see how this system rose in the ranking. looking good. sox in 15

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 29, 2015 -> 03:15 PM) http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/...0-prospects-mlb White Sox with only 3 top 100 guys according to Keith Law. 12. Carlos Rodon 67. Tim Anderson 94. Spencer Adams no montas.... wow

the games being saved from the 6 inning on will be greatly improve, the games saved in the short innings is going to be significant let alone the blown saves. this is why i am really stoke with an really improve pen. but that is me.