Chisoxfn

Avi in the field is atrocious. I hope from time to time that he'll figure out how to hit where he can serve value in a platoon role / DH type role, but he'd have to severely improve offensively and the longer he plays at this level without any sort of sustained success, the less likely. Avi is about the only position player they have shown patience with (outside of Beckham) and part of it is because we haven't had any other even remote options to leverage from our system (with Trayce being the one and he's kicking ass now for the Dodgers). Avi is so so bad defensively, that he'd have to hit a metric ton to offset his porous defense. He's such a negative defensively, it isn't even funny (and given his tools, I'm not sure how he is so bad in the field, but he just is).

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jun 14, 2016 -> 06:47 AM) The Timberwolves wouldn't trade Wiggins straight up for Butler. I think they would. The Bulls would probably do Wiggins plus a combination of other players without the 5 pick. I think getting both would be extremely unlikely, if not impossible, however, if you get a bidding war between teams, who have young assets plus high picks, it does create the potential possibility. I think a Wiggins and a piece deal would be a lot more probable than any deal centered around the 5th pick (Wiggins trade value > 5th pick).

QUOTE (shysocks @ Jun 14, 2016 -> 06:52 AM) I hope Shields doesn't spoil his dinner with all the innings he's eating. Everybody in the front office responsible for this trade should consider a different line of work. Shields is going to be an albatross so fast. I was never a fan of the trade, but Shields is not as bad as these most recent two starts. He's trending the wrong direction but he didn't just become the worst pitcher in baseball overnight. That said, I do think if given the shot in San Diego, Johnson, will end up putting up better numbers over the next three years than Shields.

Why are so many of you so short-sited and illogical. Clammor for minor league talent but write off guys after like 4 at bats (the Jason Coats hate is so abusrd). As is the Shuck and every other last guy on the bench talk. Idiotic. Tim Anderson will struggle too...its baseball and very few guys are Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. Anderson is going to have a run of errors and mental issues that will be natural for someone his age (who is still pretty raw) and I'm sure we'll see him struggle at some point during this call up (probably sooner vs. later but especially after people get a better look at him and pitchers start to adjust). Unfortunately, outside of Gordon Beckham, in many cases the White Sox front office's patience for young players has been about as short-sited as well, this boards. Unless you come up and are immediately awesome (see Sale / Q / Rodon), you are kind of kicked to the curb / cast immediate judgement on (this being overly blunt as there is a fine line here, but in general, I feel for as aggressive as we are at moving players up, we are not willing to actually be patient. Yes, I think most stars have something about them that they'll succeed regardless, but for quality low cost solid players, I think patience can often be the name of the game, and it is those type of players we can miss out on because of our impatience. This team was going to have to have everything go right to be a 90 win team (I think most of us said that from the beginning) and a lot of us pegged this as a team that would hover around .500, +/- a few games and with a few good bounces could be a playoff team (especially if they bought at the deadline). You compound that with all the injuries to the pen and now Jackson, plus Abreu being awful, and well, we shouldn't be surprised we are where we are. Of course we have played really really awful more recently, but given what made up 2/5th's of our rotation to start the season (Danks / Latos), again, I'd have expected some ugly issues given Rodon would have his inconsistencies (young pitchers with control problems, but above average stuff typically do) and than it would just take some offensive slumps or the random down game from Sale / Q and you'd see some extended losing streaks. I'd actually say one of the most dissapointing parts of the season is Todd Frazier. He is a continued trend of players we acquire who get worse vs. better. That said, hopefully he can make some adjustments to the league and have a more consistent 2nd half (yes, he's hit a lot of homers, but outside of that he's been pretty blah). Abreu clearly was a dissapointment as well, but honestly, I'm probably missing something, but those are about the only two guys who have underperformed significantly vs. expectations (and i know people will argue with me on Frazier, but I fundamentally am opposed to players whose only asset is power (thankfully he brings average defense) and right now that is Frazier's only asset. PS: I never said Jason Coats was some phenom and I'm not proposing starting him (he's most likely a bench player at best), but I do think that if you are going to promote and demote and reach judgement on guys based upon extremely limited at bats, well, most every single prospect you ever see will be a colossal failure. Also, as you know, I'm fine changing managers because it is a card available in a win or get fired season anyway for Robin (who I presume knew those were the expectations going into things). I think at the very least, you know if this team struggles, Robin doesn't get another year, so you might as well see if a change somehow helps light a spark (could or couldn't and like I said about, I don't really think this is much more than a mediocre to slightly above mediocre team when healthy. I will also continue to predict that Erik Johnson pitches better over the next 3 years than Shields.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 14, 2016 -> 05:55 AM) Probably not but Thibs isn't married to Wiggins. Wiggins and #5 gets it done for me. I'm not sure Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and Dieng is enough for Butler. Wiggins and the 5th pick and the deal is done. If you don't get Wiggins, I'm not making this deal. By the way, there is no way the Wolves are going to give up the #5 & Wiggins without intense pressure from another team (i.e,. Boston offering the #3, Brooklyn's unprotected pick in next years draft, and like Crowder or Olynk (or however the hell you spell it). I don't think Bulls would turn down either of those deals and to be frank, those are the only type of deals I'm going to make if I were in the Bulls shoes (and I put odds on either team offering up that as relatively low). My preference would be on the Wiggins and the 5th (but I still don't see a lot of reasons why Twolves would do it). Basically unless a huge bidding war breaks out over Butler, I think he stays with the Bulls. The real question is what happens with DRose, imo. I still think he goes somewhere for a late 1st. I don't expect Durant to leave OKC which is what could actually put the Bulls in an interesting spot (regarding Butler) as he'd be the best, potentially on the block asset in the league. My big problem is I don't want Hoiberg around and I don't like Gar. If we had a better coach, I'd be more comfortable moving Butler, but than again, if we had a better coach, I honestly don't think we are talking about moving Butler and instead are talking about moving Rose and finding a good point guard and other young talent to surround around Buckets. So kind of a who knows. I do think Rose needs to leave Chicago and he'll probably get better being another year removed from injuries, etc, but he clearly is too soft of a player and since he isn't a great passer and isn't a great outside shooter, his style isn't going to work that well in this current NBA regime unless he really wants to play aggressive and attack.

I want a game 7 on father's day. Cavs got hot, but that type of game will typically result in a Cav's loss (not a lot of ball movement, etc, but LBJ and Kryie hit their shots so it worked). PS: I was a wuss...am on the east coast and fell asleep when there was like 5 minutes to go (such a late start...opposite of my west coast complaints). Didn't help that I was up at 4 AM PST to get out to the east coast the same day.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 8, 2016 -> 05:08 PM) This team effectively traded Adam LaRoche, Erik Johnson, and Tatis Jr, for Shields at $10 million per for 2.5 years. I am good with what they did with the LaRoche money so far. Yeah...when you put it that way, I'm even more annoyed with the Shields deal.

LOL....I'll see what I can do.

Very interesting. I figured he was one of the reasons they were willing to cut Slauson (along with the guard they drafted).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 8, 2016 -> 01:10 PM) I just wonder what the effect of another year and elbow surgery and missing time would have on him. And unless he is resigned that all he will get is some minor league make good deal, I really don't buy the White Sox being able to stealthly sign him before word gets out that he is ready to go. There are several teams looking for bats. I fully agree with both of your points. I see no reason he wouldn't have an open try out to garner up as much possible attention as possible (vs. just signing with the White Sox without having some big "marketing" campaign). I have no idea how the injuries will have impacted him and if he can even stay on the field...originally I was thinking he wasn't that great before the injury but than I was like, at least he wasn't bad when he was on the field...now how much this injury and the time off impacts him, who knows. None of it will matter if the pen continues to give up an exorbitant number of runs. Right now I don't know what is the bigger issue, the lack of offense (which could legitimately be solved by Abreu emerging...quite a difference in having a below average hitter and one of the better hitters in the AL (which Abreu was over the past two years) or the pen. Rotation is good enough we should be able to win (especially with Shields delivering extra innings which could theoritically help the pen). We know my stance on Robin. While I don't think he is necessarily the problem, I also don't find him as the long-term solution, either. So for someone who not once called for his head during any of the previous years and until a day or two ago hadn't yet, either, I think they've hit the point where you legitimately need to leverage that card. I also happen to think Renteria is probably the better manager, anyway. Not a huge knock on Ventura and really only last year was a giant disappointment, but I'd view this as two seasons in a row where the team has missed the boat vs. expectations, with him unfortunately winning so many games early, actually hurting his chances because of this recent tail-spin.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 8, 2016 -> 12:59 PM) I'm not buying this. If Morneau was ready to sign with teams, I would imagine his agent(s) would have the word out. Coming off elbow surgery, probably will have really diminished power this year. I was going to rip this move, but I'll at least admit I was surprised at how good of numbers Morneau put up in the limited time that he actually played with the Rockies the past two seasons.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Jun 8, 2016 -> 12:21 PM) They are both having a great start to 2016. The rest of their track record is Jordan Danksian. You do not move around your team to see if a Jordan Danks can develop at the major league level. They will play every day and when need arises later this year, fine. But I see nothing in their career track record that assures me they'll be better than Avi. Jordan Danks may not have made it, but at one point he was a pretty highly thought of prospect.

I've said it before, but Gonzalez is the better starter. I also tend to think from a pitch style perspective, Latos has a better shot at being a better reliever (vs. Gonzalez who I don't think has typical reliever stuff). For whatever reason, when I watch Gonzalez pitch, I think, this guy is a solid back of the rotation guy. I don't get that feeling of Latos. That said, I have no idea how Latos would react to being moved to the pen (he'd probably go bats***), but I actually think it could be a benefit to his career as I think we'd see his velocity pop up and he'd actually be a bit more effective (mid 90's with that breaker could be pretty good).

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jun 8, 2016 -> 09:24 AM) Oh Gage. It will be Phil who recruits him (after he opts out from the Knicks).

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 8, 2016 -> 07:27 AM) Who you crappin'? What head coach is going to successfully get them to buy into his vision? Phil Jackson? It's certainly not going to be Fred Hoiberg after last season. Nah....Kevin Ollie, lol.

I'm going to make my delusional prediction right here and right now. Bulls will be the next superteam. Next year they will sign an opted out Durant and a FA Westbrook to go with Jimmy Butler.

Hell of a nice win. Now lets do it against Paraguay and advance to the next round and than see what we can do (got to get some positive momentum heading into the next set of qualifiers).

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 08:36 PM) I've tried not to be a Ventura basher. And I'm not Walter Cronkite. But he's lost me. I wonder if as early as tomorrow something happens. I don't think he has much, if any more rope.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 03:50 PM) I think a much more likely scenario is that the Sox are talking about a trade for a SS. Yeah, I don't buy it. Makes zero sense to me. Saladino has done solid (hit safely in 12 of last 15 games) and Anderson is your top prospect. Makes literally no sense. Than again, maybe they will. They have way bigger holes to fill. I also don't think this is him doing anything other than stopping people from speculating about Anderson coming up (while still giving Anderson credit that they are seeing what he's doing) but also giving Tyler a bit of a vote of confidence. I also don't think this is Hahn confirming we won't see Anderson this year. No one knows what could change that timeline (including Tim Anderson continuing to just kick ass).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 02:06 PM) The CBA states that to be eligible to receive a qualifying offer a player must have been with the same Club at the major or minor league level since Opening Day of the last completed season. Ergo, the Sox could not offer him a qualifying offer. Text from page 87: Is there any other paragraph that maybe indicates something different for a player who opts out of a contract. I don't know the answer (knew of the 1 year for impending FA's, just wasn't sure if opt-outs were somehow treated differently?). I skimmed and didn't see anything.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/heres...PKnz#.mjVxjv3Dj The letter she read to the victim is incredibly powerful. Unbelievable that the guy still hasn't fessed up to doing more than just drinking too much booze. And major props to the two bike riders who came to her defense.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 01:18 PM) Man this is how it feels for me. I am 25 and started my career with a really cool company in the past few months downtown and wanting to prove myself. It feels like I'm not as in to the game as I was despite being a huge baseball and Sox fan. It's crazy and sucks how it happens. Guess it's just a part of growing up. I am at that life cycle as well, but the bigger change for me was, I don't let the losses bring you down. Winning baseball is fun and watching good teams is fun, but if they aren't, I got plenty of other things to do and enjoy. Kids, wife, and work are clearly the highest priorities and while I'm still passionate about sports, I'm not about to waste my time on something that doesn't entertain me. I figure when the kids get older and interest shifts, I figure I might find myself adjust as PTACT described. When I was a kid, I had all the time and could practically name every single MLB roster and every single move. Now, I still spit out a lot, but not near to the degree (far more competing priorities).

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 11:31 AM) BTW, I've thought about this more, but the whole commentary on Dany being a terrible ruler and becoming Aerys because of that just seems off to me. Martin has had a ton of great people in his books, but few good rulers and those tend to be more mythical than anything. Honestly, which rulers to this day haven't made greivous mistakes? Every single one of them have thus far, including Dany. It very well could end up with her becoming the mad queen but with all the terrible rulers in Martin's books I don't think that is really what he was going towards. Anything could happen...she may never get to the throne...maybe she helps get rid of the white walkers and than is dispatched another way. At this point it is all theories. Never know what twists Martin could potentially have planned (at least not theoretically, right)?

QUOTE (illinilaw08 @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 10:44 AM) Generally, I agree with this. But the Brotherhood in the show did sell Gendry to Melissandre, knowing she was probably going to kill him, back in one of the early seasons. In the books, the Brotherhood gets kind of dark when LSH shows up. It's possible that it was the Brotherhood, they saw the Hound, and that led LSH to give the order to kill everyone (assuming we're getting LSH this season). I wonder if Gendry and Ayra reunite. No idea what he has been up to, but presume he'll serve some purpose at some point (and hey...they are bringing back all kinds of characters lately so why not, haha). PS: I really want 9 seasons (more is better as it allows more of the story to be told vs. moving too fast). I think their is still plenty of actoin that they could get and tell out of an extra season

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Jun 7, 2016 -> 09:50 AM) I think they are possibly just combining the Brotherhood Without Banners with the Brave Companions. Lady Stoneheart's MO is to hang people so that is also why there are people speculating that we may be about to meet her I don't really know why Lady Stoneheart would hang these people (I thought she was all about getting revenge...unless somehow this guy actually harmed the Tully's / Stark's prior to finding religion)? That is the only piece I'm struggling with but I don't really know much about Lady Stoneheart other than it is Catherine Stark rejuvinated (and not quite the same way as Jon Snow). Initial rumors were she was never going to be part of the TV show, but I know their have been rumblings she could be returning. But maybe I don't have enough of an appreciation for book Lady Stoneheart. Will be interesting if Stoneheart does show up, whether it would be here or riverrun or somewhere else? Also interesting to see if the TV show diverges from what happens to Brienne in the books (although I suppose we don't really know what happens to Brienne in the books). These next couple episodes should be awesome. Would seem most likely that it would be riverrun. The book character was focused on the Frey's, primarily, and I believe Brienne is on her way to the Riverlands as well to get Blackfish's support for Sansa / Jon. You'll also have a sworn Catherine Stark enemy in Jamie Lanister there as well.