Chisoxfn

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2015 -> 03:16 PM) The thing that puts us in bad shape is being a losing team this season because there's no money left to upgrade in free agency unless we downgrade somewhere else, and its possible that with erosion of ticket sales after being a losing team again this year the shape could be even worse. That state would leave trades as the only option to upgrade. The answer to that is to stop putting together losing teams, but alas. I am not that worried. This is a team that should get better, not worse. Are they ready for mainstream now, no. Do they need certain guys on current roster to step up, yes, but they also still have pieces in the farm and that will be an integral part to where they end up. This doomsay talk is just crazy this early in the season, that is all I am saying. If the Sox wanted to they could likely move Shark for some top prospects and if Alexei gets going they should be able to get something valuable for him. I am sure if they wanted to, Robertson could go somewhere (I don't think they would move him). If we think Eaton is as bad as he played and Sale is as bad as he played and Shark is as bad as he played, then sure. Eaton has shorter track record so he could be, but I don't think Shark / Sale / Q are going to stink all year when they have proven to be above average (and in Sale / Q's case extremely above avg big league players). Our front 3 pitchers have been lousy and we are just a bit out of the wild card. They will pitch better and probably get in a run where they are all consistently pitching better (to get back in line with their historical norms) and at that point we are talking about what should be an extended winning streak. My concerns are whether we can win pitch over the D, deal with the bad starts from danks / Noesi (maybe Rodon helps with that, but he'll have his issues too but hopefully its more pluses then N).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 13, 2015 -> 12:58 PM) As Bulls fans, it is a bit hypocritical complaining about LeBron's calls vs. what MJ used to get, but this one call last night really bothered me because they were watching in over and over and came to the conclusion they did. Joey Crawford and the 2 dopes with him should be suspended for the rest of the playoffs for that call after a review last night. Giving a T the next day is nothing. Giving Cleveland 2 shots and the ball when it was their guy that was at fault should be a fireable offense. I could understand it if there was no replay, but the decision made after watching it over and over makes the NBA look bad IMO. That is what I found so laughable. They reviewed the freaking play and messed it up even more (ejecting Taj, etc). It was a total joke.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2015 -> 03:05 PM) That's not what does it. Abreu goes up $3 million next year. Robertson goes up $1 mil. Melky goes up $1 mil. Sale goes up $3 mil. Quintana goes up $2 mil. Eaton goes up $2 mil. Duke goes up $500k. Bonifacio either goes up $1 mil or has a $1 mil buyout. Then throw in a good number of arbitration guys like Jennings, Garcia, etc. Add all those together and "Just to stay right where we are with no Samardzija" the payroll goes up substantially from the $117 million starting point this year. The White Sox break-even point right now is probably around $120 million. That's consistent with what they've spent this year and its consistent with the Forbes numbers. They're on the book for more than that next year if Alexei is still around. Hence, revenue MUST grow to keep pace with what we've already committed to spend, and that's assuming Samardzija walks. They have already committed to spend a number greater than $115M. And in general, payrolls go up, so yes, White Sox payroll will trend up a bit next year, but so will vast majority of other teams. Average payroll increased 8.2% between 13 & 14. I don't think anyone will look at the Sox and say wow they are in bad shape (from a payroll perspective). I would have said that a few years ago, but not today. We could say that a year from now or two years from now (depending on what various guys do, but that isn't the case today). I also think by seasons end we won't be saying that (as I still think this team contends...doesn't win, but contends). Its defense is so atrocious though.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2015 -> 02:47 PM) Ramirez coming off the books this year when he's only owed $10 mil next year would seem like a pretty silly move to me unless he keeps being this bad of a hitter all year. If Ramirez comes off the books and Samardzija leaves, then their fixed payroll is basically equal to (within error of cutting guys like Flowers loose) their opening day payroll in 2015 without a single addition. If they pick up Alexei's deal and make no other moves, their payroll will grow by >$10 million next season regardless of whether they finish this season in the playoffs or win 75 games again. If the White Sox go into next year with the same starting 9, including Gillaspie and Flowers as arb guys, without filling any of their holes and with Samardzija gone, seemingly a weaker roster or at best a lateral one (Rodon replaces Samardzija and player x takes the 5th starter spot) their payroll grows by 10% or so. That's why I call this a mess. They're on pace to have an increase of about 2000 in ticket sales this year over last as of now, but they've already spent more than that next year unless they trade someone away. They need to actually win games and be competitive just to support what is already on the books. Otherwise, they're going to need to trade someone away to stay in the black. The payroll is 15th in baseball this year. If you took Shark and Ramirez off the books (which you could do pretty easily, that would move the current 2015 payroll down 18M. That would put them squarely with the Braves (23rd highest payroll in baseball). Every team will have some form of arb hits, etc, so payrolls will move anyway. Rodon replacing Shark and the Sox using Montas or Beck or someone else (or inserting top prospect acquired for Shark) does not increase the payroll by 10%. Again this is all hypothetical anyway but the Sox in no way shape or form, currently are in payroll hell. Not when you look at the macro major league environment. And with those MLB tv revenues in place and the various contracts getting handed on tv deals, I'm not worried about the Sox ability to field a payroll in the 115M range. I just flat out am not concerned about that. They may not want to, but they can do that and then some and should be able to. Local TV deals alone (based upon new terms) could practically drive a $100M payroll alone.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2015 -> 11:01 AM) No, but letting Lester walk, trading Samardzija for zero established players, and trading away one of the best 3b in the game are very much rebuilding moves. If we traded away Quintana, let Sale walk, and traded away Abreu...I don't think we'd care if we brought in LaRoche to replace him, we'd still call that rebuilding. They aren't all that indifferent from moves the A's have made over their history (including during seasons where they plan to contend the following year).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2015 -> 10:21 AM) If anyone would take Danks they'd have moved him by now. Shark...letting him go doesn't fix the payroll mess they created since he's not under contract, and with the way he's pitching right now just settling for the crappy draft pick is starting to seem like better than what we'll be able to get in trade. Ramirez...yes we could possibly move him so I'm hoping he picks it up with the bats more in the next month, and that does help the payroll problem a lot...but then we have the delightful middle infield of Tim Anderson as a rookie who could be in AAA and Micah Johnson as a rushed sophomore next year, which is pretty **** far from a competitive infield. What payroll mess did we create? LaRoche is fine and fairly paid (I am going to with long history of him having slow starts and then doing very good). Melky, well, we will see, but I certainly wouldn't jump to that conclusion based upon 30 games. I don't think the Sox have a payroll mess, other then Danks who they are stuck with (Ramirez / Shark / etc come off the books this year so nothing going there).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 13, 2015 -> 12:44 PM) Presumably if they reviewed it to add the Tech for the other guy then Taj did not get suspended for game 6 in that review and the review is completed. They probably reviewed and realized Taj should have never been ejected in the first place. Every year I enjoy the NBA playoffs but think to myself how much more I'd enjoy them if it weren't for the refs (and this isn't just in Bulls games). I do think NBA refereeing is the hardest of any sport but I also think the refs are the absolute worst in professional sports and playoff basketball gets refed even worse.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 13, 2015 -> 12:29 PM) Hey thanks NBA for that ! Vincent Goodwill ‏@vgoodwill 2m2 minutes ago RT @NBAPR: CLE's Dellavedova has been assessed a technical foul for his involvement in altercation with CHI's Gibson at 10:25 of 4Q OMG..and that would have been a difference maker.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 13, 2015 -> 08:38 AM) Isn't Hoiberg known to be a very good offensive coach? I don't think any of us know that. He had athletes at ISU and outrun other teams. Doesn't necessarily mean you are a good offensive coach. He's a good recruiter and he seems to be a good leader of men. Not sure any of us know how he will do in the NBA but he should be pretty good at relating. He will absolutely need some top notch assistants. The level of details in the pro game and just the pure talent is so much different, however, I presume he understands that.

On an unrelated sidenote, I have finally grown to accept the fact that if we lose tomorrow, Thibs is gone and should be gone. I think Thibs is a great coach but I also think this whole situation wears on the players and everyone so if JR is going to pick the front office, then let them get the coach that they want. I just hope they don't mess up a good thing, cause this team is loaded and should actually get better (part of that is because I am buying into Drose and I obviously think highly of Butler / Nikolai. I also hope Noah can be better (with an off-season to rest). Key is going to be finding another big though to develop since our bigs are older.

Come on boys...man up. Backs against the wall, now play your best. On a sidenote, I was extremely dissapointed with the coaching in that game (just really bad plays out of the time-out late), however, I am also extremely dissapointed in the play of our bench. It has gotten destroyed by a shallow Cleveland bench. Brooks, who I can't stand, has been a disaster all series and Niko had his one moment and otherwise has stunk. Hinrich has actually been better then I expected (didn't say good....just better then I expected). Taj's ejection was weak, imo. But the most critical issue has been Noah and with Gasol out, we don't have a lot of options.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ May 12, 2015 -> 10:25 AM) Cleveland was playing awesome down the stretch with Kevin Love. Both teams are crazy beat up but Cleveland overall has been in worse shape. But whatever, who gives a s*** lets just win this series. I'm just saying...it is the 2nd round of the playoffs and I still think we are talking about the 2 best teams in the East (as currently constructed) and one of those teams has the best player in the world. Who didn't expect this to be a battle.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 12, 2015 -> 10:12 AM) So why does that only factor in for one team? And even if you called the Bulls the "healthier" team, Cleveland was playing as good of basketball as anyone down the stretch and this "healthy" Bulls team had very limited reps with each other, which is a factor. Bottom line, I expected this to be a hard fought series and that has been what it is. The thing that gets me is game 2. That lack of intensity the Bulls displayed was just pathetic.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 12, 2015 -> 10:05 AM) I wouldn't call this Bulls team "virtually healthy" Most guys are playing, but guys like Taj and Jo are playing through some nasty stuff. And our 2nd most consistent player all season, Gasol, is out.

I've long thought he was one of the very best prospects in our system and a guy that has a high likelihood of playing in the bigs. The fact that his offense has grown significantly in the past year, is huge though, as if he can hit respectably, you are talking long-term starter (especially when you factor in his legs, etc, a part of the game he needs to start better utilizing). But alas, I am a huge Rondon fan.

I thought Pau was out. At least that is what I heard on my drive in this morning.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 11, 2015 -> 10:24 AM) I've stayed out of this thread since game 1 because jason said I'm a jinx. I think he's right. I just wanted to say this has been a f***ing awesome series. I'll be back when it's over. Seriously, I find all the whining from others funny. These are the 2 best teams in the East playing each other and they are going at it. It has been incredibly enjoyable to watch. Now lets win tonight baby!!!

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ May 11, 2015 -> 08:27 AM) Are the Cavs even capable of winning two in a row against the Bulls? Of course they are. They have Lebron and smoked us in game 2. This has been an incredibly evenly matched series. Bulls are without Pau.

This has been a fun series. 2-2. Quit whining people and enjoy a good series. I still have Bulls taking this thing!!!! Lets take the momentum for good and win these next 2!!! It all start again on Tuesday in Cleveland!!!

Awful news for Fowler / Jags.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 8, 2015 -> 09:32 AM) While I don't buy that, let's see if you could be more honest here. If White Sox baserunning was stellar up until this point, who would get the credit? Coleman or Ventura? Trick question....Coleman and Kenny Williams.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 8, 2015 -> 09:29 AM) He was the mastermind behind two of the biggest ESPN innovations in the past few years with Grantland and 30 for 30. Dumb move by ESPN. I presume this is not a move by ESPN, rather Bill Simmons, who probably is tired of having to keep his mouth shut due to potential suspensions. Simmons has made significant money plus I think as part of his deal, he owns portions of Grantland, etc, so curious how this all plays out. He has became an emperor in and of itself and is easily the highest profile figure to leave ESPN (more so than Patrick and Olberman). I won't count Gammons but Simmons is higher profile but Gammons was always a writer as well so wasn't ever fully employed by ESPN (still had his duties with Boston Globe, etc).

I figured something must have been up when he was on Dan Patrick yesterday.

QUOTE (Jake @ May 7, 2015 -> 01:43 PM) I haven't looked through the posts for last night's game, but the thing that stuck in my mind the most was that Pau was being lazy as f*** out there. I don't know if it was the one day of rest or too many minutes in the game or what, but he was not the guy who was going off in Game 1. They punked him for innumerable offensive rebounds where he just wasn't trying to get it Might have also been because he was frustrated from his shooting. It wasn't just him though, no one wanted to box out.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 7, 2015 -> 01:11 PM) He had knee surgery this summer. I know...I was referring to the fact that this wasn't the first time he had to deal with an off-season injury where it really impacted his game throughout the season.