hogan873

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 31, 2014 -> 01:52 PM) Why don't you want Paulino in the rotation? That was a really good signing. Have you ever seen the guy pitch before? It doesn't matter. The Sox should sign Jimenez or that other guy to a 4-year/$50 million contract instead.

QUOTE (onedude @ Jan 30, 2014 -> 08:33 AM) True Detective is going American Horror Story route actually. Every season is a different case with different characters in a different city, and perhaps a different time period. I would like to see major movie actors take on the roles every year... I hadn't heard that. That will be interesting.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 30, 2014 -> 08:06 AM) According to WGN, by Saturday night O'Hare should see a total of 7 new inches of snow, by Wednesday midnight a total of 17 inches. Followed by more negative temps. Worst winter EVER? This winter is being compared to the brutal winters of the late 70s. I wonder if we're slipping back into that type of pattern where we'll have a few winters in a row like this.

Pretty much every part of the country has to deal with some sort of extreme weather at some time throughout the year. What's unique about the Midwest is that we often deal with high heat and humidty; snow, ice, and frigid temps; and violent thunderstorms and tornadoes every year. Think about this: If around July 6 it gets to be in the upper 90s (which is entirely possible), that would be about a 115 degree temperature swing in 6 months. That sort of temperature span doesn't happen throughout the country. I've lived in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, and Illinois, and the weather here is by far the most diverse.

I've been catching up with Workaholics on Amazon. I'm about 1/3 way through the third season. Glad to hear it's still as funny.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 29, 2014 -> 08:26 AM) We have been doing just that for three years now. As you said, the biggest problem is live sports. If you can find workarounds or live without them on tv all the time (though you always get bears games), you probably won't miss it for a second. Yeah, football I'm not concerned about because I'd be able to see all of the Bears games and all of the Sunday games. It's the Sox games that are giving me pause. However, I look back at last summer and realize that I was often too busy to actually sit down and watch the games.

I've been considering getting rid of cable and trying an HDTV antenna. I'm just tired of paying so much for a package of which I only watch a handful of channels. With Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon I would be able to watch just about all of the shows I normally watch. Even with subscriptions to all of those, I'd be saving a lot of money each month. One of the only things that's kepeing me from pulling the trigger is not being able to get Comcast Sports Net. Right there I'd be missing out on probably close to half the Sox games. And what sucks is that to get CSN I have to get a certain package with UVerse. Has anyone here cut the cord? And if so, what has been your experience?

The Sox are in a situation now where they can afford to wait and see what they might get for the likes of De Aza, Gillaspie, and Keppinger. I don't think anyone, the Sox front office included, thinks that they'll be able to get much for any of them. But, they can still look for the best deal. Having these extra bodies right now is more of a "good" problem than a "bad" problem. It's not like they have to dump salary, and Keppinger is really the only one where money is a concern (I'm not talking about Dunn, so don't bring that up). The true purpose of moving any of these guys is going to be to clear space for the young talent that has been acquired...if they are ready. If and when any of these guys are moved, the reaction here on Soxtalk will most likely be a shoulder shrug because they're not going to get a great return. But, Hahn will still be looking for the best deal and won't be making a trade just to make a trade.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 02:11 PM) Avasail Garcia was acquired for an over 30 pitcher with an injury history. A pitcher signed to a team-friendly, short contract. And that pitcher was having a pretty good season.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 01:40 PM) Amen to your last sentence. It's like there is a group on here who wants bad players cause it means we're still rebuilding. It's not like the cost of going to a game is going to decrease any, so why not put the heat on our front office to spend some money and get some more good players?? Who said anything about wanting bad players? Just because the "group" thinks that signing a 30+ year old starter for a 3-4 year deal at $12+ million per in the hopes that the Sox could flip him for young talent at the deadline is not a great idea, doesn't mean that aforementioned group wants the Sox to have a roster full of bad players. I for one would like to see what some of the young talent that we already have can do. Before a team signs or trades for someone, they have to do a risk/benefit analysis. I think that the risks outweigh the benefits when it comes to the SPs that some here want to see signed. There's much less risk with a 2nd round draft pick, and that pick can actually lead to greater benefits in the near term (trade for "now" talent) and in the future (bring up through the minors to the majors eventually). I just don't see why there's even an argument here. We're not talking about trying to get 3-5 more wins to get the team into the postseason. We're talking about improving a 99-loss team.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 10:40 AM) Again, the guys signed can be flipped for already developed players, or create an opportunity to flip someone else for players who are farther down the road in their development. Unless you want a 7 or 8 year rebuild, it is something that needs to be considered. Would you rather have A. Garcia or a second round pick? You're comparing what did happen to what could happen...if you were able to sign one of those available SPs to a deal as friendly as Peavy's and said pitcher performed as well as Peavy. First, they most likely wouldn's be able to sign one of those guys to a team-friendly deal. Second, chances are they wouldn't perform as well as Peavy. Now the Sox are stuck with an expensive, underperfoming pitcher who isn't very tradeable.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jan 27, 2014 -> 07:39 AM) Code for not wanting to spend money. There were pitchers available who did not cost a pick. Oh, for God's sake, Marty. The Sox were willing to spend $20 million a year for Tanaka. Just because they haven't signed one of these purported great SPs available doesn't mean they're not willing to spend money. If they sign someone, they have to fit into their long term plan. Not the plan that a couple posters on Soxtalk think they should follow.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 08:49 AM) Anybody else just avoid a thread completely once Marty starts posting? I actually make a point to check it out because you just know there's going to be some classic stuff. Sit Chris Sale for a year, trade Chris Sale... I know what he's getting at in regards to signing a pitcher in the hopes that he'll either be good for 3-4 years or be good enough to trade at the deadline. BUt the way it's presented is comical.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 08:24 PM) Abreu could do that and still have this be an under .500 team. QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 08:49 PM) They could all do that and still win only 85 games if they field the ball as well as last year. Mr. Grumpy Pants. Unfortunately, you're right. The Sox need to win about 25 more games than they did last year to have a realistic shot at the playoffs. A lot of things will have to go right.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 24, 2014 -> 06:27 AM) If it is a good pitcher it increases the talent level and inventory of the pitching staff, and the ability to turn so,e of that inventory into other pieces. I am not thrilled with Jimenez or Santana moving forward, but if the White Sox think they will be quality pitchers for a couple of years, it makes a lot of sense signing them and flipping them or trading someone else because of their presence. The White Sox are running out of parts to trade. You want to rebuild through the draft, just look at Theo. it takes a long time. The goal is to get better. The we lost 99 games so we should not sign good players makes no sense to me. Therein lies the problem. Looking at the list of available SPs, which ones have a good chance of being either good for a few years or good long enough to flip for more young talent? It's a gamble with most of those guys, especially considering what the price would be. I'm all for signing someone who can help the team in 2014, but they Sox really need to consider what will happen after 2014. Who knows, one of these guys could be lightning in the bottle. Maybe they sign aguy who tears it up the first half and is then traded for some great young talent. We'll look back and say that it was a good signing. But if they sign someone who stinks it up who goes out with an injury, we'll say it was a terrible signing. There's a ton of risk right now, and the Sox have to weigh those risks against possible rewards.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 08:35 PM) If you take your premise to its logical end, Chris Sale should sit out next year. His health is a much bigger risk to the franchise than any contract the Sox can enter into. QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 10:40 PM) I do agree with Marty on this. For all the people who have written off this upcoming season and say the Sox have no chance (which I'd agree with if Hahn doesn't make another deal or two), why even pitch Sale? Why risk it? Put him on ice so to speak for a full season and just save him until the team is ready to win. I mean what can he possibly gain from more wear and tear on the arm? If this season is just a "get a ton of at bats for Abreu, Eaton, Davidson, Semien, Phegs, Garcia, Viciedo campaign" why risk Sale's health til the team actually needs him? Sale already knows all there is to know about pitching. Any innings in a season we don't contend risk his long term health, right?? I prefer Hahn make another move or 2 and try to contend this year. Talk about trolling. Sale can continue to improve as he pitches. Sitting him for a year (I'm still baffled by the mere suggestion) would do nothing but possibly cause him to regress. There are health risks for anyone, and Sale is not a bigger health risk than any deal the Sox can enter into. Signing a 31 year old pitcher to a 4 year $40MM+ contract has much more risk. Here's the point that you are missing (or refuse to accept): There is no reason to go spend money on a veteran starting pitcher just to sign a veteran. It doesn't make any sense, and we should just stop talking about it.

QUOTE (TheFutureIsNear @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 03:27 PM) Is the world ending and you're not telling anybody?? You do know there will be a 2015 MLB season right? And I'm pretty sure the White Sox are still participating. Not every move has to have an immediate impact. And signing any SP doesn't affect Erik Johnson....taking away a rotation spot from the other 2 guys? Don't care. They are dime a dozen 5th starters who can be found anywhere. That was my point. Why spend money on a veteran SP for a year just to bring in a veteran SP. I don't see the Sox signing a veteran SP for 3-4 years. That's the kind of move they are shying away from. Bringing in Tanaka would have been keeping in line with what they have been doing: building for the future. Signing a 32 year old pitcher for 2014 doesn't do anything for the future, unless they're counting on said pitcher being great and then trading him for prospects at the deadline.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 02:39 PM) It's like some people suddenly don't even want to compete for a few years, thinking it means we are in total rebuild mode. We STILL have a lot of veterans on this team and a lot of good pitchers on this team. We play in a HORSEs*** division. Detroit just lost a Hall of Fame manager and Fielder. We could win this thing if we added a good veteran starter/inning eater/winner and a catcher who can hit. Now if you are saying our defense is so putrid, so horrific, that we cannot compete, perhaps I can buy that argument. But aside from defense, adding a starter like Santana and a good catcher and we should be a contender. Detroit is still a good team. The AL Central has not been a horsedung division for a few years now. I think it will require less wins to take the division this year, but I would say the winning team is going to need at least 85-86 wins. Adding a veteran starting pitcher over going with Johnson/Surkamp/Rienzo is not going to get the Sox substantially more wins. I don't understand the fascination with spending money on a SP just to spend money. Don't confuse the fact that the Sox were willing to spend $20MM per on Tanaka with their willingness to spend money on another starter...especially one that might be with the team for only a year.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 23, 2014 -> 07:57 AM) Multiple baseball writers reported that every offer was in the 6 year $120 million range as a starting point. Don't know how true that is. Sounds about right. Rock has said that around $20M per year was the max, and that they were essentially out of it when it went over 6 years.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 22, 2014 -> 08:56 AM) Yep, supposedly. Supply and demand I guess. Shows you how great of a bargain we got on Abreu IMO. This is what I keep thinking. There's a chance that Abreu's contract is going to look like a huge bargain in a year or two.

Okay. With Tanaka off the table we can get back to what the Sox might do next. Hahn has said he could see some tweaking of the team. One of De Aza or Viciedo will almost have to be traded. The question is whether they package one of them with others to try for a catcher.

QUOTE (thxfrthmmrs @ Jan 22, 2014 -> 08:49 AM) Props to all those who fooled themselves into believing Sox were higher than the Yankees on Tanaka's destination list. I never thought the Sox would be able to match what the Yankees would. My guess is that the Yankees' offer was way above and beyond the other teams' offers.

Yeah, good luck to him in NY. That would not have been a good contract for the Sox.

Based on the reputable sources (Rock, bucket, a few writers), there has been no news from Tanaka. Everything is speculation right now, even though most seem to think its down to the Cubs, Yankees, and LA. Remember that the Sox weren't viewed as favorites to land Abreu until right before the announcement was made. I'm not saying the Sox will land Tanaka (I'm still thinking he'll sign elsewhere), but all of the tweets, blurbs, blogs, etc. are nothing but speculation right now. The quotes from the Sox have alluded that they most likely won't have the highest bid, but they believe that it won't come down to JUST money. Hahn has done a great job rebuilding this team since the summer. Tanaka could be a key part in something pretty special for quite a few years. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

You won't be able to swing a dead short stop without hitting a first baseman in the Sox clubhouse.