GreatScott82

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 8, 2013 -> 11:50 PM) I want the White Sox payroll sheet back. What happened to Kalapse? I'm going to give it another week before I add him to the insert dead celebrity thread. lol LIKE! I relied on his payroll sheet to help project what types of in season and off season moves KW was bound to make. WE NEED THIS BACK! lol

On a selfish note, at least there are available tickets at all times for the impulsive fans.

I think the closer it gets to summer, more and more seats will be filled. This team is also kind of searching for an identity. White Sox fans tend to attach themselves to specific players as well. This current roster really doesn't have the 'major' personalities. I really don't see fans rushing to the stadium to buy Viciedo, Ramirez, Beckham, Keppinger or Flowers jerseys. Other than Sale, Peavy, Konerko or even Rios this team is still searching for more stars. Hopefully another youngster will develop into that this year. I think the loss of Buerhle and AJ upset some of the casual fans. (Not us Soxtalkers). I for one will be going to many games this summer once my school year ends. (I am a middle school teacher).... I believe many families will do the same once their children are out of school. It makes me wonder how many Cub fans are out of work with the way they used to sell out during the weekdays?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 30, 2013 -> 09:08 PM) True enough. You have to have enough of those "young veterans" on 2-3-4 year deals, though, to maintain your future cost predictability. One of the biggest complaints about that 2005-2008 era of White Sox baseball was having so much money tied up into the starting rotation with Garcia, Buehrle, Contreras, Javy and Garland, who had a $29 million/3 year contract from 2006-2008. When your so-called fifth starter is making almost $10 million per season, and this is well before the huge media deals and the Dodgers going nuts spending-wise, you know there is a strategic imbalance in your payroll. That's why we've been very very lucky with Quintana's rise and all those bullpen guys, not to mention Santiago, who almost literally came out of nowhere as well between his high school background and emergence in winter ball from obscurity. Thats exactly right... nice post. KW was almost obsessed with having a dominate rotation that he kind of let things slip a tad in other areas of the roster. It appears that Hahn and the rest of the organization are finally understanding the importance of building talent within. I was shocked and impressed with the way so many of these youngsters played last year. Reed, Jones, Viciedo, Sale, Quintana and even guys like Veal and Axelrod did their jobs when called upon. If these players continue to develop and we get average to above average seasons out of the vets, we WILL be in the thick of the AL central race. Or perhaps one of the two wild card spots.

As long as JR is still around, the White Sox will never sign a stud pitcher to a 6-7 year deal. I was honestly shocked they gave Danks a 5 year deal.... (And i'm sure he is upset with himself by doing so if you look at Danks current health status). I don't blame JRs current mindset of not typically going beyond 4 years for a pitcher. The wear and tear risk is just too big. Hopefully we can continue to develop young starters so we can disperse the money elsewhere on the roster. I really hope Quintana can develop into a gem and the organization can develop one more youngster into a quality starter. (Santiago, Snodgress, Rienzo, Molina, Castro etc...)

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Mar 29, 2013 -> 10:37 AM) Should be interesting to see if Kepp can keep hitting over a full season. Was great last year, great in ST. Let's hope that continues. We could have a really solid 1-2 punch, possibly the best since Pods/Iguchi? Durham/Valentin? We really haven't had a good 1-2 punch in a long time. I think in 2008 it was Swisher/Cabrera which worked for good portion of the season. I am pretty sure AJ went into the 2nd hole that year after Swisher started struggling. I think De Aza/ Keppinger will do a good job at setting the table for the big boys. Its all about OBP. Keppinger had a .367 OBP for the Rays in 2012. De Aza had a .349 OBP which was second to Konerko's .371 last year.

LETS GO WHITE SOX! I am excited to see which players surprise us in 2013. I am excited to see guys continue to develop (Sale, Quintana, Viciedo, Reed, Jones, Santiago). I'm excited to see which guy finally turns it on offensively (Beckham, Ramirez). I'm excited to see if the veterans can have an MVP type offensive season. (Rios, Konerko, Dunn). I am hopeful that fans will be patient for Flowers and that we don't hear the AJ comparisons all season long. I am hopeful for John Danks to come back strong at some point during the season. I am hopeful that Peavy picks up where he left off in 2012. I am hopeful that new comer- Keppinger will be a spark plug at the top of our lineup. I am hopeful that people finally recognize De Aza and his positive contributions defensively and offensively for this team. I am hopeful that Hahn will be aggressive at the trade deadline and that we are buyers and not sellers during that time of the season. I love baseball, its another opportunity, another chance to forget about the September slip up. I want to go to the playoffs damn it! It has been too long! And here is your 2013 opening day lineup: 1) CF: De Aza 2) 3B: Keppinger 3) RF: Rios 4) DH: Dunn 5) 1B: Konerko 6) LF: Viciedo 7) SS: Ramirez 8) C: Flowers 9) 2B: Beckham SP: Sale

They are re-naming US Cellular field to Reinsdorf Field. Since US Cellular is leaving the Chicago market in June a naming change makes sense

I think he needs to keep building up his arm strength.... he is not yet there. I'm guessing his velocity will be back by May 1st. (I'm hopeful!) For now, we are very fortunate to have a guy like Quintana to hold down his spot. We will likely see this rotation to start the year: 1) Sale 2) Peavy 3) Floyd 4) Quintana 5) Axelrod/Santiago

QUOTE (Jillian Michaels' Abs @ Mar 22, 2013 -> 05:03 PM) Looks like a sweep to me. I'll take 2 out of 3! The Royals looks to be pretty darn competitive in 2013. I love what they did with there rotation.

Thank goodness we kept Floyd! With the health of Danks, his inning eating durability will be very important this season.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 8, 2013 -> 11:52 PM) Sale would be a tremendous overpay. It is unbelievable how overrated Chase Headley is. You're not acquiring A-Rod in his prime, here. This is a guy that could be a 0-2 WAR player for the rest of his career and nobody would bat an eye. The good news for him and the Padres is that there are not too many quality 3B out there. If the Padres play their cards right, they will hold on to him until a desperate team overpays.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Mar 3, 2013 -> 12:32 PM) I think that's stretching it the wrong way. What if he cuts up A and AA pitching this year? Many of the really great ones start young. Agreed. I would not be surprised to see him scratch the surface of AA or even AAA this year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 3, 2013 -> 11:03 AM) I don't know what the deal was, but the Mitchell I saw for a few games last summer was not a guy you'd glow about. I think Mitchell still can be a solid every day player, but he still has A LOT of work to do in order to reach MLB status. One guy who will make an impact as early as next year will be Courtney Hawkins. From everything I am reading and seeing from this kid, he is legit. I think Hawkins will likely take over in LF next year with Viciedo going to 1B. (Assuming PK retires). If Mitchell has a tremendous 2013 down in AAA, he may be able to take over in CF in 2014. The infusion of youth is just about to arrive in the outfield. However, we are one more year away......

QUOTE (Cali @ Feb 8, 2013 -> 07:32 PM) Oh I LOST it for the Robin hiring. Haha... I'm glad now, and last year was great (cept that last part) but it still seems Robin isn't 100% committed haha, and i'll always kinda think that. What makes you think he isn't 100% committed?

2013- Signed Keppinger, Re-signed Peavy, Took Floyds option. (No major trades). Yea it has been pretty dull. However, the pitching youth gives me hope. My biggest concerns are Flowers every day and the lack of left handed offensive production. I am pretty excited to see if Viciedo continues to improve with his bat and to see if Keppingers higher OBP can help balance the lineup out.

Well a lot will depend on the health of John Danks... I wouldn't be shocked to see a 6-man rotation at times throughout the year to give Danks, Sale and Peavy some extra rest. I think Q and Santiago will both get opportunities to have pleanty of starts this season. However, if it was one or the other- i'm going with Q. Santiago is the perfect long man/ spot starter. He is more versatile.

After finally forgiving him for his 1st offense I hear about this? Gross.

No!

Love the idea of taking a chance on Siezmore mid-season if he's ready to go. Low-risk-high reward material.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jan 18, 2013 -> 03:14 PM) I am in this corner I wish i can be in this corner, I want to be in this corner, he just hasn't hit since his rookie year for whatever reason. I hope he can be like a Joe Crede where his bat starts blooming after a couple years of full time play. Gosh an all star type offensive season from Beckham can really make this team good, potentially really good.

I would LOVE to have a WS ring! However, it makes me quite sad to see players or coaches resort to selling them.

I thought Doug Padilla's article from ESPN was a good read. http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/white-sox/ With the lack of movement going on this winter for the White Sox and with veterans slowly departing the city year by year (Buerhle, Pierzynski and next year probably Konerko) it makes me wonder if Hahn's ultimate goal is to officially start a youth movement? The article talks about shifting Viciedo over to 1B once PK retires/leaves after 2013. This would make room for one of the OF prospects (Hawkins, Thompson, Walker or Mitchel) to shift over to LF. In fact, Hahn's greatest wish would likely be for Rios to have another good season so he can get an adequate return via trade during the midway point or next offseason since his contract expires after 2014. If he can deal him, that would open the door for one of those OF prospects to step into RF. Veterans with contracts expiring after 2013: Thorton, Konerko, Crain, and Floyd Veterans with contracts expiring after 2014: Dunn, Peavy and Rios. This team will be in a great financial position in two seasons as well.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Jan 5, 2013 -> 10:07 AM) The Sox are that team in the middle that last offseason KW said he did not want to be. I don't think the next couple of years are going to be particularly fun to watch, but they have to wait until some contracts roll off the books to build an offense. Hopefully in that time they will have solidified their top 3 or 4 starters. Well put, Marty. I think this team is kind of in MLB hell...stuck with certain contracts that cant rid of and no true farm depth. I think the current MLB roster is as average is it truly gets. Now that 'average' label can change if any of these guys break out this year: Beckham, Ramirez, Flowers or Viciedo. We pretty much know what we will get from Konerko, Dunn, Keppinger and hopefully Rios.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 5, 2013 -> 08:02 AM) Hahn has filled the holes the Sox have already. At least in terms of the major league roster. You may not like the guys he's filled them with, but if the season started today, they can field a full roster with an obvious starter and backup at each position, a rotation 6+ deep, and a full bullpen. Who is the backup catcher? Utility infielder? Also, can our current roster compete with Detroit or even KC at this point? We will need multiple guys to have career years to do so. I just do not anticipate that happening. (I have been wrong before!) I would like Hahn to make a bold move. Take a risk. Its not like we have any guys on our major league roster (except Sale) that are untouchable.