fathom

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Sep 19, 2015 -> 01:05 AM) The only good thing is that this doesn't hurt his ERA. Who cares about his W-L record or ERA right now. He's clearly not pitching well. I'm surprised by the lack of disappointment in his season on this board.

Good news about Samardzija in this, as Sox are expected to go forward with QO and he's expected to decline it. http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-he...years-mlb-notes

I don't think Lance Lynn will be starting in the postseason

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Sep 18, 2015 -> 05:34 PM) It is just a matter of time before Maddon's head and ego become over inflated as he gets more and more of the spotlight he seems to cherish. This team will head down the path of unlikability quickly. I believe Len Kasper has a show on every Chicagoland CBS owned radio station. Theo, Jed and Jason McCloud are all on the radio on a regular basis and Maddon has at least one weekly show. Wait until they're on the Score full-time

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 18, 2015 -> 05:45 PM) Absolutely classless comments by Maddon. Pirates handled it with as much class as possible. No one in the Chicago media would ever call out Maddon. Only person that's come close this year was Bernstein with regards to Maddon's asshole comment about people in the stands paying attention to avoid getting hit by a ball.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Sep 18, 2015 -> 02:44 PM) Remember when Y. Ventura quick-pitched Eaton and it led to that brawl? And Samardzija was in the middle of it all, and most of us loved him for it? How times have changed... Or the same guy that irritated many of us by picking a fight with Lorenzo Cain the first game of the season just because they were kicking his ass.

QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 03:12 PM) I've heard Bruce Levine and a few others speculate that the reason for Samardija's decline after the trade deadline was his disappointment at not being traded to a contender. That excuses the player and blames the organization - which isn't surprising coming from a Cubs cheerleader. However, it ignores that the Sox got hot at the wrong time and were a possible contender themselves. Could be less about being traded to a contender and more about being traded so no one can offer him a QO this offseason, which greatly decreases his suitors.

Next weekend's series might be interesting, as their pre-game/post-game show host tweeted this 16 hours ago Dan Zangrilli Source: Pirates officials not amused by Maddon's comment(s)

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 11:49 PM) IIRC Belle had an out clause in his contract and he used it and went to the Orioles for another big payday before his degenerative hip caught up to him And was a pain in the butt to everyone while Ventura gets along well with everyone. Big difference

Sounds like Kang's out for the rest of the year...yep. At least Joe Maddon can joke that it's a minor injury. Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 18m18 minutes ago Kang is out for the #Pirates season and headed for surgery with a fractured tibial plateau, and torn MCL, according to @Dejan_Kovacevic Eric Hagman ‏@esh714 For those asking, Maddon said he had no issue w slide & then said "I don't think it's his knee, he has plantar fasciitis is what I heard.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 11:36 PM) It's been an embarrassing year for the White Sox, and what's troubling is they can't even sell us on hope. Nothing short of a complete dismantling of office personnel, coaches, scouts and players will help this team. There's no, "oh lets make a few shrewd moves and we'll be able to compete. Nope.....it's going to take all the right moves to contend in 2017. If Hahn doesn't start by trading Quintana for a haul we may be screwed even further. I'll go as far as to say it will be the most important trade easily in the last decade for the White Sox. We have to realize how depleted we are offensively, how pitching is our surplus, and how valuable someone such as Q is considering talent and contract. Hahn HAS to succeed, and we shouldn't expect less as fans Also, I think what you mentioned is why it's disappointing they didn't unload Robertson last month. You can easily acquire a closer for cheaper/less years going forward if you start to make some progress in talent acquisition this offseason. No reason to pay huge money for Robertson given his struggles this year. I highly doubt he'd get the same amount of money if he was a FA this offseason.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 11:36 PM) It's been an embarrassing year for the White Sox, and what's troubling is they can't even sell us on hope. Nothing short of a complete dismantling of office personnel, coaches, scouts and players will help this team. There's no, "oh lets make a few shrewd moves and we'll be able to compete. Nope.....it's going to take all the right moves to contend in 2017. If Hahn doesn't start by trading Quintana for a haul we may be screwed even further. I'll go as far as to say it will be the most important trade easily in the last decade for the White Sox. We have to realize how depleted we are offensively, how pitching is our surplus, and how valuable someone such as Q is considering talent and contract. Hahn HAS to succeed, and we shouldn't expect less as fans They also have made some poor choices in terms of how guys would fit into the clubhouse/get along with coaches. Orlando Cabrera, Swisher, Samardzija are prime examples.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 11:24 PM) Go outside and take a deep breath You disagree? The Sox scouting of major league players on other teams seems just awful. Only thing worse was season 2 of True Detective

Just a real bad decision not to get out of Robertson's contract when the Yankees claimed him. It's amazing how bad our major FA signings have been over the last 5 years.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 09:01 PM) Probably because Saladino is going to be moved over a few feet. I'm probably the only one who thinks Anderson will be given a shot at winning the SS battle in ST if Alexei doesn't return (which I think he will).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 09:00 PM) Yeah, Tyler has played, but they sure dropped him like a bad habit when someone marginally better came along. I have no doubt in my mind that the top of Hahn's To Do list this winter is a 3B. From everything Sox personnel have said, they view Saladino as a SS. Stone has said numerous times his future is there, and not at 3B. And yes, 3B might be the biggest need for next year. No doubt in my mind guys like M. Johnson and Montas will be trade bait.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 08:55 PM) It pisses me off, that's for sure. Sick of bad defensive players. Would rather see how Sanchez could hold up at short and Saladino at 3b. They're potentially part of this future, Olt isnt. Olt's supposed to have GG caliber defense. I know I've said this a few times, but I'm thrilled they don't seem to think Saladino is the 3B of the future.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 08:42 PM) Offense in 2015 so far is up for the first time in 3 years and is getting close to the total output seen per game in 2011. How about in games not started by Jeff Samardzija

QUOTE (LDF @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 07:42 PM) geez John F. McDonough is great..... why couldn\t the sox hire someone like him. Grew up a Sox fan. Who knows, maybe if Rocky buys the Sox down the road, they'll make that switch.

QUOTE (bmags @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 08:40 PM) From following on Soxtalk I'm under the impression that Olt misthrew a ball so badly it ended in the concourse somehow. I'm sure that's accurate. Great post! Amazing how much Olt getting at bats seems to upset people.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 08:38 PM) He is always grimacing. I know he had some back issues as well. He seems to be able to run straight lines fine, but watching him in between pitches in the OF last night, it seems he was always trying to get stretched out, and did a lot of walking around. I don't think he's fully healthy. Might be time to shut him down if his knee/back is hurting him. He looks horrendous at the plate. I honestly feel he's playing himself out of the team's plans going forward.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 08:34 PM) Ever since he hurt his knee a couple of months ago, Avi seems to be in constant pain. Whenever he runs out a ball to first, he looks like he's about to have his knee go out.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 07:14 PM) Olt apparently just went to the concourse according to Ed and DJ. Yep, looks like it landed right behind the last row of seats down the LF line.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Sep 17, 2015 -> 07:24 PM) This series just reinforces the idea to me that the race for homefield in the Wildcard game doesn't really matter. If this score holds the Cubs will have taken 3 out of 4 in Pittsburgh. Really doesn't look like it's going to matter whether the game is played in Wrigley or PNC at this point. I'd give the Cubs a slight edge either way. Well yeah, Arrieta going gives them an edge

How's Clayton Richard actually performing well? Another under the radar acquisition that worked out quite well for the Cubs.