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QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 01:01 PM) Got an e-mail from Ted Phillips today saying that they are lowering season ticket preseason prices by 40%, while increasing regular season ticket prices by 10%, as part of new "variable" pricing. As a whole, the cost of a full season will stay the same. I know some people will fall for it, but a load of s***. That changes nothing. Yeah, but basically will remove the feeling that they are "losing" money when they sell them.

I really hope Anderson pans out. He just reminds me of the swagger-heavy athletic baseball players I grew up with, with his batting stance, build and speed.

The hitters actually look pretty realistic to me except maybe being a best case scenario for LaRoche (honestly).

"patriot sympathizers" How is this possibly a title being applied.

Just to be clear: no excuse to be 70 and not have updated your view.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 08:42 AM) Why exactly would she learn that in the northern suburbs of Chicago and Wesleyan? From her time in Arkansas? I don't know about you guys, but this is pretty close to what I learned. Grant was a corrupt, ineffective president. Lincoln knew the country had to be magnanimous and Johnson continued Lincolns path (!) which is why he was so unpopular. That is seriously what I learned in a suburban high school in Illinois. The honors US history classes learned differently. But yeah, I specifically remember the teacher talking about the courage of the senator who voted not to impeach Johnson. It wasn't until college that I started to read more about Grant/Johnson and that being flipped.

Glad to see this before bed. LOL at them going to a townhall. These people are delusional or have the maturity of an 8 year old.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 04:55 PM) Refresh my memory. Why is it the Cubs and Dodgers have a leg up? They already overspent their allotment, and there are no escalating penalties. Since they will be penalized next two years makes sense to go all out. Sox meanwhile, have not gone over, so this would put them over in that category. Therefore, would have been smarter for cubs to do it after signing like, 300 players, than sox with their 7-8 person class.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 03:25 PM) My boy Coats. Nice. I like Eddy too, but these are guys who have some shot at the opening day roster, or are maybe just one injury away from being added. Alvarez is a few steps away, so he's not likely to be there. Also some of those are just plain key prospects like Danish, and Alvarez isn't at that level either. Not yet anyway. Just like...let him play one day instead of Matt Purke.

I could see Avi becoming like a .2-.3 WAR player with another hot month.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 05:33 PM) I'm not pessimistic about Saladino, but the projection seems to assume his elite 3rd base defense will morph into elite SS defense, and I don't think a reasonable person assumes he's that much better than average at SS. Not knocking him, just probably isn't top 5 in baseball. I'd be fine with him as shortstop, but I think Desmond is potentially too good of a deal to pass up. Seems like a reasonable assumption given that he came up as a SS, and should be a more natural position.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 04:44 PM) Defense and speed add to Saladino's projection. Kind of the anti-Avi I'd be curious to see where Sanchez would fit at SS or 2B. He certainly was one of our best base runners immediately. I really hope he's a 2 WAR player. Cespedes/Gordon/Upton would have basically doubled our value in OF. Really, really agree with Shipps, at this point, would be fine if we just rolled with Jackson + flyers on SP. I don't know that Gallardo comes all that cheap despite it being late.

I don't have any desire for a contract with Desmond or Fowler that doesn't allow us to opt-out after a year.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 03:06 PM) Not at all. One of them they actually acquired as a throw in for the Peavy deal. The other guy was picked last year without the 2nd and 3rd rounders. What you are missing is the Sox would be getting the services of a major league player. One that has outperformed Brett Lawrie. At market price, when there are other options. So no, I am not missing that, I am just able to handle the different considerations for different options for the white sox and come up with conclusions for what's best for the White Sox. You, on the other hand, are solely entertained by taking what you take to be a "board opinion", mash multiple opinions into a single, made-up poster, and push the made-up poster's opinion to an illogical extreme that suits you: the 28th pick is more valuable than Dexter Fowler. No, but the 28th pick + market price and years may be reason to not sign a player that provides just elite OBP to Sox.

I bet you loved the Amelia Bedelia books as a kid.

Was hoping Eddy Alvarez would get a spot. Really want to see him.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 02:47 PM) If Carson Fulmer is a pitcher, no matter how well the other draftees do, the 2015 draft is a big success. When Larry Himes rebuilt the White Sox, his first rounders were studs. In 3 of his 4 drafts, the rest of the draft produced pretty much next to nothing. The only guys he drafted after the 1st round that signed and helped the White Sox were in 1990 with Ray Durham and Jason Bere. He also drafted Bob Wickman that year who was eventually traded for Steve Sax. Yet those drafts turned the White Sox into contenders for a while. So? The White Sox just acquired Brett Lawrie for JB Wendelken and Zach Erwin, yet by your current logic path, those players would have no bearing on the future of the white sox because they are not top picks and top prospects. The extra budget pool we acquire with the 28th pick lets us get a couple more JB Wendelken and Zach Erwin and possibly a gigantic lottery winner. The explicit players may end up not succeeding for the white sox, but that doesn't mean they are without value if they don't make big leagues for the White Sox.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 01:50 PM) That Astros route didn't work out so well for them. I think the would have been better off with Bryant and Rodon rather than Appel and Aiken. I think you are missing the forest for the trees here, Dick. If we want to continue to spur top level FAs and use our farm to get major league ready players, that single pick may lead to 3-4-5 additional high school or other players into our system that otherwise would not be. Last year was extremely thin with among other things 2 picks missing and then less signings after. It should be even more valuable to Sox, not less.

Considering how freaking long this presidential race has been, I find it funny they moved Iowa back. When did this happen? I only just remembered after a memory of reading a nytimes on an abroad trip in early january 2008 that said she won New Hampshire, and that won't be until into february.

Just to reiterate - Fowler is a good (er...average) player whom certainly makes us better, but how much better is a question to me and I really can't any more offensive upgrades that do not come with upgraded D. We've seen how good Sale and Q can be in front of a horrible defense. How good are they when you cut out X number of baserunners per year with good defense? How much better is our bullpen? I'd like to see it while we still have Q/Sale.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 12:35 PM) His power the last several seasons seems to indicate a 15 homer guy if he stays healthy. His defense isn't stellar, but it's not horrible. He gets on base, and can run. And he gets Avi off the field. It sure beats sending another top prospect or 2 away for a guy like Dickerson or Blackmon. But how much does it beat just getting Austin Jackson who will get you plus defense to go with your elite pitching (1-3) and doesn't tie you up long-term? Also - "not horrible" defense is what I heard about Melky and it seems to usually indicate pretty terrible. It's just a waste of resources. Is the more money, more years and a pick better than Jackson? Fowler is a good player, but I like him a lot less when he is rounded out by Eaton and Melky, whom total will provide us with 45 some hrs a year.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 12:30 PM) The draft pick isn't my only reservation with Fowler. I think he'll cost more than that, and I'd also prefer a more talented defender. Yes to both.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 12:30 PM) I still don't get the must some have in holding on to this pick. Considering the outrage Shark and therefore this pick wasn't traded in July, one would be led to believe it was a worthless pick. They still would have their full draft intact. You basically would be making the trade Semien et al for 1 year of Shark and 3 years of Fowler. Sure, I'd like them to keep the pick, but it isn't a killer at all. I don't know if it's just a pick, it's the committing to a likely-bad defensive OF with limited power. His OBP is great, but, at least with Jackson you know it's a placeholder to upgrade. With Fowler, it's committing to a pretty average OF for a long time.

Yeah, that said, still want Jackson over Fowler, even though he's not as good.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 26, 2016 -> 10:28 AM) It's too big of task to make non baseball players baseball players. It's not like other sports. Football, basketball, you can get a guy with a ton of talent to be decent in a few years. Baseball, no way. There aren't stories of guys who picked up baseball as 16 year olds and became big league stars. Hopefully Tim Anderson