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I re-upped my modest package after Frazier. This time, I'm just going to give away april/may tickets. God I hate going to games then.

Any press is good press.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 02:53 PM) I agree that haven't done well. I think it started last year. Previous to that I think it was a "win now" each year. I think it shifted last year. I'm never expecting all of the minor leaguers to work out. As a matter of fact, I'm expecting most won't. However, if you keep adding at least 2-3 each year some will work out and then they will begin to form a pipeline and be more consistent. It won't happen for a few years. However, good trades as they've done this year and short term FA deals as they did last year will help to improve the team as this happens. I have nothing against the FAs or even signing Cespedes, as long as they are short deals. Save the long deals for their own players, the ones they know. You knows I may be wrong and they find they really like Frazier and he wants to stay. I don't disagree with any of this, and I do think lots of improvements have been made. I do think scouting is better. I am intrigued by Steverson's role as hitting coordinator on lower levels we are hearing about. I am excited for Marco Paddy's returns. But these two things are driving me nuts: - That we are middling in our team strategy for only incremental progress at the ML level, and never cashing in on excellent value if it means temporary regression - Not spending on international FA There are these great value areas where sox are not looking at because they think "rebuilding" will kill attendance (its dead), and its preventing a period of rapid improvement when that value hits.

Orioles need pitching. Would be interesting if they grabbed Cespedes.

QUOTE (Frank_Thomas35 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 02:22 PM) I've been out of the loop the past few days what did Dan Hayes do? Basically said sox FO is influenced by fan comments and provided some CS line/email

Would be hilarious if Jerry was influenced by this new craze of "My veteran grandfather turned 90 today, let's get him 100,000 likes to show him our appreciation!" "If 1000 sox fans like Dan Hayes post on Cespedes then we can sign him"

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 02:06 PM) When I got my Chinese Visa in Chicago about 2-3 years ago they needed a copy of your round trip tickets and proof of where you were staying for the entire trip. They actually shot down most of the people who were there for a visa because they didnt have the right paperwork. We had everything we needed and it ended up being fairly painless, picked up the visa's in four days I believe. Yeah, this is where I'm worried about a screw up. We have 3-4 cities we are in in China. Some we are staying at a friends, so we booked a hotel we plan to cancel. It's a lot of paperwork to have, and we are also flying out from a diff airport we are flying into. I do NOT want to go 3-4 times due to missing paper work. It sounds like they have gotten much faster though, which is great.

Those that may complain about the contract are not the problem. After all, it was not their front office philosophy that mandated filling in all holes with FA/trades in a bid to be immediately competitive. But when that is your strategy, we can have opinions on how to best do that. Mainly because its infuriating to drive 3/4 way to a place and then say "Wellp, that's pretty far, let's tucker in for the night, I'm sure the festival will be there tomorrow"

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 01:55 PM) Shark led the league in runs given up and hits allowed. Johnson is going to have to be pretty bad to be a downgrade. It could happen, but Shark, despite his WAR figure, was awful last year, and a decent portion of the defense they say killed him, was his defense. He was a terrible fielding pitcher last year. One of the worst. As for all the prospects have to be good, c'mon man. There will be other players acquired. There is a total turnover of position players between now and the deadline in 2013, and the Sox minor leaguers hitters haven't raided the roster yet guys like Abreu and Eaton and Frazier are around. That can continue. A lot of money coming off next year, and if you are willing to pick up money, players in trades don't cost as much as usual. It would make things easier if some of the prospects actually became ballplayers, but it's not an absolute they have to or else. While other players may well be acquired, that they will either a) be in the big leagues and producing in the next 2 years or b) be the all-star level dynamic player we need is going to be difficult. It also assumes that we can rely on the same production and health from our core.

I'm not going to support John Kraczinsky in an action role or any role actually. If Taylor Kitsch fails, he must fail too.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 01:38 PM) I agree. However, it is posters asking to acquire Fowler, not the Sox FO. All of this is risk management. If the FO feels the chances of making the playoffs with Fowler out-weigh the chances of the comp pick being an impact player, they may make the deal. My whole point of this is protecting the future while trying to improve the team. So far I think they have done a good job. A deal for Cespedes that doesn't restrict the team in the future would be good as well. I'm just not convinced that he is the player to whom you give the long term contract. I don't trust his consistency. They will need to take that risk at some point, I just think he is the right player. Well, I disagree that they have done a good job. They have won 63, 72 and 75 games in 3 years. With big upgrades at 3b and possibly at 2b, and possible downgrade at rotation, we are looking at 78-79 wins. In 2 years, when all of these contracts expire, we have to hope that all: Tim Anderson Trey M Are in the big leagues and high level producers immediately while we win a lottery ticket with : Jacob May Adam Engel Courtney Hawkins Maybe Adolfo will be a beast and be close to majors in 2 years. Otherwise you are looking at another round of gauge and plug with FA/trades on the minor league front. In four years, the core of Sale/Q/Abreu/Eaton basically falls apart. In two years you are expecting all of our minor league work to pan out. That is doubtful. The best contribution we may see is if Sale/Q/Rodon find themselves supplemented by budding superstars Adams/Fullmer/Danish for one last run. This isn't a "well what's the point of even playing the games!" point. Its just if you really valued having a winner with your current core, and you do not want to give up future competitiveness, then paying the large sum for a player like cespedes is necessary. Otherwise, you will hit a ceiling from the teams that kill us in player development.

There is an embassy 2 blocks away. I have passport pictures and have printed out computer typed application.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 01:26 PM) They need to base all of their decisions on what is going on in the minors. He may not make it and all prospects are suspects until they reach the MLB. However, unless the payroll projects to 200 million, they will need to reply on the minors and project when to give the players a chance. If they based all of their decisions on what was going on in the minors and also did not want to have a high payroll, we would be looking at an organization that valued acquiring top-level prospects and cost-controlled players. That is not how the white sox front office is operating. Case in point, those making the argument that Fowler is attractive to management because we would not have to pay another 1st round comp.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 01:18 PM) He is also on a quick moving path. So? I like Trey a lot. I think the progress he made last year was great for his age. But what % of certainty would you put to Trey M. being on an MLB roster in his career? What % certainty would you put to him being a starter? What % would you put to him being above average starter? Our minors are improved, but they are still relying on every top prospect to hit. And if they are planning two years from now to just give to Trey M., that is really really presumptuous and risky.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 01:05 PM) Isn't one of the White Sox better prospects a 3B who should be ready in a couple of years? The kid is 19/20 in high-A, I wouldn't make any decisions based on that assumption.

Need to get Visa at Chinese Embassy this week. Anyone been to do the same? Any tips?

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 11:43 AM) I love Jo. His loss sucks, but it also creates new opportunity for Taj & Portis. I hope they do well with that and I wish Jo the best in his speedy recovery. I don't know whether his time in Chicago is done or not, in fact, who knows, the injury might mean its more likely he is back in Chicago a year from now. All I know is one thing...I don't know that I was ever so annoyed at a draft pick than when the Bulls took Jo and years later I look back and I think about how I love Jo. I respect how he went about his business on the court and how he was a constant pro (yes he had his issues when he was young, but he was never afraid to learn from his mistakes). Guy always left it all out on the court and off the court he's done a ton of good for the community, etc. Love you Jo!!! After all, my son's middle name is Noah for a reason As depressing as Rose was, Noah's career basically ending just as he hits 4th in MVP voting was more heartbreaking to me. THAT Noah would have made a huge difference last year.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 11:11 AM) It happened in Anaheim. I can believe it could happen with Scoscia, LaRussa and maybe a Torre in NY. But Ausmus?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 11:06 AM) What is the fascination with Lincecum? He has been horrible for 4 years in a big park in the NL, and he is coming off surgery. His hair.

Seriously. Elba's "Luther" is a total Eastwood character anyway. I don't know what book you are talking about. But Elba excels in broken down, "ends justify the means" heros.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 10:19 AM) I am not sure he was "sacked". I think he was probably having talks with Boston and Ilitch's statement was "I've decided to release Dave from his contract in order to afford him the time to pursue other career opportunities." Then Boston sat on it for a month to avoid tampering charges and give the appearance of a thorough hiring process. Have you heard this anywhere? I feel like a situation like that would leak, considering the teams involved and media around Boston.

Yeah waiting for the definitive piece. I do find it interesting how open the top players were to discussing (Nova)

QUOTE (bschmaranz @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 10:08 AM) Screw it, do 4 years, higher average than Upton got. 92/4, if that doesn't get it done, call Fowler/Jackson. Please Jackson over Fowler. I don't know that it makes us better, but I know it does not commit us to an outfield of low power for years (i.e., we know we need to upgrade it anyway, no need to commit to a stop gap).

Well...I have to say that I can't believe a GM would lose a battle vs. a Manager.

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 09:59 AM) Who is Mibelt Rodriguez again? I believe he was the teenager that broke some big red sox trade or signing. Forget which. Edit: crap, I don't think he's a teenager. But he was in on the panda signing with the teenager.