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QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 03:03 PM) I think defensively, what they do is going to be dictated by what kind of bat they can bring in. If they bring in Upton, that could mean Avi gone, LaRoche gone, Melky LF/DH, Trayce RF. we just don't know. As you pointed out, They did address the defense about as much as they could during the season, so I really don't think they now find it unimportant. They don't need spectacular defenders everywhere. Just make the plays you are supposed to make, and with the Sox pitchers, that should be fine. You can't win when you don't score, hence even when Saladino or Beckham was at 3B, Alexei awoke from hibernation at SS, Sanchez took over for Micah at 2B, and Trayce was in the outfield, they were a pretty good defensive team but still didn't win more games. I will say one of the most fun White Sox teams ever was the 1977 Southside Hitmen, and they were about as awful of fielding team as could be. But they mashed, coming off a year where they couldn't hit at all. This is a good point.

I continue to be confused about the stories claiming people paying hundreds on the secondary market for opening weekend tickets, as I keep looking at fandango seeing every single theatre having every showing available every day.

QUOTE (spiderman @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 02:40 PM) Did the Red Sox get rid of any salary in that deal by moving Miley? Miley signed an extension last feb so it's possible.

Needed something mindless last night, watched Spy. It was well done for a parody and fit the bill. Pretty funny parts.

This is a very bizarre trade, to me. But one I like much more for Dombrowski. For the Mariners, it's possible their stadium will play to Miley's strengths, but I hate everything they are doing.

Oh I think the Mariners are being the mariners, wildly flailing around to look like they are being proactive, just interesting to find those that may get desparate for a move.

So, the Mariners pitching staff is awfully awful. They just traded for Miley from the Bosox, and are in on Adam Lind at 1b. They seem to be going for it. I wonder if we would be trade partners at all. Do they have anything interesting beside Alex Jackson, whom I'm guessing would be untouchable for them.

Well, then I maintain that we will see a report every bit as damning as ferguson's, and likely some federal oversight.

Props to chisoxfn for slightly changing a popular phrase

I think if the warriors stay healthy they will beat it, but staying healthy for 82 games is hard. Remember, Steph Curry was injury prone with weak ankles until he wasn't.

This is the disconnect making me crazy with this team. - The sox have a great pitching staff - They have a bullpen full of groundball pitchers - They have a bunch of bad defensive players that require great offense to make them valuable. They have been terrible offensively. I am tired of writing that we need to make our strengths an elite strength, but I do feel we are far more likely to build a contender by making our great staff an elite staff with great defense. I believe that creating an elite staff, adding a single bat will make a huge difference. Instead, we are continuing to undermine the effectiveness of our pitching staff by adding (HOPEFULLY) above average bats with hopefully average defense. To me, it just seems like even if we are capable of getting an above average offense in one offseason, it will come at the cost of dropping our staff out of top 10.

K, we're going to agree to disagree that a murder in Chicago is going to go all the way up to the President to cover it up just to save some poll numbers for Rahm Emmanuel.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/673933085566701568

Yeah this is gross. Shows how much value players like Montas may even have as a reliever.

I'd certainly rank it above kentucky and vanderbilt after his run. Still, would be a pull for mid level coaching jumps.

I think there is a crucial re-adjustment happening in expectations re: pitching value in trades. Prior to the offseason heating up, we saw a lot of "why would they give up a bunch of prospects if they can just sign x". In addition to that, there was a lot of "piching can be found now, hitting is the bigger commodity". Now, the numbers are in, and its clear pitching is still as valuable as ever. Except, so far, it seems in the face of that, GMs are still unwilling to give up equal value for pitching, but instead are trying to make a dominant bullpen. That worked for the Royals, but the Yankees put together a great bunch last year and finished out of the playoffs. I wonder at what point the shoe drops and some big packages for pitchers go down.

I am very, very surprised that Muschamp got a job at an SEC level so quickly.

Please, aside from the fact that the same "circle of people" do not run the DOJ, we are talking about years of abuse we've all "heard" about but now have subpoena's to back up. If anything this allows him to offset blame and solutions to a federal group.

I'm very happy the DOJ is reviewing the CPD. I really think the time is right, and that is the right approach, to providing some honest to God reforms that will help the city and police longterm. To me, it will be the same kick that Pat Fitzgerald provided to the state govt. They may not be better in policy, but I truly believe the state gov't is cleaner than ever before thanks to his efforts.

I'd be shocked if Alexei was not back.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 11:04 AM) 1.) Signing a guy to a nine digit contract is "the most White Sox move ever"? 2.) Upton's defense is average by UZR and above average by DRS. I remember scouts being fond of it too though I can't say that definitively. 3.) Do strikeouts matter when he'll improve big weaknesses with his power and OBP potential. 4.) KW does like Upton a lot. I have a hard time believing scouts like Upton's defense. I hope its average, but it seemed pretty universsal when the padres put that OF together last year that their defense was going to be horrible. I don't remember hearing a "but Upton's not so bad"

I am more skeptical of police accounts being faulty than regular witness accounts, as their training would, hopefully, allow them to observe in high stress situations better than a witness in that situation for a first time. Police testimony and reports are often treated with greater deference because of this, and if that's not accurate either, than that is concerning.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 08:52 AM) Baez is risky but high ceiling. Depends on starting pitcher. I'd trade EJ for him before I'd trade EJ for, say, Lawrie. Oh? You'd trade Erik Johnson for Javier Baez?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 09:36 AM) 2 prospects for a rent. Friedman has gone from Tampa to the hero worship cult in LA. In all seriousness, that probably gives them the most dominating back end in baseball, but listening to O'Dowd yesterday, it makes you wonder if this messes with Jansen. He mentioned the human element when Sean Casey said Jansen probably wouldn't mind if he was a set up guy if it meant wins. O'Dowd mentioned that Jansen really hasn't been paid yet, and a lot of his future earnings are tied into saves. Not closing games costs him money. I think this is real. Now, lucky for him, with the royals success even non-closers are getting paid 10 million per now if dominant. But this is certainly a risk.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Dec 7, 2015 -> 09:42 AM) Wait, Dusty got the most out of the Cubs? He let the team implode in the 2003 NLCS. yeah what a horrible manager getting them within 2 games of the world series. Closer than whiz Joe Maddon did.