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QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 28, 2016 -> 09:36 AM) Yes, if the losing is purposeful. Now that line is sometimes difficult to see. But clearly since 2009, the Sox were trying to win and losing. This year (and the next), it is clear the Sox are trying to lose. "Mired in mediocrity" is the worst position to be in, IMO. I guess i can see that. But again your enjoyment is tied to eventual winning. i enjoy going to watch baseball.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Dec 28, 2016 -> 09:27 AM) I disagree. If you aren't a playoff contender, purposeful losing is the best route. this goes back to my constant discussion of "are you a baseball fan." Or are you a fan of winning? Can you enjoy a baseball game if your team loses?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 27, 2016 -> 09:47 AM) What is the insurance policy if Q goes to the WBC or into the regular season with the Sox and gets hurt or suffers a labrum/Johan Santana injury? He should be valued at $100-125 million to the franchise, at least. If not $150 million. Wonder the cost for that amount of risk. 35-40% on the dollar? Teams insure contracts not the player. The type of policy you are describing is what the player takes out on themselves.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 11:32 PM) I never pictured Soxtalk as a big circle of dudes getting excited around a giant Sox logo painted on the floor. Spirit, mind & now body Jerksticks. Forgive my halfassedness these years Is there beer? I'm in.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 03:25 PM) I understand that but the owner got into it with a fan just in the past week because the fan said he was more concerned about the bottom line than winning. Adding a $6 or $7 million salary is hardly a franchise killer. If they have to trade the face of their franchise to add a guy who is paid like a 4th or 5th starter, they aren't committed to winning. Once this window closes, they might regret that. I'm not disageeing with your point. Im just saying that it's not every owner wants to sink everything he or they have into the team. Maybe he's got a 1mil a month alimony payment. Who knows but they aren't in it to go broke. The owner sets the budget they are comfotable with and the GM needs to work within it. If it's not enough to win, then they need to find another way. This could be it for the pirates. McCutchen wasn't putting them over the top so they are trading him and the salary for other pieces. They may also know something about him that others don't

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 02:58 PM) I just think operating like they are operating isn't going to lead to wins. It's as half assed as anything the White Sox have done. Most teams have a budget set by the owner or ownership group. The GM can only work with the resources given.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 02:52 PM) Is Meadows really ready? I just think if your Pittsburgh, your chances to win have been so few and far between, risking losing $6 or $7 million on a season (assuming right now they are OK financially at break even) is a small price to pay to take your shot. You never really know when you might have one again. I agree. i'm just saying that appears to be the way the pirates are going.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 02:44 PM) Yeah, that seems truly harsh. THey also just signed Nova, who is about 8 million, so 14 million in two days. So this goes back to the "who is worth more." It looks like they made those moves with the plan of trading McCutchen. Would you rather have: Hudson Nova Quintana Meadows in CF or McCutchen

QUOTE (Soxnfins @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 01:22 PM) Have to pay to play. Remember when Aaron Poreda was supposed to be a big part of our MLB team? We showcased him just to deal for Peavy. Astros could have just showcased Musgrove and or Bregman and we may be forcing their hand. Musgrove moreso than Bregman. Have to pay to play is correct. That's why a deal won't get done unless the Sox back off those two. I don't think Poreda ever showed the success that these two have anyway.

QUOTE (Soxnfins @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 01:14 PM) This could all be a ploy for the Astros to include Bregman and or Musgrove. Those are both players Houston is counting on for this year. They will not weaken the MLB team when they are trying to contend.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 01:13 PM) Interesting. I would put odds against this trade not because it isn't real but because I'm very skeptical of 3 way trades that get leaked prior, they always seem to fall apart. It does seem that way. I wonder if one team leaks it because they think they are getting screwed compared to the other two?

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 01:08 PM) Keep in mind that I've literally been suspended from this site from saying "poop" too much. I'm no saint but rather am also firmly fixed in the idiot crowd. Of all things to take seriously in life - Soxtalk is not one of them, in my book at least. Professional sports in general unless you are employed by them.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 01:05 PM) Isn't that one the record for longest hit ball in that ballpark? In a game but not including batting practice.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 11:14 AM) He called me a know it all dickhead. Apparently he doesn't read his twitter. His entire post was him telling everyone how great he is. The video is there for everyone to see. If he wants to punch me in the face, we can have it arranged. I think when the moment arrives, however, the gum will fall out of his mouth. I have heard of can't walk and chew gum at the same time. That was the first time I ever saw someone who just can't chew gum at the same time. And he talked to other people he trusts who confirmed it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 10:57 AM) That is pretty ridiculously optimistic when it comes to pitchers and bust rates. not really. They have one in rodon. So they need 4 of the following Giolito Kopech Lopez Glasnow Dunning Newman Hansen Adams Only half need to perform and they should have a lower bust rate than the average prospects as many of them have had really good success in the upper minors. There is always a risk with pitchers however with the numbers, I think its a pretty good chance.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 10:50 AM) He definitely has a point. Offense has been the problem. If it is going to be so easy to acquire, why wasn't it acquired? I understand you need some pitchers, but the game is getting away from starting pitching, except for a #1 or #2 guy being important. It's about the bullpen, and pitching prospects bust at a higher rate than hitters. Moncada was a great start, but there needs to be a lot more. That's why they need a crap load of them to make sure they get a really good staff.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 10:40 AM) So in five years we can be back to where we are now, with outstanding pitchers, but no offense or defense. What a waste. I wouldn't call what the Sox had was outstanding pitching. They had 2 outstanding starters, one really good one, one mediocre and one awful. If out of this haul they can get 5 outstanding to really good ones, they won't need to score much. Plus, most of the position players they did get are rated pretty high on defense. Pitching and defense.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 10:29 AM) Yeah, I'd rather not get back Keller and get back more bats. This team needs position prospects, otherwise we are just pushing the rebuild even out further down the road, assuming the pitching actually works out. It looks like they are stock piling them so they should get an outstanding rotation of of the ones that do.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 23, 2016 -> 05:42 AM) Yeah, I'm not quite following how all the other jobs are going to increase 17-25%...what is that based upon? In the example you gave, most of the cost increases are coming from non-minimum wage positions. Fwiw, I think I should have been a baker if 8 guys are making $60,000 per year in that position when I've never made over $44,000 with two Master's degrees. How do Dunkin' Donuts franchises do so well with this type of math? It doesn't add up. As far as Wal-Mart destroying small towns...customers vote with their wallets, right? Isn't the free market supposed to reward the most efficient allocation of capital/resources/factors of production? Unless you have an amazing product, there's almost no way for specialty shops to compete with Wal Mart unless they provide a superior value...or significantly better customer service/expertise. By the argument raised here, those small businesses should be giving up if they can't compete and developing a more value-added product with a more profitable business model. It's why business moves so fast here in China...you come up with an idea or innovation, you'll have 5-10 rival companies copying and then doing it better than you in the span of weeks or even days. Survival of the fittest...corporate Darwinism. Of course, the obvious issue is whether Trump wants to revisit the economies of scale argument and force Wal Marts that closed (after becoming virtual monopolies or oligopolies) to stay open indefinitely and continue to serve those smaller communities that are hollowing out, becoming less and less profitable. You should know the general rule of college education. The more degrees you have the less you make. I have 2 masters and a doc. I make half of what my wife does with only an undergrad degree. We stayed in school and never got the revenue generating jobs so we don't make as much.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 22, 2016 -> 10:54 PM) With the Sox rebuilding is there a chance they give Burdi a chance as a starter in the minors? They may do it but just to get more reps and work on pitches.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Dec 22, 2016 -> 10:16 PM) Definitely the Astros deal. I think Martes could be the best of any of the pitchers that have been discussed for Q to this point, I think Reed will end up being a better 1B than Bell, Tucker has huge upside, Stubbs is probably a backup in the MLB. I am not sold that Glasnow will be able to hone his command, and he is kind of the same guy that you have in Giolito. Bell is probably a DH as he has not really been able to pick up the nuances of defense to this point so that really limits his value, and Newman is really solid, but not sure what you do with him. The package I am hoping for from the Pirates is Meadows, Keller, Hayes, and Hearn. Keller is from here, and I think he flew under the radar with Iowa's weird baseball season and being out part of his draft year, but he has the stuff to be a legit middle of the rotation guy and maybe a #2. Hearn is the wildcard hard thrower, but a lefty that can run it up to 99, maybe a Matt Thornton starter kit. I would be fine without him and just getting the other three, but I feel he is the kind of throw in piece that could put the Pirates over the top. I think most are going under the assumption that the Pirates will not deal Meadows. Someone, somewhere had a reference for one of the writers stating this.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Dec 22, 2016 -> 07:58 AM) And relying on random wealthy people having a particular tragedy befall them is an extremely poor and unreliable way of funding medical research. The NIH on the other hand has a pretty solid record. Unfortunately, the NIH can be extremely biased on who gets the grants. It's the good ol' boys network. Get in and get one and you go to the top of the list to get another one. It's really tough to get in that group.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Dec 22, 2016 -> 09:54 PM) This is so much worse than the July 31 trade deadline. It's torture. Yeah, there's no reading all the posters complaining about how bad the owner, FO and team is in other threads to waste time while waiting for more rumors.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Dec 22, 2016 -> 09:06 PM) He still has $20m less in guaranteed money than he would've staying in Toronto. but he's guaranteed to make the playoffs and have a shot at the WS. He's already made 40mil and is guaranteed 65 more.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 22, 2016 -> 09:15 PM) With Glasnow's name continuing to come up, it tells me the Sox see something in him they can't pass up. The Sox have a good eye for young pitching talent. I just hope the other names being discussed are bats. If the trade happens the Sox would have 4 #1 caliber pitchers in the rotation Rodon, Giolito, Kopech, Glasnow and a couple more not far behind Lopez/dunning/hansen. They would not need to score much. In a couple of years they would have one of the better staffs if even half of them work out.