TaylorStSox

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 16, 2016 -> 11:52 PM) He's complaining AFTER he's accomplished BOTH of these. It doesn't really sound like he's complaining. Doesn't matter though. Don't expect foreign players to put the same value in a world series as us. A lot of these kids grow up in hell holes. They need to make money. It's about more than championships, most of which they probably find arbitrary.

What's more important to a guy from Cuba, winning the World Series or extending his career and making more millions and helping more of his family and friends? Granted, he's rich as hell already, but the money he's making can change a lot of lives. You really think winning a championship is that important in the grand scheme of things?

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 13, 2016 -> 01:26 PM) On the other hand, dark and gritty sounds fun but it really is weird to have a star wars film that my nieces and nephews can't see even though we have bought them lego sets for it. It's no different than Deadpool or Logan. Although it's not that extreme. It's PG 13.

The early reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Apparently the reshoots didn't tone it down. Lots of twists that haven't been spoiled. Lots of Vader. Kevin Smith (Yeah, I know) is saying it's on par with Empire. I can't remember the last time I was this excited about a film.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 10, 2016 -> 11:53 PM) What the f*** is up with this millennial new age term: "bae"? I don't know, but reading TOR over and over is already doing my head in.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 02:15 PM) You say they don't care about the game because they went to the game but not for the game. So the result of the game shouldn't matter. If it does matter, like you now claim as "icing on the cake" the White Sox won 45 out of 81 home games. You say price matters. White Sox average ticket prices are below league average. Most people who go to White Sox games have a lot of fun. Maybe before you knock it, you should try it. :lol:

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 01:57 PM) No, you just realized you went a little too far and are trying to change the focus. You can't say they aren't there for the game, and then say what happens in the game matters. Besides, if it did, the team was 45-36 at home this season. Why was it a morgue? And you said Sox games are expensive. You are wrong again. Sure I can. Both things matter. How do you think teams like the Cubs draw when they suck? They draw because Wrigley is really fun. Why is it fun? They cultivated a fun atmosphere. Winning is the icing on the cake that takes it to a new level. Life is nuanced Dick Allen, not everything is as black and white as you'd like it to be. Yes, you can find cheap tickets, but the entire package is expensive. The Sox need to think of creative ways to attract attendance. It's been done before.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 01:51 PM) You said they aren't there for the game. Here's the reality, the vast majority of people at a baseball game aren't there for the game. That's your quote. So why would winning be fun? BTW, Sox games can be really cheap. Like cheaper than the Schaumburg Boomers if you go on Sunday. Winning creates a fun atmosphere. There are other ways to create a fun atmosphere. You know this. You're just doing that really boring thing you do in every thread.

QUOTE (Ro Da Don @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 01:47 PM) Okay, you nitpicked about 3 words I said there. I said the ballpark is going to be EMPTY when 2017 starts and that fans will GRADUALLY start to come back more over the next few years. He's 2 for 2 in this thread.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 01:42 PM) Then why haven't they drawn more, and why would putting a better team out there make things better if the game didn't matter? The last time the Sox did a total rebuild was 1987 attendance 1987 1,208,060 1988 1,115,749 1989 1,045,951 Then they won 94 games and drew 2 million in 1990. They haven't drawn more because going to the Cell is expensive and not all that fun. Obviously a good team is going to draw more because "winning is fun." Of course I didn't say it didn't matter, but typical Dick Allen, putting words in poster's mouths and creating gross mischaracterizations.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 01:36 PM) Sorry for the consecutive posts, but fans are fans. No, they will not have patience. They will not come to games during the summer if the Sox get off to 10-25 start and they will come back when the Sox start winning. The average fan doesn't give a bleep about watching some top prospect if that prospect is on a horses*** team. Going to a game or two through the course of a season, sure that's possible for the average Sox fan. But you can bet the park will be empty the next few seasons. If only we had Adam Eaton to fill the place up. Greg, you understand the park is already empty, right?

Here's the reality, the vast majority of people at a baseball game aren't there for the game. They're there for the attraction. You can still attract fans by making it reasonably priced and fun. It's not rocket science.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 8, 2016 -> 01:30 PM) Look, nobody likes a loser. Nobody's going to go to the ballpark to see a last-place team. I mean some folks who love prospects will go, maybe a couple thousand die hards, but considering how much it costs to go to a game, once the Sox are buried in the standings the Cell will be a morgue. If the rebuild works and someday they start winning, of course the fans will return. But if the Sox suck next season and are 8 out on May 1, forget it. The park will be empty and those who love prospects will be able to spread out and watch games in comfort. The park will be empty. The park has been a morgue for years.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 04:01 PM) I'm curious what the general impression is here from those who closely follow the Sox minor league system, regarding if they got enough for Sale (Rabbitt for example) I saw this in the Tribune today and it made me wonder: "Red Sox President Dave Dombrowski said Tuesday that when Hahn asked last weekend if he still had interest in Sale, he told Hahn it depended on the price. "Well, we're going to get away from some of the things we have asked for in the past," Hahn told Dombrowski." Let the discussion begin (and if I'm late to the party on this topic I've been on the road the last week with games against Utah State, Colorado and Wisconsin. (Whom ISU actually beat last night at the Kohl Center) Mark Are you asking us to give you more fuel for your lifelong crusade against Sox management? Do your own leg work. You're a journalist, right?

The fans that sat through the last s*** show of a decade aren't going anywhere. At least there's something to be hopeful now. The vast majority of baseball fans in this city aren't fans of a team because one is better than the other. It's much more of a cultural thing. That's not going to change. People aren't Cubs fans because the Cubs are good. They're Cubs fans because A. They grew up Cubs fans or B. Going to wrigley is really fun.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 08:43 PM) So the Astros are now "payroll encumbered" because of all their moves so far this offseason? Luhnow isn't dumb. But, since we now have the international cap back in place....by all means, send some money along and pry an extra piece like Mike Cameron's kid away. Tucker, fwiw, still has a long road, saw him play in Quad Cities this year and he looked more like Ryan Sweeney than a 30 homer guy. It's going to take him another 2 1/2 years or so, but he has that pretty left-handed stroke that everyone covets and the power SHOULD develop with that frame. If they do target Maitan, it will be interesting if we ever get a read on what the Sox scouts felt about the likes of Benintendi, Devers, Robles, etc. Probably we'll never know. Just leery of projecting players that are in A ball and below. We've heard so much about the Latin American pipeline and all the hype over Micker Adolfo, and he hasn't even come close to making it to Winston-Salem. And, in the end, it also comes down to confidence in your scouting. It's easy to make mistakes. Look at Viciedo, Soler, Rusney Castillo...and where Puig has fallen, since 2013-14. Abreu isn't the same hitter he debuted as. Yet we now have the latest Cuban phenom in Moncada. And, not only talent, but the ability to deal with adversity or make adjustments instead of just falling in love with workouts and physical tools. We've seen Tim Anderson make adjustments at every step up the ladder, but also a plethora of guys like Brian Anderson/Beckham/Fields/Viciedo/Jared Mitchell/Avi Garcia failed to master the mental side of the game and how to deal with failure or injuries. After the Puig Mania you put us through, you're not allowed to be skeptical of Cuban players. I'm still traumatized by it and I never made it through a quarter of your posts.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 08:40 PM) That WAR is stupid because Jason Heyward was bad. Well, they have a point.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 08:35 PM) Watching MLB network, they are really hard on nats but not for reasons I like. Basically trashing Eaton and saying WAR is nothing. If Eaton played for Yankees he'd be a god. Are they saying WAR is nothing, or that WAR inflated from defense at a non premium position is a red flag?

You don't hang on to a pitcher of Q's caliber during a rebuild. The injury risk is too high. You cash in for several players that will help during the rebuild. There's not point in having a very good pitcher on a garbage team when the franchise in a clear rebuild.

The Cubs also had just about everything go their way too. There was some luck involved along with some great decisions.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 06:27 PM) Great great post. Total overhype. Sale was and is a true ace. Q is close to ace. Rodon has gained valuable experience and looks pretty stellar. These Nats guys are FAR from sure bets. How has Giolito looked since he had Tommy John? Is he still a top pitcher prospect or not?? He's good enough that he was drafted in the 1st round when the Nats knew he needed the surgery.

It seems like Rizzo channeled KW by targeting a player and doing anything necessary to get him. I can't believe any other GM would have valued Eaton that highly, as evidenced by the media/fan ridicule.

QUOTE (Jake @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 05:52 PM) I really didn't think the league would value Eaton this highly, but they do. I think there was a good chance that he would never be seen as a potential 6 WAR player again. I don't think the other 28 GMs do either. Thank God 1 was that dumb.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 05:45 PM) I have said for months that if you went this direction you had to do it right, and build your position players. In the two biggest deals of the off season, they have probably came out even. It is a huge failure so far. Are you letting your position that the Sox can't rebuild cloud your judgment?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 05:18 PM) Unless I live in Charlotte or Birmingham, nothing has changed. Road trip!!!