Balta1701

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And away...we...go.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 19, 2016 -> 05:06 PM) One would think Hahn would have been the next step...since those players like Rollins all should have had a relationship developed with him to an extent in the month prior, while they were negotiating their contracts. Either Hahn acted in concert with Ventura (unlikely), the players assumed that talking to Hahn after Ventura wasn't going to get them anywhere since those two were of like minds (possible, but unlikely), or they simply felt they had to speak with someone who wasn't directly involved in the running of the clubhouse on a day-to-day basis and express their legitimate concerns about LaRoche and his son to someone in a position of authority to either do something about it directly or run it up the pole to Reinsdorf. Rick Hahn had certainly agreed to this arrangement in the past season. That could be one reason why the players felt the need to go above his head. Alternatively, the players may just not believe Rick Hahn had the authority to speak in this case. I don't think that's a positive statement about him either.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 19, 2016 -> 04:55 PM) And if Ventura didn't have any success with LaRoche only for KW/Reinsdorf later to come in and lay down the law, then what would have happened to the clubhouse? Does anyone really believe (throwing out all of Sale's personal comments for a moment) that Adam LaRoche would have "dialed it back" 50% for Ventura? In reality, Reinsdorf and KW knew that it would have been a disaster for Ventura's authority/respect in the clubhouse...and clearly the new/er players didn't feel comfortable approaching LaRoche since they weren't part of the team last year. If Robin Ventura can't establish rules in his own locker room then that says worse things about this manager than I would ever have dreamed of writing.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Mar 19, 2016 -> 04:48 PM) Most obviously this should have been handled by the MANAGER, not the MANAGER's bosses' boss. It seems fairly clear that the new arrivals in the locker room felt the need to go to the highest authority other than the owner. Either they thought manager was either ok with this and their opinions would not be listened to or that the manager would not have the authority to say something about it. Perhaps they even did go to the manager first with no reaction.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Mar 18, 2016 -> 01:26 PM) The Repubs need to 'advise' Obama with a list of people they WOULD approve of, and make sure there are plenty of women and minorities on it. That was a week and a half ago.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Mar 19, 2016 -> 03:09 PM) Well yeah, but at the same time, if a team moves on and spends that money, they shouldn't be on the hook for the original contract. If they want to spend it then they better be sure he won't come back.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Mar 19, 2016 -> 02:56 PM) Seriously? That is absurd. A player can't just retire temporarily to clear a contract out, guys could do something like that in order to get to free agency. That contract would still be in force if he were to un-retire.

QUOTE (Leonard Zelig @ Mar 19, 2016 -> 01:35 PM) Are you saying that if he changes his mind next month, then his contract is still valid? If he changes his mind during this season he would still be under contract with the White Sox.

QUOTE (MuckFinnesota @ Mar 19, 2016 -> 01:24 PM) Are the White Sox on the hook for any amount of LaRoche's salary this year? Someone I know is trying to tell me the contracts are guaranteed and that they owe him his salary this year. Only if he un-retires. There may be a small portion of it that they'd have to pay to cover the time he was present in ST, not sure exactly how those are structured, whether there is money included for ST or just for the 162 game season. While retired he receives no payment for the time he's gone. Were he to un-retire the White Sox would be on the hook for that deal again and he would be required to show up and meet his part of the contract - should he try to unretire while not showing up or something like that the White Sox could fine him for his absences and failure to meet his contract.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Mar 17, 2016 -> 10:10 PM) Happy with IU's game. Played real well. Now go beat Kentucky/Stony Brook. Woooooo!

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 01:31 PM) Yes. And we all know we should follow exactly what "our party" leaders tell us to think. Then don't pretend you don't know what the real logic is.

No one has posted this quote yet in here, but this one is too delicious. Senator Orrin Hatch, last week:

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 16, 2016 -> 01:17 PM) Here is my problem with the "next President should nominate" logic. There are also Congressional elections coming up. Why isn't Congress following the same logic and leaving legislating up to the next Congress? Why isn't Mike Pence refusing to sign any bills in the State of Indiana until the next Governor is elected? If you REALLY believe the next President should be making the decisions that shape our country beyond election day, go the whole nine yards, and shut down ALL business that has repercussions beyond November. Don't be a hypocrite. It is also another stupid precedent to set. Because you know it's not about that, it's about the fact that a justice as far right as possible is the one who died and if you replace him with anything other than the most pro-Republican justice imagineable it shifts the balance of power on the court. Even your own party officials have said as much.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 07:24 PM) What exactly has Davidson done to deserve a major league opportunity? Dominating this spring training.

LaRoche on how the 2015 season drained him:

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 04:34 PM) I think he played with AJP a few years and probably didnt get along with him so that last added quote about "anyone but the Sox" most likely is because AJ was there in 2006 which is no longer the case . Also Izzie always stirred up the rivalry talking about the "piranhas". Doubt it matters now when you don't have a job. Morneau played 40 games with the Twins in AJ's last season there, 2003. Maybe from Spring Training there's something, but that's a lot of hate for a guy from a short amount of time in ST.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 04:21 PM) I'd like more elaboration please. Whether that will actually matter when there's money on the table I don't know. Much easier to hold onto a rivalry when none of your money is on the table. One more version of it from 06:

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 03:55 PM) If the reports of Gar sabotaging Thibs in the pre season half any truth, that argument holds no water. The fact is, the Bulls roster has been short ever since Rose got hurt. Expecting them to beat LeBron is kind of like expecting John Fox to make the playoffs his first season with the Bears. Thibs will be better off without Gar. Even KC Johnson called the Adams firing a Gar power play. It was stupid and the beginning of the end. But Gar sold it to Pax and JR and JR's son and it seems several fans. Popovich is probably the best coach going. He went 6 years in a row without going to the finals. I wonder why he didn't get replaced and trashed on his way out the door. here's the thing on the bolded - I'm genuinely not sure that's true. I look at a team like the 2013-2014 Bulls, with Deng still around, Noah at DPOY level, quality depth, Butler starting to develop into an all around threat, and I can't figure out how you could give Thibs a more perfect roster than that one...with the exception of the all star PG who is missing. About the same thing in 2012-2013 although Hamilton/Butler there is maybe a bit weaker. Those teams were built perfectly for Thibs, with the exception of Rose's injury.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 03:40 PM) Gars words, not mine He also didn't make any major deadline moves, consistent with that line of thought.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 12:27 AM) We already have a lefty DH that can't hit lefties Not any more...

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 02:59 PM) Avi needs to divorce his slash line from his BABIP. He needs to hit for more power and take more walks. He's not a slug but he's not a burner like Eaton that needs to slap hits everywhere and throw his bat at stuff hoping to just get on base. More pulled homeruns and less chasing junk. Heck, he doesn't even really need to "take more walks", he needs to not swing outside the zone. Don't help the pitcher out - feel free to not walk, just make sure they throw you a strike before you swing at it. Unfortunately, things like that aren't easily assessed from spring training stats. With pitchers also just trying to get their work in, he could be getting far more balls in the strike zone than normal and that could be a major contributor to his solid ST performance (as it could have been last year as well).

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 02:53 PM) Just naming guys who can play a game at 1B here or there. We don't necessarily need to bring in someone who can play 1B because we have options when we need it. I would hope Abreu can play 150+ games at 1B this year given this is his 3rd professional season in the US Abreu has had stints both of his first 2 seasons where he's needed to either DH or go on the DL for > a week, so "what do we do if Abreu needs to DH for a week or more" is a valid question created by this retirement, and you can't use the catcher there outside of emergencies. Frazier to 1b seems like the obvious answer.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 02:52 PM) My guess would be if it were injury related, they would have just said that. Personal issues could be almost anything, none of which are good, and I feel dirty speculating about what they could be. Thank you, I was wondering how to phrase my reaction to a question like that and I agree with how you put this.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Mar 15, 2016 -> 02:48 PM) Avila can also play 1B With the worry for both catchers already being "health" and Avila having played only 409 games in the last 4 years, and no obvious replacement catcher waiting at Charlotte, you really don't want to use Avila at 1b in anything but a game situation emergency/injury replacement, unless another big league caliber catcher were acquired.