NorthSideSox72

Is this real? Source?

I was the 4th question in there, that is the only one I got in. And I thought it was interested how he answered it. Obviously they don't see Morel or Sanchez as an answer there, at least not yet (in terms of Sanchez). The bullpen thing kind of surprised me, seems weird to go out there looking for that, when I'd think they might try to trade Thornton and/or Crain.

Similar to the call with Brooks Boyer, reps from various Sox social media sites got a chance to sit down (vitually, by phone) with new Sox GM Rick Hahn. This call was shorter than the last, didn't get a lot of quesitons in, and most questions didn't dig very deep. But still got some interesting insights. Below are my notes from the call, I wouldn't go so far as to call it a transcript though, I can't type that fast... Q: You have been with the Sox a long time… when did you start the discussions about becoming GM? Rick: Kenny first raised it in 2008 or 2009. He felt it would be more efficient, allow KW to free up for more talent evaluation work and other things. Transition of GM responsibilities was over time. The talks got much more serious about a year ago. Early on, didn’t really think about the GM job with the Sox, didn’t want to covet the boss’ job. Q: Does it feel any different, the new role? Rick: “Well I have to wear more ties”, which is bad, don’t like wearing ties. Feels more different than thought it would. Same people, but feels much more all-encompassing, and have a lot more on plate now. Just talked to KW before the call, so still talking to many of the same people internally. Will be able to spread responsibilities out and delegate more later, but right now doing a lot of things. Q: You say the idea came up in 2008 or 2009, but you also interviewed with the Mets and Angels back then… what were your thoughts about your Sox future at that point? Rick: Never commented much about the level of involvement in those pursuits, for professional reasons. Some reports in the media were exaggerate. Didn’t like to discuss it. Fair amount of “informal meals” with folks around baseball, sort of a get-to-know-you thing. Only one instance, in 2007, did it get serious and thought about leaving. But had to weigh pluses and minuses… family, title, money, career path, etc. Likes being in home town, chance to compete and win, family, organization… all key to staying. Sox just had more allure. Q: Other than 3B, which we all see, what other positions or roster areas are you looking to enhance as the offseason goes on? Rick: Third base is the definite high priority right now, without a clear answer internally. Catching and AJ is of course also big (Rick said he was surprised no one asked about AJ yet, because everyone else he talks to does). Bullpen is another area, looking at “different types of relievers”. Then also bench, backup IF and OF. If AJ were to not come back, but Youk did, team might be too right-handed. But again, 3B far and away most important right now. Q: You seem like a mix of old school and new school, some stats in your decision making. Here is a stat to think about… in the last 10 years, Sox have had a worse winning percentage in the 2nd half in 8 of those. Causes? Solutions? Rick: We are definitely aware, we see it too. It is on the agenda for the organization meetings this weekend. 2012 specifically, a big factor of course was pitchers going over their innings from previous years, which has a physical effect. Sometimes bad luck also plays in. Late season slumps are magnified. It merits discussion, team will look at all possible areas including game prep, conditioning, approach, etc. Want to find something tangible, but that can be hard, and really hard to find a single trigger for it. Q: The last few seasons, there seems to be a huge emphasis on pitching, with position players coming in a distant second. Will this continue? Are the Peavy and Floyd deals indicators? Rick: I don’t fully agree that is the case, but pitching and defense are certainly the foundation for winning. The Konerko and Dunn signings counter the argument. You can’t go so far in one direction that you cost yourself in the other. Now looking at the two early moves we made, and seeing where to go from there. Q: When it comes to Youk, Myers and AJ… will re-signing them come down to years, money or both? Rick: Both of course. But another big factor is a player’s desire to stay with a team or fit a certain role. If players want to explore the market, we understand that, even if we think the opportunities out there are more or less the same as what the Sox would offer. Myers is a slightly different case, because he has started, closed, set up… so for him the role he wants to play is a big key. Comfort level is important for players. Would love to have all those guys penciled in right now, but we can’t allow that to preclude other moves, now or later. Q: What advice to Kenny give you before taking the job? Rick: I expect to continue getting advice in the coming weeks, months… and almost all of it welcome! (laughter here) Having the benefit of having the most successful GM in team history around, was part of the allure of the position. If went somewhere else, would have needed to hire someone like KW to work with, and not had that same value addition. I want someone with opposite or complementary views around, and KW can provide that. There is always an argument from the other side. Also, told me to keep my humor about the job. Q: Following up on your disagreements with KW… how often do you surprise each other with an idea of suggestion? And how often do you have irreconcilable differences? Rick: Rarely. But there have been times when we were in disagreement, even in the end. When KW was GM, in those cases, he was in the big chair, so his ideas won. Some of them worked out well, others not as much. The back and forth with KW will continue. I do sometimes get frustrated when someone comes up with an idea, that I wish I had thought of and didn’t. Q: The Peavy deal… seems like he could have gotten more years and more money on the open market. What was the back and forth like on that? Rick: Jake felt strongly he wanted to come back. His agent assuredly told him he could have gotten more elsewhere, and other GM’s told me there was a pretty big money market out there for him. A vet player like Jake knows the business, knows what he wants, and knows what is fair. But he’s also made a lot of money. It is easier with a player like that. And without that strong desire from Jake to get a deal done quickly to stay, it probably doesn’t happen. Q: When you pitch a low deal, do you risk insulting a player? How careful do you have to be? Rick: There is some risk of that. It is usually a matter of tenor and approach, how you explain the team’s position, and why that is the offer on the table. There have been times where we knew the offer we were willing to make wasn’t going to be near what the player expected, so we just didn’t offer. Some players and agents see the players’ values differently than the Sox do. The agent plays a key role in this. They have to temper expectations in both directions, and not just scorch the earth between player and team. Better agents find common ground.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Nov 1, 2012 -> 09:54 AM) Moustakas would be a great addition, and provide a left handed bat, but I suspect that it would take a lot more than Gavin Floyd to get him. He is still very young and has tremendous potential, and of course, he will be cost controlled for a few more years, which makes him very attractive. It would likely take some younger, near-ready pitching to get it done. Guys like Santiago and/or Rienzo would have to be involved, I would think.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 31, 2012 -> 04:56 PM) It got hit by the storm for sure, but I don't think they had anything like the problems New York had. http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/mo...-fortunate.html Well yeah, obviously the Jersey and NY shore areas were what got it the worst. I don't remember indicating otherwise.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Oct 31, 2012 -> 02:21 PM) I think Youk has zero interest in staying with the Chicago White Sox. I don't say this often, but... I completely agree with Steve9347. I got that same impression.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Oct 31, 2012 -> 04:40 PM) I thought Philly was largely unscathed while the more rural counties were hit harder with power outages? PA doesn't allow early voting, anyway, but Sandy is an excellent argument for greatly increased voting opportunities. What if this storm had struck next Monday or Tuesday? Should the results of so many elections hinge on who happened to be able to make it to the polls on that one particular day in the middle of a huge storm? I read the storm center went right over central Philly. But I didn't know that PA didn't allow early voting, so that is interesting. And I agree, by the way, I think the best way to handle voting is over a 2 week block of time (give or take), not 1 day.

Salt River 4, Surprise 3 Rienzo: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 2 WP C Sanchez: 3-4, RBI, 2 SB Tr Thompson: 0-2, BB, K, SAC

The only place where the early voting party affiliation is meaningful, IMO, is in the states heavily effected by Sandy. The storm obviously throws a wrench in things for some people in some key swing states, particularly VA, PA and NH. In the case of PA and VA, the storm more directly impacted voting capacity in the areas of the state (SE PA and NE VA) that are precisely where the Dems get their votes in each. That might have an effect.

QUOTE (Jake @ Oct 31, 2012 -> 11:02 AM) While this is trifling a bit, I am fairly certain we are not on the hook for Youk's buyout and perhaps not Myers' either. Why not? Boston sent money with Youk, to offset total cost, but I assume that hit the books during the season to offset current obligations. It would be accounting-stupid to hold it with no return then use it on the buyout later, instead of offsetting immediately. Same with Myers. The only way the team isn't on the hook for the buyouts is if the trade SPECIFIED that was the case. Or, if the money sent with the players was MORE than the remaining in-season salary obligations.

Hahn has said he can win with a 9 figure number. So that means $100M plus. Using the breakdown I had in the other thread and updating it for the Peavy deal, Floyd option and Youk/Myers declines, it looks like this (I think)... OBLIGATED FOR 2013 BY CONTRACT (TOTAL: $96.25M): Alex Rios: $12.5M Adam Dunn: $15M Paul Konerko: $13.5M Jesse Crain: $4.5M Matt Thornton; $5.5M Alexei Ramirez: $7M John Danks: $14.25M Jake Peavy: $14.5M Gavin Floyd: $9.5M BUYOUTS (TOTAL: $4M): Kevin Youkilis: $1M Randy Myers: $3M That is $100.25M in obligations for 2013, at this point, by my math. That is without players eligible for arbitration (De Aza, Beckham), and any players in pre-Arb, that will cost about half a million each (Sale, Morel, Flowers, Jones, Reed, Santiago, Axelrod, JorDanks, Marinez, Omogrosso, Quintana, Veal, etc.). Correct me if I am missing anything here. The Sox will either need to boost payroll from last year, or trade some player(s). No other alternative at this point, unless they plan to drop most of those Arb and Pre-Arb guys, which clearly they will not do.

QUOTE (Jake @ Oct 31, 2012 -> 09:17 AM) Good tip. I don't go there often because their "method" is basically just averaging all of the polls with no adjustment for partisan lean, etc. I see that several polls came out today showing BO winning: MI +3, VA +2, VA -5, OH +5, FL +1, PA +4 (+/- reflects the incumbent's standing) Yesterday several polls came out showing basically a national tossup with 1 point spreads on the national, plus R-leaning Rasmussen with Romney +2. Yesterday also had another OH state poll with Obama +3. That's a good couple days of polling thus far for Obama, even if some of those state polls are leaning D a little bit. I'd still like to see Silver offer his thoughts on the early voting results coming in. I'm sure that they must be generally D-leaning for them to look like that. There is also a time factor at play here, though I am not sure exactly how he uses that. Each day approaching the election, the leads any candidate has become more solid, for two reasons. One is early voting already underway, taking some play out of the number later. The other is that there is less chance as each day goes by of a trend-changing event.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 06:22 PM) he won't run again, but if he did he would lose in the GOP primary. Probably. Might be a fun thread right after the election, to have discussions of who the likely 2016 candidates are for both parties.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 06:07 PM) I'm still expecting Hahn to make some sort of bold move this fall! Seriously? 2 days into the offseason, he signs one of the most sought-after pitchers going to free agency. Not bold enough for you? I'm sure they aren't nearly done yet of course. But jeez man, look at the calendar, and realize what Peavy was going to be.

Romney making big pushes now in PA and the loose ME district. They've got oodles of money to spend, so, why not? Anyone think, if he loses in 2012, Romney might run a third time in 2016? Become like the Gephardt of the GOP - the perpetual candidate?

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 05:50 PM) Scot Gregor ‏@scotgregor With Youkilis' option declined, White Sox could give Carlos Sanchez a look at 3B. He's batting .244 with 0 HR/10 RBI in Arizona Fall League Gonzo mentioned that in the Trib the other day too. My guess is, that is plan B or C. But we'll find out.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 05:47 PM) This is why Sox attendance sucks--their fans expect to be able to sign elite pitchers for middle reliver salaries. Oh come on now, most fans in the park know little about salaries and don't really care. Let's be realistic here.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 05:44 PM) Source was the Press Release issued by the Sox. I'm guessing it's true. Excellent then!

Good news that Lucas won't be touching it. His three movies were such trash. Even with a good helmsman and writers though, I am skeptical of how this will go. I'd rather they just leave it alone. Then again, I said that about Batman before Nolan took it over.

Excellent news. But I'd assume this means it is likely that AJ is NOT coming back, for monetary and other reasons. Glad to see their next plan is 3B. I don't care as much about the bullpen needs right now. QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 05:34 PM) Peavy still gets his $4M buyout but it is deferred until after the end of the contract. Source? That is good news too, making it basically 2/25 with a buyout in 2015 of 4M.

This wouldnever fly politically, but I'd love to see it... if you are in an area ordered to evacuate from a natural disaster by proper government authorities... and if you had time to do so (say, at least 24 hours)... and you are not PHYSICALLY DISABLED from doing so... and you stay anyway... the full cost of any rescue operations or other assistance brought to you, YOU have to pay for. And that will be administered as a debt to government, like tax liability, which immediately rises to the top of all held debts. You want to be stupid? Fine. You pay for your stupidity.

I am going to revise my scenario from the first post in the thread. Here is what I would do now... I am going to make an ASSUMPTION here, that payroll will remain similar to last year (which started at about $98M, and ended around $104M), so say a little over $100M. MYERS $10M OPTION DJOHNSON ARB -- You've got $72.25M under contract, and at least $8M more in obligations, taking you to $80.25M minimum. Here is what I'd do... OPTIONS AND BUY-OUTS: Buy out Youkilis, Myers and Peavy, for $8M (so that puts the team at $80.25M at this point). FREE AGENTS TO GO: Everyone eligible for FA. DFA/RELEASE: Phil Humber, Leyson Septimo OPTION TO MINORS: Brent Morel, Hector Gimenez, Leyson Septimo (if he's not claimed) PRE-ARB: Offer contracts to Sale, Flowers, Viciedo, Jones, Reed, Quintana, Santiago, Veal, Omogrosso, Marinez, JorDanks and Axelrod . All around half a million each, so that's $5.5M, taking the team to $85.75M ARBITRATION: Keep De Aza and Beckham around. This is purely a guess, but I'm thinking Beckham will cost $2M, and De Aza $3M, for a total of $5M, putting the team at $90.25M. Might want to consider giving De Aza a multi-year deal to buy out Arb and a year or two of FA. Dan Johnson is Arb Eligible, I believe, but has played so little that he can be had for a cheap $1M - I'd like to have him on the roster. So that is $91.25M. TRADE AWAY: Trade Matt Thornton. Probably will only get a mid-level prospect for him, but that's fine, as salary relief is the key factor here. That saves you $5.5M, so you go back down to $85.75M. Now, you have about $15M-$20M to address two positions of weakness: 3B and SP. For the Starting Pitcher roll, I'd try to sign Peavy, if he can be had for $10M per or less, and 3 years or less (but might be able to spend a little more, depending on the 3B situaiton below). Probably won't happen, so, next option is to figure out what $9M gives you - can you do better than a year of Gavin Floyd? If so, and if said pitcher is a righty, go get him. If not, last resort, pick up Floyd's option. So this adds $9M or $10M, taking you to $95.25M if you shoot for the middle. For 3B, you've got about $5M to $10M of head room to work with. I don't think Carlos Sanchez is quite ready, so, time to go get a free agent if you can. There are a lot of free agent 3B's on the market, but only David Wright (who has a $16M team option) is elite. Try to get the best available guy there - if you can get Wright, great. If not, work down the ladder. A little ways down, you even save a little money, maybe enough to make Peavy stay. If you get SO far down the ladder that it looks like you are better going with Sanchez and/or Morel, then fine, use the money for a more elite pitcher. One last hole to fill is the bench IF guy, not sure who that might be, but would be cheap, so I won't calc that in here. -- That gives you a ~$100M-$105M roster as follows (changes from 2012 even if only part-season, bolded): LINEUP: De Aza, 8 Wright/*FA*, 5 (spot in order may change) Rios, 9 Dunn, 0 PK14, 3 Flowers, 2 Viciedo, 7 Ramirez, 6 Beckham, 4 BENCH: JorDanks, OF *FA*/Phegley, C Sanchez or other, 3B-SS-2B Dan Johnson, 1B/OF ROTATION: Sale Danks Peavy/Floyd/Other Quintana Santiago BULLPEN: Reed CL/SU Jones CL/SU Crain SU Omogrosso SU Veal SPEC Marinez SPEC Axelrod LR That is a team with a bullpen that should be matured and better, a rotation that if healthy should be very good (and no longer is worrying about 3 guys who can pitch all season, with Q and Sale and Peavy stretched out), an improved situation at 3B (hopefully - hard for it to be worse), a stronger bench, and a younger and more athletic catcher who (hopefully) can put up similar numbers to typical AJ. I really think that is an improved team, but younger and more likely to not wear down later. All for similar money to last year.

QUOTE (Baron @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 02:01 PM) Thats the problem right there. For me thats a big what if. From what Ive seen from him he has a long way to go offensively. If you have Flowers starting I want him platooned because I think its more likely he gets exposed than him breaking out. The rest is on point though. The problem is he isnt someone we can say for sure we can put up those numbers. If he was more consistent this wouldnt even be a question. It is definitely a question mark, as all young players like him are. No such thing as a sure-fire prospect. But... he hasn't even had a chance to BE consistent in the majors yet, because he hasn't played regularly. His minor league track record shows a guy who hit .261/.390/.500 in AAA in 2011, his last year in the minors, for an .890 OPS. And even this season, with very limited playing time, he put up a .708 OPS that is only a smidge below what AJ typically gives you. I just think, assuming the team has some money restrictions, the $7M or so difference isn't worth the zero to 100 OPS points (probably on the lower end of that range, and with poorer defense) that AJ gives you, and could be better-used at 3B or on starting pitching.

QUOTE (Baron @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 12:43 PM) I will be really upset if we dont make an attempt to resign him. Tyler Flowers starting everyday scares me. By making that switch you just made a hole in your lineup. Thats not the way to go forward. Serious question... how big a hole is that in your lineup, really? In AJ's Sox years, his OPS was in a range from .688 to .769, until his breakout 2012 season. Given his age and just plain regression to the mean, it seems likely (not set in stone) that he will be back in that range again. And he doesn't bring any speed to the offense, nor any ability for small ball to speak of. He is a smart baserunner, but that only adds so much value. If Flowers hits, say, .240... and draws walks at his AAA pace (about .100 Iso)... and hits 20 home runs to help his SLG, which seems like a reasonable number for him... he's going to have an OPS in the high .700's. Even if he falls a bit below that, that's low to mid .700's, and pretty much in line with what AJ gives you in almost any season. But Flower is younger, has shown he is a better defender and better baserunning controller. And oh by the way would cost about half a million for the next few years, as opposed to $6-$8M a year for AJ. I love AJ, he's been great here, but I honestly have changed my mind on this - I think the team is better served with Flowers in there. Get a LH hitting backup C on the FA market who doesn't completely suck, if you can. If not, Phegley. I think you end up with an overall comparable offensive player with better defense, for a lot less money.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Oct 30, 2012 -> 11:12 AM) Obama wins. Not because I am a supporter, but because a lot of the prediction models agree it will be him. He takes Ohio and PA. You were his biggest fan in here in 2008. What made you change your mind, exactly?