southsider2k5

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 11:08 AM) Could this affect Fowler to Baltimore? It could be the O's only want to go all-in if they can truly go...all-in. Maybe Gallardo's physical is holding up the Fowler contract offer to be officially made.... Roch Kubatko ‏@masnRoch 21m 21 minutes ago Told there's "more work to do" on Gallardo physical. Diagnostic tests. So.....stay tuned #orioles Jeff PassanVerified account ‏@JeffPassan Source: Questions have come up with Yovani Gallardo's physical with Baltimore. Status of deal is unclear. O's notorious medical sticklers. Angelo does it again. Nothing is ever done with Baltimore.

There is also an audio clip out there today of Hahn saying that Rollins played through some injuries last year, and that might have had some effect on him.

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 11:37 AM) Well yeah they did, actually, at least after the fact. Consider Rick Hahn's comments on the first night of Soxfest when specifically asked about the three premium free agent outfielders: “Let me make something really clear: There is absolutely no hardline, dogma, limit on contract terms with free agents. The reason we didn’t sign any of the hitters that thus far have signed elsewhere at the end of the day is not about contract term limitations. We had numerous conversations, with various parameters, various structures, right up until the day or the day before these players wound up choosing their ultimate destinations.” I wouldn't call that fans seeing what they want to see at all. I don't see a specific player named.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 10:22 AM) They have money...we need to stop looking at this in such a simplified manner...they have the ability to move money in budgets from one year to the next, etc., if they feel as though making the expenditure is worth it. It makes absolutely no sense that they would have even been involved in talks with three different OFs (and making offers, per some sources), if they did not "have" the money. I know others will try to over simplify things, but I am used to that. It is one thing to get a specific expenditure for a top flight guy approved. It is quite another to get it for a second or third tier player. All you have to do is look a the players they are bringing in and the deals they are being brought in at to get that there are pretty obvious limitations they are looking at. If they had easily available money to spend on these guys, they would have done it long ago. I also think fans are conflagrating team statements, with rumors that don't necessarily reflect what the team is actually able to do. I have no doubt that a large chunk of the Sox being connected to players was being done on behalf of agents and players, and probably didn't reflect any real ability to have a fiscal interest in players. Not all rumors are created equal. All the White Sox themselves have said is that they are still trying to improve this team. They have never said they were interested in specific players or specific budgets had been set. Some fans are seeing what they want to see, and that is the worst case scenario. The fact that they are still looking, while useful players are sitting out there tells me everything that I need to know. The most negative will take it as the teams management is either stupid or negligent. I think that is just silly.

Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 8m8 minutes ago Avisail Garcia, 24, on critics: "I don't pay attention to all that stuff. All I can do is prepare to be ready.' Trying more upright stance.

Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 6m6 minutes ago Tim Anderson is excited to work w/ Jimmy Rollins. Watched him all time. Said Rick Hahn spoke to him about taking advantage of opp.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Feb 23, 2016 -> 10:06 AM) I also think the value he brings in the lockeroom and while grooming a young potential shortstops like Anderson and Saladino is being incredibly overlooked here. If Rollins gets 150 games, I presume that is a good thing, because it means he is playing well. My presumption is, with the flexibility we now have throughout the infield, there will be plenty of at bats to go around and if Jimmy doesn't work out, oh well, no harm in seeing what he has in spring at the very least. I do suspect he'll be on the opening day roster though. It is worth noting that Alexei had his best stretch here with Omar in the locker room.

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 58m58 minutes ago Agent: Cliff Lee Not Expected To Pitch In 2016 http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/02/agen...ch-in-2016.html …

Sun-Times Sports ‏@suntimes_sports 39m39 minutes ago Sportsbook says it hasn't taken a single 'under' bet on #Cubs wins total: http://bit.ly/1WFalgf

Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 40s40 seconds ago See jeans and shoes at Avisail Garcia's locker stall. Appears everyone is in #WhiteSox camp on time.

The season? finale to X Files was awesome. I really hope they don't let it hang for too long. Great episode.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 08:54 PM) I don't know that anyone knows what they could or could not afford at this point. And I don't know what behavior of theirs we could possibly judge to determine what they could or could not afford. I'm not even sure they know what they could or could not afford. I think it is completely obvious that resources are a problem. There is literally no other reason to stop where they are.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 09:52 PM) 97 win floor guys. You heard it from Jordan4Life first! Don't do drugs kids.

I expected Jay Bruce to be a White sox target early this winter.

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors 5m5 minutes ago Blue Jays Could Trade For Jay Bruce http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/02/blue...-jay-bruce.html …

Dan Hayes ‏@CSNHayes 5m5 minutes ago GM Bobby Evans confirmed #SFGiants were interested in Jimmy Rollins, were around same $ as #WhiteSox, but couldn't offer same playing time.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 05:06 PM) Don't take the analogy TOO far. It wasn't my best work, lol. To me it is the most important point. Sure there were OFs, but if you can't afford to sign them, it doesn't matter.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 04:25 PM) A guy could know he was bad but until there is a consequence to being bad it may not really get through to the guy. Once again let me say that I like Avi and I believe he is going to be a good ball player. But I dont think it would hurt for him to get some really tough love at this point in his career. Hahn very publicly spent the whole winter looking for another OF. If Garcia didn't read the writing on the wall, he is a pretty big moron.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 03:19 PM) That's like leaving $20 on the ground because you already found $20 earlier. The fact that's it's difficult to make multiple huge improvements doesn't mean the Sox should feel content letting opportunities pass by -- the RF market presented the easiest path to improvement for this team BY FAR. It was the softest free agent market for position players in probably ten years, there were twice as many high-end corner OF options available than at any other position, and there were remarkably few teams interested in buying. Price were lower than literally anyone predicted. They were so low that teams that didn't even have openings in the OF were acquiring talent simply because the value was impossible to pass up. The Frazier trade was awesome! Great job! Why skip the easy follow-up? Why not complete the picture? Again, if the glut of OF talent were all pulling in $150m contracts or costing multiple top prospects to acquire, I'd have no issue with the lack of movement. I believe wholeheartedly that Hahn has wisely avoided overpaying for stuff he wants -- but that's NOT what happened here. Upgrading in RF would not be "making a stupid move because of fan pressure," it would be upgrading on a career sub-replacement black hole when the universe flopped a boon of all the necessary talent right in front of you at discount prices. I get what you're saying -- all the moves Hahn DID make were great. I liked them all individually. But ultimate success in the MLB is a binary thing. Please excuse the following mess of mixed sports metaphors, but ignoring the lay-up of making a massive, relatively cheap upgrade in RF feels like running the ball to the 2-yard line and taking a knee. I am curious where we are finding OFs on the street that we don't have to pay for.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 04:09 PM) You aren't looking at his numbers specifically vs LHP though. You are looking at entire seasons which doesn't really make sense. Sands taking LaRoche's at-bats vs LHP wouldn't be terrible thing. That's all anyone is saying. From a practical stand point, I don't think there is room for him. You have an 12 man pitching staff (5 starters, 7 relievers). As it stands today you have the two catchers, Abreu, Lawrie, Rollins, Saladino, Frazier, LaRoche, Cabrera, Garcia, Eaton, and Shuck. That leaves one job for Daniel Fields, Jerry Sands, Carlos Sanchez, and Leury Garcia depending on how the team wants to fill the bench.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/02/pred...-surgeries.html For the record, Scott Carroll and Jake Pertricka lead the White Sox, followed by Carlos Rodon. Chris Sale actually comes in with a below average risk factor, and David Robertson comes in with the teams lowest score.

QUOTE (shipps @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 03:39 PM) Avi can use some of that brutal honesty. I am sure that Avi has no idea how bad he was last year.

QUOTE (Feeky Magee @ Feb 22, 2016 -> 03:41 PM) Was still good enough for a 0.0 WAR, which would be a big upgrade in RF. Less facetiously, obviously the argument I'm making is he could be a sneaky candidate to improve upon his numbers from last year. He was shown he can be an above-average hitter during a season at the MLB level, had a 108 wRC+ for the Dodgers in 2011. Even if the truth was 80% closer to his MLB numbers, that'd make him an above-average hitter. I'm not saying he's likely to do this, I'm saying he's a surprise candidate to do it that I like better than Shuck or Fields. That 103 OPS+ was in 227 ABs, and five years ago. So if I am going to hear about sample size, I would give more respect to a current sample versus one half a decade old.

Richard Justice ‏@richardjustice 9m9 minutes ago Commissioner Rob Manfred "hopeful" of in-market streaming for every team by Opening Day. @MLB

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 46m46 minutes ago Source: Extension talks between the Royals and Salvador Perez are ongoing, but sides are not close at this point.