Al Lopez's Ghost

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jan 9, 2017 -> 11:35 AM) There is something tantalizing at looking at a rotation featuring Rodon, Giolito, Glasnow, Kopech, and Lopez/Fulmer. Alex Hansen too.

QUOTE (Con te Giolito @ Jan 8, 2017 -> 10:11 PM) We are also finally totally free of the tyranny of FEDERAL HOLIDAYS and the cooling effect they have on the stove. Once we hear the words "mystery team" I'll know were close. Well, MLK day is on the horizon.

Somebody on twitter @rumbunter, who professes to be the best Pirate blogger, said he just got an email confirming the Sox and Pirates discussed the offer for Q this morning. Whatever, I know.

100% agree.

I agree. I hope and think that Hahn won't be deterred by "but it's the Cubs" thinking.

With 2017 being a tank year, Shields could be our MVP.

I'll take Fuzzy Metaphors for a thousand, Alex.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 6, 2017 -> 10:22 PM) While there is no doubt they'd like to add a TOR starter, they at least have a deep stable of interesting young arms. A deep stable of interesting young arms gets you third place.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jan 6, 2017 -> 03:25 PM) I can't believe they DFA Coats whiled keeping 4-6 other guys, none of whom can hit .330 ++ in AAA. Welcome to White Sox baseball 2017!

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Jan 6, 2017 -> 02:54 PM) I want to see Giolito start a game that Gio Soto finishes that Geo Soto catches. Brought to you by Giordano's Pizza!

All the Garcia, all the Sotos. If you put Leury in, you could have a Soto to Soto to Garcia to Garcia to Garcia rundown. Well, you could.

Maybe someone could visit Pittsburgh, Houston or Denver?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 4, 2017 -> 11:44 AM) I never once heard Hawk mention Yaz or Catfish during a 2016 telecast. Then you must not have the volume on for road games.

TWTKTYS. The will to keep telling Yaz stories. Hawk, if we put you in the HOF will you leave already?

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 3, 2017 -> 04:29 PM) I would still rather have the spot open so we can find out. If they are able to deal Melky after the corner OF/DH/1B market starts to dry up, I wouldn't be opposed to a Liriano-Tilson-Garcia OF. Or someone else who wins a spot. I agree with this...but boy, will we suck.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 3, 2017 -> 09:30 AM) Tyler Saladino is not going to be a major contributor in two to three years. Tyler Saladin is not going to be a major contributor.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jan 2, 2017 -> 05:49 PM) ok, but there's no reason not to give him 135 games this year. Well if not in a tank year, when, and I think some of the posters think it would be a good idea. That's what I was responding to. BTW I think he's a good player in a very restricted role.

I think Saladino is a more valuable player on a great team than on a substandard team like the Sox. On a great team you could pick your spots with him, resting your regulars as needed, and Saladino won't hurt you with his glove and his baseball smarts. But give him 135 games, and you'll see his flaws.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 2, 2017 -> 12:32 AM) With how bad Detroit, KC, and Minnesota should be...tanking again in 2018 becomes more challenging with Moncada, Collins and the young pitchers. I don't think tanking in 2018 is even part of the plan. 2018 is the start of the turnaround. It may be unrealistic to play .500 ball, I dunno, but 2018 is the time to give young talent the chance to succeed and fail in the big leagues. Tanking is what we're doing this year.

It seems to me that the longer this drags on, the more likely it becomes that the Cubs step in. As others have pointed out, the Cubs don't need a lot from their farmhands, and they have potential problems with their rotation and a payroll that could use Q's affordability.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 31, 2016 -> 09:11 AM) The Sox' veteran acquisitions almost uniformly under-performed after acquired: Samardzija Robertson Melky (good in 2016; not good in 2015) Navarro Frazier Shields (inexcusable; I'd still like to see the scouting reports that proclaimed "all is well" after the Seattle disaster.) Only Duke and really Avila performed to expectations. And then there were the strange acquisitions: Kahnle, signing Justin Turner to a $1.5 million contract ( 6.5 ERA and And then there was Gonzales, a great get...the freebie acquisition outperforms the players they pay for. And then Flowers actually hits a little bit after he leaves town. A mix of bad luck and poor scouting/use of analytics I suppose. You can go back further to see National League veterans the Sox acquired that failed badly. Dunn, La Roche, Peavy to an extent, Griffey.... It makes you wonder if they did any NL scouting at all.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 30, 2016 -> 05:06 PM) Is it wrong that, despite knowing Sale is better, that Buehrle is my favorite pitcher of all time? (Only 25 years old so didn't see McDowell or others mentioned) Basically started getting into baseball around 99/2000 so I basically started from the beginning with Buehrle's career (and Paulie's for that matter). Not wrong. Buehrle gets credit for longevity, perfecto, no hitter, and for being a great teammate. And postseason heroics.

8 - Chet Lemon 7 - Minoso 9 - Baines 2 - Fisk 3 - Konerko 4 - Fox 5 - Ventura 6 - Aparicio DH Thomas Pierce Horlen McDowell Buerhle Hoyt Thigpen Jencks Foulke Thornton By the way, the manager would be Al Lopez.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Dec 30, 2016 -> 03:25 PM) Sounds like a religious leader. The rebuild requires a certain amount of faith.

I apologize for this in advance, but I hear Rymer is poetry in motion.