Lillian

This thread is irrelevant. If the Sox were to sign him, he'd just end up with Tommy John Surgery, within a week. So what's the point.

Yes, I've noticed that. The first part of Cal's schedule included some schools that don't seem to provide very stiff competition.

The ability to hit the ball much farther than the fences, in most parks, is of little value. Of course, it does suggest that a hitter, with that kind of power, will get his fair share of home runs, on balls which would otherwise be merely fly outs, by lesser guys. However, the contact rate and ability to take walks is much more important, in my opinion. I'd much rather have a Joey Votto than a Joey Gallo.

If both Rutschman and Vaughn go first and second, is there another college player, who could emerge at #3? All of the projections seem to indicate that Witt or Abrams will round out the rest of the top 3 names. I'm too old to be waiting around to see a high schooler make it to the Big Leagues. Not saying that I won't live long enough, but it's just hard to plan on being here, at my age. LOL. Could Stinson climb the rankings, all the way to #3, or is the Draft deep enough to consider going under slot? I really hope that somehow Rutschman falls in our laps. You know me, a middle of the order LH bat (switch hitter) would be so perfect.

There is a good chance that teams are going to stop pitching to Vaughn. He is absolutely dominating collegiate competition. Maybe if he just compiles a huge number of walks, but stops producing at such an incredible rate, he will fall to the Sox, at #3. Otherwise, he may go #1. 7 homers, in 34 at bats. 15 walks vs 5 strike outs. His average is now .529. Yikes!!!

We better hope that one of those two guys slows down, or they'll both be gone, by the time the Sox pick. They are starting the season like elite college players. I can't imagine any team passing on them. No one is going to have Witt above either of them, on their board.

It must have been something they ate. The whole team is playing like they're sick, or something. I wouldn't take this game too seriously. I doubt that it's indicative of much of anything. Just a weird day.

I know it's only Spring Training, but can they find someone to get a few outs? Geez. This is embarrassing.

Vaughn is hitting "out of his mind". In the first 9 games, look at his stat line: AVG OPS GP. AB. R. H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG BB HBP SO GDP OBP 500 1.700 9-9 30 11 15 1 0 5 13 31 1.033 15 0 5 0 .667 What stands out the most is the 15 walks versus 5 strike outs and the 5 home runs.15 hits and 15 walks in his first 45 plate appearances. Just insane. He may be off the board, with the first pick, at this rate. I know, it's early and he's a first baseman, yada, yada, yada. But, that kind of bat is hard to pass up, especially for a good defensive player, at any position. He will obviously slow down, at some point, No one can hit like that, consistently. Nevertheless, it certainly does appear that last year was no fluke. Although, Rutschman isn't far behind, in his early performance. His numbers are almost as good: AVG .400 OBP .595 SLG .920 OPS 1.515 12 WALKS 5 STRIKE OUTS & 4 HOMERS So far, in the early going, Rutschman and Vaughn are the top 2 picks. I don't know about the rest of the class, but it's a shame that we're picking third, instead of 2ND.

I'd like to see Guyer platoon with Palka in the outfield, and I want Engel in CF, especially after Eloy gets called up. The outfield is going to be defensively challenged, with Eloy and Palka, at the corners. Adam's Gold Glove caliber defense in center would help. The other guy who really should be platooned is Alonso. He is pretty bad vs. LH pitching. I don't know who would platoon with him, but on days when Abreu is at first, with an opposing southpaw, on the mound, Alonso should sit. Rondon really hasn't hit lefties very well, so I'm not sure that he is a good candidate for a bench spot. Maybe Leury still fits, but roster space would be getting pretty scarce. It looks like Jay could be the odd man out, on the roster. He's not an exceptionally good defensive outfielder, any more. I hope that they get rid of him, and soon.

All of those things would contribute to sending the message. However, if you want to go to games, the signs are a way to be there, and still deliver your message. If you go, but don't send a message, ownership will assume that you're just fine with their decisions. This should be a no brainer.

Perhaps you're right, but why not try to let them know? If the message is not clear, ownership and management might just assume that the fans are OK with their performance. They might turn around and blame the dwindling attendance on the fans. While the fans can't "force" ownership to do anything different, they can certainly exert some pressure. Why not at least make it uncomfortable for Mr. Reinsdorf and his lackies?

Another good idea for a sign; TRADE PROPOSAL: REINSDORF FOR MIDDLETON

The fact that no one, anywhere, seems to really be able to defend what management has done, is precisely why I was so confident that they wouldn't do it. I thought; "surely they can't be so obtuse, that they would mess this up so badly, that it would be indefensible". I thought that they would at least offer a contract to Harper, which would provide them with an excuse. If they had offered $300 + million, for any length of time, with an opt out, after year 4, they would have been able to at least argue that they tried. But, for Harper to take a contract, from a team, that he didn't seem to prefer, with no opt outs, while our front office freely admits that they just couldn't go that far, is simply inexplicable. The 13 years is arguably advantageous for the team, because it lowers the annual expenditure, thus providing more protection against the "luxury tax". And that is why not even Hahn, with his ability to spin things, can offer a plausible and reasonable explanation. There just may not be any good explanation, one which doesn't confirm what so many suspected. Many of us spoke a great deal about the intangible benefits of signing Harper. There was the "Q factor". We argued over just how much his presence could mean in merchandise sales and other off the field benefits. Well, the way that this thing was handled, or should I say "botched," is having the exact opposite effect. Whatever good will the signing might have created, the bad will is likely to eclipse, by several multiples. This front office folly will likely be considered one of the worst chapters in White Sox history, perhaps somewhere between the Black Sox Scandal and the White Flag disaster. It will be interesting to see the repercussions. That's where the fans come in. The fans are going to react. In this age of social media, the vocal expressions of disgruntled fans will spread and could become quite contagious. The idea of a bill board is too expensive, and will not reach enough fans. I still think that signs, in the ball park, held up by fans, would be more effective and cost almost nothing. They will be seen by other fans, sitting nearby and make it difficult for the TV cameras to avoid. If fans could flood the stands with signs of protest, it would probably get press, as well. Even if the White Sox tried to prohibit them, that cencorship would be publicized. Many fans already enjoy making signs, to hold up at the games. All that would be required here is that they start changing the messages. It's a way for fans to express their anger and frustration, in clever and creative ways. The signs should not contain any profanity, or vulgarity. They should be civil and even polite, while still expressing fair criticism. This is the best way to voice our disapproval of management and ownership.

Amen. Preach brother, preach. By the way, do something about that user name of yours.

And, so what will their excuse be, if and when they actually do develop some of the talent, as they approach arbitration and free agency. Maybe they'll claim that they can't spend the money to extend them, because they have to allocate the funds toward "next year's big Super Star free agent". When a loyal fan feels this much disdain for their favorite team's management, it's a very sad situation. Again, someone needs to be held accountable for this mess.

What difference does the number of years make, if it's the same money. If the player doesn't fit, after the number of years, for which you have signed him, trade him, DFA him. It was the money and everyone always knew that it was going to take over $300 million. Someone needs to be fired, but then that well never happen. What a joke.

I really want to see some accountability here. There must be ways for the front office and ownership to pay a price for this inexcusable fiasco. Not buying tickets is not enough. They should understand why.

YES, BUT IT HELPS, IF YOU PAY THEM

That's good. Keep 'em coming. How about: MR. HAHN, NEXT TIME YOU GO WHALE HUNTING, DON'T FORGET THE CHECK BOOK

Here are some examples of messages. I'm sure that you can do better: "WE BELONG AT THE TABLE," FOR TABLE SCRAPS "WE BELONG AT THE TABLE," THE KIDDIE TABLE DON'T BOTHER SPENDING THE MONEY. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW HOW "WE ARE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY" YADDA, YADDA, YADDA IF TWO 26 YR. OLD FUTURE HOF PLAYERS DON'T FIT THE LONG TERM, WHO DOES? 0 FOR 2 - OFF SEASON AVG .000 "NEW ERA"..SAME B.S. SHAME OUR GREAT PROSPECTS HAVE TO PLAY FOR MANAGEMENT THAT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT LOSING IS TOLERABLE. BEING LIED TO IS NOT YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST KEPT YOUR MOUTH SHUT PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES WE LOVE OUR PLAYERS. MANAGEMENT, NOT SO MUCH

I have no interest in thinking about, or discussing "next year's free agents". That now seems like an exercise in futility. It might be a better use of our time and intellectual energy, to think of ways to register our displeasure with this off season. I suggest that we try to come up with civil, yet stinging, poignent messages, to be posted on Twitter and other message boards, as well as signs, at the Ball Park. Ownership and management need to know how we feel and why. This is not simply about disappointment. We Sox fans are quite used to that. This is about having been mislead.

If that's true, then it speaks more to their stupidity and ineptitude. Who else believed that those would be the kinds of contracts? None of us did. In fact, most of baseball thought that the figures would be larger.

I haven't yet read all of your posts, but I must say that I'm just dumbfounded. What was the point of all that bravado, with which Hahn posited about "the Sox had prepared for this off season and were going to be aggressive......." Whether, or not, they should have been in on Harper is not the issue. We can all have our own opinions about that. However, it is just stupid for them to have hyped this off season, if they were not seriously ready to spend what it was clearly going to take. This is a public relations disaster, all attributable to management and, or ownership. Going forward, I don't want them to sign anyone else. Let the kids play. Tank, if that's what results, and get another high Draft pick. In the meantime, find a way to get Jay and Alonso off the roster, to make room for players, who might be part of the future.

Yes, your'e right. However, if they aren't going to compete now, the playing time should go to someone, who might be part of that anticipated window of contention. Moreover, L.A. wouldn't give him away, and likely the cost would be someone, whom we would be better off keeping, most likely a pitcher and we need all of those prospects.