Lillian

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.

Please stop. If this team is not going to be competitive for a year, or two, why trade for Pederson, who has just 2 years left on his contract? If that is the next move, of this front office, then I will join those, who insist that they are totally inept. Joc made sense, if they had acquired Machado, and were attempting to make a run at the Division, this year. They might have had a chance, if they also signed one top of the rotation starter. However, under the circumstances, now facing this team, Pederson makes no sense.

You can't possible believe that the Sox would even bring such a ridiculous and uncompetitive offer to the table. They aren't stupid and had to have known where the bidding would begin. The guy turned down $300 million from the Nationals, right at the beginning of the off season.

It seems implausible that Boras would let Harper be so transparent, as to purposely eliminate a suitor, in a competitive bidding situation. That would be so foolish. Even if he prefers another location, or team, why reject a bona fide contender for your services. Boras would surely want to string along the Sox front office, just to drive up the price to the eventual winners.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict the following: While I won't predict that the Sox will win the Harper sweepstakes, we will discover that they were very much in it, right up until the end, and with a respectable offer, which will at least save face.

That may also be true, however how else do you explain that our front office has suddenly lost interest in their previously concerted and determined effort to sign him? Has he done something to turn off Sox management? Have the anticipated contract numbers and conditions greatly exceeded their original assumptions?

Could Banuelos be that guy?

I agree. The fact that they have gone dead silent suggests to me that they are in this hunt. I'm confident that we will hear all about it, when it's all over, whether they sign him, or not. The insiders are not continuing to insist that the Sox are not in it. They have just gone silent. It's as though the Sox don't exist. Very suspicious, indeed.

Not many collegiate players have won the Golden Spikes award, in their sophomore seasons. This guy seems to be an exceptional talent. However, we'll see how his junior year goes. I understand that first basemen are not normally good choices, when picking high in the Draft. At least he is considered a very good defensive first baseman.

Just to add one more possible right handed, middle of the order bat, to my list, it's likely that we draft Andrew Vaughn, with our 3RD pick. Unless Rutschman somehow falls to us, Vaughn is probably whom the Sox will select. By the way, have you noticed the hot start, he's having? That kid can hit. It looks like the conference may have decided to simply not pitch to him. He has 14 walks, versus just 3 strike outs, in the first 7 games. At any rate, let's hope Hahn has a trick up his sleeve and can steal Bryce, at the last minute. Give him 10 years, $375 million, with an opt out, after year 4 or 5. If he turns that down and signs with the Dodgers, I wouldn't fault ownership, or our front office. That is a serious bid. You can't make a player want to play for a team.