Dick Allen

The other thing to consider is with Sale and Q signed for the long term there really isn't anyone you have to come up with big bucks the next 3 years to sign. Rodney is not going to be a guy that signs himself to something delaying free agency. The stars are aligned just like with Abreu. As long as Detroit doesn't go nuts and there are signs they are getting close to their limit, this is a great gamble to take. Abreu and Martinez would be a dynamic duo.

His offensive game ages well. The only question is can he stay healthy. If he signs for 3 years he will be 38 when the contract expires. Bring him on.

It appears Rose is out tonight. Jimmy gets Buckets is back. I read an article wwhere Calipari said Rose has a very low threshold of pain. Taj also out. Rose is in uniform.

If the Sox do sign Victor, for $300,000 to $400,000, I would be willing to relay the signals to him from the bleachers.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 02:18 PM) Rose has missed 2 and a half out of the last 3 seasons. Until proven otherwyise it looks like he is just one of those guys who can't stay healthy. It is frustrating but landing on a foot happens. At least it wasn't trouble with the knee after no contact.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Nov 1, 2014 -> 11:28 AM) I still don't understand why this is so impossible. IF the players they're signing all make since I could certainly see it. Now the chances on them being able to "beat" every other team on these guys that make sense might be rather slim, but hypothetically speaking if their offers do get em I don't see them capping their spendings. The one problem they are going to have is many teams who spend a lot of money are looking for the exact same things the White Sox are looking for. So the top pf the line guys are going to cost a lot in either cash if they are free agents or talent in a trade, so I would imagine most of the White Sox holes are going to be filled by lower tiered guys they think project well.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 01:53 PM) I like the quote that Theo used: "It came down to be loyal to Rick or be loyal to the organization". "The organization is more important that one single person". Exactly. I wonder why Theo didn't go after Andrew Freidman to be the GM and replace Hoyer. Freidman is a better GM. I understand what they did, but it is a BS line. There have been plenty of opportunities to bring in better than what they have and they have passed. “Today we made the difficult decision to replace Rick Renteria as manager of the Chicago Cubs. Yeah Theo, you made that decision today. His first sentence is a lie.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:51 AM) I'd suggest it may be more important to have managing and coaching staffs familair with the playoffs, than players. Game 7 was won by SFG in part due to a managing gaffe (the bunt) and a baserunning gaffe that should never happen (sliding into first). No guarantee what would have happened in either case, but in both cases, poor leadership caused poor decisions that gave the Royals fewer chances to win. I think Hosmer diving into first being on a manager or coach is a little far fetched. I bet that has occurred under everyone. It is a stupid move and everyone knows it. Sometimes you can't fight your instincts.

QUOTE (Friend of Nordhagen @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:53 AM) Maddon's great. But I have a few observations, and potential pitfalls, regarding his hiring: (1) Two weeks ago, Renteria was swell because of the progress made by Castro and Rizzo. Why mess with that? (2) If we've learned one thing from the dominance of sabermetrics, it's that the front office guys run things, all the way down to the field. (Ask Art Howe and even Terry Francona about that.) Maddon is a lot of things, but one thing he is not is a shrinking violet. I'll be curious to see how it works out with Epstein and Hoyer. (3) There seems to be some groundswell that Joe's presence will lure free agents. But if the reason for Maddon's reputation was his ability to handle YOUNG players, how do we know he can actually handle a team with those veterans? In fact, the best Rays veterans were lost because of budget (Shields, Crawford). What lures free agents is money. Joe's a nice guy but I didn't see any of the big names take a pay cut to play for him in Tampa.

Maybe the Sox should consider talking Jeter out of retirement. He has a ton of playoff experience.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 08:45 AM) If there's one thing I have utmost confidence in the Cubs to accomplish it's making their manager look bad. Yes, but that is usually on the field. They are going to make Rick Renteria one of the most sympathic figures getting paid a few million to do absolutely nothing in baseball history. He'll probably show up on Dr. Phil.

What kind of playoff experience did the 2005 White Sox have when they went 11-1? Caulfield needs some meds.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/...me-in-the-game/ The Cubs almost have to admit they pursued Maddon illegally to make him not look bad.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 07:42 AM) http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/10/30/t...ering-troubles/ Unlikely that a player would go to the Rays...as this possible tampering situation is MUCH under much different circumstances The way this went down, one would have to be very naive to think the Cubs didn't have some sort of contact with Maddon before he opted out, or at least let it be known through "intermediaries" their interest and what they would be willing to pay. One problem is technically just about every team tampers in some form. Another is unless it is totally admitted, unless you want to spend a lot of money and time, which will probably offset any award you may receive, you probably aren't going to prove it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 06:10 PM) And yet one could get probably 18-20 head managing jobs in baseball and the other would be EXTREMELY lucky to get a 1st or 3rd base coaches' job. Now why is that? You actually made my point. Ozzie won more often managing the White Sox than Joe did managing the Rays and won more WS. Now Maddon is a lock to lead a team that has not won in over 100 years to heights he has never been, and Ozzie is a bum, just like Dusty, and Lou and the great Rudy Jaramillo. Leo Mazzone was a pitching guru until he got bad pitchers. Then no one would hire him.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 04:47 PM) So what you're saying is, the talent level and strength of schedule is the exact same on the Rays and White Sox I don't think the AL East was all that tough this year, and many pundits predicted the Rays to make the playoffs. I think they had more talent than the Sox, but according to some media, talent isn't necessary if Joe Maddon is around.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 02:25 PM) Not sure. That's a headline writer that does that though. Not Wittenmeyer. It will be historic in the sense that he's probably going to make about $30 million. They were going to pay Girardi the same last year, and historic never came about. I know he doesn't write the headlines, but Wittenmeyer, the guy who has spent the past year or so slamming the Cubs, talking and writing about how they have no money and will be terrible for years wrote earlier that the Cubs are by far the best fit for Maddon. Why would a team with no money who will be terrible for years be the best fit, by far, for a manager in his 60s, when there are several teams that would sign him up? I don't know if you live in the Chicago area or not, but if you do, just turn on the local news tonight or watch Kaplan on CSN, or read any of the articles and the headlines...it is nothing that we haven't seen several times before. Maybe this time it really happens. I tend to doubt it. Joe Maddon winning pct. .517 Ozzie Guillen White Sox winning pct. 524 (That's for Greg)

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 02:12 PM) Nowhere in that article does it say that the Cubs are going to win the World Series because they hired Joe Maddon. No, but what do you think about the "Historic Signing"? What is that implying? I don't think they used those terms when the Sox signed Jerry Manuel.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 01:26 PM) I don't think this is entirely true. Find me examples of people in the media that actually think that the Cubs are going to win the World Series because they hired Joe Maddon. I think it improves their chances. I think that Maddon is great at handling young players and making the pieces fit. I think the Cubs have enough young talent to compete starting in 2016. If the Cubs win divisions and get into the playoffs on a consistent basis, they have as good of a chance as the other teams. They might win one soon. Joe Maddon would have something to do with it if so but no he wouldn't be the "sole reason" why it happened. Check the headline http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cu...e-thursday.html

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 01:26 PM) I don't think this is entirely true. Find me examples of people in the media that actually think that the Cubs are going to win the World Series because they hired Joe Maddon. I think it improves their chances. I think that Maddon is great at handling young players and making the pieces fit. I think the Cubs have enough young talent to compete starting in 2016. If the Cubs win divisions and get into the playoffs on a consistent basis, they have as good of a chance as the other teams. They might win one soon. Joe Maddon would have something to do with it if so but no he wouldn't be the "sole reason" why it happened. Watch CSN Sports Talk Live. Watch the sports segments on the local stations. Even Gordon W. the Sun Times Cubs beat writer is hopping on the Maddon bandwagon. He was the one who kept saying the Cubs were toast. The Sun Times had him on the front page of their paper on Saturday when he opted out, before he ever came to the Cubs. If you read and/or watch and/or listen to Chicago media, you wouldn't think there is the slightest possibility Joe Maddon could have managed a team that lost 85 games in 2014. MLB manager is the most overrated head position in professional sports. Maddon's really good, but he's not the difference between winning 90+ and 75.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 12:46 PM) I don't think there's really much of an argument for Minnie, at least in terms of his onfield performance. Dick Allen, though, has a real shot. He's a classic borderline guy -- but if Jim Rice is in, Dick Allen should be a no brainer. There really is no reason why I am not in. I'll let caulfield introduce me. It will leave me about 30 seconds for my speech.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:31 AM) Well if you think Robin Ventura is a better manager than Joe Maddon, I have some s*** to sell you. I never said he'd win the World Series. I just said it was an excellent hire. Little bit over the top here I think. The Joe Maddon walks on water is over the top and TV and radio in Chicago are all over it. McFail, Dusty,Lou, Rudy Jaramillo, Theo and now Maddon. The same crap after each hire. So far, nothing, and until they actually sign better players and their prospects actually prove they can play in the major leagues, it still will be nothing. Joe Maddon averaged 97 or 98 losses his first 2 years with Tampa. Listening to "experts" its hard to believe he couldn't take 25 random Soxtalk posters and not win 90 games. The players are what really matters. Jose Abreu was a far bigger signing than Joe Maddon, and even though it got a lot of play, especially for a White Sox move, it will be nothing compared to what is going to happen when this becomes official. Silly I say.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:21 AM) Except it's really NOT THAT EASY, especially when you're looking for a LF who can hit AND field and is not on the wrong side of 30 and declining. For example, LF and DH. Once you get past the headliners in Martinez/Ramirez/Sandoval, then you enter the abyss of guys like Markakis, Cabrera, Rasmus, Morse, Butler, Kendrys Morales, Lind, LaRoche, etc. It's a complete crapshoot....predicting what any of them will do. Who really has a clue how Flowers, or Gillapsie, or Avisail will do in 2015, or if Eaton can even stay healthy? If it was easy to find those offensive pieces, then the Mariners would have been in the playoffs last season. There's a very good chance that Viciedo has a better season than half the guys on that list...but does it for another team. It's pretty hopeless.

Ventura had a 4.76 ERA against the White Sox this season. Therefore, he must suck.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 09:55 AM) They would use it as an excuse to not buy tickets, that is for sure. "Well they haven't won multiple years in a row!" If the White Sox ever do put together a run of domination, the next excuse, whatever it will be, will be entertaining.