Dick Allen

Avi is down 20 lbs. and worked 3 days in Miami with Steverson and is now done swinging at bad pitches.

It was on the internet they would only go 3 years, so Hahn has to be lying.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 12:37 PM) You think Frazier will be better defensively than Saladino was??? I think Frazier is an average 3B and Saladino is slightly better than average. I think Sanchez is an outstanding 2B and I think Lawrie is a very good one. I have no clue if Saladino is better at SS than the 2nd half Alexei. I think the infield is slightly worse defensively than last year but they needed more offense and the infield will be much better offensively. That is why I feel they need to improve the outfield defensively to offset what I perceive to be a drop in the infield defense. I have no clue how the catcher defense will compare to last year. Infield defense wasn't a problem the second half of last year. The first half it was about as bad as it gets.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 11:11 AM) He was a big time prospect and he's still only 24 years old. I just have a problem with his 9 innings last year. Seems there will be more than a little rust or a wall at an inopportune time.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:42 AM) Buehrle's easily one of my favorite players ever, but I hope this is to announce he's retiring. While I trust he wouldn't go out there if he was going to embarrass himself, if he hasn't been working out, and the shoulder hasn't been examined backwards and forwards, I agree. I really don't want to see Buerhle getting lit up onto the waiver wire.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:40 AM) AJax is probably more expensive than we think. I agree. I would imagine at this point if you asked Boras what it would take to sign him today, we all would be flabbergasted.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:41 AM) What if they win 85 games? The guy is a Royals fan who twice said he was leaving this site until KW or Robin were fired. What he is showing now is his true colors basically saying the Sox will suck, Robin will be fired, and then he will be back with all his every move the Sox make is stupid posts.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:32 AM) Dont insult Chris Sale like that. He should be opening day starter for the rest of his career. What he is saying is the 5th starter should be starting the home opener this year. That could be Buehrle, but I would imagine he is retiring.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 07:58 AM) Exactly, and please note, even his OBP has not been that good vs. RHP. Over that same last three years, it's under .350 It's .351 for his career and over .390 vs. LHP. That is an on base machine for the current White Sox.

He would really be doing the team a favor by retiring today. That would be the main Soxfest question after the Gordon/Upton/Cespedes whiff.

I wonder if Merkin has memory problems. Exactly one year ago Avi showed up to Soxfest in tremendous shape. Almost unrecognizable . Said he was eating a lot of fish. Going to breakout. I like Avi. I thought he worked his ass off to get some ABs in 2014, so I wouldn't doubt he is a hard worker. But until he starts laying off of pitches he can't hit very hard, he is toast. That isn't something you can change overnight.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 02:40 PM) Smart by Indians..don't get why they don't bring back Raburn The thing that made it sound even more legit than just some posturing was he said they discussed it, and didn't think it was a good idea.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 02:38 PM) Maybe we should forfeit our 1st rounder because of the Gordon Beckham pick. We have problems with our 1st round pick success so lets start with the 2nd round. I never understand the logic of selecting further back because of stupidity in the past. Lets go further back because of stupid decisions in the past. I am sure other teams would value having 3 picks in the top 50. I'm sure a lot of teams would like 2 picks in the top 50 and Dexter Fowler.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 02:37 PM) Yep, only other possibility could be Soler possibly to Indians, but that doesn't seem nearly as likely Francona was on MLBN a week or so ago. He was pretty adamant they weren't trading any of their rotation.

Something is either going to have to go really wrong for the White Sox or really right for Cleto for him to be wearing White Sox pinstripes at USCF in 2016.

QUOTE (SoxSteve @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 01:23 PM) And why does he keep bringing up Desmond? 180 strikeouts and 20plus errors a year for a team that already has too many strikeouts and errors is insane. Desmond is poster child for what's wrong with us. His name should not even be mentioned in the same sentence with the SOX. PERIOD! If it gets reported the Sox are one of the finalists for Desmond, he will agree with you.

So the Blue Jays hat looks like a Maple Leafs hat. That can't be good.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 12:25 PM) Eaton RT'd someone saying that they wouldn't be surprised if they wore these jerseys during the season. I would be surprised. I think you have to give notice to MLB months in advance to wear something during the season. Maybe they did this, but the AZ things on them make me think they wouldn't wear these during the season. Besides, they already have black tops.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 12:20 PM) Back to the topic at hand, I like that they separated the batter logo from the block SOX. I hate the block SOX logo from the 80's. The batter logo actually looks pretty smooth on its own. I like the block Sox. The batter logo with nothing underneath it looks about as finished as Rick Hahn's current offseason. Maybe it is just that I am used to the other, but that batterman logo sure has been making quite the comeback the past several years.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 12:20 PM) I'm guessing they are going to be selling these right? Isn't that the real reason for new uniforms?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 12:17 PM) Who cares what WSI thinks? They do their thing, we do ours. Plenty of room for both. I think it's funny because here people seem to really like them. There, one positive comment, then all negative.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 12:08 PM) Sorry for the noob question, but what is the difference between WSI and SoxTalk? WSI is about 95% moaners. Don't want to derail this thread, but complaining is what they do best.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 09:38 AM) They just dont seem to know how to recruit well at all, there needs to be change. There are plenty of good players in IL/WI/IN and OH that they could have easily if they stayed in touch and made those connections. It really doesnt take much to have the best class in the BIG West and thats the first step to winning your division. Exactly. Iowa had 8 four star recruits on their roster this past season.

They are already moaning about these on WSI.

The problem with Jackson is he is a Boras guy, and those aren't easy negotiations unless you are willing to pay a lot of money. Boras has no problem waiting until spring training and beyond. If you are willing to meet his price, you can have a press conference tomorrow. But that isn't going to be the bargain we all were hoping for.