Dick Allen

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 12:01 PM) You can doubt it all you like but Cespedes has been quoted numerous times in reference to him liking NY and the Mets team dating back to August. I'm not saying he is a sure fire bet to sign with the Mets but it seems the Mets are back in the picture, like it or not. QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 12:12 PM) My post says I don't doubt that he likes the Mets and NY. For him to sign a 1 or 2 year contract in NY, has another problem. Not only will he probably drop off a bit from 2015, be a year older, perhaps have a QO attached to him (although that was basically eliminated in his last contract so you would think they would do it again) a short term payday in NY would also included getting the s*** taxed out of you . Not only is there a state tax at almost 9 %, they have a city income tax as well.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 10:41 AM) Wow, so he really might end up signing a 1-year deal. I thought Upton might do it but I never expected Cespedes to be open to the idea. I would be shocked if he signed a 1 year deal. He has no QO attached to him. How is his market going to improve?

QUOTE (Charlie Haeger's Knuckles @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 03:14 PM) Todd Frazier hit .233 away from home last year. You gonna s*** on him while you are at it? Does he have over a .200 point OPS difference in his home/away splits for his career?

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 03:07 PM) OK, I don't know Hawk's exact time commitments before and after games, but assuming that a game ends at 10:15, he's not getting away from USCF before 11:00 and that puts him home no earlier than 1am [ignoring the time change for now]. For a 1:10pm game the next day I figure he has to be at the park by Noon so he's leaving home no later than 10am. So that gives him at most 9 hours at home and I really doubt it's that much. And he's old. He's insane if he does that. I get that he lives where he lives because grandkids, but there's no time to see them or anybody else so why not get a hotel room? He's usually out of there 15 minutes after the game. I've seen him in the parking lot before. But I do agree. I would think a day game after a night game he has to hotel it. He's there at least a couple of hours before the game anyway. The whole thing seems crazy to me. He gets home at 1 AM sleeps a little while, probably leaves for the ballpark around 3 or 4 his local time. How much time does that really leave seeing his grandchildren? Of course, he may be doing it for his wife. The way he is doing it now probably got the Sox a better broadcaster. I would imagine the job of doing all road games wouldn't be as attractive as working all home games.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 02:57 PM) Yes, but can Benetti take the mantle from Swirsky and weave an everlasting devotion to the greatness of Steve Stone into the broadcast? In fairness to the Swirsk, it's not like he had a lot of experience of his own to fall back on. He recognized his weaknesses, maybe a little too much, but he first filled in on almost zero notice.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 02:47 PM) I think the disconnect between us seems to be that I think more suitors will come as the price goes down. As far as the money issue, that was more of a separate thought & just a suspicion of mine, although talking with raBBit, he brought up a few good points that throw that thought away. I still think that as the price drops, more suitors will jump in because the demands are that much lower & easier for other teams to meet. I think most of the teams that would spend that kind of money either don't have room or are spending their cash on other needs. The price will go down, but not all that drastically. He's still going to probably get at least $20 million a year for 3 years. How many teams are looking for corner OF help who could add that right now without being up against a roster crunch or luxury tax complications? I'd offer him 3 with an opt out after 2. I think that could be better for him if he performs than a 4 year deal. And better for the Sox. They get a totally motivated player. One whose performance increased tremendously when he was playing for a contract, and in 2 years, they will have some guys potentially off the books if they wish to re-sign him, or let someone else pay him for his decline.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 02:39 PM) I don't see how my statement doesn't make sense to you. I THINK payroll could be an issue, just my thought. I also said the longer it takes the less likely it is to happen BECAUSE the price will go down & more suitors will jump in. The reason I think their chances are lower as time passes & prices drop because I don't think they are as attractive as other potential FA suitors. I would say that all plays pretty much hand in hand with each other. It doesn't make sense because you say money is an issue, yet if the price goes down it's less likely to happen. What I don't understand is where are you and everyone else getting all these additional suitors if the price goes down? Considering he hasn't signed yet, then why would any team be considered a suitor at this point? No matter what, there just aren't a lot of teams that will commit $20 million a year even for 3 years to an OF at this point. Most of the "new" teams would need something a lot lower than that. The one problem I do see is you have to make sure you get something done at some point, and not be left holding the bag. If they want to take this to February, it will make some team or teams go on to the next idea. Whether or not the Sox have even made Cespedes an offer at this point is also unknown. Yet the reports say they were interested. They knew the price tag. It wasn't going to $7 million a year.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 02:26 PM) Everyone has their own theory but mine all along has been the same. The longer they wait, the lower the price. Which is fine but more teams will jump into the race & IMHO, I don't think the Sox are that attractive of a team to be competing for a top FA. Overall, I don't think it's a good thing. I'll gladly be proven wrong but I've already moved on from Upton as a whole & have little hope for Cespedes. Best case at this point may be either a trade or Fowler. Then you aren't making sense. On one hand you say there is a payroll issue so it won't happen. You have said the longer it takes the less likely it will happen. Then you say the longer it takes the lower the price. So why did you ever entertain it happening? They are playing this correctly. There will be more teams mentioned, but that is more smoke than anything. Like Chris Davis and the Rangers. Yeah, they will spend $150 million on another LH bat. It's all fun to mention but the reality is for most of the new teams mentioned, it is entirely BS. Cespedes isn't going to Atlanta. He isn't going back to the Mets. Granted, all it takes is one team to step up, but that has been the case all along. Maybe it's a longshot Cespedes wears a White Sox uniform, but IMO, the longer this goes on the better the chance. His price isn't going up.

QUOTE (3GamesToLove @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 01:54 PM) He may well be a good human being for all I know. That has no bearing on the fact that he's bad at his job. That's your opinion. I prefer non cookie cutter announcers.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 01:45 PM) It's no fun to be in what I assume is the minority amongst Sox fans. I like Farmio. When we had tickets on club level we took the elevator with him several times. He's a really nice guy.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 11:05 AM) I really don't care about announcers bringing in advanced analytics. That does mean they need to wax poetic about RBI production, but I have to say, any time someone verbally talks about a players wRC+ it sounds really dumb. Use the graphics for it, but stuff like "This guys fWAR is through the ROOF" makes it sound like they are trying too hard. It's why Len Kasper is the worst announcer in the game and so terrible and awful. Looking forward to this guy. It does seem when advanced stats are thrown out during a broadcast, the broadcaster throwing them out there seems to be trying to hard. Use them, just don't overdue it. A guy's wRC+ really isn't going to determine if he gets a hit or not. The biggest thing that bothers me about Kasper is he sounds just like Kermit the Frog.

I like that he grew up a Sox fan. He will have an enthusiasm others won't. Sounds good. It will be weird without Hawk. I just hope he isn't a Len Kasper clone.

QUOTE (blackmooncreeping @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 09:01 PM) Just sayin, it seems we've heard "last year's payroll is this year's payroll" coming out of the FO, which doesn't jive with the talk of these add ons without the benefit of a trade to clear salary. It seems they'll have to go at least $130-$135 to field a serious contender. The White Sox haven't mentioned their payroll at all. One thing they have been able to accomplish over the years is to get the media and the fans to always buy into the "we don't have any money" routine. When they signed Dunn and brought Paulie and AJ back, people wondered where they got the money. The season was a disappointment, the attendance dropped again, but they still, according to Forbes, made money. That was with a $127 million payroll and $25 million less a year from the national TV contract. I also don't understand the 2 year window people. Yes, in 2 years guys like Melky and Frazier and Lawrie could be gone, but that frees up money and maybe a couple of minor leaguers step up. One infamous whiner has gone from the Sox window won't open for 2 years to saying it will shut in 2 years due to Frazier and Lawrie. What did they give up for those guys that was going to be the fuel for the team being great in 2 years? I think if they get Cespedes or Fowler or Jackson, they are looking good in 2016. Jackson intrigues me. He was a good player in Detroit but like several others, couldn't hit at all in Seattle. See Beltre, Adrian. He isn't Beltre with the bat, but IMO, would look good in CF, and is still 29 and probably good for at least a 2 WAR, maybe more. I still want Upton, Cespedes, Jackson, Fowler in that order. I think RH will get one of them. It's probably hopeless on Upton, but an OF upgrade, and a couple things going correctly, this team should be pretty good.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 12, 2016 -> 12:45 PM) Even though this was rumored, I have to say I found both of today's signings surprising in a vacuum. What were you doing in a vacuum?

I don't understand the concept of the higher the price, the more likely the player is to sign with the White Sox. I don't understand it at all. These players aren't going to be so cheap that a team that is out on them will suddenly find the $20 + million a year to pay them. IMO, the longer it goes on, the more obvious no team is willing to pay them what they want which IMO increases the White Sox chances.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Jan 10, 2016 -> 04:17 PM) Since the Red Sox sent Cespedes packing pretty quickly and he had some personal problems w a coach in his brief stint, I would doubt there is interest w either side. Sounds like an internet rumor Exactly. Besides it all tweets are true, the Sox have already agreed to a 6 year contract with him, but then didn't but only have a 5 year offer, yet will not offer more than 3 years. The Yankees are trying to get below the luxury tax. A one year deal would blow that away. I really don't understand why so many people throw so much BS on the Twitter.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 09:18 PM) I believe the Red Sox had interest in him as well and had Abreu waited about a month or so, I think he would have ended up there (they were in the post season when Abreu signed so signing him really wasn't an option). His agent said 8 teams were bidding 4 were within $5 million including Boston, who would have tried him at 3B.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 04:06 PM) Long term contracts to pitchers are a different consideration, Danks being a case in point. Pitchers are so vulnerable to arm and shoulder injuries, and those injuries are usually career ending, or at least very damaging. Moreover, there is another side to the "double edged sword," which these multi contracts represent. Of course, the team is committed and obligated, but then they also have a good player locked up. There is an optimum number of years, and it certainly isn't advantageous to be committed to a player, beyond his prime. In the case of Cespedes, 4 years takes him through age 33, which seems ideal. I bet the Angels wish they didn't have to pay Pujols and Hamilton for their age 33 seasons. 1 year with team options is optimal, but unrealistic. 3 years is better than 4, 2 better than 3. 3 years with an out after 2 seems like it could be something that interests him.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 03:51 PM) Uh, Lillian never said anything about Danks. No but he isn't and wasn't blocking anyone either. Things change in 4 years. Things change in 3 years. The White Sox have no position players on their roster that were on the team on opening day 2013. Overpaying just to overpay is fine if you have a $300 million payroll and could just suck up the $25 million or so in 3 or 4 years, but the White Sox aren't that team. Maybe the ultimate price means they have to go 4 years, but it doesn't make sense for them to go there until they have to.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 02:49 PM) I don't quite understand the front office's reluctance to commit to 4 years. Who in the Organization, would said player be blocking? Even if Avi develops into a real stud, all the Sox have is Eaton and Avi. Melky will be long gone, and out of Engel, May and Hawkins, isn't it highly unlikely that more than 1 or 2 of them becomes a better than average Major Leaguer? Adolfo is a long way from the Majors, so whomever the Sox sign should have a spot in their outfield, for quite a while. Unless the guy is over 30, there is little reason to worry about him playing on a big contract, at age 33. That's really still in a position player's prime, unless he gets hurt, or is terribly out of shape. I seriously doubt that they would actually hesitate to pay Cespedes for 4 years, his age 30 through 33 years, if the money is reasonable. It's more likely that this is just negotiating, as many of you have suggested. Who is John Danks blocking. I am sure you wouldn't mind if the Sox obligation to him was at least one year less. The fact is these guys might suck in 3 years, and as of now, there I are some nice looking free agent targets in 3 years. There is no reason to be locked into a player longer than needed.

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 02:01 PM) I don't believe they are truly negotiating. They are offering the least with a take it or leave it attitude. It only serves to let the gullible fans believe they tried. When was the last time the White Sox won on an in-demand free agent? You know what they are offering how? And if it is take it or leave it like you said, why isn't being reported they are out, because obviously it wasn't taken. The answer to your second question is last season. Robertson was the top closer on the market. Milky turned down 4 years from KC for 3 with the Sox.

Now trade Cutler to Miami and it all would have been worth it.

QUOTE (Big Hurtin @ Jan 9, 2016 -> 01:05 PM) Like I said before, enjoy watching a 4th place team. So you are for not negotiating. Just give them what they want or move along. You must not be married or have a girlfriend. There are so many posts that don't seem to understand even the simplest form of negotiation. Why should Hahn present his best offer if he doesn't have to? Why should he offer 4 years if he may be able to sign him to 3? You might think it mattered a lot in 3 years when the supposed greatest free agent class ever is out there and the Sox are sitting on the sidelines because they had to have Cespedes signed on January 9th instead of January 20th and therefore had to give him another year. If the Sox need to go 4 to get him signed, they might go 4, but until it comes time for him to choose a team, they should keep their offer at something they can sweeten if necessary. Some are fretting the price will come down and there will be more competition, The one thing to worry more about is throw your best offer out there now and teams will have time to better it. Look at Baltimore with Davis.

QUOTE (Swingandalongonetoleft @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 02:57 PM) So Upton has gone from being uninterested in playing for the Sox to intrigued, now? When it's your best chance of getting paid, interest picks up quickly.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 8, 2016 -> 02:24 PM) Providing that there is a reasonable expectation that he would be able to hit outside of Colorado, he would be a very desirable option. He fits the 2 year window, is not unaffordable, left handed power bat, with high OBP and a right fielder. I'd give up Anderson for him, but then I don't value Anderson as much as most on this board do. To me, Anderson is one of those "toolsy" athletes, who has yet to establish that he is all that good at baseball. He plays a premium defensive position, and is very questionable there. He has not yet demonstrated that he has a good knowledge of the strike zone, striking out way too frequently, and not walking nearly enough. If he ends up having to be moved to CF, his offense would not play nearly as well there. There might be a reason that he is the 12TH ranked SS prospect, by MLB.com. If he has to move to CF, Jacob May is probably near his offensive equal, and a better defensive centerfielder than Anderson. I know that May finished with far less stellar numbers than Anderson, but I followed both, during the season, and until Jacob's concussion, he was running neck and neck with Tim, in several offensive categories. Often injured and huge home and away splits his entire career. Last year he was .243/.294/.464 on the road. His road OPS for his career is over 200 points less than it is at home. If you don't like Cespedes' OBP, you aren't going to like GarGo's. No reason to give up top prospects for him when alternatives cost just money. If they want Anderson or Fulmer or Q, just hang up the phone. They are going nowhere anyway.