witesoxfan

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 03:06 PM) When's the last time one of the three or four worst teams in the majors added 3 of the Top 10-12 off-season free agent targets and spent more than $30-35-40 million (combined average) on three players that were all in their 30's? The Marlins spent that money on Reyes, Bell and Buehrle, but you can argue that it was 90% because they were opening up a brand new stadium behind a new manager...but Choo, Beltran and Morales would be three players all in the second half of their careers. Those would be moves more similar to what the White Sox did before 2005, although they didn't have to pay top dollar for any of those guys like Dye, AJ or Iguchi...the only big overpay was El Duque, at around $6.5 million if I remember correctly. Just find it hard to imagine Beltran coming off a World Series/playoff team and his best offer coming from the White Sox. Someone like the Giants will be more than willing to bring him back. I have a feeling that the Sox will not end up as one of the 3 worst, but it's not a bad thing if they do. I think they'll slide into about the 6th spot. Regardless, this exact type of scenario happened last offseason with the Red Sox. They currently have the most wins in the majors. Also, would you really consider Kendrys Morales and Carlos Beltran among the top 10-12 free agents? Top 25 or 50 perhaps, but a slightly above average 1B and an older outfielder, both of whom have had injury problems previously, don't strike me as "top 12." Honestly, if they even signed Choo - again, an extreme long shot at this moment, but we'll say they do - and nothing else, it would be considered a great offseason with a building block like that set into place.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 02:47 PM) Tom Loxas reporting Cubs are trying to get Neftali Feliz for Garza The Rangers would be incredibly stupid if they did that.

If I had access to Youtube at work, I'd totally link to Tupac's "Me Against the World." Sort of trying to bring humor to a tense situation, but having dated a "black" (opposite situation of lost with a black father, white mother) woman, I have atleast been around that type of world before too. I still have no personal reference to what it's actually like though.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 01:44 PM) I don't know, can you? I'm just tired of hearing for years about how our farm system blows as KW tries to make us a contender by making some "splash" trade, Adam Dunn being the most egregious example. What are we now, 28th? Another thing I didn't think about until reading this blog is how bad our draft picks have turned out: So what's the non-blowing-up way to fix the team then, since you're against it (no sarcasm intended)? The White Sox farm system didn't get any worse when Dunn was brought in - the White Sox signed him. Subjective rankings of farm systems throughout the majors doesn't do a whole lot either. "Mr. Baseball Expert thinks the White Sox are 28th, which means it's bad!" except that he may have a bias against the system or may not have a good scout or may have seen players on a bad day or what have you. It's not a great system, but there's some high ceiling talent in the system, they have a decent amount of pitching, and they are starting to spend in Latin America. All of this is irrelevant to the main point, but it's there. Regardless, 5 of the 6 primary starters the Sox have used this year have been minor league acquisitions somehow, someway. Anyways, I'd try to acquire a few talented outfielders plus a 3B at the deadline. Then sign a few free agents. Bring in a new 1B, with the top name on my personal list being Kedrys Morales. If they're willing to spend a lot, perhaps Shin-Soo Choo for the outfield; if not, Beltran and Granderson's names have been bounced around here quite a bit too. Michael Morse and Jason Kubel are possibilities too. If they get lucky with Choo (I believe Boras is his agent, so this almost certainly won't happen, but for hypothetical purposes), sign Morales, sign Beltran, and bring in a young 3B prospect (we'll just leave this as Gillaspie in the lineup below)in a trade while Peavy, Rios, and De Aza are dealt away, you can run out a lineup of... Choo - CF Beckham - 2B Beltran - RF Dunn - DH/1B Morales - 1B/DH Phegley - C Gillaspie - 3B Viciedo - LF Ramirez - SS It's not a great lineup, but it's improved from last year while likely adding only one long-term deal in Choo and I would say $35 million in payroll (figure $18 Choo, $10 Beltran, $7 Morales, but it may be up to $40 or, if you work the contract out right, could be as little as $30 this year). There are spots that can be upgraded if the time comes and if it fails, there are still pieces you can deal. On top, you've improved the depth of the minor league system and your rotation of Sale-Quintana-Santiago-Danks-Johnson really isn't that bad either.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 01:56 PM) Son of former-Sox Chris? I believe this is the case

Honestly, I really think that is best for all parties involved.

I miss that so

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 12:12 PM) I haven't seen them say they aren't rebuilding, only that you won't hear it announced if they are. The next 6 months will dictate a lot, but I really don't think they are going to go into a massive sell off. They will certainly deal pieces, but I don't think there will be a total overhaul, at least anymore than was already expected.

QUOTE (LVSoxFan @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 11:42 AM) Which is kind of irrelevant when you can't hit, don't you think? Which is kind of relevant when you can build an offense pretty easily in an offseason or two, don't you think?

In my mind, actually blowing this team up and starting from the bottom is dumb, and beyond that, management has already stated they are not rebuilding. They intend to do this quickly again, which people will b**** about, it with the pitching staff, it's smart. Spend wisely, and this team could be in the hunt next year and ready to be really competitive or favored in 2015. Rotations like the Sox don't come around very often.

Um, different worst case scenario Worst Case Scenario: 2017-18 $7M Butler/$5M Mirotic/$10M Noah + a bunch of picks and enough cap space to land a different top free agent (such as LeBron, Batum, Love assuming that Wade & Lebron exercise both years of their options) or give a qualifying offer to one of the many players currently going to be looking for money. Rose signs with LA

I honestly have no idea why I said bullpen. Yes, a bullpen can be rebuilt rather quickly.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 06:34 AM) If the Sox has signed Cespedes, do you think they would take down the WS banner to put up a 2013 Home Run Derby Winner banner? Well yes, but they would put those banners up all around the stadium too. And they would rename the stadium. "Yoenis Cespedes 17 Home Runs at the Derby Memorial Stadium"

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 07:23 AM) If you want to give Robin an F for September 2012, that's fine, but you still have yet to explain what he did wrong. What should he have done differently? With all the jumps in innings pitched and lineup injuries, what was his major fault? Maybe he should have played his bench more during the season, but everyone complained about how s***ty the bench is. (Your all-word manager Terry Francona orchestrated a far, far worse September collapse in his last job, why does he get a pass?) And I disagree that no one is blaming Robin at all. The bad defense and baserunning directly points to him. However, this is a flawed roster and he's a 2nd-year manager, most people don't see a a point in burning him at the stake like you want to do. Give him some more time at the helm and if the roster improves, then you can make a decision. Right now his two best hitters are Rios & Dunn, who according to you, one is a bum and the other has no place in a professional lineup. So Robin's players are garbage, but it's all his fault. Gotcha. Got damn that post

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 10:32 PM) But the offense doesn't put up 4-5-6 runs a night, and the farm system sucks. Trading Peavy is clearly the right move to make if they get the right offer. And if somebody wants to take on John Danks, you do it in a heartbeat. Rebuilding an offense can be done in an offseason. The same cannot be said for a rotation or bullpen.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 06:16 PM) I don't know about "deadly." You could look at it another way and say he'll ruin that lineup if he gets in one of his patented strikeout funks. Their professional hitters are probably not used to seeing such ineptitude on a fairly frequent basis. It's going to be great to rebuild and not have Dunn around anymore. No, he'd greatly help their lineup.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Jul 16, 2013 -> 07:05 AM) All the GM's are together in New York for most of this week and on expense accounts. Something is bound to happen. Yes, probably 30 GMs getting drunk together.

I can honestly say Olt is a guy that doesn't pique my interest at all. I hope the Sox stay away from him.

The Orioles remain the most attractive destination for Dunn, and that's not likely to happen. Still, Dunn hitting 6th in that lineup would be deadly. **Sorry, had to edit, forgot Showalter is dumb and has Boom Davis hitting 5th. Dunn would hit 7th.

You just described Kevin Youkilis

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 04:55 PM) One thing he routinely does is to refuse to use a better reliever in a high leverage situation if it isn't in the last 35% of the game. If a pitcher is in trouble in the 4th, out comes the worst arm in the pen. The 2nd Detroit game, down 2, 4th inning or so with Detroit runners on and 2 outs, he goes to the back of the pen, saving the better reliever for later in the game. Well, there was nothing to save them after for after that inning. That's happened on numerous occasions this year. He's also put a ton of pitches on the young starters. Last year, we were in a race, so there perhaps was a case to be made. But pitching these guys 120 pitches for this team? Absurd. Had he used the best reliever in the 4th inning, and a situation arose in the 8th with runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out and he went to Omogrosso or Castro or Heath, and said pitcher gave up a double, what would your reaction have been?

QUOTE (hammerhead johnson @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 04:39 PM) I suspect that Santiago would give Edinson Volquez a run for his money in the BB/IP category if he ever became a regular starter. Santiago struggles, but, to keep Cubs comparisons continuing, he's no worse than Zambrano or Wood. Volquez, both control and overall wise, is entering Daniel Cabrera territory.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 04:27 PM) Viciedo? He's been struggling and pressing like crazy. This is his worst season as a professional by far. There's no reason he shouldn't at least be adequate against righties, but he seemingly swings at everything.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 03:44 PM) Now that's a post I agree with. IF Sox were playing decent defense, team would be near .500. Now, cmon, folks, Sox are playing 14 games below capability?? Robin deserves a pile of blame and a big fat grade of F this year after his A- from last year. The collapse is the reason for the minus. The only thing Ventura contributed to the collapse last year was running out his best lineup as often as he could. It was the best team in the central after 144 or 146 games or whatever, but injuries and fatigue killed that team down the stretch. This year, he absolutely deserves some, but pinning this all on him is like saying the only reason the Cardinals are hitting is because Mike Matheny is managing them.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 15, 2013 -> 03:33 PM) I agree that the Sox just need baseball players. They might not be the most athletic person in the world, but knows how to play the game and is smart about it. That's the problem though, we know that Hahn and Kenny aren't looking at guys that are that, but very toolsy and raw. And this is why they signed Keppinger in the offseason and have had guys like Kotsay, Vizquel, and Erstad on the roster before. It's ridiculous to assume that [all] they want [are] players that are toolsy and raw. They want talented players, they have specific players in mind, and I bet those players cover a wide range and variety of player types. They will add the players that make the most sense after risk and reward is calculated.