caulfield12

And the Marlins got their two World Series titles in a span of 6 years, not 116 or whatever (yes, I know it was 88.)

The irony here is Span actually hasn’t been that bad the last three seasons...I think it was around a 740-750 ops. Especially compared to guys like Jay and Guyer. Of course, then you step back for a second and realize how pathetic hoping and praying for 2fWAR performances out of 34 year old veterans is...it’s another version of 2013-16 all over again (just with slightly lesser names than Shark, Frazier, Cabrera, Dunn, Robertson and LaRoche.) Keppinger-esque...or Bonifacio level.

The Padres were 66-96, 25 games back of LA...13 years and counting since last playoff appearance. And a lot more teams between them and 1st place in their division.

You forgot Colome and Guyer...

Steve Carell, Jason Sudeikis or Bill Hader....although Hahn might prefer Bateman or Christian Bale, lol.

2 p.m. Dodgers vs. Sox in Glendale Rich Hill vs. Donn Papa Roach MLB.com for video feed, WGN 720 AM Athletics at Hohokam in Mesa Jordan Guerrero vs. Chris Large Mouth Bassitt (or Bassitt Hound) No Sox radio or t.v. , just visiting radio feed

https://www.mlb.com/news/2019-mlb-trade-candidates Abreu already #1 on the most likely to be traded list...

We had a revenue generating machine for five years after the World Series. We rewarded fans by following up with an epic collapse, completely wet the bed in 2007/09...came up short in 2010 as well. 2008 was great (minus CQ breaking his hamate and blowing MVP) and in some ways almost as gratifying at the end there winning those three games, kicking off the Twins, etc. Then we had the 2011 Adam Dunn historic collapse and Ozzie abandoning the organization. Fact is, we were able to charge among the highest ticket prices, concession and parking prices in the big leagues until the 2013 season. It has never been about spending per se, it has always been about allocating money efficiently and their risk-averse draft approach (investing money instead into 30 something veterans on the MLB payroll instead of high school talent), Latin America (especially failing in Venezuela and the DR), lack of results in the Pacific Rim, resistance to advanced analytics until universally-adopted, lack of investment in scouting and player development. They did just a couple of things extremely well...pitching, and keeping their players healthy. And neither of those are even holding up in recent years...especially the last two seasons. All we have left to sell fans...is the promise of Jimenez, Cease, Robert and Madrigal.

This is probably one good reason the “friends and family” approach has never been attempted in this way. The repercussions of it backfiring. So fans are rightfully wondering how they were willing to guarantee $250 million but not the extra $50 million they already wasted in veterans for this year’s roster, especially the $13 million for Alonso and Jay. Missing on both whales is one thing. Its this wasting of time and resources on players that have NOTHING whatsoever to do with the next White Sox playoff roster that has everyone seeing RED. It’s simply a combination of stopgaps and castoffs...we’re like The Island Of Misfit Toys. And yet we gave up on Narvaez with four years of control, are going with Nova/Santana over young pitchers who could still make it (at least as relievers)...forcing Palka into RF where he doesn’t belong, etc. None of it makes any logical sense now. Or subjecting fans to another year of Engel and now Jay when not even the woebegone Royals wanted him anymore. How could you expect any but the most lenient fans to give them a free pass with all the information that’s coming out?

I think it’s now closer to $50 million...

Southsider2k5 might want to hold off on his blasting the fanbase canned speech...because if this ownership group can’t even out-execute the Padres, there’s no reason to believe the pieces to realistically compete with the Astros, Red Sox, Yankees and even Indians will ever be there. It will be the same chicken and egg argument...they expect fans to show loyalty first before they’re willing to spend. It’s just completely backwards, compared to how everyone but the smallest market teams operate. And those organizations like the Pirates (shifting/pitch framing), A’s and Rays (starting relievers, backwards approach to get early leads) are at least trying to innovate their way through revenue generation challenges.

Couldn’t they at least talk about Jimenez, Cease, Robert or Madrigal...? You’re welcome to start a “positive/optimistic” thread and interact with the sum total of about 4-5 posters who also must be lifelong Bulls’ fans.

A 713 cumulative ops for the last three years would argue otherwise.

Surreal to see Hermie, Ozzie, Leyland, LaRussa....as soon as I saw Joe Brinkman, Hawk’s voice came immediately into my head.

https://sports.yahoo.com/story-spring-manny-machados-decision-220636217.html And here comes the “chip on their shoulders” puff piece...if some choose to feel more optimistic. Does Machado's decision give current White Sox a chip on the shoulder? White Sox players were pretty committed to one message on Machado throughout the offseason: It'd be great if Machado came to the South Side, but if he doesn't, no big deal. Not exactly the same way White Sox fans feel right now. But these players have spoken for the last couple weeks about how much faith they have in the current roster - and how much urgency might be seeping in. They've heard about the future for a long time and think maybe it's time to start talking about the present, too. "I'm sick of losing," Lucas Giolito said. "There's a point in time where it's s**t for get off the pot," Carlos Rodon said. And Tim Anderson has been leading the charge. He was the most vocal during the White Sox pursuit of Machado, defensive and adamant about his desire to remain the team's starting shortstop. In the wake of Machado's decision, he stood up for his group. "We're going to be South Side regardless. Nobody's decision determines what we've got going on in this locker room," he said. "I feel we have a great group of guys here. We're going to do something special. The White Sox are moving in the right direction. One decision won't dictate our season. "We're going to keep rolling. Either ride with us or get run over. We know who's on the boat with us and which way we want to sail." They won't necessarily admit to Machado's decision giving them added hunger, added motivation or an added chip on their collective shoulder. But these White Sox have something they want to prove. And in addition to proving it to fans and observers who are still waiting for 2020, maybe they can prove it to Machado, too. "He might have," Anderson said when asked if Machado missed the boat by not signing up with the White Sox.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/columnists/bryce-miller/sd-sp-miller-padres-machado-fernando-tatis-jr-20190223-story.html “Machadomania” After reading this, one gets the overwhelming feeling KW and Hahn underestimated or missed completely all the connections that were already right there...and should have been staring him/them squarely in the face (especially when they emerged as a real/credible threat over the last two weeks.) He approached the Padres as an unlikely threat, largely due to the daunting economics of this move this particular move for them. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-manny-machado-edge-dirty-0222-story.html https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-manny-machado-introduced-press-conference-0222-story.html#nt=oft02a-1li3 Alonso, 3+ minute video on Machado decision

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26058350/bryce-harper-meets-phillies-owner-john-middleton-las-vegas Confirmed that Middleton was there to to meet Harper/Boras in Vegas...hopefully he pulls a Kraft and gets arrested so Bryce has to disassociate himself from the Phillies and JR, facing a fan revolt, has no choice but to sign him.

Yes, we already know. We had a future HoF pitcher in Sale, Eaton, Abreu and Quintana on the same roster to negligible result.

Can we just go ahead and change our team official nickname to the Chicago Stopgaps and Castoffs (aka Misfit Toys)? And how long will it take for a player to state (probably spoonfed my media relations) this is going to “cause them to play with a chip on their shoulders” ?

Starting with Keppinger and Bonifacio, a surprising amount has been eaten since 2011...

Worse, for sure...because he has never won a single thing on his own. To top it off, Jay/Alonso together in Chicago and Machado/Tatis in SD are just like constant reminders of this debacle. And they're not going away anytime soon, apparently.

Don’t insult the Browns’ last 8 months...

At least that’s better strategy that whatever’s coming out of Hahn's mouth this week. The telegraphed desperation of Jay/Alonso almost demands a counter to change the narrative and take the focus off the front office. Almost. But almost comes with at least a $325 price tag. And there’s a fanbase in Philly that will erupt 3X as loudly and won’t even be comparable to the worst we’ve thrown out there into cyberspace this week.

Whether it’s true or not, it now becomes part of the Sox urban legend...joining 1919, Disco Demolition Night, Jerry Dybszynski, the White Flag Trade, 1994, Miggy Cabrera, Adam Dunn, the Chris Sale jersey slashing, Drake LaRoche Gate, Ozzie quitting on his team, KW vs. The Big Hurt, etc.

Just feeling like a gullible idiot again if you dare to dream they could actually reverse course and pull this off...I mean, would ANYONE even be willing to bet one of Greg’s houses on JR okaying a contract with Scott Boras of all agents guaranteeing any player $320-330 million???