caulfield12

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Sep 6, 2016 -> 05:00 PM) So you think replacing Navarro/Avila with Wieters, Schuck with Fowler, Shields/Danks/Ranuado with Volquez, Avi/Morneau with Moreland, and Albers/Kahnle/Ynoa with Burdi/Putnam/Petricka will have little to no impact on the number of wins next season? That's an interesting thought. I happen to think that those additions could result in as many as 10 additional wins and a total in the upper 80s, which absolutely positions them to be a playoff contender. Sure I will admit that a lot has to go right but if it doesn't then tear it down in July and sell off anything of value not in the mid-long term plan. I feel it's a very prudent approach. You're really betting a LOT on Wieters' quite questionable health history. And you're only going to get him to Chicago on a one-year deal, with the contracts of Melky and Frazier expiring next year, they're not going to commit to anything beyond 2017 in terms of veteran acquisitions, IMO. Fowler had an opportunity to play for the White Sox and Orioles last year, and chose the Cubs...he would be a nice get, but you can't just assume the same first half he had in 2016. He's actually tailed off quite a bit the second half of the season, and he's been far from a "sure thing" statistically (career-wise) until he doffed a Cubs' jersey. Next, there's at least a 50/50 chance Volquez ends up staying with the Royals, they control his rights for 2017 until they buy him out. Until he joined the Pirates/Royals, he was one of those talented enigmas like Puig that nobody knew what to do with and everyone was afraid of signing and also just as equally afraid of not signing him because of "potential/ability/upside." He does have a lot of wear and tear on his arm...it wouldn't be a shocker at all to see him as a 4.75-5.25 ERA pitcher with the White Sox (and yes, KC has been playing as the third best stadium offensively, duly noted). The main question would be whether he could give you enough innings to protect that bullpen. (Basically,the same exact role another former Royal was supposed to fill). Moreland's going to make more money than Morneau because of his relative youth (31), but anything is possible there offensively...he's just as likely to put up a 725-750 OPS as an 850. Just wonder the effect when you strip away some of the protection he gets in that Texas line-up. He would be expected to be the 4th or 5th best hitter for the White Sox, not a bottom of the order guy you just throw in there at the 7 spot. It's also far from clear whether Burdi will be in the big league bullpen (with Robertson traded) or starting in Winston-Salem or Birmingham instead.

They have to be competitive in 2019 or very clearly heading for it in 2020...the only salvation for this franchise is having an influx of another $50 million per year to spending with that broadcast rights deal.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-th...r-they-drafted/ Differential between record today and where they COULD have been if team was kept 100% intact... -7.5 White Sox and Marlins (Miami front office executives never have a secure existence, see Jennings last year) -9.5 NY Mets (WS team last year, obviously struggling with pitching injuries but still hanging in there) -10 Seattle (have already changed GM's, barely hanging on in WC race but fair to say fans must be disappointed) Colorado (never have officially announced a rebuild, but that's essentially where they are) -11.5 Milwaukee Brewers (clearly rebuilding) -13 Philadelphia Phillies (rebuilding, GM change in last year) -16.5 MN Twins and SD Padres (both teams were expected to compete in 2015 and 2016 respectively, Twins changed their GM, Padres changed GM two years ago and finally committed to rebuild coming into this year with Preller) -17 AZ Diamondbacks (pretty clear Stewart/LaRussa are on the hottest of seats, literally and figuratively) -18 LA Angels (pretty clear that changing the GM wasn't enough to turn things around, huge disaster/enigma) -19.5 Cincinnati Reds (rebuilding) -25.5 Atlanta Braves (rebuilding) Out of those seven teams who had aspirations of competing, the Marlins/Mariners/Twins/Angels have all changed front office execs/GM and/or managers. The White Sox situation currently is probably best described as a combination of Seattle, Colorado, SD and the LA Angels. FWIW, everyone knows what has happened with the Mets and all their assorted injuries. It's also quite obvious that AZ is THE front office with the most to answer for right now with their ownership group. The Angels' current predicament wouldn't be far behind... Teams/GM's that have outperformed (three are in the AL East) Toronto Blue Jays +15 (interestingly, you had the front office change with Anthopolous departing) Baltimore Orioles +12 Washington Nationals +6 NY Yankees +5 Teams who have been most successful at drafting/developing... Boston Red Sox +25 Chicago Cubs +22 Texas Rangers +18 Seattle Mariners +15 (see above) LA Angels +13 (see above) Cleveland Indians +8 NY Mets +5 (see above)

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Sep 6, 2016 -> 03:40 PM) What's your definition of "anyone of any impact"? Matt Latos made a huge impact for four starts...

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Sep 6, 2016 -> 03:29 PM) I fully expected to see Fulmer but maybe he and Burdi will be competing in 2017 for the AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year? I guess we will see lots of Gonzalez and Ranaudo the rest of the way and since I just saw Hayes'tweet I reckon Mr Shields keeps on a hurlin Called this a couple of days ago...the last thing they want is for Fulmer and Burdi to be rocked in the big leagues the final month, because that's going to be a huge element of their offseason marketing. 1) Fulmer and Burdi are going to be looked at as making two free agent signings 2) Putnam and Petricka will surely fix the pen, unpopular Albers sacrificed 3) Maybe Morneau stays and they have that feel good story 4) James Shields has rededicated himself in the offseason to a conditioning program to strengthen his back 5) New manager will totally change the culture of the team and lift the spirit of the fans 6) Someone will have to replace the equally unpopular Avi...

Carlos Quentin Jose Quintana Sergio Santos Addison Reed Adam Eaton Chris Carter Bobby Jenks Alejandro DeAza John Danks Gavin Floyd Alexei Ramirez Jose Abreu Could add success with Humber for one year Hector Santiago The White Sox have been pretty successful in the past scouting players with no or less than one full year of big league experience. To that, you can add Sale and Anderson, too. Whoever was responsible for the success of all those decisions should get promoted...everyone else has until July, 2017 to get their act in gear.

With no draft pick attached, Hill will be well out of their price range/comfort level...

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 6, 2016 -> 06:28 AM) As opposed to the risk of adding players that bust, which is MUCH higher historically. For this front office....historically accurate post 2008 (and you could throw Swisher in starting that year).

Unless you wanted to place more pressure on Fulmer and Gonzalez to a lesser extent, not much at all...

$22 million with the buyout.

It would be pretty difficult to go through the free agent (or cheaply available) list RIGHT NOW and put together a winning team. Maybe if you picked Fowler/Desmond and traded for Segura and Trumbo (this past off-season), you'd arguably be close to first place.. But no GM has the ability to peer into a crystal ball and divine the future. Essentially, it would take like three moves working out perfectly out of four, and you'd still have some issues in the rotation and bullpen to address, but that offense would have made up for a lot of mistakes. But when you're hitting on less than 1/3rd of your free agency moves, it's a recipe for disaster. Finally, someone said Melky Cabrera isn't at peak value right now (that he could still be better in 2017)...I would respectfully disagree with that one. https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/1c57a34e-54d6-...ked-before.html Rebuilding Has Worked Before for the Sox...Paul Sullivan article

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Sep 5, 2016 -> 02:00 PM) The Sox can compete next year if Abreu & Frazier both bounce back (~3 WAR players) and they fill their holes in CF, DH/1B, & C with good to great players. I'm talking about signing Encarnacion & Ramos and trading for a guy like Charlie Blackmon. Do all three and you suddenly have a team with enough talent to withstand the grind of a 162 game season. Do much less, and you're relying on above-average luck and health to be competive. The two questions though are if adding all three of those pieces is even possible and whether or not it's the right long term answer. Signing those free agents will cost one and possibly two picks and our 1st rounder is not protected. Plus you'll have to beat numerous other suitors in a weak market and lock up significant payroll flexibility into guys on the wrong side of 30 (Ramos turns 30 next August) without superstar appeal and likely put yourself out of commission for the epic 2018/19 free agent class. And god only knows if we have the chips to get a guy like Blackmon without dipping into your 2016 draft class. Fulmer would probably have to be included in any package and then you're hurting your starting pitching depth and quite possibly dealing your #5 starter, which creates another hole. So long story short, adding the pieces necessary to compete is going to be costly and basically would require you going "all in" for Sale's remaining three years. And that's only possible if Reindsdorf is willing to open the checkbook and the front office can execute their plan, both which didn't happen last offseason in a buyer's market. I just don't see it happening, and fully expect more dumpster diving if they in fact go for it. Not to mention $125-150 million in additional payroll...and I honestly believe Fulmer is much more likely to be turned into CarGo and his high salary, not Blackmon and his youth, relative value and better WAR/defense. And then the issue of losing a first and second round draft pick. Don't see how you can justify that after refusing to part with the #26 pick this year unless we signed either Gordon or Fowler (who's tailing off now quite a bit).

Moreland is going to be taken out of one of the top 2-3 offenses in baseball...and also yet another player who will be on the wrong side of 30 (turns 31 this week). I would guess the production will be similar to Morneau or Morales but he will also cost in the $5-10 million range. It's another of those MEH moves where everything has to go right but you're just as likely to end up with a guy in the mid 750's at DH. Better than Avi again, clearly, but it's not going to be nearly enough without major improvements at catcher, CF, etc., which will be even more costly. With Wieters, you're dealing with Boras...which is fine if Boras views Matt the same way as Austin Jackson, but catchers are much more in demand than 1B/DH types. There are twenty plus teams that would like to upgrade at that position somehow.

http://nypost.com/2016/09/03/how-joe-maddo...nging-baseball/ Maddon's Cubs Experiment Changing Baseball

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 12:02 PM) My attitude is what new ? The Sox have been the sorriest franchise in baseball history. The only team to have ever been caught throwing a World Series . All the lifetime bans from that . Disco demolition, fans attacking umpires. Cheap terrible or no money owners odd uniforms and I'm sure I'm not remembering some stuff. Oh yea a midget batting . One World Series win in forever . But I'm stuck with them and that won't ever change. Don't forget... Debacle with original reaction to new stadium...upper deck, seat colors, etc. Collared jerseys/shorts/83 jerseys, which are actually kinda okay now. SportsVision Getting rid of Harry Caray Reputation of SouthSide for crime in 70's 80's early 90s White Flag trade Ligue Jr. attack on Royals' 1b coach Tom Gamboa 1994 strike largely caused by owner when Sox had one of the best teams in baseball Dunn/LaRoche/Shields historically bad seasons Veeck desperation promotions Ozzie Guillen feuding with KW and often drunk at the end, bolting for Marlins Sale knife cutting The Will to Win promotions right when the Sox start to fall apart Firing LaRussa, which also led to Leyland departing Harrelson as GM, Don Kessinger as player manager Dave Dombrowski also departing, would become HoF GM Carlos Quentin breaking his hamate bone, self inflicted Say It Aint So Joe Getting stuck behind the Yankees for so many years when there was only one pennant winner in the 50's and 60's Beckham, Viciedo, Brian Anderson, Josh Fields, Joe Borchard...and pretty much every position player drafted for the past 10-15 years not developing Tito Landrum, Jerry Dybs, etc. The crazy thing is that if you go from 1990-2006/08/10/12, we had the third best record in base in baseball behind the Braves, Yankees...depending on which years, Cards and Red Sox catch up eventually..but really only 2005 to show for it in the postseason

Butt ball saves the game from being walked off by Sox killer Escobar...

Dean, whoever that is, would pitch for MN next inning...

QUOTE (flavum @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 03:45 PM) I'd be interested to see where the Sox rank in division road games over the last five years. I'm guessing last. Interestingly, they have played better in KC than in Chicago recently. For whatever reason, the suckage doesn't seem to discriminate...in general. In Detroit, the Tigers have owned the Sox. Eaton wearing an 0 for 6. Nate Jones is next. Wimmer for the Twins. Seven blown saves for Robertson, plus the six or seven run lead that was blown that doesn't actually count as a blown save because you can't pitch yourself into a save situation, so essentially 8.

Suzuki should be signed by the Sox just to prevent 2-3 losses per season. Raburned again. Now who will the Sox bullpen turn to?

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 03:41 PM) Trading Robertson has to happen this winter. Great, so we can do our own version of the Shields trade now. How much money would we have to eat on that one?

An extra innings game with these teams is fitting punishment. Will walk Dozier to face Polanco.

Blown saves don't matter. Two years in a row, we could have traded Robertson. But, no. Fire everyone.

We can't rebuild...because it means we will be forced to watch Omar Narvaez and Carlos Sanchez bat 300 times each. Waiting for that one. Then mix with the usual Avi/Beckham/Viciedo/Flowers frustrations.

Great, now Avi Garcia gets the starting DH job again for 2017, haha. In the end, Tigers' money wins yet again. We'll see it for another series starting tmrw. Upton with 7 homers in his last 14 games and 18 for his last 52 at-bats. But we have a chance. Miguel Gonzalez is coming back.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Sep 4, 2016 -> 03:11 PM) Note that the guys who were "white flag" traded were Navarro and Duke, neither of whom is obviously going to replace Ranaudo or Shields. Well maybe Shields. Navarro probably could have outpitched him. Well, Carson Fulmer and Beck starting in significant games against AL Central opponents would be entertaining. Maybe we could rush up Burdi as well. Heck, forget about Collins developing as a catcher, he's got a big league ready bat right now so we can live with him behind the plate. Instant playoff appearance.