caulfield12

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 08:20 PM) Wasn't that before they acquired Frazier and Lawrie? They went from a middle infield making league minimum to those two. For all we know, that money could have been what allowed Hahn to get both of them. That was in the early months of last season and the off season heading into 2015. There's really not a huge amount of difference between Frazier/Lawrie in 2016 and Samardzija last year, something like $5-6 million, or about the same as Bonifacio/Beckham. The real issue here has to be cash flow THIS SEASON, because next year LaRoche and Danks will both be off the books.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 08:17 PM) I have absolutely know idea why they would stick to 3 years with him . That would be his age 30, 31 and 32 seasons. It's not unreasonable to go 4 or even 5 years for him which would bring him through age 34. If the Sox thought they could get production from Adam LaRoche's age 35 and 36 seasons why wouldn't they pay for a much more athletic guy like Cespedes age 33 and 34 seasons ? I just don't get what the FO is doing. They have to go at least 4 years to be taken seriously . Cespedes will not want to re-enter free agency after his age 32 season. If that's the ultimate lesson of Adam Dunn, Adam LaRoche and John Danks, great. Then develop one of the top 5-10 farm systems in the game (that consistently produces 2-3 contributors per season) and spend that money in Latin America/international free agents under 30. Being timid now after being so aggressive going after Lawrie and Frazier doesn't make any sense. The White Sox, Padres and Red Sox weren't wrong about spending last year. They simply picked the wrong players. This whole thing is like the White Sox are promoting the idea of Natalie Portman in Closer or Jessica Alba in Sin City and then we dutifully buy our tickets and Bartolo Colon comes out in a thong instead.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 08:03 PM) Didnt the Sox have some money they were trying to offer shark. Is that money still floating around or did they spend it on something we don't know about. They supposedly had it for Shark, something like $90-100 million. They bid at least $120-125 million on Tanaka. Technically, Upton fits the mold of being closer to his prime age-wise than Cespedes, but it's a clear case of need and fit coming together if ever there was... That's not overpaying him at the originally expected 6 years and $150 million, it's the 4-5 years (depending on opt-outs/buy-outs/options) and $75-105 million range where the benefits start to outweigh the costs. Basically, the same contract demands of Alex Gordon originally, but for a player who was 100% healthy last year and put up MVP numbers.

If you could sign Cespedes for four years and $80-90 million (and a player opt-out after Year 2 or Year 3), it would be be pretty crazy not to do so. Sure, he's not a 6 WAR player. But that amount of money, you're paying him like a 3-3.5 WAR guy, which is definitely the going rate on the FA market, if not an underpay based on the upside as well as marketing benefits from pairing him with Abreu. It makes the White Sox a much more interesting team to fans. Nobody's going to pay money to come out and watch Dexter Fowler, but they would to see a 500 foot homer or laser-like throw.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 06:09 PM) Read #3. As far as I can tell they will be paying Gordon $20 million in year 3, and probably $24 million in year 4 with the buyout.and amazing how Fowler would be a smart play for one team, but a guy who wouldn't be able to adjust to the AL with another. Ummm...if buyouts are pushed one year ahead for accounting purposes, sure. Actually, the last two years of Gordon are more about investing against their upcoming media rights deal. He will likely be the main remaining face of the franchise then. And I never said sign Fowler before the draft pick expiration...I said I would wait and see if Fowler and Desmond were still on the board as the season started. See #6 for further reference.

I said all along to sign Parra, Jackson or Span if the price on Cespedes or Upton was too high. It's what KC should have done until they managed a deal that pays Alex Gordon $28 million the next two years, the same the White Sox will pay Fowler, plus losing the draft pick. So they've turned Semien, Bassit, Phegley, Ravelo, AND a lost compensation pick worth $10-12 million in short and long-term impact into a below average CF who strikes out too much and who will essentially be earning the same as a four time Gold Glover who projects to have a higher OBP. In the meantime, the lack of depth in the farm system rules out 75% of the possible remaining trades on the board. Brilliant.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 05:35 PM) Dick Allen dropping the well... Dick on top of Caulfield's head. And for the last month everyone has been arguing we're inevitably going to sign Upton and Cespedes. What changed?

If everyone in MLB was so convinced that Dexter Fowler was so great after one year in Houston with no pressure on him, then why did he only receive a one year offer from the at the time rebuilding Cubs? Why weren't contending teams willing to offer him a guaranteed starting role and multiple years?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 05:31 PM) This is where you are so full of s***. When it was rumored the Sox were after Gordon or Cespedes, you said 4 year contracts were dumb. You also mentioned the Sox should sign Gerardo Parra, the guy that couldn't hit in the AL last year. When the new rumor is Fowler, that is a dumb idea , he is a guy who will have a hard time adjusting to the AL. I think you forgot Houston was in the AL. No, you said now is the time to spend money. Of course earlier you told us the Sox didn't have any money, they spent it all last year, and no way they didn't take a loss during the 2015 season. You also told us there was no chance Cespedes would sign with the Sox unless they paid an additional percentage because he liked the marketing opportunities on the east coast, and/or his 3 months in Detroit. Do you remember what you post, or do you just ignore the fact that you keep contradicting yourself based on the newest White Sox rumor? Unless you know the exact amounts of the contracts, everything is relative. Of course Parra, Jackson or Span are better than paying Cespedes six years and $150 million. Of course overpaying Fowler and losing the draft pick at the same time is dumb. You're still arguing Jackson over Fowler, so what's the point? Circumstances don't ever change? I still stand by my December 23rd post that making a number of improvements instead of one big improvement is preferable. IN GENERAL. That said, if the choice of that last big improvement is Cespedes vs. Fowler, or Upton vs. Fowler, then I would much rather pay either of them four years and $80-90 million rather than signing Fowler and also losing the pick. Why is that so hard to understand? All along I've been mentioning Desmond and second tier starting options. Please list all of the players remaining on the market, their salaries and then we can have a debate about the merits of one over another or two being better than one, etc.

QUOTE (Lillian @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 04:55 PM) Wouldn't it be funny if Upton, Cespedes and Davis all signed one year "pillow contracts," with the idea of re-entering free agency in next years "weak" class"? Suddenly, next year's free agent class becomes stronger than this year's, by virtue of subtracting those 3 from this year's crop, and adding them to next year's. This year had a ton of starting pitching. Brett Anderson is top three next year. Carlos Gomez and Rasmus are the two best outfielders, for example.

QUOTE (Brian @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 12:07 PM) She should win out of those nominees. JLaw is 26 and getting the Streep treatment that she must be nominated. I didn't see Joy but reviews are lackluster. Benicio Wouldve fit in on True Detective s2. Staring, whispering. Zzzzzzz Joy was fine but it wasn't particularly praiseworthy. Take DeNiro, Lawrence and Cooper out of it and you essentially have a Lifetime movie of the week about female empowerment and entrepreneurialism.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 04:54 PM) Once again technically Jackson's defense is better than anyone we've been talking about except for Upton and Cespedes. He breaks even in alot of defensive categories which I cant say is the case for alot of these guys. The question is what value do you put on the prospect of potentially saving anywhere from around 11-15 runs? How many games do you think that could potentially cost if you dont save them? Jackson is better than both those guys...especially CF comparing him with Cespedes.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 04:35 PM) When they have a roster that's not already at their set budget level. Also, maybe when there's a superstar available for them. Cespedes is absolutely not a superstar. If you take into consideration the draft pick loss...the difference per year on Cespedes at 4 years and $80 million isn't that extreme at all. We've already seen the White Sox screw up their financial flexibility with Cabrera and LaRoche already...we keep making mistakes on second tier free agents, preventing us from ever signing the best ones. Who's to say Fowler wouldn't be a complete bust? Statistically, you can argue Cabrera and Fowler's collective bust rate vs. Upton and Cespedes individually. I certainly agree you don't give Cespedes over $100 million or over four years...that's obvious.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 04:29 PM) How can a DH cost you runs on defense? He isn't even out there. Someone must have done a retrospective study and came up with this number to make the math work. They don't. It's a way to subjectively punish those players for not playing the field everyday in terms of their contribution...it overvalues catcher, SS and CF and does the opposite with 1b and DH.

If there was ever going to be a time for the White Sox to spend big on a free agent...it's here and now. If not now, when exactly?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 04:17 PM) How many big years did Cespedes have in the AL? 2? Fowler played,1,season in the AL and had a career high 124 wRC+. Your claim that he would have a hard time adjusting to the AL is based,on nothing and full of s***. What was his WAR? The White Sox can go ahead and sign another Cub hero...it would be kind of typical. But thanks for taking every argument and making it as if you're conclusively right and it's insane to think he might not smoothly and seamlessly adjust back to the AL Central because of one year in Houston where there was zero pressure to produce anything and nobody in even Houston was paying attention. It did allow him to resuscitate his career. All of Cespedes' numbers were put up on playoff-contending teams...or at least teams who started those seasons expecting to make it, except for his rookie year in Oakland possibly.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 14, 2016 -> 04:08 PM) I prefer Jackson but once,again you don't let facts stop your rants. Fowler has played in the AL and did quite well offensively. He was horrible on defense. For one season with Houston. Compared to Cespedes' track record, it's not even close.

Is anyone confident moving both Eaton and Cabrera is going to end up with positive results for both? When is the last time a Sox outfielder improved instead of regressed? The only fairly recent example I can think of...Pods his second time with the Sox.

I don't want to hear anymore about building for the future if they make an incremental upgrade in Fowler and lose another $10-12 million in terms of the projected short and long term value of that pick. That means you're actually dedicating $48-62 million to Fowler on a three year contract. Why not just pay the relatively small difference on Cespedes or Upton for one more year? Fowler is another one of those guys who might not necessarily translate in the AL as well...buying high on him makes less sense than buying lower on Jackson and Desmond. Jackson is younger, a better defender and more accustomed to the AL Central.

He was getting more notices for Legend about the Kray brothers. "The acting nominees, which notably omitted Idris Elba for "Beasts of No Nation" and Benicio Del Toro for "Sicario," gave the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences an awkward repeat of the "OscarsSoWhite" backlash that followed last year's acting nominees." By the way, if you liked Sicario....Cartel Land is the documentary counterpoint. Morally, still hard to decide what to think about the vigilante Autodefensas and right wing border patrol types on the other side of the border.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/...016-season-last From these quotes, looks like it might be Harrelson's last season (despite the two-year deal) unless the White Sox are much more competitive this year...

Kuykendall’s firm does an annual study, which the Rams cite, for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In the latest version, published in June, St. Louis ranks 252nd of 381 metro areas for projected economic growth between 2014 and 2021. That happens to be better than five National Football League cities (Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Cleveland, Detroit and Buffalo), but it’s nothing to boast about. Income growth and population growth are important for a team — or any business — that wants to attract more customers and charge higher prices. stltoday.com Here's yet another reason for the White Sox to spend now. 1) The Royals' window will close after 2017. 2) The Twins are still waiting on the development of Buxton/Berrios and aren't spending...or at least haven't shown a willingness after throwing all that money at Santana, Hughes and Nolasco. They're still weighed down by Mauer and Plouffe/Dozier will get more and more expensive. 3) The Tigers have an older core and are even more in "win now" mode than the White Sox. 4) Economics/corporate business climate arguments will make it almost impossible for Cleveland to make large changes in FA...they are limited to the likes of Rajai Davis and Napoli and trading a starter for any impact offensive help at 3B, RF and to cover up for the injury to Brantley. The White Sox absolutely need to have that offensive threat from 2017-2018 in the middle of this current window. They can afford to replace Lawrie, Frazier and Cabrera, but if you start talking about adding a catcher as well as a big bat before 2018, and the farm system's still not producing any difference-making hitters, you're back to Square 1 but facing 5X the competition for a limited number of free agents (compared to the situation now).

So do the White Sox offer 4 years and $90-100 million? That seems like a pretty good approximation of his market value right now. A month ago, that deal for Upton or Cespedes would have seemed like a bargain.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 13, 2016 -> 04:38 PM) I know I'm in the minority but I think the ramblings and such makes it fun and enjoyable. If all I wanted is to see the play and results, the mlb or yahoo apps will tell you that. I listen to the radio to enjoy it I listen to almost every AL team's announcers through Gameday Audio, and they're definitely an acquired taste. If you had no idea what was going on in the actual game itself and wanted second by second information/update, you'd probably be disappointed and have to listen for a long time to even know which team was winning or losing. On the other hand, when the White Sox have been getting blown out the last 3 years, they've made it much more tolerable. Darrin is just out there with his singing and constant dingings of Farmer to see if he understands his cultural references. Farmer is more concerned with mentioning all of his personal acquaintances, talking about health issues (for natural reasons), Notre Dame, and jabbing DJ about his career or the time he pitched, etc. It's a nice balance also because you have the hitter and the pitcher together, but in a more natural compare and contrast sort of way as opposed to Hawk and Stone, who are much more adversarial and tense with each other. Jackson's also a lot more humble and doesn't take himself so seriously...laid-back/easy-going, whereas with Hawk/Stone you have two Alpha Males together. Farmer believes he's an Alpha male, which makes it even funnier. They've also been much more openly critical of mistakes/coaching, which is probably easier to get away with a smaller audience compared to t.v., and the fact that so many websites like Deadspin are just waiting on Hawk to say something inane or controversial.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Jan 11, 2016 -> 08:11 AM) I dont know what is funnier, a movie that isnt doing well at the box office affecting playoff ratings or the idea of playing a 4pm World Series game on a Sunday. Obviously, the long term repercussions of having 35% of mothers forbid their kids playing...over time. If anyone looked at the article, mostly it was about regular season NFL ratings, btw. As far as the World Series tv ratings go, can it really be that difficult to think outside of the box?