caulfield12

QUOTE (SoxAce @ Dec 12, 2015 -> 08:11 AM) I honestly believe Theo/Jed are bluffing. Heyward is such a question mark in CF. There is no way they go into the season with Schwarber and Soler as the corner OFs. That D would be bad. I still think Heyward is their RF on opening day and Soler (or Baez) is dealt for a CF. Or they could sign Span or bring back Fowler. Otoh, they have lots of trade options and it's probably nearing time to start cashing in some of those prospect chips...keeping the payroll relatively controlled from here on out.

Lester and Zobrist deals are arguably much bigger risks...or a potential Arrieta one. Heyward fits perfectly into their timetable over the next 3-4 years of his prime. These days, you have to excel at scouting and development, dip significantly into the international market or be willing to spend big bucks in free agency. The White Sox simply don't have a niche yet and that's why they have consistently ended up with second and third tier free agents over the last decade. There are only three exceptions. Abreu, Robertson and Dunn.

Six months ago Cargo wasn't even worth a Top 5 prospect...it was more of a salary dump like a Rios situation. The Rockies and Reds aren't going anywhere with either of those two, and Cargo is risky in terms of salary, injury history and uncertainty of performance outside of Coors/in the AL. No way I'm giving up Anderson or Fulmer unless they're eating salary.

Eaton's bat is fine. His defense should be better in LF. The main question is how well Thompson holds up and whether the insurance policy of a Parra, Austin Jackson or Snider would be worth the opportunity cost compared to signing Desmond for SS or another veteran starter because of lingering uncertainty about Erik Johnson within the org.

If you start with names like Montas and Adams, it's more logical. The problem is our timing has probably been pushed back to 2017 and more likely 2018 (because of the dearth of FA options next offseason.) That would give Tim Anderson one plus years to get his feet wet. But I'm not sure how it would really help the team quickly enough...compared to just waiting on Trey and seeing how things go for him this year first. We'd be better off targeting a long-term catching solution.

99 Homes was excellent, albeit quite hard to stomach. Michael Shannon movies tend to have that effect...which means he's doing his job well. Andrew Garfield was the perfect foil for his avaricious real estate broker. Room, Carol, and Beasts of No Nation are next on the list. Trying to decide whether to see Point Break here in China...already been out a week since it's a co-production so it skirts the 34 film limit of imported US films per year.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 06:39 PM) Those were two bad teams trying to get better, this is a really good team who has gotten a lot better. They're obviously not guaranteed anything but they're absolutely one of, if not the favorite to win it all going into the season. Zobrist and Heyward will be perfect additions for them. Maddon knows how to get the most out of Zobrist, and Heyward has extra/added value defensively protecting Schwarber and Soler/? on his flanks. The Cubs are still in a great position to bundle all of their prospects and Baez to bring back Ross or one of the young Indians' pitchers. Scott Shields might be another option. They have a lot of opportunities left to investigate and the excess pool of young talent to entice any number of teams that salivated watching the Kimbrel, Giles and Miller moves. Arrieta will probably regress, but they still have Lester, Lackey, Hammel, Kendrick and Adam Warren for depth. (And one of those last two starters could be added to any package). The bullpen has its soft spots, but no team is perfect.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 06:29 PM) I'd still confidently say we're better than the Tigers. However, every other ALC team is better positioned than us to compete. All of these minor moves may have us projected to win a few more games, but we're STILL not in any better position to win our division. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd rather Hahn not just assemble a team maybe, if everything goes right, they'll earn the second WC and once in: "anything can happen." Enough with assembling a collection of players, assemble a f***ing team; one capable of sustained success. If Hahn is going to keep Quintana, Rodon and Sale entact, he has to sign Upton or Cespedes. Even with either, we're still going to win less than 90 games if everything goes right. But atleast you're taking advantage of a tremendous rotation with a significant offensive upgrade http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-tigers/pos...llpen-additions http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-tigers/pos...spring-training At least they're trying. If Victor Martinez returns to half the hitter he was, along with Kinsler, Miggy, JD Martinez and then they've got as good a chance as anyone to bring back Cespedes or add Gordon/Upton...assuming Verlander is the same pitcher he was in the last two months and Norris recovers, they're going to be better than the White Sox. Zimmermann was the best option in terms of years and value on the pitching market imo. Maybin will be serviceable in that huge CF and Iglesias and McCann both outperformed their projections. They dumped Price and Cespedes at the perfect time...while we were caught flat-footed and indecisive with Shark.

If the White Sox were actually in the middle of their three year window, they'd be signing Alex Gordon, Cespedes or Upton, adding a 2nd/3rd tier starting pitcher and figuring out a way to shore up SS. All of those moves made before 2015 had a much bigger (negative) impact than anyone could have imagined. We're likely to be stuck with Dexter Fowler or Span as our big outfield acquisition, or more likely...Austin Jackson or Travis Snider. The fact of the matter is that between the Cubs and the rest of the American League Central being better positioned than us for the next two years (just wait, the Tigers aren't done spending), it's hard to see how they even have a chance to compete before 2018...and by then you're also risking injuries or a decline from Sale, Abreu, Q, Rodon and Eaton. The only way it (competing) seemingly happens is if Tim Anderson and Fulmer become close to All-Star level players, Rodon takes the next step up in his progression and Montas becomes a monster out of the bullpen. What are the odds? Avi has already flopped, and he was viewed by most as a core member of the future offense entering 2015. As it is right now, unless they're willing to spend significantly or make at least one high impact trade, there's simply zero reason for them to hold onto the likes of Cabrera and Robertson...because there's not going to be a single team in the Central they would be favored to beat as currently constituted.

I will return when one of Hahn, KW or Ventura is gone. Maybe both. At any rate, it has been fun...there are a lot of cool White Sox fans here.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 10:18 PM) The won a World Series working together. You really have no idea what you are writing, Ten years ago. And that's before KW stopped making good decisions and Hahn at that time wasn't quite yet the future threat to KW's power. Just like Ozzie and KW had a functional relationship as well at that point. It was clearly a subordinate/mentor relationship. Now the dynamics have changed, and not for the better.

''I'd hit them over the fence. People would gather to watch the little kid,'' says Epstein. ''But that came about 20 years too early to maximize my earning potential.'' He made the Brookline Little League All-Stars but says he was ''a second-tier player'' as a pitcher at Brookline High School. Paul says his brother ''didn't have overpowering physical gifts, but I think he made up for it with pitcher's intellect. He didn't have the fastest fastball, but he had a good sense of what pitch to put where.'' Though his parents attended all of the boys' soccer games, they had a hard time watching Theo on the mound, worrying he'd lose. ''I was too nervous,'' says his mother, who has saved all the boys' trophies and sports memorabilia - her ''archival vaults'' - in the comfortable old Brookline apartment where she raised three kids and where she is now compiling a scrapbook of Theo's latest venture. http://www.brooklinehighalumni.org/epstein.asp In the end, it's vague because he was a pitcher, but he was apparently a starter in soccer at least and his brother still is the Brookline coach in that sport to this day. I suppose we can debate the merits of that. But the two brothers at least grew up in a family where sports were integral.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 09:50 PM) How about the other GM you love to slobber about, Theo Epstein. I don't see anything about Alex anthopolous either. Hmmm look at that two GMs that had their team in the playoffs this season Epstein was born in New York City and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts.[1] He attended Brookline High School (a 1991 graduate),[2] and played baseball for the Brookline High School Warriors, but dreamed of working for the Red Sox. Epstein has a fraternal twin brother, Paul. The brothers founded a charity, The Foundation to be Named Later, in 2005.[3] http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb-news/46411...h-bend-single-a

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 09:34 PM) Joe Maddon never played baseball professionally and who cares if they were a varsity starter in a sport in HS? Lol, that's completely irrelevant. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/pro...P=Joseph-Maddon Obviously you've never worked around professional sports teams or with their players or you would know it's not irrelevant. It's a large part of the reason Bill James, for example, could never be manager or GM for a team.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 08:55 PM) Caulfield you make so much s*** up based on the articles you read it is simply incredible. Whole cloth All of the top-polling candidates for president do that intentionally and it doesn't seem to affect their standings with the American populace. In fact, it often enhances their status and they usually never get called on it. Somehow my preference for a GM who was at least a varsity (starter) athlete at baseball, basketball or football was turned into my desire to have a combine with 40 times, bench presses, squats and verticals...but whatever. So I'll ask again how many GM's have led their teams without ever having been a varsity starter in a major sport in high school?

Since joining the organization, Hahn has negotiated several multiyear player contracts, including agreements with current White Sox players John Danks, Gavin Floyd, Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez. Hahn has been credited with playing a key role in moves such as signing eventual Cy Young Award runner-up Esteban Loaiza to a minor-league deal prior to the 2003 season, the waiver claim of Bobby Jenks prior to the 2005 World Series championship season, the 2007 acquisition of Most Valuable Player-candidate Carlos Quentin, the evaluation and signing of 2009 Rookie of the Year Gordon Beckham, and the signing of 2010 first-round pick Chris Sale. Source: chisox.com Notice there's not much to talk about after Chris Sale. And hyping the Beckham deal...really? "As a result, I don't believe that (White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf) is going to invest on the larger acquisitions," Williams said, referring to Abreu. "It's just been throughout the years that he wants me to lay my eyes on a guy, particularly if he's going to ante up to that degree. So I don't think we make that happen." Williams said he's sleeping about seven hours a night as he's removed himself from the day-to-day grind of being a general manager. So if Abreu has a monster debut, you can probably thank the restructuring of the White Sox front office for making it happen on the South Side. http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/kenny-...sign-jose-abreu Basically, JR still trusts KW more to identify and evaluate talent.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 06:46 PM) Really when they had exclusive negotiating rights? Certainly doesn't seem like a hometown discount is in order. Maybe he is remember how they f***ed with him early in his career. You don't have to announce anything to the media but to say you have no idea what they are going to offer? Considering you ripped KW for making a similar statement about the White Sox off season direction, I am stunned you wouldn't find it as a sign the team is unprepared. I will give you credit. Your posts make me laugh with all of their unintended silliness. Maybe the next time the White Sox are in the market for a GM, they could hold some sort of combine. Get some 40 times, see how many times they can bench 200. I never knew until today, athletic ability is a quality a good GM should probably have. Would you happen to know Dan Fabians vertical? White Sox entire offseason direction vs. one player whose decision making they have little control over and who they already have a set of contingency plans to cover for, including Ben Zobrist.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 06:34 PM) SMFH, we've now gone from Dan Fabian should be GM to hyping up the Royals' Latin American operations. This is getting beyond ridiculous. You notice that he doesn't have a response. When the White Sox make draft mistakes, they're continually forced to bring in free agents that they can't afford to make mistakes on. Those mistakes fester and they're unable to dump them and move on, so the cycle repeats. I'll just state this. The White Sox while KW and Rick Hahn are both forced to work together won't reach the playoffs...especially with Ventura as manager.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 06:16 PM) You didn't even know he existed a year ago, now he knows so much. Well the good news is he is involved in just about every acquisition. In fact, your link I believe is the exact link I posted when you went on your the White Sox don't use advanced stats bender. How come you didn't say he should be GM then? Oh, BTW, David Glass said the Royals have no idea what they are going to offer Alex Gordon. How th f*** could they have no idea what they ar going to offer him at this point? Because they have to wait and see what other teams are offering first, and then make a counterproposal. Would it be better if they announced today they are willing to offer $60-75 million for three years with an option for Year 4 and/or performance based option based on some agreed upon set of statistical benchmarks? They want to keep both Gordon and Zobrist, which won't be easy. I think not announcing to the media their negotiation strategy for one specific player is different from Hahn and KW not being on the same page about what to do.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 06:06 PM) BS. I love how you think you know the pulse of the White Sox organization. Just because it isn't reported on kansascity.com doesn't mean it doesn't occur. And Laumann wasn't fired, he took another job in the organization. It is a semi retirement, and before you go all JR loyalty, just look at the drafts between 2010-2015 of the White Sox and the greatest most perfect organization ever. I urge everyone who reads this thread to look at them. The White Sox drafted players are far better than what your Royals drafted. The Royals better fire someone. Dayton Moore scouting genius thought Christain Colon was a better idea than Chris Sale, thought Bubba Starling was a better idea than Sonny Gray, thought Kyle Zimmer was a better idea than Francisco Lindor. There's a key difference you're missing. The Royals invested heavily in Latin America and their various baseball academies. They got Salvador Perez for the price of a Honda Civic out of Venezuela. We had the most famous Venezuelan in the world a decade ago other than Chavez yet failed to take advantage by even having an academy down there when 10-12 other MLB teams were doing so. Same with Yordano Ventura, Herrera and Mondesi, Jr. You can afford to make some mistakes in the draft when you have OTHER sources of talent at your disposal. And the jury is far from out on Starling and Zimmer...unless you can predict right now with 100% certainty what all of those players will be doing in five or ten year's time. Lindor looks great, and it would be nice if we could find more position prospects like him. Our Lindor, Gordon Beckham, didn't turn out so well after the league adjusted to him.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 06:07 PM) Again, I didn't make the claim that the analytics guy would make a better GM than our current one. So I'll ask you again, what specific skills & traits does Fabian possess that Hahn doesn't? Why would he be a better GM? http://www.csnchicago.com/white-sox/white-...ball-operations He's smarter in terms of baseball knowledge (more years around the game and just sports in general) and a better person without any of the hubris/baggage we get with KW and Hahn trying to work together. As long as KW is here, the relationship with Hahn will continue to be dysfunctional.

Indiana the best 0-5 Big Ten team in many years, and Sudfield a very effective QB. Gave Iowa their best shot...were in the game until the final Iowa first down on the Beathard run. Coleman had a really nifty td catch on fourth down.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 05:36 PM) How is this different/better than Hahn exactly? Outside of the analytics background, most of the other items could be used to describe Hahn. Also, I don't need my GM to be able to conduct an advanced statistical analysis, I need him to understand the findings and leverage them in his day-to-day responsibilities. You really seem to be reaching here Caulfield. I think 99% of baseball people would prefer Hahn to be their GM. As with Ventura, what is Hahn really exceptional at? Contract negotiations. Based on his Kellogg and Harvard Law background. That's clear. Okay, what else? It's definitely not media relations or being on the same page with KW the past 13 months or so. Other than Abreu, Tim Anderson and Adams...where do you think he's made some really strong moves? Eaton for Santiago? Of all the free agents we have signed, Robertson is the only one that's been defendable in terms of actual results, and even that not so much since his best two years with us are being wasted...yet he wouldn't let NY take him back, either. Avi Garcia? Davidson? I'm not seeing many clear signs of success or progress. The only clear win trade of his entire tenure is Avi/Montas for Peavy, and even that's not looking 100% successful. If you believe most other GMs would have passed on Rodon at third, you can include that, or Fulmer this year.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Nov 7, 2015 -> 05:26 PM) LMAO. He has been around forever. i mentioned Dan Fabian many moons ago when you were ranting about how the White Sox don't use advanced metrics. I am glad you learned something. No, I said they don't incorporate them into all aspects of operations...not unlike the Scioscia/Dipoto argument in LA. Ventura and KW certainly have access to them, but it's not THE guiding principal of the organization, especially in terms of integrating their use into onfield decisions. One area they have literally shifted has been with shifts...being in the bottom ten teams through 2013 and making the biggest jump up of any team in the majors in 2014. By the way, what evidence do you have from conversations with KW, Bell, Hahn and Hostetler they use them for scouting and evaluation? Did Laumann use them? Was he fired for not using them? We all know how old school Bell is, and KW's cut from the same cloth. The irony is both the Braves (Schuerholz/Moore/presumably Nick Hostetler) have always prided themselves on scouting and using their gut instincts perhaps more than any team in the majors over the last 20-30 years.

http://news.yahoo.com/ben-carsons-home-eer...-195358324.html I'd love to believe this will be the end of Carson, Klingon/Worf Jesus with Ben, but will probably have the reverse effect. How can you allow a Biblical inscription with Proverbs spelled incorrectly to not be fixed asap? Tommye 6 minutes ago 2 9 At some point somebody is going to agree with me that this guy is WEIRD (in capital letters). To me it appears that he is his own best fan and is not close to anybody. I am sure he must be wealthy and I am happy for him, but doesn't the Bible say something about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven? It appears that this particular "rich man" has spent a substantial amount paying homage to himself. Everyone has an opinion and this is just mine, but I am leaving Dr. Carson in the same category I put him in yesterday when I was convinced that he and the truth don't seem to be on the same page. Expand Replies (2) Reply