caulfield12

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 06:54 PM) Casual fans are a large portion of our fan base. It is why we aren't able to have the patience that other teams do with their building process. Instead of being able to invest the time, we get the OMG 35 years! OMG 55 years! OMG White Flag... group that needs a long list of things to be right before they are willing to go to games. It is why the Sox are constantly trying to rush the rebuilds. If the Sox fan base had any loyalty to it, things could be done differently. Except the concept of a loyal, faithful fan base that can wait out a 7 year rebuilding process (anywhere other than Cubs, Red Sox and Cardinals) is pretty much non-existent. This theory will be tested with the Tigers if they go into a prolonged period of wandering in the desert with bloated payrolls and overpaid, injury-prone veterans. (Still, before 2006, nobody would describe the Tigers' fanbase as particularly loyal.) Have the Blue Jays and Mariners fans been loyal during this last decade? What about Colorado?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 04:43 PM) Yeah, last in TV ratings and 4th to last in attendance. Great support there. What teams have worse records combined over the last three years and no playoff appearances for seven? (Even the Phillies are WAY down in attendance and they're not sharing a market, in fact, they have one of the biggest for a "one team" market... The teams below us are the Indians, Marlins, Rays and A's. Three of those teams have appeared in the playoffs more recently, and the Marlins have a state of the art facility. For example, the Astros still aren't getting good tv ratings (they're so-so/bottom tier) and they've got one of the most exciting young teams, you can't just expect the fans to come back in droves even when you start competing unless you're the Cubs. Even the Angels are losing tons of fans and their ratings are also abysmal...it's just that they have a much larger population base to draw from, or they would be considered the most dysfunctional organization in the league.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 05:19 PM) Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 17m17 minutes ago The surging #WhiteSox suddenly are just 4 games back in loss column to #Twins for 2nd wild-card, and 1 G behind #BlueJays,#Tigers,#Orioles. 9-2 1-6 4-0 We're surging? LOL. We've won five out of the last 11 games. I guess 14-8 overall is sort of closer to surging, though.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 04:26 PM) http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roberda08.shtml Robertson is putting up one of the best years of his career. So we're now completely throwing out save conversion rates for closers? I get it, all his peripheral numbers are off the charts, particularly his K/BB ratio. Nevertheless, shouldn't we prefer a closer who was 22/22 and half that impressive statistical ratio than someone with eye popping stats who has also "failed" in the ultimate measure of converting saves as often or more than anyone else in the AL? You can have both worlds, like a Wade Davis.

If one thing's become exceedingly clear, it's that either KW or Hahn should be 100% in charge of baseball decisions, and that this "co-parenting" thing isn't going to work in the long-term. Choose one. Let the other walk.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 03:35 PM) Last I looked he's not the general manager. But maybe he should be. He's more responsible for Abreu than anyone else other than JR. As for Hahn, virtually very single move over the last two seasons hasn't worked very well, other than dealing Peavy, and the Garcia part of that is at best a dubious proposition from here on out. Eaton for Santiago is probably a wash, at best, right now. Davidson, Bonifacio, Keppinger, Beckham, Downs, Blowasavio, Paulino, etc. The only player who has performed close to his contract this offseason has been Robertson, and that's an argument with two sides that have equally valid claims. If anyone wants to credit Hahn more than KW with drafting Rodon and Fulmer, well, that's up to them. Not exactly nuclear physics.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 03:33 PM) You have to start trading the minor league pitching. And the only one with any real value at the moment is Montas, and he's completely unproven and most are still legitimately concerned about his long-term viability as a starter and somewhat about his physical conditioning. (For our purposes, I'm not counting Fulmer as someone you are trading.)

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 03:24 PM) Hmm, I've been talking about Pompey for a week . Still see a lot of potential for more than just Samardzija to the Jays. Could be a blockbuster. Quintana and pieces for Puig and pieces would have been a blockbuster. Samardzija with a bullpen piece doesn't move the meter like a legit superstar (when he's on) in Puig who is capable of being the most dynamic and divisive player (along with Harper) in the game today.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 03:11 PM) It was onky a few months ago you were touting Duffy and Fiinnegan as the reason teams in the AL Central need to do nothing but rebuild. Now that he is an ex Royal, he is not good. Since you are a huge Royals fan congrats on the trade. These usually don't work out, but it is one they had to make. I just find it funny how much worse Finnegan is in your eyes now that he isn't a Royal Jesus. I never said he wasn't good. Aren't you capable of understanding that typically spending first round draft picks on relievers isn't usually the best policy or organizational plan? In this case, it worked out, but that doesn't mean it was sound decision-making. It wasn't just Duffy and Finnegan, btw, it was Ventura and a young core of position players all peaking at around the right time, team speed, defense and the best bullpen in modern baseball history. None of that has changed, except for Gordon being out and Ventura having his comeuppance (but now seemingly chastened and I'm sure that Cueto will be a great role model). They still have the best record in the AL, and they're unlikely to crack under the pressure like the 2006 White Sox did as the Tigers/Twins surged. Finnegan has been disappointing in the sense he wasn't able to add another pitch, just like Carlos Rodon will be disappointing if he remains a two-pitch pitcher for the remainder of his big league career (unless he has an incredible surge of fastball control).

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 03:18 PM) This isn't cards, this is baseball. It's not a coin flip every day you show up to the ballpark. You have to look at your team and decide if it's good enough that you expect to win a lot of games or if it's not good enough. The game is subject to random variation in many ways, but in the end the best team tends to win the game over time. The main judgment the Sox need to make is how good this team is and what they stand to gain by making any trades. The problem is that two weeks ago, especially if they would have swept the Cubs on Sunday, you'd have said "go for it." Then they proceeded to go 1-6, got ripped by the Royals (again, and without Alex Gordon or the "ace" version of Ventura) and that signified what? A return to the usual pattern. Then another two losses to the Cardinals at home, with one of them a heartbreaker. So now if we did sweep not only the Indians but the also the Red Sox (two last place teams), would we be able to take something significant out of it because it happened on the road? I don't know. I feel more confidence in Minnesota slipping/sliding back to the pack than the White Sox being "the best team."

Well, one thing's for sure...we're not going to hear from KW or Hahn how the unprecedented level of support in terms of tickets sold is allowing the White Sox to not only add Melky Cabrera, but we're now even able to acquire XYZ player (probably Manny Ramirez again) because the Sox fans believed in this team even when they were 10 games below .500 and also due to the anomalous 30th out of 30 local tv ratings, haha.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:49 PM) If they sweep Boston, with a middling Twins team playing the Pirates, we'd likely be within a game or two of the wild card. Sweep another four game series in a row? Danks vs. Joe Kelly Shark vs. Miley AND Morton vs. Pelfrey Q vs. Porcello AND Liriano vs. Erwin "Not Johan" Santana Sale vs. Wright AND Mariners' TBA vs. Pelfrey No Gerrit Cole for PITT. Most likely scenario is 3-1 White Sox, 1-2 for the Twins, but still 3.5 GB in the Wild Card (just because it has to be, that's the same exact number of games we trailed the Indians when we made the White Flag trade). That also means the Blue Jays, Tigers and Orioles among others would cease to exist. Although it's still possible the lead would be 3.5, we can't control what all those other teams are doing. Yankees, by the way, have never lost a series at Target Field and have now won six consecutive series in a row.

QUOTE (sin city sox fan @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:41 PM) After the Cleveland series, this team is definitely not a "seller" anymore. The only question is "are we a buyer?" Do we go out and get a bat? Or do we not mess with the outstanding chemistry this team has developed? I know its dangerous to mess with a roster that is already a World Series contender, but I'd really like to see us add someone who can hit 20 HRs and drive in 50 runs down the stretch. I really think this is the missing link that could insure us the first championship in 10 years. Let's experience the joy of 2005 over again in the coming months! What are you willing to give up for Justin Upton? Garcia would be the DH against LHP. But you're hardly guaranteeing a championship, let alone a "one and done" wild card game on the road with Chris Sale against the Astros or Angels. And I seem to remember a 9-2 stretch before the All-Star break being followed up by a 1-6 run that knocked us out of it again.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:46 PM) LMAO. Now Finnegan is a mistake? If you draft a pitcher in the first round and he's a reliever his entire career, I guess that's now NOT A MISTAKE because of how important pitching has become in the game. Or have you forgotten when the White Sox drafted Royce Ring and Aaron Poreda...or were smart enough not to draft Addison Reed in the 1st or 2nd? Some would argue that he paid off in 2014 alone (pitching-wise), considering many first round draft picks never make it, let alone are turned into former Cy Young winners via trade. So that's actually an excellent return on investment on a pitcher not even taken in the first ten picks. Could Courtney Hawkins (similar draft positioning, actually a bit higher) be the centerpiece of a Cueto trade? I think not.

Well, if you add Finnegan as the lefty to go with Neshek (Sox killer) and Gregerson, that's a long way to explaining how they went from the worst or second worst AL bullpen in 2014 to one of the best by the end of this season.

QUOTE (Baron @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:41 PM) Yeah I dont believe that for a second. Although it would go along with the crowd that wants to give Hahn a pass. Or testify to the fact that Hahn doesn't have any faith or confidence in his own recent blueprint eventually working out. Of course, we don't have the benefit of firsthand knowledge of what Samardzija offers were on the table at that time. A week ago, Alexei Ramirez was dead as a doornail and on the way out. Now, if you had a poll, you might have a majority thinking he's going to be back at the starting SS next season. Ever since that Cubs' series before the ASB, his defense has returned. Hard to explain. There was an article saying "he's back in a good place" but I didn't read it. Presumably, it's about things going on off the field and how his head's (and heart) now back in the game.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:33 PM) Probably won't. Not before the end of this season, but coming into 2016.

There's got to be a veteran at-bat available somewhere/somehow before July 31st...or, worst-case scenario, a targeted hitter passes through waivers.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:34 PM) I didn't realize that they're already 1.5 out of the wild card. 2.5 with the Giants likely winning today.

QUOTE (The Ginger Kid @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:23 PM) great breakdown. about LaRoche...feels kind of like the Dunn situation in that the Sox are just going to let him work himself out of it or not work himself out of it. They don't even seem willing to move him down in the lineup or spell him with players like Schuck (who ran out a base hit today showing why speed is always a plus). Same with Flowers. Not sure why when they obviously got fed up with the play and production at 3B. Maybe it's the investment they made? That one's obvious, Soto can't physically catch everyday and Brantly/K.Smith/Nieto aren't the answers, either. We honestly should have just kept Viciedo (to face LHP) and never signed Beckham/Bonifacio (relying on the combination of Saladino, Johnson and Sanchez for 3B/2B and back-up/utility). Of course, there was uncertainty about Saladino's return from TJ and being ready physically at the beginning of the season.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 11:07 AM) Starling has been awful since he was drafted. Presumably he would have been the lottery ticket like Montas when we traded Peavy.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 11:24 AM) The Tigers have lost quite a few prospects over the past 5 years or so in an attempt to go for it all. The Royals are now in that same boat. I guess if there is a positive over the past 5 seasons, it is that the White Sox have gained prospects, while competitive teams like Detroit and KC have lost them. This year, we should be gaining more as the deadline rapidly approaches. The Royals seemingly made a 1st round mistake thinking that Finnegan was going to make it as a starter (they did get a meaningful contribution from him down the stretch and in the postseason, though). Maybe the Astros will give him that opportunity. Yes, they also dealt Lamb, but you have to take into consideration they still have Zimmer, Manaea and Kris Medlen for insurance on the starting rotation. That's not a bad place to be at all.

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:05 PM) The way I look at it let's just call the divisions locked up. Angels, Yankees, Royals. Then its Wild Card. Astros landing Kazmir is huge. That hurts us. Twins are next in line. They just "acquired" Ervin Santana in a way. Their team probably does falter a bit. Still.. we are 6? back of them. That's not that simple. The rest of the teams I'm scared of in order are: Toronto, TB, Detroit. Just don't see us getting it done. Twins and Toronto go on 3-4 game losing streaks? Maybe I'll get excited again. The Twins coming into duress and being wiped out of the AL Central race by the Cueto acquisition and Ventura looking like he's been resuscitated from the dead pretty much forces DET to fight back into it, which is good for Samardzija.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:13 PM) We have the best pitching by far. I don't think we should sell. Maybe tinker with the lineup though. Gotta grt Laroche outa there or down by Flowers. I'd put Alexei after Abreu amd Avi after him. Laroche is an automatic out right now. Alexei, Abreu and Melky were three of the better Sox players this past weekend.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 26, 2015 -> 02:11 PM) Since when are the Rangers sellers? I thought they were looking to buy. Looking long-term buy on Hamels and short-term sell (and then re-sign) on Gallardo. Have the depth of C. Lewis, Martin Perez, Harrison and Nick Martinez all not in the projected rotation for 2016.