caulfield12

Skip Bayless @RealSkipBayless Bob Stoops: Great recruiter, lifeless motivator. Not a dab of Dabo in him. Unrecruited Baker Mayfield motivated/saved this team.

Skip Bayless @RealSkipBayless Bob Stoops, worst big-game motivator in college football, sent out a defense tonight that wasn't ready to match Clemson's intensity. That's 0 for his last 4...although USC was cheating big-time in the Bush/Carroll years. Ironic that Venables was his def. coordinator for many of those great early years from 1999-2006. Pretty hard not to win a title with one of the greatest rb's of all-time in Adrian Peterson.

Blanton and Jackson were serviceable last year. No to Williams in the AL. Lee is one of those names that will never totally disappear, like Josh Johnson.

And specifically saying he wanted to play with the Cubs' young core and Maddon as opposed to a theoretically better deal in terms of total guaranteed dollars from the Cards.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 02:17 PM) No, and that's risky. The question is what's more risky - a full season of Cespedes and rolling the dice with EJ and Saladino (with Beck-Turner having to be possibly be counted on for 5-12 starts), or a full season of Latos, Parra and Ramirez, where Beck/Turner might have to be turned to anyway if Latos can't stay healthy again and EJ fails. It's easy to go through $25-30 million on just 2-3 players and it's also even harder to imagine JR approving a significant payroll boost to do so for complimentary players instead of a star attraction. They pretty much have to go Big 3, essentially. Sure, they could add at the margins (bench/reliever) now or June/July...assuming they get off to a better than average first half or nobody breaks out of the pack in the AL Central.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 02:12 PM) And you're 100% confident Latos would be good in the AL, Parra's fall off in Baltimore was just a mirage, and Desmond will be one of the first players to sign in June and live up to his contract. $28 million, which as pointed out would be very low, 100% confident. Maybe that is what the Royals will do, and they will start selling off parts at the deadline. If they can't offer Gordon market rate after 2 WS appearances, they will be totally screwed if they don't make the playoffs and get that additional revenue. No way those remaining sign extensions, and I'm sure the great leader Sal Perez is still a little miffed the Royals didn't do what you told us they would do, rip up his contract and give him something more appropriate for one of the greatest leaders of all time. Finished? That was constructive. How about you come up with a back-up plan for when/if the Big 3 fall through for $30 million. You sure enjoy being sarcastic but never provide anything other than general platitudes, lectures or generic comments such as it would be nice to get Gordon or Cespedes. Quite insightful. And when have Boras clients not gone on the open market and signed hometown discounts, by the way?

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 01:54 PM) Why in the world would Parra sign that deal? He's going to get something like 3/40, yet you project 1/8-10? For the same reason every outfielder has seemingly come down in price by 25%...too much supply, and too many additional outfielders available simultaneously at discount on the trade market. How can he get that much based on his 2015 season? Especially from an AL team...?

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 02:01 PM) I will 100% take Cespedes, E. Johnson, & Saladino over Parra, Latos, & Ramirez. Not even a debate for me. So you're 100% confident Johnson and Saladino will keep their spots all season long then?

Hasn't everyone said all along Desmond and Fowler were the two most likely candidates to go unsigned into the regular season due to the QO picks attached? Fine, just bring back Alexei Ramirez at that time. So in June, you'd have Ramirez, Latos and Parra or Cespedes. I'm also assuming at least one starting pitcher will miss time, so you avoid having to start Turner or Beck.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 10:09 AM) I have no idea what your point is here, but how in the world is Gordon resigning with the Royals a good thing for the Sox? Because of the argument that Gordon will fall apart at age 34-36 and make it impossible to retain Davis, Volquez, Cain, Escobar, Hosmer and Moustakas as they all hit FA at the same time a huge contract's blowing up in their faces. Not to mention having a poor team in 2018-19 could cost them $15-25 million per year when their new media rights deal is negotiated in 2019. That's how. That's a better argument than saying the White Sox are in a more enviable better position than the Cubs because of the Lester, Heyward, Zobrist, potential Arrieta contracts and cheaper starting pitching. The counterargument to that is/was if you signed Zobrist to a big contact four years ago (age 32, same as Gordon), that it would be quite hard to be upset with the results over ages 32-35.

Latos for $10-12 million (one year) Parra for $8-10 million (one year) add Desmond in June for 4 months....$10 million Wouldn't that be much more of an impact because...? 1) You're only spending roughly $5 million than on Cespedes 2) You now have credible insurance for injury/non-performance pitching-wise 3) You can get a pick if Latos does really well and/or trade him in June/July 4) Players would have more motivation to perform for bigger FA payoffs in 2017 5) You also have insurance for Saladino...not to mention PR, outfielder (potentially) or DH in the case of LaRoche or Avi flop 6) You don't have to worry about huge financial commitments with back end of Big 3 guys blowing up in your face and blocking efforts to reload/retool like Dunn/LaRoche/Danks deals have effectively done 7) Injury risk is spread across three players rather than just one

After Melky, don't think they'd dip into that pool of former ped's players again so quickly when there are lots of more palatable options.

It is better. It might even be better for the White Sox, although that's less obvious. If you had not signed Zobrist to a five year deal, one would have missed out on 5.0 fWAR in his age 32 season, 5.5 in his age 33 campaign and 2.1 in his age 34 season. Yes, Zobrist had an injury and played in just 126 games and his WAR took a hit defensively. His bat, however, as we are well aware remained right in line with career (.276/.359/.450). If the Royals were locked into paying Ben for his age 35 season, would you be particularly concerned about getting bang for your buck? Personally, I would be feeling pretty good about it right now.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 09:57 AM) By WAR, those are the five best catchers in all of baseball since 2010. When you have players who are really good at baseball, the teams are more likely to be winning. It's not just about intangibles there, it's talent. But it's also the most important position on the field. The majority of MLB managers spent at least part of their major or minor league careers at that position.

Alex Gordon on MLB says "I'm still hoping something works out" with Royals. John Smoltz says he thinks they find a way. https://twitter.com/JACKWHB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 09:40 AM) I'll admit I get a kick out of the catcher leadership idea. Intangibles have some importance, but you're really reaching when you use them as a primary counter-point against a team's ability to compete. Go ahead and say these guys don't call good games and/or work well with their pitchers, but don't go with some high-level "leadership" bulls*** that has minimal direct impact on the game. So you think it's a complete random coincidence that guys like Molina, Posey, Martin, McCann usually play for winning teams/organizations..or that the majority of really good teams in the last 10-15 years had above-average or franchise-level catchers (Mauer, etc.)?

Sigh. Clearly the Orioles were also not in the post-season in 2012, either.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 09:05 AM) Weren't you the guy telling us signing the middle tier free agents was a terrible plan? Do you ever keep a goalpost in the same place? Yeah, when you consistently make the wrong choices, like we have seen. Saying the only possible plan going forward is the Big 3 no longer feels realistic...so adjustments have to be made, otherwise Hahn and Sox fans will get left holding the bag and feel they've been sold a false bill of goods. At some point, contingency plans have to be acted on.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 08:55 AM) Ya, I don't get the knock on Ventura to be honest. The FO gives Ventura the players to make up the lineup card so Ventura is just doing his best to work with what he's given. As for adding starting pitching depth, I like the idea of adding Beachy. I think Latos and Fister will be a bit costly for what the Sox are looking for. Hasn't Beachy had two TJ's already? At any rate, that's the idea....whoever, Porcello, Masterson, there has to be a pitcher out there who fits this scheme and would be an upgrade on Johnson. Only Medlen and Capuano have made it through to the other side of that double TJ...obviously, it will come down to what teams are willing to pay Fister and Latos.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 08:18 AM) I think it's a reasonable approach; I think Parra/Jackson would markedly improve this team....basically to the extent Alex Gordon would IF they platoon them properly (big if with the skills of this manager). 2 year deals would fit right with the Todd Frazier window. However, there is no way you can do this with Desmond, Chen, Gallardo or anyone with a QO. From the Sox perspective, 3 top 50 picks is a big chance to invigorate the farm. But from anyone's perspective, losing a nice draft choice for 1 year of a so-so player is not the way to go. If you are going to lose a draft choice, make it worthwhile. Here's the way to add three guys and not lose a single pick...upgrading three weaknesses instead of just one. Latos or Fister is signed to a one year deal, then you wait until June to add Fowler or Desmond (in June) depending on how Saladino and the outfield situation is going... So essentially Latos/Fister vs. Erik Johnson/Danks and you buy insurance against injury and can attach a QO if they pitch well (which they're going to be more motivated to do on a one year deal, theoretically). Then you're looking at Parra getting most of the playing time in RF. Garcia would DH against lefties, with Shuck playing RF for Parra. If you want to spend more for a higher OPS, you go Span over Parra and still keep the draft pick. And you don't have to worry about long-term ramifications for signing any of the Big 3 to five year exploding contracts. Not to mention you have even more financial flexibility created next season.

Kazmir can opt out of his contract after next season. The free-agent class of pitchers is particularly thin next off-season, with Stephen Strasburg, Andrew Cashner and the Dodgers' Brett Anderson projected as the top available starters. Zaidi said the Dodgers were comfortable letting Kazmir walk away after one season because of that organizational depth, the possibility of getting an extra draft pick for Kazmir next off-season and the motivation that another shot at free agency might provide Kazmir next season. "In Scott's case, he and his representation are aware that next year's free-agent starting pitching market will probably be a pretty good seller's market," Zaidi said. "From our standpoint, we have a lot of good young pitching that we feel is going to be ready to contribute at some point in 2016 and certainly by 2017. No major league team used fewer than eight starting pitchers last season. The Dodgers used 16, the most in the majors, according to Baseball Reference. http://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-s...1231-story.html You can start to see an argument forming for one of Gallardo, Chen, Latos and Fister being acquired by the White Sox on a one-year deal...you add Parra/A.Jackson/Span on 1-2 or 2+ option deals...and then possibly make a run at Desmond or Fowler for 2/3rd's worth of a 2016 contract OR add at the trade deadline. Financially, it's much more risk-averse than putting all your eggs in one Big 3 basket. Argument being that Fulmer is added to the rotation in 2017 and you have Danks/Johnson as insurance this year in case a starter goes down or misses time, which happened to every team in the majors last year. But would JR approve?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 06:39 AM) Then how did Wieters make your list? Adjust the goalposts again. I really don't understand what you chronic complainers get out of constantly complaining,. Baseball is a game. Games are supposed to be fun. Were the Orioles not in the playoffs two years ago? As for fun, that's why Iowa bb and fb is fun...lower expectations, easier to be pleasantly surprised. Somehow I kinda doubt Ventura will last as long in one job as Ferentz and Stoops, though.

Sources: Industry belief is that the White Sox would prefer to sign an outfielder to a 4- or 5-year deal. May lessen chances for Upton. Chris Cotillo

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 05:44 AM) Alex Avila was the starting catcher for many playoff teams. We understand the White Sox don't have 25 all stars on their roster which apparently is need to make the playoffs. Your Royals had the worst staring pitching in the league last season, and the White Sox, as bad as they were at catcher, had more WAR from that position than they did, the future HOFer Sal Perez be damned. Was being the past tense...LaRoche was a good hitter in 2014, Samardzija a good pitcher. Avila was last "good" in which year that he had 400+ at-bats? http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/team/_/stat/p...ed-2/order/true Here's a category the White Sox pitching staff overall was last in the AL, KC first. The Royals were better in whip, ERA, baa and ops. Whether it's starters or relievers that are your comparative advantage, you still need solid defense and offensive balance. And Complaining about starting pitching is irrelevant in the same way it will be in Yankees' games this season. If you have one of the top five bullpens in modern baseball history for two years running, why would you care if your starters go 6.5 vs. 5.25 innings on average?

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Dec 31, 2015 -> 02:40 AM) Nicely said. And what's great is this is the White Sox too, just many on here don't see it yet. Lot of people think we're just kicking the can down the road signing veterans etc, not building from within etc. Bull freaking s***. Our rotation will basically cost under $40M for the next five years. The entire rotation. That's doing something extremely right. Adam Eaton & Abreu are studs. It's working, the farm is looking super solid. And we didn't lose on purpose for 5 years. Everybody needs to quit being mad at the Sox FO & ownership now. Just stop. We're in a super enviable position moving forward- way better than the cubs. In 2019? Sure, Heyward, Lester and Zobrist might not look so attractive three or four years from now...but that last sentence of your post is a huge stretch. It's like arguing the White Sox would be worse off signing one of the Big 3 because of what may or may not happen in the back half of those contracts. Heyward probably will opt out. Another point, Fulmer and Erik Johnson aren't guarantees, any more than Arrieta is a guarantee to win another Cy Young or blow out his elbow or shoulder. If you look at starting position players, which White Sox players would you choose over their counterparts? Abreu over Rizzo? Frazier over Bryant? Cabrera over Schwarber? Garcia over Soler? Eaton over Heyward? Tim Anderson over Russell? There's another problem with the niche being starting pitching over position players...the higher likelihood of injury/risk. And are we really going to argue the Cubs' current farm system depth is inferior to Anderson, Fulmer, Adams, et al.?