ILMOU

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 05:34 PM) What is the difference? You don't seem to grasp the basic concept that the money available for payroll is not endless. Yes, Reinsdorf is rich, but he didn't get that way by signing huge checks for bad investments.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 03:03 PM) Pillars, no, but you don't think this team has room for a 24 y.o. left-handed hitter that put up a .350 obp last year? He'll get his chance soon enough. Have some faith, Hahn is smart.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 02:36 PM) I hear ya, but his fate has been sealed for a bit now it seems. I get the Konerko re-signing, but this roster a week before the opener is a mess for a team that is rebuilding. Guys like Danks and Wilkins are guys they should be finding AB's for. Instead they want to keep Dunn in an attempt to save an insignificant amount of dollars. That's one of the pillars of rebuilding. We clearly have very different ideas about what that word means. I don't think the patience will be long with Adam, if he gets out of the gate slowly.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 01:34 PM) I just saw that Addison Reed was lights out in his first appearance for Arizona. Meanwhile, Davidson gets sent down because he can't beat out Conor Gillespie. Not exactly, but you know that already. I'm a horrid sarcasm detector.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 10:38 AM) Maybe it has changed in recent years (it probably has), but Hawk has been a pretty reliable mouthpiece for this outfit. I doubt they take a HS pitcher at #3. Of course it's still way early, but there's a reasonable chance that Kolek and Aiken are 1 and 2, which would virtually guarantee the correctness of your statement.

Boggs was worth a shot and we didn't waste much time or money on him.

QUOTE (staxx @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 10:07 AM) Unfortunately, there is no room for him. He'll be back at some point, one of De Aza and Viciedo will be gone by the all-star break. I'd rather RH take his time and find the right deal. Maybe Memorial Day if we're being optimistic. Injuries happen.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 09:50 AM) Roster Moves today Colleen Kane ‏@ChiTribKane 4m White Sox announce moves: Davidson, Jordan Danks, and Petricka to AAA. Axelrod to minor league camp. Plan to release Boggs. Daniel Webb, your table is ready. Can't say I'm too disappointed - I want to see if DW is good enough to allow a Jones trade at mid or post season.

QUOTE (farmteam @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 09:14 PM) That is not what he said. Given your comments I went into this episode thinking he was going to just lambaste religious people left and right. This is what he actually said: "We all understand the twinge of discomfort at the thought that we share a common ancestor with the apes. No one can embarrass you like a relative. Our closest ones, the chimpanzees, frequently behave inappropriately in public. There's an understandable human need to distance ourselves from them. A central premise of traditional belief is that we were created separately from all the other animals. It's easy to see why this idea has taken hold -- it makes us feel special." I don't see how that's an over-the-top assault on religion. If it's that last line that offended you, that's a central premise of the show -- that we can feel special because we are so intertwined with life, nature and the Cosmos. Thank you, farm.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 08:14 AM) Greg if you can afford it no problem get it. There's Abreu, Eaton, Eric Johnson, Avisail Garcia, maybe even Semien and Davidson to watch develop. How could you not want to see Sale pitch ? Spring training is no place to judge defense. The ground is hard and the skies are high in Az. Semien is playing great and since Gordon is sort of injured Semien just might make opening day. Chances are less for Davidson because the Sox might not want to start his arbitration clock just yet and Gillaspie just might develop into a tradeable asset. But Davidson has also had a very nice spring after a slow start. Besides you're a Sox fan. Forget the bad stuff , forget about wins and losses during a rebuild. Look for and revel in the promise of youth and the exuberance of youth when they have walk off wins and come from behind wins. There will always be b****ing and whining about stuff . Look for the silver linings and you will be fine. Well said, Cali. So many development possibilities at the MLB level and in the minors that are key to the future, I may need to get the MiLBtv as well. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 08:54 AM) If Beckham goes out, I think Marcus breaks camp. If it is just Kepp, I think it is Garcia. I am sure they want Semien playing every day. This may be the most plausible scenario.

ANYone but Axe. The appeal of the unknown is enough for me. Veal has had a good spring and will hopefully return to his '12 form. Worried more about several of the others, as Veal's role won't be huge anyway, unless Downs totally blows.

A list of college arms possibly available for our 2nd round pick. This is from a Cubs site, but certainly could apply to us as well since the picks are 44th and 45th overall respectively: http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2014/03...-the-2nd-round/

Hopefully, potential trade-partner scouts are eyeing ADA this spring, and especially today.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 12:40 PM) http://puigdestroyer.bandcamp.com/album/puig-destroyer Actually, this just made me crack up. Track #6..."Stop F---ing Bunting" Quite possibly the worst song I've ever heard in my life. Just thinking about all the arguments about "small ball" and how many outs Guillen gave up bunting at USCF...even Ventura getting criticized for it when it wasn't even a Top 20 issue with everything that went haywire last year. "One man, five tools" was kinda catchy. Puig inspired death metal. Wow.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 01:07 PM) Apology accepted. As far as the plan goes, they can't afford to waste Chris Sale tremendous value (performance + contract). There should be more of a sense of urgency because possible health issues and with the money they had coming off the books they should have added another piece to that rotation even if it wasn't a perfect fit or cost them a draft pick. Try to cobble together a playoff team anyway you can while you have him that way his value can be maxed in a short series. We're on the same page on nearly all of this. Our dispute is regarding the "sense of urgency" you seem to think we're lacking, myself believing they've shown plenty of it, just not wanting to cross the line from urgency into "all-in" style desperation. Hahn's trying to build something more sustainable, but still very quickly in the grand scheme of rebuilds. We both believe Sale gives us a much better chance in a short series - that's one of the main reasons I'm in the camp of not trading him. Maybe you'll feel better about it after JR ponies up to fill the remaining holes next offseason - I really think that's the general "plan". This year is about building the system, short (Davidson), medium (the draft), and long-term (LA 16 y.o.'s), to augment a competitive 25 man, while evaluating needs and seeing what can be gained in trades of those that don't fit the profile, or are deemed redundant. And midseason moves (I'll predict a JCastro, Grandal, or GSanchez acquisition) could bring us a lot closer to the finish line.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 12:34 PM) Being an anti Cubs rebuild/anti-Epstein poster would be a lot more fun these days. Alas, not to be. Seems like we'll be having the same arguments for the next 2-3 years. I have no real issues with the Epstein plan, if that's what you're implying. It fits their situation and history. I'm turned off by his ego and his fanboy pundits. If it craters, it will be VERY fun to watch.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 12:36 PM) I don't appreciate your continued insults. You are correct that Sale is signed for the next six years, I was not arguing that.. Sorry if you're insulted, really. I just don't know what kind of miracle rebuild you're expecting, or that any reasonable person would expect. I have no idea if it will work out, but the accolades Hahn has received are largely, precisely for the brevity of the rebuild plan.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 11:43 AM) The timeline for this rebuild should be much shorter than what a lot of people think. It's about maximizing the value of Chris Sale, they either have to put together a group to win with him or deal him while he remains one of the most coveted assets in MLB. Props directed toward Hahn for protecting a second round pick in this instance is missing the point entirely. We don't reach the 1 year mark of the rebuild until July. It may be complete in 10 months from now. Sale is here for the next six years (under control thru 2019, not 2018). Do you even think about what you write?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 11:01 AM) If he has to switch to throwing 5 pitches, can he pick up a few extra mph? That's what I'd like to know. He's had his shots as a starter and hasn't fared great against righties. Time to move forward, imo.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 11:00 AM) If they want to win with Sale they are going to have to add a couple of SP. In my view, they should have gotten one of those this year, deal Quintana next offseason and add another FA starter. Other routes will take too long and just devalue Sale over time. This MAY be true, but obviously they didn't like the available guys THIS year, and the need, if it materializes, is most likely 1 SP, unless Coop has suddenly lost it, which I doubt. Nor would any of the available guys, THIS year, been difference makers, so the money spent on them in 2014 is pissed away, all with the HOPE that they'll bring back more in trade and you're not stuck with another Dunn-like mini albatross. AND, if you're somehow right and we need 2, we're better off getting them in the same offseason. But something tells me this ground has already been covered.

Now, we're arguing semantics of what can be included in definition of "core". Oy. Cubs and Sox are taking different approaches, based upon meathook realities for both sides. The reason we didn't augment our trade acquisitions with FA's are numerous. 1. First and foremost: They weren't smitten with any of the available QO FA's - they were far from alone here. Hard to say how serious we went after McCann. 2. Our payroll is likely much lower heading into next season, when better FA's are available. 3. They have so many holes, and it's unclear which of them will actually need filling, but we should have a much better idea before long. We may or may not need a SP, we may or may not need an OF, for instance. We'll definitely need some lefty/SH bats - Headley, Rasmus, Morales, for starters, will most likely be available, and it would be nice if our eventual C acquisition is one as well.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) The point of targeting the prospects the Sox did was to not have to go through a five-year rebuild like the Cubs and the Cubs have a better core because of it. Now, Mr. Patience prefers a 5 year rebuild that he knows our fan base won't tolerate. You're all over the map, dude. He's all yours.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 09:49 AM) The 3rd pick of the draft is no place to try to find a bargain. Take the best player. That is what ultimately will make your team better. Not trying to save $250k to give a 3rd rounder. I think they will, but if they grade a few of them out equally (and I mean truly equally, with cost removed from the equation), they may try to take advantage of a lower cost signing.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 22, 2014 -> 09:41 AM) Cubs. Yep, all those draft picks that are worthless to a large market team like the Cubs. Really, guys, why do you continue to bother? When he's completely owned, he'll just change the topic, he won't acknowledge logic, and clearly doesn't read your response posts. Every once in awhile he has a cogent thought, which is why I don't put him, or anyone, on ignore. Most of the time he's either dense, a troll, or a dense troll. Please, please don't take the bait, and we can have better threads.

I wonder if they'll continue to start Leesman, or just prepare him for the inevitable LOOGY role. May depend on their desire to see someone else get starts in Charlotte. Beck, most likely if they choose to be aggressive. Looks like Webb could be there too, if Cleto is given an MLB shot.