ILMOU

To hell with ARod, Bonds, Mariners and Red Sox. How good would the '59 Sox have been? From today's SSS: http://www.southsidesox.com/2014/2/15/5412...hall-and-minoso " The White Sox did make history in 1949 when they hired John Donaldson as the first African-American scout in Major League Baseball. Donaldson was a former star pitcher for the Kansas City Monarchs. After retiring from baseball, he settled in the Bronzeville neighborhood, just a short distance from Comiskey Park. The Tribune noted that Donaldson was going to scout "Negro and white players." John Donaldson was very good at his job. He scouted a teenage kid in Birmingham named Willie Mays. The front office didn't pull the trigger. Donaldson also presented them with two kids named Ernie Banks and Hank Aaron. They passed. Frustrated with his lack of progress, Donaldson quit the White Sox and spent the rest of his life working for the Post Office. When he died in 1970, the White Sox paid for his headstone. " I was not aware of this.

QUOTE (BFirebird @ Feb 14, 2014 -> 04:02 PM) For those of you with ESPN Insider, Jim Bowden has an article with his 10 Bold Predictions of Spring Training. Here is the article link: http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=8841 For those of you without, #5 on his list is that Jose Abreu will emerge as the favorite for AL ROY. That would be good news for the future of the White Sox. Not that bold, imo. Now, MVP would be bold.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 03:20 PM) I don't feel like "being a starter" delays guys on the path to a bullpen role in this org, might even be the opposite; they use it to build up arm strength and experience with offspeed stuff before they wind up in the bullpen at higher levels. Petricka, for example, was starting all the way through the beginning of 2013, and spent less than 1 full season in the minor league bullpens before being called up. QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 03:45 PM) I think they do it for a number of reasons. First, it puts the arm through a lot of strain, which is a test for durability. Second, you are forced to pitch rather than getting by on pure stuff alone. Third, you are forced to use more pitches (beyond just the "pitching" thing), which improves the quality of them over time. Plus, you may actually develop into a starter, which is ultra good for you development. There are other benefits, but those are the 3 big ones to me. I agree with the benefits, just thought he profiled well to closing and that they'd be handling him in the same way as Reed, who flew through the system in a way that a starting experiment perhaps would not allow.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 02:24 PM) I'm not big into brandy and cognac, but I can and will drink pretty much anything else. I think the only beer I've ever actually turned down was Hamm's. If I'm drinking up, I'm hitting an IPA or a Stout. God I love IPAs. They say your tongue can get hops burnt, and it's true, but if it's a good IPA, I couldn't give a f***. I am a lover of all non-light, non-lambic beers, and Hamm's is one of my favorites. No foolin'. Was once nicknamed Hammster as a result.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 01:20 PM) Brad Goldberg, one to keep an eye on. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/cws/white-...p;vkey=news_cws Was a bit surprised that he, too, will be a starter this season. May delay his path to future closer, but if he has 4 pitches as the article says, maybe it's worth a shot.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 12:28 PM) I think they're going to sign Cruz and make Ackley earn it as a 4th OF. Not a horrible idea since Saunders might regress. Seattle may be the match. Or any other all-in, piece-missing team. Don't need to root for injuries, but they'll happen anyway. Would rather get something more unknown than Montero, though.

SP18. Kudos to you, sir. Regardless of where this thread leads, and which or our esteemed posters decide to "Bogart" it with endless rehashing of the same posts as if they weren't fully understood the first 1000 times (we're all a little guilty, and it's especially acute in the absence of actual news), let me personally thank you for starting a desperately needed new one.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 11:27 AM) With Viciedo, Eaton and Garcia all set to start, there is no room for De Aza at the price he is being paid. Hahn needs to keep looking into trading De Aza, Keppinger and Gillaspie. End of story. Oh, if that were only true. Season needs to start, fast.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Feb 13, 2014 -> 10:47 AM) And of course there's a media circus. Because it's a significant event. The mark of ultimate success will be when there's no longer a circus when a player comes out, but it's a stepwise process. To ignore the breaking of a barrier would be a great disservice. They made a freaking movie about Jackie Robinson 60-something years later. The event is important and commemorated frequently. That's as it should be. Yeah, it'll be a circus, but the circus will leave town soon, and it will be much less so for those that follow. As it should be.

QUOTE (The Ultimate Champion @ Feb 12, 2014 -> 09:18 PM) http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/02/dodg...e-to-terms.html One of the recent defectors, a no-hit SS without speed. 23 & needs significant time in the minors. Scouts wonder if he can post a .220 BA or .300 OBP in MLB. Sounds a lot like a poor man's Leury to me. Not that we would want to but we could probably buy out Leury's 3 arb & 1-2 FA years for about half that amount. Yeah, but who knows really. The early scouting reports of Cubans have been more wrong than right, to my eyes. Lexi was described as a borderline talent and showed himself to be much more. Puig was even more mis-scouted or there would have been an absolute bidding war. DV hasn't nearly lived up to his billing. We'll see what he really is soon enough.

QUOTE (Brian @ Feb 12, 2014 -> 07:15 AM) Another top notch Justified Loving this season's storylines - Boyd still has a lot of ass to kick. Not currently paying for HBO, but sounds like TrueD is one I need to see.

Bottom line, we still need to find our C of the future. Lobaton wasn't going to be it. Nieto is a lottery ticket - better to have than not, if it's workable.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 12, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) The thing is, if he pitches anywhere close to pre-injury John Danks, that deal is a steal. Somewhere between fair and a steal, imo. If he does regain most of his past abilities, and prospects like Beck appear to be ready soon, we should still deal him when able.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Feb 12, 2014 -> 10:51 AM) It's so funny to see you say that contracts over $10 million per are bad contracts, but then also post that we should trade for Buehrle who is set to make $37 million over the next two years. Contradict yourself much? In greg's defense, let me say that MB's performance year to year is about as consistent as any player, ever, and while he's probably not worth what he'll make the next two years, he also entails very little risk.

QUOTE (TheTruth05 @ Feb 6, 2014 -> 01:06 PM) The Sox need to play to their strength, take pitching at #3, you can never have enough pitching. Alot can change from here till June but I really hope they have their mindset on finding an ace that can be special with Sale and Q. Truth.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 07:56 PM) Baltimore would be nuts to exercise that. He's not remotely the player he once was. He's well below average defensively and has put up WARs of 1.7, 1.5. and -0.1 the last 3 years. He's been notably worse than De Aza each of those years, is a a half year older, and crazy more expensive. You're right they won't exercise it. He'll be available and maybe not expensive as a fallback. He has a chance to bounce back, as he's not that old. Not my preference by any means, though.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Feb 6, 2014 -> 07:22 AM) JR is buddies with LaRussa. LaRussa hates Rasmus as a player and a person. I'm sure the White Sox know all about him. I doubt very much they will pay decent money for him. That's interesting. You may be right. Still want a power lefty bat, or two of them, preferably, to come from somewhere by midseason, or next offseason. Maybe trades will be the best way to go.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 08:45 PM) I'm with you on that. ST stats seem to have an inverse relationship to regular season starts. Either way, ST stats aren't anything I'm putting weight in to. I'm with you. But, there ARE jobs up for grabs, ostensibly, and some of these will be determined by ST performance.

QUOTE (beautox @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 05:32 PM) I agree the best looking free agents and strength of next year's class would appear to be Hanley Ramirez (I doubt LA lets him slip away), Asdrubal Cabrera and Jed Lowrie for middle infielders. Headley and Sandoval for 3B, Gardner and Rasmus for OF and a ton of pitchers that will all likely get paid way to much for their actual production. Looking into '16 if this core develops we might have a shot at Jason Heyward if the braves don't lock him up or he opts to test free agency. If our core develops either Rasmus and Heyward fit with our teams profile and age curve. And Markakis may be available as well, depending on whether Balt. exercises $17.5M option for next year.

QUOTE (VAfan @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 04:07 PM) Why don't the Sox know how to add lefty bats to their lineup? Of all the new "core" guys they've added, only 1 is a left handed hitter -- Eaton -- and he's replacing one of the few lefties the Sox already had -- De Aza. The Sox have now "filled" all the normal spots usually filled by lefties -- 1B, RF, 3B, LF -- with right handers. The only spot they have left for power hitting lefty is DH, which is currently filled by a lefty power hitter, so when Dunn moves on, we won't be gaining any left handed power. When AJ was here, we had a decent lefty hitter at catcher, but that's pretty rare. So my answer to whether you can win with this core is NO. The Sox need to have more power, a better balance of lefties, and more guys who know how to walk. Until they do, their offense will not be able to compete. A lot of young catchers are lefty or switch hitters, we'll need one of those soon. Also, if we move Tank to DH next year, or dump him, we will have an opportunity to fill that with a lefty OF, preferably one with power. The more I look at it, the more I think Colby Rasmus will be ours in FA next year, if we really want him. The Yankees have ARod back on the dole next year, don't have any major salary coming off the books, and need 2B,3B and SS if Jeter retires, and they'll need righty power more than lefty. Boston's loaded with lefty OF's as are the Dodgers. The feared-by-some biggest spenders likely won't even be involved.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 02:50 PM) I still think you're asking for a lot of trouble if you're not going to give Davidson a legit shot in the spring, because that's exactly the kind of setup where he would hit so well that he'd earn a starting big league role and then get sent down for 2 guys who struggled and were thus untradeable I don't disagree - we just don't how the braintrust is thinking on these things. Yes it would suck if Davidson "earns it" and then is sent down anyway.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 02:00 PM) The Castros and Jasos of the world seem like pipe dreams at this point, so I'd absolutely "settle" for Lobaton. At the very least he can take a walk. True, but maybe not by June or so. I'll be ticked if we don't have a different catcher by the trade deadline.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 4, 2014 -> 04:09 PM) Hahn basically said that Davidson starts in AAA this year. ST should be more interesting any other season. Four/five spots on the bench go to: Catcher Konerko Danks L. Garcia Kepp/Gillaspie ADA/Viciedo Gotta be at least one move before OD. AAA now getting very crowded, especially if Leury Garcia doesn't make the team. Obviously Davidson starts at 3B but who at SS/2B? Semien or Sanchez? Rotation? Does Garcia start in CF? If Thompson was supposed to go to AAA is he now staying in AA? A lot to shake out. I wouldn't mind LGarcia refining his OF skills in Charlotte til the moves shake out. His future is PR/D replacement/utility. Sanchez at SS, Marcus at 2B - get him prepared for displacing Gordon.

Larry from SSS with some reasons why RH may have extra time to deal with Kepp/Gillaspie trades, 61 days to be precise. http://www.southsidesox.com/2014/2/5/53783...-semien-tinfoil Would allow for other team needs arising due to injuries, etc.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Feb 5, 2014 -> 01:23 PM) Salty also did not cost a 99 loss team a draft pick. And we don't know what he's worth until he actually plays in Miami. His career vs. RHP has been good, and could have platooned nicely with either of our two backup catchers. Ultimately, you want to pay no more than market value, but many pundits expected his services to be in demand and were surprised Salty's market got that low. Personally, I feel a lot of folks panicked off of his playoff demotion.