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With all these injuries happening and an apparent bidding war heating up for Gray, am I the only one who is kind of wishing Gray was traded before Q? I'm very happy with the Jiminez/Cease, but maybe I'm getting spoiled and just want more.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jul 15, 2017 -> 05:20 PM) It honestly surprises me how much unanimity there is everywhere on Kopech being a top 25 or better prospect in all of baseball. There's no doubting the prodigious talent and the true ace potential, so don't get me wrong because I'm very glad to have him around. But for me, I need to see a pitcher have a walk rate that is somewhere below alarmingly high before I put him in that top level. The only stint in which Kopech had an acceptable walk rate was when he pitched 65 innings in low-A in 2015 (3.74 BB/9, which isn't exactly low but is workable). Otherwise, he's had 5.93 BB/9 (2014, Rookie), 5.02 BB/9 (2016, A+), and 5.87 BB/9 (2017, AA). That's not to ignore his equally-amazing K rate at these levels, but to me I don't see him any higher than, say, 40 or 50 on a top 100 due to these problems. By analogy, I see it like a hitting prospect with a .900 OPS and a bunch of homers but 35% K% at each level. You love the production, but you fear how the strikeout rate has such a big chance of ruining it all. Looking at it another way, Kopech hasn't had a single start this year in which he had fewer than *2* walks. His issues with walks have been remarkably consistent. He's had 6 starts with 2 walks, 3 with 3 walks, 6 with 4 walks, and 2 with 5 walks. There's very little variation, he just always has walks. And in 3 of his starts with only 2 walks, he hit one or more batters. I just want to see a run of starts with good command, but with him hitting his innings wall I don't know that we'll see it this year. Can't argue your point being it's certainly fair. That said, I personally look past the wildness because, A, he has the stuff to pitch around baserunners and, B, he just turned 21 and is open to coaching adjustments which can go a long way in reigning in control issues if there's a flaw in his delivery. I think he's looking at at least another year of seasoning/coaching before he comes to Chicago. A lot can change in that time.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Jul 15, 2017 -> 10:55 AM) This is not a rebuild. Its simply a salary dump. The main objective is to have the White Sox with the lowest payroll in MLB in 2018 and 2019. When you have income of over $260 million a year and a payroll less than $50 million, you're looking at some enormous profits for the owners. JR did the same thing in 1998+1999. The team barely drew 1.3 million in attendance each of those years but they were 2 of the teams most profitable years with the low payrolls. If the so call rebuild works out, fine. Either way JR and his investors will be making some serious money. I realize that the White Sox are a business. The objective of any business is too make money.Still, I would rather have the team making money with a winning team than what we're going to be subjected to the next few years. So basically you believe that rebuilds are nothing more than a fallacy in any professional league? Gotta disagree.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 14, 2017 -> 01:14 PM) With what Rick Hahn started from and where we are right now, this is the best job I have ever seen, and frankly better than I could have imagined. A 4th place team destined to be even worse next year dismantled before it became too late, before guys got hurt or struggled, without any deal where it wasn't at least a draw, and a jump from the bottom of the league to the top of the league in their systems, without the accidental Edwin Jackson, yes, this is the gold standard. That does not make, in your words, Rick Hahn the best GM in history. I still consider it an open question whether he can take the resources he now has at his disposal and build them into a contending team. That's based in part on terrible moves made by Rick Hahn in 2015 and 2016. That's based in part on the other hires around the system that we should correctly be skeptical about until there are results at the big league level. Not all of these guys should even make it to the White Sox lineup. Some of them should probably be traded when we see what else develops from the system. I can't say that I'd be very mad if we decided we were going to trade Jiminez and sign Harper or however they wanted to make it work. The next question is whether or not they can take these guys and turn them into big league production, and that's Hahn's next task. I'm a Titans fan and between the work Jon Robinson has done with that franchise in a short period of time and what Rick has managed to do with the Sox, I'm in GM heaven right now. I give Rick a 10.

1. Kopech -- great attitude, wants to learn, and has generational talent. 2. Moncada -- 5 strong tools but, call me an idiot, his arrogant swagger and twinkie diet concern me. Seems entitled. 3. Jiminez -- Great head on his shoulders and is willing to put in the work. Young Dye comps make me very happy. 4. Lopez -- This is a guy who needs to be called up and work with Coop. Outside of Kopech, I think he has the potential to have the best stuff in the system, potential #1 on many teams. 5. Giolito -- The fact he faded so much as a prospect but has worked his way back speaks volumes to his mentality. I have high hopes. 6. Robert -- Great swing on a practice field, great tools and body, but need to see him playing in the states at a higher level before buying the hype. 7. Cease -- Potential for greatness is there but health and durability have to be concerns. 8. Dunning -- I should probably rank him higher as I think he has a ton of potential but would like to see him advance in the system before rising in rankings. 9. Basabe -- Eh 10. Flete/Diaz/Rose -- Don't know enough about them.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jul 13, 2017 -> 08:24 PM) Why do people act like Gavin Floyd is a bad thing? In his 7 years here he pulled an ERA+ of 105. He also gave us 1000+ IP in about 5 and a half seasons of work. He is the kind of guy you would love to have in the 3 or 4 slot in your rotation. Not to mention, many of the issues Sox fans had with Gavin were with how timid he was on the mound and in his approach. He was just weak mentally, from what I saw. His stuff was incredible. If Gio has Floyd's stuff with a stronger head on his shoulders, you're looking at a pretty damn good #2 or #3 starter.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Jul 15, 2017 -> 10:20 AM) Oh, I'd much rather rely on Q. Even as good as they've been, I feel the Astros are setting themselves up for disappointment in the postseason. To some extent, they feel like the 2001 Mariners - coast all the way to the postseason with the best record in the AL (though the Astros won't have the best record of all time) only to get eliminated by a team with much better pitching. I mean, their bullpen is outrageously good, so if they can just get 4-5 innings out of their starters, they may be able to get by, but that's a lot to count on. I was talking to an Astros fan buddy of mine and he truly has no concern about the pitching staff. He said that they can hit their way out of any deficit. I pointed out that in the postseason it usually comes down to the stronger pitching staff and he seemed to believe that that rule wouldn't apply with an offense like theirs. He wants them to stand pat. It makes zero sense and, as you say, we've seen time and again the team with amazing offense come up short in the postseason. Hell, Astros fans forget about 2005 already?

What a haul! #1 and #2 Cub prospects (#8 and #63 MLB overall). Sox now have 3 of top 11 prospects in MLB (1,8,11) and 8 prospects in the top 100.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 5, 2017 -> 10:59 AM) Anyone have an estimation on how much more a year it would cost per person in taxes for universal healthcare? Curious. I don't have any data to back this up but, if they did it right with drug pricing, etc., I believe most Americans would come out ahead being any increase in taxes would be immediately offset by the elimination of insurance premiums and deductibles.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Apr 13, 2017 -> 08:36 AM) Never heard of this guy but is hilarious. NSFW That is an insane video. Pretty dope.

Any of y'all checked out Here Lies Man? I don't know what to make of their debut released early last month. It's truly some of the coolest s*** I've heard in a good while but the album seems kind of repetitive/lacking. It's like a amalgam of BadBadNotGood, Filter, Sun Ra, and maybe Jimmy Smith? Really great sound coming out of LA.

Also, I get the whole idea of drafting a guy ahead of slot due to the needs of the franchise. I about flipped my s*** when TEN drafted Davis 5 overall as I thought that was waaaayyy too early, then I saw the only other 2 decent (3 if you count McCaffrey) WR go right after us in the top 10 picks. That said, TEN didn't trade away 4 draft picks for that privilege.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Apr 28, 2017 -> 02:24 PM) Well this is impossible to guess at but I think youre wrong. 2001, only 1 QB was picked in first (Vick) Brees went in 2nd. 2005, 3 QBs taken in 1st (Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Jason Campbell), unclear if hed grade out above Campbell. Lets go more recent. 2016- probably comparable to Paxton Lynch, may have been late 1st, maybe early 2nd. 2015- May have been late first, but graded out under Mariotta/Winston. 2014- Better than Carr/Garrapolo? Unclear so likely 2nd. 2013- Definitely would have been 1st. This class is most comparable to this years. http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?type=position The issue is that this is one of the weakest drafts at QB since 2013. I think 2013 is worse, but again not one QB went in the top 10 that year. This is entirely speculative, but I think that in 2014 Trubisky would have absolutely been a 2nd rounder at best. What this guy said

QUOTE (Sox-35th @ Apr 28, 2017 -> 01:47 PM) This Browns FO didn't pick many of those QBs. The draft history is irrelevant. Plus, I completely understand Ryan Pace wanting a quarterback. He's a Saints guy, after all. Same crap ownership.

Also, if you're in a bidding war with the f***ing Cleveland Browns over a QB, given their amazing history of QBs drafted, you should probably realize you're looking at the wrong guy.

I'm a Titans fan but have family who are Bears fans... If you're getting an undisputed stud QB -- polished, experienced, intangibles, great arm, etc. -- by all means, trade up at any cost to get a guy you can say with >85% certainty will be AT LEAST a serviceable QB for years to come. Mitch Trubisky is not, in any way, that player. We're talking about a guy who is a 2nd or 3rd rounder in most draft years who was the SECOND OVERALL PICK! That's insane. Much less that the Bears traded 4 valuable picks to have the honor of getting a guy with a ceiling of mediocrity and the floor of a career third-string journeyman. I'm not a UNC fan but saw plenty of Trubisky last season to form a reasonable opinion of his abilities. This justification with statements like, "IF he becomes a franchise QB, blah blah blah..."......look, this guy does not have the talent to be a "franchise QB". Awful, awful, awful move.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Apr 3, 2017 -> 03:15 PM) No one forced you to show up when the forecast was sh** all along. No sure what you expected. They obviously want to get the game in if possible on OD. Yes, because after paying $115/tkt, just "not showing up" is the logical choice.

As I sit here with my dumbass poncho waiting for baseball to be played, I'm trying to imagine a worse way the Sox could've handled this. I'm coming up blank. Still forecast to be relatively clear tomorrow. As someone coming from out of town every year for OD, this is really frustrating.

They aren't saying anything here at the park. Getting kind of pissed with the lack of information. Reminds me of the 2nd game last season when the upper deck was iced over and they delayed entry to the park without letting anyone know why. Starting to come down pretty good again.

Marchman is hilarious and I hope he keeps this up all season. I've followed him both on Deadspin and Twitter for a good while...he's definitely a hardcore Sox fan.

108791 worked for me, as well. Thanks for the code!

QUOTE (BRIRO2017 @ Dec 19, 2016 -> 02:59 PM) He's had zero pressure. It's like the pressure of a back up QB vs a starter. Neither has Chris Sale....is he an ace?

QUOTE (PolishPrince34 @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 10:09 PM) Absolute love the trade. High ceiling pitchers that our system lacked. I think we will see the 2015 Giolito and Cooper will have him go back to his old mechanics and add a cutter to his arsenal. I love Dunning Throws three plus pitches. Needs at least 2 years of development, but has a chance to be a #3 SP. My thought on Lopez is a reliever, but a dam good one. I think Lopez tiny stature and lack of breaking ball will put him in the bullpen. With a great chance to being high leverage RP in the late innings. Lopez has an outstanding curve and glimpses of a plus-change. He'll definitely be a starter, imo. He's 6' 185...not talking about a tiny guy here.

QUOTE (TRU @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 09:56 PM) We've never seen anything that suggests this ownership will ever pay the price it will take for a marquee free agent. I'm not saying we sign a Bryce Harper, I'm saying we will be willing to sign guys on that 2nd or 3rd rung of the ladder which, if things work out, will be plenty enough to push us over the top.

QUOTE (southsideirish71 @ Dec 7, 2016 -> 09:28 PM) Market conditions are in the favor of sellers when it comes to pitching. Not a lot of quality starting pitching out there in FA and not a lot that are on the block. This is the time to strike. THIS! The FA P market, especially SP, is pitiful this season...Hahn should take as much advantage of this market as he possibly can. That leaves Melky, Frazier, and Abreu as position players, none of which had great seasons last year. I think Melky should be dumped now for whatever you can get. Deal Frazier now because I don't feel he's going to improve much over last season's numbers. Jose I'd go either way....he really struggled first half of last season but finished strong which could lead rival GMs to believe that first half was just an aberration or you hang onto him and hope and pray that he doesn't repeat that first half this season, diminishing his value at the deadline.