hi8is

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 18, 2013 -> 06:48 AM) I wish every voter could see this. I am so impressed... you didn't say poop once ! Who are you and what have you done with Hi8is ? Are you going to name your son Frank ? Congrats man ! Thanks buddy! I figured that we'll be seeing enough poop, the term can be retired in many posts. His name is going to be Ti Lamond Caesar.

I thought Christmas wasn't until the 25th.

QUOTE (BigEdWalsh @ Dec 16, 2013 -> 10:49 PM) Me too. Being ultra-sensitive as I am, I got pretty choked up reading that. Thanks guys - Glad that it meant something to you both.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 13, 2013 -> 02:20 PM) Related: First, please read this. Then see this. This is exactly who Frank Thomas was to the fans who followed him closest. I'm sure many of you can attest as well with similar stories. Frank was the reason I became a Sox fan. Being a born and raised Southern Californian, there really was no other reason for a 7 year old boy to latch onto the Chicago White Sox. All it took was one ESPN highlight of him mashing a Mike Mussina meatball out to the left field concourse. And so a childhood obsession began. Whenever the Sox were in town playing the Angels, my dad took work off... Bringing me with him for a series long indulgence of modern day Cracker Jack glory. My pops was a pretty smart guy - the first thing he taught me about the spectator side of Baseball was, "get to the park early." Real early. Four hours early. We would wait for players to arrive and get their signatures with a black felt tip Sharpie pen. It was a crap shoot I'd soon learn. Some players would quickly sign for a couple of people without breaking stride or taking their sun glasses off. Others would treat fans as if they where air and walk right by. The first time I saw Frank Thomas walk up with his six foot five frame holding two hundred and something pounds of muscle - I figured it would be a tough autograph to pull off. He always was dressed as a consummate professional. A full suit with a coat. Nice slacks and a fleece sweater. Not flashy or arrogant but rather, as a man who was there to do a job. Being that he was one of the most talented players on the planet - I expected him to just blow by all the fans. They swarmed up quickly... Clearly everyone had really been waiting for him. It was a shock seeing what happened: Frank walked up to the entrance door. Removed his glasses. Turned around and smiled. He said two words, "Line up!" and then resumed back to smiling. About fifty or a hundred people would stand in a single file line. We all fell into formation. The Big Hurt stood there and signed every autograph. He shook any outstretched hand. He posed for any picture requested. He treated everyone as if they where equals. The respect we had for him as a baseball player was returned to us tenfold as fans. The first time I saw this system - I figured we just came on the right day. Got lucky. It was a priceless moment. I've no clue who won or lost the actual game but I'll never forget that moment. After the stadium emptied, my dad turned to me and asked if I wanted to wait for the players again - this time catching them as they exited. To a seven year old, "sure!" is the only possible response. And so we waited. About two hours later, Frank appeared at the player door, yet again in his professional attire. Everyone saw him and lined up. The man signed autographs for at least another hour. Amazing. And so began a family tradition. For nearly the next decade - we always saw the Sox play in Anaheim. More often than not, Frank would sign for hours before or after a game... Sometimes both. Unbelievable. Consistent. Humble. Amazing. Powerful. One of a kind. Those are words that not only define his career on the field but they also are appropriate descriptions of his character. Two years ago, right before getting married and starting a family of my own - I had a chance to save up some cash and surprise my dad with a trip to Chicago. It was our first trip to The Homeland after all of those years on enemy grounds. I wrote to Brooks Boyer and told him a little about my Dad and his selfless dedication to me during all of those Sox away games. After so many years waiting around for autographs and seeing the Angles beat our Sox - my pops was finally treated to a surprise on a new level. Brooks instructed me to meet him at the field on our last game of a 7 game set. We arrived an hour before gates opened to the public. He greeted us - shook my dads hand... And walked us into the executive offices. He walked us down under the stadium, by the players locker rooms, and up through the umpire tunnel. We arrived behind home plate. The look on my Dads face was priceless. He had no clue any of this would happen. Standing behind home plate, on the dirt of US Cellular Field... My old man cracked a smile like Frank Thomas always showed and teared up a bit. Bad. Ass. Thanks Frank Thomas for introducing me to the White Sox. Thanks for absolutely crushing baseballs. For inspiring me to play the game. For showing me how to handle success with grace. For affording me the opportunity to know gratitude and show appreciation on a Big Hurt scale. Thanks for leading me to the best organization in all of sports. An organization where everyone from the top down treats each other like a family. Thanks for being a legend of mythic proportion that can now be passed down to a son of my own once he's born this March. He'll be three weeks old when the 2014 season opens this year. He'll be wrapped in his first Sox jersey - watching his first game with Daddy. Here's to hoping that by 2021 - when I go wait around with my boy at first first ball game - that some now unknown player will treat us with so much dignity. I doubt there will ever again be a player of such a Big Hurt magnitude. But hey, here's to hoping... Right. Frank Thomas is already in the Hall of Fame to me. Period.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 11:57 AM) Not with the current pitching staff. They need another starter and they could use the money saved by the cost-controlled core they are putting together to sign a top-of-the-rotation type. If all is going well at the break - I could see them looking at adding a top of the rotation RHP. That's a huge if though. The more I think about our upcoming number 3 pick - the more Hoffman sounds good

Best moment of 2013... The first game of the season. Lol

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 14, 2013 -> 11:22 AM) Don't think my earlier post will truly come to fruition, I'm just merely having some fun with what ifs. I'm hoping for something in the realm of... Eaton- .275/.360 30-40 SBs Abreu- .290/.360 30 HRs Garcia- .270/.320 25 HRs That is very much a realistic possibility. Maybe Garcia 20 HRs and Abreu 35 - but who knows. Garcia at 15 and Abreu at 20 is also possible. I'm of the mindset that success is far more likely than mediocrity. Dunn is also a wild card to me this year. Think he may have his best year with us thus far. That's my bold prediction for 2014.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 09:52 PM) You just said "Tyler Flowers." Dude. You're absolutely right!

QUOTE (winninguglyin83 @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 08:42 PM) His enthusiasm and drive came through with absolute gusto in that interview. Nobody will confuse him with Alex Rios. Double plus good!

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 12, 2013 -> 07:56 PM) Speaking of the Cubs, there's a report on mlbtraderumors that they asked for Stroman, Sanchez and another player for Samardzija. They have no intention of trading him then.

I know he was a highly touted prospect but he's never put it together thus far in the bigs. From what I recall, he's a somewhat questionable defender, strikes out a lot, has a low walk rate, but has the potential to be a cost controlled heavy slugging catcher - especially if paired at the cell. Not overly excited about this prospect but it's worth some discussion.

The Mariners are letting teams know that Jesus Montero and Justin Smoak are available in trade talks, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). The report comes on the heels of the Mariners striking deals to add Corey Hart and Logan Morrison to their lineup.

I have a hunch that we're working on a three team trade with the blue jays involving a swap involving Beckham and Larwrie. Both the Jays and Sox beat writers are reporting teams to be exploring three team trades again... With Anthopoulos being quoted as thinking it gets done. Again... Beckham and Lawrie are just speculation on my part.

QUOTE (Jillian Michaels' Abs @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 05:56 PM) I am a "billable resource" at my "place of employment" and I billed 3 hours today out of the 8 I sat at my desk. *shrug* Yea, today was a killer for the productivity. Lol - better than me brotha. I've been on Soxtalk non-stop for the last 12 hours. Woke up at 6am this morning. My internal trade clock knew something was going down today.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 05:15 PM) I still love Lawrie* as well. He has a very similar make up to Eaton for what it's worth. For serious, yo!

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 05:33 PM) Didn't realize this was looked down upon. I deleted the tweet. Apologies. Atta boy Coco007 for the win!

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 05:18 PM) It seems like we always make moves on the worst possible days. The day I was signed, I had to go to the immigration office to fill out some paperwork. I'm trying to convince the cop I'm 26 when I get a call from my agent saying I signed with you guys. Where you speaking to him in an adjacent bathroom stall while squeezing one out? Hemeroids?

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 05:07 PM) Today was a struggle, but I pumped out a 2000 word feature story and reflection paper, had it all in by 5 pm, picked up the new Childish Gambino CD and then had a farewell get together for my major. Now off to the Hawks game at a buddy's house. Today was a real busy day all around. People buy CDs still? Whoa.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 03:45 PM) Likely not a casual fan loving blockbuster but consistent with the plan: cost controlled impact with high upside that's an improvement over a Gillaspinger 3B. Give me Lowrie or give me death!!!

QUOTE (coco1997 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 04:57 PM) LOL you just quoted one of my tweets. I took that from something bucket-of-suck said in the Viciedo trade thread. Ding ding ding! We have a winner!! For serious thou - board ediqute is to keep stuff like that in house. It's the right thing to do - as we don't want to go upsetting any insider sources. Catch the drift?

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 04:55 PM) Another trade on the way? That s*** was taken straight off this board.

With the sox finally on the trade wagon... Anyone else feel insanely addicted to the board? I'm feeling like I'll be glued to the damn phone for days. Poop. Hey, reading material! Score!! Bring it Rick.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 04:40 PM) keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 1h .@maedwilson I don't believe Avi Garcia is ready/best off starting in majors What more does Garcia have to do? Prove he can hit an inside fastball. GMAFB. He's had enough time in the minors and has absolutely raked. In two separate showings in the show, he was above average. Dudes ready.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 04:00 PM) I'd guess the mariners would have more interest in Viciedo, they are starved for power. Not sure who I'd prefer between Franklin and Ackley. Highly assumed presumption - based on the trade of Eaton... Even if Seattle gave in with Franklin - that offers likely off the table.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Dec 10, 2013 -> 03:30 PM) BOOM goes the ISF DYNOMITE!