Buehrlesque

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Jun 2, 2015 -> 03:41 PM) This board just needs a scapegoat SO badly. Reality be damned. I am not a KW fan — frankly, I think he is a pompous and past his shelf life with this organization — but the scapegoating of him does get ridiculous.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Jun 1, 2015 -> 02:27 PM) I don't love the pick either, I think if the three pitchers are off the board you go underslot on one of the college bats. Based on where things sit today, I could see the top 8 7 breaking out like: 1.1 - Diamondbacks - Tyler Jay 1.2 - Astros - Dansby Swanson 1.3 - Rockies - Brendan Rogers 1.4 - Rangers - Alex Bregman 1.5 - Astros - Dillon Tate 1.6 - Twins - Tyler Stephenson 1.7 - Red Sox - Carson Fulmer 1.8 - Thats where the Sox have a conundrum. Reach on Harris, gamble on a HS bat like Cameron or Tucker, or go significantly underslot on one of the best college bats in either Christin or DJ Stewart and use the savings to come back and draft someone like Justin Hooper in round 4 and giving him low 1st round money. This is pretty much worst-case scenario for what'd like to see. If this happens, any chance the Sox take Buehler instead of Harris? Or switch to a hitter and take Benintendi or Happ?

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jun 1, 2015 -> 08:30 AM) Yeah but during the time in which the Sox were "supposed" to be 19-30, the starting pitching has been bad. Isn't it feasible that the starting pitching is awesome for the majority of the season and they outperform the expected record? I think it's a miracle that the Sox are 23-26 with the offense that they've had. I think the offense has to improve slightly and the starting pitching and bullpen is good. I expect this team to finish right around .500 which would be a 7-10 game improvement over last season. That is the most likely scenario, IMO. I love how the AL is anybody's game right now, but the super small margin of error it would take for the Sox to leapfrog 8-9 teams for a Wildcard makes it seem pretty unlikely, even with a potential "good" offense regression coming.

QUOTE (Dunt @ May 29, 2015 -> 10:52 AM) May I ask why? All reports seem to think he can stick behind the plate even with his larger frame. I wouldn't mind a college bat who could be making a difference at the major league level within 2 years, but there doesnt seem to be many of those. Swanson and Bregman will both be gone by then and 8 seems a little high for Happ and Benintendi. First of all, I'm just catcher-averse in general. Great ones are so rare, and good ones hit about .260 with a .320 OBP and 12 HRs and are serviceable 7th place hitters with lots of days off required. Offensively, the reward ceiling is just too low for a top-10 pick, and it's nothing that is going to change the scope of a team. So that's the hope with a high schooler, who will take a long time to develop (and the Sox are notoriously not so good about being patient with promotions anyway). If all the desirable pitchers are off the board, I'd actually rather see Happ there. Don't get me wrong, I think the team, any team, needs a good catcher, and I hope the Sox can develop one on the farm, I just don't think it's worth a top draft pick, especially for a high schooler. When I think of tall, projectable high school catchers, I just think of Kyle Skipworth. It's not fail to put all similar prospects in that bucket, but I'd rather take a calculated risk elsewhere.

Fulmer is the No. 1 target, and I'd be OK with Jay. But if they're both gone, please no Stephenson. I get that people want a catcher, but a high school hitter of any kind makes me wary with this organization.

Interesting perspective, great article. Thanks for writing that!

QUOTE (shysocks @ May 13, 2015 -> 11:31 AM) Dear God people, why is this so difficult to understand? The idea is that another team in Chicago (which you brought up as one that sells out all the time despite ticket price, which I mentioned was because they have been extremely successful at the sport they play) saw attendance fall when their win % did, and then the opposite happened. I have stated that if the Sox won as consistently as the Chicago Blackhawks or Detroit Tigers, or even with a fraction of their consistency, their attendance would have gone up from 2011 to 2014, not down. I think that is an impossible claim to refute, but it's also unfortunately impossible to prove. It has nothing to do with stadium capacity, or number of teams allowed in the postseason, or anything like that. I think the bolded is true of everyone's postulates in this thread. No one's technically "right" or "wrong" because it can't fully be proven. And it doesn't have to be 100% "Sox fans are excuse-making, fickle jerks" OR 100% "Sox team doesn't win enough or try to" anyway. It's probably a combination of things. I think both camps are right to an extent. Sox fans are fickle (and skeptical) — it's not enough for the team to be good (2012) or for management to put an "all in" effort to make the team good (2011, 2015). The front office has to generate a lot of buzz in the offseason AND the team has to play really well in the ensuing season. Unfortunately, this has NEVER happened in recent White Sox memory. Either the team has been unexpectedly good with lower expectations (2008, 2012) or they've been built up with acquisitions and expectations and then thoroughly disappointed (2011, 2015 among others). Sox fans don't buy in in either scenario. The stuff about the Sox being a small market team because of city market share and unresponsive fans, while based in fact and somewhat true, is overblown. The Sox can spend, and have spent. The frustrating part there is that management has put the effort into winning to attract fans, and the team always disappoints in those circumstances, which turns off the fans! At the same time, there are tons of other facts limiting attendance (location, aesthetics, etc.) If the Sox had a beautiful, super new or super retro-new, downtown stadium, they would draw more easily. Unfortunately, they don't. I like the Cell, but objectively it's a generic-looking stadium, without an "aura," located substantially out of the way of the heart of the city. To me, it's an inertia thing. More fans being at the park begets more fans coming to the park. When there's no one there (often the result of a bad team), the park looks empty, lifeless and uninspiring. Truth is, perception (fair or not) is reality. It doesn't inspire someone watching at home to come out. Even if that random fan watching at home did want to go to a game, they know there's no reason to buy a ticket in advance when they could get it day of game and wait to see their home/work schedule, weather, pitching match ups, etc. And so by the time that game rolls around, they find a weather problem or a work problem or whatever other excuse to prevent them from going to the game. Basically, I think it takes commitment and execution from both sides — the team and the fans. The team has to build a winner AND they have to win to get the ball rolling. The fans have to come out and support it. I don't think Sox fans will ever just blindly come out to the Cell, it's just not going to happen. Once the ball is rolling, the rest will begin to take care of itself: more winning means more fans, which means more need to buy tickets in advance, which means more fans committing to coming out in advance regardless of match ups, weather, etc. The opposite — lots of walk up sales for a surprisingly serious late season contender — can happen as well: I remember the insane walk-up crowds late summer 2003 . But that is far less reliable. So I do think the onus is on the Sox to start it out, and it is a little more difficult than it is for other major league team, but that's just the way it is. Good news is, if they ever get it right, the effects could be longer-lasting than we've seen. Remember, the Sox were awful in 2007, yet still drew 2.6 million. They'd kill for that kind of number today. Why did they draw so well? Previous seasons' success raised fan interest and forced/inspired them to buy in advance! So the tickets were already sold before the team tanked.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 16, 2015 -> 10:23 AM) I heard alert, aggressive and smart in the Hawk-dominated interview. Maybe we are missing the last piece of the puzzle? Should have hired Rock Raines back. He had 808 sb's. Anyone know why he was let go from Ozzie's staff in the first place?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 15, 2015 -> 02:13 PM) What the $&@# was that, Adam? Dumb baseball IQ again. Stupid to have the bunt play on there at all (my opinion), stupider when the pitcher just walked one guy and hit the next (my opinion), completely and indefensibly stupidest to still have it on with two strikes (fact). Just plain dumb baseball.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 13, 2015 -> 12:29 PM) To stress...the White Sox are probably a pretty good fit for Longoria. They have a long term need at 3b, don't have anyone who could immediately fill that, could probably take on the salary, want to win now, and have the type of top flight player available in their system Tampa bay would want back. The problem is that player is Rodon. IMO, if you're not willing to give up Rodon for him then the conversation ends from the White Sox's side, because the Rays don't have to move him and they ought to wait until they get that level of return for him. This sums it up for me. Things only change if the Rays become motivated to move him, that's where the market will determine the price range. Unless other Top 20 prospects are in play, say the Dodgers offer Urias/Seager or the Cubs offer Russell, there's no reason the Sox would have to include Rodon. If Anderson and a couple of Danish/Montas/Adams take a step forward in 2015 and become Top 50 types, they would comprise a competitive offer. However, in the short term, I agree it's all pretty much moot.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Apr 13, 2015 -> 10:30 AM) 2 of those wouldn't be close to getting Longoria. I think it would take three, plus a few other pieces. Gets you in the door.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 13, 2015 -> 10:22 AM) Sure they do. Say goodbye to Carlos Rodon Probably not Rodon. But almost certainly two and possibly three of Anderson, Danish, Montas and Adams.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Apr 13, 2015 -> 09:51 AM) I was really hoping Longoria was a trade target this offseason. He would be one of the few players I wouldnt mind giving up a bit for in terms of prospects. Eaton Cabrera Longoria Abreu LaRoche Avi Alexei Soto Johnson That would be a dangerous lineup What a line up that would be.

And yes, Berman was awful, embarrassingly awful, in announcing that series. A complete joke that only looks worse in retrospect.

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Apr 13, 2015 -> 09:02 AM) I thought it was good, but I wanted to see more highlights. The ones from the El Duque came were the best for me--hadn't seen those outs in awhile. God, did Chris Berman sound disappointed! I remembered his "Oh No!" when the ball went through Tony G's legs in ALDS2, but I saw ALDS3 in a loud bar, and never heard him outdo that before last night. I also wish they'd interviewed Buehrle. I'm sure they tried (they got AJ, Dye, Garland, Rowand, Crede, etc.), so I wonder why it didn't work out.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 27, 2015 -> 03:38 PM) Jason Castro when the Astros are terrible again Dioner Navarro would be an option as well.

Takes Nate Jones' spot on the 40-man. I would guess this only diminishes Brad Penny's already-dreary chances of making the team, as 40-man spots are even more crunched now.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 04:25 PM) Guys like Wilkins, Black and any number of relievers are lower on the ladder than Garcia. The sox are set at 1B and DH for a while. I disagree with the Wilkins part. If LaRoche goes down to injury, who backs him up as a LH 1B/DH? I'd say Wilkins is blocked, but in line for a promotion sooner than Leury, who is blocked by several middle infielders.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Mar 24, 2015 -> 03:30 PM) It's just hard to justify giving up on a guy who costs nothing after 250 PA in the Majors. I don't think his upside is tremendous, but 70 runners that can play all over the field only need to hit a little to be rather useful, and his contact rates aren't so bad as to believe he can't do just that. Like him or dislike him, the point of outrighting Leury isn't just to give up on him, it's to make room on the 40-man for players who are going to have a much clearer impact on the team in 2015. In that context, it doesn't make sense to protect Leury's roster spot while sacrificing major league wins in 2015. Somebody, probably several somebodies, will have to go, and Leury is low man on the totem pole.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 10:22 AM) Leury has options left, why would they release him? They have to outright him off the 40-man to make room. After that, I personally don't care if he sticks around and backs up Saladino and Sanchez at AAA or gets claimed by another team. He's far away from relevance in either case.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 10:10 AM) I'd doubt they get rid of Wilkins. He's actually exactly a guy you want, specifically because of Abreu and LaRoche. You need a slugging 1B type available for call-up as needed, but since they don't have a serious prospect there, you need a Wilkins type for insurance. If you lose Wilkins, then Dan Black becomes that insurance and that makes me far more nervous than Wilkins. I think Wilkins stays. I agree. Wilkins stays, Leury goes.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Mar 19, 2015 -> 02:53 PM) If Beckham had accomplished exactly what he did, but in a different uniform, there would be far more acceptance of his spot on the roster. Agree as well. It's why everyone loves non-tender possibilities from other teams, but doesn't want their own.

QUOTE (LDF @ Mar 9, 2015 -> 10:19 AM) [/b] kind of a bold statement, but while i like your opinion, i don't see it. i think anderson bat maybe ready to make a run for the majors this, but it is field position that is still in question and developing still. i like anderson bat, and don't get me wrong, i really like semien. only time will tell. I hope Anderson turns into an All-Star, and I could see it happening. But I think it's more likely that Semien turns into a league-average infielder than Anderson does. To me, Anderson, highly-rated and toolsy as he is, has a lot more to prove. He has to -hit at the upper minors -learn plate discipline -improve significantly in the field (and/or move to the OF, where the bar will be ever higher for offense) -adjust to the majors That's a lot to do. He has a lot of time to do it, but statistically the chances of him overcoming all these things seem less likely than the one step Semien has: adjusting to the majors. I believe that Anderson has a higher ceiling, but again that is not the only factor at play here.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 9, 2015 -> 09:21 AM) Marcus Semien hit 20 HR with 20 SB and a .400+ OBP in the high minors as a MIF. He does not have a ceiling of "average." He might be likely to become an average player, but I constantly see people refer to players having ceilings that are really more like "realistic output if things go reasonably well" I agree. Now that he is gone, Semien's likely outcome is being confused with his ceiling, possibly as a way to lessen the feeling of loss with him being traded. I am a big Semien fan — good plate discipline, some speed, some power, decent glove. I get that he doesn't have as "loud" of tools or as high of a ceiling as a guy like Tim Anderson, but ceiling isn't everything. I know this may be a minority opinion, but I think when it's all said and done, Seimen will have a better major league career than Anderson.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 24, 2015 -> 11:45 AM) I get the weather issues but have always thought there's a surprisingly simple solution - everyone in the northeast starts the season with a 6 game road trip unless they have a dome. Gets a little cold in the November part too...but that's as much for TV scheduling as anything and I don't want to lose games because TV needs an offday. The problem with this though is that those warm weather/dome teams don't want their home schedule loaded in April either (typically lower-attended games in general, kids in school, etc.). It also could be seen as a competitive disadvantage to have less home games in crunch time at the end of the season.