flavum

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jan 8, 2013 -> 08:04 PM) It all depends on whether he was hurt after June or became old all of a sudden. If he was hurt and is now healthy, then I feel like he'll play another 5-6 years and challenge for 600. Watching him hit early in the year was truly a work of art. He figured the game out to a degree that most never do, truly taking what the pitcher gave him. He was fast-tracking to the HoF the last few years and I hope it was just some injury. Only guy that can hit .400 and I want to see it Wait, what?

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Jan 8, 2013 -> 02:14 PM) I don't think he gets there. Highly unlikely he hits 34 this year and I just have a feeling that this is his last summer in a Sox uniform. Agreed, I think he hangs them up after this season.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2013 -> 01:44 PM) That whole post is up for debate. There is an ethics part of the Hall of Fame process. Why should that be ignored? The "character clause" is there, but even though I don't personally equate spitballs/corked bats/amphetamines with anabolic steroids, the Hall already has players that are less than great people in there. Even though I like the Hall debates, this isn't life and death, and the Hall of Fame isn't some Heaven on Earth either. It's just a museum. So I think they should just let the best players of each era in, and let the people make up their minds. If that means putting Joe Jackson and Pete Rose in too, fine.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 7, 2013 -> 01:41 PM) Because last year's team spent a majority of the season in first place? You can think that way if you want, but the 2012 White Sox didn't cross the finish line in first. To me, with the extra wildcard, my standard for the Sox is, "How do we get to 90 wins?" Right now, I don't see it with this team. Even if the Sox have a 5 game lead on July 4th, they really haven't earned our trust that they can beat the Tigers head-to-head. The Sox don't play the Tigers until July 9th, and then they play 19 games. For me, I'll try to enjoy the Sox season if they play good baseball, but as far as trusting that they'll cross the finish line in first place or with 90 wins, I'll believe it when I see it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 7, 2013 -> 12:47 PM) There needs to be an embarrassment. Baseball deserves it for trying to ignore what happened over the last 20-30 years and pretending it never happened. There are guys I want to see get in, but I am OK with them missing out if it forces baseball to give some public guidance here. Yeah, it's one of those things where they just have to let the best players in and let the people make up their own minds. It's common sense that even if they put in players that weren't caught, some of them will get in. Say Piazza, Bagwell, and Biggio get in in a few years. Then the list of 104 comes out down the line and one or more of them were on the list. How do you kick guys out of the Hall? And it's very possible there are players already in the Hall that took the modern PEDs anyway. It's just a mess. The Hall voting process will have to change in the next couple years for sure, because it should be about the players getting in and not about who voted for whom.

Wednesday is going to be an embarrassing day for the Hall I think. Based on some of the exit polling, it's highly unlikely anyone gets in this year. They're going to have to do one of two things with the voting right away: 1) Let the writers vote for anyone on the ballot (unlimited instead of 10) or 2) Stop letting them vote. You can't have all of these slam dunk choices finish with 50-60%, while adding Maddux, Glavine, Thomas, Kent, and Mussina next year. The process is broken, and it has to change right away.

MLB Network's Hot Stove is doing a "Face of the Franchise" segment each day. The White Sox are up on Monday, and Konerko will undoubtedly win that. Hawk Harrelson will be on to talk Sox too for those interested in watching or recording it. 8-10am

The Sox obviously haven't been able to do everything they want to do, but it's a weird market out there this year. This may be a year where trades happen during spring training more than usual. The Sox will be in Milwaukee 12 weeks from today for exhibition games. I'll try not to judge the roster until then.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 3, 2013 -> 08:13 AM) I just read that Gordo is actually engaged to Scott Fletcher's daughter. Damn I feel old now. I popped in the final game at Comiskey Park over the weekend, and it was interesting to see the White Sox players-- Fisk- future Hall of Famer Thomas- rookie- future Hall of Famer Sosa- traded to the Cubs a year later, steroids allowed him to hit over 600 HR Guillen- future Sox manager. 15 years later, won the World Series Ventura- rookie, future Sox manager Calderon- murdered Fletcher- Sox 2B, daughter would later marry Sox future 2B who was 4 when this game was played Johnson- One Dog one of a few to play for Sox, Cubs, Yankees and Mets McDowell- future Cy Young winner The Mariners also had a young Ken Griffey Jr, his dad, and Omar Vizquel who could be the last active player to play in Comiskey Park. The final out was Harold Reynolds who is still around at MLB Network.

Merry Christmas to all! Pitchers and Catchers report in 7 weeks!

Good.

I'll admit, the lack of action is unsettling. But the Sox fans aren't alone in waiting for good news. Just have to be patient and see what this roster looks like in a couple months. It certainly isn't fair to judge Rick Hahn as a GM yet. There's nothing to go by at all really.

Jeff Gray is listed as one of the Sox non-roster invitees.

AJP and his agent are meeting with the Rangers today.

It seems like the rest of baseball is telling AJ that he and the White Sox are made for each other. Personally, I'm ready for the Sox to move on. But if they got him back at 1 year/5 mil, I wouldn't be disappointed.

Safe to say the Blue Jays, Tigers, and Angels all have to win their divisions in 2013 in order to be a good year. Then you have the rest of the East teams, the Royals, the White Sox, the Rangers, the A's...probably even the Mariners, thinking they can compete in 2013. The Indians, Twins and Astros will be under-.500 teams in the AL, but for the other 12 teams...4 or 5 of them are going to be a lot worse than what they think they can be.

Twins sign Mike Pelfrey. They're collecting warm bodies.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Dec 14, 2012 -> 10:04 AM) Weekend? When was the last time the Sox made a move on a weekend in the offseason? The one that stands out was the McCarthy/Danks deal. That was a Saturday night before Christmas in 06. But they usually like to announce stuff when they'll get attention--which makes sense.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Dec 14, 2012 -> 09:58 AM) I am making a prediction...the Sox will make a BIG move this week-end! It has been WAY too quiet! Wrong thread.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 14, 2012 -> 09:24 AM) Smyly takes over the 5th starter spot in that case or do they have someone else behind him? Yeah, I think they like Smyly. Plus he's a lefty.

Watch the Tigers move Porcello to Pittsburgh in a Hanrahan deal.

Rangers home opener against the Angels.

5/125

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 13, 2012 -> 01:14 PM) I don't know why anyone would negotiate with Hamilton as long as he was going to give Texas a chance to match the offer. It seems like you would be doing all the work for them. That was my thought too. I just hope this gets resolved today, so the Mariners (or Rangers) can move on to Bourn...and after that the trade market can open up for the White Sox to do something.

Angels and Hamilton are close to an agreement. Your move Michael Bourn.