Y2Jimmy0

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:13 AM) Very well. Ventura isn't going to be around much longer. Enjoy yourselves in the interim. What if they win 85 games?

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:14 AM) I'm interested in why they haven't signed an insurance policy for if Avi bombs. AJax is right there. AJax is probably more expensive than we think.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:31 AM) While I completely agree with you on the moves theyve made so far this offseason, RF is just such a glaring hole right now and it's pretty inexcusable to have not addressed it already. Even if they do roll out with Avi as the starter, not having insurance if he fails is a massive failure on their part. Now, if you go pick up Austin Jackson, Im pretty good with this offseason. If you are going to try selling me on Avi again though, I've already seen that song and dance from the Sox. I think tomorrows town hall with Rick is going to be very tense. Partly sad I'm not going to witness it, but happy I'm not going to waste my time listening to his stock answers. They've obviously explored replacing Garcia though. I don't think they are going into the season thinking that they are totally set in RF otherwise they wouldn't have been interested in Cespedes/Gordon. They have multiple agendas though which has always been the problem. They'd like to upgrade but also want to keep their draft picks. They'd like to upgrade but they won't and shouldn't trade Fulmer/Adams/Anderson. It's just a tough spot. Their system isn't good enough to keep trading guys from it and they are 16th in payroll and haven't really shown that they want to be much higher. I'd like Jackson as well but Boras is going to hold out for the best deal possible. Not sure what happens but I do believe that they are exploring ways to improve more.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 11:04 PM) Lol, of course. Not sure how they lost out on Carmouche with all the need at LB. Have 4-5 Scholes left. Let's save it from complete disaster. Shane Richards- juco OL, ok state verbal. I thonk hell end up in champaign though. Just visited Sadarius Hutcherson- So Carolina verbal would probably be our best commit if they can get him. He's visiting this weekend. Dele Harding- He's pretty much a must. And he should commit to Illinois. Last decent LB prospect were in on since Carmouche chose elsewhere. Was a UT verbal now down to Rutgers and Illinois. Visiting this weekend. Tadarryl Marshall- lot of decent offers and for some reason is visiting illinois this weekend. David Montgomery- Iowa State commit, visiting this weekend. Only rb were in on. Not a position of need but he's a good prospect to see what up anyways. Trevour Simms- Mizzou commit or something, I don't know. He's flipped like 10 times. Land 2-3 of those kids and I'll maybe be okay with the class. Doubt we even do that. Lot of people visiting this weekend, they better get some committs. HF OL/DL Desmond Bland is going to an Arizona JUCO because he can't get in literally anywhere. He'll be in a Power 5 in 2 years. He's a stud. Illinois can hopefully go the JUCO route some. Jihad Ward looked downright lost at times at Illinois. He got coached at the Senior Bowl this week and is probably a top 75 selection now.

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:24 AM) I think the general anger is about the team's lack of success over the last few years, more so than simply missing out out on Upton/Gordon/Cespedes. That's what I am pissed about at least, and the lack of a fruitful farm system. That being said, if you could sign Buehrle to a one-year deal as a longman/spot starter, I would feel a lot better about our rotation depth, which is a huge worry. One injur to Sale/Q/Rodon or lackluster performance by EJ/Danks, we have a huge hole in the rotation without an obvious candidate to step in. Last year was the first year that they were supposed to compete though. Be angry about last year. The two years prior weren't really compete years though.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 07:11 AM) They have the worst head coach in the NBA. I think Thibodeau takes the Lakers job next year honestly. They'll probably in the mix for Durant and have a top 3 pick.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:16 AM) Hahn better be wearing a bulletproof vest at SoxFest. I think that it is going to be REALLY tense there. Even with Frazier and Lawrie, most Sox fans want more, including myself. I actually disagree with this. I think it'll be fine. They are betting on some bounceback which they have to. They thought (wrongly) that last year's team was a playoff contender. They were horrible and still finished 5 wins away from being .500. They upgraded a lot this offseason and they might not be finished.

If Buehrle does retire, he gets the number retired this year right? Maybe a statue as well?

QUOTE (Dunt @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 08:13 AM) I dont think anything is going to take that taste out of Sox fans mouths right now It wasn't an unsuccessful offseason just because Gordon and Cespedes went back to their teams though. I really don't think it'll be a tense environment at SoxFest. I'm not positive that they're done adding from the way they are talking and this team is much improved from a year ago.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 29, 2016 -> 06:28 AM) Not to mention Saladino and Erik Johnson have to be better than replacement level... Right now, Lawrie's starting around 22nd in the 2b rankings. He needs to be 13-17. And the defensive chemistry between him and Tyler is critical to establish from the beginning of spring training, not just the last couple of weeks after all the roster cuts. They know what Sanchez can and can't do already, same with Leury Garcia. I think Saladino will easily be better than replacement level with defense alone.

Not sure if this is thread worthy but RV was just on SportsTalk Live on CSN. Kaplan asked him about Cespedes/Gordon pursuit and if it was a real thing. He said that interest was definitely real but it's ultimately up to those guys and they both wanted to return their teams. Who knows if that's really the case or not but it's a good discussion point. He said they were realistic options though. He also said that everyone called about Tim Anderson all offseason.

They are pretty awesome.

Should change the thread title to Fister in the Astro

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 08:14 AM) No. Okay. The jumbotron there is absurd. And the White Sox one os bigger than that one.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 08:08 AM) The boards really were no big deal to me, but I admit, I am excited to see these in action. The Soldier Field boards are really nice, and a huge upgrade. The boards they had before were like watching standard def on a high def TV with it all stretched out. One problem with the Soldier Field boards, the ads still took up most of the board space most of the time, but when they took them down for a reply it was fantastic. That said, I don't think the boards will attract anyone to the game. It will enhance the game experience. Did you go to Wrigley at all last year?

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 07:48 AM) But Span had an injury-marred year, had overhanging concerns in that area (hence the online video and planned public workout) and is older, right? Whereas Fowler performed much better last season. At any rate, I hope we drive up the contract for the Cubs instead of falling victim to desperation and overpaying. Fowler had a horrendous 1st half and a great 2nd. He wants to get paid which is why he isn't signed. Teams would give up the pick to sign him for a bargain. They won't pay him his market value and give up the pick though. Until he takes a lesser deal, he won't be signed in my opinion.

Also, Barreto, Bregman, Seager, and one of the Braves guys probably won't play SS in the majors.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 09:25 PM) No. And I need to make up my mind whether to buy mlb.com this year. I don't think our offseason acquisitions make us a contender. I have zero confidence in Robin's ability to get the team to overachieve. Sox desperately need one more stud hitter to go with Abreu. Abreu almost single handedly gives me a reason to get the mlb package though to go with Sale and Q. How could you not buy it? Just curious. I like the team enough to post on a message board regularly about the team but you are contemplating not paying the $$ to watch them play? I guess I take it for granted because I can watch whenever I want but if I lived out of state I feel like I'd buy it no matter what.

I know some people are angry about the direction that this offseason went but as someone who goes to a ton of games, these boards are going to be awesome

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 28, 2016 -> 07:22 AM) What's the highest salary you would have the White Sox pay him for one, two and three years? Would you stop at three or go to four? How close would you be willing to go to $68-72 million? No chance. That draft pick is worth what, like $10-$15 million on the open market? That's why he isn't signed. Fowler came into the offseason looking at a 4 year $60 million deal. That QO completely saps his value. He should have accepted the QO. I'd say a 3 year deal would be in the $38-$42 million range and a 2 year $24-$28 million would be possible. Denard Span got $31 over 3 years with no QO attached.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 10:36 PM) Cy, this is one heck of a very well thought out post. Well done sir! At first I didn't like the idea of Fowler but after looking closer at his overall game and taking into consideration some valid points made by SoxTalk members, I'm much more open to the idea and am really beginning to like it. I'd love to see Fowler lead off with Eaton batting second. Can you imagine what would go through the pitchers mind if the 6'5" base stealing threat that is Fowler gets on base ahead of Eaton and has to pitch to Eaton's 5'8" strike zone while worrying about Fowler stealing second? Hmmm, I like the idea of Fowler that much more when I look at it that way. I am a bit confused on the pick. I understand that the Sox lose the (currently) #28 pick if they were to sign Fowler so would the pick the cubs received as compensation be at the tail end of the current list of comp picks? I admit that I'm not really sure how that works. Just curious really, I could care less that the pick would fo to the cubs. As a Sox fan, what matters is that the team improves and not to whom the pick goes to. The draft started out 1-30. The Sox have the 3rd pick in the comp round (33) because it goes by record. 5 teams forfeited 1st rounders (Giants, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Royals, Nationals) giving the White Sox the 28th pick in the draft. The Cubs pick for Fowler would be at the end of the comp round. However, the Cubs signed Lackey and Hayward so they lose their 1st 2 picks (1st rounder, and 2nd rounder if they re-sign Fowler) or (1st rounder and comp round) if Fowler signs elsewhere.

Jason Goff was kind of indicating this morning that he thinks Gar Forman gets fired at seasons end. They were joking about Hoiberg yelling at Gar, complaining that he could be back in Ames instead of this. Goff then said something like "Hoiberg only has about 30 more games to yell at Gar" then they commented about cozying up to Paxson instead. It was interesting.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 08:52 AM) Sorry, I was referring to a 4-3. ILB in a 3-4 as the one that will cover slot/TE I gotcha. I think Lee can play WILB in a 34 front. Probably a WLB in a 43 as well.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 08:51 AM) http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseba...very-incomplete Last sentence...without any additions I actually think the White Sox are division and wild card contenders without any more moves. The division isn't great and the AL as a whole is pretty meh. Other additions would help, but they improved 3 giant black holes and I think it's safe to assume some bounceback from their current guys. I don't understand the whole "they are 5th in the division talk". Any of the 5 teams in the Al Central could finish 1st or 5th in my opinion.

QUOTE (bear_brian @ Jan 27, 2016 -> 09:11 AM) I just don't see Desmond as a good answer for us. He is not good defensively, struggled offensively last year, and made $11M last year so is probably unwilling to take a giant salary hit even on a short-term deal. He reminds me in some respects of "Joe Love", and although we need offense, I do not think we can afford to have a poor defensive SS. Plus, he costs us a draft pick. He's not a bad defender.