Y2Jimmy0

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 06:33 PM) Yes, I would take Bickford over a bat because pitchers are per say easier to develop. Bickford could theoretically be ready right away, barring injury or bad season. Bickford will not be available. If by some chance he is, Rick Hahn will run to the podium himself if he is in attendance.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 07:53 PM) A CEO's job is to improve the company's bottom line, so I guess he shouldn't give a f*** about his employees' well-being if it results in more profit right? May I ask what you do for a living? Would you be ok being let go from your job a year into it despite being a very solid performer? I know I'd be enraged if I was Renteria and I'd feel the exact same way if I was another member of their organization. Loyalty and trust are key elements of sustainability for all organizations. So you can say Theo doesn't owe Renteria anything, but why should Theo's employees trust him if they can be so easily discarded if something better suddenly comes along. Don't get me wrong, the move will likely help the Cubs in the short-run, but that doesn't mean there won't be long-term consequences. You can't treat your employees like s*** and expect loyalty in return. Wrong. It's professional sports. You always have something until something better comes along. If Joe Maddon gives the Cubs the best chance to win now and into the future they shouldn't pass that up because Rick did a decent job last year. I am a teacher. Don't compare you or I to professional sports. It's not the same. Renteria is getting paid his entire salary still and will latch on somewhere else. Theo would have done a disservice to the organization to not explore getting Joe Maddon. I can't believe anyone is even arguing this fact.

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 06:56 PM) It is and then throw the Montas' potential into the mix and it makes ya think, holy s***! Not just Montas. Add Danish, Adams, and Luis Martinez to that mix as well. Best the pitching in the system has been in a loooong time.

I wasn't on board with paying him 4 years and $50 million like he wants. The problem is that he will definitely get more than that in the offseason. If the Bulls are definitely planning on matching any deal, they should probably just agree to this current deal.

QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 05:27 PM) I understand that this is a good move for the Cubs. Their fans should be excited. However, the slurping from the media gets old. If the Sox were making this move, it wouldn't even register in local media. Espn 1000 would have Doug Padilla on and ask him a few questions and that would be it. No Plesac, Law, etc. that have or will be on because it's the Cubbies. I'm past the point where I root against the Cubs. I am rooting against Theo & Crew. I want them to fail because of the media worship they get. It's obviously everywhere because it's the Cubs but it'd get a lot of play if the White Sox did it. For sure it would. Many shows in town on radio would cover it. Mully is a huge Sox fan. Bernstein is a Sox fan. Carmen DeFalco is a Sox fan. Laurence Holmes and Jonathan Hood at night on both stations are both Sox fans. Also, Plesac is a Cubs guy. Law has been a fan of what the Sox have done recently and even praised Hahn in a recent chat (I posted it in the Minor League Catch-All). So yes it's a big deal because it's the Cubs but hiring one of the best managers in baseball would have been a big story anywhere.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 06:10 PM) No offense, but this is what any employer would say when they let go of an employee. I'm not sure why you're so impressed by the quote. At the end of the day, Theo did not give Renteria a fair shot at the job. Don't get me wrong, hiring Maddon likely helps the organization right now, but let's not applaud a man for a lack of loyalty to one of his own people. He doesn't owe Renteria anything. His job is to get the Cubs closer to a World Series. If he feels like hiring Maddon does that, then it is the right move.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 06:31 PM) Back to baseball. Chad Billingsly is now a free agent. Could be low risk, high reward type guy. Maybe try him even in the bullpen. I just tweeted something similar.

QUOTE (whtsoxfan @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 04:42 PM) Kind of like how they treated Sandburg. I've never heard of Sandburg. Who is he?

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 04:16 PM) 40 man is really 34. Konerko (retiring) Lindstrom (free agent) Jones(60 day DL) Who has to get added to protect from rule 5?

Ben Badler and Josh Norris of Baseball America were discussing the Yankees system being underrated on twitter. Badler said that there are many systems that are worse. I suggested the Angels and asked his thoughts on the White Sox. He said that Angels and White Sox both near the bottom still. I disagree. I think White Sox are firmly in the mid to late teens but here is the chat transcript: Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 1h1 hour ago It's trendy to take shots at the Yankees farm system, but I'm looking at some of our Top 30s. Several teams in much worse shape. James Fox ‏@JamesFox917 47m47 minutes ago @jnorris427 @BenBadler Angels the worst system? White Sox out of the 20s and into the teens yet? Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 42m42 minutes ago @JamesFox917 @jnorris427 They're both toward the bottom of the pack for me. James Fox ‏@JamesFox917 41m41 minutes ago @BenBadler @jnorris427 Really? Rodon, Adams, Danish, Montas, Anderson, Johnson, Hawkins? They have 3-4 top 100 guys. Much improved system Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler 39m39 minutes ago @JamesFox917 @jnorris427 They have a few good prospects at the top, but no better than what the majority of teams have. The rest is thin. James Fox ‏@JamesFox917 37m37 minutes ago @BenBadler @jnorris427 Interesting. Ill take my chances with their pitching. Most theyve had in years. Not saying much though.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 01:52 PM) David Schuster 1 min · Chicago, IL · Renteria is gone. Maddon announcement shortly I like the quote that Theo used: "It came down to be loyal to Rick or be loyal to the organization". "The organization is more important that one single person". Exactly.

I'd be stunned if the White Sox gave up their 2nd rounder and the ability to spend that bonus number to sign Victor Martinez. Stunned.

Dan (Chicago) One doesn't hear much mention of Rick Hahn as a top-flight GM, but his track record thus far suggests he's quite good at his job. What are your impressions of him? Klaw (4:43 PM) I think he's been a top-flight GM so far. They've become a much better drafting/developmental org since he took over. I was talking to a scout there I've been friendly with for a long time, and I could hear his excitement about all of the arms they've got - and he's right. It's the best group of pitching prospects they've had in a decade.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 10:14 AM) What lures free agents is money. Joe's a nice guy but I didn't see any of the big names take a pay cut to play for him in Tampa. This is absolutely true. Players play for money. That's the most overrated part of this whole thing. Free Agents will not come to the Cubs because Joe Maddon is there. It might be another reason to go, but the money will tell the story.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) Many were talking about his strikeout rates before he ever got called up. Sure they were but he is always going to be a high strikeout guy.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 10:02 AM) Kris Bryant deserved the call up which kind of shoots down my marketing theory but he is more of a money risk by bringing him up early. With Maddon he should start opening day. The cubs position is a glamorous role for some reason that affected the predecessors negatively the question will be how he reacts. Bryant will not be on the Cubs on Opening Day. He will stay down for as long as possible. I don't have the dates. They have to insure themselves that they have him for as long as possible because there will be no extension. It's 6 years and then free agency.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 08:13 AM) If you could sign Josh Johnson to a non-guaranteed contract, I'd be OK with it, but nothing beyond that. White Sox were interested in Josh Johnson last year. I'd sign him to a 1 year deal for $3 million with an option for 2016 for innings pitched or something.

QUOTE (Friend of Nordhagen @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:54 AM) Soler, yes. Baez, no. Baez didn't play well when he got to Chicago but he'd shown enough at Iowa to earn the callup. Don't look at this in hindsight.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:16 AM) Was talking to a cub fan friend last night and he expressed a little concern that this is the same as the Lou Pinella hiring. While everyone understands on the surface this is a good/great move, the part of Maddon bringing hoopla to a team that could have simply played baseball and progressed under Renteria who did a pretty good job gets lost. As with bringing up Soler and Baez last year the cub seems to be going toward the marketing angle of things. Also how are the Tigers and Maddon not a match made in heaven. How was bringing up Soler and Baez done for marketing? Sure it may give an attendance boost but those guys were ready to come up.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:54 PM) I hope the Cubs get whacked pretty good on this. They have embarrassed and left a good man hanging in the breeze in Renteria. I hope the new commish whacks the Cubs silly. They ought to give the Rays a choice of one player off their current 40 man roster and two minor leaguers. That would be crazy to lose a stud player over a manager. Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now? Their choice of a player off the 40 man? That's dumb. It's part of the business. Renteria was fine last year but if you have the chance to hire Joe Maddon you do it. I'm sorry but I wouldn't not explore the possibility of hiring one of the best managers in the game whose thinking is in tune with the front office because Rick Renteria is under contract.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 01:47 AM) Yeah, I just think you'd have to trade away some reasonably valuable young player(s) to get two years of Lind. I don't think it will take that much. Reading the stuff that has come out of Toronto, it sounds like they have to deal him because they want the $$ to sign Melky. I think you can get him for a decent price.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 07:16 PM) Only thing I like is the jerseys Those Cavs jerseys are awesome. It's also awesome that they have the visiting team come out to NwO theme music.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 04:42 PM) I just heard the older guy on PTI say it. PTI is still on? I think you guys need to watch better television...

timdierkes ‏@timdierkes 1m1 minute ago Felipe Paulino has been told his $4MM club option will not be picked up by the White Sox.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 02:22 PM) No, but what do you think about the "Historic Signing"? What is that implying? I don't think they used those terms when the Sox signed Jerry Manuel. Not sure. That's a headline writer that does that though. Not Wittenmeyer. It will be historic in the sense that he's probably going to make about $30 million.