Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 1, 2016 -> 09:58 AM) f***ing up a rebuild and punting on a decade is an absolutely stupid way to respond to "a clear lack of direction". But the game has changed and it's nearly impossible to take that long to rebuild a club if done the right way. The combination of high draft picks and huge bonus pools (amateur & international) gives the worst teams a huge edge in rebuilding. Nothing is obviously fool-proof, but we could have the best system in baseball and a young necleus of talent at the major league level by selling Sale, Quintana, etc. and having three strong draft classes on top of the one we just had. We're in a very unique situation in that we could kick off a rebuild by selling off three of the top 30 assets in baseballs in a huge seller's market. It gives us a headstart no other rebuilding team has had. Again, nothing is fool-proof, but we have a better chance of reaching the playoffs in the next five years with a "blow it up" strategy than another "half ass / go for it" strategy. Unless ownership is willing to spend and the front office can actually execute their offseason plan (both unlikely based on last year), there is really only one choice here. Blow this s*** up and let's start building towards sustainable success.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 1, 2016 -> 09:35 AM) We haven't seen anywhere near the worst. We didn't go decades without being over .500. Wow, it really seems like you're ok being stuck in the MLB version of NBA hell. That's awesome we float right around .500 each year and pretend to be competitive for a few months, but that doesn't change the underlying fact we're never legit playoff contenders. So while other teams pick a clear direction and reap the rewards (playoff runs or huge bonus pools), we remain in a perpetual cycle of mediocrity because we're afraid things can get worse in the short-run. And guess what's going to happen when Sale leaves for nothing in three years? Thinge have to get worse before they can get better, otherwise we're simply delaying the inevitable. How many other teams do you see rebuilding on the fly? That should tell you everything you need to know about how stupid our approach to organzation building is and explain exactly why we're in this version of NBA hell.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 1, 2016 -> 10:08 AM) All great reasons they shouldn't be actively shopping Sale and/or Q. If teams want to come to you, and blow you away, hey great, you listen and make it work. If not, you still have Q and Sale. And what, ride off into the sunset of mediocrity until we lose Sale in a few years? Holding onto Sale & Quintana is pointless if you're never going to be able to build a winner around them. Obviously you don't give them away, but their value will never be higher than this offseason and if this magical haul some posters are expecting isn't there, then maybe you need to reset your expectations. There will be enough bidders this offseason to get fair market value for them, whatever that may be. I've said this so many times, but the absolute worst thing this franchise can do is hold onto these guys and end up getting nothing in return and not winning s***. There needs to be a sense of urgency this offseason to either to buy talent around them or to aggressively sell them. Waiting to be overwhelmed is the worst approach for a team in dire need of a clear direction.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Sep 1, 2016 -> 09:39 AM) The White Sox aren't in a position as an organization to be giving up any draft picks to sign free agents. Then they should be selling. They can't realistically expect to fix the team in free agency without giving up picks.

I'd really like to see Coats get a legit look. Given the lack of talent in our organization, we definitely need to see if there's any chance Jason is part of the long-term puzzle. Doubtful, but better than giving Shuck & Avi more at-bats.

I'm going to be hard-pressed to support this franchise if Avi is back in any meaningful role. He's been below replacement level four years in a row, it would be an utter slap in the face to our fanbase to trot him back out there for another season. Having said that, I seriously doubt he's on the roster next year. I think it's far more likely they hand Tilson the CF job, which would also be a complete joke.

QUOTE (IowaSoxFan @ Aug 31, 2016 -> 03:08 PM) ESPN reports the team that claimed him was only really interested in blocking him from getting to another team. That makes me think Twins, based on the public knowledge that the White Sox have/had interest. No offense, but this literally makes no sense. Small-market teams that are 33 games below .500 aren't blocking teams, let alone blocking a team that's 4th place in the division. I have no idea how you could rationally come to this conclusion.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 31, 2016 -> 12:23 PM) Go back and read what I wrote. He and Avi are very similar offensively at this point. Why is that inaccurate? Who cares what a guy did in 2013 in 2017? He's in AAA. He has to be a colossal bozo. Why would he suddenly thrive with the White Sox? And as I pointed out and you ignored, Avi is probably a non tender. If Avi had Puig's defense, what would you say if the Sox gave him a 2 year $12 million extension, 2/3s of what is owed Puig? Sorry, but comparing Puig to Avi is just wrong. Puig has had two elite offensive seasons plus put up a solid one as recently as 2015. Meanwhile, Avi has accomplished nothing at the major league level across multiple seasons (best is a wRC+ of 100) and is a horrible defender & base-running on top of it. Whether taking a chance on Puig's incredible upside would be a smart move is up for debate, but it's nothing like taking that same chance on Avi, who has proven he's a terrible baseball player.

Humanity's need to jump on a bandwagon is pretty impressive.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Aug 30, 2016 -> 11:41 AM) He's just 20 years old in AA. I'd give him some time. Although, his wikipedia page says he's 118. I'm not writing him off by any means, but let's not get overly excited over a five start stretch in which he's striking out less than 4.5 batters per nine innings. Plain and simple, that isn't going to translate to the majors. Having said that, there's still plenty of time for his stuff to bounce back and get closer to 7-8 K's per nine innings.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Aug 29, 2016 -> 10:44 PM) FutureSox ‏@FutureSox Spencer Adams last 5 starts: 33.1 IP, 12 R, 10 ER (2.70 ERA), 15 K, 3 BB, 31 hits allowed. 15 K's in 33.1 innings is pretty bad. He's not going to maintain anything close to that ERA without striking out more guys.

I may be in the minority here, but I really liked the first few seasons of True Blood. It got bad prett quickly, but it was really good for a short stretch IMO.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 29, 2016 -> 08:45 PM) Doesn't he lose some of his defensive advantages when you remove him from SS/3B? SSS, but he has a higher UZR/150 at 2B than SS or 3B.

Sox need to trade Lawrie in the offseason and make Saladino the everyday 2B.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 29, 2016 -> 10:32 AM) Leagues with salary caps aren't any more competitive than MLB, right? And it sure as heck won't drive prices of anything but players' salaries down. What salary cap league isn't more competitive than MLB? The NBA is probably the lone exception and that's due to a lack of stars relative to teams and a desire amongst players to live/work in big markets. A salary cap would be awesome for MLB.

Sopranos The Wire Game of Thrones Without question the best three, just not sure the order. And where is the Oz love? A truly entertaining show despite its shortcomings.

What's crazy is we entered the 2016 offseason with two position players coming off 2+ WAR seasons, suggesting numerous places to potentially upgrade. And despite additions at 3B, 2B, SS, CF, & C, the front office was unable to add a single 2+ WAR player. To add insult to injury, the guy they gave the majority of at-bats at DH is sporting an 85 wRC+. How in the world can Jerry Reinsdorf consider these facts and not make sweeping changes in the front office?

I'm confused, was Berlin actually a Sox fan growing up or did he become a token one when became a limited partner?

While I will fully acknowledge that I'm overreacting to this news, let's not pretend this name change is meaningless. Brands do matter and this joke of a name and logo doesn't help ours. And while many of us will get over this eventually, the name will continue to be the butt of jokes for years to come. Hell, two local sporting entertainment rivals have already mocked us over this, that should tell you something.

I've thought long and hard about this and have come to the conclusion that this is the worst stadium name ever. I seriously can't think of three words in the entire English language that sound as clunky as "Guaranteed Rate Park" when used together. I really hope there are plans for some serious ballpark upgrades, but it doesn't sound like the Sox get a lick of this money otherwise. Really not a good time to be a White Sox fan.

Over/under on Shields runs allowed tonight? I'll say +/- 5.5 and go with the over.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 07:02 PM) I think his point was who even goes to that level to think of that based upon rate. Yes, it is a one letter switch, but I just don't think of that and just mentioning it / joking about that being a name (not saying you did) is just despicable in my book. Fair enough.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 06:55 PM) We can't control social media or what Cubs fans say. We all can control what we say on this site. There are plenty of jokes to be had without stooping to rape jokes Where did I make a rape joke? All I posted is no one should be surprised that Cubs fans will be making such jokes, since Y2Jimmy seemed so shocked by the mere notion of it.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 06:45 PM) Why do people keep saying guaranteed rate? I would not have even thought of that if not posted here. It's completely unnecessary, unfunny, kind of stupid. Well be prepared to hear it a lot more, because there will be Cubs fans using that zinger left and right going forward.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Aug 24, 2016 -> 06:37 PM) Sox hit #1 in America on twitter trends today. That's like the most relevant we've ever been. That's like saying Jared the Subway guy was the most relevant he's ever been after being arrested for child pornography.