Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Apr 2, 2013 -> 10:58 AM) Robinson Cano fires Scott Boras, becomes the first client of Roc Nation, owned by Jay-Z. Maybe he should call up Ricky Williams and see how having a rapper representing you works out.

Absolutely disgusting how old most of the guys on our A ball teams are. Seems like we'll have a lot more age appropriate players at AA & AAA than A to start the season.

Winston-Salem's roster should be out sometime this morning per their Twitter feed.

God damn it.

Viciedo will drive him in.

Don't give him anything to hit now.

Nice little play Kepp.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Apr 1, 2013 -> 04:34 PM) Nice to see Flowers punish that mistake pitch. I fully expect him to be just as or even more valuable than AJ this season, at a fraction of the cost. If he can hit .240 or higher, with his power, OBP skills, and defensive abilities, he'll be way more valuable than AJ this year.

Come on Kepp. First and third him.

Here we go.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 1, 2013 -> 09:44 AM) Would I be stupid to say I hope Hawkins is good at High-A, but not too good? I just hope the Sox don't rush him in an attempt to market the next Harper or Trout. Because he probably isn't. Honestly, if you look at the depth charts above him, I don't see it happening. Mitchell, Thompson, & Walker are all starting the year in AA or above. Plus you have some minor league depth guys / fringe prospects like Danks, Tekotte, & Short in the mix as well. I think it's almost 100% likely he get to AA this season and a decent chance he gets some ABs at AAA at some point, but I really think one of the six guys I mentioned above would get first crack at a major league job this year, whether it's a starting or backup role.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 1, 2013 -> 09:17 AM) 1B? That's interesting. If he slides to 1B, he'd better develop some power. Kanny just tweeted that link as the correct roster - that is the one. If it was the winter one, it wouldn't have Brennan, the Johnsons, etc. A few head-scratchers on that roster... --Who is playing 1B? Ravelo sliding over, or Zac Fisher? --Buddy Bell had said the Brennan-Beck-Hansen group would move together... apparently not. Beck is at A+, Brennan at A-, not sure where Hansen is. --Offensively, that is not a real strong unit. Ravelo, Micah Johnson are the only two guys probably worth watching. Maybe Kiser. --On the pitching side though, some fun names. Olacio, Brennan, Leyer, Hardin, Kibby, Jaye and Gunter all worth keeping an eye on. Looks like the rotation will be Brennan, Olacio, Kibby, Jaye and Leyer. Although there is that rumor about Lopez as well. I'm still hoping Barnum is called up to Kannapolis to play 1B when he gets fully healthy. I just think he's too high of a draft pick to only play short-season ball this year. Otherwise, an ugly group of position playing prospects on the roster. Also a bit surprised neither of the HS catchers we selected last year made Kannopolis' roster. I'm cool with a longer development cycle for them, but I guess you wonder what happens next year if both are ready for low A. Hard to give two solid catching prospects on the same team enough playing time behind the plate, but I guess that's a good problem to have.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Mar 31, 2013 -> 12:09 PM) Because we had to give them SOMETHING. 98% of the Pierre trade was them dumping salary and getting rid of him. Agree. Wasn't Pierre on the Dodgers' bench the season before we acquired him? The move might have been a big move for Ozzie, but I'm pretty sure most people saw it as a salary dump for the Dodgers and a desperation move by the Sox to find a leadoff hitter and get Ozzie some speed.

For everyone suggesting we draft multiple lineman in the draft, seems to me we now have 8 guys under contract with a high probability of being on the opening day roster: Bushrod Slauson Garza Carimi Scott Webb Williams Brown Honestly, we just need to add one interior lineman in the draft and we should be set for next year. Obviously long-term there are still issues, but this isn't going to be an overnight process. Bushrod definitely helps though and if Carimi and/or Webb can step up this year, we might be in better shape than we all think.

QUOTE (Jake @ Mar 30, 2013 -> 12:42 AM) Agree, would be a short term problem and a huge long term gain. The Yankees aren't the perfect comp because people never got so pissed in the first place, but yeah they're fine. The Yankees are a franchise loved by its fanbase for winning throughout its history, the Cubs are the lovable losers with the cool, old-school stadium and party-like atmosphere. There really is no comparison. If they move away from Wrigley and the surrounding area, they'll need to win consistently to draw fans a high level, just the Sox have to. Sounds like a long-term loss to me.

QUOTE (kev211 @ Mar 30, 2013 -> 12:34 AM) Anyone who thinks the cubs wouldn't survive outside of wrigley is delusional. Their massive fan base would easily support them in a new stadium. They'd draw so much more people from the northern suburbs. I'd actually be afraid if they moved. New facilities would do a lot of things for that franchise. Then again the white sox would technically be the only team inside the city then. I couldn't disagree more. They may draw better from the northern suburbs, but they'd draw significantly less from the city. Wrigley is one of the biggest parts of the Cubs' allure to casual fans and moving out Wrigley would simply destroy a major portion of their brand. No one is saying the Cubs wouldn't survive, but they'd lose one of their biggest competitive advantages. There is a reason the neighborhood can strong-arm the Cubs, even if the Cubs have less to lose by moving out of Wrigley than the neighborhood does. That's proven by the fact Ricketts is now willing to pay for all the Wrigley renovations. He simply has no leverage, since staying will always be better for him and the Cubs than moving would be (within reason).

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Mar 29, 2013 -> 02:43 PM) Be skeptical of defensive stats. Viciedo was a good defensive LF'er last year. Agree with both points.

If putting ads on the outfield walls leads to more revenue I'm all for it.

Let's also remember the Sox almost always find some money at the deadline if they're competitive. So yes, the team may start any given season at its budgeted payroll, but when things go well and there is more money at the gates, the organization puts some of that money back into the team. The rest most likely goes towards future payroll or other operating expenses. I seriously doubt this profit is being given out to the owners in the form of dividends.

Also, the Sox's opening day payroll is going to be about $20 million higher than last year and Hahn has indicated they still have a little money to play with. It seems to me that the organization is reinvesting its higher earning power back into the team.

Again, that's operating income, not net income. Regardless, what is your point? They can raise payroll by $20 million? I still don't see how we're a "sleeping giant".

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 26, 2013 -> 04:02 PM) Not worried, just curious what the thought process is, on how they decide these things. Since they can use minor leaguers in games anyway, and there are players who already know they won't make it barring injury... why the theater? Why bother announcing reassignments at all? Maybe it's tied to their minor league contracts? Perhaps these guys have opt-outs if they're reassigned to minor league camp? If so, I could see holding on to them until the end of camp, even if it's unlikely they'd turn down their minor league assignments.

I disagree with those who say Wrigleyville would be fine without the Cubs. First, all the rooftops would obviously have to close. Second, a good chunk of the bars on Clark Street would have to shut down as well. Most of them rely on income during baseball season to survive throughout the year. A few bars would survive of course, but Wrigleyville would have a hot mess on its hands.

Zach Zaidman is still reporting there is a chance Rose plays tonight. Whoops, never mind. Looks like he hasn't seen the update.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Mar 18, 2013 -> 05:17 PM) Please put me on ignore. Thanks in advance. You're probably perfectly enjoyable in person, but my god reading your some of your long-winded posts arguing the dumbest of points simply for the sake of arguing makes me feel like I'm having a brain aneurysm. I will not put someone intelligent on ignore, but please try to keep your points short and focused.