Thad Bosley

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 20, 2016 -> 05:44 PM) So Harry Carry is the reason the Cubs are as famous as they are? Yikes. I absolutely, positively, 100% believe that to be the case.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 20, 2016 -> 05:39 PM) If that was it, why don't the Braves have the same following? Good question. The answer is they didn't have Harry Caray and his superior salesmanship selling the ballpark experience day after day after day. As I've mentioned before, if Caray stayed with the Sox and Milo Hamilton had gone on to be the Cubs announcer, the Cubs attendance would have resembled that of the Braves. It was pretty much that before Caray moved over to the Cubs. The Harry Caray impact cannot be understated, which is why I wish he would have remained with the Sox.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jan 20, 2016 -> 03:02 PM) First of all, it's not fair to compare the attendance of the Cubs to pretty much any other team in baseball. Or pretty much any other sport for that matter. For a long time they were the one exception to the rule of winning = attendance. 20+ years of being owned by a national newspaper that can put rose-colored glasses on every single headline it writes while dogging the intercity competition has that affect. There's no other way to explain 3 million people going out to see a team lose almost 100 games. Secondly, don't by into the myth that Wrigley field has always sold-out. There was a time back in the 70's where they literally closed off the entire upper deck. It hasn't changed locations since then. Until last year (when they made the playoffs) their attendance had been steadily dropping since 2008 (their last playoff appearance). See Harry Caray/superstation WGN exposure impact.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 10:40 PM) They "invested in the team" last year. How'd that work out? That's their job, right? Each and every year, they should be investing in the team to try and continually improve it. And let's be clear about last year's so-called investment: it only brought the total team payroll to a mere $2M and $5M more than that of the small market Royals and Twins, respectively. Middle of the pack at best. So let's not ever make the mistake of describing last year's investment as some sort of effort to go above and beyond. As another poster has pointed out, that would be accomplished by going in the red for a year or two to try and lift this team up. To date, that hasn't happened.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 04:04 PM) But we don't have a fairweather fan base... Same old angry and bitter commentary on the fan base... Meanwhile, the article is focused on an eroding fan base, which should be alarming to the powers that-be over at 35th and Shields.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 10:08 AM) It is the same bitter and angry posts we always see (5 in 55 sound familiar?). LOL - like the man said: "Get a clue, Dude!"

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 01:11 AM) JR is going to be 80 years old soon and isn't going to do a rebuild so the "three year window" , "rebuilding on the fly" , "retooling" stuff will continue as it has for the last 8 years or so. I really think KW and Hahn are in a tough spot and I wouldn't want their jobs. With the 120M budget they have to work with, there isn't much of a margin for error. Just one or two bad contracts can really hurt a budget like that. I was hoping for a rebuild last winter but then I realized JR's age and realized it will not happen. Are decisions about this franchise being made in the name of the best long term interests of this franchise, or in the short term interests of its failed owner?

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 12:47 AM) I haven't been conditioned by the ownership to believe anything. Im going by their track record. If they sign a player to a 22 million dollar deal, that is about 1/6 of the maximum payroll we've seen them use. Do you really want that much money tied up in a player that is this inconsistent? I would not. It wouldn't be a big deal if they had a 200 million dollsr payroll, but I wouldn't bet on that happening. Im just using common sense and their track record. Its not the only way to solve this problem but in my view its the better way. They could just spending away ala Ilitch but I dont think its likley to happen. If they were spending this money on Miguel c abrera or Mike trout or someone with a track record it would be a different story. We need them to move off said "track record". Said "track record" has resulted in one brief playoff appearance in the last decade, and in teams which have driven the organization into the ground in terms of fan interest. Last in all MLB teams in TV ratings and 27th in attendance, and boy oh boy, don't try and lay all the blame for that on the Hawk. He only reacts to what we've all seen year in and year out in recent years. This team cannot and should not, in my opinion, go the long term route of trying to build this thing slowly from the ground up. That's what's called a rebuild, and management has been very clear they are not going to do that. And that's fine and very understandable given the quality and quantity of the existing core. The problem has been what's surrounding the core, which has been exceptionally below average the past few years. With no help in sight from the farm system, fortunately or unfortunately, they are somewhat at the mercy of the market to help elevate this team to contending status. It's a predicament they are in of their own doing. It's not entirely bad, given the current state of the Sox' finances. This team is perfectly capable of bringing on the market value of Yoenis Cespedes' worth. To do so would not be in line with their quote unquote "track record", but here's to ringing in NEW track records!

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 19, 2016 -> 12:04 AM) Only if the deal is longer than 4 years. If its only 4 it would work. I know there is no MLB cap but we know the ownership has one and if cespedes is dead money for 3 years it will cripple the finances. You are a terrific poster on this site, and I enjoy your many contributions. On the bolded, though, may I ask how you know this? How could one LT contract for someone of Cespedes' caliber, with none other like it on the roster and with all of the VERY team-friendly contracts currently on the books, how could this one potential contract possibly "cripple" the team's finances? What happens if Cespedes' contributions translate into a return to the postseason in the way his presence on the Mets did last year? Won't that go a long ways towards paying off the investment? Just because we've been conditioned by the current owner/management team to just automatically shun all investments of this kind, doesn't make them all bad. Sometimes you have to take a risk or two in the name of trying to win. You can't wait around to build an entire roster of team-friendly contracts to get there. Cespedes is still young enough to make this kind of investment worthwhile which, at least in the early years of the contract, should help management achieve it's stated objective of "maximizing its opportunity to return to the postseason with the current core". There are ways to deal with the remaining years of an expensive contract if players begin not performing to the levels for which they are being paid. We see that happen all the time. But with the additions of Lawrie and Frazier, how does not bringing Cespedes into the fold now make no sense?

QUOTE (South Sider @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:55 PM) Your posts are always premium content and one of the reasons I visit this site. His posts (probably all 127,000 of them) are usually post-inflating garbage with little to offer. I've never seen a post from him and thought "well he put some effort, thought, and analysis into that." Well thank you, nice of you to say. Mine is just one of many different yet spirited opinions on this site, which is what makes it so enjoyable to come and visit here. And even though SS2K5 pecks at me like a woodpecker on a tree on a few topics where we don't agree, he contributes a ton more to the experience at Soxtalk than I ever will, so don't lose sight of that. Just pray he doesn't ban me one of these days!!

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 11:07 PM) I think ill itch will be gone soon, and there are going to be problems in Detroit Reinsdorf is going to be gone soon, too, and there are problems in Chicago as we speak. So, given a choice starting now, who would you rather own the Sox, given the way you know they run their respective franchises? Reinsdorf or Ilitch?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 11:01 PM) Yet he has never won a World Seriies, and owes Cabrera, Verlander, Martinez, Zimmernan, and Upton over $600 million. Given a choice as owner for the White Sox starting now, who do you take? Ilitch or Reinsdorf?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:47 PM) Detroit has a $200 million oayroll. Jerry Reinsdorf is the worst, On the latter, I'm with you. 100%. No argument there, and I'm glad you finally looked at the overwhelming evidence that got you to that undeniable conclusion. On the former, you gotta admire a team and an owner who not only claim they want to win a championship, but back it up in actions. They certainly aren't trying to do so by entering free agency and trying to sign top tier talent to below market contracts.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:43 PM) You hold on to the past like an ex-wife. This is right up your alley. Nothing of quality to offer up, just the usual weak attempt to deflect any criticism of the crack management team of the Sox? Well color me SHOCKED! So unlike you.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:38 PM) I've seen less drama on Jerry Springer. We know winning means little to you, so no reason to weigh in.

So now the Sox HAVE to sign Cespedes. The optics otherwise will be a public relations disaster for this team, and an abject organizational embarrassment. No team during the past five, six weeks has been tied into being "in" on not one, not two, but all three of the so-called "top tier" free agent outfielders more so than the White Sox. We were "interested" in Gordon. We were "in" on Upton. We were "considering" Cespedes. Then the leak. The leak that we were only interested in making an offer to any of the three of them for "three years or LESS". Enter the small market intra-divisional Royals, who move in and lock up Gordon on a four year contract. Tonight, another AL Central rival, the Tigers, sign Upton to a six year deal. And this on the heals of our intra-city rival Cubs signing Heyward to an eight year contract. Welcome to market economics! If another team swoops in now and snags Cespedes on something resembling more what the market is bearing vs. this three year offer business the Sox are operating under, then it will be a colossal failure of Hahn, Williams, and Reinsdorf. It will call into question their credibility when they claim over and over and over again their strong desire to return to the postseason as quickly as possible, and thereby maximize the window of opportunity with the current core. I trust they realize this, and will soon be announcing the signing of Yoenis Cespedes to be our left fielder and clean-up hitter for the foreseeable future. If not, well, it'll be quite the black eye on this management team's reputation, and will seriously call into question the capabilities of the team's ownership and management.

I just can't understand what the holdup is with Cespedes accepting our very generous three year offer. It's right in line with what's going on in the market!

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 09:15 PM) 2015 Spring Training: White Sox The White Sox have plenty of talent to contend in 2015 with rotation ace Chris Sale and the additions of Jeff Samardzija and Melky Cabrera By Scott Merkin / MLB.com||4:02 PM ET Paper doesn't refuse ink.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 09:25 PM) Which is exactly why the Sox aren't rushing to spend a lot in long term payroll obligations. No one is expecting them to spend "a lot", just some. As in on this one contract to a top tier talent to address a glaring weakness on the ball club. This team is now one of only three teams in baseball to never offer a contract greater than $70M. They can swing it, and they should; that is, if they are serious about winning and taking advantage of the window of opportunity they bring up all of the time as it relates to the prime years of the team's core.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 06:39 PM) Scott Merkin ‏@scottmerkin 28m28 minutes ago Merkin: Even without further moves, '16 White Sox should be decidedly improved: http://atmlb.com/1SsDc8Q via @mlb "...should be decidedly improved." Well, if that proclamation doesn't rev up the fan base and cause a run on season ticket packages, I don't know what will!!

QUOTE (shipps @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 10:04 AM) Multiple sources have said that Upton has already declined the Sox at least twice. He doesnt want to be here for whatever reason. Its not going to happen. Maybe it has nothing to do with not wanting to play on the South Side of Chicago and more to do with the offers were of this embarrassingly low three years or less variety.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 02:56 AM) I don't recall anyone from the sox organization saying they have to win now. Ive heard RH say they've improve the team from last year. I would agree. 27th in attendance and 30th in TV ratings called...

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 12:42 AM) If I had his cell number I would have already called. At the pace things are going, a snail mail letter may just get to him in time!!

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 12:29 AM) I think with a younger owner, the Sox would have torn it down last winter but as long as JR is running the show it won't happen. He's going to be 80 soon and wants to see another "winner". Then tell JR he ought to consider bringing in Mr. Cespedes to help fulfill this desire of his to win again.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jan 18, 2016 -> 12:13 AM) Today at CSN-Chicago the afternoon SportsNet Central show they had a story on the latest regarding Cesdepes. Dan Hayes reported that he is now "probably out of the Sox price range." When asked if the Sox could bring anybody else in he said "not unless the price dropped significantly." He said the Sox could possibly bring in a left handed hitting outfielder who could help more defensively but that's as far as he'd go. He said the Sox would like to see "what Avasil Garcia could do." Take it for whatever that's worth but it doesn't look promising at this point. Mark So for our fan base to ever hope to acquire top tier talent via free agent, we have to hope the price of said talent has to fall below market value so as to "fall" to a price that the current ownership is willing to pay? The same ownership who has never given a contract for a higher value than the small market Royals have done not once but twice this winter? I mean, wow. What is going on here.