thxfrthmmrs

Yes. I saw that. That's 28 at bats.

If you want to find some cutesy way to look at splits so be it, but Beckham's struggle at the plate wasn't impacted by the position he played.

QUOTE (Brian @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 11:58 AM) Its cute that people on Twitter think the Sox and Cubs' off-seasons are comparable. That so called GM over at ESPN gave Cubs the highest off season grade all teams, factoring in the Maddon acquisition of course. Sox came in second with a solid A, but that was pre-Melk Man.

Wow really? How does Beckham playing at 2B possibly have that much effect on his hitting? It's also irrelevant because he was a much better hitter earlier in his career, when he was playing 3B, but not so much recently.

Does Lowrie still play 2B, let alone 6.0 UZR? We don't have $8 mil to throw at a backup infielder at this point, especially not with Danks and Tank still on the roster.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 10:10 AM) I think his arm and shoulder issues are forcing them to convert him. Who knows though, maybe Coop finds a delivery flaw and works it out, maybe he throws one pitch and TJS I thought his arm issues were pre 2013. Wasn't awareness that the conversion to reliever was more than mere ineffectiveness as a starter.

QUOTE (WKamm @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 07:07 AM) After they signed a cheater? Hell, no!!!! If you don't like the players on the team, maybe you should stop watching the team on TV altogether. Using the PED card as reason not to go to a game is kind of baffling.

A part of me still want the Sox to give Ynoa a shot at starting. He was really good as a starter in 2013 in A ball, and didn't exactly light the world on fire as a reliever last year. Hate to see a "once in a generation" pitcher end up being a reliever without getting another shot with the new team.

QUOTE (bear_brian @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 09:39 AM) Where are you getting that number from? I have them at about $110M right now. http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CH...-salaries.shtml Counting the remaining roster slots as pre-arbitration salaries, and $1 million for Paulie every year until 2020. It should $115 million instead. I forgot Robertson earns $10 mil this year instead of $11.5 mil, and now that Melky should earn $14 instead $15 mil a year. The number could be a bit lower if Melky's deal is backloaded as well.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 02:20 AM) Duke - $5 million Samardzija - $10 million Robertson - $11.5 million Cabrera - $14.5 million LaRoche $12.5 million $53.5 million. We had $48.5 million committed at the start of the off-season. Add all of this on and we'll be at $100 million. This isn't all that surprising, since a lot of teams are over the $100 million mark. I think we still have room for some improvement. With arbitrations and pre-arb salaries we're at $118 million with not much of a bench. If we can dump Viceido for quality bullpen arm and or defensive infield glove and prospects I'd be even more happy.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 02:11 AM) Also... time for the folks who said we'd only have 20 - 30 M in spending money to eat up... we're over 50 now in my estimate. Had us pegged for 45... so even this offseason has surpassed my lofty optimistic pleas. I believe it was Rock who said Sox had plenty of $$ to spend if they wanted to. But of course he doesn't count lol Where's that party pooping Balta fella at that pooped at everyones's offseason prediction =p

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 13, 2014 -> 01:49 PM) We just traded for a guy on a 1 year deal likely to sign a 9 figure deal next offseason that we may not want to pay. We better be caring 100% about the White Sox making the playoffs this year. Make the playoffs this year and then pick up the pieces next offseason. We already made that call. We can think long term as a secondary priority, but we absolutely have to win 88 games this year. Agree with Balta here. JR is gambling to make playoffs this year, if not next year. One thing many people aren't thinking about is with our attendance rate, we cannot uphold a $100 + million payroll for much longer. If we don't start winning the next 2 years, we might have to blow things up like the A's, especially when our cost controlled assets becomes more expensive.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Dec 13, 2014 -> 01:45 PM) So you only want the Sox to be good in 2015? I don't think you're seeing the fact that we are talking about a only 3rd round pick here. Have you looked up career WAR value of an average 3rd round pick? Not to mention most years we would have to give up a first round pick to sign an FA. Signing an FA that requires giving up a pick should help the team for at least 3 years , not just 2015. With the amount we have spent in Latin America the last 2 years, the 8th pick this year, Rodon/Anderson/Danish/Montas/Adams and to lesser extent Hawkins and Adolfo in the system, giving up a 3rd round pick is the last thing I worry about. I think you should consider the moves the team has made, the philosophy they are undertaking, before being fixated over 3rd round pick

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Dec 13, 2014 -> 10:13 AM) This is stupid. The Altanta Braves made the playoffs for 15 straight years, with a team that featured Maddux, Glacine and Smoltz, they were definitely in win now mode but their front office was always building the farm system up. Yes did the Braves had to undergo a rebuild to get to that 'dynasty win-now mode' but when their window was opened and the team was all in, they continued to build through the farm. Them continuing to build through the farm brought in guys like Chipper and Andruw Jones, Javy Lopez, etc which allowed to keep their window open for an extended period of time. The lack of talent in the Sox farm system is the reason why the team has been on hard times for the past few years. Without talented prospects that could join the major league team and be valuable contributors, the team has had to over pay for past their prime free agents, worsening the state of the franchise. The Red So are always in win-now mode yet they continue to cherish draft picks and draft exceptionally well. If you want to have a sustained winner you need to have draft picks in order to bring in a constant stream of talent into the system. "We are also talking about a position we do not have one single internal replacement for." - This proves my point. Your post is both near-sighted and tunnel-visioned. You are not taking into account the 45% drop in attendance rate in 2006, you are not taking into account the demographics of Sox fans, or the presence of another team in the same city as the Sox, which in itself makes our philosophy different than that of Braves, Red Sox, Pirates, or Royals. In the city of Chicago, where fan base is located to the less prosperous side of town, Sox fans aren't rushing through to gate to see some average product that falls short of playoffs year in and year out. How does a big market team like Chicago end up with the 3rd lowest attendance rate last year? Our window of contention isn't the same as Braves or Red Sox, in that we have an ace who could be pitching on borrowed time, and a superstar hitter who we won't be able to resign once he hits free agency, and we also deal with more payroll constraints than both of those teams. We don't have time to wait 4 years for a 3rd round pick to come around when we can sign an all star caliber player to fill a big hole THIS YEAR. With that being said, JR's goal this year is to open his wallet, get whoever it takes to build a playoff team the next 2 years, because that is the only way to bring fans through the gate for the White Sox. It is evidently when we gave up a second round pick for signing a closer. While your philosophy is valid in some situations, it is not something the Sox are looking to do right now, nor they could afford to do given the state of the franchise. That or I could give you the speech about 3rd round picks having about a 5% chance of contributing in the majors 4 years from now. EDIT: I am not preaching us to sign Melky, I could live without him. But I am in support of us signing whoever we need to fill up the team, regardless of draft picks for next year.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Dec 13, 2014 -> 08:11 AM) We knew what the team had in guys like Semiem, Bassit and Phegly but now he have more question marks in the minors. The team is in no position to be forfeiting draft picks, the system needs all the help it can get. Not true. The team is in all in mode right now, we don't have time to wait 4 years for a draft pick to develop. If we see someone who can help the team immediately, no one should worry about a draft pick. We've already gave up a second rounder for just a closer. The time to sign free agents is now, and next year if we want to sign a marquee left fielder, we'd have to give up a first round pick. We are also talking about a position we do not have one single internal replacement for.

I've always wondered, how is someone as athletic and as hardworking as Rose is so bad at fighting through screens. Lillard scored or assisted on 3 straights possessions with screens on Rose.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 12:15 PM) Do they have to match salaries if they're willing to pay the tax? I'd give up McDermott, Snell and some draft picks for him. http://nypost.com/2014/12/12/carmelo-antho...-clause-source/ Although there is this: I would think that would make him nearly untradeable. Salary matching and luxury tax are independent of each other. And yikes on the trade kicker. No chance anyone would touch that. QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 01:28 PM) I'd trade Noah for him. Noah isn't very good right now, is always injured, and will want $15 million per year starting in 2016. I'd absolutely sacrifice Noah/Dunleavy/picks for Carmelo. Between Noah and Rose, I'd trade Rose for him. This team will lose its identify without Noah. Good point guards are aplenty these days. DPOY caliber big men are hard to replace, especially in Thibs system.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 12:31 PM) I am well aware of Porcello's pedigree and Cespedes' contract status. Even without the lottery ticket and Wilson, who will compete for a spot in their pen, they still needed help in the OF big time and flipped one year of a mid rotation pitcher for a guy that is going to add to a very formidable middle of the line up. It is the definition of a good baseball trade. I like that you keep bringing up that Porcello only has 1 year left, when Cespedes is also an FA next year. Both teams got fair value from the deal. The difference is Red Sox traded from a position of strength, even without Cespedes, they have no less than 6 guys who can start in OF for them. They needed an SP badly and did not overpay for one. The Tigers on the other hand are left with Price, the fragile Anibal Sanchez and a declining Verlander as reliable starters. Yes, they needed a glove in the OF, but are now left with another hole in the rotation. We also shouldn't overlooked the fact that Porcello has made improvements each and every year. He's likely to be better than last year.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 03:38 PM) We've been talking for 2 years, the White Sox are the only ones interested in it now, the mariners aren't any more, which happens to be exactly what you'd expect if the guy struggled for 2 years and had his salary rise to $4 million+. Shouldn't he say one club less serious in that case?

Bulls couldn't fit him in the salary unless we trade both Taj and Mirotic. Who the f*** would do that Well one other way, Rose for Melo. It'd be shocking, but I wouldn't say I didn't see it coming.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 10:45 AM) I like the trade for DET. I have never been a big Porcello guy. Yeah, he's a solid pitcher, but prior to last season, he was in every way shape and form, a back of the rotation pitcher. He took a nice step forward last year, but with only one year of control remaining, it made sense for DET to upgrade their OF. Not to mention, they got a guy in Wilson who will be in their pen, plus a low level lottery ticket. It also freed up about $2M for this coming year. It wasn't a great move by any stretch, but Cespedes will help them. If you want to look at it glass half full, Porcello seems like he's been around forever, but he was a top 20 prospect years ago, reached the majors at 20 years old and is only just turning 26. Last year was the first year he finally put up a shiny ERA, but he's been pretty good in FIP and WAR for a few years now. I think he has finally put it together and will be a solid #3 or #2 starter from here on out. And for the record Cespedes is also a free agent at the end of the year for the Tigers. Wilson is the definition of a AAAA reliever, whose ERA is an outlier according to FIP. The other kid they got in the deal wouldn't even see the big leagues for another 4 years or so, if he doesn't fall apart between now and then. I don't think Detroit did bad, but I like the trade better for Red Sox since they struck out on the big names pitchers, but was able to trade from an area of surplus to fill their needs, while getting good value in return.

With McCarthy, Masterson and Santana gone, it's time for us to look at some high risk high reward type pitcher to compete for a spot in the rotation. Please bring us Medlen, Beachy, or Brett Andersen, in that order.

And we thought Rick Hahn was a busy dude. I could imagine the Dodger GM's phone just blowing up the past 48 hours.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Dec 10, 2014 -> 04:11 PM) It wasn't beneficial for Nieto but It was beneficial for us. We have a guy now in our organization that we could give extended playing time down in AAA who can take a lot of what he learned from his playing time last year. Was he prepared for the majors, no, but was he able to learn a lot, I would certainly hope so. Last year this club was in a perfect position to make that sort of move and in retrospect I'm very glad they did. This time I find it less likely, unless they see a guy that they think they could pencil in to the back end of the pen and let grow. Worse case, Coop can't work some of his magic in spring training and you give him back to another team. You basically pay $25K to get a free flyer on a guy. So it WAS beneficial for Nieto? He was able to learn about life at the big leagues, learn from big league players and coaches, and what it takes to stay in the majors. It wasn't beneficial for the team in that he didn't provide much value for us.

Rick needs a nick name. Ruthless Rick Hahn anyone?