lasttriptotulsa

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 11:10 AM) Listened to Frazier yesterday and today. He seems really cool and should be good for this lineup, defense and clubhouse. Can't wait to see him play. I'm going to say it again. I'll give a round of applause for turning an injury plagued Peavy into Avi (whether he pans out remains to be seen), JBW, Montas and Rondon. Which then turned into Lawrie and Frazier. Good job by the front office because no one really paid attention to those guys minus Avi. I read a lot about Rondon and Montas. Even Wendelken (if that's how it's spelled). I even went and seen Rondon play in the minors. My hope is he turns into a helluva utility infielder. But to turn Montas and JB into those guys, one of which is an All-Star is pretty good. I'll bash these guys when they deserve it because they're in the paid to get it right business, but I'll also give them praise when they deserve it. So good job guys. Hope things turn out well. Not to mention the fact that they also saved nearly $20 million in payroll by making the trade which left room in the 2014 budget to sign Abreu.

QUOTE (mmmmmbeeer @ Dec 17, 2015 -> 07:21 AM) You're missing my point....they can go in the red for a season or two without catching too much flack from the investors considering the ROI since purchase. I understand that the franchise's book value isn't a liquid asset, nor is any other business' value....but if that potential value is secure enough (can't get more secure than an MLB franchise), you'll never have an issue finding cash in any number of ways. Please never be a position to make financial decisions for any company that I may have money invested in. You said they could literally have a $500 million payroll this year and still be okay. Where does this money come from? Do you think JR has a piggy bank that he keeps his fortune in? If Forbes is to be believed the franchise typically does profite but the profit margins are pretty slim. I can't imagine they have a stockpile of cash on hand.

QUOTE (mmmmmbeeer @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 11:56 PM) There was some talk earlier about what power JR has to make decisions, is he chairman or majority owner, etc... It really doesn't matter. JR and co. bought the team for $20M. Forbes puts their value at just about $1BILLION now. That's something like 5000% ROI (if I'm figuring that correctly) on $230M in annual revenues. Money should never be an issue with this franchise. JR could literally spend $500M on payroll for a single season and his fellow investors would STILL be in line to make a ton of money off of their investment. The difference between a $100M payroll and a $150M payroll, assuming the team with $150M payroll has some success, is not really much of gamble in the grand scope of things. Look, we've got Sale, Quintana, Rodon, and Fulmer cost-controlled for the next several years. Pitching wins in the playoffs. If there were ever a time to go all-in, it's now. I am forced to believe that KW and RH are saying the same things to JR and money will NOT be an obstacle as we continue to turn this team into a contender. Sox fans have no reason to be down on this team....we can, and I trust will, make the moves necessary to get back on the map as a respectable franchise. I seriously don't think you understand the difference between cash flow and a non-liquid asset. Just because you have something worth a billion dollars doesn't mean you have a billion dollars to spend.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 03:11 PM) I don't think he's the majority owner, but he is correct about being able to do what he wants. As the chairman yes he can do what he wants but how long do you think he will remain the chairman if he runs the team into the red?

QUOTE (knightni @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 03:08 PM) Actually, he's just chairman. I don't believe that he's the majority owner. I've never really seen anything official on what percent he owns but it isn't very high. I remember reading an article awhile back in which other partners claimed he owned ~15% but he claims it is higher.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 02:51 PM) If the White Sox want a FA outfielder "not being able to afford it" isn't going to stop them. Period. Reinsdorf has the money. It's not just Reinsdorf's money. It's the money of the entire ownership group in which Reinsdorf is a part of. He has to run the team with the interests of the other owners in mind too. He can't just take money out of their pockets to overspend for his pet project.

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 01:32 PM) I was actually just watching clips of Adam Dunn in 2004 when he was with the Reds. Man was he thin....what the hell happened? He aged 7 years. I think if you looked at the vast majority of men, athlete or not, they are not in as good of shape at 31 compared to when they were 24.

QUOTE (WhiteSoxLifer @ Dec 16, 2015 -> 11:41 AM) #WhiteSox hit 136 HR last season, fewest in AL. Frazier and Lawrie combined to hit 51 https://twitter.com/scotgregor/status/677180524054446080 The Sox could realistically get around 100 homers out of their infield alone next year. 30-35 for Abreu and Frazier each, 15-20 for Lawrie and around 10 out of SS.

I think it may be time for Hawk to go but it will be a sad day when he does. Been a Sox fan since I was 6 in 1990 and Hawk has always been a staple. It will be a sad day when he calls it quits regardless of how bad he's become.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 01:20 PM) lets see, there were 2 poster who mention this, and yet you took it upon yourself to attack me. not only really petty but extremely childish. how old are you????? Childish? How old am I? How old are you that you take it as an attack when somebody makes a counterpoint to your argument? Nothing in my post could possibly be construed as a personal attack.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 12:55 PM) and that is a good point, then they to FO would have to sign someone even if it mean platooning, as i said earlier. How many DH's do you want on the team? If LaRoche is going to be platooned it's going to be with somebody else already on the roster. They are not going to use 3 spots for 1B/DH types.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 12:06 PM) good b/c it doesn't become you to berate me on some really petty B/S. going to the can't understand card and contradiction. i have yet to contradict anything in what i have said. believe me and if not, who cares. i never knew you to be like this contradiction stuff. You contradict yourself all the time. Not just in the this thread.

Frazier could also work as our backup 1B if they do find somebody to take LaRoche off our hands giving us a little more versatility on our bench instead of a guy that can just DH and play 1B.

QUOTE (shakes @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 01:37 PM) What context are we missing? The value of the contract is a HUGE deal. They are similar hitters and similar age. If you move Eaton to a corner outfield spot or Heyward to CF, they are not that different of players. This. I would venture a guess that by the end of Eaton's contract he will be the more valuable player. Heyward is pretty big dude and that's not that good of a thing when much of your value is derived from speed and defense. He definitely has good years left but I think he will start to age quickly once he hits 30.

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 01:31 PM) I love when people throw the 4 times number out there without context. If Adam Eaton hit the open market today you think he would be signing for a reasonable deal after what Heyward just signed for? No. Heyward hit the market at 26(1 day younger than Rizzo btw). That almost never happens. It's a fairly poor comparison and done without thinking about the situation both are in. We're talking about what is actually happening versus your hypothetical. Fact of the matter is they are basically the same age and we have Eaton for basically a 6 year, $41 million contract. The Cubs will pay Heyward $138 million over that timeframe. It doesn't matter what Eaton could possibly get on the open market because he's years away from being available.

QUOTE (Baron @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 01:25 PM) and you'll be the only one. Congrats. Nah. I agree with him. Eaton will make less over the next six years than Heyward will make in two. They are clearly not equal players at this point but if you give me the option of having Heyward or having Eaton plus $15-$20 million to spend elsewhere I'm taking the Eaton option. Especially with the Sox payroll.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 12:07 PM) You are wrong again. I did not post his combined but his % by position. The poster said his defense dropped last year because he played both 3rd and 2nd. But the first 2 years in MLB he only played 3rd and his fielding % was lower at 3B than his fielding % at 3B in the years he played 3rd and 2nd. Either way, using fielding percentage is a piss poor way to evaluate a defender.

I'd have to think the draft compensation is just killing Fowler's market.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 09:40 AM) Billy Koch should be in everybody's top 5. I tend to cut Billy Koch some slack due to the Morgellons Disease.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 07:32 AM) Actually the opposite. His first 2 years he only played 3rd and his fielding % was .959. Then in 2014 he jumped up to .984 playing 2nd and 3rd. Last year he dropped back down again playing mostly 3rd. Maybe just playing 3rd and working w Robin can improve him. Please quit using fielding percentage as if it's a relevant stat. Even if you are going to use it please remember that 2nd and 3rd base are not equals. Last year the average fielding percentage for 2B was .984, for 3B it was .958. Of course his fielding percentage is going to increase the more he plays second. 3B is much harder to play, it requires much quicker reflexes and much longer throws than 2B does.

QUOTE (Coach @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 06:51 AM) At least Lawrie shows signs of life as compared to Ventura. One is a 25 year old third basemen and the other is a 48 year old manager. Do you really expect or want them to act the same way?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 11:00 PM) Not a bad topic for a thread in offseason. I'll list some of my least favorite players of all time/worst players in Sox history. First of all, putting Paulie is not even a good attempt as a joke. Who cares if he had a bad season or two? He was a great all-time Sox player. Dumb to list him. Same with Alan Bannister. He couldn't field but he could hit for the South Side Hit Men. He was part of that epic season of bat meeting ball. So many guys crushed the baseball. MY LIST OF WORST PLAYERS -- Royce Clayton. Steve Sax, Darrin Erstad. Claudell Washington. The Dybber (he should go down in infamy as badly in city baseball history as Bartman but he doesn't; his mistake cost the Chicago White Sox a World Series, folks and he was a s*** player besides). LaRoche. Dunn. Swisher. Bobby Bonds was so bad they had to cut him. A lot of the relief pitchers of the last 3-4 years have sucked beyond belief. Mike McDougal. Phil Bradley. George Foster. Orlando Cabrera. Hank Allen. Mark Teahen. Bee Bee Richard. Ellis Burks. I happened to despise Alex Rios. I'm sure there are many more. Greg, I wonder sometimes if you have ever watched a game of baseball in your life. Half the players you listed are positive WAR players. Orlando Cabrera - 3.3 fWAR in just one year with the Sox. I would love to have a 3.3 fWAR shortstop this year. Darin Erstad - .7 fWAR in basically a half season worth of PAs. Not great but nowhere near the worst player in Sox history. Nick Swisher - 1.1 fWAR in one season with the Sox. Again not good, but more disappointing because of the high expectation. Bobby Bonds - Had just 102 PAs with the Sox but put up .4 fWAR and a 107 wRC+. Over a full season that translates to about 2.5 fWAR. George Foster - Had 54 PAs as a 38 year old. Former MVP. Dumb to even mention him. Ellis Burks - 2.7 fWAR and a 116 wRC+ in one season with the Sox. What is even remotely bad about that? Some of these players you claim to be amongst the worst Sox ever were actually pretty decent in their time with the Sox.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 01:38 PM) OK. Def WAR A. -12.2 B. -13.8 Look at the rest of Lawrie's career. Always rated as a plus defender.

QUOTE (Hatchetman @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 01:26 PM) Which is which? G AB PA H 1B 2B 3B HR R RBI BB IBB SO HBP SF SH GDP SB CS AVG A. 149 562 602 146 98 29 3 16 64 60 28 1 144 5 4 3 8 5 2 0.260 B. 148 553 601 142 110 17 2 13 66 59 36 3 141 8 4 0 13 7 7 0.257 A is Lawre, B is Avi but who cares? One plays average to above average defense at multiple fairly tough defensive positions, the other is a corner outfielder who plays horrible defense.

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Dec 10, 2015 -> 12:12 PM) But his K% was 26% last season. He had 144 K and 146 hits in 562 AB. As I said very similiar to Avi at 553 AB, 141 K hits and 142 hits. You're trying to take 3 stats to show a comparison but those stats without context show absolutely nothing. For instance. There is another player with pretty similar stats. He had 158 K and 172 hits in 575 ABs. His name? Mike Trout.