ChiSox59

I'm not really a techy, and haven't tried to use Proxy sites before in the past (haven't had to), but is anyone familiar with a really good one? Long story short, my office went through a full firewall update this week and have blocked a ton of websites (facebook, twitter, fantasy sports, gambling sites, etc.). Most of that stuff doesn't bug me at all, but I do play a ton of fantasy sports and generally spend my lunch break and other small 5-10 minute sanity breaks throughout the day working on my fantasy teams. Anyways, I've tried a few proxy sites the past few days without much luck. A few of what appeared to be the more well known ones per a simple google search were blocked. One allowed me to actually log onto yahoo fantasy sports, but didn't have functionality. Another made my computer starting beeping and wouldn't let me X out of it without restarting my computer...so I gave up. I don't have the ability to install new browsers or chrome apps like Tor, which looks like it would be a possible solution. Any ideas? It actually really sucks cause I don't have a laptop at home, just an ipad, which isn't nearly as easy to use the research functions and what not on, and mobile app isn't nearly as user friendly as the website, IMO. Not to mention once baseball starts, its pretty much something you need to keep an eye on throughout the day do be competitive. Thanks in advance for any tips.

Cliff Corcoran of SI just called what the Sox did with their catching situation "the worst move if he offseason" on MLBN. True story. Went on to talk about Flowers being a league average catcher with elite pitch framing, Avila shouldn't be catching anymore and Navarro is terrible defensively. ODowd responds...you're really digging deep with that one .

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 05:30 PM) He turned down a difference of about $30 million guaranteed, per press reports of the Nats deal being about $100m, in exchange for a shot at an extra $50-$100m. Call it the Jimmy Butler game. Jimmy turned down $55 million or so before 2014, and then before 2015 was sitting on $90 million. Jimmy - my guy.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 08:14 AM) Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 56m56 minutes ago Showcase in Mexico City on Tuesday for three more Cuban players - OF Yadiel Hernandez, 28; 1B/3B Yanio Perez, 20; SS Alejandro Rivera, 20. I've never heard of the younger two, but would love it if the Sox signed Hernandez. Hernandez looks interesting, especially that hes a LH bat with great OBP. Doesn't profile as a star or anything, but perhaps a nice platoon partner for Avi.

QUOTE (ChiSoxFanMike @ Feb 18, 2016 -> 10:24 AM) Just sign Jackson already. He's the best of both worlds at this point IMO. He's good defensively and wouldn't cost the Sox a draft pick. I'd be fine with Jackson, but he's not going to make a huge difference. Sure he plays some nice D, but offensively has very little upside.

QUOTE (Jose Paniagua @ Feb 17, 2016 -> 01:26 PM) Not discussed tons, but can we trade for Bruce AND sign Ajax....and then just bench LaRoche or have him compete for the DH job? Bruce as DH actually would be another hole elimination (and he could fit into the OF mix if needed) That is not going to happen.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Feb 16, 2016 -> 02:18 PM) Good to see Avi getting there early to get work in Sarcasm, or was he just not included in this tweet but is there, or did you read Avila as Avi?

So how about that Desmond guy? Could cut the tension w a knife in here.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Feb 15, 2016 -> 10:21 AM) Kendrys Morales and Stephen Drew two seasons ago, that's pretty much it. To the previous poster, Jackson doesn't have a pick attached. It's Gallardo that does. Both of whom has HORRIFIC seasons.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Feb 14, 2016 -> 11:22 AM) I've mentioned it before but it's seemingly becoming a real possibility now. Give Saladino a 2 month audition and if he isn't up to par sign Jennings June 6th to a prorated 15 million dollar deal. Edit: Ian Desmond Jennings or something. I need to get off soxtalk. I meant Desmond of course. Someone is gonna sign Desmond before ST is over.

QUOTE (Julius @ Feb 13, 2016 -> 12:30 PM) The interview by Nightengale is something sox fans need to get through their head. It's on MLB.com to hear it for yourself. When he says "the white sox say they are out of cash" it is a complete lie that is being spun by the sox brass and the media just goes with it. It's not Nightingale who is lying, it is Reinsdorf. Reinsdorf is swimming in cash and chooses not to spend it. It should not be our role as fans to be fiscal watchdogs....well, maybe we should be watchdogs in the sense that we demand that Reinsdorf SPEND not save money on this team. This has been proclaimed as the small window of opportunity to go for it before JR dies and so far it is a half-arse attempt. When the half-arse attempt fails, yes, sox can go cheap and blow it up. Just like they've blown it up so many times in the past 15 years, right?

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 11, 2016 -> 03:03 PM) Always felt that if they had the money and desire to give up a draft pick, my dream scenario was Desmond and Jennings. I wonder if Saladino and Petricka gets you Jennings, as Tampa has been known to be looking for some more SS help. Seems steep, honestly. Desmond Jennings is pretty blah.

Can't imagine the Sox would be interested in much more than a 1 year deal + club option with Anderson waiting in the wings, unless they plan to use him in the IF. I'd love to see Desmond, but still think they should add an OF in addition.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 05:38 PM) They've spent 3M on Latos since offering contracts to Gordon/Cespedes. Do you have a feel for what the Sox ultimate offers were to Cespedes and Gordon?

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 02:22 PM) Were we legit contenders last year? Were the Blue Jays?

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 02:13 PM) Depth is very important, and doubly so for your pitching staff. At the same time, it's hard to get ML starters to sign knowing they'll be stashed in the bullpen or AAA until an injury happens. To me, $1.5m for one fo those guys is well worth it. Agreed. Depth is never a bad thing. But its not like teams were lining up to give the twice DFA'd and fourth organization Jacob Turner a rotation spot. I think my point is being misunderstood - I am not mad he is around and I have no problem with Turner. I hope he turns into a stud with the Sox and he certainly has more upside than a AAAA pitcher. Its just a bit of curious move in hindsight, but I definitely don't think the Sox anticipated Latos falling into their lap for $3M.

QUOTE (bmags @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 02:10 PM) None of what Cameron just said sounds like he "hates the white sox". We've all said similar things of this team. Perhaps. Definitely need another OF, but their staff is in pretty damn good shape at this point, and while a legit SS would be nice, there aren't many out there and at worst Saladino will be a glove first, minimal bat SS that'll put up slightly above replacement level performance. Plenty of playoff teams have a guy or two like that in their lineup. I think when the Sox add another OF, whether it be Fowler, Jackson, Ethier, etc., they have to be considered a legit contender. Hell all you gotta do is play .500 ball through July to be one.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 01:36 PM) Not really. $1.5 million is next to nothing in reality. It is enough to tell me they didn't want to lose him, but I also think that when a guy the calibur of Mat Latos comes along for only $3 million, you don't pass that up for Jake Turner. When they signed Turner at the beginning of the off-season, I don't think they had an inkling of an idea that a Latos type player and deal would fall into their laps. The situation changed, and the team took advantage of it. True. I'm not mad about it or anything. Its chump change. I just can't fathom a scenario that Turner breaks camp with the Sox (baring injury), and he's probably getting paid too much to be claimed off waivers if he doesn't. So basically you're paying him $1.5M to play in Charlotte. Maybe he has a nice spring and another teams swoops him up, but I kind of doubt it.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 01:31 PM) One of two things will happen with Turner if he isn't in Chicago. First he clears waivers and goes to Charlotte. Second he doesn't clear waivers, and the White Sox lose him. In that case they don't pay him $1.5 million as the team who claims him will inherit that deal. I understand that. Still think it is bizarre.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Feb 10, 2016 -> 01:02 PM) I'd love it if they could put Danks in the bullpen. If EJ is struggling with command early, they can just pull the plug before it gets ugly and let Danks go up against a lineup situated to face a righty. I hate to look at the Danks/Johnson thing from as asset point of view but they can make Johnson a good piece moving forward. If he's an acceptable 4/5 then you have a good, cost-effective arm who's pre arb. If you let him toil away in Charlotte then you're eating at his value as marketable asset. Danks is what he is. He's not sexy and he's gone after '16. Give Johnson the shot he deserves and if it doesn't work you have Danks. The interesting thing is they have too much depth in the bullpen: 1.) Robertson 2.) Duke 3.) Jennings 4.) Jones 5.) Putnam 6.) Petricka 7.) Albers So Danks/Johnson, Turner, Webb and Kahnle are all going somewhere other than Chicago if there's no injuries. Danks isn't going to the minors. Johnson's value is hurt if he goes to the minors. Turner has to clear waivers to go to the minors. Webb belongs in the minors. Kanhle is somewhat intriguing but seems to be too far down the list. Nice to have depth like this I guess. Indeed. Seems bizzare that they gave Turner $1.5M as he really doesn't have a clear spot on this team. I am sure Webb has at least 1 option left, but does Kahnle?

QUOTE (Lillian @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 08:00 PM) Latos didn't sign for that kind of money, without some kind of guarantee to get plenty of innings. That's fine, as he is probably a better pitcher than E. Johnson. Nevertheless, the Sox need the depth. They didn't have a single starter lose significant playing time, last year. It would be unusual to go two years in a row, with all 5 starters not having any down time. Come to think about it, I don't remember any Sox starter missing a lot of time in 2014 either. Sale had that ankle injury in Spring training last year, but he didn't miss much time. That is the only instance that I can remember, in the last two years. Am I forgetting something? Rodon missed a start or two with a blister, but that's about it for last year, that I can remember anyway.

I used to throw a knuckle curve back in little league through high school that I gripped fairly similarly to that. It moved more like a slow curve that dropped 12-6, but certainly not like that. Sweet pitch and love the name.

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:48 PM) Yep Aside from the Olts and Brantlys, there's some guy named Daniel Fields...never heard of him. Look him up. He's the type of guy you would have loved as a starting outfielder on the Sox a year or two ago!

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:39 PM) Why not? He can gain good ML experience in the pen. Plenty of starters have served time in the pen (like, oh, Sale, MB).(uh, no pun intended). Another year in Charlotte is utterly pointless. I suppose its possible (in the sense that anything is possible), but the Sox don't have a ton of starting depth and he will likely be needed at some point. I still think he may make the opening day roster (whether that be Danks in the pen/released/traded), but I'd bet on Johnson being in the rotation in Charlotte. The Sox will want to keep him stretched out. Plus, our pen is pretty full. We've already got more ML pen arms than we have spots. I am very certain Erik Johnson will not start the year in the pen, and the only way he would result there is due to a ton of injuries, complete ineffectiveness, or just getting some innings as a September call-up.

QUOTE (JoshPR @ Feb 9, 2016 -> 03:34 PM) Rather have Gallardo. But he wasnt gonna be cheap. Latos is trouble. Wife is trouble too..... Kinda good thing he pitched in another band box before. Used to k some people. Looks like EJ is in the pen or gone No chance. He'll be starting in Chicago or in Charlotte. I suppose he could get traded, but I doubt it, and there is zero chance he goes to the bullpen.