Lip Man 1

Jose Abreu Leury Garcia Avisail Garcia Al Albuquerque Danny Farquhar Jake Petricka Zach Putnam Carlos Rodon Yolmer Sanchez If it were me I'd say "he gone" to Albuquerque, Farquhar, Petricka, Putnam and maybe Sanchez.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 28, 2017 -> 03:24 PM) The Sox signed Albert Belle to the largest contract ever at the time. The Sox offered A-Rod a huge deal back in the day, rumored to be like 10/$190M. They recently offered Tanaka a massive deal as well. You’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe the Sox will pursue the truly elite free agents next year when they have like $2M in guaranteed payroll. Whether they can convince one of these guys to take their money remains to be seen, but I have no doubt Reinsdorf will ok an aggressive offseason plan. Regarding Belle the reason he was signed to the largest deal in the first place was because JR was paying back the other owners for resolving the labor / impasse issue on terms he did not care for. (Not that the owners had a choice after the Federal judge ruled that MLB was NOT negotiating in good faith.) I think, if memory serves, the Sox and Reds (Marge Schott) were the only owners to vote against the final agreement. In essence he was giving them the finger, 'you won't keep holding out? Fine...here's what we can do to jack up the cost of free agents across the board now that we've set the precedent..." In return the other owners voted JR off the committee that advises the commissioner on labor issues which was a powerful committee at the time.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 28, 2017 -> 02:48 PM) You're right that we can't count what's in a player's head -- but to me, whatever goes through a player's head on the basepaths only matters if it affects his actual baserunning behavior, which can be and is observed and quantified. If he has instincts, good or bad, that DON'T result in him making different running decisions, I don't know why we care. Eminor: No problem. I care in this case because fundamentals have been so bad on the Sox since the last few years under Ozzie. It costs them games. Avi's baseball-sense, in my opinion is poor. Base running is part of those fundamental instincts and while to the eye he has improved slightly, to me, again, he's still bad at it and in his judgments. It all has to weigh on Hahn's mind as he tried to decide if he wants to offer him an extension.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Nov 28, 2017 -> 01:14 PM) This stats looks at base running as a pure run expectancy as the only relevant base running plays. I would disagree that it looks at all of base running in general. Knowing how to stretch a single to a double or take an extra base isn't really considered. Neither is stealing a base. I would classify those as part of base running. Agree.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 28, 2017 -> 11:27 AM) Do you even know how it works? Here's UBR: https://www.fangraphs.com/library/offense/ubr/ I know that you can't quantify what goes through a player's mind when he is running, a situation which has billions of variables and how the defense is going to react to that specific situation. To me, my eye test, Avi has improved as a base runner but he's far from ideal which goes into factoring if you want to re-sign him along with his defense which is generally poor and his offensive production. Fundamentals, baseball-sense are important to me.

Getting any folks connected with a winning organization is a plus in my book regardless of position.

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 28, 2017 -> 10:14 AM) Right, your own judgment based on the camera views you are afforded in the games you happen to watch seem much more reliable. As reliable as a nebulous unquantifiable stat based formula in my opinion...yes. Both are based on judgments that aren't 100% accurate but in this case I trust what I see far more.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Nov 28, 2017 -> 07:23 AM) He actually graded out as an above average base runner last season, but you know, narrative. Dunt: Right, there's a way to accurately measure how a guy runs the bases, the decision making thought process for each one and factors in the decision making process of the players on defense when said player is running the bases. SIGN ME UP! Stats = narrative.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 03:36 PM) Amongst other things DeBartolo was going to build a new stadium for the White Sox with his own money. It probably would have been next to a new shopping center. He made his money building shopping centers. He was also aware of how popular Harry Caray was with White Sox fans. Caray would have finished his career with the White Sox if DeBartolo had owned the team. I've never heard of either of your two statements before. Not saying they aren't true but can you provide some evidence to back it up? Such as links to stories and so forth.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 11:22 AM) You truly said it all. All I can say is the people who want him traded are in love with trades and the unknown and all the cliches that make sports fandom great but very frustrating to me. I'm not a "wait til next year" guy. I've heard it too many times. I want to win every year. Your post is very well thought out and reasonable especially compared to mine. I am intrigued by your closing line: "for a corner outfielder he doesn't have a lot of power and his defense and base running is comical as well as his understanding of simple fundamentals." If this is truly true, you study the team more than me, then by all means dump him. I did not think he's that bad any more in any area. But if he does all these things poorly, he's not worth keeping around. What I saw was a very good player last year and I personally think we need some Sox veterans for our next WS contending team but again if you are right, dump him. Those are a lot of deficiencies you list. Greg: Like everything else last year for him he got better in those areas but his fundamentals are still poor.His defense is not great, he'd be a better DH if his power numbers were better. Keeping him actually off the field is best for all concerned.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 25, 2017 -> 11:10 PM) Kind of a bad answer. The grass is always greener on other teams I guess. Don't understand your comment... all you have to do is look at his numbers over his career and specifically compare them to last year. We don't know for sure if last year was a fluke or if he has actually figured something out and can be a really productive player. Don't see what is "bad" about stating it that way unless it has to do with your comment about JR not wanting to pay anybody. There is some truth to that comment in regards to paying for untapped potential (as in the minor leagues) and is not wanting to deal with certain agents, history has shown that as well as JR stating it himself, but I can only speak for myself in that if it was my decision I'd want more evidence that Avi really has turned things around before I offer him a truck load of money. And even if he has I'd have to think twice about it...for a corner outfielder he doesn't have a lot of power and his defense and base running is comical as well as his understanding of simple fundamentals.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 25, 2017 -> 10:33 PM) So the Sox can't afford any good ballplayers, is that it? We can't even afford Avi? Just sell the team, Jerry. The jury is still out on if Avi is really a "good" player though isn't it? One year doers not a career make.

Protecting Covey is flat insane. The guy is a stiff.

Supposedly there is a lot of interest between Alex Cobb and the Cubs.

QUOTE (Tony @ Nov 14, 2017 -> 11:20 PM) If only everyone was blessed with your TV skills...If only. Tony my comment in no way was trying to be arrogant towards my work. I was on TV for 15 years that's a fact and because of that background that's something I look for. Period. Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry you don't like my opinion. I thought he was OK. I thought for being in the 3rd biggest market in the country someone better could have been hired.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Nov 14, 2017 -> 11:51 PM) So because he sometimes came off a bit nervous on TV, you didn't like him as a reporter of White Sox baseball. Seems fair. Part of his position included a lot of TV face time, that was part of the job. He was better as a print guy and in my opinion for whatever reason it wasn't working for him for the TV standpoint. Again I go back to what I said earlier, he'll be fine and will find something else....especially if he is as good as some are posting.

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Nov 14, 2017 -> 10:59 PM) You’re entitled to your opinion and I’m entitled to tell you that’s a low class thing to say, especially since it’s highly likely he frequents these boards. Show some class and decorum. I have no idea if he frequents these boards or not but as you say I'm entitled to my opinion.

QUOTE (Tony @ Nov 14, 2017 -> 08:14 PM) Nice.... I didn't think he was that good Tony and he always appeared uncomfortable when he was on TV. As someone who was on TV for 15 years that'something I notice. He'll be fine...if he is as good as some believe he should be able to find another good position somewhere.

He was absolutely one of a kind: April 10, 1961 –Sox outfielder “Jungle” Jim Rivera was always good for the unexpected. Right before the Sox played in Washington to open the season, President John Kennedy threw out the first ball. Rivera came up with it and was escorted to the President’s box where both he and vice president Lyndon Johnson signed the ball. After Rivera looked at it he said to the President, “You’ll have to do better than that John. This is a scribble I can hardly read!” So Kennedy in block letters spelled out his name on the baseball. Oh… the Sox went on to win the game 4-3 getting single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. It was the first game the ‘new’ Washington Senators ever played. April 22, 1955 – It was the first time the White Sox ever played in Kansas City and outfielder “Jungle” Jim Rivera would make it a memorable night. Rivera’s home run helped the Sox beat the A’s 5-3 but it was his comment afterwards to former first lady Bess Truman that made the most news. She attended the game and then when introduced, Rivera said, “I’m sure sorry my home run beat your club but it was a helluva wallop eh, Bess?” and that catch he made in Game #5 of the 1959 World Series saving the Sox 1-0 win over Sandy Koufax is one of the greatest catches in World Series history. Over the shoulder after a long run against a murderous background of all white shirts and dresses. R.I.P. to a guy who played the game hard...VERY hard.

Meh...no big loss to me.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Nov 8, 2017 -> 07:05 AM) Greatest baseball player to come out of Colorado. Graduated from suburban Denver high school in 1995, #17 overall pick. Lots of stories were written there about Halladay over the years, all of them complimentary. He would have looked great in a Rocky uniform. Future Hall of Famer. Maybe...but "Goose" Gossage says 'hello...'

QUOTE (Latilleon @ Nov 1, 2017 -> 04:43 AM) It isn’t that the job is entry level; it’s that ownership has been cheap with managers; just like how we won’t pay big long-term contracts to players (not since Albert Belle), we haven’t broke the bank to hire a name manager. If the Sox are willing to pay, they can get whatever manager they wanted. There is some truth to this. JR has never felt that a manager or head coach was simply that much of a difference maker, plus for right or for wrong he has always felt in giving chances to people who impress him even though they may not have experience.

QUOTE (FloydBannister1983 @ Oct 31, 2017 -> 06:12 PM) Chicago itself is not an entry level job but managing the White Sox is. Why? ESPN can't remember they exist. They routinely have one of the lowest television ratings in the league. Every manager they've hired in the last 40 years has had no managing experience, except for the current guy who had a cup of coffee with the organization on the north side until a top tier manager became available. They are a small market team in the third largest market in the country. This is why managing the White Sox is an entry level position, for starters. Jeff Torborg says "hello..." But I do see your point.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Nov 1, 2017 -> 02:17 PM) I'm still hoping that I wake up in the morning this off season and find out that JR has sold the team. Hopefully when JR leaves he can take Hahn with him. Keep dreaming, keep repeating the same tripe...not happening unless JR has a serious health issue.

My off season plan is to watch again games from 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 in my library and to do my best to still be around in 2020...and hope they don't screw the rebuild up.