Lip Man 1

The next two weeks are the holiday season. I'm guessing those guys couldn't make it in to Chicago because of other scheduled plans? Plus I'm sure they wanted the Cubs press conferences to 'blow over' a bit or they'd get lost in them. Mark

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 19, 2015 -> 09:40 AM) Which is funny, because across town, we have the exact same executive structure, yet no one is telling Theo to stop talking, even when he is saying the exact same thing as Kenny... such as not having a plan for the winter. The media in this town is embarrassing. The simple fact is that everyone and I mean EVERYONE knows who is running the Cubs. That's why Theo makes the money he does, that's why he speaks the vast majority of the time for that club and let's not also forget, when he took over he made it crystal clear what the plan was going to be to everyone who would listen...in essence, "we're going to get young talent no matter what the cost and keep getting it with no quick fixes." Most Sox fans and I suspect the media as well really don't know who is running the Sox, especially when you have Kenny saying anything and everything that comes into his head, including 'suddenly' talking a lot about 'three year plans / windows' in June when another season with "bold" moves went right down the toilet. Sox fans by and large I think are tired of it, they are tired of the conflicting statements, tired of the meandering, tired of the nonsense about "rebuilding while contending." It hasn't worked. I don't care if they reload or do a complete rebuild, pick a lane, pick a plan and stay with it come hell or high water. Oh it would also help a lot if people like Kenny and Don Cooper stopped ripping the fan base. It happened four times just last season alone. It's right out of Business 101, right or wrong you don't rip the people who pay the freight. Mark

When talking about the 2005 White Sox one has to understand they had something that no other Sox team in the last 15 years had offensively...balance. They could best you with a three run bomb, with a bloop into short right or a bunt down the third base line. The Sox if I remember correctly were in the top four or five in the league in the following categories: Home Runs Sacrifice Fly's Sacrifice Bunts Stolen Bases Infield Hits They didn't have to wait for the three run home run to win a game, they had other ways to do it. It wasn't a "home run or nothing..." offense. Regarding Hawk's comments about the outfield defense, he is so biased towards the organization and the players that when he says that stuff, he truly believes it. It takes a lot to change his mind. But remember his famous (infamous) quote from just a few months later, "our defense SUCKS!" Mark

Jon Heyman wrote today the Sox and Indians are still in the market for Frazier and continue to talk with the Reds. Mark

I can't tell you exactly who has applied since I was never given that information but I can tell you I was told around 50 qualified candidates applied and they actually started in person interviews with some of them back in October. The last I was told was that they (meaning the White Sox) were narrowing down the initial list and they were working at lining up more interviews with those they were interesting in meeting. Just a guess on my part but I think they'll name someone right after the holidays, have to give that person time to start preparing for spring training. And remember JR has the final say on if the selection go on the air, let's just say he's got 51% of the vote when it comes to announcers. Mark

How much work is left to do? Depends on your perspective. If you think the Sox can "contend" in 2016 then they still have a boatload of holes and needs that have to be upgraded on probably a limited budget because of an expected drop in season ticket sales. If you think they are still biding their time perhaps for 2017 or 2018 when some of their highly regarded prospects may be ready, than they are probably close to being done. Mark

Best case scenario, win 82-83 games to claim a "winning" season, then let Ventura leave and hire a legit major league manager with experience and bring in a solid, professional staff. Not friends of the owner or former players. As many baseball people with ZERO ties to the Sox as possible. Worst case scenario (and unfortunately more likely) they get off to another horrid start (haven't has a winning April since 2009) are irrelevant again by Memorial Day and decide since they aren't going anywhere to keep Ventura because they have no other option. They waste another year of the "three year window" LOL!!!! And get even more lost in the Cubs completely dominating their own home market pushing them more and more into an afterthought. Mark

You guys obviously don't remember players like Ron Blomberg do you? LOL. Especially given the size of the deal Veeck gave him for that time. Mark

I'd like to see if the Sox can do anything more to upgrade a number of starting positional players who were ranked among the worst in MLB from either an offensive or defensive stand point according to a new of places. But more than that I'd like to see them fire the manager who has not gotten any better over four seasons, still makes fundamental mistakes and lacks any passion. That in itself may help the current players perform better. But I don't expect that to happen at least until May if then. More than liekly Ventura will finish out his contract and ride off with some dignity. What the Sox do then is absolutely anybody's guess. Mark

Have to give the Cubs credit. They are augmenting a strong young corps with the pieces they need. And if you think they are spending money right now just wait till they start their own TV network by 2020. I don't know what the Sox can do, if anything, to counter this. Yes pennants aren't won in January but the Sox continue to be considered an after thought in their own home market. That is going to impact fair weather fans, potential advertising and marketing dollars and opportunities and last but not least the money they are going to be able to get when their TV contract expires. Given they are dead last in RSN viewership (according to both Fan Graphs and ESPN.com) they are only dreaming if they think they'll get anything close to the billion dollar deals being handed out most recently to the Cardinals over the summer. I truly believe now more than ever new ownership and a complete housecleaning on the baseball side of the front office is desperately needed. Mark

My hope for 2016 is that the Sox can somehow win 82 or 83 games and at least have a "winning" season which hasn't happened since 2012. Outside of that I honestly don't expect them to contend realistically so I hope to see a continued building of the minor league system, more acquisition of younger talent, the firing of Robin Ventura (and the hiring of a legit manager for 2017) and the selling off at the deadline of more pieces who really don't have a future with the organization. (Hello...LaRoche to cite one example...) Keep building for 2017 then be aggressive next off season. Mark

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Dec 9, 2015 -> 02:54 PM) He was drafted out of HS, and probably thought he was hot ****. A person could mature with age. That was 7-8 years ago. Stop trying to prove your point. Not trying to prove any points simply passing on what baseball people have told me. You can take it or leave it as you choose. Anybody would be better than the s*** they have there now but just be careful what you wish for is all I'm saying. I also think there was an incident with an umpire around 2012 if I remember correctly. Mark

For what its worth I just got off the phone with the former assistant GM for the Helena Brewers. Milwaukee was the team the originally drafted Lawrie and he was supposed to be assigned there. He held out and wound up missing the entire Pioneer League season He said flat out the guy is a "head case" (direct quote) and that's why the Brewers got rid of him so quickly. Mark

Tony LaRussa retooling the D-backs in the desert. Mark

If this deal goes down Lawrie will be an improvement (how can anybody be worse?) but let's keep things in perspective, you still aren't talking about a 25 home run , 100 RBI guy at the position which is traditionally a big time power spot in your lineup. Again he'll help but he's not an All-Star by any means. (And yes I know they are in short supply...) Mark

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 8, 2015 -> 05:50 AM) Because there are massive holes on this team and org across the board. The chances of success are small and the chances of setting the org. back several years are high. The Six tried that patch up approach most of the last 8 seasons and it failed miserably. The one year they didn't and acquired young players, they improved 10 games. Well stated. And remember who is still basically running the show. Lots of evidence says it's still Kenny. Mark

Another example that shows baseball is swimming in cash. That's how he can get 10 million. Any owner who cries "poor" is lying through their teeth. Don't blame the players for taking the money, careers are short...they can't play for 40 years. Mark

There's a reason a guy with this much talent has been moved around as often as he has been. I'd stay away from him. And if Kenny Williams "loves" Upton, that's even more reason to stay FAR away. This is Hahn's show (supposedly) not Kenny's. Mark

Our long national nightmare is over. More deadwood off the tree. Should have been done last year. We'll see how many teams are interested in a "pitch framing" stiff who can't hit, can't block balls or throw out base runners. Thank God. No guarantees they'll bring in anybody better but how could they find someone who is worse??? Mark

Trading LaRoche would be a good thing. Mark

Anything and anybody that takes playing time away from Flowers is a very good thing. If Avila is healthy he's a better defensive catcher and if he can hit above .220 he's an improvement there as well. Mark

Given the fragility of pitchers today (in part because of pitch counts...) you can never have to much pitching in my opinion. It is still the most precious commodity in the game. Mark

Given what's gone on with the Cardinals pitching staff, that's where he needs to go. The question is, would St. Louis, because of the circumstances, move away from their philosophy and aggressively go after free agent pitching. Mark

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 10, 2015 -> 04:32 PM) Yup. Offseason fluff, I guess. Coming next, "Rick Hahn states that the White Sox are looking to win more games in 2016" He already has...LOL. Mark

Can't argue with it. Strikeouts are nice but wins are nicer in my opinion and Sale was simply inconsistent this year save for that stretch of 10 or so games. Mark