SCCWS

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ Oct 6, 2016 -> 04:01 PM) man f*** cleveland Sorry live in Red Sox country for most of the year. Tough as a White Sox fan to watch their success this decade. I will root for Cubs against Red Sox.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Oct 6, 2016 -> 01:42 PM) And Kluber is not exactly 100% either I don't think. I have a feeling about them though...they are incredibly well-balanced offensively and very tough to beat at home. But Boston is really good on the road. If Indians can win against Porcello in game 1 that will be huge. Francona vs his pupil. Should be a great series. Go Tribe

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Oct 6, 2016 -> 11:28 AM) I think you're probably right. I just hope Rick sticks to his guns on what he wants. No settling for Chris Sale. We need a g'damn ransom. But I assume you agree, few if any teams have and probably will give a ransom so Hahn should keep him if that is the case.

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Oct 5, 2016 -> 01:53 PM) I more or less agree with this. Porcello is pitching way above his career numbers this year, and Dombrowski has to know that he's better off with Sale in his rotation over the next few years. If the Red Sox do anything less than win it all this year, I foresee Dombrowski and Hahn having some serious discussions at the winter meetings. He is pitching above his average but he is also only 27. I think the question is has the Boston coaching staff changed something that has made him more effective. I can tell you the Boston media is having a love fest w this team. After 2 last place finishes, the Ortiz saga and the growth of their young players so quickly has them front and center. From a team standpoint, there is no talk about their starting pitching except who will pitch 3rd since they really have 2 #3 starters. It is all bullpen concerns. I would love to see Francona knock them out especially since they don't have home field. But it very well could be a Cubs/ Red Sox series on the horizon. That will have New England( maybe all of baseball) in a tizzy.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Oct 5, 2016 -> 11:59 AM) Non sense. Every team in baseball "wants" Chris Sale. Rick friggin Porcello doesn't change that. Now only a few teams have what it takes to get him, and maybe they aren't willing to match that price, but that doesn't mean they don't want him. I agree that every team would want Chris Sale. But I doubt the Red Sox are going to break up a divisional championship team and possibly a World Series championship team to acquire Sale. The price is too high. They backed off last time and now their starting pitching has improved dramatically during 2nd half. I thought they might go for Q but now I doubt that as well. I think they will go in to the offseason looking to fill their holes-C, bullpen and a 5th starter.

QUOTE (SouthSideSale @ Oct 4, 2016 -> 08:54 PM) I really think they won't move Moncada because of the investment in him but who knows when it comes down to pulling the trigger on Sale or Quintana. I want to take our time with Collins. Let him start at AA next year and work his way through the system, especially if we rebuild. There's no longer a reason to push guys faster through the system if we're rebuilding. I do think Collins could be up next year at some point. Next year will be really fun for me if we rebuild and there's a ton of prospects to follow and watch debut. I'm just not sure if only moving Sale is good enough to push this team into the playoffs. This free agent market sucks, so there's not a ton of options to chose from to help fill some holes. If you only moved Sale and got Benintendi, Kopech, Devers, Rodriguez and Vazquez, is that enough to propel this team into contention moving forward for years to come? I'm not so sure because you're banking on prospects working out which most of the time they don't in these types of trades. I'm still trying to figure out if Hahn is trying to include JBJ in the deal as well and what that would do to the deal. I thought I read somewhere they wanted JBJ or Betts which isn't happening most likely let alone midseason. Boston will not want Sale now that Porcello has emerged to join Price at the top of the rotation. They will want a 3-4 starter and bullpen pieces. They will probably trade Holt, Young or Shaw w some 2nd tier prospects to fill the few holes they have. They did move Moncada to 3B and Devers is behind him so they could move one of them if needed.

QUOTE (captain54 @ Oct 4, 2016 -> 01:50 PM) Last I checked, Frazier leads MLB regular 3rd base guys in strikeouts, and lowest BA.. The original plan was to have Frazier as the guy in the lineup to protect Abreu.. it didn't happen.. as far an extension, I think it depends on how the rest of the lineup shakes down.. despite the power, I don't see how Frazier fits into the 1-5 hole.. too many lost offensive opportunities in 16' without enough bonafide hitters 1-5 Tonight the Jays and O's will play in the wildcard game. Check out Trumbo( 4th) for O's and Russel Martin(5th) for Jays. They strike out the same rate as Frazier.

QUOTE (professa @ Oct 4, 2016 -> 12:33 AM) I still think the Sox will still try to compete next year, but do so by acquiring young players that can make an impact right away. I'd like to note I'm in favor of a complete teardown, instead of this semi-rebuild which I am about to propose: Sox trade Quintana and Brett Lawrie for Yoan Moncada, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Blake Swihart Sox Sign Carlos Gomez 1 yr/8M deal with option Sox sign Chris Coghlan 1/5M deal Sox Sign Pedro Alvarez 2 yr/18M Sox Sign Geo Soto Eaton Anderson Abreu Frazier Alvarez Melky Gomez Moncada Swihart/Soto Coghlan Saladino Swihart/Soto Tilson Rotation 1. Sale 2. Rodon 3. Shields 4. Gonzalez 5. Rodriguez/Fulmer Pen CL. Robertson SU Jones SU Burdi MR Putnam MR Jennings MR Petricka MR Rodriguez/Fulmer Swihart was converted to a left fielder. He did not make the grade as a catcher on a Boston team that is pretty weak at the position.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Oct 3, 2016 -> 09:23 PM) For sure. Other than the ones we know about, supposedly he has been sent home other times as well. Abbatacola also mentioned earlier that his source said Sale's part of the reason Robin didn't really want to continue. Sale will be back. There is no way the Sox get what they will want for him especially w Boston probably out of the running. Maybe the Yankees or washington could put a package together but I think unless Hahn drops his demands , Sale will be back. Q I think is very tradeable.

QUOTE (balfanman @ Oct 3, 2016 -> 01:32 PM) Most definitely agree. I see posts that have Eaton moving back to center when acquiring another outfielder. That is just plain foolish. Adam Eaton is a gold glove caliber right fielder and a mediocre at best center fielder, you don't mess with that. I have no idea how they are going to acquire a legitimate major league center fielder, but if Adam Eaton is your starting center fielder next season I will be greatly disappointed. This probably would of been a disaster, but the times that they started Eaton in center and Avi in right the last couple of months, I think I would of rather that they switched and tried Avi in center and left Eaton in right. The worst that happened would of been a few more losses due to center field defense, but then we might have a protected draft pick. Who knows, the odds are small, but maybe something would of just "clicked" with Avi in center. Seeing the ball better or something. After all, some scout somewhere thought he could play center when we traded for him. I think Eaton is adequate in CF. It certainly makes sense to keep him in right but if you cannot get a legit CF you may have to move him back to improve the overall offensive balance of the outfield. For example, I don't think you pass on Reddick, if he is a target, because Eaton is in RF.

QUOTE (LDF @ Oct 3, 2016 -> 09:41 AM) i was and in some way very critical of the sox FO as anyone. but i still thought back then, getting Shields was a good gamble. who would have known that JS would have produce as he did. pls think back, many posters were not happy at the way the sox was going into the season, esp in the SP dept. i just hoped they, the owners learned from their mistake. now the BIG QUESTION is, are the sox going to be buyers or sellers???? Boston media wrote a week before the White Sox trade that the Red Sox backed off Shields because they thought he could not survive in a hitter's park and his fastball had lost 2-3 mph.

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Oct 3, 2016 -> 12:58 PM) Except that Frazier and Melky both hit free agency next winter, and the Sox cannot legitimately "go for it" without those two. So there is a compelling reason to either sh*t or get off the pot this year. But their value is higher this winter than it will be in July and the trade pool is larger in the winter than in July. So waiting till July is a big mistake unless the Sox are contenders next season.

QUOTE (oldsox @ Oct 3, 2016 -> 07:40 AM) Maddon also went after the Cub job when he had that window of time to make himself a FA. He wanted the Cub job. I doubt if there is another manager out there of his caliber who would want to get the White Sox job. Might not but situations change. Suppose Yankees decide to let Girardi go??

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 2, 2016 -> 09:00 PM) My belief is they trade him for Bradley Jr and Moncada and then try to add starting caliber players to go for it again I doubt Sale is traded. Boston's starting pitching was very good the 2nd half. Their bullpen is a major problem. I doubt they are interested in trading any core pieces ( Bradley) in a trade for any stating pitcher never mind Sale. They will be a favoirite to be in the World Series next year w the team they return. If Dombrowski could get Sale for Moncada and some ML backups like Holt, Shaw etc I could see him doing it. If that happens, Hahn should be a throw-in as part of the trade.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 2, 2016 -> 05:49 PM) It still bothers me that they're unwilling to go outside and even listen. The Braves just set interviews with like 4 guys, including all their assistant coaches and their interim coach. How do you know 100% certainty that you won't hear a guy come in with a perspective you haven't thought of before? I would also add that they should have waited a short time to see if a surprise candidate surfaced. The Cubs didn't know Maddon would be dropped into their laps. By waiting a week or so they may have found 1 or 2 other people. But, hopefully this is step one in an off-season that will regain some credibility to an organization that is in a really down period.

If KW leaves, this could be great news for the"Drake". He can return for spring training.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Oct 1, 2016 -> 12:18 PM) A chance? Yeah, absolutely. I think Porcello gets it, but I don't think it will be a landslide and it would totally shock me if Kluber won it either. I don't think Britton, Verlander, Happ, or Hamels have a chance. Although I think they should be a separate category, I think Britton will be 3rd especailly w O's late surge for a WC.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Oct 1, 2016 -> 04:20 AM) Barring a really bad start Sunday, Sale has locked up the fWAR and pWAR titles. That's why I posted what he needs to do ERA and WHIP wise to be better than Porcello. If he accomplishes that, then the only traditional stats the old-thinking writers can point to is wins and walks. Sale would have the advantage in IP, ERA, K, WHIP, H/9. I would rather have Sale come back( he will not be traded) next year w a chip on his shoulder for not winning it. I also think he finishes 3-4 in ballots.

QUOTE (ChiliIrishHammock24 @ Sep 30, 2016 -> 05:19 PM) Porcello makes his final start tonight. Could really use a nice RIGHT THERE FRED from Toronto to knock down that pretty ERA. Game will start late due to Ortiz Tribute. It may be a distraction for Porcello.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Sep 30, 2016 -> 01:34 AM) Well they made a run at .500 but it turns out to be four straight years under .500 and seven out of the last 10. Not good. Mark But they have improved on last year as they will finish closer to .500 than last year. I think by the end of 2017 we can see a solid .500 team......

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Sep 30, 2016 -> 08:09 AM) Maddon helped the Cubs win 6 extra games or so. Savvy trades for Rizzo, Arieta, Hendricks, Russell and a closer nabbed in Rule V were worth a lot more wins. And not a "proven veteran" among them, Kenny Williams. You forgot a couple. Last I looked Lester and Lackey had 30 wins. They were proven veterans.

Maybe there is another factor, age. When JR was 60 or 70 maybe he would react differently. But at 80 now, JR may be in "retirement mode" and is not anxious to "blow it up". So Kenny, Hahn and Robin's jobs are safe because loyalty/continuity are more important to JR than winning. JR's net worth is more than a $ billion these days so status quo to him may be acceptable.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2016 -> 02:56 PM) Off the top of my head, I found Connie Mack whose teams lost 610 games over a six season span... in a 154 game schedule. Agree but poster said "recent memory"

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Sep 28, 2016 -> 02:14 PM) Not even close. WRONG. That honor would probably go to Buddy Bell who had a .418 winning percentage with 3 different teams. Maybe that is why he has a lofty position with the White Sox.

QUOTE (Black_Jack29 @ Sep 27, 2016 -> 06:15 PM) While I would also not be super-happy about the defensive downgrade of moving Eaton back to CF, the Sox need another high-OBP player more than they need Eaton if RF. Finding a CF who can hit and get on base with a .330+ OBP AND be a defensive upgrade to Eaton is going to be difficult. Especially considering that the Sox are probably not going to give out a $120M+ contract and currently aren't a popular destination for free agents. Also consider that most free agents don't want to DH... unless they're old, slow, and injury-prone like Morneau. If Hahn were able to convince somebody like Cespedes or Reddick to sign with the Sox, I doubt there's any way that either would agree to DH. A best-case scenario to address OF/DH for the Sox this offseason would probably be signing Reddick, moving Eaton back to CF, and convincing Morneau to sign a two-year deal to be our primary DH. I think that Reddick is pretty much a pipe dream, and my guess is that Morneau will end up paying for a team that's closer to winning a ring (e.g., Boston). Unless Boston is very busy trading in the offseason, I don't see them adding a DH. I think Panda and Hanley Ramirez will take the AB's of Ortiz.