Bob Sacamano

Quote of the thread.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 27, 2017 -> 11:42 PM) You'd want Melky over Avi? I still am waiting to see what established (non prospects) baseball players you guys think are good players and want on your team (and don't list anybody making a good dollar cause we know Sox fans don't want to pay anybody). Modern day fans slay me. Eventually I'm gonna give up and just lurk on here. I am growing weary of defending White Sox baseball players who have been in the bigs a few years. In the sense that you'd have to give up good prospects for 2 years of one (who has had only had one great season among a lot of meh) instead of just a small amount of cash for the other for one or two years, yes.

I don't really view Bradley as a "rebound" type of player and I kinda doubt the Red Sox do either. Despite hitting for a lower average than 2016, He still put up close to a 3 WAR season. I know his 2017 was nowhere near as good as 16 but it's not like he was useless.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 27, 2017 -> 11:42 PM) You'd want Melky over Avi? I still am waiting to see what established (non prospects) baseball players you guys think are good players and want on your team (and don't list anybody making a good dollar cause we know Sox fans don't want to pay anybody). Modern day fans slay me. Eventually I'm gonna give up and just lurk on here. I am growing weary of defending White Sox baseball players who have been in the bigs a few years. You're too funny.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Nov 27, 2017 -> 07:49 PM) Is that Ohtani's actual questionnaire or something that the people at MLB Network came up with as regards to an outline as to what Ohtani may be asking for? Because it seems more like the latter. It's Ohtani's actual questionnaire. Link: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/shoh...-mlb-teams.html

Article to read during boring off-season. https://southsideshowdown.com/2017/11/26/wh...-shohei-ohtani/

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Nov 27, 2017 -> 11:18 AM) Giving our front office a "pass" would mean to let them keep doing what they had been doing and NOT selling. Which is exactly what you want Greg.. Sounds like you're giving them the pass.. But oh well.. the incoherence is confusing. Bingo.

Care, I do not.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 27, 2017 -> 10:26 AM) This goes both ways. You guys who only want prospects to be our rebuilt WS team frustrate me. Why? Our division blows? Yes there's been a flavor of the month, KC when it had the great bullpen and Cleveland (I guess) the past two years. But it doesn't take much to compete in this division. That's why it frustrates me to get rid of Avi and Abreu and push back contention time even more. You guys act like the rebuild is the only way to win a division and get hot and win a WS. And by rebuild I mean the entire roster. Some of us like to have some familiar White Sox names around. It's not our fault it "hasn't worked" before because of an incompetent front office. I understand your position. I don't believe you try to understand ours. Minnie made the playoffs this year for gawd sakes. You guys give our front office a pass for horrid baseball since 2005. I don't. This is hysterical to me lol anyone else see the irony?

You don't say.

When does he get posted again?

Lots of AL teams can offer regular at bats at the DH spot for certain. If he is struggling and his team is contending, they could stop hitting him, which Ohtani would just have to deal with. That would be the risk in choosing a team that is already good now. The Sox can promise him almost 2 years of regular at bats and actually keep it.

QUOTE (ron883 @ Nov 27, 2017 -> 07:38 AM) We could always put a wizard at SS or CF and have a DH bat for them. Youd just have to have pinch hitters ready for when Ohtani get pulled. DH can only bat for the pitcher.

QUOTE (zisk @ Nov 27, 2017 -> 06:46 AM) Ohtani can pitch and hit in the same game . There isn't a rule prohibiting that. Teams probably wouldn't do that so they can keep the DH when he is taken out. Juat let him start at DH 3 games between starts. It would be kind of interesting if he came over and had success with the bat and was hitting like 6th on games he started in the NL games. Would just be odd seeing the starting pitcher hitting 6th.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 10:17 PM) I still don't see him stating anywhere that he requires 600 guaranteed at-bats... in fact, all I have seen is him stating the opposite: https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yan...tani-1.14928323 I think Greg just tossed out "600 at bats." It would be tough to reach 600 if he didn't hit on days he pitched along with a day off after he pitches.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 07:21 PM) Why is that? For regular DH at bats. Right now it's Judge in RF and Hicks in CF. Between LF and DH they have Gardner, Ellsbury and Frazier.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 06:55 PM) I don't know about that. The Red Sox and Yankees could use another starting pitcher and more production from their DH spot in the lineup. Yankees better start dealing.

QUOTE (WBWSF @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 04:27 PM) I don't know when Hahn said the team wouldn't be contending until 2020. But if he actually said that and meant that I just want it to be known that statement actually depresses me. That just confirms my thoughts that this team is going to be crummy for the next few seasons. And it will be a team with a very low payroll. Always remember, low payroll = more moola for JR and his investors. Did you not know the Sox are rebuilding?

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) Dear Ohtani, Please sign with any team not named the cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Orioles, Blue Jays, Brewers, Reds, Cardinals, Pirates, Dodgers, Giants, Rockies, Diamondbacks, Padres, Astros, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Athletics, Mets, Nationals, Braves, Marlins, Phillies, Indians, royals, twins or tigers. Thanks, dude. Fixed.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 11:44 AM) Otani https://www.baseball-reference.com/register...id=otani-000sho I believe he's coming over with the Japanese spelling with the H like what is on the back of his jersey in Japan. Edit: thanks, Leonard Zelig.

QUOTE (flavum @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 11:38 AM) First, ask him if it's Otani or Ohtani? But start the letter Dear Mr. Ontani... It's Ohtani.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 10:37 AM) It will be decided two days before Christmas and it will indeed be fascinating. There are other things like Seattle and the Ichiro lore along with their massive Japanese culture... but then again I've seen it suggested that he may not want to go to a franchise with a storied past of a Japanese player succeeding. I'll bring my odds down to 1 in 1,000. Link? Only have seen hopeful fans suggest this.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 09:26 AM) This is the best I can find. It’s from a Buster Olney article a few weeks ago, but I’ve read similar sediments elsewhere. http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insi...season-question If true, you'd have to think it would be the lowest deciding factor compared to some of the other ones (being able to hit, training/medical staff apparently, etc).

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 08:13 AM) The more I read/think about this, the more I believe the Sox can win this sweepstakes. Having said that, let me reiterate that my beliefs are entirely based on the rumor he doesn’t want to go to an established club and the theory that money isn’t a factor at all here (based on him leaving early). So first thing’s first, I can’t see an NL team pulling this off. Everything out there including this new memo demonstrates the importance of being able to pitch and hit and requires the DH. I’ve seen people suggest he could play the OF on off days, but that seems like a trap answer and something that isn’t actually viable if he wants to ensure his own health. And he hasn’t played the OF in a few years IIRC, so it really seems DH or bust. But beyond just being an AL team and having a DH spot available, how many teams can really commit to him there with no contraints? Can a contender like the Yankees really promise 600 ABs no matter how Otani is performing? This ties back into the wanting to join a non-established club rumor, but the Sox can promise him a spot in their lineup for the next two years and allow him to go through his growing pains with no constraints whatsoever. They can give him a real opportunity to prove himself as a potential two way player, which is obviously very important to him. This point shouldn’t be overlooked. And the fact we’re rebuilding also allows us to adjust our rotation and pitching schedule as needed to accommodate Otani’s first year in the majors and ensure a healthy transition. Contenders may be leery of moving to a six man rotation as it could have on the field impacts. Those concerns will be less important to us next year since winning isn’t a primary objective. But the commitment to health goes well beyond year one and as I alluded to in a previous post no one keeps their pitchers healthier and productive than the White Sox. That point should not be understated when selling him on the White Sox. But there are other factors that help us as well. Chicago is obviously a massive media market, which checks off what seems (based on the memo) to be an important box and helps distinguish us from several other non-established clubs. Our organization has always been a champion for diversity, with both an African American team president and a Hispanic manager demonstrating that point. And I think we’ve done a incridble job assimilating foreign players into the clubhouse, whether that be Shingo & Iguchi or Alexei & Abreu. Jose in particular should be used as a huge selling point, as he’s immediately become a clubhouse leader and has been historically awesome from the get-go. That type of transition should speak volumes to Otani. And along these lines, I’d also stress our organization’s commitment to its players & employees (i.e. loyalty). Working for a Japanese company, I can’t understate the importantance of this point. And given this guy has an uncertain financial picture in front of him, the fact we take care of / stick with our people becomes even more important. The last selling point and one that shouldn’t be overlooked is what we’re building here. Otani has an opportunity to be the face of this rebuild. He can head a rotation that would also include Rodon, Kopech, Giolito, Lopez, & Hansen. That would be without question the most talented group of pitchers in baseball and he’d be at the top of it. Sell this as the next 1990’s Braves pitching staff if need be. Furthermore, he’d also get to anchor an exciting young lineup with Abreu and potential stars in Moncada, Jimenez, & Robert and whatever we can buy in free agency. Again, not only does he get to be part of an exciting young team but he gets to make a major impact on both sides of the field. Our contention window aligns perfectly with his and the role he’d play in that should be one of our top selling points. He can be the face of the most exciting up-and-coming team in baseball. How many teams can offer that? I’m sure I’ll get some TLDR replies and other will say this was a waste of time and that we have no chance, but I think some posters are selling ourselves short here. IMO, we are in a pretty unique situation and can offer Otani a city/team/situation/environment that is hard to match. If money is truly not a factor and this memo suggests it isn’t, then I really think we can win this thing. Anyone have a link that says this?

QUOTE (greg775 @ Nov 26, 2017 -> 12:19 AM) I can't wait to see who you guys decide who to pay in the future. A lot of you seem obsessed with having all prospects and the lowest payroll possible and if we have to lose lose lose 3-6 years as the kids develop you're all for it. You are the best fans ever for a cheap owner. When we are a WS contending team, some of you I presume realize we'll have to pay a few free agents some cold hard cash. Giving someone a 4-5 year deal at the age of 33 would not be wise.