Southwest Sider

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Nov 26, 2015 -> 09:08 AM) Just ordered a Teravainen Stadium Series jersey (only like 4 left in L). That look has grown on me, but I miss the original '09 Winter Classic jerseys. That's a pretty sweet sweater, I must admit. I like it better then last years Winter Classic sweater.

Hopefully this is the start of a big Hawks upswing. Kero and Dano had nice games, and Daley is looking more and more comfortable in a Hawks sweater. By and large, I feel that the Hawks youthful talent and replacement players prior to this Stanley Cup far outweighs that of the 2011 team. These are still some young guys, but I'm genuinely excited to see what the future holds for some of these players.

Actually, given the market, this is probably the best thing the Sox could have done. I know, we all want a catcher like Salvador Perez, but there are very few like him on the planet. I don't know what the "average" catcher is like, but Flowers feels pretty darn close to it, and Avila is in that area too. What should we do? Trade all of our best prospects for some better, but not great version of our current duo? Trade Quintana for one? The idea just doesn't set right with me. The catchers don't need to be the best offensive players on the team, and it behooves the Sox to improve their offense in another, less costly, way. As far as Avila goes, I am happy that that the Sox signed him. It should give Robin more flexibility to match up against pitchers, and hopefully platooning or being Flowers backup will help keep Avila healthy (and as a likely result, productive in his time here). This is now taken care of and the Sox can focus on more important matters. This move is also by no means and indication that the Sox would pass up the opportunity to acquire a good catcher, provided that the deal is at a reasonable cost. Right now, I'd bet a lot that any deal the Sox have talked about for catchers has been pretty much unreasonable from a trade stand-point.

Thanks for this thread. It comes at a time when I am making an enormous life-decision, and part of my decision is made because I will have the ability to get an ACA plan with a low-income tax credit. Basically, I'm going back to school in January and do not wish to continue working 4-5 days a week to maintain my companies health plan. In order to keep company benefits. I'd need to work at least 4 days a week. Not so bad, but there is literally zero wiggle room for a 1 week vacation or if I were to miss 1-2 weeks to sickness. If that happens at all, I then need to work 5 days a week while doing full-time school. Admittedly, I'm ignorant to how feasible this is because I haven't gone to school in such a long time, but the way I'm thinking is the less work the better, so I have the time I need to study, do homework, and at the same time have my hobbies and have my general life. Now, I'm good on my companies insurance plan for the next 6 months or so, but after that I need to sign up for an ACA plan. I definitely noticed that all the BCBS plans are "in-network", which does worry me if that network is rather small. I'm not sure of that, though. What I did find out is if I qualify for a tax credit, I can acquire a plan similar to my current one. A Blue Cross "Silver" plan for approximately $51/month (after credit) with a $500 deductible. I noticed all the other plans are $5,000 or more deductibles, which is a bit scarier. I don't make doctors visits often, or hospital visits ever, but in the event that a freak accident happens, I'd rather not have to pay $6,000 before my insurance kicks in, so the $500 deductible is enticing. If anyone knows better then I regarding any of this, I am all ears (or eyes, in this case). For the past 5 years (my early-mid 20s) I've been rolling with my companies insurance plan, rarely using it, and never bothering to read the fine print. I've read every post in this thread, but if I'm missing something in regards to my plan, please let me know. On the surface, that Silver plan seems very comparable to my companies aside from being an in-network plan. BUt is there something I could be missing? Thanks!

It's a lot of work to touch base with all the other teams to get ideas about who could be available via trade and a rough estimate of what it might take to acquire said players. They probably have targets, but if none of them are available or are too expensive, then it probably is a better idea to sell off some of your assets, provided you get the return you want. Or just do nothing. I don't think many people would be happy about nothing...

I'd like to see the forums stay the same, but allow leniency in regards to subjects. IE: Team A is considering trading player B, should White Sox pursue player B? Perhaps include the entire MLB forum as a subforum of Pale Hose as well, similar to trade winds. The best thing that has happened to this forum was to get rid of most catch - all threads. To put it simply, I am much happier looking over a few threads of minor significance to me to find something that I'm interested in discussing, then to wade through countless posts in a catch-all to find something that I'm interested in discussing. The worst is when you're reading old catch-alls and miss an entire conversation that you would have jumped in on. I'd even take it a step further and get rid of catch-alls for NHL/Blackhawks, NBA/Bulls and NFL/Bears. It's kind of annoying to read somebody talking about the Packers when I want to read about the Bears. The entire Patrick Kane legal case could have been a separate thread entirely instead of inside a catch-all where poster A says "Hawks win!", poster B says "The Central is stacked", and poster C says "Kane must be innocent." Those could all be their own threads. Also, I noticed a long, long time ago that there were even game threads for each separate Hawks, Bulls and Bears game. Why did that stop?

Wow. I'm still going to opt to sport my Toews Winter Classic sweater from last season most often, but now I don't feel so silly owning a Kane home sweater.

If anyone is still worrying about the Central division, just know that there have not been a lot of central vs central match ups yet. Central teams other then Colorado have dominated the east, and yes, that means the central is a good division. But things will even out after more central vs central games occur. Chicago and Colorado have only played 2 central games, Dallas has only played 1, Nashville zero. It will be interesting to see how things shake out.

From what I've seen from Teuvo lately, I wasn't impressed. Not that Bickell is a better bet, but Kero has had some decent shifts out there today.

I think I agree with the sentiment of a few on here. For the Sox to acquire promising young players, they would have to deal from their position of strength. It is widely accepted that SP is that position. However, just because it is our position where we have the most strength, doesn't really mean that it's a general position of strength. Who is ready to fill Quintanas shoes if we trade him for position players? If you sign Buehrle, you cannot expect him to give you anything better then what a #4 starter would. But with the depth we wouldn't have by trading Quintana, he would become our #3, with Rodon at 2, Danks 4 and Johnson 5. Are we ready to put that kind of pressure on Rodon? Further, what kind of depth do we really have at SP in the minors? Fulmer belongs in AA, there's a chance he could get promoted midseason if he dominates. Danish is probably slated to go to AA again, and probably have a better year. Montas seems like he's going to end up a reliever. Spencer Adams is probably going to AA, as well. There's a good chance we could have a hell of a AA staff next year, but they are not knocking on the door yet. I am not comfortable, at all, going after organizational depth pitchers, or guys who had a bad year or two, or guys coming off of injury and expecting them to slide into the rotation. If they do, that's great, that's gravy, but you cannot have any of them penciled into a 1-5 spot going into the spring. They need to earn it. Lastly, similar to Sale, I am not trading Quintana unless it is for a package of players that I want. We're talking at least a slight overpayment. Just like Sale, I do not see the White Sox getting offered a package that they want. They won't trade him just for the sake of trading him. Teams that really want a starter can turn to free agency first, and there are at least 4 desirable names out there. Knowing that you can't just trade Quintana and not have a capable replacement ready, I think the Sox best move this offseason, if they truly want to force a couple teams into a bidding war for Quintana, would be to sign Zimmerman or Cueto after the Price decides to sign with the Cubs and Greinke decides to stay in LA. You're hoping the bidding for Zimmerman or Cueto doesn't exceed Jon Lesters 6 year 155million contract, which I think the Sox would consider, but anything beyond that and the Sox are out and they keep Quintana. Ultimately, there will probably be just too many suitors, and the bidding will get beyond what the Sox are comfortable with. There's also the possibility of a lateral move, maybe a team like the Mets wants to trade a right hander for a left hander to have some rotation balance. If that is a possibility, I think that would also be a great move. I think the most likely scenario is that the Sox kind of stand pat with their rotation. Maybe they swap Danks contract for another and sign Buehrle.

You have got to be kidding me.... ... .......................... ...............................

Not sure if these are big enough, but here is a picture of them side by side to their regular sized hot dogs. Pure beef with none of the BS, as well.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Oct 14, 2015 -> 11:55 AM) Man, and Ventura gets a free pass. This FO truly is retarded. I might suggest you re-read the quote. Hahn flat out says that Parent was responsible for any clubhouse issues. Ventura had no involvement in this and for me, it kind of confirms what Lip Man's source was telling him.

Rick also put to rest any speculation that the Sox wouldn't offer Samardizja a qualifying offer. Basically he said that "should things work out that Jeff ends up in another uniform next season, we'll at the very least end up with a draft pick..."

Rick Hahn quote from WLS White Sox Weekly podcast: "Parents a good baseball man and its unfortunate that we did feel we had to make a change in large part because of the performance and some of the elements inside the clubhouse.. which ultimately he bore responsibility for."

Rick talking about Parent being let go: "Parents a good baseball man and its unfortunate that we did feel we had to make a change in large part because of the performance and some of the elements inside the clubhouse.. which ultimately he bore responsibility for."

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 12, 2015 -> 09:04 PM) Saw Bernstein on Twitter speculating Arrieta's arm is bugging him due to an excessive amount of stretching by him between pitches Haha no. He's just human and can't be perfect forever.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 10:54 PM) The 1 game format is exciting for fans of the other 28 teams, horrible for the 2 fanbases and teams involved. Pirates won 98 games and get kicked out in just 1 game. I agree that the Pirates (or Cubs if they had lost) deserve a better fate then a 1 game play off. Teams that win more games then they lose deserve a shot in the postseason (not just this 1 game "postseason"), and someone needs to pucker up and tell owners to F off and switch to a more shortened season in favor of a longer postseason.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Oct 5, 2015 -> 11:59 AM) Are the 5 months (6 if you're the Sox) he has off a year not enough to be around his grandkids? No, that's actually not nearly enough time to convey the entire aspect of his Boston Red Sox days to his grandkids.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 5, 2015 -> 11:51 AM) If it were me, I would do home games, and hire a driver. Of course, Granger wouldn't be where I lived, but if I had to.......... Now that you mention it, in Hawks shoes I would miss my home ballpark a TON. The fans cheering with you for the Sox. I'd be willing to wager that if the Sox are competitive next year, and the ballpark is rocking, he might do a few more home games later in the season.

I would sometimes wonder how long Hawk can keep up the drive he has to the ballpark. He's getting pretty old, and not living close by makes for a heck of a commute. Staying at hotels and riding buses to ballparks is a different story, and so I can understand doing road games. He probably still loves being on the road, too. Good for Hawk.

If I'm the Sox, I make it clear to Avi that he is in open competition with Trayce for an OF spot next spring. Nothing is guaranteed. He needs to come to ST with a whole new idea on hitting, and apply it. He has a lot of work to do this offseason. It also wouldn't hurt if he put in a lot of work on his defense, too. At least improve that to some degree, as well. But as ardent a supporter as I have been for Avi, I fear he has hit his ceiling. It's not the ceiling we thought he could hit, and he is still very young.. but if he has a lousy spring I don't see how you can bring him to Chicago if you are looking to contend, unless Trayce has a terrible Spring or they bring in some new guys. I'm displeased Avi hasn't amounted to more, but overall I'm happy we were able to get a chance at a stud and a seemingly important future bullpen piece for Jake Peavy. Still a good deal for us, just hasn't worked out as we had all hoped.

Pat Tomasulo of WGN reposted this on Facebook saying "Don't ever change, White Sox fans." It's going viral. Congrats on your 15 minutes.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Sep 6, 2015 -> 12:40 AM) I Know I should be cheering for us to lose right now for draft position, but f*** the Royals, I'll always root for beating them. Getting a high draft pick this year is all well and good, but I also want this team to get some mojo against the Royals and hopefully carry it into next year.

IMO Cooper is wearing out his welcome here too. He couldn't find a middle ground to work with Samardzija on? Their relationship should never have been this bad, and as his boss, that falls on Cooper as much as it does Samardzija. Give Cooper a QO too, if you ask me... hehe