For the third year in a row, FutureSox has a writer credentialed with the press pool for SoxFest.

 

Here's a quick vignette on Day 1, particularly the media session, and the impressions given by the front office.

 

Brian is there again today at sessions and networking with folks. He's interviewed a number of players, prospects and front office and field staff, and those interviews will go up soon.

 

I hope the type of reaction they are seeing to the new acquisitions at Soxfest assuages any fears that the fanbase wont tolerate a rebuild.

I hope the type of reaction they are seeing to the new acquisitions at Soxfest assuages any fears that the fanbase wont tolerate a rebuild.

 

They haven't had a single loss, yet. A couple of years of that will get the pitchforks back out.

I hope the type of reaction they are seeing to the new acquisitions at Soxfest assuages any fears that the fanbase wont tolerate a rebuild.

 

 

Good thing all teams are even during the off season. Wait till after our first loss

They haven't had a single loss, yet. A couple of years of that will get the pitchforks back out.

Not only that, every one of these prospects is still going to be great. At best, the prospect people will be just as happy a year from now when they all live up to their billing. If one or more falls apart, look out.

It's going to be impossible to live up to the Cubs' roughly 75% success rate. It has almost been unreal. Normally, you're lucky to be hitting at 40% with major (Top 100/150) prospects.

It's going to be impossible to live up to the Cubs' roughly 75% success rate. It has almost been unreal. Normally, you're lucky to be hitting at 40% with major (Top 100/150) prospects.

I think the Sox can match that rate with the arms. Play to your strengths.

Nice solid recap of the events and a good way to summarize the "plan" going forward.

 

Mark

Kudos the White Sox. I have a 17 year-old nephew battling lymphoma at Lurie's Childrens Hospital and he got a visit the other day from Renteria, Moncada and Giolito. The kid's a Cubs fan but the visit meant the world to him and genuinely lifted his spirits at a time when he can't keep any food down and is battling the effects of chemo. I've seen these pics on twitter and never given them much thought, even dismissed them as publicity stunts. I now know they're much more than that. Already love these new guys!

Kudos the White Sox. I have a 17 year-old nephew battling lymphoma at Lurie's Childrens Hospital and he got a visit the other day from Renteria, Moncada and Giolito. The kid's a Cubs fan but the visit meant the world to him and genuinely lifted his spirits at a time when he can't keep any food down and is battling the effects of chemo. I've seen these pics on twitter and never given them much thought, even dismissed them as publicity stunts. I now know they're much more than that. Already love these new guys!

 

That is pretty awesome.

We got video interviews with a number of folks.

 

The interviews with Zack Collins, Lucas Giolito, Zack Burdi and Matt Davidson are now up on our YouTube channel. You can get to know these guys up close and a little more personal than a transcript.

 

Interviews with Rick Hahn and Chris Getz are coming soon.

 

Kudos the White Sox. I have a 17 year-old nephew battling lymphoma at Lurie's Childrens Hospital and he got a visit the other day from Renteria, Moncada and Giolito. The kid's a Cubs fan but the visit meant the world to him and genuinely lifted his spirits at a time when he can't keep any food down and is battling the effects of chemo. I've seen these pics on twitter and never given them much thought, even dismissed them as publicity stunts. I now know they're much more than that. Already love these new guys!

This made my day. Cheers

It's going to be impossible to live up to the Cubs' roughly 75% success rate. It has almost been unreal. Normally, you're lucky to be hitting at 40% with major (Top 100/150) prospects.

 

I'll give Theo credit where credit is due, but a Cubs rebuild was done through multiple seasons of tanking, combined with success after prospect success that is nearly impossible to repeat

 

Tanking allowed them to draft Bryant, who turned into a superstar

 

Trading Samardzija and Hammel for Russell + more was a great move

 

Tanking and drafting Baez, Schwarber, Bryant, Almora, Happ, etc. really allowed them to build a large amount of the team

 

When you draft in the top 5 nearly every season you have a much greater chance of landing impact talent

 

I'm not sure Sox fans would have the patience to deal with 3-5 years of tanking...but we might have to

 

 

I'll give Theo credit where credit is due, but a Cubs rebuild was done through multiple seasons of tanking, combined with success after prospect success that is nearly impossible to repeat

 

Tanking allowed them to draft Bryant, who turned into a superstar

 

Trading Samardzija and Hammel for Russell + more was a great move

 

Tanking and drafting Baez, Schwarber, Bryant, Almora, Happ, etc. really allowed them to build a large amount of the team

 

When you draft in the top 5 nearly every season you have a much greater chance of landing impact talent

 

I'm not sure Sox fans would have the patience to deal with 3-5 years of tanking...but we might have to

 

The Cubs didn't have near the level of talent the Sox have on the MLB roster to trade away. But somehow came away w Russell, Rizzo, Arrietta and Hendricks in someone solid or under the radar moves. They still needed the drafts to build the major contender and it took some time. With what the Sox are trading away, the near MLB ready prospects should expedite the rebuild and might only require a couple years of tanking.

The Cubs didn't have near the level of talent the Sox have on the MLB roster to trade away. But somehow came away w Russell, Rizzo, Arrietta and Hendricks in someone solid or under the radar moves. They still needed the drafts to build the major contender and it took some time. With what the Sox are trading away, the near MLB ready prospects should expedite the rebuild and might only require a couple years of tanking.

 

Perhaps, but they also nailed pretty much every trade and draft pick perfectly

 

As well as opened up the checkbook to sign Lester and Heyward (Heyward has not worked out as planned so far)

 

Teams go through windows of contention, and right now the Cubs have an excellent 2-3 year window to compete with the roster being largely cost controlled

 

As soon as players like Bryant, Schwarber, Russell, Baez, Hendricks, etc start to hit their arbitration years they will get significantly more expensive. Lackey and Arrieta are both likely gone after this season, essentially forcing the Cubs to spend big in free agency on at least one starter given the lack of internal options. I'd look for them to trade for a cost controlled starter at some point given prospects like Happ and Cendelario are blocked

 

 

I'm not sure Sox fans would have the patience to deal with 3-5 years of tanking...but we might have to

 

In the last 5 years the White Sox have had attendance rankings of 2016 - 26th, 2015 - 26th, 2014 - 28th, 2013 - 24th & 2012 - 24th. So I can't say Sox fans have had much patience the past 5 years either.

 

At this point does it really matter if they are 26th or 30th? What they've been doing the past 10+ years simply is not working and it's time to try something different.

thanks for the writeup guys. The job seems to be taking a physical toll on Hahn based on some photos I've seen.

Edited January 30, 20179 yr by chitownsportsfan