As I read the board these days, I see a lot of difference of opinion as to when the Sox can be competitive again.

 

What do you think?

 

My own opinion is rather optimistic, despite the terrible season so far this year. As I noted in another thread, the Sox have the one thing that is hardest and most expensive to find and acquire: affordable, effective, and mostly young pitching.

 

Also in the Sox favor is the lack of terrible contracts. Even the ones people complain about really are not all that bad when you look at the buffet of awfulness that exists across the league for contracts. At least the unproductive ones (e.g., Dunn) have only one more year (2014) or have hope that the player can still produce at the major league level (e.g., Danks).

 

The Sox also have not spent (we believe) the extra money coming to them from MLB for media rights, and they have that pitching staff in place for several more years at a pretty affordable rate.

 

IMO, the current team would be in position to compete for 88-90 wins if the offense and defense were at least league average. I think these can be rebuilt at a reasonable price (in terms of trades or free agents). Instead of spending for that big $20 million+ bat, I think the Sox can compete with a 'balanced' offense, and as others have noted in other threads, players will be available in the offseason that fit this bill. This is in addition to anything that could be acquired via trade during the season or offseason.

 

My own vote is 2014. I think Hahn has his work cut out for him, but I think he can do it without blowing up the strength of the current team.

As I read the board these days, I see a lot of difference of opinion as to when the Sox can be competitive again.

 

What do you think?

 

My own opinion is rather optimistic, despite the terrible season so far this year. As I noted in another thread, the Sox have the one thing that is hardest and most expensive to find and acquire: affordable, effective, and mostly young pitching.

 

Also in the Sox favor is the lack of terrible contracts. Even the ones people complain about really are not all that bad when you look at the buffet of awfulness that exists across the league for contracts. At least the unproductive ones (e.g., Dunn) have only one more year (2014) or have hope that the player can still produce at the major league level (e.g., Danks).

 

The Sox also have not spent (we believe) the extra money coming to them from MLB for media rights, and they have that pitching staff in place for several more years at a pretty affordable rate.

 

IMO, the current team would be in position to compete for 88-90 wins if the offense and defense were at least league average. I think these can be rebuilt at a reasonable price (in terms of trades or free agents). Instead of spending for that big $20 million+ bat, I think the Sox can compete with a 'balanced' offense, and as others have noted in other threads, players will be available in the offseason that fit this bill. This is in addition to anything that could be acquired via trade during the season or offseason.

 

My own vote is 2014. I think Hahn has his work cut out for him, but I think he can do it without blowing up the strength of the current team.

 

There just aren't enough quality position players available to turn this thing around in one offseason. 2017.

There just aren't enough quality position players available to turn this thing around in one offseason. 2017.

"We can't turn this around in 1 season despite your arguments I'm not going to refute. Instead, we need 4 offseasons. I HAVE SPOKEN!!!!"

not until they get salary relief and fix the farm system.

 

Sit back, relax and ... well, you know the rest.

 

It'g going to be awhile.

not until they get salary relief and fix the farm system.

 

Sit back, relax and ... well, you know the rest.

 

It'g going to be awhile.

 

Why do they need salary relief? Konerko, Floyd, and Crain alone combine for 27.5 million off the books for 2014.

This is a question I'm afraid to think about too much. Hopefully 2015. It won't be before then unless a ton goes right.

I'm saying 2015. Dunn, Rios, and Konerko will all be off the books by then. I'm hoping that saved money will go to getting some talent in here.

Who are these free agents who are going to propel this offense to a 90-win team in 2014?

Not until they commit to a full tear down and rebuilding. Which, under KW, was never. Hopefully under Hahn things change. The Sox should have committed to a rebuild back in 2010, instead they went all in with guys like Dunn and the Konerko extension.

 

You'd have to think 2016 is the earliest they could field a contender. All the big bad contracts will be off the books and you'd think a few of the young outfielders in the system would hopefully have progressed to MLB ready by then. Hawkins will obviously be key.

The day KW leaves organization forever is when the road to recovery begins not until then.

Edited May 12, 201312 yr by Soxfest

It's going to be a while IMO. It's been said over and over but all the Sox have is starting pitching and the ability to hit home runs (sometimes). It's been a long time since we've seen life in the the team or TWTW. The team loses a ton of close games and gets blown out once in a while but rarely blows anybody out.

With the current defense below average, offense abysmal, relief pitching lousy except for the closer, I'd say it may take a long long time.

It would help if the Tigers returned to the pack and a .500 season could win the lousy Central Division.

It's been a long time since we've seen life in the the team or TWTW.

Last year, April through August.

it's May 12th guys, the weather has yet to even really heat up. With the pitching we have and the fact that we're ONLY 6 games out I don't see why we can't compete this year. We probably don't have enough to actually catch the Tigers but I can certainly see us being competitive this year. We've seen Lexi carry this team at times, Dayan has the potential to get hot and carry the team, Beckham coming back could be a positive thing, Dunn has shown signs of light lately, and hopefully PK starts to turn it around at some point.

 

If we can swing a trade at some point for a quality catcher I think we can be an above .500 team.

it's May 12th guys, the weather has yet to even really heat up. With the pitching we have and the fact that we're ONLY 6 games out I don't see why we can't compete this year. We probably don't have enough to actually catch the Tigers but I can certainly see us being competitive this year. We've seen Lexi carry this team at times, Dayan has the potential to get hot and carry the team, Beckham coming back could be a positive thing, Dunn has shown signs of light lately, and hopefully PK starts to turn it around at some point.

 

If we can swing a trade at some point for a quality catcher I think we can be an above .500 team.

 

Yeah, this just isn't true. .316 OPS in May so far.

it's May 12th guys, the weather has yet to even really heat up. With the pitching we have and the fact that we're ONLY 6 games out I don't see why we can't compete this year. We probably don't have enough to actually catch the Tigers but I can certainly see us being competitive this year. We've seen Lexi carry this team at times, Dayan has the potential to get hot and carry the team, Beckham coming back could be a positive thing, Dunn has shown signs of light lately, and hopefully PK starts to turn it around at some point.

 

If we can swing a trade at some point for a quality catcher I think we can be an above .500 team.

 

The last thing we want to do is trade someone like Erik Johnson for a "less than sure thing" return at catcher.

 

Those are the kinds of trades that will kill off our future. We're a LOT more than just a good catcher away from competing this season. We're at least 3 players away, if not more. Without Dunn or Konerko hitting and staying on the roster and playing nearly every day, it's impossible, to be honest.

The day KW leaves organization forever is when the road to recovery begins not until then.

 

funny

Not until they commit to a full tear down and rebuilding. Which, under KW, was never. Hopefully under Hahn things change. The Sox should have committed to a rebuild back in 2010, instead they went all in with guys like Dunn and the Konerko extension.

 

You'd have to think 2016 is the earliest they could field a contender. All the big bad contracts will be off the books and you'd think a few of the young outfielders in the system would hopefully have progressed to MLB ready by then. Hawkins will obviously be key.

 

A full rebuild will have a hard time matching the pitching the Sox have now.

 

Which contracts are so bad to prevent the Sox from competing?

it's May 12th guys, the weather has yet to even really heat up. With the pitching we have and the fact that we're ONLY 6 games out I don't see why we can't compete this year. We probably don't have enough to actually catch the Tigers but I can certainly see us being competitive this year. We've seen Lexi carry this team at times, Dayan has the potential to get hot and carry the team, Beckham coming back could be a positive thing, Dunn has shown signs of light lately, and hopefully PK starts to turn it around at some point.

 

If we can swing a trade at some point for a quality catcher I think we can be an above .500 team.

 

Out of the blue they'll stop committing 9 errors per game?

A full rebuild will have a hard time matching the pitching the Sox have now.

 

Which contracts are so bad to prevent the Sox from competing?

 

 

Dunn, Danks and Keppinger, one would guess, going forward after Konerko/Crain/Thornton are gone.