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Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. ?

HUH????

Do you most of you agree with this assessment?: Machado: He would love to play for his life long favorite team, the Yankees. However, they do not appear to be interested in giving him a long term contract, in the dollar range, he is seeking. Between the Phillies and Sox, given comparable offers, he probably prefers the Sox, because his wife would likely prefer being in Chicago, close to her brother, who is also Manny's closest friend, as well as a member of the Sox. Harper: He may prefer the Cubs, because of his buddy Bryant, or the Dodgers, because they are in LA, however the Cubs do not have the payroll flexibility and the Dodgers do not really seem eager to make the kind of financial expenditure required. They probably have more pressing needs. Between the Phillies and Sox, again the wife may play a critical role. If he signed with the Sox, he couldn't play along side his buddy, but at least his wife, who is very close with Bryant's wife, could be near her in Chicago. The city of Chicago should appeal to the Harpers, more than the City of Brotherly Love. Unless the Phillies blow past the Sox offer, why wouldn't he choose the Sox, over the Phillies? Just trying to provide a little hope and Holiday Cheer. Did it work, for any of you?

I really do hate this whole process.

He throws a ton of stuff out there based on other people’s rumors and reports and about 25% of it ends up being right even though it’s just speculation. Any of us could do what he does

I must say, Fathom referring to Incarcerated Bob as “pretty accurate” makes me feel quite confident that his Charles the Cat guy is a fraud

Yes. Probably spooning. Maybe even forking.

Sox have a move in place. I dont know what it is, but they have one. Guessing it will be announced after Christmas. #sources

I think this pretty much guarantees we get both of them.

Because we have already won the WS in recent enough memory, I would say number one. The excitement of a playoff hunt for half a decade where we would be known as a dominant team would be stronger than a season of championship that may be called a fluke. Now if we didn't win in 05, my answer would be different.

Probably bringing back Davidson and avi lol

Yes. If they win another championship or two, and the Sox rebuild fails they can absolutely put the hammer down on the Sox. The Sox might as well not even exist at that point. I don't think it would be even worth it for the Sox to remain in town past this stadium lease at that point. The Cubs would have a stranglehold on the city and there would be exactly zero Sox fans under 35 by 2030. I haven't seen a random kid wearing Sox gear in 5+ years. I really don't think they register to anyone born after 1995. This is the bigger problem, IMO. I never see kids at Sox games. The youngest people that ever see at the games are really little kids and about 25 year olds.

I'm with you, I'm an old timer and enjoyed the 17 straight winning seasons of the Go Go years from 1951-1967. If there were playoffs back then the Sox including the 59 AL Champs would have made the post-season probably 10 times in those years. I might have had a different answer if we didn't win it all in 2005.

Hawks book

If I had to guess right now, here’s what I’m thinking assuming eligibility: Luis Robert, CF (Top 10) Michael Kopech, RHP (Top 20) Dylan Cease, RHP (Top 20) Nick Madrigal, 2B (Top 30) Micker Adolfo, OF (Top 50) Dane Dunning, RHP (Top 60) Luis Basabe, OF (Top 80) Luis Gonzalez, OF (Top 90) Jimmy Lambert, RHP (Top 100) Steele Walker, OF (Top 100)

I don't know. I kinda take the "won't sign until 2019" as "won't sign until after holidays." I bet he signs in the first couple weeks. Just my 2 cents.

Sure, but the Yankees & Phillies aren’t going to wait around forever. Can you provide your source for why Machado won’t sign until after the SuperBowl?

Source? "After the new year" could mean any time between NYD and spring training, so......

No, Machado is signing by mid January, his agent doesn’t play the same games Boras does.

I think that both of your scenarios are likely to be followed by years of losing, and I think that the team with a title and a trophy has had more fun and built more fan interest.

That’s not what I’m arguing. Hypothetical scenario A: The White Sox get a bunch of fluky career years out of otherwise mediocre players and win a title, but for the following 5 seasons the team averages 68 wins a season and don’t sniff the playoffs. Talent evaluation is still highly questionable. Hypothetical scenario B: The White Sox average 95 wins over a six year stretch with 5 playoff appearances and two pennants but zero titles. Even if the window of contention is now closing in scenario B which do you feel better about going forward and which one does more to generate fan interest?

I wish you used their names instead of your own made up knicknames.. BOO

Very much disagree with the concept. Look at the teams not named the Dodgers or Yankees - what happens if they win for 5 or 6 straight years? Their system gets tapped out completely because they need to trade away their minor league talent to keep winning 90 games. The key players who helped them build those teams start getting expensive to the point that you have to pick 1 or 2 to keep, and the rest you trade away. Those teams get a choice - gradually get worse and worse every year, or suddenly hit a cliff. The Cubs, the team that laughs at native americans, the Royals, the Giants, the Rangers, the Tigers. They had multi year runs of 90+ wins but eventually the money runs out and the supply of players doesn't keep up with demand. The Astros have survived 5 years, but this year Cole and Verlander hit free agency and that's going to be a tough batch to hold onto or replace. Then Springer does the next year. Then Correa does the next year.

If the Sox aren't going to get Harper, I kind of would like to see the Cubs get him. That would tie up a huge amount of money for a guy that doesn't really move the needle on anything they need, plus they are going to have to move some quality pieces and unbalance the team to get him. They would be much better served throwing big money at Craig Kimbrel than Bryce Harper.

Because to me competitive seasons are infinitely more interesting as a fan than non competitive seasons are and I think 6 interesting seasons is better entertainment value than 1 amazing season and 5 seasons of suck. And if this front office can prove they can actually build a consistent competitor then that’s better for the future of this franchise than if they just luck into a title again. #1 means I’m more confident in more titles happening in the future than if #2 happened.

ABSOLUTELY NOT. DON'T YOU DARE TAKE MY CHRISTMAS DREAM OF BOTH AWAY FROM ME. Also, Merry Christmas lol

I would prefer multiple years of the playoffs.... and winning multiple World Series. #bestanswer

How does KW not deserve credit for the 2005 team? Some of you guys are taking your hate of the guy way too far.

Wood has one year of control left.

if our pitching didnt shit the bed in '06 we would have won 100+ games that year

Kielbasa ?

If you want my advice For a little slice of Bryce To entice Bryce For the right price You have to be twice as nice To be precise and concise Don't be cold as ice Or else no dice !