GreenSox

Do you remember several years ago when KW would speak of this "3 year window" - it was never exactly a fixed time, it would seem to roll as was convenient, but ended up being something like 2014-2016. That never made any sense to me because the core was signed basically through 2019 or later. But he swore by it, and, in the end, honored it. Yes, my Donaldson suggestion is more of a re-tool than rebuild; but it's also realistic as those 2 trades happened at around the same time and the package were very similar. As for trading for Samardzija so that they could extend him; that may be true, but what winning org. does that type of thing?

That's a good question. It's the White Sox who thought that could happen; otherwise, why trade a package for 1 year of Samardzija. Now I think that team could have been rebuilt such that it would be playoff team now or maybe 2017. It's opportunity cost - they used a package of players that had market value for players that brought marginal value back to the Sox because their window was too small and because the Sox overrated their abilities. I'll give you one obvious move: take the package you dealt for 1 year of Samardzija and do it for 4 years of Donaldson instead. Maybe you have to throw in another player - but Oakland wants ML ready young players and that's what they got from the Sox (3 are still playing and on Oakland's 25). The packages were similar.

I see the DSL team is 6-26. Is that normal?

Wise move taking time off, because I said it, repeatedly, and as you said, no one wanted to hear it. That December 2013 rebuild got off to such a good start....Eaton was a major player day 1. Might have had a quicker turnaround like the Brewers, had they stuck with it. But after 73 wins in 2014, the FO seemed to encounter a spell of delusion and decided they could compete in 2015, so they rented Samardzija, refused the opportunity to cover the losses in July ("10 game winning streak right around the corner") and they only dug the hole deeper over the next year.

Covey for me. Fondness is really belief that he can be a fifth starter in this league.

I'll credit him for Swarzak and Kahnle. Clippard had virtual identical WHIP and K totals with the Yankees as he did with the Sox. The Sox are paying Soria $9 million; he didn't need fixing. Shields hasn't been fixed. I don't blame Cooper for not fixing him; but I do blame him and the GM for apparently not bothering to find out that his velocity and stuff were way off. I haven't given up on Covey - A few sharply hit balls found holes the other night, but he wasn't mauled. If Covey works out, credit Cooper. Giolito, Fulmer, and Lopez....they obviously haven't been fixed. And dumping Junior Guerra is major misfeasance. They wouldn't have had to bother trading for Shields because he is what the Sox wanted in Shields.

I think the FO over-prioritizing culture and "happy clubhouse" has contributed to this blight. Better players will quickly take care of any "culture" issues.

yes, sir, Omar, clear those bases.

Rivera just doesn't walk at all. Is the OPS, boosted by lofty a batting average, sustainable?

Astros (or anyone) offers nice pieces they should just trade him. No time for sentimentality or good in the clubhouse.

I was beaten mercilessly for saying this 2 -3 years ago (although I didn't express it nearly as eloquently as you did in this post). The media never called Hahn to task on anything. Less than a month after the Shields trade, the FO indicated intent to rebuild, diverting the attention. The Sox bloggers/insiders have basically fawned over Hahn; they've never called him to task either. Perhaps it's because they get access from this regime.

What's the deal with Henzman in the bullpen? Given up on him as a starter, or just no rotation room right now?

The only reason Soria was added to this team was to be flipped. I know he's pitched okay (certainly not great, but okay) overall but this doesn't help. Maybe Minaya impressed scouts.....

Take that Devenski!

Omar is a walking machine even when he isn't hitting well. wish he was a better catcher.

They K too much. If they made more contact, a reasonable amount of that contact would be at least singles. I just don't see how they could possibly walk more than they do now, given the rest of their game.

And Chris Sale was part of the Sox rebuild because he created Moncada et al. Altuve spent his first 3 years in Houston looking like Yolmer does now - I don't know if hit was luck or if Luhnow knew to keep him. Whatever it was, Sox could use some of that.

For the Sox, good starting pitching has usually revealed itself early on. Some take a season or 1/2 a season in the majors to get straight. But that's been about it.

Another big difference for the Phillies this year is that 2 of their young starters who weren't very good last year, are very good this year, one of whom is the guy they got from the Nats for Papelbon. Starting pitching progress is the biggest void so far. Stockpile it.

I'd only trade Yolmer if they get something legit. I think he's better than his #s, but that may be my bias because I like his game in general. I would think Leury would be attractive to other teams...he can play CF and SS. Now while I wouldn't trade him for scraps, I would expect that much either. We may have a MI infield log jam in the future, but it's not here yet. Maybe Rodon can play - I didn't really notice much, but some said they liked his game.

And the White Sox are in their 6th straight below .500 season. I count the Cubs from when Theo was hired; the Astros from when Luhnow was hired; the Phillies from the season that they traded Cole Hamels (which is prior to when their current GM was hired). The Braves won in 2013, had an unexpected down year in 2014, and late in 2014 decided to rebuild: it took 3 years. So if my premise is wrong then the White Sox are in year 6 of the rebuild.

Then let me be more precise on the question. Why does this FO need and deserve more than 3 years to rebuild this organization into a winning team, when the Astros, Cubs, Phillies and Braves needed only 3.

It's reassuring that he's sticking with the rebuild but he didn't really explain why he needs more than the 3 years that the Astros, Cubs, Braves and Phillies needed. He wasn't asked either, unfortunately.

I would keep Avi before I'd keep Abreu. Bad in the clubhouse is a problem, but keeping players because they are "good in the clubhouse" is for the birds, especially on a team like this. Avi hasn't caused any problems in Chicago.

The Sox do need to start the buildup, but the pitching, primarily starting pitching, is the problem (ranked 29th). The young starters have not materialized. Kopech has the same issue the rest of these guys do - can't throw enough strikes. Lack of pitching shouldn't dissuade from moving Abreu. Of course, that doesn't mean "Trade for Syndegard", which is a silly and resource-depleting contrivance.