GreenSox

Where we need to bring in a bench player is for the outfield. We have nothing in AAA to help. We have 3 guys ready to go for the infield. Let them fight it out. Why bring in someone we know is terrible like Beckham or Cabrera?

No We have 3 guys fighting it out for 2nd. At least one will be able to handle the position defensively, and all 3 have more upside than Cabrera. Below average veterans are no cinch not to further decline either.

QUOTE (scs787 @ Dec 15, 2014 -> 08:42 PM) Wouldn't be surprised to see Ben Brewster continue to quickly move through the minors so there'a another name to throw out there. What makes you think so?

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Dec 17, 2014 -> 05:37 AM) I know you have been on a "keep and develop the kids" crusade all offseason, but if Evan Longoria is possible (not saying he is, just supposing) than you do this every time and don't look back. That being said, I don't think this will happen That's because the only way you have a chance to win by not using young players is to have a Yankees type budget. The best chance is to be like the Cardinals. Yankees-lite has little chance. You don't encumber yourself to $120 million until they are 37 after you've basically spent your budget. The Blue Jays traded their best young players 2 years ago and it got them nowhere. their only savior is that their farm continued to churn out more talent. And they still haven't done much. I will also ask is it mere coincidence that he's on the block the year after he sported a .724 OPS?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 10:55 PM) Exactly. Since Rodon can't be traded, Thank goodness for that. We still wouldn't be the favorites even with him. Keep the young talent.

Not happening. Look, the Sox are going to have to use their young players in spots. All good teams do. It's up to the Sox to develop some. That's how we got Eaton - developed a young pitcher and traded him. It will start with 2B. You just can't force everything. The other issue is what if this team doesn't click. What if unforseen weaknesses develop. Have to leave yourself some room.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) Please tell me what information was available that suggested Leury Garcia should ever bat leadoff? He posted a -81 wRC+ over 10 games in that spot last year, there's really no excuse for the decision. It's indefensible. The manager's job is to manage the talent he has as best can. There were numerous better choices. The process matters...clown managing exacerbates personnel weaknesses.

Love those 4 hour games.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Dec 16, 2014 -> 06:43 AM) That was a quote out of frustration when his bullpen was blowing games. He will not be able to do that with a successful bullpen. The roles need to be defined in some manner. Defined in a very broad manner. This business of "X has the 7th", "Y has the 8th" is silly stuff. It only makes sense when you have a sizable lead in a game. Their role is to get outs. Use the best pitchers when there are men on base. I thought he handled the pen fine, running out of pitchers in that game notwithstanding. He tended to leave in starters too long - the good ones were overpitched (although Ventura quit using them 110+ pitches after he put Sale on the DL) as were the bad ones (presumably because the bullpen was weak - hopefully he'll yank Danks this year before he pitches us out of games). His personality is fine, as long as the players are motivated, which these players should be.

No. And no. The pages have turned

When Asked about "roles" last year, Ventura astutely said that their role is to get outs. I hope he maintains that philosophy. He still needs work on those bunting in front of Abreu and pulling Abreu for pinch runners thingies he does .

There's a 90% chance that the Samardizja trade will be a net loss from a personnel standpoint. Rents usually are. You benefit now but pay more later. That's why I don't like them. Still this one went about as well as they can. Sox might reap indirect benefits such as more ticket sales, more interest and an ability to get preference in trying to sign him. Semien was no cinch to excel at 2B himself. We have 3 candidates. Hopefully one will do adequately and they should be able to handle the position defensively. Teams do need young players. We got our Scherzer: Samardiza and then Rodon. Maybe they'll sign Samardizja and we'll get both. Scherzer wouldn't give near as much marginal value to this team as even Melky will. Right now you can make an argument for a cheap starter and cheap 4th OF. Giving prospects for upgrades at C (and it's dubious whether the names thrown about are upgrades anyway) and 3B isn't worth it. Those positions are average right now. Could improve.

As an aside,let me say that competitive balance picks are so bogus.

QUOTE (SoCalSox @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 03:46 PM) IF Hahn can trade Danks and get a prospect or two for him, while offsetting the cost of what Melky costs (after trading Viciedo, which accounts for around $4M), would you do it and "risk" Rodon as the 5th starter this year? No But it's not because I am fearful of what it would do to our team this year...my timeframe actually goes beyond 2015. It's because pitching Rodon before he is ready wastes his service time and is a poor use of an asset.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Dec 14, 2014 -> 09:30 AM) You'd probably have a majority willing to give up Anderson, Montas and Hawkins for Josh Donaldson at this point. Seems like the plan of action from the beginning was to pull all his moves off without losing any key future pieces. Still a bit in disbelief. Not a huge Cabrera fan but it's almost impossible not to feel positive about the overall direction of the franchise compared to a year ago. Robin Ventura. Your turn. LOL Sox fill major holes with above average players by giving up ZERO top prospects (and very few prospects at all), and now we want to pay Tor 3x what they paid in order to shore up a weakness? Yikes Castro was dreadful at the plate last year. That's the thing. This is not an all or nothing set-up we have for 2015. No top pitching prospects for Nick Swisher or Edwin Jackson involved. Farm retained. Room for growth. Even the Melky deal is only 3 years. Everything's good. Let's keep it that way.

Prob end up just cutting him and saving 3 mill

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 13, 2014 -> 01:49 PM) We just traded for a guy on a 1 year deal likely to sign a 9 figure deal next offseason that we may not want to pay. We better be caring 100% about the White Sox making the playoffs this year. Make the playoffs this year and then pick up the pieces next offseason. We already made that call. We can think long term as a secondary priority, but we absolutely have to win 88 games this year. Sox put themselves in a position to be competitive. That's all. They didn't mortgage the future, nor should we, and I certainly hope we don't. There's no reason to. You can't snap your fingers on a 73 win team, make a bunch of moves and say "We're winning the world series this year." At least not this 73 win team which was a legitimate 73 win team or thereabouts (maybe could have won 78 had without the short term injuries that it had). It's not like anyone had an inexplicable off year who is likely to bounce back. Sure they signed a 1 year player; I wouldn't have done it, but they also didn't give up any key pieces for today or tomorrow to do so. And if this team really did go all in for 1 year, that's exactly what it would be...it would be back to sub 80 wins in 2016.

Melky Cabrera is not a marque left fielder. He's just the best of a bad FA lot. No way should the Sox tie up 3 or 4 years at big money for this guy. it will interfere with their ability to make future moves. Nor should they trade top prospects for a year of Upton or whomever. They have done a great job rebuilding while also not only protecting the farm, but improving it. Keep at it. they can get a stopgap by basically paying 1 year of someone's inflated salary.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 07:36 PM) If Connor is on auto-launch out of ST again this won't bother us much. I'm looking for an even better Gillaspie this year. He's obviously by no means done getting better. I mean that's clear as day right? The issue with him is the D. that doesn't have the ability to get better as easily as O does. But, yea, I like him and agree he can improve particularly offensively. He kind of was in a weird position in San Fran, being on the 40 man since his signing (in his contract). He quickly ran out of options, and they had no room for him because of Sandoval, so they sold low, to the Sox benefit.

QUOTE (Joshua Strong @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) I think that the team's defense is holding them back from being a really good team. There's defensive question marks at 3rd (I think that the team should think about Gilapse in LF and finding a defensive minded 3rd baseman.), 2nd and LF. I'd like to see that too, but I thought they'd try it out last september if it was under consideration.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 07:19 PM) that would be a huge overpay for victorino to make qualifying offer, probably in the 16mil rage next year. He'd snap it up, and if he didn't nobody would be willing to pay him big money plus give up the draft pick for an aging, average player. Agree - no way Victorino nets a QO Sox should be willing to get/sell him for his contract and a C prospect.

Scherzer would be a poor use of resources. They'd get a lot, lot, lot more marginal value from using that money in other places. Cespedes/Porcello trade was fine. Good to see pitching leave Detroit. Porcello is subject to comp, but he'll never get a QO so that won't matter.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 05:30 PM) you do have a point about more players being avail. i do like Victorino, but his contract is something i really don't like. The contract is fine. It's 1 year, just what we need. You don't want anything long for a 34 year old Sox don't need more long term contracts. It will reduce their leverage to make later improvements. If he's real cheap - I'd consider it.

This would encumber the Sox with another long term contract, when they really need a young athletic outfielder. I wouldn't do it. Can't fix everything in 1 year. The progress in a year and a half has been remarkable, esp. considering that there has been no ding at all to the farm.

QUOTE (ChiSox59 @ Dec 11, 2014 -> 02:51 PM) John Danks, while not well liked around these parts, is a solid #4. Sure, he's paid like 2 or 3, but he is just fine as a #4. The main need is obviously LF. I still expect to see Melky, Rasmus or Aoki on this club, and if not, the LF will come via trade. I am fine going to battle with Gillaspie at 3B (sign Bonafacio, Rick..he's a perfect fit and platoon w/ Conor against LHP) and Flowers at C. Danks is pitching like a #5 for a good team. I guess the plan is with a fortified pen, they can withstand 6 innings and out of Danks and Noesi pretty well and they are probably right. Bonifacio is terrible. He had good splits last year but not the year before. Aoki is okay, but I wish he was better defensively. Still, I wouldn't do anything drastic at this point. We probably need to keep Danks (Rodon should not spend a second in the majors until 100% ready). They need someone in LF. Hopefully they will continue down the road of not trading top prospects, esp. for someone on their downward arc (which is where most of the outfielders on the block are). They don't need to encumber their entire budget right now. They probably want to sign Jeff S long-term and there will be better hitters available. As for this LH stuff, why is it normal for a LH hitter not to be able to hit LH pitchers? The same isn't true for RH hitters and RH pitchers.