Jack Parkman

I don't really blame them for 2006, but I do blame them for the 2001-04 teams, as well the 2010 and 2012 team. They were a couple players away during those years, and they seemed to be content finishing second. They could have put themselves over the top, but didn't. 01-04 still infuriates me.

Everything came together that year. Nobody is denying that. The pitching staff that was lights out in 05 was complete crap in 06, which is why they didn't make the postseason. Buehrle and Contreras' arms fell off at the ASB, and Garcia's did during the offseason. Anyone remember the "Flamethrower Freddy" graphic? That was hilarious and accurate in 2006. Stealing Floyd and Gio Gonzalez from the Phillies for Freddy was highway robbery.

The other thing that people have to realize is that the Sox acquired a TON of boom/bust prospects through both the draft and trade. The only sure bet they have acquired is Eloy, and that happened under their watch. The safest prospect they have acquired other than Eloy is Dunning, but he's likely a mid to back end of the rotation guy. Everyone else has the potential to completely flop. The numbers game says it shouldn't happen, but there is more of a chance that it could happen than most realize.

Not bored, a bit disappointed that the talent hasn't proven itself yet but there is still time for that to happen. I'm still optimistic, as long as the Sox spend money when necessary to maximize their window, should it open. I would hope they learned a lesson from squandering the 2000-04 and 2006-12 teams by not spending enough to put them over the top in a given year. It is a minor miracle they won it all in 2005.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.

It depends on how the market shakes out over the next 10 years. If the Sox continue to be bad to awful, and the Cubs continue to make postseasons, I'm not so sure. I'm worried about the Sox' U25 fanbase. There are teenagers too young to remember the last time the Sox were in the playoffs, while their formative fandom years the Cubs were awesome. Don't discount that. They may have lost an entire generation or two of Chicago baseball fans. It could be too much to ever recover from here. 16 year olds were born in 2002-03. The last time the Sox made the playoffs they were 6 years old. I barely remember the 93 team when I was 6. Meanwhile with the Cubs.....

Nope, it's lasting another 3-5 weeks.

I think it is actually disadvantageous to players tbh. It gives teams less time to move money around, and also free agents lose leverage in negotiations. In other words, it will never happen.

idk honestly, the Cubs are so entrenched that a new owner might think it makes more sense to leave.

Because they can't compete with the assholes on the North Side.

There are two options here: 1. This report is bullshit. 2. There is truth to this report. I would hope 1 is true. If 2 is true, then the rebuild is doomed because that would mean that when Hahn said the money would be there when the time comes, he was talking out of his ass, and was lying to the fanbase. If that is the case, the Sox are completely fucked because JR has just morphed into Bill Wirtz. Might as well pack up the moving vans. If one team in town is willing to spend to win when it makes sense, and the other isn't, then why would anyone without a current allegiance go to the games or follow the team? If there is any truth to this, that is a really good way to alienate what is left of your fanbase. Who knows, maybe that is the whole point. Maybe they're trying to completely alienate the fanbase so that nobody gives a flying fuck when they pack up and leave town.

I understand what you mean. Maybe a bit too graphic. I meant it in no way as the political stuff involved, just the physical act of getting your ass beat with no way to fight back and then getting pissed on when lying in the street. I shouldn't have used his name, I should have described the act of getting your ass beat to a pulp by an angry mob. way too insensitive I agree.

Forgive me for throwing my rational hat out of the window for a couple months. I was frustrated over Kopech/Bears-Packers @Lambeau in a 48 hour period. the sports equivalent of the Rodney King beating and then having the people that beat you piss on you as you lay bleeding in the middle of the road.

Rick, sign Pomeranz already......

I was thinking those two and Jeff Hoffman. I'd love the Sox to somehow get Tapia/Hoffman/McMahon from Colorado or Fisher/Martes from Houston, however it would probably take Abreu to get it done. Honestly, I just hope they get Tapia or Fisher so I don't have to see Engel anymore.

If he does, it isn't that he's actually good, it is that people perceive him as good.

This fanbase has unrealistic expectations. They think that anything short of a title is a complete and utter failure, then don't watch sports. Those types of expectations are why the fanbase is perpetually miserable.

Again, I've said this the whole offseason: I don't doubt the Sox were going to be competitive with money, but I don't think Harper or Machado are interested one bit in signing here. There isn't anything Hahn could do if that is the case, They'd listen in case the money was close, but I said the Sox would have to beat the next best offer by at least 50-75M, if not 100M to get them to even think twice about going elsewhere. Unless the Sox want to go to $400M when nobody else is at $300M, there isn't much they can do.

3B is a hole, and they don't have any kids to play it. I don't think Burger is a true 3B and he's a couple years away at least.

Nobody thinks they're going to win more than 75 games this year anyway.

What would you do in the absence of landing a big fish? My moves: Either Kikuchi or Pomeranz to fill out the rotation Moustakas 3/33 Trade Abreu to Houston for Martes and Fisher

Who gets the call in place of Robinson today? White or Wims? Since White has no future with the Bears, I'd choose Wims.

Agreed. If they miss on HarpChado, I'd look at moving Abreu and Colome.

Thirded.

Not having a cap and floor system only benefits the elite talent. It does nothing but maintain the status quo for the rest of the union. The MLB PA needs to look out for all of its members, not just the elite players. That is how they let it get to this point in the first place.