JUSTgottaBELIEVE

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 02:11 PM) You also can't ignore the 4 win month, the still lack of a bullpen, nor the fact that we may well going into 2018 without 2017's two best hitters. So you agree the bullpen should be addressed then? And you really think the Sox are trading Avi and/or Abreu? I think that's a long shot.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 01:45 PM) For a guy that is going to give a last place team around 60 innings? It is a gigantic waste of money, when we have vastly superior arms in the system waiting to get sorted out at the major league level. Last place? The division is terrible after the Indians. No reason they shouldn't finish third or possibly better if the Twins fall back. For everyone writing off 2018, how many people picked the 2017 Twins to make the playoffs? Not saying it's likely but if you stabilize the bullpen you never know. From September 1 on after trading nearly half the roster in the previous two months, the White Sox were 15-15. And this was with a garbage bullpen and no Eloy or Kopech.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 01:31 PM) The highest contract in White Sox history was $68 million for Jose Abreu. Only 3 MLB teams have not signed a larger contract than that. This is a great point. Posters are worried about spending $36MM for a closer but have illusions of "saving" money to make a big splash next offseason? Who exactly are they thinking the Sox will sign next year as a "big" free agent that will cost less than $75MM even? Even with all their prospects, there are a lot of holes on this roster now and in the coming years. I don't see management going all in on a Donaldson or Keuchel type let alone Machado or Harper. Even with all their savings, I think they will sign 4 or 5 guys in the $15-50MM range before they sign a single player in the $75-250MM range.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 01:20 PM) With the arms we have in our system the last thing I am worried about is getting eight figure bullpen arms on long term contracts. Odds are 100% that some of the arms we are looking at as starters now are going to wash out and will be our bullpen arms when we actually are competitive again. There is zero reason to rush into a (at best) second tier closer at those prices. That's your opinion and I have mine. I don't consider a 4 year $36MM contract a big commitment for a guy that should be a solid late inning bullpen piece for the next 4 years. He's only 28 turning 29 years old next month after all.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 01:08 PM) Yes. I'm positive of it. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mlb.com/10...ertson.amp.html Isn't that what just about every free agent says when signing with a new team? Bottom line, money talks. If the White Sox offer Reed as much or more than the rest of the league there's a great chance he signs. This isn't a Carlos Beltran situation trying to grab a ring before hanging it up. In that type of situation I could see it being about more than the money.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 12:50 PM) Like who? The 2014 White Sox were not rebuilding. Look at the roster then and now. It's vastly different. They were coming off a 89 loss season in 2014. Do you honestly believe DRob thought he was coming to a contender?

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 12:45 PM) Why buy now when we do not expect to compete in 2018 though? There are relievers on Reed's level available every year, why not buy next offseason when we have a good idea of what we will need? Why wouldn't he go to a contender unless we overpay significantly? We need to face the fact that this will not be a splashy offseason whatsoever, expect bargain bin shopping. It generally takes a few years to build a strong bullpen. There is next to nothing to work with on the current depth chart. They are basically starting over. Why not start adding legitimate pieces now when the goal is to contend starting in 2019? Or does everyone expect to build an entire bullpen next offseason? Ideally, you lock in a proven closer now and then hope others emerge next year as solid 6-8th inning guys. If they don't, then you need to sign additional proven late inning relievers next year. They will probably need to add another 2 or 3 proven arms regardless. If they end up with 5 guys that can close after next season, great! Can never have enough late inning relievers, especially in the playoffs.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 12:36 PM) Reed is going to get offers from teams that will contend in 2018. There's no reason for him to want to sign with a rebuilding White Sox team that just traded their closer and setup guy 3+ months ago. Not even an overpay is going to bring Reed to the White Sox. Many said the same thing about David Robertson in 2014....

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 12:37 PM) He has other organizations he can close for, he is familiar with, other pitching coaches who he is familiar with, and teams that can win a title in 2018. Anything the Sox can offer, someone else can offer more of. Like who? Boston is set at closer. The Mets aren't contending in 2018. And I highly doubt the Diamondbacks (or Reed for matter) have any interest in reuniting considering the way their first run together went.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 12:24 PM) Bullpen arms of Addison Reed's quality are available every winter. No reason to buy now and burn the best year or two hoping they asset doesn't depreciate. Agree to disagree. I don't view next year as a waste for Reed on the Sox. Would be nice to have a steady bullpen arm at the back end to close games for a young team full of unknowns in the pen. If one of those unknowns emerges as a potential closer in the next couple years you can always slide Reed back to his setup role. 4 years/$36MM is not a large commitment by today's standards (assuming that's his price tag). Consider the White Sox traded 4 relievers just last season alone (Swarzak, Jennings, Robertson, Kahnle), there is plenty of room to sign a couple this offseason and a couple next. I don't think signing Reed this offseason precludes them from acquiring a couple more next winter.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 7, 2017 -> 12:09 PM) Let me spin that around and ask why Reed would want to sign here unless we overbid for him? Locked into the closing role for the next two years at a minimum, familiarity with the city, organization, and pitching coach, and prospects of winning a championship starting in 2019. I don't see why the White Sox wouldn't have as good of a shot as the next team if they match the highest bid. I'm guessing most contending teams (except perhaps the Cubs) view him as a setup man rather than closer. I think signing someone that can close games is the number one priority this off-season. Whether that's Reed, Swarzak, Morrow, Minor, Cishek or some combination of those guys I don't care. But it's demoralizing for a young team if you are constantly blowing leads in the late innings.

Even for a rebuilding team, there is nothing wrong with signing a guy like Addison Reed as their "premier" FA acquisition this off-season. Won't lose a pick and the commitment should be relatively small (4 years $36MM MLBTR prediction) for someone that can actually close games over the next few years. Right now they have a bunch of guys that are unproven or just bad (most fall in the just bad category). It can take a few years to build a strong bullpen anyways so why not start now? Especially if there are any plans to start competing in 2019/2020.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 6, 2017 -> 06:22 PM) Oh, I thought you meant Addy with the Reed and assumed he was a FA. Anywho, I don't want a utility outfielder. Throw Engel and Leury out in CF and see if one of them can hold the job, and Tilson's shattered body, Polo, May, and Willy Garcia give enough depth there that I don't see why we need the extra warm body, at least for 2018. Yea I'd give Gomez two years to bridge to Lubo. Hoping the white sox are competitive in 2019. I've seen enough of Engel, don't trust Tilson, and Gomez can platoon with Leury and the other OF in the meantime.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 6, 2017 -> 06:12 PM) 4 relievers? I'll buy that if we get a starter somewhere (I still expect rule 5). With Rodon likely on the shelf to start the season we need at least 1 more who can start. Even if guys are called up, there's innings for a guy who can start. 3 relievers and 1 CF/Util OF. Would be nice to have another vet for a couple years in the outfield as the young guys are working their way through the system and one that is also capable of playing CF.

Fine with me. Now sign Gomez, Reed, Swarzak, and McGee and I'm good.

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Oct 28, 2017 -> 09:24 AM) My friend's Halloween display. In his basement now but he will be setting up on the front lawn on Tuesday. I thought he did a great job. https://mobile.twitter.com/joemeldrumoma/st...741627411259393 Update. Turned out completely badass. Did a great job with the video too:

My friend's Halloween display. In his basement now but he will be setting up on the front lawn on Tuesday. I thought he did a great job. https://mobile.twitter.com/joemeldrumoma/st...741627411259393

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 20, 2017 -> 09:12 AM) It's not like Theo is working on some razor thin budget, he's thrown some money around too. I'd probably take Theo #1 too, but I'm just impressed with the full roster the Dodgers built. For all the money on their books, their lineup last night was full of guys who don't make much money at all. Theo was certainly ahead of the curve in many ways but many other front offices have caught up. Plus Theo was able to exploit loopholes in the system prior to the latest CBA like no one else (international signings, MLB draft). He doesn't have those advantages any more.

Puig looks really locked in right now. I know he's always cocky but he looks super confident right now, not the tentative looking player I saw last year against the Cubs.

Frazier: RBI double Kahnle/Robertson: 4 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 3 K Where would the Yankees be without those guys?

Ex White Sox continue to produce for the Yankees this postseason. Robertson, Kahnle, and Frazier all look great.

QUOTE (fathom @ Oct 13, 2017 -> 10:16 AM) Yep Lackey is just an amazing guy. There's a bunch of assholes on every team. A lot of us on here have worked in sports before and the less you know about your favorite players behind the scenes, the better. And Addison Russell is a class A citizen...

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Aug 18, 2017 -> 01:59 PM) With the extra year of control we got from calling him up late this year wouldn't we have him through the 2023 season? It's 6 seasons after this year. That's right, even better and more time to be patient! Not sure why I was thinking this year already counted as Year 1 of the 6.

QUOTE (BrianAnderson @ Aug 18, 2017 -> 08:43 AM) I am going to try and give a level headed opinion here - maybe some will disagree but I think there is value to what I am saying. First, there are always rankings that anoint someone the next #1 prospect - when one of those guys is on your team you instantly have HUGE expectations of said player. If you look to the past lists, not all are correct. A lot of times the #40 prospect goes on to have the best career. So let's put the rankings to the side for a bit. To me Moncada obviously has all the tools that are necessary to become a top 20 player in baseball. However he's not there yet and I also think he will never get there without a different approach at the plate. Don't quote me on this, but I believe he's never hit above .300 above A level ball. He was able to put up some real nice numbers still outside that though in the minors - but that's the minors. You can have a selective eye down there and take walks and steal bases on catchers who aren't MLB level. My worry with Moncada is that he sits and watches too many pitches. It's nice to see patience but he needs to mix in some aggressive at bats. Now what do I think he'll be in the future? I personally think Kopech was the star of the deal - and I've felt like that from day 1. I think that Moncada is more likely to be an Adam Dunn, Starlin Castro, Javy Baez, Buxton type player than he will be a Machado, Harper, Trout type of guy who is a MVP candidate every year. That's not terrible though, those guys are all-stars on good seasons, above average players, but they aren't the guy you build around. Now all of this is subject to change if he gets the right player or coach in his ear and it all clicks. People can you can't judge from the first 100AB's at age 22. Well I disagree ..... You can't judge his whole career from it, but you can certainly draw some conclusion. 22 is young.. I get it... but SUPERSTARS don't go through this rough of periods. He's not a superstar and I don't think he ever will be. I think he's a guy who makes 2 or 3 All Star Games and contributes as a nice piece on a good team and has a season or two where he can be a fringy MVP candidate. I am calling him a George Springer at best .... and more of Starlin Castro type (with walks) .... Sure they do. Especially over short samples like 30 game stretches. Also, many star players struggle at the start of their MLB careers as well. This year's AL batting average leader and MVP candidate posted an OPS of .654, .740, and .678 in his first 3 seasons. Things really didn't click for him until his 4th season and this year he has taken it to another level (.986 OPS). If Moncada is still hitting under .200 and an OPS sub .700 next year at this time I will be concerned but I wouldn't completely write him off as being incapable of achieving star levels until he's at least had a few years under his belt. Hopefully by 2020, 3 years from now, things will have clicked for him. Thankfully he is controllable thru the 2022 season and still has plenty of time to figure it out in a Sox uniform.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 27, 2017 -> 06:33 PM) The rotation at least on paper is going to consist of: Rodon, Kopech, Rey, Gio, Adams/Guerrero/Stephens/whoever all of which will most likely spend sometime in the bigs in 2018. That's 3 of our top 10 prospects just right there. And of course all these guys have giant ?'s that's how this is going to be, nobody is arguing that. That doesn't mean Moncada can't be a superstar by then or Anderson got his s*** together or one of Gillaspie, Cordell or Delmonico have become solid major leaguers. Maybe Leury and Avi are for real. They don't need 9 superstars by then. I'm honestly not even going to speculate on the bullpen yet. There's a lot of our minor league pitchers that might be in there at that point and if anything the Sox have proven they can take some random ass guys and make them good relievers. And I couldn't disagree more about free agency. They're going to be players in the 2019 field, I'm not saying they're going to bring in Manny or Bryce but they're going to start dipping their feet in the pool to bring in some guys who can be part of the long term plan. If they see the arrow starting to go way up on Rey and Gio and Moncada and Kopech by the end of '18 and think Eloy is going to be ready at the beginning of '19 they're going to start filling in some holes to make that team competitive. It's not ridiculous that you don't see this stuff happening, it's ridiculous that you keep running around telling everyone there's absolutely 0 chance they could be a contender in 2019. I'm certainly not betting on it but that rotation has a chance to be phenomenal and who the hell knows what can happen if that is indeed the case. Add a 22/23 year old Brady Singer to the 2019 starting rotation and the sky's the limit with that staff.