Y2Jimmy0

I'd be stunned if the White Sox gave up their 2nd rounder and the ability to spend that bonus number to sign Victor Martinez. Stunned.

Dan (Chicago) One doesn't hear much mention of Rick Hahn as a top-flight GM, but his track record thus far suggests he's quite good at his job. What are your impressions of him? Klaw (4:43 PM) I think he's been a top-flight GM so far. They've become a much better drafting/developmental org since he took over. I was talking to a scout there I've been friendly with for a long time, and I could hear his excitement about all of the arms they've got - and he's right. It's the best group of pitching prospects they've had in a decade.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 10:14 AM) What lures free agents is money. Joe's a nice guy but I didn't see any of the big names take a pay cut to play for him in Tampa. This is absolutely true. Players play for money. That's the most overrated part of this whole thing. Free Agents will not come to the Cubs because Joe Maddon is there. It might be another reason to go, but the money will tell the story.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:58 AM) Many were talking about his strikeout rates before he ever got called up. Sure they were but he is always going to be a high strikeout guy.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 10:02 AM) Kris Bryant deserved the call up which kind of shoots down my marketing theory but he is more of a money risk by bringing him up early. With Maddon he should start opening day. The cubs position is a glamorous role for some reason that affected the predecessors negatively the question will be how he reacts. Bryant will not be on the Cubs on Opening Day. He will stay down for as long as possible. I don't have the dates. They have to insure themselves that they have him for as long as possible because there will be no extension. It's 6 years and then free agency.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 08:13 AM) If you could sign Josh Johnson to a non-guaranteed contract, I'd be OK with it, but nothing beyond that. White Sox were interested in Josh Johnson last year. I'd sign him to a 1 year deal for $3 million with an option for 2016 for innings pitched or something.

QUOTE (Friend of Nordhagen @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:54 AM) Soler, yes. Baez, no. Baez didn't play well when he got to Chicago but he'd shown enough at Iowa to earn the callup. Don't look at this in hindsight.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 09:16 AM) Was talking to a cub fan friend last night and he expressed a little concern that this is the same as the Lou Pinella hiring. While everyone understands on the surface this is a good/great move, the part of Maddon bringing hoopla to a team that could have simply played baseball and progressed under Renteria who did a pretty good job gets lost. As with bringing up Soler and Baez last year the cub seems to be going toward the marketing angle of things. Also how are the Tigers and Maddon not a match made in heaven. How was bringing up Soler and Baez done for marketing? Sure it may give an attendance boost but those guys were ready to come up.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 10:54 PM) I hope the Cubs get whacked pretty good on this. They have embarrassed and left a good man hanging in the breeze in Renteria. I hope the new commish whacks the Cubs silly. They ought to give the Rays a choice of one player off their current 40 man roster and two minor leaguers. That would be crazy to lose a stud player over a manager. Do you know how ridiculous you sound right now? Their choice of a player off the 40 man? That's dumb. It's part of the business. Renteria was fine last year but if you have the chance to hire Joe Maddon you do it. I'm sorry but I wouldn't not explore the possibility of hiring one of the best managers in the game whose thinking is in tune with the front office because Rick Renteria is under contract.

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Oct 31, 2014 -> 01:47 AM) Yeah, I just think you'd have to trade away some reasonably valuable young player(s) to get two years of Lind. I don't think it will take that much. Reading the stuff that has come out of Toronto, it sounds like they have to deal him because they want the $$ to sign Melky. I think you can get him for a decent price.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 07:16 PM) Only thing I like is the jerseys Those Cavs jerseys are awesome. It's also awesome that they have the visiting team come out to NwO theme music.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 04:42 PM) I just heard the older guy on PTI say it. PTI is still on? I think you guys need to watch better television...

timdierkes ‏@timdierkes 1m1 minute ago Felipe Paulino has been told his $4MM club option will not be picked up by the White Sox.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 02:22 PM) No, but what do you think about the "Historic Signing"? What is that implying? I don't think they used those terms when the Sox signed Jerry Manuel. Not sure. That's a headline writer that does that though. Not Wittenmeyer. It will be historic in the sense that he's probably going to make about $30 million.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 02:08 PM) Check the headline http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cu...e-thursday.html Nowhere in that article does it say that the Cubs are going to win the World Series because they hired Joe Maddon.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 11:14 AM) Bears and Emery's problem has more to do with the fact that our defense and special teams are putrid and the personell moves have been bad. We missed the boat on most of our FA signings this year and even last year didn't get the impacts we expected. We also seemed to miss the boat in the evaluation of guys we brought back / opted not to replace (e.g., any of our linebackers). Those things can't be excused. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...1029-story.html Very good article with commentary from an ex front office guy and Cowher. Very good insights and a lot of the issues are focused on roster construction. They also blast our oline. I disagree here. The money was pumped into the offense primarily because it's supposed to be great. If they had a top 5 offense, it could carry a below average D. I agree with the philosophy of playing young players on ST though rather than signing veteran ST lifers to play those spots. The defense is bad and injured. However, if they were playing with leads like it was designed, it wouldn't be as bad as it has been. The offense was supposed to be better and that is why the team is failing currently. The overall problem is a lack of talent in spots though. It goes back to years and years of bad drafting. Angelo/Lovie tandem had some horrible, horrible drafts. Emery has been pretty hit or miss as well. I liked the last 2 drafts a lot on the surface. Long and Jeffery are pro bowlers. Fuller looks like a pro bowler. Sutton, Ferguson, and O'Donnell look like good picks and I was a fan of KaDeem Carey and Brock Vereen coming out. Not to mention, they added guys like Terrance Mitchell, Ahmad Dixon, and Christian Jones from waivers or UDFA. Last year, he got value in Jordan Mills and I think Bostic is fine if he's at the proper position (WLB). He probably has to hit at a higher rate than that but the only way to truly get out of the rut that they are in is by accumulating good drafts. It takes awhile and fans don't want to hear it because it's not a quick fix but it's the truth.

QUOTE (Harry Chappas @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) It is a good move my problem is that the minion media and fans will pencil it in as a world series guarantee and the hoopla and pageantry will be off the charts. I don't think this is entirely true. Find me examples of people in the media that actually think that the Cubs are going to win the World Series because they hired Joe Maddon. I think it improves their chances. I think that Maddon is great at handling young players and making the pieces fit. I think the Cubs have enough young talent to compete starting in 2016. If the Cubs win divisions and get into the playoffs on a consistent basis, they have as good of a chance as the other teams. They might win one soon. Joe Maddon would have something to do with it if so but no he wouldn't be the "sole reason" why it happened.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 11:09 AM) It was first game with a new offense. I think we are judging Knicks and Fisher too harshly on one game. I don't because they just aren't talented. That's like the 9th or 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 09:27 AM) 2014 Joe Maddon 77 wins--Baseball genius. Should make Cubs multiple World Series winners. Robin Ventura-73 wins--Biggest dope ever. Well if you think Robin Ventura is a better manager than Joe Maddon, I have some s*** to sell you. I never said he'd win the World Series. I just said it was an excellent hire. Little bit over the top here I think.

QUOTE (shysocks @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 08:47 AM) Have you had to deal with Cub fans your whole life? I'm genuinely asking, not being a smartass. Because that's where my hatred is borne from; they're the worst. I suppose I have. Don't really care though. As soon as the Sox won a World Series that s*** ended for me. I like the Cubs plan. I like the prospects. I hope that they get good and push the White Sox to remain good as well. It's f***ing Chicago. Both teams should be consistently good. I guess I'd just rather have Joe Maddon in town than somewhere else.

QUOTE (knightni @ Oct 30, 2014 -> 08:21 AM) Jimmy Claussen Josh McCown Jason Campbell Caleb Hanie Todd Collins Rex Grossman Kyle Orton Brian Griese Certainly these guys are better than Cutler. Haha nice.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 29, 2014 -> 06:25 PM) Fans are idiots. SS, you are a good poster but this is your best one by far. Love it.

I wouldn't be surprised if Danish and Montas are both in the Birmingham rotation in AA. Tim Anderson and Courtney Hawkins will most likely both be there as well.

I love reading threads that benefit the Cubs after the fact. It's just a poo poo platter of jealousy on this board. There were a couple of posters who think it's wrong to get rid of Renteria? Go crawl in a hole somewhere. If you think Maddon is one of the best managers in baseball, you fire your current manager and hire him. I wish the Sox would have been in position to do something like that. The built in hatred for a team in the NL that happens to be across town cracks me up sometimes. I would have been more upset if he went to Minnesota or Detroit.

From the MLBTradeRumors chat on Adam Lind: Comment From Bret Although it could be nothing, the Jays claiming Justin Smoak adds, um, smoke, to the Adam Lind rumours. Who are some teams you see as landing spots for him, and what can the Jays hope for in return? 2:01 Steve Adams: I don't think it's nothing. Smoak's going to make nearly $3MM next season -- they're basically giving him Lind's roster spot in my mind. Tigers, White Sox, Mariners all make some sense for Lind. I don't know that the return is enormous, but I think you can get something along the lines of a bullpen piece or a solid, if somewhat unspectacular prospect back. Fourth/fifth starter type of ceiling that's a bit of a ways off from the Majors?