Special K

What does that say about our GM who made that deal that we are desperately trying to unload him because of the money we took on... That being said, if we try to compete next year, I don't mind the idea of a Sale, Q, Rodon, Fulmer, Shields rotation. But it may make sense to hold on to Gonzalez as the 5th if we can trade Shields for something decent. Save money and also probably not going to notice much difference between those 2 over the course of the year (not enough that it's worth the $ we're saving)

Just like Robin drew it up.

I hate Rick Hahn. I will 100% become a Cubs fan if they trade Sale. Prepared to be done with this Organization. It will be so liberating.

Hahn and KW are so incompetent, I could see them doing a Sale package around Joc Pedersen and Trayce Thompson. That's the deal I'm calling. You heard it here first.

So choose who you want, a hall of fame pitcher in his prime or some prima Donna front office loser who is terrible at his job but has a massive ego. This is ridiculous if JR lets these buffoons trade Sale because he calls them on their BS...

I'm with Sale. He's sick and tired of these losers in the front office. He's pissed there's trade talks about him which he should be. No reason to trade him. Trade these losers in the front office and keep Sale.

Sale's value is way too high. Trading a hall of fame pitcher in his prime who gets paid like mid-rotation starter in the league would be utter insanity. Much likelier to get better value in return for Q. Just do that...

QUOTE (PolishPrince34 @ Jul 23, 2016 -> 09:19 AM) I feel their only 3 contender teams that can pull off a trade for Sale that carry the offense talent we need to bring to the organization: Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs. Houston can also be included, but I'm only sold on Bergman with Houston organization. I can't see the Sox making a major trade with the Cubs this this year or even in the future. Dodgers have the depth to get involved, but don't have the upper echlon hitters that we need to upgrade our offense. It really leaves us with the Red Sox and Rangers. Starting point: Red Sox: Moncado, Bientienadi, Devers, Kopech, PTBL: Groome for Sale and Robertson Rangers: Profar, Gallo, Brinson, Ortiz, Tavarez, De Leon for Sale If Cubs get involved: Schwarber, Baez, Jimenez, Torres, Happ for Sale. You have to really hurt the Cubs if your trading a Chris Sale to them. None of those deals entice me... especially not the Cubs deal. Baez is one of those players who will suck on the white sox. Never get on base, strike out a ton, and hit some homers. We would essentially be giving up a hall of fame pitcher in his prime for a better version of Matt Stairs. Don't get me wrong, Stairsy wasn't a bad player in his prime, but not worth Sale.

4th place in the division, 9 games back of 1st, under .500, and a few days away from August... looking at this objectively, this team is not going anywhere. keep the core and sell pieces like Robertson, Gonzalez (might as well and try and sell high), Shields (if possible), and listen-in on Q for major league ready position players...

The only thing we can do to get better in the near term is to take on more money. If we committed to competing next year, that has to be the plan. A trade of any of our useful roster pieces just creates another void. We desperately need a DH (I know we have Morneau but Robin is committed to not playing him half the time even though he hits lefties better than Avi (Robin is so smart)). We need another OF since Jackson is going to be out for a while. And we need a healthy rotation. We can probably fill our bullpen needs internally. Puig and another outfielder....

How can Morneau hit when he's not in the lineup again tonight? Robin taking an interesting approach to helping him get consistent reps. For those who want to take a look at what he does against lefties, take a look at what Avi has done first.

We have now scored 1 run over the last 4 games or 36 innings. Not exactly screaming of a playoff contender. And I'm doubting any contender ahead of us has went on a similar kind of streak.

Can we sell Ventura?

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jul 17, 2016 -> 08:34 AM) Collins isn't gonna catch. I would have to think they have not written him off yet

We just used our top draft pick to nab a catcher for the future. Why would we trade the farm for a guy to come and catch to try and save a season that's not worth saving? Doesn't make sense... If we trade Fulmer for anything, should be to fill another gaping hole we have and for someone that can contribute the next few years. A center fielder probably makes the most sense (or corner outfielder). Problem is, if you trade Fulmer then we're going to need another SP. Only way we improve to being a contender is if we drastically open up the check book next season because we don't have talent to do it from within. Otherwise, we stay a .500 team and keep wasting Sale and Qs best years.

At what point do we pull plug on this thing? We're a game over .500. Close to being in the same mediocre position we were in at the deadline last year. Still can't win in the division, and struggling offense as well. I say we unload at the deadline.

Chance would be rolling in his grave with this kinda production.

Why didn't we sign Yunel Escobar instead of the brilliant combo of Jackson/Latos/Rollins. Think about it... Had we just signed Eacobar and say Desmond, this team would be a playoff contenders Escobar could replace the garbage that is Avi amd Desmond would've been a fantastic addition in the outfield. Instead we got Schuck and Are praying Morneau is decent. How Does Hahn get it wrong more often than not? I know he can't be perfect, but he should be right more Often than wrong and definitely has not lived up To that standard. At this point, and in the name of Brooks Boyer, all I can say is #StepUp

Everybody knows this already but you're not going to replace Abreu. Just gotta wait for him to come around. That's why the focus is on players who are replaceable, I.e. Abreu. That being said, I did notice the correlation between Abreu picking it up the last few series and the Sox winning 5 of the last 6 series.

Gotta see what he can do and if he's going to be worth anything. He's had some time to see fast pitching and to get his bat up to speed, which is what he needed. He won't become accustomed to MLB pitching until he sees it. That may take 4-5 games. Then after that we should start seeing if he's got anything left in the tank (or still physically capable).

I'd be more concerned about him injuring his back because he's swinging for the fences for an hour. That's a reason not to participate.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 6, 2016 -> 09:30 PM) You say all these very dramatic/exciting things, but choose to lead with taking 2/3 from ATL instead of sweeping them...!!! I just don't like to jinx anything. I'm pulling for that sweep.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jul 4, 2016 -> 07:26 PM) Avi is just being Avi. But Abreu isn't being Abreu nor is Frazier being Frazier at least as far as having a better batting average and OBP to contribute to keeping the line moving. When your 3/4 combo is underachieving that hurts worse then the guy who was supposed to be a bench warmer or back in the minors and hits 8th . Maybe if LaRoche had just retired earlier the Sox would've pursued another bat more aggressively. Now that we see who was available and having a good year so far we can say the FO failed . Trumbo, Daniel Murphy and your favorite Ian Desmond were all acquired for a relative pittance compared to the big boys the Sox spend so much wasted effort pursuing. You have also pointed out in the past the circumstances that have kept Avi in the lineup written about in the recent SSS article. Let's take 2 of 3 from Braves. Come back from all star game with Morneau and Jackson back in lineup. Trade for Lucroy. Make the second wildcard. Start Sale that game. Then get serious.

How much again did we pay per year for the privilege of those 2? $4 million? Had we allocated that on a per year basis to someone like Gordon, perhaps it would've made the difference. Would be fine with Flowers in that instance.

QUOTE (CB2.0 @ Jun 22, 2016 -> 10:27 PM) Fangraphs did a whole thing on this years ago. Your chances of scoring with a runner on 1st with no outs and bunting is LESS than if you swing away (and that includes NL pitchers). Bunting is 98.9% stupid. It's never good to give up an out (which is to say: a chance to score) Exceptions: Suicide bunt to win a game Infield playing a shift (think: Jim Thome bunting around 3rd base) Other than that: why would you give up chances to score? This sounds great in theory but you need to look at who's hitting. If you have a team that strikes out a lot, and you can't hit (aka the Sox), bunting makes sense. It's all context.