DirtySox

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 12, 2012 -> 01:49 PM) I expect the team Kenny Williams put together for 2012 to contend for an AL Central title. I acknowledge a possibility. I certainly don't expect it though. I expect a record similar to last season.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 11, 2012 -> 09:25 PM) Williams said at Soxfest he expects Molina to be with the team sometime in 2012. Remember, Buehrle at the end of a season pitches more like a #4 then a #2-#3. I hope only as a September callup if anything. Dude has pitched a whole 22 innings in AA.

QUOTE (Marty34 @ Feb 11, 2012 -> 01:36 PM) If you thought last year's team was good enough to win the division, I don't see why there is as much pessimism about this year's team because in my opinion they didn't lose anything they didn't have a capable replacement for: 1.) '12 Dunn will be better than '11 Dunn 2.) '12 Rios will be better than '11 Rios 3.) '12 Beckham should be better than '11 Beckham 4.) '12 Deaza + '12 Viciedo should be better than '11 Pierre + '11 Quentin. 5.) '12 Morel should be better than '11 Morel Pitching wise Danks, Peavy and Sale should be better than Danks, Buehrle, and Peavy of last year. If Kenny's big money guys produce as expected (Peavy a solid #3) the Sox will contend. The likelihood that all of these things happen in tandem are remote. The Sox will be lucky to finish above .500 this season.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 9, 2012 -> 06:56 PM) I am going to throw this out there.. Baltimore. I'd imagine it's the Cubs.

QUOTE (Andrew @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 11:35 PM) So.... ??? Anything? Doesn't seem so. Marlins and Cubs are the supposed front-runners. Then comes the rest of the pack.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 04:02 PM) Ok, that makes a lot more sense. Thank you. No problem. Prospect lists are to be taken with a grain of salt obviously, but there really is no arguing that the system is bad right now. Adding Molina, Castro, and Jaye certainly helped a little, but Castro's stock is down, and Jaye is far away (though I like him). The system will likely look better if/when Gavin is traded and with the 13th and 48th pick in the draft this June. That's assuming that with the CBA changes the Sox will actually spend their total allocation and start taking best players available.

QUOTE (JoeCoolMan24 @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 03:33 PM) I still don't understand the idea that the two guys we got back from Ozzie were ranked in the top 10 for the Marlins system, but not ranked even in most top 15s in our system, yet they somehow have the better system. ?? Just doesn't seem to make sense. It's not like they have an outstanding 1-3 players in their system that push them ahead of us, right? He doesn't have the Marlins 29th. That would be the Indians. And most publications that had both Marinez and Martinez in the Marlins top 10, were from before last season. 2012 rankings would have dropped them significantly after both had down seasons, even if they remained with the Marlins. Either way, going by Sickels at the moment looking at "B" prospects: Marlins Yelich: B+ Ozuna: B Fernandez: B Realmuto: B- Dominguez: B- Rasmussen: B- James: B- Conley: B- White Sox Reed: B+ Molina B+ That's it. Both teams have 8 C+ prospects. Comparisons show that it isn't even close. Comparing BP's prospects rankings of both teams is just as damning.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 01:36 PM) Then you forfeit the right to ever complain about the Sox not spending in the draft. No kidding. How ridiculous.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 8, 2012 -> 09:23 AM) Funny, every report I've ever seen keeps saying more and more good things about him. And people are rating him pretty highly, certainly more than "barely above average". You are the first person I've seen say otherwise. No one is saying he's an A+ guy, or a future all-star, but he's got a lot of value. In any case, AA is always a big test, so this year will likely tell us a lot. Sickels recently answered this Saladino question from one of his "All Questions Answered Threads." http://www.minorleagueball.com/2012/2/3/27...swered#90706540

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Feb 7, 2012 -> 06:24 PM) ...even though Soler probably won't make it to the big leagues until 2014... Sounds like the right time-table for a "rebuilding" White Sox team.

CST_soxvan Daryl Van Schouwen @ProfessorFog Chisox remain interested in younger, less expensive ($20 mil?) Soler. Cespedes, 26, will get $50m or more 1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 6, 2012 -> 08:04 PM) I do think he will wait that long. He sees how loyal JR is and the resources the Sox have. He has pull out/turned down other opportunities in the past. He is biding his time because he knows KW's tenure as GM is about over. I've sort of wondered if Kenny is just being kept on to merely clean up his own mess. To allow Hahn have a decent position to start out with. Let Hahn eventually take over with a clean slate after Peavy/Rios/Dunn are gone, and hopefully he'll have a semblance of a farm system to play around with at that point too. If so, one would hope he's had great say in the current moves being made to "rebuild."

QUOTE (ptatc @ Feb 6, 2012 -> 07:40 PM) He will be the GM by 2015. I hope sooner than that.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 3, 2012 -> 08:01 PM) Look at it this way, the 2012 No. 1 pick in the entire country Gerrit Cole signed an $8 million contract. Concepcion's deal is also $8M with incentives. That is insane. IN-SANE. I was going to point this out last night, but I fell asleep. Concepcion isn't even considered a Top 100 prospect by most. Yet he's going to receive a bonus equivalent to the number 1 pick in the country last year? All while Cole has a ceiling of a staff anchor ace, and Concepcion might not even sniff a middle of the rotation upside? More perspective, he's receiving more than 4 times the amount we paid to sign Chris Sale. No thanks.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Feb 3, 2012 -> 01:00 PM) How many clutch homers? I only heard of one, but looking back at his stats I see he had some decent power numbers with Oakland in 05-06-07. Not a great average hitter, but he might battle for the starting 1B slot at Charlotte. Yep. I'd also wager Jim Gallagher is more likely to see a call-up before Dan Johnson. This is a Charlotte fodder move, as been said.

QUOTE (DirtySox @ Feb 2, 2012 -> 09:27 PM) Reportedly, Kinsler was with him too which makes it even worse. jonmorosi Jon Morosi Gerry Fraley reporting Ian Kinsler was at the bar in an apparent attempt to persuade Josh Hamilton to return home. 47 seconds ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Reportedly, Kinsler was with him too which makes it even worse.

BenBadler Ben Badler International scouts not sure how Concepcion could command $7MM. Finesse lefty, lots of 86-90 on the gun lately. 2 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Feb 2, 2012 -> 07:16 PM) Ugh, this sucks. The time when they probably actually want to spend money on these guys the market goes nuts to get ahead of the new CBA. FANTASTIC. f***. When you have Concepcion who isn't nearly on the level of Soler and Cespedes getting $7M and a major league deal, I'm afraid s*** is going to get silly for the other two.

QUOTE (fathom @ Feb 2, 2012 -> 07:08 PM) I have no problem at all with the Sox missing out these three Cuban players. Their price tags are going to be way too high. Kevin_Goldstein Kevin Goldstein Looks like it. More silliness. RT @nymets945: @Kevin_Goldstein is concepcion major league deal? 5 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Kevin_Goldstein Kevin Goldstein $7 million for Gerardo Concepcion is just wacky. Shows inflation of pre new-CBA dynamics. 6 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

QUOTE (Baron @ Feb 2, 2012 -> 06:07 PM) I have a feeling we'll snatch him up Meh. Give me Soler.

QUOTE (CWSpalehoseCWS @ Feb 2, 2012 -> 05:59 PM) Per MLB Trade Rumors, Cubs got Conception... Darn. I bet Cespedes is next for them.

QUOTE (bucket-of-suck @ Feb 2, 2012 -> 09:06 AM) No doubt The Sox have a significant offer in place for Cespedes, have pursued others aggresively and they have a great reputation within the Cuban community. I'd still rather them try and sign Soler as a first priority. He won't be signing as soon as Cespedes or Concepcion. He's a classic tools-heavy MLB RF that would instantly top most teams position player prospect list. I really hope Cespedes gets blown away by another team's offer and the Sox reallocate some of that money towards Soler. I like Cespedes, but he really seems to be the best fit for a team that's going to compete immediately. The Cubs make little sense too. The Marlins are probably the best fit. Or the Tigers if they are still on the periphery.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,1733235.story