kitekrazy

QUOTE (Special K @ Jun 26, 2015 -> 12:53 PM) We can find a minor leaguer to replace Alexei's offensive production of .222, .243, .293, and -1 (WAR). That has to be dead last in shortstop production. Even if their not a long term solution (assuming we could find a suitor for Alexei, which obviously is a long shot given the aforesaid production). Probably not this farm system.

QUOTE (Special K @ Jun 25, 2015 -> 01:06 PM) For the most part, I agree with your statement. I do think Alexei is just old and it's time for him to go. He really can't hit anymore and his Defense is declining. A sign age is catching up. We would've been wise to trade him last year when his value was quite high. We need more offense. We cannot win with a collective OBP sub .300 a negative team WAR (not sure if that's still the case, was a few days ago), and being dead last in offense in just about every category. This will not all turnaround with a new coaching staff. Guys like Flowers, Gillaspie, Beckham, Ramirez, Sanchez cannot make up half of a major league roster. Maybe 1 or 2 could play on a roster, but not 4-5. None of those guys belong starting at the big leagues. Our minor leaguers don't look much better, unfortunately. Therefore, we do need to get some new players in. In order to do that, you need to trade something another team wants, and no other teams wants anything to do with those guys. I'm staunchly opposed to moving Sale, but in order to get something of value, we might need to move Quintana and/or another valuable piece. As for coaching, the current staff is bad and they need to go (exception Cooper). I honestly don't know why the Sox can't bring in a guy like Gardenhire. He had a lot of success with some mediocre to slightly above average ball clubs. The Cubs saw Maddon come available and immediately picked dropped their manager and picked him. We need a little bit of that, and unfortunately, that's not going to happen with current ownership. When the Twins were doing bad under Gradenhire they also started firing people who weren't doing the job in their farm system. http://www.twincities.com/golf/ci_18729647 Eventually they fired some people in the minors. BTW this was interesting. http://hdtrbch.org/jo/201505/a_Will_Ron_Ga...is_season_.html

QUOTE (Thad Bosley @ Jun 26, 2015 -> 07:07 AM) Well, two things: A.) There isn't a general manager today or in the history of the game who would agree with your assertion that Hahn is not to blame for ANY of this. As GM, he is responsible for assembling the talent to fill out the roster, and he therefore shares in any praise should the team achieve success, or blame, if the team does not. This team that Hahn has assembled for 2015 is practically the worst team in the American League, and so to absolve him from any blame or accountability is simply ludicrous. And B.) This season is heading towards Hahn's second last place finish in his three years at the helm. Granted, three years isn't a terribly long time, but if the "best of his abilities" doesn't start turning things around sooner rather than later, then it'll be time to turn to someone with better abilities. This team isn't suppose to be this bad on paper. So what is the problem? Unfortunately holes can't be filled unless the can convert all of these pitchers they keep drafting into catcher, 3B or whatever.

Hey they also nailed a guy stealing.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 05:38 PM) Every player works onthe fundamentals nearly everyday in the minors. At least every team I ever saw that includes white sox minor league teams. I'd say the evidence is contradicting.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 05:52 PM) you have to take one thing in consideration. Viciedo was an unknown factor. he was recently signed player from Cuba. he was also a 3b. can't blame the sox at that failure. Sure you can. It points at how weak the scouting is.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 11:21 AM) Can we really get that much for Samardzija given that he's struggling and the team would only get him for two months? What would we give up for him from our system if we were in a position like Toronto is right now? Maybe a GM could see the lack of run production contributes to that struggling.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 12:58 PM) I know this may sound odd, but I'd seriously consider trading AWAY some prospects before I traded Sale or Abreu FOR prospects. Example... who are the middle infielders most likely the "future" that are in the system? Tim Anderson and Micah Johnson. Both significant prospects, both with intriguing offensive tools. Also, both with big questions about their DEFENSE. This team is horrible defensively already, and guys that will be around for some time are part of the problem. You need to improve defense with any acquisitions, not degrade it. For other teams that are already strong defensively, maybe an Anderson or Johnson are more tantalizing - they therefore have more value for other teams than the Sox. That is a trade signal. Trade Danks, with Anderson and perhaps one of the pitching prospects (Danish for example), maybe throw in one of the toolsy outfielders (Thompson/Engel/May), in exchange for a SS or 2B with a decent or better bat who fields their position well and is under control for at least a few years. I think that can happen. Its a value proposition, and in the end you have more money to work with, an upgraded defensive MIF player, a rotation slot open for Johnson/Montas/Fulmer (depending on timing), and lose a prospect or two you can't easily use right now. That would work if Kenny Williams was a GM for another team. They see the same thing we do if not more.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 09:04 AM) I still haven't seen it explained or even asked of Ventura WHAT HAPPENED to the defense from April - August of 2012? Other than the obvious changes like Viciedo/DeAza in recent years, all of the players have gotten worse. You might be able to say Alexei is just getting older (finally) or LaRoche, but what about Eaton, Flowers, Gillaspie and Abreu? If Avi's better, I'm not seeing it...he has one positive asset, his arm, but it's not offsetting his other defensive flaws according to all the metrics. Conor has poor footwork and that terrible habit of throwing it almost sidearm, which consistently results in poor throws...with more errors over there without Konerko and his scooping ability on low tosses. Our three best middle infield prospects (Semien, Micah Johnson and Tim Anderson) all have defensive issues. Our "plus" defenders in Sanchez, Rondon and Leury can't hit. We also don't have any outfielders who project to both hit and field above replacement player value at the next level....and that's not even addressing catcher and 3B (Trey M., maybe...) It seems defense was never a priority under KW. Since the team was lacking a 3rd baseman they tried guys like Fields and experimented with Viciedo at that position in the minors to trying to filled a need. You can do that in Little League. At the minor league level you either got it or you don't. It is interesting when young players leave this organization for another do they get better?

QUOTE (LDF @ Jun 23, 2015 -> 12:18 PM) economically my idea probably wouldn't be cost effective. i would have coaches on each team at each level coaching. teaming the fundamentals. repetition, repetition, repetition. keep on going over, over. just keep drilling the fundamentals. but that is me. I heard someone say you can't coach the stupid out of the player. I think the Sox philosophy is that these can always be teachable no matter how deficient a player is in that area. Most kids finishing college have a least 10 years of baseball experience. If they don't have a clue on how to play the game by then how much better is it going to be now that they are going to be playing at a higher level.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jun 22, 2015 -> 12:45 PM) I guess my point of view is their contract lengths. I would rather have Danks for the next 1.5 years than Castro for the next 4.5 years. I just do not trust Castro's defense and his bat has not been very good this year either. Castro is just too lackadaisical on defense. IMHO, I pass on him. We have that now. It would be another guy who has to adjust the AL pitching.

I wonder if this guy will be making an appearance in Arizona this Summer.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jun 21, 2015 -> 01:08 PM) Speculation is a funny thing,lol. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/06/cafa...a-papelbon.html "White Sox left-hander Chris Sale is on a strikeout tear and teams would surely like to add him this summer. However, team sources tell Cafardo that Sale is not available. Even though the White Sox are in last place, they see him as the cornerstone of their franchise. Sale, 26, has a 2.74 ERA with 12.1 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 through 13 starts this season" Maybe things will change but it certainly sounds as though Sale is not going anywhere and I'm just fine with that. That makes more sense than "wasting his good years" or whatever nonsense they call it. It's the best value for performance contract for the organization. Aces will soon be topping $200M.

QUOTE (Stan Bahnsen @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 06:15 PM) Unfortunately, what the article fails to mention is that NONE of the Hawks changes happen without the old set-in-his-ways owner kicking it. Folks who've lived a life like JR's don't change lanes as they approach 80. This will be a long, painful wait, I'm afraid. I will need to pay less attention to the proceedings just to get through it sanely. My eternal optimism has never been lower, so this point in time isn't much fun. Same here. I can't stand how this organization does things. I'm not even close to begin bitter at the roster and managers as much as the organization keep it in the family philosophy.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 04:54 PM) He did give Borchard the highest bonus ever at the time. I do think his failure spooked the team. I always wonder if this was another brought up too soon.

QUOTE (ron883 @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 06:32 PM) What is this guys trade value? Can he net Schwarber+? Great contract. If he pitched as well as last season, he'd have very good trade value. It might be time to trade him. He'd dominate the NL. This team desperately needs hitting prospects. Loading up on a couple from the Cubs could be a good idea. This is a high risk for this organization. They a) can't develop them any further b) ruin them by getting them to learn a new position they never played

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 05:40 PM) Anyone wanna chip in for season tickets with me lol. I think I would rather punch myself in the nuts multiple times than watch bad baseball.

QUOTE (GreatScott82 @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 06:33 PM) Even if the Sox made decent progress but still missed the playoffs this year, wouldn't the organization still have to consider an upgrade at Manager? This would be the 4th year in a row Ventura's team missed the playoffs. The fact that this team is this bad even after all the additions means that Robin BETTER be fired.Fans have questioned his managerial decisions more than ever this season. I'm calling it now: After the final game of the regular season: The White Sox AND Robin Ventura mutually agreed to part ways. Jerry loves him too much to publicly 'fire' him but this is going to happen. Cooper once again will have the option to stay under the next manager, but all of the other coaches will be fired. I'm calling it now, Hahn will be forced to try and convince Konerko to be their next manager. :huh This is what they did with Ventura. Rinse and repeat - maybe it will work this time. I wonder why they chose Ventura to being with. Do they have a oldie but goldie dart board to make decisions? This is getting worse then Veeck's circus acts.

QUOTE (bighurt4life @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 01:38 PM) http://espn.go.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post?id=10467 Insider article, but Buster Olney said basically what I did about Sale. He also said that it'd be pretty tough to get value for him because his value is so high. Let's see Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck should do it.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 02:46 PM) Aside from the Sale and Q contracts, Hahn has been a complete failure as a GM. He was highly sought by other teams and JR paid him better than most asst. GMs. His strength is contracts. As much as people can dislike JR the team doesn't get burdened with Puljols, Mauer type contracts.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jun 20, 2015 -> 04:10 PM) 3-2, the most white sox win ever. Just lose the rest of the games and get the #1 overall pick. This team is going no where. I wonder how many people want them to lose so changes will be made. So you must be eager for the Sox to draft another pitcher. Maybe they do that so they don't run position player prospects.

Stink is contagious. Sale seems immune. Keep him.

QUOTE (LDF @ Jun 19, 2015 -> 03:04 PM) for me and i will say this, even in this past off season, if the sox are going to buy into the rebuild, do it completely. Impossible when the ownership supports loyalty over performance.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 19, 2015 -> 02:55 PM) The problem with these 2 posts back to back is...if we're relying on the farm system to restock this team, and the farm system is as weak as the first post indicates...then we're stuck with a multi-year problem where Sale and Abreu are going to be surrounded with jack squat. Which is pretty much where I think we're going to spend the rest of the decade, FWIW. The fault lies in scouting and drafting. These will be the same people evaluating the trade value for Sale. You are digging from the same whole and it gets deeper. When was the last time a trade of this type was done in this organization and it worked?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 19, 2015 -> 02:02 PM) That story about George Brett was interesting. Mike Schmidt wrote it after talking to George. Apparently the hitters didn't want to work with him because he had suggestions, but they had no problem with the assistant because he would tell them what they wanted to hear. So George quit. I remember when Chet Lemon was slumping so bad no one could help him. Ted Williams was visiting Comiskey Park and Chet Lemon was asking for advice. I think for coaching to work at the big league level the philosophy has to be consistent through the organization. It seems poor base running, lack of fundamentals is consistent in the organization.