Replacement Level Poster

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Apr 3, 2018 -> 05:41 PM) Right now I’m not optimistic because of how poorly he performed in 2017. Even with BABIP regression, Avi is probably a 2 to 2.5 WAR player and it’s hard to automatically assume any prospect in low A is going to be that good in the majors short of the most elite prospects. Rutherford is definitely not that type prospect. But I’m a huge fan of prospects who are considered to have plus hit tools, strong plate discipline, & projectable bodies. I get why scouts were intrigued with Rutherford, although I do think he was bit overrated even before his poor 2017 season. But the talent is there IMO, the question is can he be harnessed. I am concerned whether the Sox are the team that can actually do that or not and the Yankees selling him at a low point is an obvious red flag. I’m still taking a wait and see approach on this deal because the preliminary returns from their other big trades look fantastic and the Sox were obviously high on Rutherford and hopefully did their homework. Same here I’m not real confident in Rutherford hitting his ceiling either. Honestly our organization doesn’t have the best history of developing these types of players, but might as well be patient at this point. Would love if he could be our version of Max Kepler who I have an armchair scout crush on.

Be tied if he didn’t muff that grounder

Anyone think Ricky’s boys gonna quit???

Anderson is the sox version of Sharon dunston

Nice work around MIGO!

My ticket package first game is Sat 4/7. The forecast shows 41 which is a bit of a trend up. It showed 34 a few days back. A couple years back the ramps to 300 and 500 level iced over opening weekend. The game was delayed and was clear and bitter cold. If I recall the sox gave all attendees a ticket to a later game free of charge. At this point there are obviously cheaper means to attend. My buddy at work had the White Sox pass and he said it was an excellent value if you can weather the elements. Most of those games are in the early season where crowds are sparse, weeknights, school still in. Back in the 80s when I was a kid my dad lost his job at US Steel Southworks in South Chicago, so I didn’t attend as many games as I would have wanted. The sox gave CPS kids back then general admission for honor roll or perfect attendance and so if I was lucky I went to a game or two a year at the old park. I lived out of market for a number of years including 05, and always said if I moved back to the area I would go to as many games as practical. My son is 15 and I’m raising him as another White Sox diehard. I feel very fortunate and hope to see a playoff game one day.

Maybe they work an agreement out with the Thomas family in which the family tells the other interested teams not to draft him because he’s going to follow through on his TCU commitment to scare other teams off due to his draft and signability. The sox go over slot at 48 paying a bonus of where he is projected to slot say early 2nd late first round slot dollars-magically he is no longer interested in TCU. That would be a way to maybe work that out if this is the kid the organization is referencing. Seems like he has similar tools as Kelenic who almost certainly won’t be available at 48.

QUOTE (kwolf68 @ Mar 31, 2018 -> 10:53 PM) I really don't want to move Avi. Dude is 26 and is legitimately one of the best hitters in professional baseball. You don't want EVERY player to be rookies...having a leader like Avi when that window really opens will be worth more than some prospects. You figure the Sox will be LEGIT in 2 years, Avi is 28, in the prime of his career. Unless someone gives us a ridiculous overpay he should stay in Chicago and we build around HIM and the kids. I agree with this. Avi is only 26 and after watching him for years develop at a maddening pace at the MLB level I finally get to enjoy him as a All Star caliber RF. As a season tix holder I like watching good baseball players on my team do their thing vs a Rutherford type return to ply their trade at Kanny. I understand this is a business and ultimately money talks, but if he hasnt’t bought into the Ricky/rebuild program and open to a fair extension I’ll have to live with whatever happens. Might be interesting to follow how last winter’s free agent freeze impacts extending this still controllable talent, particularly guys like Avi whose free agent years are closer to the expiring CBA. Shields Sofia Jones Above are all fair game, but my pie in the sky fantasy is the sox overshoot their pythagorean by 10 wins and compete for the 2nd wild card spot, and the organization considers part of the development for the young core is playing meaningful games in August and September-and no the sox don’t add anybody from the talent base at the deadline.

Yes yes Too early to draw conclusions except their worth watching. We may have lived through a real dark age for being a sox fan- the Ventura era. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Crooked number time

Wellington Don’t stop now boys let’s go TA

Nice start yoan

Let’s go Lucas Strong outing- build confidence early in the season.

QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ Mar 29, 2018 -> 09:36 AM) Ian Hamilton has a big year and finishes the season in the White Sox bullpen. Collins fixes the hitch in his swing and puts himself back on the map this season with a great year at the plate. +1 I’m high on Hamilton as well. I think one of the more under looked but promising aspects of the Hahn era is how recently they have started targeting raw particularly collegiate arms with plus fastballs in hopes of building organizational depth in the bullpen and throughout the organization. Hopefully this works out and it is a trend we are out in front of, and we all know the value of these power bullpen arms come trade deadline. I also think Thadius Lowry is a possible conversion to relief. I remember when they drafted him they liked his arm strength. He has started for a few years and the results have been underwhelming. Might be time to see what he can do in new role as well where he focuses on fastball and a hard secondary offering.

Wow Davidson!!

Interested to see how Ricky and coop handle the bullpen in this one Jones with the off day tomorrow seems like a sure bet

I bet we’ll see lots of games like this, fall behind in a shields,fulmer Lopez start and our team battles back. Would be great if some of these guys like Davidson and Engle are late bloomers and figure it out.

Hopefully shields is sharp and doesn’t put us down 7-0 by the third- deflating me emotionally. I went to the buehrle number retirement ceremony game which shields started and he gave up a couple of gopher balls before I even got settled into the game. The crowd went from being energetic and lively to morose in about ten minutes- like a punch to the gut. I’m fearful today could have the same outcome seeing how i’ve Been waiting for today for a couple of months now.

To all admins. Thank you for the time you dedicate to this site. This my go to for the soxfan lifestyle since 2003 or 2004. My earliest confirmed memory on this site was the Freddy Garcia Jeremy reed deal. Like the 1980’s Cinderella power ballad-“don’t know what you got til it’s gone”.

74-88 They’ll be some exciting games and we’ll score some runs, but the starting rotation between has beens like shields trying to be’s, like Lopez Giolito and fulmer, and prudent innings limits for the young pitchers will probably bring at least one stretch of where we lose 12 of 14 , 15 of 17 or something like that. I guess positively were around a .500 team outside of that prognisticated stretch.

Surprise: yolmer solidifies third base with 20 hr pop and plus defense, taking ownership of 3b for next 4-5 yrs. Dissapointment: Abreu does not age well in early 30s due to lower body injuries and general decline. (Think pujols) He misses out on competitive window from 2020 forward because not extending him at that point seems like an obvious no brainer. Dark horse: sexy Zavala continues to hit at every level and makes its obvious to organization he is catcher of future.