he gone.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 20, 2016 -> 10:40 AM) The 79-83 Cubs outdrew the 2005 World Champions by 758,000 The 66-96 2006 Cubs outdrew the defending champions who set their franchise attendance record by 166k. Wow. I didn't figure it was that bad.. Let's face it. We're the diehards of the diehards on this board. We'll go wherever they play. However, people like my father or many friends of mine just won't simply make the trip. They have kids and tasks to do. Taking 2+ hours RT to drive on a Wednesday isn't happening. That leaves a few weekend games a year they go to. The other team draws on a large Northside population. We can argue to the cows come home, but even I, end up going to more Cubs games a year than Sox. (Probably 12 Cubs games, 10 Sox or so each year). How? Why? I get free tickets (never paid to get into Wrigley), and also I can walk or take 2 min cab to a game. Same for when its over. Very nice to leave the ballpark in the Top 8, and be in bed by the Top 9. We'll never win that crowd over. We can however win over the suburb crowd who is looking for somewhat of the same comfort.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Jan 20, 2016 -> 09:30 AM) And what do the Sox in 05-06 have in common with the Cubs in 2014-2015? Hint: It's not about the location. Winning ... I understand that. That's why I picked those particular years. However the point being a large amount of fans couldn't care less about being a "die-hard" to one team. To think though that location isn't huge too would be an understatement. The amount of school outings to games, summer camps, etc. would increase 10-fold in the burbs. But I don't want to digress from what this topic started off as. We'll go down a long road we all don't want to.

Interesting how the overall mindset changed as soon as Upton was signed. Originally it was about 1/3 split between Fowler/Yo/Garcia ... Almost exclusively Garcia after the Upton signing. I agree the more and more that comes out, just based on context clues, that Cespedes wants, and believes he'll get his 5/6 year deal at $23mm+ and probably with an opt out too. No chance the Sox do that.

a) Jerry yawns at this. Sports franchises have been one of the best investments out there. The ROR is still very, very strong. b) The Sox still make money. They have a sweat lease deal. Beyond that they cut corners with things like the Ballpark Pass to stay UNDER their attendance numbers where they have to start paying kickbacks c) This is a stupid article. Let's start this as of 2007 aka the Jerry Owens era and see how much we've declined since then... stats can make any story look good or bad. They can be manipulated. d) We will always be second fiddle in Chicago, who cares. Really the only way to build a fan base is to move to the burbs. You'll always have a very LARGE majority of Chicagoland that aren't really "fans". Meaning I know enough people who were Sox fans in 05-06 and are Cubs fans in 2014-2015. People want entertainment. If that entertainment is a ballpark 20 mins from their home, then that's what they'll take.

Finnnneeeeee... For one of the first times ever I'm going to put faith into Mibelt Rodriguez .... only cause I like to dream. I've said since Christmas I'd go higher AAV for shorter contract. At that point I said Gordon 4/90 and Cespedes for 5/110. I'd still be okay with this. Things have changed, but still don't see YO settling for under 5 years. If I had to guess percentage wise? Angels 50% CWS 15% STL 10% Other 25% Obviously all guesses.

Just wondering the pulse of the board. NOTE!! THIS ISN'T WHO YOU WANT, IT'S WHO YOU THINK JERRY, RICK, AND KENNY GO WITH! I personally have some odd suspicion it will be Austin Jackson. It's such a White Sox move. They'll say not giving up a pick keeps the rebuilding of the farm going, that price was too much on the big guys, etc. And that a trade couldn't happen to sacrifice any more players. Plus Jackson can play all positons, etc. etc. etc. Not that there's a second guess but the rest of my order is: Cespedes, Garcia, Fowler, Trade, The field, Other FA, Upton.

Does anybody else think the fact that he is with RocNation is affecting his signing? Meaning, they haven't been in the game all that long. Cano, yes. A few others. But basically they don't want to concede and take a 1,2,3 year deal. It would be a huge loss in the eyes of future players considering RocNation. I still think ultimately he signs for 4yrs, 90mm with a 5th year option.

Davis back to the Orioles! $161mm. 7 Yr! One less team involved!

This just reminds me of when I'm purchasing something with my own money. I don't know how many times I've bought the cheaper TV, sweater, etc. for it only to break, sweater to unravel, etc and me regret not buying the better product. Then I'm stuck with a TV that has terrible color or sound for like 3-4 years because I can't afford a good one still cause I spent a decent money on the s***ty one. If you don't get what I'm saying -- it's I don't want a s***ty, Vizio, Fowler. I want a Sony Cespedes. 2 years from now we won't have the money to buy a Cespedes because we are still paying Fowler, and it continues on and on like that.

Just as comparison: Player A: 2014- .273/.305, 35 doubles, 15hr, 74rbi, 81ko's, 24bb 2015- .249/.285, 33 doubles, 10hr, 62rbis, 68ko's, 31bb Player B: 2014- .276/.375, 21 doubles, 8hr, 35rbi, 108ko's, 66bb 2015- .250/.346, 29 doubles, 17hr, 46rbi, 154ko's, 84bb Player is A is Alexei, B is obviously Fowler. I don't know. When I hear both may be close to signing, one for probably 2 years and maybe 16mm and the other is probably going to get like 3 years 42mm? Also, one would be replacing Saladino, in what I think is pretty obviously our biggest hole in the offense (though solid D) and the other would be replacing our 3rd biggest hole in our offense (2nd being Catcher) I just think if this is my pocketbook I am going with Alexei. Also doesn't cost a pick. Fowler to me is such a Sox move though. If you are going to breakout the checkbook Jerry, break it out. Don't spend $45mm on Fowler. Spend $85mm on Cespedes. There's a reason he's worth more. Also haven't watched a ton of Fowler but he doesn't really rate out as the best OF by dWar

Does anybody want to put in a guess of what he'll sign for with the Padres? I am going to go ahead and guess a 2yr, 15.5mm deal.

In the YouTube click when he makes the joke about not being a pole vaulter he sounded a lot like John Mulaney with his voice inflection. Just an observation. Nothing to do with baseball, but reminded me of his voive

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jan 10, 2016 -> 07:33 PM) Josh Reddick is a FA next year. That's the thing. I believe the Sox are looking at this holistically, basically telling Jerry, look we can get a Cespedes or Upton this year and pay X amount. The market is soft, we can get a Cespedes at whatever dollar amount and he'd fit into our 2-4 year plan OR we can wait until next year when LaRoche and Danks are off the books. The following teams may be in need of an OF, the FA's include Reddick, Gomez, etc. and the price we are assuming at this point is X amount for those guys. I think Jerry, being a businessman said, the former plan makes sense and gave his seal of approval to go 3 years, and if the price is right 4-5 years. With the market as is, I think we probably did offer 3 years in talks. Ultimately I think we'll sign Cespedes for 4 years with a 5th year option though. I believe Avi will start in AAA and be either a trade piece, or one last try next year when Melky or him is at DH.

I too have had some sort of partial plan since graduating college. Have done it for 7 years now, but this year was going to be my first to sit on the sidelines. Too easy to buy a ticket day of and sit relatively almost anywhere. (Now I'm not saying I approve of this, one year I did have 5th row behind the dugout and when people were sitting in seats that I paid for with my own money I'd get upset) Old hockey trick: go on ticketmaster or stubhub app 30 mins before the game - now that they have the specific seat map, you can see which are unsold. Just pick the best ones and sit there. Don't have to worry about taking anybody's seats that way. I guess I'm off topic. All I'm saying is if the Sox sign Cespedes or Upton, I'd be in for a 14 game plan. 5yr/110mm. I've been a proponent of that since 6 weeks ago. Same thing with Gordon I said I'd just go 4yr, 84mm. I'd rather have less of a commitment and high AAV.

QUOTE (Al Lopez's Ghost @ Dec 29, 2015 -> 12:07 PM) I believe raBBit tweeted earlier today that 2 ain't happening. What is his Twitter handle? Would like to follow him. Thanks!

Not that this is really news, but Rosenthal has now confirmed our interest. Good to hear the big name reporters also agreeing.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 21, 2015 -> 09:28 AM) The only thing Sanchez does better than Saladino as a hitter in make more contact. Tyler will draw significantly more walks, has more power, and is a far better base-stealer. If each were given a full season of at-bats, I fully expect Saladino to put up the superior offensive season. I think minor league stats over the past 3-4 years would go against that theory. Also there's a reason Saladino is 27 and just sniffing the majors. Sanchez is the higher talent everywhere except defensively, and that isn't calling him a slouch, hes actually quite good.

.225, 4HR, 172B, 35RBI. I think he plays maybe 100-120 games at SS. Sanchez filling 40-60, and Sanchez filling in 20-40 at 2B, so essentially playing half the games somewhere. Sanchez line: .270, 4HR, 172B, 35rbi basically what I'm saying is Sanchez is better, will win some time at SS, but ultimately wont be as strong as a defender. I think he'll win week stretches when his bat is hot where he starts 6 of 7 games though.

QUOTE (LDF @ Dec 15, 2015 -> 01:55 PM) and i know i will shoot myself in the dang foot, but hades, i would even sign alexei to a nice team deal for yr. i still like his hitting, even thou his avg last yr wasn't too good. I wouldn't shoot myself for saying that. Obviously we are all to over excited from a tweet, but let's say somehow we did get Cespedes. If the Sox could sign Alexei for $5-7mm there's no way you can tell me we aren't a better team having him out there and having Saladino as your super-sub again. If you're signing Cespedes for $22mm there's no downside to Alexei at $7mm. IF we were able to do that... the only real "hole" for offense would be 2b and C -- and probably somewhat CF with Thompson. The only real holes on defense would be C. And the only real wholes in the staff would E. Johnson and depth in case someone went down.

This may be completely false, but it does seem like many of Cuban players seem to age better than other players FWIW. And again, maybe I am just thinking of a few examples in my own head and I'm wrong. Not saying this is justification to giving Cespedes a long, big contract. But again, with no draft pick. I'd do $110 over 5 years for him. Mind you the biggest contract the Sox have ever given was to Abreu ... and that was for like half of that. Hard to see JR signing of on such a big deal when the team is constructed how it currently is....

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Dec 14, 2015 -> 11:23 AM) It's come up before, but if the Sox want to acquire Frazier and Anderson has to be involved, I'm alright with that on the condition they sign one of the premier OF's on the market to go along with the Frazier acquisition. But as many have said, just acquiring Frazier and Lawire and calling it an offseason would make me more upset than if they did nothing. At that point you gave up pieces of your future for what seems like an 81 win finish. If you're going to go for it, go for it all in. If you want just to just fill holes and build for the future, that's ok too, but don't fall in the middle. AMEN. If you're going to go for it, go for it. But don't trade an Anderson and then trot out Garcia and LaRoche and have Erik Johnson as your #5.

My biggest problem with LaRoche is more the fact that I want an open DH spot so that I can move Melky to DH, Eaton to LF, Trayce to Center and hopefully sign or trade for an OF. I think that is a pipedream anyways. So just hope and pray he does decent. I'd expect .250, 20HR and 70RBI out of LaRoche if he plays a full year.

It'll be interesting to see what he, Gordon and Upton get. I'd be willing to go 5 years, $110mm (pay a little higher per year to have a shorter contract) and then have an option for a 6th year. Same thing with Gordon. 4 years, $90mm or the likes. These are off the top of my head. Basically I'd overpay for a shorter contract. The Sox aren't the type of team that can absorb a bad, LONG contract. We can absorb the Danks, LaRoche contracts somewhat, but can't absorb a Hanley or Panda bad contract.

I agree with much of what others are saying. No to giving Anderson or Fulmer. I'd give up Montas and their pick of Micah/Sanchez, if somehow we can trick them to thinking Garcia is good, throw him in, and then throw in another mid level prospect. Then I'm happy. But I'm not crazy enough to think the Reds would jump on that... Here's my thing though, IF we are serious in getting Frazier, and were going to give up some of our prospects? That means we have Frazier, Eaton, Lawrie, Abreu, Sale, Q, Rodon ALL at very, very good prices. To me at that point you go all in. Get Cespedes (my preferred guy) or Upton to bolster the OF/Defense/Offense. Pipedream, but then you have Abreu, Lawrie, Saladino, Frazier -- Then starting in RF you go Cespedes, Thompson, Eaton -- Melky at DH, and hope LaRoche isn't so terrible where he can fill in at DH/1B and play 60-80 games where he doesn't kill your bench flexibility. With our pitching and that lineup? I'm okay with it. That being said? I'd rather not trade for Frazier - just keep the course. Frazier has batted under .240 a few times .... we all know he'd do that if he was traded here.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ Dec 11, 2015 -> 03:55 PM) The sox will NEVER leave Chicago. Aside from the fact that they have a lucrative stadium deal until 2029, they will be getting a massive new tv deal in 2020. And that deal will likely be on the network they are already on, which just so happens to be on almost every cable operator in the area. On the other hand, the Cubs tv deal may look more like the Dodgers or Astros, assuming operators balk at the carriage rates of cubs net. You see, csn Chicago was ordered to take below market carriage deals by Jerry ( via his friend the late Jim Corno) to ensure everyone had the channel. The thinkin was that the equity stake and increased exposure would pay for any "losses" from carriage fees. Anybody else getting tired of these MASSIVE new TV deals that are essentially funding the players contracts ..... which is from us? I love my sports. And it's such a nice release from real world work and life problems, however my cable bill continues to climb, and its because of sports almost exclusively! We are paying for all these huge contracts while our paychecks stay the same, MLB players are making so much more % wise. okay okay, back to the normal discussion. This shouldn't have been posted in here anyways. Happy Friday, Go Sox. Lawrie and Saladino to the World Series!