tray

Avi lost a lot of weight , improved his diet and conditioning and got faster. That is not an outlier in his career, it is a sustainable physical improvement. Avi still reaches for pitches and whiffs on high fastballs like many hitters do, but he has cut down on that. That is what it takes to hit over .300. As far as trading him or any player, it depends on what the return might be, so which team would offer what for him? Am I sensing that the Sox should "sell high" on him while some fans question his season as an "outlier?" Now that sounds like a strategy anticipating failure. The Shields trade was a disaster, but at the same time, never forget, at the beginning of the season some here thought it was a joke to suggest that Avi would be better than Kyle Schwarber, a .200 hitter. While Avi looks svelte now and is one of the faster players on the team, Schwarber is the cubs version of Viciedo, the cubs' "Tank." The Sox have a potentially decent outfield in 2018 anchored by Eloy in LF and Avi in RF. There are several prospects who could challenge for CF and in the meantime, Leury Garcia is a sufficient placeholder and a valuable utility inf/outfielder. It's all looking up now. If I was Hahn I would tend to shy away from making any trades (unless obviously, something comes up that he cannot refuse) and focus on developing the talent that we have. Things will tend to iron themselves out when we see how good some of the prospects we have are or aren't. Spring Training should be a gas.

I think the White Sox announcers have a lot to do with the marketability of the team, locally and nationally. Harry Carey helped to revive the White Sox and then he went well beyond that during his later years announcing for the cubs. Hawk has done a great job over the years. Then there is Jason Bennetti.. .IMO his banter during games is nerdy, trite and often annoying. He does not have the voice, the timing or the knack for infusing excitement into the broadcast. I guess Sox management and others see something that I don't with that guy. I find it much easier to tune out of games now, and that isn't only because we are losing so often. It's because I find Bennetti to be kind of creepy and, once again, annoying.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Sep 1, 2017 -> 11:57 AM) He definitely hurts the playoff push lol...exactly. There is a strange irony in the fact that Fulmer, who sadly may prove to be a wasted first round Draft pick, is now pitching to help the Sox get a high first round Draft pick. Carson's all-out effort on every pitch reminds me of fans who try to beat the radar gun throwing in that cubicle out in the LF deck. Maybe Mark Buehrle could help this pitcher, maybe not. Perhaps Fulmer just can't pitch effectively unless it is an all-out effort on every single throw. IMO, that isn't going to work, especially if he wants to be a starter. Perhaps if he was amping it up to 100mph that would work in relief.

I don't like unloading on any player especially one of our current or former highly touted prospects, but I am having a hard time seeing Fulmer as a major league pitcher. He has not been able to develop a controlled delivery, something that is necessary for getting rhythm and consistency on the mound. He doesn't even look good out there. Very disappointed seeing this tonight after all the inning he has thrown down in the minors. I just did not see any progress at all. no poise on the mound, no control. I hope I am wrong, but it looks like picking him in the first round was a major mistake.

Verry Intaresting thoughts. This is a list of White So Managers with their W/L records etc. I had a real trip down memory lane having long forgotten several guys on that list. White Sox Managers

JR is all about loyalty to the White Sox organization from the bottom to the top. I see that discussed here from time to time, such as when he brought former players like Getz, Thome, and others back into the organization. The flip side of JR is when he perceives that someone has been disloyal in some way, or unappreciative, or when someone does damage to the organization for their personal benefit. As far as rating the worst Managers in Sox history (or let's say over the last few decades of for as long as one can remember) I have Robin Ventura as the worst. That is saying something because I liked him as a player and wanted him to succeed in that role. I initially liked his laid back style, which was welcome departure after Ozzie , but that quickly got old, just like Jay Cutler's sideline demeanor. Renteria pisses me off because he bunts too much in situations that I often disagree with. Sorry for the long post.

What the hell is a troll anyway? A troll, according to the Urban Dictionary on line is: "One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument." A troll has a vastly different agenda than a true fan of the White Sox, especially toward other fans of our team. I have encountered a few trolls on this site, posters who are spoiling for a fight, belittling, hurling insults, playing the one-upmanship game, etc. Greg isn't a troll and neither am I. I just come here to check on White Sox news, opinions and to occasionally share my own opinion or ask a question. Unfortunately trolling is a sport, maybe even a lifestyle for a few sorry basturds that have nothing better to do with their time.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 13, 2017 -> 11:41 PM) LOL yes, let's not get average to above average players with versatility for s***ty relievers who are free agents at the end of the year who were only included in a trade to offset salaries. I am literally laughing at how ridiculous this post and premise is. You lied about the premise of my post in order to create a straw man argument because you just had to troll a bit. I stated that Kemp, at best, is very similar to a player we already have - Leury Garcia, who may or may not be part of the future plans of the White Sox beyond 2018. You stated that Kemp is an average or above average player? On what basis? Kemp is 25 yrs old (about a year younger than Leury and an inch shorter at 5'6") Unlike Leury, Kemp has limited major league experience posting a .211 batting average and 1 HR in 123 AB . I was actually pretty generous in comparing him to Leury. My "post and premise" was ridiculous? OK have fun trolling.

Tony Kemp is Leury Garica ...at best. Redundant mid level outfield talent. I hope the Sox received some salary relief on what they owed Clippy. Otherwise that trade does not seem to make much sense for the White Sox. In any case, no big deal here. The most interesting aspect of this is considering why Houston would even want Clippy, unless they just wanted another innings burner to bide time and give their main relievers some rest as they prepare for the play-offs.

This is the bottom for the Sox. They cannot afford to intentionally tank the team once again in 2018. The fans will notbstand for it. It looks like the Sox have decent talent right now at all positions That can only improve if some of the highly rated prospects get promoted. But just as wee see now, pitching will be the key. Let's see Reynaldo Lopez, Kopech and Goilito this season. Bring them up and see what they have. A healthy Rodon to start the season with a couple of the prospects filling a few spots in the rotation would be better than what we have seen this year. I'm not predicting they will be .500 next season, but I would be surprised if they suk this bad again.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Aug 4, 2017 -> 11:38 AM) Just a reminder that soxtalk has a facebook account and we have a futuresox twitter account that you can reach out to us in the event that something like this happens(and good lord let it never happen again) I thought you banned me bro.

Anyone can parse stats to make a point.For example, Moustakis BA and OBP for 2014 was pretty bad (.212. BA .271 OBP) He would have been gone if KC did not believe he could improve. Geezus, give Davidson a chance. This is his first almost full season. And hit a landmark homerun against the Cubs. Never forget that either.

KC would have given up on Moustakis after his first several years in the majors where he was hitting for low average and did not put up big power numbers. I find it somewhat contradictory to be all in on a rebuild that involves developing players from within, and then complaining about Davidson who is in his first full season in the majors and has already shown great improvement. Anyway, as far as 2018, IMHO, the composition of the starting rotation and bullpen will dictate whether or not the team can be competitive. If it looks like what we have now, it will be another sorry season. On the other hand, if they bring up Giolito, Kopec, Reynaldo Lopez z(and they start dealing) and then stabilize the bullpen with a few relievers, the record is going to improve over what we have this season. Our pitching staff now is a joke.

Davidson has shown improvement defensively. He has turned many difficult plays into outs. Shots down the line or in the hole which he has handled and thrown guys out. That does not show up in WAR or any defensive stat. One would have to watch the games to know that. Davidson leads the team in HR. The Sox do not have any other player in their minor league system that can play third base and jack 25+ home runs. And please do not tell me that Burger can play third base until he has proven that through all levels of the Minors. The videos of him playing defense are a joke. The bottom line is that Davidson is the starting third basemen now and it will remain that way until there is a better alternative. Until then he is doing most of what a corner infielder is supposed to do. He is playing a decent third base, he is durable, and he hits for power. Judgment for Greg on this one.

Position players at the start of 2018 wll pretty much be the same as they are now. Davidson, Anderson Moncada , Abreu- the infield third to first. Outfield Leury Garcia, Willy Garcia, Avi Garcia. Engel.in the outfield. Narvaez and Smith catching. Saladino and Yolmer as utility players. ---------- If any of the outfield prospects are raking in the minors, I would not hesitate bringing them up next year, even early in the season. The Sox need to know what they really have with some of these players and then use that information to help decide what positions to look for in the 2018 Draft and in future trades. I have no idea if some of these guys will be close to major league ready next year, but if they seem close, I would have them up so fast their heads would spin. We are done tanking after the end of this season. We will probably not compete for the Division in 2018 or 2019, but we should at least be on the road out of holy he11. This tanking business is too painful to endure for another season. I hate to lose and just can't abide by that cheap strategy much longer.

Attendance at the stadium does not always indicate the size of the fan base or the interest level of fans. There are other factors impacting attendance. For example, Sox park is situated in an area which does not have much in the way of entertainment, shopping or commercial business. That has slowly been changing with the gentrification of the Bridgeport and Bronzeville neighborhoods, and with the progression of development down the Halsted street corridor. Wrigley is just the opposite. Many fans are within walking distance or can access easily through pubic transit. Another factor is how far portions of the Sox fan base lives from the park. The areas with the highest concentration of Sox fans are in the South, Southwest and far Southwest suburbs. For these fans, attending games is a planned event given the travel required. It is what it is, but there is no sense obssessing over it, caulfield.

QUOTE (South Side Fireworks Man @ Jul 27, 2017 -> 09:22 PM) The Sox are a pretty disgusting organization, that's for sure. Do you want to name names ?

We need a young, premier third base prospect ...or two. That has been one of the toughest positions for the Sox to fill post-Crede.

QUOTE (NCsoxfan @ Jul 27, 2017 -> 09:11 AM) Wow, is there a point where we say, "Enough is enough, we can let the big league team be TOO bad"? I don't get the last few trades, especially the trading of Swarczak and Jennings, where nothing of use came back. I wish the Sox did not trade Kahnle to the Yankees and instead packaged him with Swarzak and/or Jennings to get a better prospect, for example Brinson from the Brewers.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 24, 2017 -> 04:07 PM) Scrubs loseYES!! Yes, hell yes!!!

SWEEEET!! **ck the Cubs and their fans!! Losers!

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 23, 2017 -> 04:16 PM) Not only that but make it harder for them to get to the postseason. I want the Sox to win every game against the cubs and then they can return to the tank. As someone who grew up in Chicago, and now lives in Sox country down in a South suburb, I do not want to see the cubs in the play-offs. Try to beat them. Give it everything you have. Punch them back, right in the face, like they sucker punched AJ. As far as tanking, Ttere will be a few highly rated prospects available regardless of whether the Sox pick one or perhaps four of five. The Sox just have to pick the right player, which is not going to be easy. If I had any say in the selection, I would encourage the Sox to consider the top two or three hitters over any pitcher, and then make the pick based on which one they think could help the team the most (which would include their ability to defend at their position).

QUOTE (flavum @ Jul 23, 2017 -> 04:16 PM) For those in the know, is there a high school bat that could potentially stand out as the number one next spring? Brice Turang and Tristan Casas. These players appear to be physically developed to the point where they could conceivable have a shorter path to the majors than the typical high school prospect might.

I wonder if Hahn would rather have had Fowler instead of Rutherford.

I hope Rutherford works out for us. Maybe he will be the next Jacoby Ellsbury minus the injury issues. This deal should work out for the Yankees and the guys we traded to them. Frazier is from New Jersey and grew up as a Yankee fan. He said that he can spend more time at home now during the season, so good for him. Robertson was traded from the Yankees and Kahnle came up in their system so they are both going back to familiar circumstances. I will root for the Yankees over the Bosox if they meet in the playoffs. Frazier is one of my favorite players so I would like to see hm win a championship. Also, good luck to Kahnle, a very humble man and hard worker who really found his grove while pitching for our team.