Could be a make-or-breakup season for the Sox

[caulfield12]

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03...rs-addison-reed

 

 

"There certainly is a movement among some clubs to essentially tear it all down and start from the bottom and rebuild everything back up," Hahn said. "Given the draft rules and the international signing rules, I certainly understand that approach.

 

"It's not something we intend to do. It's incumbent upon us to be realistic about our chances each year. You don't want to get yourself in a situation where you're caught in the middle and fooling yourself that you have a chance to compete when you really don't and, because of that erroneous perception, you're not developing guys.

 

"For us, we feel like we do a decent job being realistic about our chances, our needs, and at the same time allowing our young players to grow so that next core of players are able to be integrated into the old core and the transition can be as seamless as possible. There will be hiccups. There will be young guys who won't quite be ready, perhaps that you need ... to allow them a chance to grow and get through the growing pains.

 

"At the same time, chances to win are sacred, and every season we want to be in a position to take advantage of those opportunities, not pass on a season with the hope being a young core will suddenly appear."

Edited March 31, 2013 by caulfield12

[joeynach]

The Sox can't do the whole tear it down, be bad, and rebuild it thing. If they could they would have done it already at least once in the last 15 years. They can't do it b/c the instant they tear it down their revenue, attendance, and profit would evaporate. A team like the Cubs or Red Sox whose ticket sales, general fan interest, and revenue streams are almost inelastic to on field performance can get away with it. Teams like the Pirates, Royals, and Rays who reside in weak markets, with small media, small fan bases, and low expectations can get away with it. A team in the third largest population, with the third largest media, in a huge baseball focused market with significant elasticity between on field performance and ticket sales, fan interest, and revenue simply can never afford a complete tear down and rebuild.

[caulfield12]

The Sox can't do the whole tear it down, be bad, and rebuild it thing. If they could they would have done it already at least once in the last 15 years. They can't do it b/c the instant they tear it down their revenue, attendance, and profit would evaporate. A team like the Cubs or Red Sox whose ticket sales, general fan interest, and revenue streams are almost inelastic to on field performance can get away with it. Teams like the Pirates, Royals, and Rays who reside in weak markets, with small media, small fan bases, and low expectations can get away with it. A team in the third largest population, with the third largest media, in a huge baseball focused market with significant elasticity between on field performance and ticket sales, fan interest, and revenue simply can never afford a complete tear down and rebuild.

 

 

But isn't that exactly what happened in the late 1980's?

[Balta1701]

But isn't that exactly what happened in the late 1980's?

If you're ready to open a new ballpark, then we've got a good shot at bringing the fanbase back.

[caulfield12]

If you're ready to open a new ballpark, then we've got a good shot at bringing the fanbase back.

 

 

We do, essentially, have a new ballpark, compared to the one that debuted two decades ago against the Tigers.

[witesoxfan]

We do, essentially, have a new ballpark, compared to the one that debuted two decades ago against the Tigers.

 

It's not a new ballpark. It's a renovated ballpark. There Grand Canyon sized difference

[joeynach]

It's not a new ballpark. It's a renovated ballpark. There Grand Canyon sized difference

 

Nah just a 10,000 sq ft house in Scottsdale sized difference.

[southsider2k5]

The only way this is a make or break season is if the team flops hard and early. This franchise has been running with a reloading strategy for a few years now, moving older higher priced talent out, and replacing it where ever they can with cheaper talent from the minors. I would say this year is more important for what minor leaguers do, than major leaguers, if all goes according to schedule with the big club. Guys like Rienzo, Beck, Mitchell, Castro, Molina, Sanchez, Ravelo, etc, are the keys here.

[caulfield12]

Hahn took over for Ken Williams, who was promoted to executive vice president. Although Williams' duties will include scouting, he possesses veto rights. But Hahn wisely converses with Williams.

 

"I still talk to him every day and go through a bunch of different things," Hahn said. "In fact, he and I spent 20 minutes this morning about a potential waiver claim to flesh through my thoughts and what I wanted to do with the roster from there. He’s been from a professional standpoint, he’s been a resource from a scouting standpoint and from a mentor standpoint.

 

"Perhaps as importantly from a friend standpoint, as someone who has sat in this chair for 12 years, he has been there to sort of her my gripes and gives guidance here and there about how to deal with some of the added responsibilities that come with the position. He has been a great resource as a co-worker and as a friend."

mark gonzales/tribune.com

 

 

As far as the break-up part goes, definitely, the possibility of trading Floyd, Thornton, Ramirez, Crain, Lindstrom....even Konerko, Peavy, Rios or Dunn, if the right offers came along.

 

But that's the case almost every year.

 

Nearly every team out there's looking for pitching....and we have not only Floyd but an abundance of RH relievers and good depth from the lefty side as well.

 

The Braves, for example, might have to push everyone in their bullpen back if Venters it out long-term and could be looking at improving their bullpen depth.

 

 

 

[witesoxfan]

The only way that happens is if injuries occur. This team is too good.

 

Put bluntly, the Yankees have a better shot of being broken up this year than the current Sox roster.

[bmags]

Looking at the Royals, it does make you appreciate that it actually is pretty hard to put together a starting 5 as good as ours year in and out for the past 8 years. We haven't been able to match it offensively, but it certainly gives us a chance if the chips fall in our favor.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Looking at the Royals, it does make you appreciate that it actually is pretty hard to put together a starting 5 as good as ours year in and out for the past 8 years. We haven't been able to match it offensively, but it certainly gives us a chance if the chips fall in our favor.

 

MMMmmm chips.

[buckweaver]

It seems as though the two schools of thought are:

1. Rebuilding (current Cubs)

2. Studs to win (forever Yankees)

 

But look at the World Series winners. When the Sox won in '05,they weren't the best team. Two St. Louis Cardinals teams? Two SF teams? Below are the match ups (and results) of the last 10 World Series. Look these over. Where do these teams fit in the above schools of thought. Seems to me that Williams/Hahn have it right...put out a team to compete from the get-go. With enough luck, add at deadline...without it/dump...but there's no need to do a full rebuild. And if you do...there's absolutely no guarantee it'll work out. World Series participants are lightning in a bottle (thank God, because I finally saw one happen here)

 

2012 San Francisco Giants Detroit Tigers 4-0

2011 St. Louis Cardinals Texas Rangers 4-3

2010 San Francisco Giants Texas Rangers 4-1

2009 New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies 4-2

2008 Philadelphia Phillies Tampa Bay Rays 4-1

2007 Boston Red Sox Colorado Rockies 4-0

2006 St. Louis Cardinals Detroit Tigers 4-1

2005 Chicago White Sox Houston Astros 4-0

2004 Boston Red Sox St. Louis Cardinals 4-0

2003 Florida Marlins New York Yankees 4-2

[Jerksticks]

The only way this is a make or break season is if the team flops hard and early. This franchise has been running with a reloading strategy for a few years now, moving older higher priced talent out, and replacing it where ever they can with cheaper talent from the minors. I would say this year is more important for what minor leaguers do, than major leaguers, if all goes according to schedule with the big club. Guys like Rienzo, Beck, Mitchell, Castro, Molina, Sanchez, Ravelo, etc, are the keys here.

 

Spot on. I think the Sox' strategy has been about as smart as it gets the last few years. People who generally nag on the FO and want a rebuild totally miss the filtering process. It's been slow but it's also been steady. We've had a wonderful shot every year while at the same time slowly been able to filter dead or older weight. Like you said, if some of these guys in the minors take big steps this year...look out. The thought of selling everybody just seems like stupid, counterproductive business. We're good enough to make a run at the playoffs. if we had outlasted Detroit last year I would have liked our chances against Oak and NY.

[witesoxfan]

It seems as though the two schools of thought are:

1. Rebuilding (current Cubs)

2. Studs to win (forever Yankees)

 

But look at the World Series winners. When the Sox won in '05,they weren't the best team. Two St. Louis Cardinals teams? Two SF teams? Below are the match ups (and results) of the last 10 World Series. Look these over. Where do these teams fit in the above schools of thought. Seems to me that Williams/Hahn have it right...put out a team to compete from the get-go. With enough luck, add at deadline...without it/dump...but there's no need to do a full rebuild. And if you do...there's absolutely no guarantee it'll work out. World Series participants are lightning in a bottle (thank God, because I finally saw one happen here)

 

2012 San Francisco Giants Detroit Tigers 4-0

2011 St. Louis Cardinals Texas Rangers 4-3

2010 San Francisco Giants Texas Rangers 4-1

2009 New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies 4-2

2008 Philadelphia Phillies Tampa Bay Rays 4-1

2007 Boston Red Sox Colorado Rockies 4-0

2006 St. Louis Cardinals Detroit Tigers 4-1

2005 Chicago White Sox Houston Astros 4-0

2004 Boston Red Sox St. Louis Cardinals 4-0

2003 Florida Marlins New York Yankees 4-2

 

Please post more...this post is full of awesome and rationale.

 

It really is as simple as putting the best product on the field for game 1. If it fails, sell some pieces you won't need next year, get a look at some minor leaguers, and pick up where you left off in the offseason. This isn't saying buy and spend at all times, but it's not saying cut everything at once. Just put the best possible reasonable product on the field and alter your game plan according to that.