I thought the White Sox did a nice job in FA this year. If the new guys play to their potential, this team can do some damage……..although, beyond Sale, I don’t think the pitching can hold up all season. I see them in wild card spot at end.
Niekro
I think Quintana is among the better #2’s in the league and albeit spring training Rodon has actually looked as advertised most completely discredit ST results but I think a strong showing was important to Rodon’s confidence overall, he wasn’t even using his Slider in one outting it was nothing but fastball’s and changeups and he was dominant.
kidaplus
Rodon was pretty dominant over his final 8 starts last year posting a 2..55 ERA. Looking back he was pegged as the #1 pick for quite sometime, but fell behind Aiken and Kolek late. The way things have gone for those other two thus far, one would think Houston and Miami opt for him over those two if given the chance.today. True its only spring, but the fact he’s looked so sharp while only throwing 4 sliders …. a slider that probably only trails Kershaw’s…. is pretty impressive. He has a shot to be as good of a #3 as their is out there this year.
cxcx
I like that this team puts itself in a position to make fairly significant moves every offseason by never overextending itself on one player. Duke, Robertson, Cabrera, and LaRoche last year and Frazier, Lawrie, Rollins, Latos, Jackson, Navarro, and Avila this year. With Danks, LaRoche, and all of this year’s signings coming off the books next year they should be able to do the same next year.
TJM
Your right on!
retirement13
Mr. Hahn tries very hard. One of these days, his efforts will be successful. Maybe this year!
citizen
reporter: why dont you ask why robin ventura is still manager and should be canned.
hahn: Dont ask me. kenny williams is still in charge.
Strauss
And after this season fails, maybe Reinsdorf will wake up from his 3 year nap and fire Ventura, Williams, and Hahn. No accountability in the organization.
ASapsFables
Jerry Reinsdorf hasn’t been “napping”. Fact is, he’s a hands on owner and a lifelong baseball fan, one who is more knowledgeable about the game than most. You would be hard pressed to find another owner who knows the game and his team better than Mr. Reinsdorf.
Reinsdorf is known for his loyalty, sometimes to a fault. His loyalty and hands on approach may be the primary reasons why he retains his front office staff longer than his peers. He does have accountability, first and foremost to himself. Reinsdorf signs off on the team budget every season and approves any major financial acquisition through free agency and trades. He’s reluctant to fire anyone because he sets the tone for the organization and typically has a close working relationship with his front office, including current Executive Vice President Kenny Williams and G.M. Rick Hahn. They work in sync and usually agree as a unit. If the team fails, it’s Reinsdorf’s fault as much as anyone’s. It’s his investment and he has the most to lose financially when the team loses.
It’s also best to keep in mind that Reinsdorf is not among the wealthiest of owners. In spite of this, he’s never been known to tank on a season or authorize a full fledged rebuild to “save” on salaries. He’s also been amenable to exceeding his budget, often allowing his FO to acquire the necessary players down the stretch during a pennant race.
White Sox fans are quick to criticize Reinsdorf but he still remains the only MLB owner that has brought a championship to Chicago in most any of our lifetimes, along with 6 NBA titles. Who among us wouldn’t want to have an employer like him? Get along with the boss, put forth a good effort, don’t disrespect the company and you will likely have a job for as long as you want it.
Strauss
What have they done lately? FAIL. Poor choices in FA. No farm system. Pitchers who were drafted top 10 are the only farmhands that made it. Horrible talent evaluators.
Dock_Elvis
I’d agree with your assessment, but I’d say that Reinsdorf has also made mistakes…and that is entirely fair. He let Harry Caray slip away to the northside on an ill-advised because of an ill advised move toward pay tv. He also at minimum built the new Comiskey facing the wrong direction. I’m not going to fault him for not being ahead of the game on the retro wave..that honestly has gotten tiresome. He is loyal. But he also was a lightning rod of the 94 strike, the white flag trade, and the gross Albert Belle overpay. No one is perfect. He’s unduly vilified and praised. Maybe the organization needs to move on…its kind of stale…Hawk Harrelson needs to retire, org needs new blood. I think that’s fair.
metsoptimist
Your constant complaining/criticizing is tiresome, Strauss.
WhiteSux24
I don’t really think Jerry “opened up the pockets.” Had he really done so they would have offered Cespedes the 5 year 100m+ deal they knew it would take to pry him from the Mets.
mikecws91
The important part about Cespedes’ deal is the opt-out. He’s 90% likely to exercise it, which basically means his contract is 1 year, $27.5M. That’s completely absurd, and I don’t blame Rick at all for not trying to exceed that.
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hozie007
I thought the White Sox did a nice job in FA this year. If the new guys play to their potential, this team can do some damage……..although, beyond Sale, I don’t think the pitching can hold up all season. I see them in wild card spot at end.
Niekro
I think Quintana is among the better #2’s in the league and albeit spring training Rodon has actually looked as advertised most completely discredit ST results but I think a strong showing was important to Rodon’s confidence overall, he wasn’t even using his Slider in one outting it was nothing but fastball’s and changeups and he was dominant.
kidaplus
Rodon was pretty dominant over his final 8 starts last year posting a 2..55 ERA. Looking back he was pegged as the #1 pick for quite sometime, but fell behind Aiken and Kolek late. The way things have gone for those other two thus far, one would think Houston and Miami opt for him over those two if given the chance.today. True its only spring, but the fact he’s looked so sharp while only throwing 4 sliders …. a slider that probably only trails Kershaw’s…. is pretty impressive. He has a shot to be as good of a #3 as their is out there this year.
cxcx
I like that this team puts itself in a position to make fairly significant moves every offseason by never overextending itself on one player. Duke, Robertson, Cabrera, and LaRoche last year and Frazier, Lawrie, Rollins, Latos, Jackson, Navarro, and Avila this year. With Danks, LaRoche, and all of this year’s signings coming off the books next year they should be able to do the same next year.
TJM
Your right on!
retirement13
Mr. Hahn tries very hard. One of these days, his efforts will be successful. Maybe this year!
citizen
reporter: why dont you ask why robin ventura is still manager and should be canned.
hahn: Dont ask me. kenny williams is still in charge.
Strauss
And after this season fails, maybe Reinsdorf will wake up from his 3 year nap and fire Ventura, Williams, and Hahn. No accountability in the organization.
ASapsFables
Jerry Reinsdorf hasn’t been “napping”. Fact is, he’s a hands on owner and a lifelong baseball fan, one who is more knowledgeable about the game than most. You would be hard pressed to find another owner who knows the game and his team better than Mr. Reinsdorf.
Reinsdorf is known for his loyalty, sometimes to a fault. His loyalty and hands on approach may be the primary reasons why he retains his front office staff longer than his peers. He does have accountability, first and foremost to himself. Reinsdorf signs off on the team budget every season and approves any major financial acquisition through free agency and trades. He’s reluctant to fire anyone because he sets the tone for the organization and typically has a close working relationship with his front office, including current Executive Vice President Kenny Williams and G.M. Rick Hahn. They work in sync and usually agree as a unit. If the team fails, it’s Reinsdorf’s fault as much as anyone’s. It’s his investment and he has the most to lose financially when the team loses.
It’s also best to keep in mind that Reinsdorf is not among the wealthiest of owners. In spite of this, he’s never been known to tank on a season or authorize a full fledged rebuild to “save” on salaries. He’s also been amenable to exceeding his budget, often allowing his FO to acquire the necessary players down the stretch during a pennant race.
White Sox fans are quick to criticize Reinsdorf but he still remains the only MLB owner that has brought a championship to Chicago in most any of our lifetimes, along with 6 NBA titles. Who among us wouldn’t want to have an employer like him? Get along with the boss, put forth a good effort, don’t disrespect the company and you will likely have a job for as long as you want it.
Strauss
What have they done lately? FAIL. Poor choices in FA. No farm system. Pitchers who were drafted top 10 are the only farmhands that made it. Horrible talent evaluators.
Dock_Elvis
I’d agree with your assessment, but I’d say that Reinsdorf has also made mistakes…and that is entirely fair. He let Harry Caray slip away to the northside on an ill-advised because of an ill advised move toward pay tv. He also at minimum built the new Comiskey facing the wrong direction. I’m not going to fault him for not being ahead of the game on the retro wave..that honestly has gotten tiresome. He is loyal. But he also was a lightning rod of the 94 strike, the white flag trade, and the gross Albert Belle overpay. No one is perfect. He’s unduly vilified and praised. Maybe the organization needs to move on…its kind of stale…Hawk Harrelson needs to retire, org needs new blood. I think that’s fair.
metsoptimist
Your constant complaining/criticizing is tiresome, Strauss.
WhiteSux24
I don’t really think Jerry “opened up the pockets.” Had he really done so they would have offered Cespedes the 5 year 100m+ deal they knew it would take to pry him from the Mets.
mikecws91
The important part about Cespedes’ deal is the opt-out. He’s 90% likely to exercise it, which basically means his contract is 1 year, $27.5M. That’s completely absurd, and I don’t blame Rick at all for not trying to exceed that.