mikelink45

Which approach do you prefer? Twins or White Sox?

I remember the series of one and out playoffs and all the anguish that was posted. Would people have preferred one championship instead of all the playoffs? Not me, but it sure seemed like it by what was written.

I hate to be trite, but my response is WHY?

The answer is - the old lets wait and see. I am just hoping we are as good as we were last year.

I think you are right

I agree

Well the White Socks are looking like they have completed their laundry list and the Twins might want to look over their shoulders. Here is there roster http://m.whitesox.mlb.com/roster/ and this is before adding Kuechel for three years and $55m. Yes they began with a catcher and added a pitcher (and then Gonzales too) with Kopech and Giolito on their starting rotations too. The Chicago Tribune wrote, "The Sox re-signed Jose Abreu, signed switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal, acquired a front-line starter in Keuchel and brought in two smaller and somewhat riskier acquisitions in Gonzalez and Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara, whom they acquired for prospect Steele Walker." And the paper adds - "The Sox lineup already was solid with defending AL batting champion Tim Anderson, Abreu, Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez at the top. It figures only to get better with Grandal and the the call-ups of center fielder Luis Robert and second baseman Nick Madrigal, both of whom should be on the roster before May, if not sooner." And then there is this quote, "Believe it or not, the Sox will be considered an American League Central contender in a division with three rebuilds, a slow-motion teardown in Cleveland and the always unpredictable Twins." And, by the way, the Detroit Tigers signed C. J Cron and Schoop - adding some familiar bats to their flimsy lineup. Every time players are signed by another team I see posts that list the next ones on the list. But guess what, those players are on the bottom of the list for a reason.

Until the big deal is announced I am ready to consider all the in house options. I like a mix of Graterol/Thorpe/Dobnak/Smeltzer - in that order for rotation spots (and all will be needed both will Pineda is on suspension and when the injury bug hits. The question I have is how far away is Balazovic? Based on all the articles he ranks with Graterol as a real top pitching prospect. For the infield I am fine with Rooker, but wonder where Raley and Kiriloff are in the 1B mix. Moving Arraez to third and Sano to first does sound like a good idea. I like Kiriloff and Wade in the OF mix.

I would suggest that this story is getting real old and while we are not in on the A level, or the B level the C level is pretty well picked over and the D level looks like a group we should just pass on and move to the prospects.

Let's just add that Cleveland is losing its grip, but the White Sox are not sitting still (I keep forgetting who the other two Major League teams in the division are. Oh well we can continue with AAA Detroit and KC. Since I have asked about the rotation enough, the question remains - who's on first? https://youtu.be/2ZksQd2fC6Y

I see names like Wisler, Harper, and Colombe and Thielbar and I get a queasy feeling. I see the minor leaguers and I feel better. I am not sold until I see it play out in the season. Perhaps our best BP ever, but too many question marks - can Romo keep his luck, can Clippard continue to baffle the hitters?

I am curious why he has been on so many teams. I know we are big on clubhouse guys, since his stats are good why does he keep moving around?

I believe your eggnog is spiked - but that is okay, at least it is something to dream about - but I warn you they are all hitched to Santa's sleigh and will not be coming down any chimneys nearby.

Not even close, but I would still love to see him force his way on to the 26 man squad.

Will the FO read this? DO they care? Is there anything left we should be excited by? Can we add up all the times we were second or third or fourth in the bidding? If you do not want four years - over pay for three. Do something - oh I forgot - Theilbar, etc, etc.

Why not - we need some competition in Spring Training

I am all in on giving Graterol a chance. I have no problem with starting young guys with talent. Dobnak is a nice story, Smeltzer was a nice story until he got scouted, Thorpe has seen his talent sour. I have no confidence in any of the last three. This is a sad prospect for the next season and I see the shuttle to AAA going full blast all season - maybe we can buy a private train car! I like nice stories, but mostly I like raw talent and I can live with the growth and development of that talent. If nothing else, put Graterol in Pinedas place until Mike comes back.

I agree with the rookie - make that a rookie starting or relieving pitcher

We are waiting, waiting, waiting. Obviously not as great as Wisler. At this point shouldn't we bring in all available arms and have some competition at least?

One more reason - we don't want them. At least I hope we don't.

I know Buddy and Gus - I have no idea if Mike Bell is good or not. How do you judge bench coaches? I never see an article about what a bad bench coach someone is. How did Shelton do so bad that Molitor got fired, but so good that Baldelli was MOY? Were there Bench coaches in the 50s,60s,70s, 80s? I don't know. There are many positions in the coaching staff that just can't be judged by people like me. If the batters are lousy does that make the hitting coach bad? If the Pitchers include a CY Young does that make the pitching coach good? No answer to my own questions so have a seat on the Bench Mike and hopefully all will go well and Rocco will like your company.

sometimes I am shocked by the comments about Terry Ryan. At one time he was one of the most revered FO figures. Times changed and we moved on, but Terry did a good job in his time.

Well I would have to look at the off season and list what I learned - no one wants to play here except players who have played here. We wanted to improve the rotation and it is the same except for two pitchers who have not been replaced, the BP looks the same, but no Sam Dyson - what a great player he was for us, the Bombas are the same except we have no first baseman and we no longer have Schoop. What am I missing. Oh wait, we no longer have Castro as backup catcher and everyone is excited because Avila turns out to be better than Juan in some obscure stat and therefore we are better at backup catcher. I keep thinking of the movie - Ground Hog Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQCG2AwzTxA

Well the obvious response is - the easiest signings are those that were last with our team. Welcome back Sergio - you will know everyone on the team when you come back.

Since you have laid out all the conditions that mean pitchers will not sign with us, perhaps its time for the Berrios extension before he has a choice of locations