Squirrel

I think Machado fills a better hole for us right now and could/would be a better fit moving forward, provided he's okay with moving to 3rd in a couple years. I think Harper allows us to make a better trade considering our outfield depth. So for me ... it's really kind of a toss up. Both could be well utilized and provide a real addition of talent.

Moderator note: Let's keep this to Javier, if we could, please. Thanks. I agree Reusse wrote a nice article. Let's leave it at that.

It's a subscription site, so, no, it won't work for anyone who doesn't have a subscription.

I'll wait to say that when Machado signs with another team, because ... well ... I suppose it's possible ... Sigh.

I respect your view, even if I don't completely agree with it. I've said this before, but one of the big reasons I wanted a Machado is because I believe in this team, I think it's on the verge, and if even 3 of those 7 you named really puts it together, Machado adds to that and puts them in range of Boston and New York and well past Cleveland. You bet on that hand and land the final card in the royal flush. (Okay, so I really am not a poker person so really shouldn't be using poker analogies.) This is part of my frustration through early 2000's ... we had teams that were just there and another addition would likely have put them over into real contention. (Yes, I know, there's no way of knowing that for sure, but, this is all a gamble.) And I just don't see a change in business. This was the year for opportunity ... and for me, I see it squandered. Yes, I'm frustrated.

If they all click then you have a winning team for a few years and then you make some trades. We can’t keep playing the ‘what if’ game. Prospects are prospects until they prove otherwise and that core hasn’t proved anything. And what if they don’t? Then you have Machado to anchor the next wave. If you do nothing but plan for the future you will continually lose in the present. And I’m not suggesting we trade everyone and mortgage the future. I’m just looking for a little more present that isn’t an unwise penny-pinching budget.

In my now cynical and less hopeful eyes, I think it says they don’t think this core will do it so they are adding just ‘hoping for some lightning’ players to fill the roster. Until the next wave comes through. Same old story. And what does it say to this core? If I’m this core I’m going to do as well as I can, biding my time until I can get out from under such a winning mentality. (In case anyone didn’t catch it, my winning mentality comment was sarcasm.) If Im this year’s core I’m thinking that’s one huge Sisyphusian goal they’ve been given. This FO has built a team that might be barely competitive ... competitive, not winning ... in the AL central, and the AL central only ... and that’s if all the ifs come together. Remember how excited we were last year? Yeah, fool me once ... While I’ve been very vocal about signing Machado, because I felt that could be done without breaking the bank, I also felt it could be done while gathering a few other GOOD pieces through FA and/or trade. I mean, even the best of the RP, we could have signed one or two of those as well and still kept to a similar budget as last year. With their budget last year, which they did fine with ... by fine, I mean, did they lose money last year? No? Even with such poor play, they managed? Hmmm. They have had opportunity this year to add really good pieces to the in-house talent that wouldn’t break the bank, that would have kept them in the realm of last year’s spending, that wouldn’t have put them over the top in the realms of Boston, LA, New York spending, that could have garnered a team that would have been competitive in all of the AL and NL. Instead we have eked out one huge possibly, keep your fingers crossed, maybe, if we get lightning in a bottle, super budget team that in all probability puts us in .500 range. Count me in the hugely disappointed, hugely uninspired, this is going to be a very long season camp. I guess our new window is when Lewis and Kirilloff get here. Same old story. And I’m hoping that my outlook is very wrong.

Well, if the Sox sign Machado over the Twins, I'll be cheering them on, so not so bad.

Blecht!

I don't think it's silly to hope for something you know is impossible. I think dreams are a fine reality! That said, yeah, I've said that before, that when they signed Schoop, whatever. But, if they do think they can sign Machado, and they actually do, I'll be as shocked as you. But when you get a player like that, there is always room.

Uh, no. The temperature is more ... temperate ,,, in comparison to the suburbs, because of the lake, but the climate isn’t milder. Stand on the corner of Michigan and Roosevelt in the dead of winter and maybe you’ll understand the difference. I would much rather be sitting in Target Field in April for a game than either of Wrigley or Guaranteed Rate. But I’d rather be sitting in either Chicago Stadiums in late October than Target Field. I say that based on experience of the weather and climate of both areas.

Austin’s time was already iffy when they signed Cruz. So someone gets traded. Not sure what the problem would be with that, especially when you are bettering your lineup.

Saying "He won't come here" is a coping mechanism for some, to defray disappointment. For others it's become an acceptance of the status quo. But you still go out and make your best offer, you still go out and make a competitive bid for someone who will make your team, well, competitive beyond the central. Dollars and years. And if the player doesn't want it for other reasons out of your control, so be it. But it might just be they sign with you, too. It's so frustrating. We have never had this kind of opportunity in flexible payroll and a hugely talented FA opportunity ... it just fits so well. To me it just seems a no-brainer. For all we know they could be making some calls and asking some questions. I will give them the benefit of the doubt there because I don't know. But ... I hope if they are, they are doing so with serious intent. Because they should be.

Who else is around?

Lol. That made me laugh out loud on the train.

Yeah, I'd dress warmly as they may just pretend they don't see you.

Thank you, yes, and yes, and more yes, please.

Yes, please.

Sorry, but I don’t buy it, not with the White Sox. If the choice is between the Cubs or the Twins, Yeah, that’s a huge argument. Companies wanting a Cubs star’s endorsement is worth waaaaaaaay more than a White Sox star’s endorsement. You say White Sox in Chicago and most people go, ‘What’s that?’ They are the least recognized of all the teams here and most pay them little attention. When the Cubs were in the WS, wow, the whole town went nuts and the national coverage was huge. The Sox got no more than any other ordinary team got when they win the WS. And the national media kept saying how Chicago hadn’t seen a WS in a 100 years during the Cubs WS appearance. Oops, guess 2005 was forgotten. It’s really quite astounding at how little press and respect the White Sox get. About the same as the Twins. While Chicago might be a huge market, it really isn’t so for the Sox. If Machado signs with the Cubs, everyone will be tripping over themselves to get his endorsement, as a Cub. He will get no more attention than he would with the Sox as he would with the Twins. Those that would want his endorsement would want it for him, not for the team he’s on. His endorsement opportunity wouldn’t be any bigger as a White Sox in Chicago as it would as a Twin in Minneapolis. I get why you think it would, but you likely have never lived in Chicago to see the huge disparity there is between the two teams. Cubs are a national name, a national team, the White Sox are as regional as the Twins.

This came as a response to Clemson being served fast food in the White House: https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/01/16/michelin-winning-alinea-invites-clemson-football-team-to-dinner-after-trump-serves-fast-food/?fbclid=IwAR1Mzs89BG5sTFk_D5XitUQ7QyR1QmMeagkwUtlyHDQzWN9RCe5GOa7bDcU

This is what matters most to me. Getting better. I realize there are lots of question marks, but in my way of thinking, it is sink or swim time. So you bet on all three of Kep, Bux and Sano making huge strides, sign Machado, and you have a formidable team, one that can get past the Bostons and Yankees of the world. If you need to add a pitcher somewhere, you do it at the deadline, but this is a good place to start.

Ugh. Throwing the book at him would be kind.

I like this 100 times. (of course I do ... y'all know that.)

Carol Channing ... RIP.

See, from my point of view, you can have those four PLUS Machado ... I think we have that much flexibility, although if we would hire Machado, it makes the Schoop signing a bit redundant. My response was to the person who suggested we hire two others rather than Machado. However, I get your point ... my bottom line is, yeah, I just want Machado. That's my song, and it will go unrequited.