Bob Nightengale Reports that Rick Hahn is New Sox GM; Kenny Williams to President

[Tragg]

Originally Posted by WhiteSox5187

but also an inability to identify and trade for young prospects in other organizations

As per nothing from Swisher 2, Jackson 2 (a pure giveaway), and so far nothing from Quentin or Santos.
Time for a change.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Originally Posted by Tragg

As per nothing from Swisher 2, Jackson 2 (a pure giveaway), and so far nothing from Quentin or Santos.
Time for a change.

Those trades - and the free agent dollars spent to fill the holes they created - continue to hamstring this team. However, I cannot fault the Santos trade; had we not traded him he'd be on the shelf for us right now. But the Swisher and Jackson deals were disastrous.

[Tragg]

Originally Posted by Frater Perdurabo

Those trades - and the free agent dollars spent to fill the holes they created - continue to hamstring this team. However, I cannot fault the Santos trade; had we not traded him he'd be on the shelf for us right now. But the Swisher and Jackson deals were disastrous.

I didn't mind trading any of those 4 guys. I don't really know what the real objection to Quentin was though. I guess the injuries.
We just didn't get a thing for any of them. All were basically prospects off of off years and they continued to decline (except for Swisher 2 - I don't know what that was - we traded for several AAAA players - not real prospect in the bunch). Sometimes it's better to trade for younger less developed prospects with potential.
I said it before, and I'll say it again - these veterans have given it all they have this year - they are just past their prime and most of the ones who aren't aren't complete players.

[Harry Chappas]

Originally Posted by WhiteSox5187

I seem to recall reading a thread on WSI that the board of directors was not happy with Kenny and that he would be replaced at the end of the year. That was back in March when a lot of people thought that the White Sox would be terrible.

I posted it. That's what I had heard at the time from someone with strong connections to the brass.

[Frater Perdurabo]

Originally Posted by Tragg

I didn't mind trading any of those 4 guys. I don't really know what the real objection to Quentin was though. I guess the injuries.
We just didn't get a thing for any of them. All were basically prospects off of off years and they continued to decline (except for Swisher 2 - I don't know what that was - we traded for several AAAA players - not real prospect in the bunch). Sometimes it's better to trade for younger less developed prospects with potential.
I said it before, and I'll say it again - these veterans have given it all they have this year - they are just past their prime and most of the ones who aren't aren't complete players.

Agreed. If they had gotten useful players in return, we'd have a deeper roster today. Or of we had just kept the original players we had, we'd be deeper today.

[#1swisher]

Jon Heyman
Rick Hahn will ascend to GM on south side. now comes hard part: what to do about peavy, a.j. & youk. http://cbsprt.co/VvbQQi

[DSpivack]

Originally Posted by #1swisher

Jon Heyman
Rick Hahn will ascend to GM on south side. now comes hard part: what to do about peavy, a.j. & youk. http://cbsprt.co/VvbQQi

Thanks for the link. I had been skeptical that this change would mean a lot in terms of who makes decisions, but the article states directly that Hahn would be doing that and not KW. Interesting.

[hawkjt]

So Heyman thinks that AJ and Youk will be retained,with Jake headed to LA? Hmmm.....interesting.

Certainly, I would be ok with that scenario. Sox have no ready replacements at 3rd or catcher. Now, how much do they have left?

I think AJ can be productive for 2 more years...not so sure about Youk.

[jdm2662]

Originally Posted by hawkjt

So Heyman thinks that AJ and Youk will be retained,with Jake headed to LA? Hmmm.....interesting.

Certainly, I would be ok with that scenario. Sox have no ready replacements at 3rd or catcher. Now, how much do they have left?

I think AJ can be productive for 2 more years...not so sure about Youk.

It makes some sense. The Sox did have plenty of young arms come up this year with some success. They don't have much in terms of position players. So, they may have no choice but to keep Youk and AJ. But, a foundation is going to need to be built eventually.

[MARTINMVP]

From today's David Haugh column:
[Tribune Link -- Requires Subscriber Login]
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...5533563.column

"Now the primary focus is on enhancing the fan experience and looking not at our fans as to why they didn't come out as we anticipated, but at ourselves first,'' Williams said. "It's a mistake to have great expectations of how people spend their discretionary income with all the economic uncertainties. What can we do creatively to enhance the experience, more than just the baseball team, so that once again we can be aggressive with our projections and, as a result, payroll?''


Williams talking about improving the fan experience made him sound like a team president more than a general manager — which he likely will be soon. Regarding reports of his promotion with Rick Hahn taking over as GM, Williams neither confirmed nor denied the moves but made clear nothing will happen until after he takes a week off to "clear my head.''

[slavko]

Originally Posted by hawkjt

So Heyman thinks that AJ and Youk will be retained,with Jake headed to LA? Hmmm.....interesting.

Certainly, I would be ok with that scenario. Sox have no ready replacements at 3rd or catcher. Now, how much do they have left?

I think AJ can be productive for 2 more years...not so sure about Youk.

I wasn't impressed with Youk after his initial couple weeks in which he practically carried the team. Too much of an injury risk, besides. Wish I had some faith in Morel. AJ and Youk are the closest we had to situational hitters. PK, when he's right, could be added to that.

[LITTLE NELL]

Our pitching should be set already. I say this with Peavy returning and Danks coming back as strong as Jake did this year. Our rookies with a year under their belt should be better.

Starters: Sale, Peavy, Danks, Floyd, Quintana or Santiago

Middle Relief and late relief: Jones, Veal, Crain, Thornton

Closers: Reed, Myers

It looks to me like Humber is a forgotten man and I don't want to see Septimo or Liriano again.

The big decisions will be with Youk and AJ. I'm on the fence with both of them, neither is getting any younger. Love to pick up another Rios type outfielder by trading Dunn, I would then have a rotating OF with one of them being DH for each game. BJ Upton comes to mind as I'm sure the Rays won't be able to sign him.

[Madvora]

Originally Posted by MARTINMVP

From today's David Haugh column:
[Tribune Link -- Requires Subscriber Login]
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...5533563.column

"Now the primary focus is on enhancing the fan experience and looking not at our fans as to why they didn't come out as we anticipated, but at ourselves first,'' Williams said. "It's a mistake to have great expectations of how people spend their discretionary income with all the economic uncertainties. What can we do creatively to enhance the experience, more than just the baseball team, so that once again we can be aggressive with our projections and, as a result, payroll?''

Nothing else matters to me. I don't want this to be Wrigley Field. I don't care if there are bars around the neighborhood or a fundamentals deck for little kids. All nice stuff to have, but focus on the team and win the damn games.

[Noneck]

Originally Posted by LITTLE NELL

Our pitching should be set already. I say this with Peavy returning and Danks coming back as strong as Jake did this year. Our rookies with a year under their belt should be better.

Starters: Sale, Peavy, Danks, Floyd, Quintana or Santiago

Middle Relief and late relief: Jones, Veal, Crain, Thornton

Closers: Reed, Myers

It looks to me like Humber is a forgotten man and I don't want to see Septimo or Liriano again.

The big decisions will be with Youk and AJ. I'm on the fence with both of them, neither is getting any younger. Love to pick up another Rios type outfielder by trading Dunn, I would then have a rotating OF with one of them being DH for each game. BJ Upton comes to mind as I'm sure the Rays won't be able to sign him.

I see the chances being extremely slim that either Peavy or Myers come back.

[LITTLE NELL]

Originally Posted by Noneck

I see the chances being extremely slim that either Peavy or Myers come back.

Only time will tell.
How does a buyout work, if the Sox don't pick up Jake's option and another team signs him do the Sox still have to pay the 4 million buyout?