CHICAGO - Whether hes out on the town or simply checking messages, general manager Rick Hahn can sense the excitement and optimism surrounding the Chicago White Sox. Mark Barron Jersey .The voice mails in the middle of the night have changed in tenor, which is nice, he joked Saturday at the teams fan convention. Thank you.Its been a big off-season on both sides of the town with the Cubs and White Sox making a series of moves that have their fans believing years of losing are just about over.The White Sox think theyre in position to compete for the AL Central championship after a dizzying off-season in which they made key additions to their lineup, rotation and bullpen.Now, there is a decidedly different vibe. While Hahn insisted the work is not finished, what was done is extensive.Chicago added some left-handed pop by signing Adam LaRoche and bolstered its rotation by trading for right-hander Jeff Samardzija with one year left on his contract.The White Sox also signed closer David Robertson and outfielder Melky Cabrera, along with reliever Zach Duke. With ace Chris Sale and AL Rookie of the Year Jose Abreu back, hopes suddenly are soaring around a team that finished fourth in the division at 73-89 last season after winning just 63 games in 2013.Everybody cant have a $200 million payroll, manager Robin Ventura said. You have to be able to be in that transition. You know youre going to take your lumps. We also knew there would be a point in time where were going to be aggressive and go out and fill some needs. The last couple years were tough. However, that has gotten us to this point.Where they go from here still remains to be seen. But the White Sox at least made their intentions clear this off-season. And the questions from fans were nowhere near as testy as they were during last years session with Hahn and Ventura.They were lighter. They were specific about the roster.One fan asked if the White Sox were maxed out payroll-wise and if they might try to sign James Shields, a 14-game winner for World Series runner-up Kansas City last season.Vince Coleman is your only news right now, Hahn said, referring to his announcement moments earlier that the White Sox hired the six-time NL stolen base champ as baserunning instructor. Are we maxed out? Lets put it this way: Ive gone back to that well a few times and Ive gotten yeses each time.This is my 15th season with the club. Every time weve been in position to contend and missing a piece come June or July and weve gone with a sensible acquisition, the expenditures been improved. Ive been told a target. I know where we are vis-a-vis that target. I (should say its) the third target since Ive moved past the first two.Hahn recalled chairman Jerry Reinsdorf giving the green light to kick the reconstruction into a higher gear during three days of meetings with team executives, the manager and pitching coach Don Cooper. Shortly after that, Hahn said he contacted Oakland about Samardzija — a White Sox fan growing up near Chicago in Indiana who later played football at Notre Dame and pitched for the Cubs.He thought that trade would be completed during the general managers meetings. It wasnt finalized until the winter meetings. Hahn said he hated to give up infielder Marcus Semien in that deal, but it was a price he had to play to add an All-Star between Sale and Jose Quintana in the rotation.About the same time that trade went down, the White Sox agreed to a $46 million, four-year contract with Robertson. Hahn said they were not the highest bidder for him.He also said Abreu was onboard with the LaRoche signing right from the start even though it meant bringing in another first baseman, a Gold Glove winner with Washington in 2012. Hahn said he discussed the possibility with Abreu before that deal was finalized.Within 45 seconds of me laying it out, hes like I got it, I got it. Yeah, absolutely. Makes us better, do it, makes us better. What are we gonna do about the pitching? Hahn said. John Sullivan Jersey .C. -- Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is resigning after 13 seasons at the school. Lamarcus Joyner Jersey . She was a pioneer. She did things on skis that made the birds take notice. http://www.laramsfansshop.com/c-22-rams-greg-zuerlein-jersey.aspx . The Hockey Canada Foundation is donating $50,000, with Hockey Quebec contributing $15,000. Hockey Canada also announced it will hold a skills camp for all levels of minor hockey in Lac-Mégantic during the 2013-14 season. Representatives from Hockey Canada, the Hockey Canada Foundation and Hockey Quebec were on hand Tuesday night at a meeting of the AHM de Lac-Mégantic to make the announcement and presentation.Diego Costa has not been called up for Spains upcoming friendlies against Italy and Romania. Chelsea team-mate Pedro, Juventus Alvaro Morata, Athletic Bilbaos Aritz Aduriz, Valencias Paco Alcacer and Celta Vigos Nolito were picked as Spains five forwards, and manager Vicente Del Bosque says Costas exclusion is due to an injury.Sky Sports Spanish expert Guillem Balague believes the striker has been put in the fridge to cool down after recent controversy, and says he will have to improve his behaviour to make the Euro 2016 squad. No action will be taken against Costa following an alleged gesture he made to Everton supporters during last weeks FA Cup tie.The 27-year-old still faces a misconduct charge for his reaction to his 84th-minute dismissal by referee Michael Oliver in the same game. Pedro is in the Spain team ahead of his Chelsea team-mate Balague told Sky Sports News HQ: The main story is that Diego Costa has not been called up. Theres nothing wrong with him, but he has been put in the fridge so he can calm down a bit. Thats what [Spain manager] Del Bosque feels he needs, he needs to think about how he behaves. Costa was involved in a controversial incident with Gareth Barry recently With the behaviour we have seen in previous weeks, he will not be called up for the European Championship. Lance Dunbar Jersey. Its up to him.Spain face Italy on March 24 and Romania on March 27.Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Porto), David De Gea (Manchester United), Sergio Rico (Sevilla)Defenders: Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra (all Barcelona), Sergio Ramos, Nacho (both Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Mario Gaspar (Villarreal)Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto (both Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Mikel San Jose (Athletic Bilbao), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich), Isco (Real Madrid), Juan Mata (Manchester United)Forwards: Pedro (Chelsea), Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Aritz Aduriz (Athletic Bilbao), Paco Alcacer (Valencia), Nolito (Celta Vigo) Also See: Euro 2016 Fixtures Latest video Tables Get Sky Sports Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '