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Is this thread a time warp? Harper and Wheeler?

Good news maybe?

Look past home runs, average and runs batted in. You’ll become a more knowledgeable fan if you do. There’s a lot more to the game.

Yeahhh no Jack is definitely going to give us his diagnosis on how Moncada has recovered in every game thread next year plus a couple individual threads.

Hahn did not “inherit” one of the “worst farms in the system”. He was the #2 guy in charge within the organization for ten years prior to his promotion to GM and was primarily responsible, along with KW, for the state and condition of the farm system at that time. And to date, many years later, he still hasn’t built a scouting and player development program that can achieve a top ten farm system status on its own and not rely on trading off major league assets to acquire other team’s top prospects to do so.

Bauer is my #1 target if I am Hahn. SP in general is my #1 target. I would sign a few if you can....going back to 162 games you can't have enough SP, the Sox didn't even have enough for 60. After pitching, I would look for a lefty bat. I know he is on the older side, and defense is probably lacking, but I take a hard look at Michael Brantley. I am guessing that the Astros don't bring him back with guys like Tucker still looking for a spot. He is a professional lefty hitter who can get on base. I would see if you can get a 2 year deal and hope to find a RF in the next few years for the long term.

You’re right buddy, Fangraphs is never wrong, just like when they had Luis Robert graded as a 55 FV prospect prior to this season and still only have him as a 60 FV guy. But hey, if you actually think Oscar Colas is the same caliber prospect as Luis Mieses then god bless you!

Why are teams falling over themselves for a 35 FV player? Answer: He's not.

I can tell you Fangraphs is way off with that valuation.

I waited for 3 1/2 hours at the DMV this morning to get my Tennessee driver’s license and voter registration in order. Basically lost a half day of work at the worst time of year for me, but it was worth every waking second knowing I’ll be able to vote against this fucking clown in a red state.

Stone, Frank, Ozzie and Chuck have all ripped Ricky fairly publicly. That wouldn't be happening if Ricky was staying for the foreseeable future like some here think. He's definitely on the hot seat after the boneheaded decisions this year. Rick Hahn isn't blind. This rebuild will be his legacy. He won't let that ship sink with Ricky freaking Renteria continuing to manage is things aren't going well.

This may be long winded, but I really like to write these more for myself than anything so I can look back on my own thoughts. First thing that comes to mind are teams like the Rangers that are actively saying they'll be cutting payroll. I don't think they'll be the only ones. It's times like this I wish our owner wasn't JR, because this is about a perfect of a storm you'll ever get. You have a young, talented team, coming into form, ready to take that next step - meaning, winning a playoff series, possibly competing for a pennant if things all go right. I'm probably the poster you hate to hear, but I realistically never really believed this team was coming out the other end ... just couldn't realistically expect Dunning, Rodon, Cease to carry the back end of the rotation through a playoff grind and against playoff lineups. I think realistically, that's the same problem next year. You have a lot of arms, but we really need 2-3 of them to take that next step to where they can be counted on consistently. So is that Stiever, Cease? Crochet, etc I'm not so sure at this point. At this point my level of confidence is this order: Dunning, Kopech, Cease, Crochet (he'd be my number 2 in that last if I knew more about his injury, part of me thinks he'll come back and blow out his arm in ST or something) Steiver. I think realistically you're going to see a few steps back out of Keuchel, and that's fine. But that really means we need some of these guys to step up this year. I think this year was a bit unfortunate becasue over a 162 game season we would've been able to test drive a lot of these guys and build up some innings. Next year is going to be a grind, and some of these guys may start off hot, but can they keep that up through September and into October? This team will go as far as the rotation takes it. Which leads me to my next point - we need Bauer. I've been a backer of his and continue to be. Would we have TOO MUCH pitching? Maybe, but at the same time, we all know injuries happen and championship teams always have LUXURY at positions. Look at the yankees, injuries happen and they continue to win. That's a sign of a team with depth. Same with the Astros of years past, Cubs, etc. So to me, you bring in Bauer and just roll. If you have injuries like the Padres did at the end of the season, instead of having nobody ... (still don't get why they didn't pitch Gore or Patino more) you now have Cease, Steiver, Kopech, etc. to step up. Other SP I'd consider are Rich Hill and Alex Wood and Corey Kluber. Same as last season. Those guys CAN step in and win you playoff games. Those guys are also cheap, 1-2 year deals, and only going to give you 100ip because of injuries. Which, with our amount of possible SP? Can be a good thing. Outside of that? I pass on the SP out there. Bullpen: I think we're good, but always can look to add. Offense: I mean, you look around and you say where are the holes? Fortunately there aren't many. RF is obvious, but outside of that you really don't need anything if you believe in Engel as your 4OF, Mendick as your back UTIL IF, and Collins/Mercedes as your backup C. I for one am in that category. So where can we improve ... I mean I think you have to be content, and likely happy with Vaughn at DH/1B, so nothing there. Abreu isn't going anywhere. Madrigal/Anderson either. Moncada? This will take heat, but I call him Joe Crede. type of guy who CAN be a game changer, but more likely will be a nice bat, nice glove, but never reach his potential. I would be open to trading him (mostly because who else as you continue to go around the diamond -- not Eloy, not Robert, etc) but there's nobody waiting in the wings...so il think you're set almost every except for RF. So really the ONLY player I COULD see trading is Moncada. Which I'm not saying we should do at all. Just food for thought as I compose this post. What YOU can do. As teams are cutting costs, you can pick up guys who's contracts aren't ideal, a bit bloated, etc. but for free. So essentially a FA signing. Also the contracts in the offseason should be smaller ... so I'd like to be aggressive in this front. Names for Consideration: Chris Sale, Xander Boegarts (again this is where maybe getting creative with Yoan which nets you a SP could work in a way ... trade a Yoan then trade for Xander -- it's a little bit video game'esque, but there are going to be franchises looking to dump salary, so i think you can explore all options), Charlie Blackmon (Rox pay for part of contract or include a Hampson, Rodgers, Gray, etc.) Lorenzo Cain, Avi Garcia, Starling Marte, Springer. Weird thing is if you look to all the CF and RF on teams right now? Not that many viable options, or sure less than I expected. Sorry for the nature of this post.. it was really top of mind type of writing ... in synopsis ... i think you talk to the red sox and see what they're willing to do and for what price. i think its conceivable to get a Sale (if you're comfortable with his health), Xander, JD Martinez (the last two really don't have much of a spot unless other moves are made) I think you also call the Rockies who need to shed payroll, have some talent, and can find a match ... aka pairing an expensive RF like Blackmon (i understand the splits, age, etc. etc.) and maybe net yourself a nice other piece... Marquez, Gray, Hampson, Dahl, Rodgers, etc. Likewise, someone like Lorenzo Cain in RF, or Avi ... could make some sense too. My ideal offseason: Net me Sale, Bauer, Kluber as tier 1 choices. Stroman, Hill, Wood as Tier 2 choices - but please net me at least one outside arm that CAN be a difference maker in the playoffs. So don't mess around with Quintana and Robbie Rays of the world. OF - Tier one: Lorenzo Cain, Springer, Starling Marte, Blackmon (w a prospect or talent attached -- aka Gray, Marquez, Rodgers(not sure where you put him unless part of bigger trade/offseason). UTIL - acquire a nice vet, not really necessary in my opinion - I am super comfortable w Engel and Mendick + Leury etc. but maybe you make a move. Only guy I'd be willing to trade from our exisiting "core" is Yoan Moncada, i understand that is unlikely to happen, and would need several corresponding moves to make sense (aka Xander or Rodgers, or something, without those being net positive, not sure it's truly worth the risk unless you're receiving back a bonafide ace in return).

Longenhagen probably got some bad intel when Colas’ body went the wrong way. He’s back in elite shape with elite speed, power, & arm who has had success at various levels of Cuban & Japanese baseball at a very young age. To think he’s a 35 FV grade prospect is just laughable.

This may be the dumbest, most dangerous tweet in his whole presidency. Anyone who voted for this idiot con-artist should be embarrassed for the rest of their lives.

Unless Uncle Jerry is planning $200M+ payrolls long-term, Harper isn’t happening even if the Phillies would just give us his contract. I’ll keep saying it, but I think Oscar Colas is the name people need to peg for RF starting in 2022.

Yep. That's definitely the reason.

Cubs are going to be in a weird flux this off-season into next year. All of their FAs are up in '21 so they could look to make a final push with this team. But Theo also said something to the effect of "we've tried with this team, can't keep sending the same guys out there to the same effect, big moves could be made" (paraphrasing, believe it was from a DVS article). On top of that, Theo is already talking exit strategy and might abandon ship early. Maybe the Phillies see each opportunity to poach him. All in all, being a cubs fan this year might suck, beyond the normal reasons.

God. Now I have my hopes up for a Harper addition. Thanks, guys

Anyone else find it interesting that Hahn hasn’t done an end of season media call yet?

no idea but it would be a very good idea for the white sox to find out.

And we know who made it a political issue. Like wearing a mask was taking your rights away. The WH press secretary is trying to make herself innocent, but she briefed the press yesterday not wearing a mask. So irresponsible. It is time someone is held accountable.

We know he's been given a course of strong steroidal treatments that have a known side effect of serious cognitive impairment, we know his oxygen levels dropped to 80's at least twice which is where things get pretty foggy mentally, and we know that he's limited in who he can directly see and where he can go because he has a deadly contagious disease. We know he was heading pretty quickly in the wrong direction as of Friday, and we know that this disease can get really, really bad in a matter of hours. That's all information slowly pried out of his doctors rather than random tweets. It seems to me that it would have been prudent and responsible to temporarily transfer powers and authority to Vice President Pence until he turned the corner, which he has maybe done at this point. Luckily nothing happened, but it would have been absolute chaos if something catastrophic had happened while he was in the condition his doctors reported him to be in on Friday and at least some of Saturday. e:

I’m quoting the article. Again, that constitutional protection about innocent until proven guilty comes to mind. I’m certain you would all want it if under “suspicion.” Not going to comment again, as this is not a topic for Sox Talk. PM me if interested in a discussion on the topic.

When the comment was made, Haeger was “wanted” on “suspicion” of committing a crime, and the appropriate response is to wish suicide for him? Come on. I’m an attorney in the military and did criminal defense for 5 years. I take our Constitutional protections seriously. Comments like the one at issue are narrow-minded, ignorant, and downright dangerous under the wrong circumstances.

JR is loyal to everyone except the fans.

I'd trade for the Cubs owner any day. This list of "stupid" goes to Reinsdorf hands down. It's great to relish in the Cub's misery but in reality it's picking a speck when we have a log in our own eye. Outside of both teams having a world series this century the choke factor is huge on both sides. The Sox will always be the step child in Chicago.

forbes.com/sites/maurybrown/2020/10/04/mlb-sees-local-tv-and-streaming-viewership-up-over-4-for-2020/#6985d3d63dac Sox outdrew Boston Red Sox, Washington Nationals and Cardinals in viewership. Hopefully Todd Ankin had to pay up.

If the Rays want him, then I definitely want him

Please cry me a river with this stuff. Yeesh.

To go along with the dumbest thing he has done when he returned to the White House and took off his mask. I seriously don't know what he is thinking, but it doesn't get any dumber than this. The leadership just isn't there and that is putting it mildly. This is more than dumb. This is insane.

I feel nobody will be buying so it doesnt matter. I think we see trades that offset one another.

Ozzie even commented how wimpy the media was after the series loss against the A's. All softball questions to Renteria. Bernstein has said the same about media now a days. It might be a case of "it was/we were tougher back in my day!!" from both of them, but still.

It would be like putting Konerko in RF. You might be able to get away with it for a game or 2, but eventually it is going to hurt you really bad. This guy hits a lot, and plays 1B decently. He is also something the Sox don’t have a lot of, a selective hitter. They do need another lefty for sure. Don’t mess with him.

He doesn't have the balls to hold a media event after screwing up at the trade deadline and his brilliant moves with Encarnacion, Mazara, Gio Gonzalez. He wouldn't want answer those questions.

Sox won't take on Harper contract. This core is going to get really expensive in the next 3-4 years. If they do take on a contract like that, they pretty much have to win now and tear it down shortly after that.

definitely needed one more fire renteria thread.

Imagine this lineup with Bryce Harper and Andrew Vaughn in it... Good lord that would be insane.

So if he is one of the top catchers in Baseball...why would we trade him?

I can't help but think that all of the experts pegged this as a last place, or close to last place, team. I didn't have much in the way of expectations this season for the Bears, and they have succeeded at being fairly mediocre even at 3-1

A Fox and Friends host posted a picture of himself wearing a mask in a Walmart where masks are mandatory. He was getting blasted in the comments section for wearing a mask. So much so, he had to disable it. More proof leaving it up to the people is a bad idea.

Maybe a lot of this is talking past each other. Some of the irresponsible people are the political leaders who are doing things like opening up bars and restaurants for indoor dining and encouraging other high-risk activities such as that. Without responsible rules in place, which unfortunately include closing a whole lot of places down until things are at a controllable level, personal responsibility doesn't really start factoring in. Because you can be "responsibly" just doing the things all sorts of leaders and officials are telling you are good and safe, like going to bars, opening up schools, etc., and be contributing to the spread. So ultimately, I am looking to the public policy leaders to be officially/publicly responsible here. Because without strong state and national leadership and the willingness to make the tough calls and put in the strict rules, we don't have a chance. Step 1 is putting the responsible rules in place so we stop killing people. Step 2 is the personal, individual responsibility in following those rules we need. We did an okay job at Step 1 in a lot of places, though not all, early on. Since May in many areas and June in most others, we've seriously failed and we're heading down the wrong road at a steady pace. Without that Step 1, Step 2 doesn't really matter.

Oblivious...intentional...motivated to incite hatred/fear, does it matter? https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/01/opinions/nathan-bedford-forrest-connor-towne-oneill-carr/index.html One thing I found quite fascinating what that even Pulaski, Tennessee, birthplace of the KKK...turned the historical marker denoting that event backwards and reaffixed it to the building where the first meeting was held. So now its just blank. Of course, those are fighting words (“That’s racist!”) when cast in the direction of Trumpists, but every bit of evidence collected would suggest it’s around 20-25% of the current GOP base who would test in one dimension or another of this category with a scientifically constructed “blind” survey instrument.

No. We have tried that for 7 months and 200,000 are dead. It failed. Now what?

Pitch? Tends to happen with pitchers. They have this weird tendency to pitch baseballs.

So, um.

Well they also created Foster, Fry, Heuer and Bummer out of nothing.

Snag someone from cleveland and give them a fat contract seriously, those guys are amazing (yeah yeah bieber got shelled, but they still were remarkable)

This is true. The White Sox have agreements with Norge Vera and 6 other players totaling just over $3 million. They have close to $2.5 million to spend still and teams aren't allowed to trade money. The 2020 period that was supposed to begin on July 2 starts on January 15. Most teams have all of their $$ spent. The Sox could have prioritized Cespedes and attempted to sign Colas in July 2021 but MLB moved this period to January 15, 2021 and the following period to January 15, 2022. I doubt either guy wants to wait that long and the Sox likely have plans for the 2022 money already anyway. Cespedes can sign whenever but Colas is still hung up with his Japanese deal. The White Sox have a great relationship with Alex Cotto, the agent for Colas who also represents Yoan Moncada and Norge Vera.

Absolutely. Reinsdorf could draw 3 million a season but remember his rent goes up with attendance. He got his cost-contained WS championship in 2005. I was really hoping he'd sell high then. We need a cultural change. We should be like the St. Louis Cardinals - perennial contenders. Unfortunately the White Sox have not been blessed historically with stellar ownership. The Yankees legacy could have easily been the White Sox but Charles Comiskey was too damn cheap. Legend has it, he actually had first dibs on Babe Freakin Ruth but wouldn't pay him the 15k he wanted. The Sox won the WS in 1917. Should have won it in 1919. They were poised to go an historic run but money got in the way. The more things change......

I suspect the Sox will decide on keeping their young, cost-controlled, batting champion shortstop for a little while.