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First complaint in a game thread goes to flavum

That's how everybody wrote back when TLR was young.

Raise your hand if you’ve had enough of the calligraphy bullshit. I just want to see the full names of the players, mmkay?

Hoping to see Rutherford show some promise. And yes, a strong spring by Collins would be great. The power and is there, just needs to make contact. I'd really like to see him grab the backup C job.

Did TLR do that? Not only is the calligraphy beautiful, but it's a good trick by the FO to make him do the lineups in calligraphy pen before witness as a means of proving his sobriety before game time.

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I'm not exactly a "fair weather fan." I go back to 1970 with the Sox, which is 51 years. And if you look at how long I've posted on Sox Talk (2003), I didn't just arrive yesterday. I guarantee I've posted here longer than most, and been a fan longer than a lot of posters on here have been alive. Just because I tuned out during the years when the Sox were tanking doesn't change that. Any, BTW, I'm not the only one projecting everyone as a star. MLB Top 100 Right Now has 9 Sox on the list, tied with the Dodgers. That's pretty damn good by any measure. I'm also not making any apologies for being excited and optimistic about the team. As the title of this post says -- I'm going to enjoy the White Sox this year. Aren't you?

No Greg, always protect yourself. Stay safe because you just don't know.

Mike Wright... More like Mike Wrong, am I right?

Best thing was seeing him run hard twice without grimacing

Illinois will enter March with an 80k/day pace. The US breaks new record with 2.4 million in a day. And now we are about to get big supply increases. LFG

I'm excited to overreact to actual on field play as a nice change of pace.

Good answers 😉

Homers- Eloy Hits- Tim ("bat"-man) Steals- Luis (robber)

I went 1. Eloy 2. Anderson 3. Robert

Love seeing Anderson, Moncada 1, 2 to start. I really hope TLR sticks with that all year.

He’s 20 right now. He will be 21 on June 1. He’s advanced so he’ll move quickly. There’s nothing stopping him from finishing in AA or AAA in 2022 IMO and being in big leagues after. Kopech will pitch the entire year at 25.

I'm really curious to see what sort of mechanical changes Katz made with Cease. If Cease maintained his 2020 performance that would be a huge disappointment because he had a 6.36 FIP (80th out of 81 pitchers with 50 IP) and a 5.87 xFIP (79th). His LOB% was 81.7% (league avg is 74%). Hitters had a .238 BABIP despite being in the bottom 25% of the league in xSLG, xBA, Exit Velocity, and Hard Hit %. Essentially he got about as lucky as you could get last year. That said his stuff is filthy and he has so much room to improve and could do so very rapidly. He has the potential to be a star if he improves his command and it could easily happen this year. The projections for him all seem to believe that his K/9 will go back up and his walks will go down. I believe that too, but he needs to be a whole lot better this year. One reason I'm optimistic is that his splits when starting 1-0 vs 0-1 in 2020. After 1-0 (.310/.468/.643) vs AL avg of (.256/.357/.444) After 0-1 (.157/.229/.324) vs AL avg of (.219/.271/.361) Yes its a small sample size, but Cease is absolutely awful when he starts behind in the count and is pretty much elite after a first pitch strike. Getting ahead in the count is usually that last thing to develop for a young pitcher and hopefully this is the year he gets over that hump. Edit: I looked back through his splits and oh boy.. After 1-0 he has an xFIP of 8.70 and after 0-1 his xFIP is 3.63

Absolutely dude. You nailed it. One thing people don’t realize is the high level of pedigree each of these young guys brings. These aren’t late first round talents. Almost our entire lineup and pitching staff would be taken 1:1 in a draft. That’s INSANE

Agree. The poster is the perfect example of a fair-weather fan. He has stopped following the team for years and now is projecting everyone as a star. In reality, some of our stars will have off years and some will be injured more than they play ( similar to most teams). But this is an excellent roster and future additions could be a bonus. It remains to be seen how TLR will impact the team. Spring training is a time for optimism!!!! Lets hope by the All-Star game we are still feeling good about the team.

White Sox Jimmy Cordero: The White Sox bullpen is stacked with intriguing pitchers about to embark on their first full seasons. We're highlighting Cordero because his bloated ERA (6.08 in 26 innings) tells a misleading story about his 2020. His sinker-slider combination suppressed contact at an elite rate last season, permitting him to rank in the 96th percentile of exit velocity. That didn't prevent him from allowing 11 hits per nine frames, but we don't think that will carry into the new year. As an added bonus, Cordero has the best short-sleeve game in the majors since the days of Joel Peralta. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-breakout-candidates-one-player-from-all-30-teams-whos-ready-to-step-up-in-2021-season/

The best University in all of Mount Greenwood.

Everyone is scared of puns now because of @ron883

Not a great day for the pitcher we didn't know we had.

I feel really confident predicting that Kasper being with DJ is going to bring out the best version of DJ there's ever been. Also worth noting: that pic is a couple of cool cats. Nice.

Are they doing this to appease La Russa?

Why? Past injuries is the best predictor of future injuries; not age.

Was mostly going for a laugh, but I’ll take it. It really is tough to read.

Today's the day!

I tend to agree that Dylan Cease can be a true difference maker on this team. If he makes anything close to the kind of leap forward that Lucas Giolito did under the tutelage of Ethan Katz, the Sox will be a juggernaut. But I don't think the Sox have to have Cease to win the division. He might just be slightly improved, and give you .500 pitching. That's all you really need from a 4th starter. And if they want to use Crochet in long relief, we didn't really have that last year, so you won't necessarily wear out the pen if Cease can't go more than 5 innings. Heck, didn't the Rays build a whole philosophy around using starters only twice through the lineup? As for health, the Sox core are mostly young guys. We don't really have a lot of older players. That should help.

Past criticism is fine. I really hated the "go for it" 2014-2016 period...but I also get it...we got really lucky with how great Sale/Quintana/Abreu/Eaton were...in 2014 we had four guys that put up a combined 21 WAR...that's HALF way to the WAR you need to get to the playoffs with 4 guys...if we could just fill in around them 21 one-WAR guys but the problem was there was SO much garbage there (and yes, budget). But as a fan, trying to go for it in those years made sense, because...how could you not win with those four? But credit to management that they signed those guys to good contracts, recognized the hopelessness of the hand and then went full rebuild. Which I think has been executed beautifully...still as a fan it's been four painful rebuild years after four painful go-for-it years. But frustration with the FO now? Given the bolded part above...don't you kind of feel like we are the 2012 LA Angels where Mike Trout comes up...except...we have this amazing team around him already under construction. When Ken Griffey, JR came up at 20...the Mariners had 27 year old Edgar Martinez, 26 year old Randy Johnson and 23 year old Omar Vizquel...that's four hall of famers...and for five years they were a non-contender. The problem was that was it's just not enough. It's why it's so hard to win in baseball...but I feel like the management has built a group of really good players...of the likely opening day roster...who is your worst guy? Leury Garcia seems a professional backup. Adam Eaton, same. A lot here would say Collins...but lefty hitting backup catcher with power and a batting eye seems very useful. Reylo and Rodon I supposed but again...with upside. If the plan is 8 years of excellence what management did this year...short term Lynn and Hendricks, long term with Vera and Cespedes...and not handing out bad contracts...and being patient. Seems like the way to go. Probably also why Hahn is so frustrated with fans negativity. HE is so excited...which is a good sign.

I wish we had one of those word cloud things for this forum. “If,” “could,” “should” and “potential” would be size 8,000 font. Great organizations recognize potential, but don’t rely on it. (Hi, Dodgers.) For a team with World Series aspirations, the criticism of and frustration with the FO is 100% warranted. That said, even though I struggle to see things through the same lens, I truly do appreciate the more optimistic posts on here. While my pessimism/realism often gets the best of me, the optimism helps center me when I teeter a little too far on the negative end of the spectrum. In conclusion, holy sh*t. We have Luis Robert on our team. OUR team.

I've always liked the 1917 cap with the pinstripes and curved logo.

March 1 @ Angels - FS West March 3 @ KC- no information/not televised as of now March 4 @ SF- no information/not televised as of now March 6 @ Cle - no information/not televised as of now March 8 @ Dodgers - SportsNet LA March 11 @ Reds - no information/not televised as of now March 12 @ Rangers - no information/not televised as of now March 14 @ Athletics - NBC Sports CA March 16 @ SD - Fox Sports San Diego March 19 @ Seattle - Root Sports March 21 @ Arz - Fox Sports Arizona March 23 @ Cubs - Marquee March 26 @ Brewers on FS WIsconsin March 27 @ Rockies on ATTSN RM March 30 @ Rockies - no information/not televised as of now --- Added those channels to the original image in case that helps

I appreciate a good counter argument...I'm just not sure what is the point of being nasty about it...I give a range of potential outcomes...given the argument that Vaughn could be worse than EE. And you don't just counter my position...you say it is ridiculous and nonsensical. You could come back and say...let's call his upside Konerko instead of Frank...that's fair. I think it's great when people point out that the last "can't miss" guy we had was Gordon Beckham. It helps me frame things because I remember in GB's rookie season he put up a 2.2 WAR in his first 100 games and then 5.2 WAR his next 1000. I think secretly we all know that any of these guys could end up being bums. And when I start talking about 2021 with potentially Frank Thomas at first, Rod Carew at 2b, Mike Schmidt at 3b. Ken Griffey Jr in CF, Manny Ramirez in LF...you can tell me to put down the crack pipe...I probably need that occasionally....but man we are all fans of the same team...we all WANT that to happen. Sox brothers if nothing else.

I let you guys piss all over threads for months and didn't say shit. You banned yourself because you got in so many arguments. Two weeks ago I say something about it and you want to get all uppity like I'm deleting threads and forcing optimism and shit, but you know better. but please, go on.

Lmao alright ray ray. I'm squashing your fun. Please, go on

No I absolutely noticed that last night you took accountability and were contrite, and then this morning you doled out another variation of your "how can you possibly be this dumb to feel positive about this team" so yea you can kind of understand why I decided not to give you credit for it. Also, being excited for the team isn't rainbows and sunshine. It's too bad you don't see that This is you. Frequently. Look at how you talk down

Dude...you distort EVERY argument...and then come back with a pomposity that cannot be real. And yes, I have been cruel with my comments...and yes I then did reengage because you comment on every stream and I am inexperienced enough with message boards that I did not really understand what a troll is. As for "If I talk about apples and you immediately ignore..." is EXACTLY what you do. I try to put reasoned responses on here...I try to make my arguments and I respect even those who strongly disagree with me (honestly Collins is going to be great)...but 100% of the time you misrepresent what I and others are arguing, 100% of the time you insult the people you disagree with and 100% of the time you view the White Sox in the most negative way. I don't think you are real...I think you are a Cubs fan...or maybe a Yankees fan...that thinks it will be funny to come on a teams message board and wind people up. Thus my too often "too stupid to argue with" comments. I apologize. I won't say it again. Neither will I engage.

I'm really excited about the season as well. I haven't looked forward to a Sox season in a long time. As such, I won't be spending much time with the energy vampires on Soxtalk.

But it is a certainty! Why can't you see it? Are you unable to see, or just insane? Either way, you are avoiding the point. And proving his argument. Which means you can't have an intelligent argument without avoiding the point or proving his argument. Which proves he's right. Why can't you see it? Why why why? Well, congratulations on proving his point. He's done with you, he has other, more serious arguments to attend to. That about does it, right? Saved you (and us) four or five repetitive posts of steadily increasing length and vitriol (all *Edited* -- because damnit, that last one could've been *more* off-putting). Back to baseball, yes?

Some of your criticism is fair...we optimists should not be dunking on you pessimists...but it just can be exhausting on Soxtalk where it seems 3/4 of the regular posters are so negative...and yes not 100% negative...it generally starts out as "I'm excited about this team but..." and then we have to hear some tirade about Tony LaRussa being a drunk or JR being cheap. Why is that interesting reading? Giolito had an interview the other day where he said "Bummer has the best pitch in all of baseball". That's so interesting especially compared to the 1000 time we have to read where we are idiots for having traded Tatis. As for the "not spending money" constant concept...I get bored re-writing this but JR HAS had top 5 payrolls in the 2000's, 90's and 80's when the team was good. If the plan is to have a long window part of that is not handing out bad or un-necessary contracts. Dodgers and Yankees can get away with that...but being the second, and somewhat unloved, team in a market is always going to make that hard. If you think spending money is the way to win...the Phillies, Rockies, Angels, Mets, Giants etc would like to say hello. You win by talent evaluation...which I'm pretty pleased at right now (and was very unhappy with for decades before). You sustain winning by sensible budgeting. Right now we are in a great position to be vultures...when the Brewers season crashes...ask them about Yelich. When the Bosox season crashes go after Sale. When the Phillies season crashes go after Harper or Wheeler. Right now the Padres have $100 million committed in 2022 to four guys that are in their 30's. I'm ok watching this play out.

That call was terrible. Bulls did everything they could with turnovers to try and not win the game. That said - man that offense is fun to watch. Such a quiet 35 from Zach - dude is just picking his spots and making it look so easy right now. He should have had 40 - just a travesty how few foul calls he gets. Every night there are at least a few plays a game he gets hacked with no call - not some weak hack - a big hack. Needed this one cause bulls schedule gets real tough next.

He only has 132 innings pitched in college. I really doubt they could pull a Sale with him. Sale unbelievably went from a reliever to 192 IP the next season. It really was incredible. I had MLBN on a couple of years ago and they had a Texas Ranger talking about Sale when he was a White Sox and had a start against them. He said they knew Sale’s elbow was bothering him so much he wouldn’t throw a slider, and they still didn’t touch him. The guy even pitched hurt. He is a one in a lifetime. With Crochet, the Sox either need to shit or get off the pot with him. If he is going to be a starter, I think you are correct, he needs to be in the minor leagues getting stretched out. If he is the next Chapman, hopefully he holds up. His playoff injury may have spooked them. If you recall, Sale had an injury concern and KW announced he would be going back to the bullpen. Sale called and yelled and changed KWs mind. I don’t know if Crochet has that in him.

Like others have said, if you're going to stretch out Crochet, you kinda have to do it in the minors. He hasn't thrown enough innings as a starter. The other thing they have to do is monitor how his stuff is as a starter, if he drops down to topping out at 94 mph and gets lit up like a christmas tree, then......dude is a reliever, and that's that.