Jerry McNertney

Just imagine having Kyle Schwarber as the Sox DH. (White Sox, not Red)

I see Cespedes' top side potential as a 2015-2016 Adam Eaton comp. He might have a little bit of power, maybe 15 home runs a year and a .280 BA with speed. Unfortunately, he hits right handed, and those Eaton comps are a best case scenario.

I didn't want to see La Russa back. I've never liked him, going back to the 1980's.

The Sox were unlucky in that their opening round playoff opponent was the best team in the AL. The Sox would have stood a chance against Boston or Tampa Bay. (not the Yankess)

Kimbrel pitched a perfect 1/3 of an inning last night. That makes the Madrigal "trade" well worth it.

I don't understand all the divisiveness about Madrigal. I felt the "trade" for Kimbrel was actually a gift to the Cubs. One can never assume a player's future health. It's possible that Madrigal's injuries are mostly behind him. I can see him hitting .300+ for a decade or more, maybe a modern day Manny Mota or better. Players who hit .300+ don't grow on trees. If they did, as a GM I would take an orchard full of them.

Say what you will about Reinsdorf, but it's his club. (mostly) He can run it any way he wants, as a fan you can stop buying his product. However, he got a sweetheart deal with the state to stay in Chicago. The park is 30 years old, despite alterations, it's getting at least middle aged, if not old. Also, it's still in a less desirable part of the metro area. I wouldn't be surprised that when Jerry dies, or becomes incapacitated, look for the Sox to move out of Chicago. The population here is shrinking and the question will be does Chicago deserve two MLB teams when growing cities like Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, Austin/San Antonio, Nashville, Orlando, Charlotte have none.

I'm thinking that Sox management felt bad about the Quintana trade, so they just gave the Cubs Madrigal to assuage their guilt.

It never looked good. I'll never understand why Sox management donated Madrigal to the Cubs.

I look at that Houston lineup, and are they loaded. Like any short best of five series the opening two games are usually key. If the Sox win the first two, they'll win it in four. If they split the first two, Houston will win it in five. If Houston wins the first two, they'll win it in four. Houston is a solid but not heavy favorite to win this series. The two teams I didn't want the Sox to play were the Yankees and Astros. Well, the Yankees are gone. If the Sox can get past Houston, I like their chances against either Boston or Tampa Bay.

Madrigal for who?

On paper the Sox seem to be loaded with talent, but they haven't t been playing like a talented team.

Trade Madrigal for who?

Sox have scored a whopping two runs in the last 17 innings.

I certainly hope Gonzalez isn't the Sox second baseman of the future. Madrigal should be the second baseman of the future. We can all agree that trading Madrigal for a sweaty, super expensive, inconsistent set-up man will likely go down as one of the worst trades in White Sox history. To get Madrigal back from the Cubs, the Sox could offer Vaughn and Kopech, but I'm pretty sure the Cubs would want more than that.