Thad Bosley

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,...

There is no denying that Jose has had and continues to have a very positive impact on three of our greatest young players in Moncada, Eloy, and now Robert.

Not sure why you keep saying this. We are the CHICAGO White Sox. Not the Indianapolis White Sox, not the Des Moines White Sox. CHICAGO. Just because the collective record of the team over several decades (read: very little winning) has led to the under-development of a fan base, doesn’t negate the team’s large market existence. Sustainable winning such as this franchise has never experienced fixes that problem. The base will grow just like it did for the Bulls and Blackhawks after their respective successful runs. Unless you are claiming the Sox can never maximize a large market revenue stream either in ticket sales, merchandise sales, TV/radio fees, or corporate sponsor fees - no matter how successful the team becomes - then this “mid market” BS is just that - BS.

Well, no, I’m not projecting anyone’s bat based on their defensive prowess. What I’m saying is I’m perfectly fine with the Sox going one more year with Jose at first base before he gives way to Vaughn, and then Jose filling the DH role in the final two years of the contract. As the reigning RBI champion of the American League who also hit 33 homers while posting an .834 OPS last year, he’s given no indication that he’s not able to deliver that level of production through his age 35 season. If he was EE’s age and they offered him a three year contract, then yes, that would be concerning. But he’s not. He’s “only” 33, and with the type of protection he’s finally going to get in the Sox’ lineup over the next few years, his production at the plate will more than likely be one of the least of the team’s concerns.

Abreu will be younger at the end of his current contract than EE is today before the team has played one game in 2020. Yet you are concerned about locking Jose into the DH spot in his years 33, 34, and 35, whereas no such similar concern with a 37 year old EE this year, or a 38 year old EE next year. Why the aging concern for one but not the other? Seems like if anyone is going to fall off the cliff, it would be the 37 year old before the 33 year old.

I suspect if the payroll jumps $60M, or 50% more than where it is today, between now and two years from now, the team will have acquired both that "extra bullpen piece" AND "nice veteran bench piece" you're concerned about. No worries there. With the cost certainty in place over the next three years, Abreu's contract will not hinder any efforts to acquire whatever is needed over this time frame. Period. His contract is not overlapping any of the big paydays of the young core, and the payroll is still low enough that the team can go after the Betts' of the world if they so choose.

Not every day, but how about two out of every three days? As in, it’s likely at least two thirds of the games this year will be against a right handed starter. Mazara hits righties pretty well, and at 24, he’s likely to continue to improve. Give him the 450 or so at-bats in those games, with the balance going to Leury, and the team will be more than set in the #8 spot in the lineup.

You think Jerry Reinsdorf is going to "spend big money" on pitching? Our Jerry Reinsdorf?

Yes, but the poster I was responding to was suggesting to bring Zobrist in to play second until Madrigal arrives, platoon with Mazara against “LHP”, and be a super utility guy. Despite Leury not being optimal against RHP, he is more than an adequate in-house solution to fulfill all three objectives. I would much rather go with him than try and squeeze out the last of the toothpaste left in a 39 year-old Ben Zobrist.

Leury can do all of that.

Pence makes more sense (rhyme intended) as a platoon partner than Puig, yet the Sox have been linked to the latter this winter with no mention of interest in the former.

I’m actually getting more comfortable with a Mazara/Leury platoon. With their unique splits against RHP/LHP, respectively, it seems like the team would get very decent production out of the #8 spot in the lineup.

You can count on one hand the number of major spending expenditures for premium talent this owner has made over the past 40 years to improve his organization’s ability to compete for a championship (the Robert signing being one of them). The fan base has been and is very aware of this reticence to spend like the major market team that they are, which is why many aren’t quick to rush a pat on the back to the owner on that rare occurrence when it does happen.

Do you think putting his locker in between Abreu’s and Grandal’s could serve to adjust his attitude some? Maybe the Sox’ clubhouse could be the best one for him at this point.