ChiSox59

Its a thing of beauty. This kid looks like a .330+ career hitter. Defense isn't as good as I expected, but I hope so of that is just nerves and getting comfortable.

I think his stuff could maybe play up a bit in the pen. Future pen pieces: Bummer, Burdi, Heuer, Foster, Marshall, Hamilton, Cordero, Fry, Reynaldo and Thompson is a pretty decent core to start with.

You don't DFA a guy like Lopez when you still have an option. Tho the Sox just used ReyLo's last option, so I think its time they move him to the pen and hopefully he can find a home there for 2021 and beyond. Because we don't really have time or luxury to fuck around with him in the rotation any longer.

Unfortunately, we need Rodon in the rotation now. Probably going to piggy back Rodon and Gio G to start.

At this point, when Grandal isn't catching he should be at 1B and DH with Abreu doing the other. When McCann isn't catching, I wish they'd mix him in at DH/1B....and gasp....RF. Won't argue with you there.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how good of a fit Grandal is for this roster with all the right handed free swingers. I hate when people think my love for Grandal somehow means I hate McCann. McCann has been an absolute steal for the Sox and a hell of find. I don't think anybody - Sox included - thought he'd turn out this well. I just don't think McCann should be playing over Grandal if it means Grandal to the bench.

Hah, yeah - once the Sox got good he bounced? Confirmed troll?

That's fair - we definitely have not gotten the A version of Grandal. I think the Grandal we've gotten to date is still a top 3-5 catcher in the game over the course of an 162 game season. I am not at all concerned about Grandal long term. He'll be fine. Getting a 3-4 fWAR catcher is huge. I agree RF is a huge gap, but I don't think any of the options last offseaon were good long term fits, especially at the expense of Grandal.

I am not undervaluing McCann. He's a good ballplayer and I agree he's not the same guy he was in Detroit. He's also nowhere near as good as Grandal, nor is he anywhere near as good of a fit for this roster as Grandal. Again, I like James. I hope he decides to stick around, but I find it incredibly hard to believe he's going to sign with a team that has one of the best 2 catchers in baseball over looking for an everyday opportunity elsewhere.

Yeah, unfortunately the RF options in next year's FA suck. Joc would be fine one year stop gap, but he doens't get me excited. Maybe Brantley, but he can't really play RF anymore. I hope they take a swing at Springer, but certainly don't expect him to sign here. Outside of that, I am going after someone via trade. Nimmo is my guy, but probably won't happen. Nomar has been bad, and perhaps unsurprisingly so. But he cost very little to acquire, costs very little in terms of 2020 salary, and can be easily non-tendered this offseason. I think the thought process behind acquiring Mazara was fine - but to me - that's more a move you make in February when all other options have failed, as opposed to an early December move.

I can promise you Mazara will not be on this roster in 2021. He was a complete roll of the dice for 2020. Its obvious that's failed. They will go in a different direction in 2021.

I like James McCann. He's turned himself into a quality mlb starting catcher. Chances are, he would get very exposed playing everday, just like he did last year. 1st half stat 2019 line: .316/.371/.502 2nd half 2019 stat line: .226/.281/.413 career stat line: .250/.301/.391 Chances are, if you play McCann everyday, you're getting a .250/.300/.400 type hitter. This is not the type of hitter that makes you pass on 3.5-5 fWAR catcher in Grandal, who also happens to fill two of the other main weaknesses of the ball club (strong OBP and lineup balance). Grandal will be fine, but people need to stop expecting a .300 hitter. He is a career .240 hitter. But he gets on base 35% of the time, which this lineup sorely needs. He's not really a middle of the order bopper though, and it would help if RR moved him down.

I didn't really read it that way. The thing is, Grandal really isn't that far off from his career stat line. He's a great hitter for a catcher, but not necessarily a great hitter in general. I would have no problem dropping him down in the lineup some. Maybe something like Anderson, Moncada, Eloy, Abreu, Grandal, Robert, EE, Mazara/Engel, Madrigal. I think it does make sense to break up Eloy, Abreu, Robert and EE, so he would go somewhere in between those spots.

Lol, sorry man, but you have no idea what you're talking about.

Wrong again. Grandal has accumulated 0.6 fWAR this season, good for 3rd in the AL. Stop using bWAR for catchers - its useless. Yes. McCann has been better in the first 35 games. I am not denying that. He's also been far worse his entire career. The two aren't really comparable and we're talking about an extremely small sample size. I am not bad mouthing James - I like the guy. But people need to get a grip on Grandal.

Again, a team full of right handed free swingers that are allergic to walks, half of which suck at defense, isn't really a recipe for sustained success. Sox did the right thing passing on Castellanos on 4 year deal. I would have rolled the dice on Castellanos or Ozuna on a 1 year deal. But locking ourselves into either one of them long term would have been a mistake. That doesn't mean Mazara doesn't suck. To be clear. But at least Mazara is cheap and can easily be non-tendered in 60 days, leaving RF wide open for a better fit, though admittedly there really aren't any on the FA market this offseason. Going to need to come via trade.

Carson DFA'd again before even throwing a pitch for the Bucs.

Well those are our 3 options, so hopefully one of them can eat up 6 or so starts the rest of the season.

LOL! Yasmani Grandal accumulated more fWAR in the 2019 season than Saltalamacchio did in his entire career. This is an awful take.

Would have been nice if we saw it last night when he watched a hanging slider right down broadway on a 3-1 count and then swung through the same pitch to end the game.

The people ripping on Grandal crack me up. This is basically who he is. He's not that far off from his career numbers and like 4-5 days ago his slash line was basically identical to his career slash line. He's a catcher, and an elite one. He's not going to hit .300. He's an unbelievably good fit for this roster in terms of OBP and lineup balance, and is easily a top 2 catcher in the game. Stop complaining. James McCann has been really good this year when he's gotten the opportunity to play, much like he was the first half of next year. I'd love to keep him around past 2020, but chances of him wanting to resign to be in 30/70 or so timeshase with one of the best catchers in the league is doubtful. Its not that hard to figure out.

Me thinks a lot of dudes are going to want to be White Sox this offseason. Hopefully Jerry is willing to spend a little cash.

I've mentioned that before here. I see no reason not to try. I am sure he would be better than Eloy in the OF.

I think Detwiler only facing one batter had more to do with the fact that if he came back out, he would have had to face Sano as the 2nd batter of Detwiler's 2nd inning of work (3rd batter overall). With the 3 batter minimum (or finish an inning) rule, I actually think that move made sense.

I know, but obviously this isn't a normal year. And isn't that only for external guys? Like if you sign a FA September 2nd, he wouldn't be eligible. But a guy already on your 40 man would be, right?