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I love Harold Baines, and I would certainly take a selfie in front of his plaque on my next trip, but he is not a Hall-of-Famer. Also, Ron Santo should have been selected during his living lifetime, as well as Dick Allen. It's like there were guys with a bone to pick.

I think he immediately slotted in as their #9 prospect on MLB.com.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/articles/aaron-judge-sends-message-bryce-183652735.html

Fwiw, Gio is in Chicago right now training at UIC. I think his partner is from the Chicagoland area.

Yep, and if you push out towards a not abnormal 18 months, this year is completely lost. No idea where they are, because no one has said.

There's no need to have someone creating content if you go back to 2000-2012. Winning and success will make for a much more divergent and lively message board. Heck, lots of Japanese fans might want to interact with the White Sox somehow now. This board could even make money and draw Japanese advertising and marketing. Just contact Japanese White Sox scout Satoshi Takahasi. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Satoshi_Takahashi_(03) Interview him, interview Tadahito and ask how SoxTalk can reach out to young fans across Japan and through TikTok. Engagement should flow in all directions from the Murakami signing.

Worth mentioning that the 2 TJ surgery guys from the Reds (not saying I want them necessarily but since they’ve been talked about) had their surgeries in September and October 2024 so they should be good to go in Spring Training even assuming 14-month recovery. As for White Sox TJ surgeries, Bush and Thorpe had theirs Feb and March 25 so they may be 60-day IL guys to open the year (open 40-man spots), depending on their progress. I haven’t seen any updates on either in a while but just tossing that out there.

If I remember correctly, FanGraphs subtracts risk from their ratings. So a High school pitcher is almost automatically high or very high risk so if a 60FV max they subtract 10-15 due to the risk. So Schultz and Smith probably had their risk go up after tough years and get dinged relative to guys who performed well.

Very good context. There's a lot of managing innings with young starting pitching. If you make some of these arguments fans vs. pitching coach , the fan gets blown out of the water .

I agree with moving him now instead of waiting so that’s good to hear.

It seems like he actually moves this time. Not sure how quickly.

Have you heard anything from your sources about Robert? Besides the stuff that’s been reported on the last couple of days.

Where is it insinuated that Cubs are out? I think they're the favorites.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/reaction-munetaka-murakami-lesson-white-230127540.html "You have to spend money to make money" According to Drotto.com, the average primary-market ticket price was $54 (and much higher on the secondary market). That number might even be conservative, but let’s take it at face value. Multiply $54 by the number of tickets sold at Dodger Stadium in 2025, and you’re looking at over $216.6 million in ticket revenue alone. That’s more than two-thirds of the Dodgers’ payroll, which sat around $338 million in 2025—and that’s just ticket sales. No TV revenue. No jersey sales. No parking. No food. No beer. No postseason home games during yet another World Series run. Sometimes, in the baseball business, you have to spend money to make money. https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1imot2w/npb_yakults_munetaka_murakami_has_been_making/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjn5qyenNaRAxVdmmoFHTpaA6cQFnoECAUQAg&usg=AOvVaw3FFDvLqZLILgC8GxmZ-pD3 Donaiya baseball gloves switch from Mizuno https://www.amazon.com/Munetaka-Murakami-Swallows-Japanese-Heavyweight/dp/B0FQPFJD79 https://www.sportsworldchicago.com/munetaka-murakami-chicago-white-sox-alternate-jersey-by-nike/%3Fsrsltid%3DAfmBOoqxeO395j-2FQvSUAWOV5uRQQYdWxnPTgC73OhEEbMAArfFkAtD&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjMpqaxntaRAxV0cDwKHROqOP0QFnoECAQQAg&usg=AOvVaw2AhdxIxgq4PIqXD8Lyk4m4 "Within 48 hours of his No. 17 Dodgers jersey going on sale through Fanatics, it became the best-selling sports jersey in history, surpassing Lionel Messi. A massive contract? Absolutely. Worth every penny? Without question. Some owners understand this. Others simply don’t."

"Prior to signing Ohtani, the Dodgers hired Lorenzo Sciarrino as their senior vice president of global partnerships. The role called for Sciarrino to lead the team’s global sponsorship department, supervising and engineering franchise partnerships with businesses domestically and internationally. With Ohtani in the fold, Sciarrino’s job was surely made easier as numerous partnership deals were announced early in the year. This included deals with All Nippon Airways, Kinoshita Group, Tsukiji Gindaco (concessions/food/catering), AFEELA, Yakult (milk products), THK, Kosé Corporation (cosmetics/skincare), Daiso, Kowa Company, Ltd. (beverages), and Toyo Tires, among others." New Balance/Gatorade https://dodgerblue.com/dodgers-added-70-million-in-sponsorship-revenue-after-signing-shohei-ohtani/2025/01/10/ Kinoshita Group is a prominent Japanese conglomerate involved in construction, real estate, healthcare, and notably, a wide range of arts and sports sponsorships, including major tennis tournaments (Japan Open), figure skating events (Kinoshita Group Cup), film production, and supporting ballet companies like the Paris Opera Ballet and The Royal Ballet School. https://m.yelp.com/biz/tsukiji-gindaco-los-angeles&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiyxNTxmtaRAxU1mWoFHaJbHAoQFnoECAIQAg&usg=AOvVaw0my4Rratp89Rw0Ca9tFaKB Afeela is the brand name for a new electric vehicle (EV) from Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture combining Sony's tech/entertainment with Honda's auto engineering, aiming for a "mobility partner" experience. Another day, yet another Japanese corporate marketing agreement with the Dodgers, this time with Tokyo-based machine parts manufacturer THK. https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-los-angeles-dodgers-and-daiso-enter-into-multi-year-partnership&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiX6K7Bm9aRAxU8nSYFHfCXCcYQFnoECA4QAg&usg=AOvVaw2435eZRFe8ff7fALiBzDHb https://www.bevnet.com/news/2025/kowa-builds-u-s-beverage-lineup-with-shohei-ohtani/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj0jcrYm9aRAxVXkmoFHf53LPcQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw2QdXWJxPey6IUBM_6n6K0-

The media added, "No player generates as much advertising revenue as Ohtani ($100 million). According to Sportico's rankings, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies recorded the second-highest advertising revenue after Ohtani, but that amount is only $10 million (14.7 billion won)." This is a tenfold difference. Harper is also a superstar representing Major League Baseball, but it has been reaffirmed that Ohtani is the "superstar among superstars." The Tokyo opening series was, quite literally, a stage for Ohtani, by Ohtani, and for Ohtani. As Edman mentioned earlier, billboards featuring Ohtani's face could be seen anywhere, and Japanese fans, without exception, purchased and wore Ohtani's jersey as well as the Dodgers' blue merchandise. According to the American economic magazine Forbes, the Dodgers earned $70 million in new sponsorship revenue thanks to Ohtani last year. Furthermore, Ohtani personally has been earning extra money by filming over 20 advertisements across various industries. This is the Ohtani effect that always exceeds expectations." https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-sports/2025/03/21/MLO53JMFZJDTLF4MOXF2PLFZHE/

There aren’t a ton of options remaining in free agency. The Cards could kick the tires on a one-year deal for Miguel Andujar or Austin Hays, each of whom is coming off a big season with the platoon advantage. Old friend Tommy Pham is coming off a middling season against lefties but carries a .261/.368/.434 line in those situations over his career. Chas McCormick hasn’t hit in either of the past two years. He has a 20-homer season with a .273/.353/.489 showing in 2023 on his résumé. The Cardinals could also look into a switch-hitting utility option like Willi Castro or Luis Rengifo. mlbtraderumors.com

The White Sox have signed left-handed reliever Sean Newcomb to a one-year, $4.5 million contract. Newcomb found his footing in a relief role last season, posting a 2.73 ERA between the Red Sox and Athletics, including a 1.18 ERA from June 18 onward, but he is reportedly expected to at least have the chance to transition back into a starter. yahoosports.com

20% share in club split between groups $500 million in overhanging debt gone, poof...like magic

This guy will take Chicago by storm. The White Sox finally make a move that figures to show in the standings and the stands. Finally some activity on the south side.

“Rather than explain my swing, I would like for you to see my swing once the season starts,” he said. "I’ve been relentless working to tinker my swing to the U.S.” Murakami will become the the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan. Murakami said he has connected with other Japanese players about their adjustment to the majors. That includes outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-hander Shota Imanaga of the crosstown Cubs." https://japantoday.com/category/sports/white-sox-expect-japanese-slugger-munetaka-murakami-to-make-quick-impact-and-put-up-big-numbers Also, Rafael Devers might be a better comp than Schwarber in terms of swing and miss in the strike zone. "Gone are the days of having $25 million to spend and splitting it between Leury Garcia, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, and Josh Harrison. Fans have been begging for even limited budgets to be allocated to higher-impact players like Murakami, considering that the former approach typically yields low (or negative) returns and replacement-level production. Even if the White Sox do not make more significant signings after Murakami and Anthony Kay, most fans would prefer this approach to the alternative." https://www.soxon35th.com/3-takeaways-from-the-munetaka-murakami-signing/ We shall see, lol.

The Twins have announced 3 new limited partners in their ownership group. Tom Pohlad is also taking over day-to-day operations of the ballclub from his brother. https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-ownership-group-welcomes-new-limited-partners

"They’re a long way off from spending to the levels of franchises like the Dodgers, Yankees and Mets, but the Pirates are being a little less miserly ahead of the 2026 season. With hopes of maximizing their window with Cy Young winner Paul Skenes on the mound, Pittsburgh has acquired outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe via trade and signed reliever Gregory Soto to a one-year deal. In perhaps the most significant sign that the Pirates are ready to contend in the NL Central, Pittsburgh is signing former Orioles designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal. The deal is far from the kind of eye-popping contract that those aforementioned franchises throw out each season, but it represents an important step forward for a franchise that has scant looked interested in serious contention at the ownership level. As noted by the Tribune-Review, this is the first multiyear deal that Pittsburgh has given out in free agency since 2016." www.si.com