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Getting past the ridiculous "hate" speech, again if you are looking at 2026, stuff doesn't typically fully come back until the year after a pitchers return from TJS, which makes that 2027, and for many it never comes back fully. Again the window of being good in MLB is so narrow when you don't have a plus fastball, and Thorpe is way below average in terms of velocity. His control has to be about perfect, and it wasn't while he was here, even before his injury, that is unless the Sox pitched him nine game with an injured ligament, because his stuff is pretty narrowly consistent across his starts. Dude has some of the best velocity of this season on his cutter and change in his last start. His 4 seamer was in the upper middle of his starts, and his slider was also in the middle of his velocities.

I think a lot of Chicago sports fans felt it start to move a little bit over the last few days

What in the f***? Thorpe was a consensus top 70 prospect prior to TJS. And Burke struck out over 12 per 9 in final 10 appearances last year. Apparently he was fooling plenty of people during that stretch.

Median outcome may be #4 starters, but I think both Thorpe & Burke have higher ceilings than that. I can’t really comment on Kay, but regardless, my main point is it’s ridiculous to say these guys all “stink”.

Rest of year wasn’t any better for Burke vs. his first few starts? First 10: 6.19 K/9 | 5.06 BB/9 | 1.69 HR/9 | 6.14 FIP Middle 8: 8.59 K/9 | 2.86 BB/9 | 1.43 HR/9 | 4.32 FIP Last 10: 12.33 K/9 | 4.68 BB/9 | 1.49 K/9 | 4.17 FIP He flashed much better control during his middle eights starts along with a better K rate and then really ramped the K rate down the stretch. While the consistency wasn’t there, he flashed significant improvement as the year progressed. I really have no idea what you are talking about in regard to him. I have no idea what Kay is or will be, but he’s a mystery box that Bannister had a lot to do with and hopefully that means he won’t stink at minimum. Anyone saying otherwise without having scouted him in Japan is legit full of s%*#. The Thorpe hate is just straight bizarre to me. People on this site have basically declared he sucks because of lacking 4 seamer velocity and a couple of bad starts during his initial cup of coffee when he was clearly injured. Regardless, this is a kid with a 70 grade change up and 70 grade command who generated extremely weak contact in the minors. If his velocity jumps up a tick post TJS, this is a kid I believe can become a quality #3 starter.

Amen to that.

Thats pretty cool. I didnt know that's been going on for 50 years in Japan.

This pitcher throws 105MPH and has a titanium UCL...and is a lifelong White Sox fan and will take a discount to come here.....can he play shorstop? Is he a grinder....Getz...yes...yes he is. In fact....100 out of 100 of his comps are David Eckstein.

The Chiefs have announced that they are moving across state lines and into a new domed stadium and mixed-use district on the Kansas side of the KC metro area. It'll be in Kansas City, Kansas. There is currently a speedway, a casino, and a shopping mall at that location. https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/live-updates-kansas-officials-set-to-review-financing-plan-for-chiefs-stadium The Chiefs have been at Arrowhead Stadium since 1972, just about as long as the Bears have been at Soldier Field (1971).

That's been the criticism of the current Sox stadium for 35 years. That's why there are 3 luxury levels before you even get to row 1 of the upper deck at Rate Field. A new Sox stadium would almost certainly not have a 21 row hike to upper deck seats.

Was thinking the same when I saw this earlier

This honestly isn't a terrible add. He has solid K% & BB% at AAA, steals a crap ton of SB's too. Better than many of the stiffs they've had stashed in Charlotte last few years.

Whatever Getz needed to do to get this signing through.

Burke was about a league average pitcher last year, but his Baseball Savant page is pretty mediocre - only his extension measures as a plus. He's average to below average in everything else. He's probably a #4, #5 or long reliever best case, unless he suddenly adds a great pitch or adds 3-4 mph on his average fastball. I think people are hopeful Kay can continue the Fedde type success, but I'd guess he'll be closer to what Fedde is now (i.e. a 5.something FIP). If we can catch some lightning in the bottle due to lack of familiarity with his pitch changes and turn him into a prospect or two at the deadline I think that's best case scenario. Doubt most teams are going to fall for that though. Maybe he'll turn into a decent bullpen option. Thorpe I have more hope for, as he absolutely dominated the minor leagues. Yeah, the list of guys who washed out/went to the bullpen with stellar MiLB numbers is long, but I think it's worth giving him some time to see if that changeup can carry the rest of his stuff, and what stuff improvements he can make (if any). I would agree that 2026 is likely not good for him, though.

For Burke and Kay I think their ceilings are #4's. Thorpe obviously has a weirdly high ceiling, but he HAS to be pinpoint in his control for it to happen, and so far he hadn't been able to do that. Add to that this being his first full year off of TJS, and I wouldn't look for much from him at least this year.

For Burke and Kay I think their ceilings are #4's. Thorpe obviously has a weirdly high ceiling, but he HAS to be pinpoint in his control for it to happen, and so far he hadn't been able to do that. Add to that this being his first full year off of TJS, and I wouldn't look for much from him at least this year. EDIT: Best case scenario isn't really those three, but Dutch and Smith coming back towards their ceilings and pitching like front end guys. Those are the two who can front a rotation, not the other three.

This should tell you how far behind the pen is, not isn't. We have one guy who might be a back end, if everything goes right (last year it did not) shut down guy, and none who are really the classic 7th/8th inning guys and definitely no big time lefty shutdown arms. Vasil seems to be a bridge guy who covers innings in the middle. Leasure is a middle guy. Maybe we get the big arm out of the one Rule 5 guy who can bring it, but the odds are pretty small there too.

You're much higher on them than me/baseball then IMO. The median 3 year outcome for all of those pitchers is being out of MLB baseball. Kay has literally already been out of MLB. Thorpe had a very very thin line with his velocity. He has an elite pitch though, so maybe he has a shot to stick in the pen. Burke doesn't fool anyone.

No Jerry, that is Japanese for David Eckstein.

Yes it has nothing to do with how many games the pen has given away. It has to be something else.

clown ass article and a perfect example of why legacy media is dying. You get better analysis here in one page of this thread of random sox fans.

I am happy to read this. Murakami will learn that Sox fans have a special place in their heart for players that choose them. I hope it works out for both of us, but if he struggles I’ll still have this dudes back. edit: d’oh “read this” meaning all of his comments and the responses.

I agree it is not necessary, but the owners are going to do it anyway in a bizarre attempt for the nth time to try to get a salary cap. It will work out just like all the other times too!

Is that a fact? WihteSoxDave is not enough proof in my opinion.

Even if you want to dream big on the positional side, there’s just not remotely enough pitching for an actual run.