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Imagine stealing signs from the 2017 White Sox.

This is nothing new really; this culture has been building and intensifying since Luhnow took over. I loved Stras calling them out in the World Series - he said he was "tipping" but in reality he was calling the Astros on what a lot of baseball feels. Stealing signs legally is fine and a part of the game - using home field electronics is trashy and cheating. Period.

I'm not at all a huge fan of Hahn & Co. and the drafting they've done, but at the end of the day they're 2nd round picks in baseball. How many teams actually make a killing drafting in the 2nd round? Here are a few examples of some teams that everyone considers to have exceptional scouting, especially compared to the Sox: Astros Last 10 2nd Rd Picks: 2012: Nolan Fotana 2013: Andrew Thurman 2014: A.J. Reed 2015: Tom Eshelman 2016: Ronnie Dawson 2017: Joe Perez/Corbin Martin/J.J. Matijevic 2018: Jayson Shroeder 2019: Grae Kessinger Rays Last 10 2nd Rd Picks: 2013: Riley Unroe 2014: Brent Honeywell Jr./Cameron Varga 2015: Chris Betts 2016: Jake Fraley /Ryan Boldt 2017: Michael Mercado 2018: Tanner Dodson/Tyler Frank 2019: John Doxakis Twins Last 10 2nd Rd Picks: 2012: J.T. Chargois/Mason Meoltakis 2013: Ryan Eades 2014: Nick Burdi 2015: Kyle Cody 2016: Akil Baddoo/Jose Miranda/Joe Rortvedt 2017: Landon Leach 2018: Ryan Jeffers 2019: Matt Canterino A's Last 10 2nd Rd Picks: 2012: Nolan Sanburn/Bruce Maxwell 2013: Chad Pinder/Dillon Overton 2014: Daniel Gossett 2015: Mikey White 2016: Logan Shore 2017: Greg Deichmann 2018: Jeremy Eierman/Jameson Hannah 2019: Tyler Baum Dodgers Last 10 2nd Rd Picks: 2011: Alex Santana 2012: Paco Rodriguez 2013: Tom Windle 2014: Alex Verdugo 2015: Josh Sborz/Mitchell Hansen 2016: Mitchell White 2017: Morgan Cooper 2018: Michael Grove 2019: Jimmy Lewis

“Bunt? Again? They must be on to us, no one can be this stupid”

I mean their OPS was worse at home than on the road, so while it's shitty, I don't think there's a need to go that scorched earth

There is nothing wrong with "stealing" signs from 2B or picking up something from the 3B coach. Having a CF camera focused on the opposing teams catcher, watching the feed in the tunnel and then relaying the signs is hilariously bad.

👀

That's wild. They should have to give us Alex Bregman now. It's only fair.

If you review that season and find consistent proof of this cheating both during the regular season and throughout the playoffs, their championship should be vacated, imo. If I'm a team with a strong roster and we can pick up 10-15 home wins by literally filming signs and relaying to hitters, and the only punishment is losing a few draft picks, sign me up!

Proud of them for not attacking the people who reported it this time at least.

Posted to Ken Rosenthal's twitter a half hour ago, the Astros released a statement that follows: "Regarding the story posted by The Athletic earlier today, the Houston Astros organization has begun an investigation in cooperation with Major League Baseball. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time." I can imagine the Astros will release a statement saying "We have investigated ourselves and determined that we have done nothing wrong."

One of the many reasons why I was rooting for the Nationals in that World Series. And yea Farquhar is a fucking gem. Outstanding job by the Sox bringing him back to the organization.

He's awesome. Really glad he was hired.

We know Nightengale can get chatter from agents and other teams too right? It all doesn't come from the White Sox.

I would also say using electronics to notice pitch tipping in game is cheating. I wouldn't be shocked if the Astros were doing this with all their access to technology.

Farquhar is a super smart dude, and the Astros are really outing themselves as an uber gross organization.

It depends on which of his two teams you are referring to. He gets an A for helping to build the Padres and a C- for his overall work with the White Sox.

Giolito lived up in the zone with his four seamer - as did Reylo. The Sox certainly are not sinker driven, lesser velocity, believers. That plan seemed to he individualized for Sale, and rightfully so as his arm hasnt held up since his full on drive towards maximizing velocity in boston.

Option 1.

How revealing is that? post of the year. edit: who are you? Stay a while.

I'm reaching out to peavy44 to see what he has heard this offseason

In the spirit of extreme optimism, let's address the issue of where to play Moncada, if the Sox can acquire Rendon. Some have vehemently resisted the idea of moving him to a new position, yet again. If it's true that Moncada has already stated his willingness to play the OF, I really don't see the problem. Not only would it make room for both Rendon at third and Madrigal at second, but it would fill the hole in RF. Yoan has the speed and athleticism to become an outstanding defensive right fielder. He also has a good enough arm for the position. I have heard some concerns about his past issues with hamstrings, but I'm not qualified to comment on that factor. If the Sox could acquire Rendon, that would only leave one more regular position to fill. Signing either Moose, or Grandal to rotate between first, DH and catcher, would fill the need for a left handed bat and complete the roster, for position players. Therefore, I don't agree with the suggestion of moving Moncada back to second. Madrigal will likely be a Gold Glove caliber defender, as soon as he joins the team and even if he were to start slowly, as a hitter, the Sox could easily hide his bat, with all of that thunder in the line up. That would leave the rotation, as the only remaining need for at least one more addition.

I will not fall into the trap again and be disappointed when the team falls woefully short. Rendon won't be a White Sox.

Perhaps you’re not familiar with the word “seemingly”?

I would rather pay a great player like Rendon than get cute and force someone like Castellenos or someone else as a DH. I hate moving Moncada but reality is I want more elite players and Rendon is that.

Look who's back.

Let’s hope! After all, Jose is the team leader in the clubhouse for a reason. The more players the Sox have who comport themselves the way Jose has all these years, with his work ethic and positive attitude, the better the team’s chances.

Ozuna doesn't have much experience in RF as you might think. He could be an adventure out there. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ozunama01.shtml

I’ve actually liked what Hahn has been saying today, but I would have avoided commenting on Jerry as wanting to win is meaningless if he’s only willing to offer free agents 80% of what other teams are.

Could have done without the metaphor tbh

If it's like other sports, the loser does not become the winner when the winner vacates. There just isn't a winner.

Cool cool glad to hear it

Shocking that a young player would not want to be relegated to DH. I'm shocked.

The Astros are the MLB version of the Patriots.

Abreu must be rubbing off on him.

Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez both average >95 mph and didn't throw one single cutter. Stop pushing this like it's uniform fact.

He said it was possible

Both would be home runs, but at least with #2 it seems "somewhat" realistic. Replace Hamels with say Alex Wood and Will Smith with say Chris Martin, and maybe you have something that could actually happen. 2020 payroll would be in the $130M range in that scenario.

People really overvalue these draft picks. The odds a second round pick becomes anything close to an impact big leaguer is slim.

Great post.

That last part, obviously, is the whole ballgame, and Hahn was the first to say, when Manny Machado opted to spend the next decade in San Diego rather than on the South Side, that it doesn't matter how close the White Sox got. They didn't get the player, and that counted as a loss. Hahn also said, though, that all this would happen again, that the White Sox would remain aggressive in their pursuit of top talent. "(Losing out on Machado) does not change the fact that we are going to once again be in this market when the time is right and hopefully, at that time, convert," Hahn said the day Machado picked the Padres over the White Sox. "The money will be spent. It might not be spent this offseason, but it will be spent at some point. This isn't money sitting around waiting to just accumulate interest. It's money trying to be deployed to put us in best position to win some championships." https://www.yahoo.com/sports/where-theres-smoke-theres-fire-005040933.html

I'm never watching baseball again if Matt Boyd gets traded. Period.

Wake me up when it’s April

It’s going to be tougher this offseason to land a big fish with so many teams in the mix......that’s why landing Machado last offseason was critical

I'm most intrigued by Jirschele and everyone thinks Vizquel is heir apparent. So I guess Grudzilanek is least interesting of the 3 primary managers I was thinking about. However...a 15 year major leaguer probably understands the game pretty well. It seems everytime we send a player down to AAA they come back playing a little better.

I like Getz. I actually like all the minor league managers as well.

"Lock him up."