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That's the most terrifying thought ever....

If you are looking for something to argue about, I doubt you will get any takers to argue the pro-Manfred side

Statcast xwOBA for Moncada: 2018: .302 2019: .362 Statcast has Moncada’s xBABIP at 0.383 Interesting that it differs so much from Fangraphs' formula, but to say he hardly improved at all from 2018 seems like quite the hot take.

This will be the first time since 2006 that I start a spring training in championship mode. Not for this year, but for the team in general. Also, the first time in a decade plus that I am confident about a shot at the playoffs. Time to enjoy cheering for wins and not draft positioning.

While unlikely, if Basabe were to get close to his ceiling, he'd absolutely be a 5-tool player. Sin duda, dude. But the minor leagues are littered with a metric ton of outstanding athletes who max out in AAA (or AAAA) precisely because the promise of getting close to the "hit tool" ceiling never materializes for them. In fairness, it's often said that hitting high-end pitching is the hardest thing to do in all of sports. Some of my favorite Sox 'spects and young major leaguers over the years were these POTENTIAL 5-tool players because you could dream on what they'd become IF (the elusive "IF") they put it all together. I'm thinking of guys like Buddy Bradford, Johnny ("The Jet") Jeter, Ken Henderson, and, more recently, good old Brian Anderson. This is undoubtedly the year we see what we have with Basabe. I'm more interested in Basabe (as a potential 5-tool guy) and Adolfo for the extreme upside in power (and that gun of his) than I am in Rutherford or Gonzalez. The latter two could put it all together, but their ceiling is likely journeymen or 4th OF'ers (asterisk goes to Rutherford if the newly added muscle and a possible launch angle change unlocks any power). Nothing wrong with their profiles, but all teams have guys like this. You can find them in virtually any trade. I want to know more about the loud tools of Basabe and Adolfo before I give up on them. And, for both, this is probably the year they have to actually show something. Good discussion, guys! White Sox baseball 2020 coming up soon! Praise the Lord (of your choice)!

I'd like to see him come out and command a fastball at 93-95mph for 6 innings.

IMHO, any player who wore a buzzer to cheat, especially in the playoffs, should not be playing mlb in 2020. I was impressed by Ken Rosenthal sensing that something unusual was going on in real time and asking Altuve right after the game why he did not want his jersey taken off.

Justin Turner tore Manfred to pieces today over Manfred's "piece of metal" comment. He said "only thing wrong with the trophy is it had the commissioner's name on it."

Don't say that... They'll yell at you!

Fuck the astros

What should we argue about?

Perfect Game after engagement.

Not a chance unless Encarnacion gets injured and they ignore Collins. Even then i'd be skeptical. After all they didn't bring him up last year when it meant nothing.and gave AB's to Castillo and Yolmer even though we all agreed they were out the door after the season while not giving more AB's to Mendick and Collins.

Regardless, down for a very fast 16 year old.

Sorry to hear brother. Condolences to you and the family.

Game 2 alds 05. When iguchi hit the three run bomb to take the lead I never felt a stadium shake like that. Slightly terrifying.

I hope he makes the 26.

It's in my signature. Clinching game in Anaheim to win the pennant in 05. I put that signature before the game and as you can see I was very confident that it would be the clinching game. After losing game 1 Game 2 was the AJ controversial call. 2 outs in the 9th AJ reaches on the infamous play. Ozuna pinch runs and steals 2nd and Crede, down 0-2 in the count, ropes one into the LF corner for the walk off series tying hit. Who knows what the out come of that series becomes if the Sox were down 0-2. In game 5 Crede hits the game tying HR in the 7th. Then with 2 outs in the 8th on a 2 out, 3-2 pitch ,Crede hits a grounder behind 2nd base and Rowand scores from 2nd . Contreras goes the distance for the Sox 4th straight complete game. Best rally Crede's ever !

The author has every right to question the output of Mercedes especially since the Sox didn't pay $50M for him or draft him high. He still has plenty of obstacles in his way to ever getting ML AB's , I sometimes get annoyed that everyone wants great production but when we get it then it's analyzed on how sustainable it is, It's like he isn't producing he sucks . Then he's producing but all these numbers say its unsustainable or it isn't what he's shown in the past. I always kind of take the whole development isn't linear concept to heart and just want to believe it's real development and just enjoy it for a bit. We all get it. No matter how well he hits he cant play D very well and he's 26 so no will put him in the Sox top 30 prospects. I'm rooting for the kid to get a shot somewhere sometime. It was a huge accomplishment just to get to the 40.I'm no exception to liking the underdog; it's nice to know he seems popular with Sox fans. He's bashed his way into our consciousness and maybe he can stay there for a little while longer. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/yermin-mercedes-is-the-feel-good-story-of-the-40-man-roster-deadline/

I just found it on BR. august 5th 2000 hurt smashes a walkoff double to left center and Valentin scores from first. Place went crazy. I was 15 and my neighbor had tickets like 20 rows behind home plate. Anybody else remember that game? how do you find old video or newspaper articles?

Sorry to hear, lost

I get what you're saying, but I don't think he's earned it yet. I don't see any harm in letting him start 2020 in Birmingham. He was terrible for most of last season. I know he was hurt, but I'd give him a month to build confidence and promote him after that. You currently have Palka, Delmonico, Brugman, Hernandez, and possibly Booker as your Charlotte OF right now - with probably one guy released entirely before the season starts. That's a whole roster worth of AAAA players that should be forced out when guys prove they are ready for the next step and can actually serve as depth for the MLB team. Totally my opinion, but I just don't see much from Basabe in the stat lines that says otherwise.

Sure, Jon. That's why BoSox gave him up as the third player in the trade. 5 Tool.

Okay him too.

Seriously.

He is right from a physical standpoint.

There’s only upside having someone named Gorkys on your team.

Oh, I have one! Why do so many people talk about Luis Robert as a "future leadoff man." Just because he is fast?!? He doesn't walk much and strikes out a lot. He definitely shouldn't be leadoff early in his career until he shows he can hit breaking balls, but even final form Robert makes no sense at leadoff. His OBP won't be ideal unless he is hitting well over .300, and if he is doing that he is going to be smashing 40 home runs a season. Even if you don't care about walks, Tim Anderson is also fast as hell AND he already proved he can get on base with BA alone by winning the batting crown this year. He isn't my choice (I want Grandal) but I think TA is at least a logical choice to lead off. Putting Robert there is just a waste.

Fulmer "not focused, thinking about that girl at the bar" Rodon feeling depressed and missing his Arkansas February wild boar hunt. Jake Burger in the "best COD shape of his life" looking to add a burrito microwaving game to his NEET repertoire after earlier mastering pissing in a Dew bottle.

Anything to get people off the Astros for five minutes

Nothing beats the "I'm in the best shape of my life" quotes.

LOL

cool keep us updated.

I get that people want to get paid, and they put a lot of effort into this stuff. I can't support them, so I don't. I already spend enough money on sports content and I have to draw the line somewhere.

Not always true indeed. But odds are if you crush a baseball consistently you are more likely to achieve success. Just like a pitcher who throws 98 to 100 has a better chance to succeed than one who throw 88 to 90. Every case won't work this way, but odds are odds.

When his TJS was announced it legit sent me into a deep depression.

Regardless, it seems like CWS could be signing a haul this July which would be tremendous

Shields is a FA still. We could still tilt this out way.

Shields/Tatis

Heh.. Yu.

Best of luck to Steele Walker as well, good kid

Nah, the buster should not return. No Filibuster means less people getting put on vacation on here. There were too many assumptions made about people when discussing controversial issues in the buster. As somebody who went against more liberal opinions on matters 90 percent of the time, I got accused of many bad character traits when nobody had the right to judge me off opinions on a message board. As far as jobs ... allegedly unemployment is down and there should be some good jobs out there to be had.

Early reports this spring look positive for Rutherford. That would be huge because no Sox left-handed hitters ever seem to develop.

Just thinking of this makes me remember how much 2018 sucked. Giolito was the worst pitcher in baseball. Moncada was underperforming. Then Kopech comes up and all of baseball media is watching. We get two innings. Then the next start he’s blown out, his fastball is weirdly low and suddenly he’s gone for TJS. Eloy was the thing keeping it all afloat. 2019 everything just flipped on it’s head in the best way. But I think I still have worst case scenario 2018 thoughts around kopech, fun to think about how he could come up and shove.

Stone said nothing wrong. He said the game teaches life lessons and Anderson just added that there could be a ton of black kids who can play it at a high level if given the financial resources.

If he’s willing to sign an extension, bat him wherever the fuck he wants.

Maybe that will make the Reds want Carson Fulmer.