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I disagree. He usually tells fanbases how they need to pay him more attention in social media and "step their game up" with the amount of attention and begging for him to come to their teams. He even complained about one of the fanbases that they went almost a whole day without courting him. I'm shocked at how many people still don't realize Bauer is a giant douchebag. My favorite is when he plays victim talking about being bullied as a kid, and so now he bullies others to inspire kids that get bullied that they too can one day have a big enough platform to become the bully and not the bullied. He sucks.

Dude you were banned from here two decades ago and have tried a million times to sneak back in and were done a favor to be let back on here. Please.

Uh, no. It is relevant baseball talk. You aren't going to censor it just because you don't like it. If we haven’t censored any of the other stuff over the years, this won't be the first.

Can you please stop polluting every thread with constant TLR whining? As an admin / mod, you of all people should be held to a higher standard and it’s starting to get ridiculous. Most of us are in agreement the hiring sucks, but at the very minimum let’s keep attacks against La Russa in relevant threads so the actual baseball discussion doesn’t have to suffer.

Waiting for @maloney.adam to post some garbage from Al's Hot Dog or whatever. Those fake rumors will get everyone hyped up!!

It's like bizarro Caulfield - he named 18 players and managed to misspell 6 of them.

Depends how you weight career value vs peak. No one alive has seen a better pitcher on the White Sox than Chris Sale, but obviously Buehrle had a "better" career with the Sox.

Thank god somebody else sees this and feels this way. I would welcome him to the team, because talent is awesome, but the dude is a grade A creepy douchebag.

I submitted a question for Merkin’s mailbox and he answered it. Are the White Sox still targeting Liam Hendriks? -- @LandoJQuintana The White Sox are interested in one of the game’s top closers, and it’s more than just passing interest. But they aren’t the only Major League team looking at Hendriks. It’s also not an all-or-nothing pursuit of Hendriks in terms of the White Sox adding another late-inning, high-leverage reliever. • All the latest Hendriks rumors There seems to be interest on Hendriks’ part as well, even looking back at his postgame comments concerning the White Sox after the then-Oakland right-hander finished them off in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. Adding another quality reliever is an important move for the White Sox. One of the worst things for a team trying to go beyond contention and win it all is to suffer those momentum-changing late-inning setbacks. While the White Sox have very good bullpen arms already in place, there’s never enough.

I wonder what the mood is at the office. Pressure to do something? Patience? Thinking and rethinking? Come in scan the newspapers to see if Tony's ok, check for an email from Liam's agent, figure out what's happening for lunch. Discuss if JR liked his Hanukkah gift, thinking about what to get Kenny for Christmas. Take bets on the new name for Cleveland's baseball team. b**** about the cold and when it's going to snow. Scan Soxtalk for advice.

Also, if this turns into a Buehrle thread, I need to share one of my favorite articles ever: The Curious Case of Mark Buehrle It's essentially a breakdown of how Mark was able to defy every single bit of conventional wisdom when it came to pitching. These two paragraphs are a fun nugget.

Nobody cares about your racist agenda. You want to bring up my bannings? last time i was banned it was LITERALLY because i said if i can not speak my mind, just ban me. And i was banned. Interesting. Hypocrisy at the greatest level. "All inclusive" though right?

This is one of the most egotistical & delusional posts I have read in some time. I can only laugh that someone wrote these words and actually believes them. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but not everything is about you. I don’t want the La Russa commentary to go away, I just don’t want it in every single thread. Tony should continue to be held accountable for his shitty actions, but the board should also be free an admin getting to derail every thread with his non stop La Russa jabs. I know for a fact I’m not alone in feeling that way and all I’m asking is for us you to keep your TLR commentary in related threads. I don’t know why that’s such a hard ask, especially when the site owner specifically asked for as much. And lol at me being upset at your “protest”. Me saying that you were being single-minded in your efforts, putting your own moral compass above all other considerations, doesn’t mean I was angry about it. I even acknowledged your heart was in the right place, I simply didn’t agree with your approach which could of had consequences for innocent parties. Not everything is black & white and that was my argument. All that being said, not sure why I’m rehashing this since you actually believe your “protest” was somehow about saving lives...as if La Russa would magically stop driving drunk if not managing the Sox. You are clearly a smart guy, but you’ve completely lost your mind with this La Russa stuff.

I wouldn't deal Kopech for him 1 for 1. That would only increase the MLB talent level for 2 months and the Sox would lose 2 years of control for it.

I swear anytime anyone is rumored to come available everyone wets their pants and wants to trade our top prospects.

I look at all sports as entertainment. I have been a White Sox fan since I was a kid. I like to look for info on my team. When politics came into the NFL I stopped watching. Last NBA season when politics became bigger than the game I stopped watching. I just watch college Basketball now. Look the only thing that Obama and I have in common is the White Sox. That’s Cool! So keep your politics and complaining to yourself. Look for a more positive way to support your team. Be Happy.

So it banning someone who doesn't understand how to interact in this community, so I am not quite sure you are the one to be trying teach a lesson on not doing things that are annoying.

I'm curious how your heroic campaign to email the Sox sponsors about TLR went? LOL

Randy Johnson without hesitation.

I'm calling shenanigans on this. SS2K5 is not the only culprit of this, and I don't think he derails threads hard with it (like some others do). If his posting managed to keep you from registering, then I apologize to SS2K5. Keep up the good work.

Dude your constant Larussa hate alone kept me from signing up for weeks. Its annoying as hell. Makes me not want to come here.

I guess the wildcard here is what are the Sox still willing to spend to go "all in" in probably a season still (partially?) affected by covid. Of the 4 SP's you mentioned, Kluber seems way too risky, Richards & Paxton are a little pricier, middle of SP cost range, with Richards not reaching 100 innings in 5 years. Quintana is lower end cost, seems a real good fit, and might take a discount with the Sox. Paxton would be a nice signing too if the Sox are willing to go that high. On the other hand, the org strength is pitching so they have to weight that out. Can we trust #4 and/or #5 to Cease, Lopez, Kopech, and Stiever (others)? Perhaps if we had to. Same with pen, if we had to, could we? Perhaps. Successfully? I think for both there's a chance, be it small. However the biggest org weakness is LH hitting. The 2021 lineup only has 3 LH bats, 2 SH (+ Garcia) and Eaton. The org's others consist of Collins, Sheets, & Yermin. Not much there. Last year, even with the great RH dominated lineup, the Sox batted .254 and were 4 games under .500 against RHP and it may have cost us the division and maybe beyond. This MUST improve! If they decide to go lower end due to other signing(s), my 1st choice would be Daniel Murphy at <=$5. He's a well proven .280-.300 hitter (much better earlier) with decent .OPS. And I think he's still capable of a truly monster year in this lineup. Sorry but no way with Collins if "all in". His defense is not all that good either though small sample size. Its too important of a position, especially when they probably could get Kurt Suzuki for <=$3. Its hard for us GM's here not knowing the top end payroll plan for 2021 (& beyond).

Since it appears to be bothering some people, would you be willing to make an effort to cut back on it a little?

People have b****ed about stuff on this page for decades. They have b****ed about the same things over and over again in multiple threads. Whether that is Jerry being cheap or who needs to be fired, cut, or traded, those things have always happened. The idea that someone should now be off limits for no good reason isn't going to happen.

Our biggest need IMO is another SP. I think we could potentially survive without another bat or any more bullpen additions, but we are without question a starter short at the moment and need a halfway decent one. I’m praying we sign one of Paxton, Richards, Quintana, or Kluber and don’t go totally cheap just because Kopech will be on the mix at some point. Too much can go wrong to not have six legit starters to start the season. After that, I’m prioritizing the bullpen over adding another bat. No doubt in my mind Hendriks should be the guy as he’s potentially a game changer who moves everyone down a spot and gives you what should be a lockdown pen come playoff time. If he gets too expensive, I’d like to see us pivot to someone like Yates who still has the potential to be an impact reliever. As for the offense, give me the best left-handed bat that can be had on the cheap. We don’t need to sign someone like Brantley who will require a eight figure salary and a multi-year commitment. LaStella or Miller are both attractive options to fill the role. A guy like Schwarber could work as well if we go with a more affordable reliever. Hell, I wouldn’t be opposed in bringing back Mazara if we’re really tight on money. Regardless, the bigger ticket items should be for the pitching staff and not the offense. And I will be in the minority here, but I want to give Collins a look in the backup catcher role. It’s a risk no doubt, but I don’t think he’s been as bad behind the plate as people make him out to be. I would definitely sign a more proven AAAA type catcher to sit in Charlotte just in case, but I expect Grandal to handle 75% of the starts next year and feel that Zack can handle the rest.

In order of importance: 1. Veteran LH DH (or LF so Eloy can DH - Brantley?) 2. Closer 3. 4th starter 4. Veteran backup catcher. Our LH bat depth is woeful! With all due respect to them, Vaughn, Collins, & Yermin should not be on the 2021 roster if Sox are truly "all in". Vaughn should spend the entire 2021 in AA and/or AAA as did Madrigal and Robert in 2019, no matter his success. Sox won't start his rookie FA clock with little to none org resume.

It seems a lot longer than 12 days.

Alshon Jeffries is sad.

Ya gotta see if the guy can handle being a starter first. There is more value there. He can always become a reliever if he doesn't cut it as a starter.

I’m of the opinion that Crochet should never be a starter and that having a nuclear weapon in the bullpen that makes Andrew Miller look like Jim Parque is an absolutely wonderful advantage, especially come crunch time. What a home run of a pick.

Gotta say I would be lining up for tickets for the Crochet-Kopech days. Imagine 3 innings of 100 mile heat from the left followed by 3 inning of 100 mile heat from the right.

He only has 132 innings pitched in college. I really doubt they could pull a Sale with him. Sale unbelievably went from a reliever to 192 IP the next season. It really was incredible. I had MLBN on a couple of years ago and they had a Texas Ranger talking about Sale when he was a White Sox and had a start against them. He said they knew Sale’s elbow was bothering him so much he wouldn’t throw a slider, and they still didn’t touch him. The guy even pitched hurt. He is a one in a lifetime. With Crochet, the Sox either need to shit or get off the pot with him. If he is going to be a starter, I think you are correct, he needs to be in the minor leagues getting stretched out. If he is the next Chapman, hopefully he holds up. His playoff injury may have spooked them. If you recall, Sale had an injury concern and KW announced he would be going back to the bullpen. Sale called and yelled and changed KWs mind. I don’t know if Crochet has that in him.

I understand extra year of control, but the reports are he's throwing the heck out of the ball. Managing his innings is going to be the challenge. I do not believe that come Opening Day the White Sox will have 13 pitchers more effective than Michael Kopech. I say, let him throw his 90-110 innings in the majors. Imagine him as a three-inning Opener, followed by three innings of Crochet instead of having a 5th starter. I wouldn't want to face that.

Maybe the way Stevie Ray Vaughan is spelled is messing with people’s minds.

In one of my undergrad psych courses I recall a lesbian saying something similar.

Lopez is a shell of what he was when the Sox acquired him. He also hasn’t seemed healthy. Hopefully his stuff returns if they move him to the pen. This could be nothing, but did anyone else notice how much Collins was calling curveballs in Dunning’s debut and they were absolute hammers and a wipe out pitch. After that start, his curveball seemed to play a much smaller role, and didn’t have the same movement. Maybe his arm was just tiring out though. An equally frustrating thing with Cooper over his entire tenure was hearing about a prospect who throws upper 90s come up and top out at 93. Cooper definitely didn’t have issues helping pitchers be successful, but he was a stuff-killer. Things are different now, pitchers need to play with their best stuff. Pitchers definitely do not need their stuff suppressed, they need a coach who can help make their stuff better.

Where are we sitting if Filoni or Favreau made Episode VIII?

That doesn’t drive me as crazy as the people who type “McCutcheon” instead of “McCutchen”

For the love of god the name is Vaughn

I really thought the deep-in-the-nose COVID test was going to hurt much more than it did. It was more just really unpleasant and I couldn't wait for her to get out of my nose.

I did a mock draft at FutureSox today. Here it is: https://www.futuresox.com/2020/12/18/2021-mlb-mock-draft-1-0/

Did I miss the news that Tim Anderson got traded?

& put him in LF so Eloy can DH

Maybe Jerry can talk Carlton Fisk out of retirement

I think the idea is that if you're going to slowly work up to 6 innings with Kopech, you can't do that with the major league team. You're not going to have him making 2 or 3 innings starts early in the year and have that affect your major league bullpen. That has to happen in AAA.

I understand the theory of clawing back a year from Kopech, but otherwise why would you want him wasting a limited amount of bullets in AAA? If he's only gonna throw 90-110 innings this year, don't you want them in the majors?

Give Jon Favreau the keys and get the f out of the way

This was 40+ minutes of the best Star Wars I’ve seen since the OT.

And you have a whitewashed Americanized view of history.