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Frustration is premature. I think it is clear that the White Sox have a plan and its execution has not been flawless...but nearly. Last year they signed Keuchel and Grandal...and brought up Robert, Madrigal, Foster, Heuer and Crochett...and they went to the playoffs. This year they got Lynn, Hendricks and Eaton and will bring up Kopech and Vaughn. And what you and others are angry about...not pushing all the chips in now...I think is an asset...they have kept their power dry. We have only traded one of our top 30 prospects and really haven't spent much money. JR, in spite the propaganda, had top five payrolls in the 2000's, 1990's and 1980's WHEN the teams were good. Why would we believe he won't do it again? Our tradeable assets aren't worth what they should have been because of COVID...a year ago we thought of the Rutherford, Adolfo and Lugo at least one was going to have a leap forward year...and then there was no season. Same can be said for all of the top 30...there will be at least ten of them that will be worth much more at the trade deadline than they are right now. As for the missed opportunities...What happens if Cease is great...and Kopech is great...and we just spent all of our Gio extension money on Bauer...who in my mind has some real questions. Why sign Springer who you would have to pay the centerfielder premium for...when you want to play him in RF? Why pay for Brantley or Cruz when Vaughn could be better than either. Let's watch how the things evolve and then at the trade deadline you can push in the chips when you have a better idea the REAL weaknesses...and if you see none...you extend guys.

Why do you want to be a White Sox fan if you hate everything about the organization? i get how frustrating it must have been this off season for you with getting only two Cy Young candidates, a Hall of Fame manager, four top fifty prospects joining the team, some of the top young coaching minds and adding a solid right fielder to the playoff team. Stupid, horrid White Sox.

I’ll keep saying it, but we can all be super excited about the potential of the team while also being frustrated with ownership. I think this team can legit win the World Series this year and can’t wait to watch things unfold, but ownership has not done us any favors for 2021 and the mix of Jerry’s need for TLR and his general financial risk aversion will likely lead to a shortened window. Just sucks to finally get to the point where we should have built up enough financially flexibility to stomp on the necks of our divisional rivals and instead went cheap this offseason.

There's a time to be negative. The organization has put together a really solid rebuild plan that produced a playoff team last year and then in the off season traded for a CY Young candidate, signed a Cy Young candidate and a solid RF, hired a hall of fame manager, put together a staff of some really bright young baseball minds, are bringing up 3 of the top 50 minor league prospects...and by the looks of twitter or Soxtalk this is the dark ages. At some point you stop bitching about what was and start getting excited about what is coming (though in fairness Stone's tweet was a bit nasty).

Yeah, shame on the fans. I mean, the team was established in 1901 and heading into the 2021 season, the franchise has never made the playoffs in back-to-back years. What a bunch of assholes we are.

Stupid like Tampa Bay does it? Seems like a fifth starter being a reliever game is an intriguing concept...how does Kopech and Crochett get stretched out like a starter? 3 innings by each over 30 starts would likely be about 80 innings (some missed starts or short outings). And who wouldn't want tickets to those games? 100 mph from the left for three and 100 from the right for three? That would be so much fun.

Got my tickets to spring training today! going to the following games: Sox @ LA - March 8 SD @ Sox - March 9 Ari @ LA - March 10 Sox @ Cin - March 11 Going to try and grab Cin @ Sea for March 12, they go on sale this week. Interested to see all the great young talent on Sox, LA, SD, Sea. Obviously looking forward to seeing the Sox play 3 games!

No where did I say I hate everything about the organization, so I suggest you brush up on reading comprehension skills. It will be valuable for you in the future, I promise. And you have every right to feel as optimistic as you do. Some of us also have the right to be excited about the upcoming season but question some of the decisions made. I’m sorry you’re so offended by a different opinion. You really should try and be a more understanding person.

We’re one of only five clubs to never have signed a $100M contract. Do you realize how ridiculous that is for a baseball team in Chicago with one of the sweetest stadium deals in all of sports? I’m glad your optimistic, but Jerry deserves doesn’t deserve a free pass here. Adding Lance Lynn was a huge move for 2021, but cost us a promising young arm in Dunning (who could have helped us for the next six years) all because Jerry’s need to cut payroll limited our options. Liam Hendriks was also a fantastic addition, but his signing forced us to gamble in RF once again, go cheap with starting pitching depth, and not add a left-handed bench piece. All this after Reinsdorf pocketed millions during the rebuild. So no, my frustration is not centered around missing out on Machado’s $300M contract, but rather that even just another $10M or so this year could have gone a long way to improving our playoff chances. I hope in the end our lack of depth doesn’t really matter, but it’s totally fair to be a little pissed that Reinsdorf is kicking off the first real year of our competitive window with a YoY payroll decrease, COVID or no COVID.

I'm not sure why the 6 pitchers in the rotation would be a bad thing. I think the bullpen is SO good you don't need Crochett/Kopech in it...or rather you treat them like the 5th starter and the long reliever...except they ONLY pitch on that fifth day. It's a bit unusual but you get to stretch each of them out...aim for each of them to become a regular starter in 2022...they learn the habits of being a starter without the arm strain of a heavy load. I think they may delay this until May to get the additional year from Kopech and it's that window where Rodon and Reylo try to prove they are worth something.

While Steve's response is a bit over the edger here, I think he and many White Sox employees are probably fed up with the negative doom and gloom tone from many Sox fans.

The only job Hahn could get if he left is a General Manager of a Home Depot, he’s not going anywhere ...

Sounds like someone needs to take a timeout.

Can it read 0.22?

Because posts like this just settle everything down... instead you turn threads into more back and forths on the topic. If you want it to go away, quit responding to it! Take your own advice, quit acting like a pretentious preacher and relax. These posts make it 10 times worse and piss people off all over again.

No I said Lynn and Hendricks were both Cy Young candidates from last season.

Did you just call Carlos Rodon a cy young candidate?

Do you want to burn out your Bullpen by June? Remember, they aren't used to pitching 70 innings either. This is not your normal 162 game season. Hendriks pitched 25 innings in 2020.

I don't need to be told how to be a fan, but thanks. As others have mentioned, it's possible for multiple things to be true. We can be excited for this season while also frustrated with how the last 5 months have been handled. Additionally, when I hear the Front Office talk about trying to become the 90's Braves with young players continuing to emerge and always being the playoff mix.......I'm sorry that a roll my eyes given the success rate of this current regime.

With so many guys getting pulled by the 5th now its a nice luxury to have guys like Kopech, Crochet, and maybe even Lopez to throw out there for 3 innings.

Nah, Steve stone is a condescending prick on social media .

It’s beyond bizarre at this point. Is Stone mentally ill? He’s not even saving it for negative fans, or even fans who disagree with him. He just tees off on people indiscriminately like he gets some weird pleasure out of it. Fine for a troll, but totally out of alignment with his media stature. I don’t know if I’ve ever had my opinion of anyone lowered so much based on their social media persona.

Managers need talent to win for sure. But TLR has advanced many teams in the post season regardless of their in season success. We made the playoffs with 88 wins in 2008 and would have gladly taken a title that year. When I look at a manager I want to know if he can take a talented roster into the playoffs and advance while in them. TLR has proven he can do that. Now, I do understand the concerns about the layoff and his personality. But my response was to questioning his potential success because of his WS victories and not the rest of the picture.

How many times were his teams favored to make the postseason? He is the product of great rosters. I am not going to tell you the Sox are going to lose 90 games because of him. That would be BS. But what wouldn't be BS is to say only once during his managerial career has his team dominated the regular seaon and won the WS. 33 seasons. To think he will do that here at 76 years old, 10 years out of the dugout,, doesn't seem right. I hope it does.. As much as I dislike the hire and the person,, I want him to succeed.. When he left teams, they didn't get worse. The Sox were better under Fredonia. Oakland got better. The Cards won their division 3 of the next 4 years. This isn't the first time the Sox have brought an ex manager back to their dugout after years off the field and in front offices. Bill Veeck brought back Paul Richards to manage in 1976 at age 68, 15 years after his last managerial job. That team was awful, and it wasn't Richards fault. But he was an old 68, fell asleep in the dugout several times and lasted one season.

How many World Series appearances has TLR made? How many Championship Series appearances has he made? How many manger of the year awards has he won? How many division titles has he won? The odds are that no manager will do that here. It is a very difficult thing to do. All you can ask for is having a chance to win a WS. And TLR's teams more often than not have a chance.

In an earlier post, I asked why anyone would think that LaRussa would be the right man to manage this particular team at this time. I haven't received an answer. The answer depends on who you ask. I would not listen to Jeff Passan, a cub fan. Ozzie Guillen: "The best free agent the White Sox have (signed) in a while. And the best coach and the best person off the field that they’ve hired in 30 years is Tony La Russa, including myself," Ozzie Guillén said on the most recent edition of the White Sox Talk Podcast. "That’s my opinion. If people don’t like it, they don’t put food on my table." Three World Series titles, six pennants and 2,728 wins, the third most in major league history. James McCann: “I think Tony La Russa is a good hire,” McCann said on the White Sox Talk Podcast. “I’ve seen people maybe think it was an interesting hire based on Rick Hahn’s comments based on what they're looking for, but I truly believe that Tony is going to be a phenomenal fit for that team.” Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds on Hot Stove Listen to Harold Reynolds comments Other than Oz, I don't recall any White Sox Manager that maintained fan favorability for too long, but that is not and should never be a criteria. Sox fans stood silent for the most part during the Robin Ventura malaise and failed to blame him or Rick Hahn for the LaRoach fiasco or the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton rebellion. LaRussa would never tolerate what Ventura and Hahn put up with in the club house. Players are going to respect him . As far as the fans, they will do what they always do and did to Renteria - second guess everything and call for his head on a platter after any loss or after substituting a pitcher that gives up runs. LaRussa will succeed or fail based on his performance, just like any other Manager. Fans will blame thge Manager for every bad move, like they always do. If anybody thinks that a second DUI at appx. 75 years old, ten years after the first one at appx. 65 means he should not be given a second chance, OK, but keep some perspective on this. A baseball manager is not entrusted with peoples' health safety and welfare. It is a fucking game. LaRussa proved a lot to JR in 1983 with a tremendous , exhilarating run after a slow start to the season. TLaR became JR's friend and confidant in ensuing years. Trust and loyalty play big with a lot of business owners, They are absolute requirements for Jerry Reinsdorf and for good reason. You live and learn and JR has done quite a bit of both. I think JR lost confidence in Hahn after the LaRoach fiasco and trading Tatis Jr. so it would not surprise me to see JR would consider bringing Ozzie back if LaRussa does not work out. Hopefully at some point. some of you will refocus on the game.

I really do not like the idea of starting the year with Kopech in the bullpen. Get that extra year of team control back by starting him down in AAA and slowly ramping up. I’m definitely worried we’re going to do short-term focused things with Kopech & Crochet to appease La Russa that end up shortening the window.

Not sure if anyone mentioned Juan Pizarro who was called home Thursday. Juan was not only a mainstay of some great Sox pitching staffs of the 1960's but was traded for Wilber Wood in 1966. Pretty significant.

I'd question "fantastic" 2016 and before yes but since then at best he's been an OK innings eating right handed pitcher. The problem is...we only have so many starting pitcher slots. We have the three fixtures. We have Cease at four. We have the Kopeck/Crochet 5th starter combo by mid-May...and we have Rodon and Reylo to fill in until then or to work as spot starters...and young guys like Stiever for later in the season. I think its fine to say Teheran is the same level of risk as Rodon...but I stated my arguments for Rodon...two years younger, lefty, higher upside. This is no longer the team where we bring in every one else's garbage to fill up the place.

What is wild with me is JR has never thought he had to get the most decorated guy available to manage or coach his teams until now. The Sox after LaRussa had journeyman managers in Fregosi and Torborg, then went with first timers Lamont, Bevington, Manuel, Guillen, Ventura before returning to a journeyman in Renteria. The guys he hired with the Bulls were first timer Collins, first time NBA Jackson, first time NBA Floyd, first time Cartwright, journeyman Skiles, first timer Del Negro, first timer Thibs, first time NBA Hoiberg, first time and last time Boylen, before hiring his most decorated in Donovan. Why is it through all that time there was never a must have proven guy that needed to be hired, but suddenly, now there is? I bet Tony is making a lot of money. Probably a lot more than they would have had to pay anyone else. I was old enough to understand things when Tony was here before. It wasn’t like everyone thought they were a witness baseball genius and were horrified when Hawk sent him packing. It was a long time coming. Before Hawk was even broadcasting Sox games let alone being the GM. Tony landed on his feet with a great Oakland roster that should have won more than once. He parlayed that when the A’s were headed down to St. Louis which was probably the best run organization in baseball. The A’s got better after he left. Tony won twice with the Cardinals. Once when the team won the division with 83 wins, a total fluke. And his final season as a wildcard. It is a lot harder to win as a wildcard now than it was then. The Cardinals also won the division 3 of the next 4 years after Tony left. He doesn’t seem like a guy that is going to get you multiple championships on his managing alone.

I'm envious!

No one is expecting Rodon to be great...hoping, sure. Rodon was the #3 pick in the draft, he's a lefty and there is organizational familiarity with him. The organization got him on a one year "prove it" deal for almost nothing and he's going to have the spring and a few starts in April to show his recovered arm and new competitive fire. The upside on Teheran is an aging, declining right handed innings eater...the upside on Rodon is Mike Minor...even sort of similar story...lefty, 1st round draft picks...3rd and 7th overall pick, both debuted at 22 with some intriguing success...at 26 both lost, basically, two full seasons to injury....when Minor came back at 29 he put up 15 WAR over the next three years. That's the upside. It's not ridiculous...lefty starters with Rodon's stuff are worth a gamble. If your argument is we should pick up every aging innings eater that has had some success...there is a limitation on roster spots. If the argument is pick one...Rodon or Teheran...I'm quite satisfied with that pick. Yes Teheran could be better than Rodon in 2021...buy he was worse than Reylo last year...why not give that shot to Reylo.

If you're pissing your pants on the Sox not trying to sign Teheran (or any other washed up pitcher for that matter), then your big picture look at things are completely out of focus. That's my point.

Amazing how many people actually buy this.

Maybe rephrase the question to say who you think will suck less.

Shit is gonna be weird this year for a lot of teams.

The best news all year so far is Kopech saying he realized he needs this game. I figured he opted out because of Covid and personal reasons, but I feared he may not have that burning desire to play this game. Good to hear from him because he will be a great one.

The latest tweet to trigger Bauer. He predictably rose to the bait and unleashed a barrage of defensive tweets from him and his agent...the usual self-own. While it would’ve been nice to shore up the rotation, have to say I’m happy to be able to watch this kind of nonsense from the sidelines.

I didn't attack any of those things, I don't want this to happen to Texas. I want the people actually responsible to do something about it and stop blaming the new green deal and democrats for underlying infrastructure issues that point to cost cutting and keeping profits.

I get that it's huge and has all of those resources but the entire point of all of this is Texas repeatedly tells everyone that they don't need them, and they do. Nobody would blink twice in your above scenario because all of those states could lean on each other in case of a crisis. and let's not pretend like what's happening in Texas is isolated. These 100 year events are increasing in frequency. Texas is going to recover from this and in a few months be staring at a massive hurricane coming up from the gulf. the states need each other and this just magnifies that need.

And we will look back at this one day as the best thing Jerry Reinsdorf’s ever done. Jerry withholding this intel from RH/KW so they couldn’t torpedo it may have been a World Series-winning move.

I'm just happy to have electricity for 24 hours straight. I restocked my tequila, picked up some IPAs, and learned our largest contract in team history is the smallest contract of any MLB team largest contract. Fuck, wait, I don't want to be a buzz kill. Jose will be even better this year, Grandal can play 150 games, a 5th star will appear like the blessed virgin Mary, Vaughn will live up to his potential, and Tony will learn how to use the Uber app.

He should do the drill where you throw rocks into the water from a boat. Gain some confidence in hitting the target.

No it's not. It was up to the front office. And they'll likely fail them. It's stupid to have them in the MLB bullpen for an entire year.

That's just plain rude. Try to control yourself.

DL? Ok Boomer.