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Some weirdo was harassing Harold on here, constantly making comments about Jeep Wranglers. Then some other psycho poster (probably an alt account for the other guy) basically confronted Harold and accused him of being the White Sox’s assistant scouting director who also happens to own a Jeep dealership. Unclear the truth of that, but doesn’t seem crazy given the inside info Harold had shared on this site. Also, based on what the psycho guy was saying in his accusations, he was either Haber himself or had a close relationship with Haber and held some sort of grudge against Harold, although I can’t recall if it was simply because he didn’t like him leaking White Sox business or something deeper & more personal. And shortly after the more direct accusations, Harold was gone forever and now we rely on the Times for India for our scoops.

I have lots of thoughts on this. I know who Harold was and they don't work for the team. He/She obviously knows people who do. Harold's info was always very, very solid. The stuff that was shared publicly and the stuff that wasn't was even more accurate. He was an asset to this board. Garrett Guest isn't posting on this board but if he's one of the ties, I wouldn't be totally surprised obviously based on some of the info that Harold shared at times. The whole thing was weird. On Jeremy Haber, he was running the draft at the end. The Sox were focused on Blake Mitchell who went #8 overall to Kansas City. Regardless of that, I'd heard all day that they wanted to take a prep hitter in the first round. In hindsight, they would've taken Teel had he fallen. From what I understand, Haber overruled the room to take Jacob Gonzalez at 15 and save $$ money for later. The Sox did turn around and draft Wolkow, Oppor, Lacombe etc but there were obviously better ideas at 15. The other thing that is hilarious about keyboard warriors defending Haber's honor is that his existence is what spawned the White Sox burner food accounts. Not Cishek always had pretty good info because the person running that account got information from someone very close to Haber from what I understand. Then the burner accounts would all share info with each other etc. Basically, I have some wild DM's but I'd need to go digging.

If you like "Private Equity 102", make sure to also sign up for "Soil Engineering 102".

Probably because someone isn't manifesting hard enough.

Gavin Lux, you’re next!

Personally, I always enjoyed @Harold's Leg Lift especially on the minors side. He had his takes, but if you respected him, he always respected you. Sorely missed.

Harold was a dick shitting where he ate. Good riddance. And his scouting sucks. Maybe he's great at selling cars including to JR...

So the Mets have spent more this off season than the sox, but somehow the Sox are trying and the Mets aren't. Make it make sense.

Ha, we got him!

Did i miss something? The Sox still have a payroll under Oakland, Colorado and Pittsburgh. If they signed this guy they'd be around KC and Cincy. Guys here are acting like the Sox signed Juan Soto this off season. They have 38 million committed to 2027 as of today.

Kay endorses the Imai pursuit (and gives Mune a Schwarber comp): Some other notes from the full episode: Directly cited Fedde's first year success here as a big consideration in signing, including the org having familiarity with the transition (back) to MLB from NBP. Mentioned the workload adjustment specifically (from ~110+ pitches once a week to a 5 day rotation). He said he's talked to "all the pitching guys" both before and since signing, and feels they are on the same page and "had everything [he] was looking for" Said adding a sinker is one of his major improvements he made, since it let him stay in the zone more in a league where guys don't chase/K as much.

He was legit terrible in AAA last year. That being said, there is risk here so why the f*** not.

For me, it screams keep Robert and go for it.

I feel the same way about Murakami. Everybody has their work cut out for them, there. You declared that some of us can't understand how embarrassing Smith being the Sox's All-Star representative was, because he was "their 41st best guy". Vinny Capra and Oliver Dunn were on the Brewers' 40-man at the time Smith was selected. That says to me that you're prepared to argue nth degree nonsense to dig in and proclaim the Sox will be as bad as anyone can imagine in any given year, and we should all feel embarrassed, because reasons. The Brewers made an understandable decision on who to protect, and the Sox capitalized. Go ahead and feel shame. That's all lost on me. For two months after the TDL in 2025, the Sox played at a 70-win pace over 162. I know you want to include the record of a team that was up to 12 different guys on opening day than what finished the season on the team. The Sox's Pythagorean was 71-91, so assuming the guys that finished on the major league squad could win 70 games isn't unreasonable. (go ahead, pretend to be laughing) I don't think it's a stretch to believe that replacing Vaughn/Elko/Noda with Murakami, replacing Benintendi's defense with anybody more capable, getting a full season of Montgomery over Amaya/Capra (regardless of how good you think Capra is), and replacing Bryce Wilson/Jonathan Cannon with Key and Newcomb, along with any wish-casted growth from Baldwin/Vargas/Meidroth/Teel/Quero/Robert (returning any bit to form) - could result in adding about 5+ wins to that 70-71 win base that I feel is completely supported. That's 5 situations on this team where there's really no argument they could pick up a win from each. If they also add Imai and any kind of closer (screw it, Kopech), that shores up the rotation and bullpen by pushing everybody back a slot, that could result in wins. At that point, you're pushing towards the upper 70's/80 in wins. You can either show your math how you *know* that won't happen, or pretend to be laughing, whatever. If the team clicks, Monty/Teel/Vargas/others begin to play towards their ceilings, that could push this team over .500. If everybody went nuts and the division stagnated, you have a "competitive" team.

Try.HARDER!

It's going to happen. All signs are pointing towards it. Unfortunately this board has decided to go full-on Parkman and be overly pessimistic about it.

FWIW, Steamer has the Sox at 24.5 fWAR next year (15.3 for positional group + 9.2 for pitchers). That puts our baseline projected win total 76.5 wins. Add Imai, an OF like Tauchman, and a high leverage reliever and we’re approaching 80. From there, you just need some of the young guys and good luck to beat projections. So yes, I believe we can compete next year for the last playoff spot (87 wins last year) if we keep adding and all goes well.

I said with the right additions (including Imai), the right breakout performances, and some luck they could sniff the final playoff spot. And I stand by that claim.

As bad as Benintendi is, Kelenic is a downgrade.

If they lose 100 games again next season, that would be a failure of epic proportions.

Thanks Jimmy. Harold shared with me he does work in baseball but not for the White Sox. Hope that changes some of this shitting where you eat narrative.

And quickly before the sin taxes go up more in 2026

I need some of whatever youre smoking

ICYMI

Kelenic put a 62 wRC+ in AAA last year. You do not hand him a major league job under any circumstance. He’s got to go to Charlotte, produce, and then hope an opportunity presents itself. Until then, he’s nothing but minor league fodder.

This sounds like something from a Tim Robinson show.

It's pretty unfortunate. Despite him clashing with some folks here and having a few strong opinions, he did provide valuable insight and intel into things. Especially on the draft side.

A reminder, career fWAR: Madrigal - 2.7 Kelenic - 0.9

No the key point is actually that they tried (and are still trying btw). The failure is so noteworthy because of how hard they’ve been trying. I will take that approach 10/10 times over whatever it is that JR does.

Everyone get their notebooks and pencils, “Private Equity 102” has begun. In this class you will learn that calling Jerry cheap is actually a stereotype but you will also learn that you don’t know anything about Ishbia. But Tray knows. And it’s bad

Oh s%*#…I’m starting to smell some smoke!

Looking at the history of public funding for stadiums, I find it hard to believe Kansas isn’t going to lose money on the deal, and a ton of it. But they get the Chiefs.

What's far fetched is you talking about the 2026 white sox as contenders. Let's just try not to lose 100 games first.

Fwiw I just listened in and it sounds like there isn't much of anything out there on where Imai ends up. Says the Cubs are a mystery, nothing brewing with the Yankees or Phillies. Also doesn't think the White Sox are overly likely.

That just triggered PTSD over the real Steve Cishek experience....that was one awful free agent bullpen addition.

I did google Times of India and Imai in hopes there would be a Sox rumor there, but alas they are sleeping at the wheel right now!

Dead silent today on the Imai front, but I still expect a deal to be agreed to and leaked before the end of the day. When I first saw the rumor yesterday, I sort of brushed it off almost immediately as being unrealistic given Jerry’s hatred of giving out long -term contracts to pitchers. However, the more I think about our current situation and the player himself, the more I feel this might actually be doable for us. I strongly believe our competitive window will officially open by 2027 with an outside chance of getting lucky this year with the right mix of roster additions. As such, proactively going out and signing a soon to be 28 year old RH pitcher to anchor a young rotation that should eventually feature lefties in Schultz, Smith, & possibly Oppor makes all the sense in the world. Financially, we know they are shopping in the mid tier SP range and Imai would probably be at the very top of that market. If the price is a little lower than expected, and perhaps teams aren’t ready to commit to him when bigger fish are available in free agency, I could see our ownership group stretching a bit for the upgrade. Add in the marketing value of having a second big Japanese player and all of sudden it may be hard for us to pass on this opportunity. I guess we’ll find out soon enough though.

Garfein asked that question on his podcast and apparently it's "Moonay".

Honestly, worse than Kelenic was that Yamamoto is destined to be fragile. Of course, Yamamoto turned into an eldritch monster in the World Series.

But the Ishbia’s didn’t publicly show their excitement over the Murakami signing so that means they hate the White Sox and their fans. I love how he also thinks that they should be assisting poor old Reinsdorf with a $34 million dollar signing when they don’t own the team yet, as if Jerry is broke. What a joke. Tray suddenly thinks Jerry is a big spender because the Sox signed a dude for $34 million. 🤣

BOOM!

This is the best off-season ever!

Wait until 201 when you learn Jerry was the definition of a Private Equity guy himself.

This implies Kelenic is a baseball terrorist.

So, they need to get Blue Moon as a sponsor, put a literal moon somewhere on the concourse, and every time Mune hits a bomb its called a "moon" shot and the moon lights up or something.

OK, lets not confuse 'trying this offseason' and 'signing a guy to a short term deal because long term interest wasn't there from anyone'. This is still the same organization, until at least 2029.

Top off-season target Austin Slater would like a word

Jerry Reinsdorf likes the cut of your jib.