WestEddy

Not once they feel they have the ability to develop it in their prospects, no. And in the lost season of 2023, why give a month's worth of reps to Zavala instead of seeing what they just acquired in Lee? Zavala's a backup catcher. Multiple teams have moved on from him in order to facilitate another roster move. It's really not that hard to understand.

Nope. I never said "Zavala was a solid success". The convo was hidden because multiple admins were so owned they wept. I will type this slowly. Zavala's defensive advancement was an example of the White Sox' new ability to develop the defensive side of a catcher's game. They released Zavala in September to get Lee reps.

Zavala? He's a back-up catcher. It's nice if your back-up catcher can hit you 2 dingers in a spot start.

"SoxFest Live" really isn't much of a rename. That's kind calling it ZoxFeZt, and claiming they renamed it.

Sure, the Sox eschewed the coaching of framing up until relatively recently. Flowers was lambasted by the front office for letting his hitting fall off, even though he was to become one of the better framers in the game. I believe Grandal was an acknowledgement of the value of framing. I was roundly mocked for suggesting that Seby Zavala was an example of the new Sox approach to the development of the defensive side of the game for catchers.

I don't see this posted previously - Elijah Evans at Just Baseball posted 5 Crochet trade spitballs: https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/5-mlb-trade-offers-the-white-sox-would-take-for-garrett-crochet/

Gee, the guy they picked up from another organization and plugged in was bat first, and a guy at the end of his physical abilities wasn't good. All in a season where they were literally throwing anybody they could onto the field to get runs. Yes, that totally speaks to the White Sox' philosophy on framing.

You seem to post a picture of Baghdad Bob when you don't agree with me, so I can only assume you're talking about me, and a few others who aren't negative enough for your taste. I don't believe I've ever called this team payroll blocked. If they can get Vaughn to sign for $4-5 million, he's still 26, and could still realize some potential. Who are we getting on the market that is notably better or cheaper? You can step down in production with Rowdy Tellez and pay him $3+ million. Or Josh Bell. They're both as bad without the possible "ceiling". I don't disagree that the right move would be to non-tender Vaughn and Sheets, and let Colas and Elko do an equal time platoon at 1B. With Vaughn, you seem to have a .700 OPS floor. With my platoon idea, they could end up failing and slapping Austin Slater at first just to get any offense.

None of that supports you saying the White Sox believe that it's inappropriate to coach players on framing.

Tyler Flowers was an elite framer. Kevan Smith and Seby Zavala developed into good framing catchers with the Sox.

It would be a sign of a horrible leader if Getz didn't get input from valued members of his coaching and development squad. Seriously, can you tell us of any GM who has all the answers and doesn't even confer with his scouts to get feedback on players? LOL. And seriously, Fuller making the "personal decisions" would look something like Fuller calling a press conference and announcing a signing that he made on his own, and Getz saying he had no idea what was happening.

Yeah, a live arm with ace stuff. Nothing like chopped liver.

He was getting full articles about his "struggles" in national publications while he was still a rookie. I think he was certainly a live arm with ace stuff. He was considered a good "get" as a 2nd piece behind the much touted Yoan. But again, with "the issues".

Kopech was a very late first round draft pick, and was a top-40 prospect when the White Sox obtained him. He already had some dirt on him for getting in a fight in a clubhouse. After the Sox got him, he rose to ~top 15 in most lists. But, no, he wasn't some man-child that everyone expected to be a rotation ace. He was a nice 2nd piece who was probably available due to the clubhouse thing.

"Most" isn't "all".

Oh, okay. I will eat the meaningless crow that nobody else seems to over an opinion. Let me know which string everybody lines up to take their L's for declaring that Crochet wouldn't make it through the season, or that it was ridiculous to consider Fedde's work in Korea in being positive about him.

Again, weird that he missed the main reasons why this team took a dive. It's also strange that you guys consider this any meaner or more emotional than most of everything I got in spring training for not getting in the whiner hot tub.

...And the strangest part is that WS2023 left out all of Greg's predictions that Robert, Yoan and Eloy would be out 11 games into the season, and that Benintendi and Vaughn would OPS .400 for 3 months. Oh wait.... Dude was dealt 17 cards before he caught his inside straight.

Crazy. I gave my honest opinion and was criticized for it. One man's ceiling is another man's floor.

Wow, I feel so "owned". LOL.

Isn't the "itch on your left side" a euphemism for "Michael A. Taylor could be signed really cheap and flipped for a haul"?

They drafted a "bad" body, lack of height for 1B, a "gap power" hitter who hasn't really tapped into it, yet, rushed by a GM no longer here, played out of position to fill a hole. I keep thinking about that promo video of Konerko meeting Vaughn last offseason, and it seemed more like the 2 of them had no idea why they were there, Konerko basically scolding Vaughn, and Vaughn looking thoroughly called on the mat.

Yeah, I've completely discounted the AFL for him and Elko.

You have already stated that the three guys who have put up substantial WAR in the majors aren't really comps for Monty because they probably progressed through the minors too quickly due to their advanced experience in college, and age (I'm assuming you're attributing their progression to this). They didn't stay around long enough to become the #1 prospect, and they didn't need extended development. So, there's not a lot of HS players who were taken at #22, then became top 20 prospects, getting to AAA quickly, and having sustained success there. And seriously, a month of OPSing .820 gets prospects promoted. I brought up the 15 WAR bar to single out those whose accomplishments were clearly above what Monty clearly hasn't achieved. Weird that you are so bent out of shape by that. The posters who don't like me and pounce on most of my comments aren't even inspired to lift their heads up off the front porch to mock me for saying the 2024 bullpen looked "shutdown", or that I'm "fluffing" Nicky Lopez.