WestEddy

Fedde trade won.

I see a flight to Arizona, and two tall infielders working on their new swing changes.

The Dodgers made out like bandits, and the Cardinals got a nice return. 2024 Fedde and Pham for Edman and Oliver Gonzalez seems like a slight overpay by St.L, but they got what they needed. The Sox should have gotten that future consideration in the form of another prospect. But a hitting/fielding Vargas, Perez doing what he's doing right now, and what Albertus is supposed to be is looking more like "just a guy short" than "OMFG, what did you do?!?!?"

Miguel Vargas has more WAR than Kopech, Pham or Fedde. While I'll always think they should have gotten another body, this is turning out to be a not bad return.

It's weird that baseball chose to keep track of errors, since only one team in history ever makes them. - Me

Yeah, didn't the White Sox hire Hrniak because Thomas was working with him?

Fletcher with his 5th HR tonight. .929 OPS. I'd prefer him over Palacios.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

There's a question mark after that. You have no proof that's the case, either. But I'm glad you finally agree that it's no indictment of an organization when players seek out their own coaching or their agency provides outside coaching for them, as it's widespread in the industry.

Yeah, that doesn't tell me *how* they ruined him. Players hit their ceiling at certain levels, or backslide due to issues. You're accusing them of "ruining" Montgomery. I'm just wondering if you actually know that, or are just saying that. And why is it "bad" that they're tackling his issues head on with one on one work?

So you're saying that teams always coordinate their development plan for any particular player with their agency and agency coaches, but the Sox keep dropping that into the media to make an issue of that? If that's the case, I don't see why you jumped on me for previously saying that it's normal for players to seek outside input to improve their game. That would seem like you agree with me on that.

I never hear about the White Sox running things by Colas' agency, or by Schultz's personal coaches, just Montgomery. That's not made up. Because it's not the first time I hear so much about his personal coaches being in on meetings with the White Sox, I'm just wondering if that's complicating things. I'm not making up that I'm wondering if that's complicating communication. I think that's a real question. Not made up. Can you give me any other examples of how every time a prospect is mentioned, meetings with their personal coaching team are also part of the story? I can't think of any. The only time I remember even the agent being involved in a prospect's timeline or focus is when Scott Boras commented on the Sox' treatment of Carlos Rodon in light of the Cubs playing service time games with Kris Bryant (both Boras clients).

It's not hypothetical that every time C. Monty is mentioned, the team's always meeting with his agency coaches to plot out a course of action. I've never heard that brought up as much as it is with him. I have no idea what I'm supposed to be "deflecting" from. Can you tell me how the Sox staff is to "blame" for Monty's hitting woes? Do you have knowledge of them confusing him or making drastic changes? His agency and agency coaches seem to approve what the White Sox are doing, so I'm unsure what "blame" the Sox staff deserves.

I didn't say they ruined him. You seem to be throwing up a smoke screen here to deflect from something. Here's what I said: Mix-up of messaging vs. "ruined". Can you tell me why this bothers you? I'm guessing that I'm getting close to something you know to be true, and it worries you. Please explain.

So if Colson Montgomery's hitting issues are an imaginary problem, who am I deflecting blame from? LOL. The word "maybe" was in there. I didn't blame anybody for anything. It's a comment board. You never seem this worried about people assigning the worst motivations to JR, Getz or the Sox organization for any roster move, or public statement. Again, you'd have to clue me in on what exactly I'm deflecting blame from. That part made no sense.

Yeah, I looked and found he had high power grades before the draft.

I don't know why you replied to my comment with this.

You seem to forget the part of the discussions where somebody claims that the White Sox had zero claim on the development of their own players because the player went to an outside source, even though the team then worked with that player to implement suggested changes. I'm not sure where anybody has said they get "all" the credit. This is all a pretty silly debate. Clearly, the team works with a player, and if that player succeeds and is promoted to the bigs, where they enjoy some success, that's a win for the organization.

Yeah, I thought the book on him early on was a SS with a ceiling of 15+ HRs. Maybe his agency is working with him to provide more power to increase his value.

Yeah, none of that is happening, here. You like the word "deflection". Can you tell me what you feel is being deflected from? Do you not feel it's "acceptable" for players to seek outside help in their game? You seem to be arguing different things, here.

I'm sure more people than just me understand that most players seek outside help on their games, either from sources like Driveline, or their own agencies. I'm not sure what about my question is confusing.

Every FO answer about C. Monty mentions working with his agency coaching team. I wonder how much that's causing a mix-up of messaging.

I don't know what point you're making. Sosa, Vargas, Baldwin and Meidroth are all 25 or younger. You've been saying that they should be giving at-bats to guys like this to develop at the pro level. They are. While Vargas' numbers are bad, his mechanics are coming around lately. I'd consider a complete collapse as all of them with OPS's below .500.

Can you tell us how they "ruined" him? And why working with him to get his swing right is bad?

Sosa, Meidroth, Baldwin and Vargas weren't sure things coming into the season. Rojas was veteran insurance in the case of a complete collapse like last year. If Vargas is indeed hitting, there isn't any real need for Rojas. If Ramos starts hitting, there really isn't any need for Rojas.