Look at Ray Ray Run

I do find it ironic that last year I was blasted for not being overly negative and accused of being rick hahn, his son, Don Cooper, and Ricky renteria. Then this year I'm now "too" negative for being upset that the Sox leadership didn't fulfill their promises to the fan base that was ever so patient. When the games start, results are driven by players (not coaches or GMs.) In the off season its the front office and coaches job to give those players the best resources and chances to maximize their outcomes and abilities. The White Sox did not do that this off season or last after promising to do exactly that. That's the problem. If this forum is supposed to only consist of eternal optimism, sans any rational critique then carry on.

But the same positive threads over and over again that call out anyone who thinks something not positive, enticing a response, are somehow fine. Good stuff as always, Kyle. Calling it Hypocritical would be putting your stance lightly.

Hmmm who is more likely to fill their holes by acquiring quality players via money at the deadline. The team that's done it every year for 4 decades or the team who has the 15th ranked payroll in baseball during an all-in year?

How was he burned? Top free agents are not the same as bottom. No one gets burned waiting out the bottom of the market. Again with this nonsense that people expect management and ownership to do what they said they would after 4 years of tanking are some how trolls. I guess you expected a payroll lower than 2006 while they're all-in after years of not spending a dime on the on the field product. The only trolls are the people like you who think viable criticism is somehow not allowed and all we can do is praise a team and management group that has accomplished nothing. The cubs weren't getting into a bidding war over Joc Pederson. Bottom freee agents don't cause bidding wars. Nothing you said makes any sense. The la russa hiring was shit - both process and outcome wise. Nothing will change that. How can you say no one can critique hahns negotiating lol. Amazing nonsense in this post all around.

You can look at the market for yourself if you'd like. Holding out in that space has been the smart strategic move for a decade. Rushing to sign Adam Eaton was a misjudgement of the way the low level FA market has worked. Hahn offered pederson more than Eaton so he liked him more ha. Then he doesn't play the market correctly and misses out on the guy he wanted.

Part of free agent negotiations are understanding timing and the maturity of the market. The sox being in a hurry to sign a mid to low level player is nonsense when holding out in that space for the past ten years has been the smart move, that is not something to excuse away. There was no reason they had to rush to sign Eaton. Being a bad negotiator and market analyst isn't a viable excuse for missing out on a player.

Yes.

Lamb is 30 years old and hasn't been above replacement level since 2017. Yolmer Sanchez has been more of a big leaguer than lamb since 2017. I liked Lamb too but he's not guaranteed to be better than mendick at this point.

I literally explained by the front office has come up short in my early post. If you want to refute that with facts, I'm all ears.

This is by far the most bad faith argument made by people like you. Why the hell would I complain if the Sox win? If anything I complained less than 99% of posters last year, because i was enjoying a winning team. Weird.

People who enjoy the game of baseball don't enjoy watching it being player poorly imo. I watch a lot of baseball, but I prefer to watch Dodgers v Braves, not KC vs Pitt. I don't think that's very complicated. If you enjoyed watching Charlie Tilson and Matt Skole I'd argue you're not much of a fan of the game at all. I never heard of a party being thrown to celebrate the enjoyment of a 75 win season.

The team is projected to be as good as some of the pre-rebuild teams that needed everything to go right to win. That's the point being made by the poster you blasted. We weren't supposed to need everything to go right to make the playoffs after 4 years of tanking. The Sox on opening day are starting a guy whose never played above A ball and has never played the OF in LF, a DH who has a career wRC+ of 63 in limited playing time, and a RF who was arguably the worst outfielder in baseball last year. In addition, their 4th and 5th rotation spots are filled by one guy who was one of the five worst pitchers in baseball last year, and another who hasn't been healthy since 2016 and hasn't been solid since 2018. Their bullpen is lights out. Their infield is very good. The Sox COULD be very good because Vaughn could be very good, and maybe Collins has figured it out, and maybe Cease won't be completely awful... but MAYBE fans are sick of having to rely on MAYBE's when they were told after the rebuild they wouldn't have to put faith in Maybes anymore?

The White Sox haven't won 90 games since 2006. You been enjoying all that great baseball? Normal people enjoy losing? Interesting stuff, I had no idea. I personally watch sports because I like when my team wins. Losing really isn't much fun.

Double

The ratio of Sox are great and world beaters vs I'm a little concerned about this team threads is 20/1. People presenting their thoughts shouldn't bring your enjoyment or topic down, and if you want only positive thoughts spoken about things you like get a life coach.

Maybe some people just don't want to bet against their favorite team? I for one think the under is a decent play but I'd never bet against the sox as baseball is about enjoyment and not profits. I'd rather bet on the things I believe will happen that are good (Tim for MVP and Vaughn for ROY). Why people constantly attack people that don't praise the white sox on this site ill never understand. The organization itself is one of the most embarrassing in all of professional sports when evaluating existence vs wins/titles/playoff appearances. You can enjoy baseball and the team while also accepting that reality. Benefit of the doubt is earned not given.

What's not true? They were outbid at the last minute for his services. I dont need you to tell me what the sox offered him, I posted the literal quote in this thread and you're merely regurgitating the article we all read. Must have missed where you stated any of this prior to the article released talking about it. ? When did I say they negotiated? They were outbid by 100k which I also said. Smh

Yes, they absolutely would have. They were dominate by 18-19 in MLB. It was their talent that made them great not 6 months of organization development.

Sox were set to sign him as an amateur. 1.4 million. "In late October, almost five years to the day before his epic showdown with Cole, Soto flew to Florida for a Dominican Prospect League tournament with dozens of other Latin American teenagers who planned to sign the first day they could, July 2, 2015. Among his teammates: Fernando Tatis Jr., whom the Chicago White Sox would get for $825,000. The White Sox were pursuing Soto as well, willing to give him a $1.4 million signing bonus, and he believed he was likely to agree with them until Oct. 22, the final day of the tournament. DiPuglia and Deric Ladnier, a high-ranking Nationals scout, asked Niche for a private hitting session with Soto in a batting cage at Fort Lauderdale Stadium."

So, it turns out Soto was expecting to sign with the White Sox, paddy wanted him, but at the last minute the Nationals offered and the Sox lost out on him over 100-200k that the cheap group wouldn't pony up for Marcos guy.

It's not semantics. You literally said he played left field frequently; something that there is zero proof of.

Vaughn can't play first base anymore or something?

Played in LF frequently in Schaumburg? What? At most I read he took "some reps" in LF. His primary work was at 1st base since he was a first baseman. He also took "some reps" at third base. He's not a third baseman.

Except this isnt at all the scenario. It's the different between collins bat and Leury vs leury defense vs vaughn. Vaughn bat is in the lineup regardless. People always seem to make outfield out to be some easy position. Guy is slow footed and has never read major league fly balls. It's risky. Im ok with them trying it but it's embarrassing their lack of depth is already hurting them before the season even starts. Eloy got hurt because the sox asked him to do things defensively he's not capable of. There answer is to now put another player in the same exact position that got eloy hurt. And eloy isn't the sox best hitter.

My thoughts on spring training