Look at Ray Ray Run

How is Chicago declining? Cities are measured by the size of their metropolitan area population. Last year it went up .65%, which was up from .53 the year before and .4 the year after that. Name a single "large media market" without a team. The top 14 markets in the country have baseball teams - it's one reason Tampa/St Pete have a team at all. The top 3 markets, of which Chicago is a part of, all have two teams at this point too.

I've said this 100 times before but I won't change what I believe to be the right and optimal way to build a team just because the White Sox are cheap as s%*#. It doesn't change how I evaluate trades or what I expect of them as an organization. Montgomery being a 4 WAR player is a monster IF at this point. His career projected WAR is barely 4. I think he's got the tools, but that doesn't promise anything. If they net a starting catcher and below average infielder for a generational talent, then they lose the trade. It's simply in my opinion. Garrett is going to end up looking like a bargain at his contract too if he stays healthy.

The red sox are 20-9 in games started by crochet. They're 62-60 in games not started by crochet. The red sox are legit not a playoff team without garrett crochet. That's how valuable he is.

A huge win? I don't think most people here understand how valuable a 6 WAR arm is. Rarity alone means chase meidroth isnt really adding much in my opinion. Getting league average to below average players for an elite talent isnt a win. Thankfully it looks like Teel is going to be a guy so thats a plus! If meidroth and Teel were all they had to show for a top 3 arm, unless Teel becomes a HOF catcher, that certainly wouldnt be a huge win.

Well crochet is going to finish top 2 in Cy Young voting. So far, Teel has been the only guy that I can say confidently is a guy. Monty might be one too, but needs to prove it. Garrett is a unicorn.

Is he playing in AFL still? Will he be back from the foot injury in time?

Lol

I'll actually give the Sox the credit for his development if he pans out. He will have spent the majority of his developmental time with the org. That said, saying the Sox have 4 homegrown guys in the top 100 as evidence kind of ignores that two of those guys are left handed starters who have regressed, but also who the Sox have a proven track record in developing. Montgomery is really the only consensus top 100 guy that's a position player. If Schultz doesn't pan out, I think this team will have a hard time finding the pitching necessary to be anywhere near competitive.

Possibly. I would hope a contending team wouldn't supplement their rosters with starters who cost near league minimum, but point taken either way.

The White Sox have the second worst record in MLB.

The offense is undeniably better and has taken a positive step in the right direction. My only hesitance is that most of this is driven by guys we acquired from other orgs who had developed a lot within those orgs. Guys like Teel, Tauchman and Vargas are lifting heavy on the walk side, and guys like Quero and Miedroth are carrying some good weight on the strikeout side. In order for me to trust the organizational change, I'd like to see us scout and develop this more than scout and trade for it. That said, they have 7 guys who are league average or better with the bat. Of those seven though, only TWO grade out + as defenders (Monty and Teel). Progress is progress, but a lot of room to go. On the flip side though, almost all the growth we've seen offensively has regressed on the pitching side which is a huge bummer.

No, I'd rather not get back to you in a year. The Sox have the 2nd lowest payroll in baseball, and if they shed Robert they'll have the lowest. That's disgusting. Every single player you named would be an upgrade for this team. STOP LEGITIMIZING AND JUSTIFYING BEING THE CHEAPEST ORGANIZATION IN SPORTS. These aren't your dollars. Jerry became a fucking billionaire on the back of your support.

Colson isn't the kind of player I would ever say "he is who he is" too. Development, adapting and evolving his game to the league is a skill and it's one I think he has. He's really been closer to a 250 hitter this year without the bad batted ball luck. The kid hits tanks left and right. I don't need to see anything again to be a believer. I'm a believer 10000%, and if anything I think we're just seeing the surface being scratched with him. He's probably still a couple thousands AB's behind his southern and west coast peers.

Not sure im seeing what you both are. His xwOBA is actually slightly higher than his actual. Nothing flukey about his performance or output in my opinion. If anything, he's been incredibly unlucky running a 226 BABIP. While he wont run an iso of 314 more than likely, he also wont run a 226 babip. He's also been a +++ defender. Kid is a 4+ WAR player with just the power and defense.

This crochet trade thread is the worst!

So let me get this straight, minority owners have zero say on how the White Sox operate, dont set budgets, cant sign players or make decisions but in this rare case, they're keeping mike clevinger employed?? Give me a break.

It's better to get absolutely nothing for him. What?

Interesting. From my experience, the best players set club house cultures. Sometimes there might be a wiley vet that the whole league likes despite them not being very good, but that's pretty rare.

You been spending a lot of time in big league clubhouses?

I dont really care to waste time looking through your post history. In your interactions with me, thats certainly been the case. If you think im wrong, im not gonna lose much sleep over it, and if I am wrong then my bad. Either way, not really worth spending anymore words on it.

From my perspective, you should be teaching people the right way to play the game and developing maturity in the minor leagues. The big leagues is about talent and doing your job: when you arrive, you should already know the right way to play.

Yikes!!!

Veteran presence is so valued in the game that veteran pay has declined since the last CBA and guys like Tauchman are practically available for free.

That would put them on a 38.5% win rate since the vaunted May 1st which is a 100 loss pace.

Youre pretending frustrated fans are the same as fans who are completely disengaged. Many sox fans aren't angry, they just dont care. Im in the boat most of the time, but i at least follow somewhat.