South Side Hit Men

Yes, and Jerry's take is among the worst takes in MLB history. Also gave us Harold Baines HOF, which by that standard there should be a several hundred players in the HOF. Career bWAR (Past 50 Years) 58.7 Dick Allen (18th All Time among 3B) 39.2 Jake Peavy; Curt Davis 39.1 Carl Crawford; Rico Petrocelli 38.9 Russell Martin; Paul O'Neil 38.8 O-D-O Magglio Ordonez & Harold Baines; (58th/59th All Time Among RF) 38.7 Juan Gonzalez 38.6 Jason Heyward; Kent Hrbek; Anthony Rizzo 38.5 Lonnie Smith; Tim Wallach 38.4 Lorenzo Cain; Kirk Gibson; Charlie Hough JAWS (Active RFers vs. Baines) 52.3 Dick Allen (17th All Time among 3B) 37.5 Jose Bautista 36.5 Nelson Cruz 35.6 Jason Heyward 31.9 Shin-Soo Choo 30.1 Harold Baines (76th All Time among RF) 29.1 Nick Markakis 28.5 J. D. Martinez 28.5 Hunter Pence 28.3 Jayson Werth

On paper, the National League should dominate this game.

On SoxTalk, it's Roll Tide.

Yes, nothing but the best for Sox fans.

It was 1985, the 75th anniversary of Comiskey Park. I kept mine.

Would say it's good baseball players have the option between MLB and College, versus the NFL / NBA system play uncompensated and subject to injury for 1-2 or 3 (not sure what the NFL rule is at this point) years in the NCAA before being eligible. All college athletes (including MLB) can lose their scholarship for any reason, including injuries and performance. They are renewed year to year, at the discretion of the Coach/AD.

In your mind, at what stage of one's career (In years or games played) should the Sox scratch a player from their want list for having NL Cooties? I'm assuming it's somewhere between say Lucas Giolito & Paul Konerko's brief NL start to their career and established veterans like Jake Peavy and Adam Dunn. Also, is there a cut off when this began? Say Kenny Williams' or Rick Hahn's GM stints? In my life, I recall several solid to great White Sox who started in the NL: Dick Allen (9 Year NL Veteran) Tim Raines (12 Year NL Veteran) Paul Konerko (2 Year NL Veteran) Jim Thome (3 Year NL Veteran after 12 year start in Cleveland) Javier Vazquez (7 Year NL Veteran, 1 Year with NYY in between) Lucas Giolito (1 Year NL Veteran)

My Selections: Position Player: Jose Abreu Consistent, underappreciated, plays and never complains. Starting Pitcher: Dylan Cease Just kicking ass this season, a consistent starter. Would be a great thread to quote trade suggestions of Dylan the past few seasons. Relief Pitcher: Reynaldo Lopez Hendriks and Graveman may have slightly better bWAR, but the Sox are paying them hansomly. Reynaldo really turned things around this season and deserves to be recognized for his contributions. Comeback Player of the Year: Johnny Cueto Very easy decision, picked off the scrap heap on Opening Day and has given the Sox very solid starts to keep them alive into the second half. MVP: Jose Abreu 90 Games, always answers the bell. Would be several games under without him. Suck it Ron. Tony's Selections: Position Player: Leury Garcia Very clutch, can play him everywhere. We should have given him a bigger contract. Starting Pitcher: Lance Lynn Big time competitor, the guy I pencil in when we face a must win game. Relief Pitcher: Joe Kelly You guys are really going to love this guy. Staff MVP: Shelley Duncan Helps us compete everyday. Defensive alignments, optimal lineups, strategic in-game decisions. You name it, Shelley has his fingers on it. We wouldn't be where we are today without his unsung efforts. Player MVP: Leury Garcia Really a no-brainer here. I'm really upset he is not going to Los Angeles to represent the American League.

Any chance Karnisovas & Jerry sweeten the deal and make Noah a two sport star in Chicago?

April 2022 Scouting Video: https://www.mlb.com/video/2022-draft-noah-schultz-lhp Out of Oswego East High School 6-9, 220

I thought Tony's approach with Vaughn was on point due to the unique circumstances (no 2020 minor league development, no outfield experience). Easing him in against tough RHP didn't overwhelm him, let him gain confidence as he worked his way through his first ML season, first season as an OFer, and first season of more than 55 games played (ended up playing 127 last year). He was also 22 years old, so very far ahead of his peers. Now that he has proper footing entering this year, he can be relied on as a regular ML starter, and that is how he is being deployed. Also thought Tony handed Kopech's transition last year well. Kudos to the FO for their input as well for these two players, the best two success stories post COVID.

My eye is on the playoffs. Preventing runners from running at will. Handling the staff. Pitch calling. Being able to allow pitchers to throw their best breaking pitches and not worry about the catcher not handling the balls in the dirt. Catching plays at the plate. It's a key position and don't trust what the Sox have back there on the big stage. If the Sox win 3 of 4 vs. Cleveland, perhaps 4 of 5 from Colorado and Oakland and are buyers at the deadline, 2 or 3 solid difference makers could give the Sox a legitimate chance to make and compete in the playoffs. Looking at three players, Ramon Laureano, Willson Contreras & Luis Castillo. Landing these three or perhaps two and another solid player would rejuvenate the team and would be comparable to what Atlanta did last year. Would tell the clubhouse the organization is serious this season and beyond. Laureano is controllable for two more seasons, Castillo for one more season. Contreras wants to stay in Chicago (perhaps more so the Cubs) . If it's a good fit (clubhouse, the staff likes/loves him), perhaps they can work out a solid 3 year deal with a 4th team option.

Perhaps trade a LHH for Jason Heyward. Chicago White Sox send AJ Pollock (34) LF, Gavin Sheets (26) DH, Prospects Chicago Cubs send Willson Contreras (30) C, Ian Happ (27) CF/LF and Jason Heyward (32) DFA Lineup: (Career OPS) Tim Anderson (SS) .763 Yoan Moncada # (3B) .768 Luis Robert (RF) .833 Jose Abreu (1B) .865 Willson Contreras (C) .809 Ian Happ # (CF) .806 E. Jimenez (LF) .803 Andrew Vaughn (DH) .740 J. Harrison (2B) .716 Bench: Leury Garcia # (INF/OF) .648; Adam Engel (OF) .644; Yasmani Grandal # (C) .793; Jake Burger (INF) .769 Cubs save $10M. Heyward likely would be DFA'd. Willson Contreras would really help the pitching staff, IMO, and also the lineup. He has only caught 47 games this season, so will be fresh for the second half (unlike overworked Kimbrel last year). Grandal would catch veterans Lynn and Cueto, WIllson catches Lucas, Kopech and Cease. Grandal and Burger can also DH once or twice a week depending on pitching, Vaughn spelling Eloy in LF. Shift Robert to RF when Happ is starting, otherwise, Robert plays CF and Engel RF. If not able to pull off, I'd just target Ramon Lauerano or Tyler Naquin for RF. Fire Menechino, tell players to lift the ball and let's take this horseshit AL Central and perhaps make some noise in the playoffs.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34258984/boston-red-sox-chris-sale-exits-first-inning-comebacker-hits-throwing-hand

The Yankees are only trading Gallo if they obtain an actual Right Fielder replacement from somewhere else beforehand. Also, they would have zero interest in Pollock, just like 28 other MLB teams. Would shop for the two top targets below. Ramon is RH, but has solid career numbers vs. RHP (.769 OPS) and is a solid starter. Naquin is LH and a good platoon option. Likely available RFers (Teams are out of it, looking to sell): Best targets: Ramon Laureano (Oakland); Tyler Naquin (Reds). Can Field but Can't Hit: Avisail Garcia (Marlins); Robbie Grossman (Detroit); Jackie Bradley Jr. (Boston). Can Hit, Can't Field, Old: Charlie Blackmon (Rockies). Shitty Options: Jason Heyward (Cubs); Whit Merrifield (Royals); Kole Calhoun (Texas); Wil Myers (Caufield).

Hanging around, nothing to do but frown Sox Baseball and Mondays always get me down.....

There's always the hot stove league to look forward to.

Like a degenerate gambler at the blackjack table down a grand and hoping to get even.

Rick told us if we sat through 3-4 years of tanking, which incidentally wasn't much different than Hahn's first seasons, the Sox would be playing in a "multiple championship" window. Sir, when can we expect this phase to begin? Is it a "personal vendatta" to hold management accountable for what they promised but failed to deliver?

Usually would be fine with Abreu getting a day of rest from the field. However, with the All Star Break tomorrow, it would have been nice to have our best available defensive lineup out there today with Robert, Pollock & Eloy out. Abreu 1B, Vaughn LF, Garcia CF, Engel RF, Sheets DH. Hope Cease gets 12 Ks and makes it irrelevant.

Great, now Tony will be replaced by Omar Vizquel.

The Sox have the revenue base to compete among the Top 10 in MLB without moving or building a new stadium. Cubs attendance is irrelevant, I wish Jerry moved to TB, he would be stuck with the absolute worst situation in baseball. Chicago could very well have attracted an AL Expansion franchise in the 1990s. The Chicago market is not considerably different than Los Angeles, and is far better than San Francisco / Oakland, or Washington / Baltimore. I hope a Billionaire fights for a Chicago AFC franchise after the asshat bears move to Arlington Heights, Decatur, or wherever the hell they end up after leaving our city. Hell, move the Football Cardinals back here.

Which would make it even more imperative to be lighter so he can be fresh, bounce back after starts, not skip Spring Training and the first few months of the season. Lynn wore down last season and admitted to knee issues. He allowed 20 ER in his final six starts (30 innings). Lynn has given up 30 ER in his first seven starts this season (36 innings). The combined 13 game stretch amounts to a 6.82 ERA. Dallas Keuchel's ERA with the White Sox (2020-2022) was 2 runs lower (4.79).

I don't see a scenario, beside a player injured, that Tony wouldn't go with a combination (order TBD) of Lynn, Lucas and Cease as his first three in a playoff series. Lynn is Tony's "Guy", unlike a Keuchel who was brought in before Tony got there. Tony wanted Lynn to go twice in Houston last ALDS, if necessary, saying Lynn could go twice on short rest. It was apparent to most on SoxTalk Lynn should have been pushed back until Game 3 or 4 against Houston, because he has gotten absolutely pummeled by the Astros at Minute Maid the past two seasons. His best chance at possible success was at Comiskey Park II. https://www.baseball-reference.com/tools/split_stats.cgi?full=1&params=site|HOU03|lynnla01|pitch|IP| In terms of Cueto, there is a long way to go this season. Hopefully he can keep pitching well and stay healthy. They will have a decision to make if he is, because it will be hard to tell their pitcher of the future he's not starting this in the 2022 playoff either (he pitched twice from the bullpen last year). Kopech said he'll have this knee issue through the end of the season, so that may be a convenient excuse to leave him off the first round playoff roster.

Pretty sure your Grandpa lifted that from Dean Wormer. It's less "making fun" than disappointment that a professional athlete paid $18M a year has no interest in losing weight after significant weight problems both with the Cardinals and over the past two years here. If Cueto had knee issues, missed months of baseball, was terrible when he returned, you would hear similar comments, even though he's being paid $14M less. With the Cardinals, Lynn hired a personal chef, lost 30 pounds, and was healthy enough for sustained success. https://www.si.com/edge/2014/05/27/how-caveman-diet-transformed-st-louis-pitcher-lance-lynn https://www.mlb.com/news/lindsay-berra-st-louis-cardinals-pitcher-lance-lynn-gains-plenty-from-weight-loss/c-63333280