South Side Hit Men

It's going to take new ownership, and a competent new FO to build an structure for scouting and organization development, the latter of which has been the weakest link. You can consistently call up solid major league player if you can develop them properly in the minor leagues. Look at Cleveland, Saint Louis, Tampa Bay, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers. Consistent success in developing and promoting solid callups year in and year out. The Sox have been on the opposite end of the spectrum for as long as I've been alive, with the short exception of the core 1990s talent built by Larry Himes before Jerry fired him for Ron Schueler.

But the trade didn't not tie Hahn's hands. He had available $18M more to spend, until his offseason decision to pick up Kimbrel's option. It was completely asinine since: They had zero intention of keeping him unless they couldn't find a taker, even for a marginal overpriced old player they don't need. At $18M, the Dodgers were literally the lone team willing and able to take on that salary and in need of a closer. The Mets have Diaz, the Yankees Bullpen is stacked, Atlanta signed Jensen and SD, SF and Boston weren't adding to payroll. The Sox were forced to eat an even more expensive contract for a fourth LF that Hahn tried to con fans and perhaps La Russa into being an option in Right Field. Pollock has played since 2012, and had exactly one start in RF heading into season number 11. Kimbrel's decision impacted the offseason far more than any other signing. It tied up 10% of the entire payroll, even after the major payroll increase authorized by Jerry to 7th highest in MLB. It was made solely to appease Hahn's fragile ego, doubling down on his fiasco "best trade deadline idea" in July, in an attempt to salvage something, anything, for giving up a reliver who pitched great the final two months with the Cubs, and a costly failed 3rd overall draft pick failure.

How is paying Pollock $26M for a literal 0.0 AAAA performance not an F or D? My list is also comprehensive. Where is Hahn's non QO offer to Rodon not on your list? Where is Free Agent signing Leury Garcia on your list? Both decisions impacted the Opening Day Roster, aka, were made in the "offseason".

We're going to need a bigger boat brain.

He was signed on a minor league deal, wasn't even on the 40 man roster during the offseason. I go by the Chicago White Sox Website, don't give a rats ass about Trade Rumors Dot Com. Feel free to make your own list.

Lynn Postgame: "I sucked. Blah Blah Blah. I eat steak. Blah Blah Blah."

Signed on Opening Day. Grades and discussion for the offseason / Opening Day Roster.

Rich Hahn's Offseason F 11/3 Pass on QO for Rodon F 11/7 Picked up Kimbrel Club Option B 11/30 Signed Kevin Graveman $24M/3 Yrs D 12/1 Signed Leury Garcia $16.5M / 3 Yrs (C for a 1-2 year deal, D because 3 year deal) B 1/25 Signed Oscar Colas for $2.7M C 3/14 Signed Vince Velasquez for $3.0M F 3/14 Signed Joe Kelly $17M / 2 yrs (or $25.5M / 3 Yrs - Sox Option) D 3/15 Signed Josh Harrison $5.5M / 1 yr (or $9.5M / 2 Yrs - Sox Option) D 3/29 Acquired Adam Haseley from Philadelphia for McKinley Moore D 4/1 Acquired AJ Pollock for Craig Kimbrel C 4/3 Acquired Reese McGuire for Zack Collins 4/8 = Opening Day GPA D

I hope Kenny takes away Tony's Cardinal Red Stapler and moves his office down to the basement of US Cellular

Triple Crown winner Citation in 1948. Bowler Don Carter is the first human after signing a $1M endorsement in 1964 for Ebonite. It's possible, perhaps likely, Lew Alcindor, aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was the first $1M team sport athlete during his time at UCLA. Lew most certainly took a pay cut to join the Milwaukee Bucks upon graduation in 1969 ($1,4M / 5 years) after rejecting the ABA New York Nets offer of $3.2M. Was already financially secure via "Papa Sam" Gilbert at UCLA to pass on $1.8M. John Wooden's Pyramid of Success

Once you get to a ridiculous greedy twelve team format, the regular season is rendered an 162 game exhibition, like the other North American professional sports leagues. Should be a six team playoff, Best of three for the 2nd and 3rd best Division winners, winner plays the top team in a best of seven series in the LCS.

Al Bundy > Dylan Bundy

Tony would start him as #1 or #2 if the playoffs started today. "He's a veteran, a fierce competitor. I went to war with him ten years ago. He's the first guy I'd call to go to war now."

Yep. He may lose some weight next year if he's interested in trying for a final deal, otherwise, he gets $38M the final two years plus the MLB Per Diem to gorge on Pizza and Beer. Didn't understand the rush to extend him in July. No interest in extending or even a QO offer for the pitcher 6 years younger.

It may take $500M to buy a loaf of bread by the time the contract expires.

The Twins are scum, they ruin the world. F Jim Kaat F Jackie Martling

Hope Rocco pencils in Jim Kaat on Sunday and the Sox beat him like a drum.

Nah, they can keep him, Kirby Puckett, Calvin Griffith, Josh Donaldson and the rest.

Pretty shitty they are honoring him with the White Sox in town. The Twins have always been a shitty organization, owned, operated and fielded by a bunch of asshole scumbags.

RALLY ENGEL

Hoping the traveling secretary gave Joe Kelly a plane ticket to Uzbekistan and he's quarantined for 10 weeks.

A Jerry Reinsdorf, Rick Hahn, Tony La Russa Production

He made Tony look bad in Cleveland by throwing strikes. He is now banned for life.