South Side Hit Men

I see the excess pay more as a marketing angle for Japan dollars than competitive outlays. See Ohtani pitching likely pitching between 400-600 innings tops under this deal, and expect serious hitting regression during the final portion of the deal. Yamamoto should be exciting for a few years. but again this is a large an overpay if strictly evaluating for competitive purposes. The Dodgers are going to sell a lot of s%*# in Japan and subsequently raise the value of the club. That's the primary focus of these two deals. If these guys were Chuck Cornshucker from Nebraska and Jesus Isreal from the Dominican Republic with the same baseball pedigree, these deals would be for a fraction of what the Dodgers paid. JR lucked into the Hip Hop and Gang purchases of his merchandise in the 1990s and beyond without spending a nickel in marketing. He doesn't see the need for paying players to promote his merchandise, same as his view on fielding competitive teams and building a competitive front office. He'd prefer sacrificing additional revenue if the players were entitled to a portion.

No team, including the Mets and Dodgers who haven’t won a real season championship since 1980s, can win multiple championships without building a solid core group of players. The Yankees’ one recent stretch was in the 1990s when the core of their roster was homegrown players. Himes was the only GM hired by Jerry to build a successful core. Not sure Getz has it in him, but even a slim chance is better than the zero percent chance all of Jerry’s other GM hires provided. I will acknowledge Jerry’s ignorant meddling and other levels of douchebaggery (1994, 2020 lockout, TLR, etc) have hamstrung all of his FOs, including the current one. That said, this is the first time I recall them bringing in at least credible outside people instead of the typical cast of cronies we’ve experienced over the decades (TLR of course the exception). Gives me a sliver of hope there might be winning White Sox baseball this decade, even if Jerry is still breathing.

You have to be delusional believe the Astros were the only team, or one of only a handful of teams blatantly "cheating" during that era, including the Dodgers, Red Cubs and others. Didn't even win a single playoff game last season, started Lance Lynn in an elimination game. Sign absolute scum like Trevor Bauer and Jose Urena, Exciting for TMZ perhaps. All this handwringing that the Dodgers are unbeatable is completely laughable. They have vastly overspent the market over the past decade and have sucked ass each and every legitimate season when it mattered most. Bottom line is my statement is accurate as usual. No Dodger fan experienced a World Series victory played at Dodgers Stadium since they were changing Ronald Reagan's diapers in the White House. You have to be over 40 to even remember that far back.

Jose Valentin is the second best substantial MLB Free Agent signing (29 players signed for $10M +) in White Sox history as ranked by fWAR. White Sox MLB Free Agent Contracts * > $10M Ordered by Age: fWAR earned during the contract (including stats earned for other teams after DFA'd or Traded). Amounts Rounded. Age 28 $75M Andrew Benintendi 1.4 + 2024-2027 Age 29 $18M Kelvin Herrera 0.3 $13M Jessie Crain 3.5 Age 30 $60M Paul Konerko 10.3 $55M Albert Belle 13.5 $46M David Robertson 5.0 $42M Melky Cabrera 1.9 $20M Jamie Navarro 2.0 Age 31 $73M Yasmani Grandai 4.7 $56M Adam Dunn 0.0 $24M Kendall Graveman 0.6 + 2024 $19M Scott Linebrink 0.0 $17M Leury Garcia -1.1 + 2024 $16M Jose Valentin 10.7 $15M Welington Castillo -0.8 $10M Jermaine Dye 5.2 Age 32 $56M Dallas Keuchel 2.2 $54M Liam Hendriks 4.2 $15M Zach Duke 0.6 $12M Mike Clevinger 2.2 Age 33 $50M Jose Abreu 9.1 $12M Jeff Keppinger -1.7 Age 34 $17M Joe Kelly 1.4 $11M Octavio Dotel 1.4 $11M Tim Raines 4.0 Age 35 $38M Paul Konerko 3.3 $25M Adam LaRoche -1.2 Retired after one season $23M Frank Thomas 9.5 Age 37 $12M Edwin Encarnacion -0.4 Note *: Does not include international free agent signings.

I think the players support this rule change, but there was no need to make the other changes the players objected to. There should only be rule changes made within each CBA agreement, or when there is consensus agreement between players and owners.

Well one championship since 1951 in Los Angeles is a garbage record. And the 2020 fake 60 game season and garbage 16 team playoff has a major asterisk. 1988 was the last Dodgers championship during an actual MLB season.

Rams have been as pathetic as the Dodgers during the past four decades. Here we go Steelers, Here we go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OSX3Y-EObk

The State of the Union for Cuban White Sox remains very strong. Cuban Connection Position Player fWAR 2019-2023 Cubans vs. Non Cubans 2019 7.1 (JA, YM) 4.2 2020 5.1 (JA, YM, LR Jr.) 8.2 2021 9.9 (JA, YM, LR Jr.) 12.9 2022 6.8 (JA, YM, LR Jr.) 8.1 2023 6.2 (YM & LR Jr.) vs. -2.9 Total Cubans 35.1 vs. 30.5 Everyone Else

I noted this needs to be negotiated. No team or league is going to leave money on the table. The league needs to balance accessibility to reach the maximum viewers / revenue, and also balance the different places as you mention each team is at (some own RSNs, some are much more profitable). That said, both are leaving a lot of money on the table by limiting subscribers with these arcane blackout rules. These made sense 30-40 years ago between media right sales and a large portion of the country dutiful cable TV / satellite subscribers. However, people have finally caught up to me 25 years ago and are cutting the cord in the millions each year, and streaming/maximum subscription avenues are required both for the short and long term health of the game. Its going to take a delicate balancing act. The Yankees must play other MLB teams for the YES! Network to succeed. I would incision some sort of solution with the larger market teams sharing a FMV portion of the RSN revenue (MLB team side, not the networks themselves), and in return that being part of an offset the revenue sharing formula.

2022 MSA Population & Population Growth 2022 vs. 2000 Current MLB Expansion Contenders: 4.4M Montreal (4.3M vs. 3.4M +0.9M) 2.8M Charlotte (2.8M vs. 1.3M +1.5M) 2.8M Orlando (2.8M vs. 1.7M +1.1M) 2.5M Portland (2.5M vs. 1.9M +0.6M) 2.3M Oakland (2.3M * vs. 2.1M +0.2M) 2.0M Nashville (2.0M vs. 1.3M +0.7M) 1.5M Raleigh (1.5M vs. 0.8M +0.7M) 1.3M Salt Lake City (1.3M vs. 1.0M +0.3M) Additional United States Cities - MSAs > 1.6M #41 Milwaukee (MLB's current smallest MSA) 4.7M Riverside (4.7M vs. 3.3M +1.4M) 2.7M San Antonio (2.7M vs. 1.7M +1.0M) 2.4M San Juan (2.4M vs. 2.5M -0.1M) 2.4M Austin (2.4M vs. 1.3M +1.1M) 2.4M Sacramento (2.4M vs. 1.8M +0.6M) 2.1M Indianapolis (2.1M vs. 1.5M +0.6M) 1.8M Virginia Beach (1.8M vs. 1.6M +0.2M) 1.7M Jacksonville (1.7M vs. 1.1M +0.6M) 1.7M Providence (1.7M vs. 1.6M +0.1M) Additional International Cities for comparison purposes: 40.8M Tokyo (40.8M vs. 31.7M +9.1M) 22.0M Mexico City (22.0M vs. 18.5M +3.5M) 10.0M Seoul (10.0M vs. 9.9M +0.1M) 2.6M Vancouver (2.6M vs. 2.0M +0.6M) Note *: Oakland's listed MSA is 1/2 of the total. for the area

Yes, but even if only say 10 RSNs are owned by teams, they will never give them up. What is needed is an agreement across all thirty teams in terms of Split across MLB for RSN revenue (if any). Elimination of all blackout restrictions in exchange for a surcharge paid to Direct TV/ Internet Providers/National TV Providers. This is theoretically what it would look like: Subscription to a single team: $79 Anywhere in the world beyond the local broadcasting market $129 Anywhere within the local broadcast market - The difference is paid to the RSN and providers. Subscription to all teams: $179 All games except for games broadcast in your local area & national telecasts $229 All games except national telecasts - A portion shared with RSNs $279 All games including national telecasts - A portion shared with both RSNs and National Broadcasters Playoff Subscription: $59 International Customers $99 United States Customers - Portion shared with National Broadcasters Don't think they can get all 30 teams done at the same time, but the whole lot of teams currently going through MLBAM can start the process, and the remaining teams will convert after their current contracts expires. No teams will have the right to not join the above once their current contracts expire.

Nicky Lopez, Paul DeJong, several others.

This article is great, thanks for linking! I didn't realize Frank Thomas was the person responsible for recommending Belle to Jerry, before he signed him on his own (and then dumped him shortly thereafter once his hissy fit against the other owners was finished). This is another great article about the period. https://vault.si.com/vault/1997/06/30/is-jerry-reinsdorf-the-belligerent-union-buster-he-appeared-to-be-during-the-baseball-strike-the-turncoat-who-signed-albert-belle-to-a-55-million-contract-to-play-for-the-white-sox-the-lunatic-who-might-break-up-the-bulls-dynas And this article lays out when Larry Lucchino b**** slapped Jerry Reinsdorf in the owners meeting, with Wayne Huizenga, Drayton McLane and Fred Wilpon joining in on the fun. https://www.chicagotribune.com/nydn-archives-sports-belle-finally-tolls-chisox-reinsdorf-1-748773-story.html Jerry Reinsdorf - Ludacris since 1981.

It would be ironic that Gordon Beckham would be passed over in favor of Thom Brenamann. It’s like rain, on Opening Day…

Will they pair him with Glen Kuiper? Mike North and of course Ozzie Guillen on Pre/Post. Jim Katt the fill in for vacations.

There are many here old enough to remember this was a 50/50 Sox/Cubs town. Jerry destroyed both the fanbase and billions in value over the past 43 years. Minority White Sox shareholders were charged a $2B asshole tax for ceding all control to Jerry. 1981 Franchise values: January 1981: American League owners force Bill Veeck to sell to Jerry Reinsdorf instead of Edward DeBartolo for $20M. June 1981: The Tribune Company purchases the Chicago Cubs from the Wrigley Family for $20.5M. March 2023 Forbes Franchise Value estimates: $4.1B Chicago Cubs $2.05B Chicago White Sox

Jerry crying poor and selling off Cease to the Pittsburgh Pirates would be Chef’s Kiss. “My first instinct was to interview within and then talk to these other (outside) candidates,” Jerry Reinsdorf said. "But that moved me to the thought of what I owe the fans. The thing I know is that I owe the fans a path to getting better as fast as I can. Speed is of the essence. I don't want this to be a long-term proposition.” - August 2023 “ If anyone thinks we can compete with ball clubs like the Pittsburgh Pirates, they’re crazy.” - December 2023

$115M - $130M has been his comfort range post World Series, with the two TLR years the exception. There has been substantial increases in revenue and inflation, so hoping for a new normal range of $140M-$160M. The reductions this offseason at this point are reasonable, because the ticket base has to be the lowest since the 1994 + White Flag Trade years to close out the 1990s. I predicted 2024 payroll in the $120M-$139M range (pegged it at $128M) before the offseason began based primarily on the lack of expected variable revenue this season. Hopeful Getz and his FO can form a decent core lineup and staff by 2026, with more enjoyable baseball to follow in season the next two years until current and future acquisitions are ready to be promoted.

Thank you! Hope all is well on your end in Idaho! Would be better if the Sox were better, but hopefully they will at least be in a better place within a few seasons. Miss going to Sox games regularly, but hopefully we get new ownership later this decade and I'll feel comfortable supporting financially beyond a random Stubhub games or friend / family ticket invites.

Sad, you are the only poster mentioning teams should be "forced" to stay open beyond the league denying a move. Again, what many here and moral fair-minded people advocate is for government to giving billionaires (or anyone) billions of dollars. Not the Kleptocracy praised by the corporate media. Not surprised you are for it. Also, I'm fine with the current state of baseball, the same as 97% of Americans who do anything besides watch the farce known as the "World Series". Teams competing for the "Piece of Metal" as your Boo calls it. No different than the cheap Chinese plastic s%*# for sale at Walmart or the Dollar Store.

TexSox won’t be happy until there is a 32 team playoff. The 162 game season is pretty much an exhibition game season if every team slightly above, possibly below .500, makes a playoffs as is the case now. We gave up our Hawks season tickets after they switched from a division playoff format to this NBA Style Conference nonsense that will likely occur. There were great division rivalries when you literally fought your way out of the division against the same hated teams and players. Once MLB went beyond 8 Playoff teams, my playoff interest went from mild post 1994 expansion to non existent. I wouldn’t bother getting Sox playoff tickets to all the home games like I did in 1983 and 2005. It’s just a money grab at this point, not a contest of the elite teams in baseball.

Tales of SoxFest of lore….. 7,500 Sox Fans (2000-2001 Offseason) https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-02-04-0102040371-story.html "We paid a high price to get David Wells," Williams told Sox fans. "Aces don't come cheap. It comes down to ultimately what you have to do to get to the next level, and for us, that's the championship level.” "Don't look at his body," Harold Baines said of Wells. "Look at what he does on the mound." Asked what David Wells might be able to teach him this year, Kip Wells responded, "He'll probably show me how to down some beers." Manager Jerry Manuel announced Jim Parque will start the home opener against Detroit on April 6 at Comiskey Park “That will bring all the `brawl thing' back," Manuel said, referring to Parque's igniting of the Sox-Tigers brawl last April. "That will be a good little thing. That'll bring people to the park."

1. MLB owners already staged a sixteen team playoff during their fake lockout season, and wanted 14 teams during the last CBA. They have been talking about team and playoff expansion for years, and it’s not for shits and giggles. 2. They have also discussed conference style / geographic alignment for years. Started the process with the absolute garbage interleague and “crosstown” drunk brawl puke series. Both of the above are certain, it’s just a matter of when. 3. Seven inning games is a bigger lift, but once again MLB already implemented this for DH, they are obsessed at driving games into the 120-150 minute range. I threw in home run derby extra innings for fun, but the Manfred Man rule has also been established, which is a similar abomination. As always, hear me now and believe me later. My Division alignments were based on what would likely pass / be feasible to owners. In some ways, geographic realignment makes sense. If it were up to me, there would be four eight team divisions and no wild cards or inter league, and Houston and Milwaukee would return to their original leagues, which would make you happy Miami and Tampa really shouldn’t have teams due to lack of interest, and need all the help they can get in terms of fan interest. The Royals get no benefit playing in the AL Central in terms of fan interest, so a change to get the Cardinals and Cubs should help at the box office. Colorado would benefit by shifting to low market / low quality opponents (A’s, Mariners, Angels) This would be my realignment if I could wave a wand. Schedule 162 Games (Division 14 X 7 = 98 + Opposite Division 8 X 8 = 64) Playoffs League Championship Series (Best of Seven - Starts First Wednesday in October) Interleague All Star Game & World Series (Best of Seven - Starts Third Tuesday in October) American League East: Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Nashville, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto West: Chicago, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Seattle, Texas National League East: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Miami, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington West: Arizona, Chicago, Colorado, Houston, Los Angeles, Saint Louis, San Diego, San Francisco

I retired at 50 just before COVID. My career was in Finance. I like diving into statistics and baseball history, so at times I’ll go down rabbit holes at times for my personal knowledge or entertainment. Played Rotisserie starting in 1985 for the same reasons. I also do some volunteer work and bail from Chicago for about a month each Winter, but travel and other plans changed significantly with the COVID and other external BS over the past four years. The best laid plans…..

It’s an assumption based on what we’ve and MLB has seen in terms of ability and health issues over the years. Really hope he mentally accepts his new role and can have a healthy solid season, preferably for the Sox. His contract over the next few years is still reasonable if he could ever play to his skill potential. In terms of other posts today speculating on our final payroll, we have mixed clues but nobody beyond Jerry and possibly Getz knows which of the three routes they will take since they have been silent this entire offseason. A. They will acquire an at least adequate starting RF and a few pitchers who may pan out, perhaps a legitimate #2-#3 SP - Add $20M- $30M from here after their initial cuts, retaining significant savings over 2023. B. They have cut what they planned, may trade Cease and their payroll and add a few low end pieces as an offset. Payroll will not significantly change from here on out. C. They will cut salary and dump anyone else they possibly can, including Cease, Eloy and if possible Yoan and Benintendi, prioritizing salary relief over player/prospect acquisition. I believe B. is the likely scerario, but it would be a nice surprise for the Sox to come in at a $130M-$140M payroll and the Sox actually give fans some reason for optimism heading into Spring Training.