South Side Hit Men

Huge difference between 50% in a bar, and 50% in a 40,000 seat stadium. 20,000 vectors from the entire region convening for 3 hours on a daily basis can blow up COVID issues very fast. Sometime this Summer is a safer bet for an initial roll out of up to 25% capacity.

This is nonsense. Don't have Hahn tell me they're "All in" for "Multiple World Series Championships", and dick around with service time games which may not even matter with the new CBA, especially in light of the fact the AAA season has been pushed to May at this point, may be pushed yet again. Talking about Vaughn, not Kopech. Kopech should be kept back not for service time games, but to build up his arm as a starter, not another La Russa Bullpen Boy Toy.

The money would have been spent, just not on Eaton. Not sure why you post two backup catchers as being simultaneously in any lineup. Don't see them both on the 26 man together beyond Grandal IR stints.

I'd take Pederson for primary RF if given the chance, Engel would be my second choice over acquiring Eaton.

Not so fast. It's a battle royale at this point, with 10 votes a piece for Moncada and Grandal. Tight also between MVP and youth speed in the doubles race, with Luis 1 vote ahead of Abreu, and Tim, Yoan and Eloy within a few votes of the lead.

LOL at the hot takes. There certainly should be no crying in exhibition baseball.

Looking forward to seeing Lucroy, wonder if he will be Lucas' new personal catcher.

Sadly, this is still widely pervasive in society. I am required to take a Sexual Harassment course, required for all Illinois licensed professionals (I'm a early retiree CPA, keeping my license at least one renewal period) due to the severity of what happened in Springfield the past several years and a law to combat it. Also see what has happened in Albany, and decades long abuse in Hollywood and many other industries. Media is at least covering these issues openly as of late, and hopefully awareness and intolerance of permitting this to continue forces change sooner rather than later.

I'm waiting to see what happens. As long as they get their innings to allow both to start later this year or entering 2022, there are solid reasons for leaving to develop under Katz. However, if they finish healthy, but with 70-90 2021 innings due to "Win Today" trumping development, than Fuck/Fire La Russa, and Hahn for permitting it to happen. 200 inning starters >>>>> 60-80 inning relievers

I'm hopeful there will be new ownership (JR would be 88 in 2024) and/or the White Sox' attendance due to successful previous seasons will bump up the payroll after the new CBA. The current or a new FO will need to shifting the payroll primarily committed to older FAs acquired the past two off-seasons, to retaining the current core young players. Hopefully the club can draft and develop enough key players over the next few years to keep a competitive window open beyond 2023/24. I'm hopeful both Lucas and Tim remain with the club after their current deals expire, but don't expect a contract extension before their current deals expire or a "hometown discount".

Beckham (PED Suspension) can't start the year with the White Sox and Mendick is also a lock. LuCroy vs. Collins is thee battle, though both could start the year if the Sox play service time games with Vaughn. C Grandal, Lucroy IF Abreu, Anderson, Madrigal, Mendick, Moncada, Vaughn. OF Eaton, Engel, Garcia, Jimenez, Robert. Pitching will be more fluid, with pitchers with options including Kopech and Crochet to float on/off the 26 man roster all season. I expect Cordero to be with the team all season when healthy, and that Lopez will start for the Sox, not come out of the bullpen beyond perhaps if a starter goes down or available as a long man for a doubleheader.

Adding a second poll for a few categories I believe are more wide open than the three selected for the first poll.

HR: Eloy over Jose Hits: Tim over Abreu SB: Luis over Tim Doubles and OBP are the two most wide open polls in terms of numbers of legitimate options. I can see a half dozen viable selections for each of the two.

Got Wood?

I like this plan if they stick with it. As long as they get to 100-120 with Kopech, and 80-100 with Crochet, they can be legitimate starters next year with reasonable innings management. If they are healthy and top out at 70-80 to maximize the “NOW” Tony stated on the Score, than you are shortchanging the current and future window. Sale had to fight to the death to stop a permanent bullpen role, these two shouldn’t face a similar fate. I’m hopeful they stick with their stated plan, and not allow Tony’s today is the only day that matters to trump prudent development and long term needs of the club. It is not or should not be a 1-2 year window.

Neither are bad players, but $36M is too much of this team’s payroll over the next 3 years on a $125M budget. That significant commitment has and will continue to take away flexibility for other needs that haven’t, and continue to go unfilled. Also, unlike Hendriks, where the Sox were clearly in a competitive bidding process with other teams, no other team were handing either $18M AAV for four years. Keuchel is a 3 or 4 on a competitive playoff team at this point, and was out of gas trying to get through 60 games last year. I mentioned Grandal’s games caught, because i don’t believe it’s likely Grandal can or even should catch 120 anymore, and don’t believe he’ll top 100 here (gaining 40 + more games played, if healthy, at 1B/DH). I’m looking at it over 4 years, not just the 60 games. Lynn made the most sense of all the deals because he is a legitimate 2 or 3, and it’s one year deal. A 1 year + option deal at year end might make sense, if they (I’d say shortsightedly) don’t allow Kopech or Crochet to stretch enough to start next year.

Definitely worth listening to the replay once it’s on WSCRs website. Great to hear from Tim today!

Glad they got this closed out, looking forward to how he progresses this season.

https://www.radio.com/670thescore/podcasts/best-of-the-score-20603/tony-la-russa-on-rejoining-the-white-sox-357967190 TDLR: "So Crochet, Kopech, uh, are, uh, the organization's attitude is that, what's best now. And there's no doubt that Kopech, and probably, possibly Crochet, as a starter later. But for this year, for them and for us, that they start the year in the bullpen. and it makes it deeper and deeper." So there is hedging and or thinking through what he wanted to reveal there. I believe most people will interpret that direct quote to mean is development of the two primary SP prospects in the White Sox organization takes a back seat to the bullpen needs of 2021. If the plan is to eventually work both 2-3 + innings well into the season for a good number of appearances to reach 100-120 innings, on the road to becoming starters in 2022, it's a good / acceptable plan, though I can also see an argument to stretch them out in the minors to start the season. If they are going 70-80 innings in 2021, with the sole/primary consideration during the season being how do we win "today", be it July 3 or April 29, or September 15, then this will be a long term waste of valuable assets.

Its public knowledge how Hahn spent on a substantial external free agent budget ($64M last year, over $35M + carryovers this year). You know who has and can interpret "way more data and information"? Just about every other Front Office in MLB. The best and brightest in the game, reading books. Rick Hahn, reads tweets.

The evidence is you can disagree, but you would be wrong. Money matters, but Hahn will piss it away every time. Let's focus on the second White Sox window Hahn is "trying" to win, since as we all know, his first go around sucked ass (2013-2016 - Four straight years of terrible under .500 baseball, missing an 100 loss season by a game). 2019-2020 Off-season - Biggest Needs (Multiple Starting Pitchers & Right Field, one or two RPs). 2020 Budget for external free agents $64M $18.3M - Hahn's biggest contract - a lengthy contract (15% of payroll) to a catcher on the wrong side of 30. Caught just over half of games in a shortened season. $18.0M - May as well handcuff the club further with another overpay and lengthy deal for Keuchel, who can't top 90 MPH. $12.0M - Hahn just HAS TO HAVE yet another negative WAR mid 30s DH on his resume. The one saving grace, not another four year deal. $9.7M - Gio Gonzalez and Steve Cishek - Yeah, we found a playoff starter and late inning guy. $5.6M - Yes, Hahn filled the RF hole. Take a bow. Extends Ricky Renteria through at least 2021, fires him 63 games later after their best record by far under GM Hahn. Not counted in the $60M budget, eating $8.5M with Kelvin Herrera, because well who wouldn't want to spend $18M when your tanking on Kelvin Herrera. 2020-2021 Off-season - Biggest Needs (wait for it, multiple starting pitchers and a RF plus one or two RPs). 2021 Budget for external free agents $64M $28M + Grandal and Soft toss Keuchel signed last year. $8.0M - I "promise" this former clubhouse cancer is better than Mazara. Hangs up on the flagship radio station interview 2 minutes in. Brings a negative WAR as well. The several better RF candidates, some of which are cheaper with any patience? No, White Sox policy is to sign a RFer before Christmas, doesn't matter if they are any good. $9.6M - Yes, we have a solid young SP, but why keep our youth when you can trade for a guy Tony knows. This is the best of Hahn's transactions, assuming he doesn't do something stupid like extend him 2-3 more years into his late 30s. $13.0M - You have solid internal candidates, can return Colome for $5M. Still have other ways to spend money. No, we need more guys La Russa knows. Long term contracts to relievers in the 30s, usually works out well. Hopefully a good chunk goes to pet rescue, at least it is a worthy cause. $4-5 +M? Signs Tony La Russa, because hey when you have a mid market payroll, why not pay for two managers.

Well, he has been a HUGE hit at the MLB owners meetings for the past several years.

Jerry Reinsdorf to fans: Fuck You! Rick Hahn to fans: Fuck You! Steve Stone to fans: Fuck You! This is White Sox Baseball. I do agree the money isn’t necessarily the issue. The primary issue is the way Hahn has spent it during his tenure that has resulted in his abysmal record, even during the years the team actually “tried”.

In reality, baseball would be better off contracting two teams. Leading up to 2020, owners were considering expansion this decade. COVID has changed this stance in significant ways: There is no appetite or money for new stadium taxpayer shakedown schemes. As the proportion of overall net revenue from shared sources increases (National TV, MLB.com, etc), the short term $ boast from expansion fees are offset by the fact teams split less of the overall pie. While revenues hold on for now in terms of RSNs, and attendance declines are offset by raising ticket prices and auxiliary revenue, baseball demographics continue to trend in the wrong direction. Part of this is due to MLB’s antiquated management of the game. Until owners truly repair their relationship with the players and fans, and better promote said players and the game as a whole, this trend will continue. The least desirable markets remain, at least domestically. You may get short term fan interest, but demographics in terms of market size and revenues will soon render these new franchises revenue sharing/welfare teams. Baseball needs more Harlem Globetrotters and less Washington Generals.

Good post. Grandal / Abreu will get plenty of DH time (Grandal also 1B) as well. If LuCroy is healthy and good enough to make the team, I believe Tony will play him twice a week. Assuming no IR stints, I’m projecting 2021 games caught as follows: Grandal 97 LuCroy 58 Collins/Mercedes/Zavala 7 If there is a significant injury to Grandal, I expect Tony will order Hahn to pick up a grizzled veteran he likes within 48-72 hours of diagnosis from one of the dozen plus “tanking” teams around the league to split time with LuCroy.