South Side Hit Men

True, but he was born in 1956, Don is a a mere baby compared to Reinsdorf (1936), or his hires last year of Stone (1947) and La Russa (1944).

2021 is to build arm strength and for Robert, Eloy and Madrigal to gain additional experience working through their first full MLB seasons (Eloy had one season over 60 games). The key to any World Series window is player development over the next two seasons. If you get two Kopech, Cease and Crochet to dveelop into top 3 starters, and cover their two outfield corners internally and move Eloy to DH/1B in 2023, they will have a legitimate shot at competing for a World Series. Beyond 2023, they need to commit future top contracts to Anderson and Lucas, and move away from the early-mid 30 year old free agents / trade acquisitions. This all assumes Jerry and Tony continue running the show. New ownership can institute consistent winning windows by upgrading the FO, field a consistent top 10 payroll, and invest in player development and talent acquisition in the States, to help complement Marco Paddy's great job. Young cost controlled players remain the key to consistent success.

Step aside Nick Madrigal, you’ve come up short among 2020 White Sox in delusional statements on reaching baseball milestones. https://mobile.twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1356403204335017984

First of all, the nature of this discussion is what we would do as GM. This is what I would have done. My lineup and rotation are better than the current one, with the same or less payroll. Second, the Sox outperformed all expectations under Ricky Renteria. They lost at the end because they had one decent starting pitcher in the playoffs. Hahn assembled a team that did not have enough starting pitching depth to cover 63 games, let alone a real season against real teams outside of the pathetic Central Divisions which couldn't win a single series against legitimate teams. Keuchel, Hahn's biggest signing, sucked ass when it mattered most. Grandal's fWAR was the equivalent (1.7 vs. 1.5) as McCann, and Grandal's enormous contract is a mistake which already cost the club in flexibility this off-season based on their cheap ass owner. Parrot and Mazara sucked ass, another waste of $17M. Despite all that money done the drain, when the games were on the line, Ricky Renteria lead the White Sox to their best record since the 00s. Hahn extended Rick Renteria 60 games prior to Jerry's firing. He would still be here if Jerry's BFF could avoid repeated trips to jail. Nobody in their right mind would hire someone gone from managing from over a decade.

This might be the first accurate and relevant set of tweets in the history of that sordid website. How pathetic that the paid propoganda hacks at MLB.com blocked an intelligent and worthy rebuttal to their rubbish. If I had an account, I'd ask Baghdad Jon why the hell he blocked an experienced Labour Attorney from responding. Here is the response from the MLBPA:

Alderson and Mozeliak are smart and patient, and have owners willing to spend among the top 10 in MLB. They White Sox, not so much by any measure. Following the Bulls now for the first time in decades. Huge change in Bulls fortunes now that Jerry and his crony FO have been removed from the situation. Hopeful this also happens with the local team I care most about in the next few seasons.

Eric Kay/ Tyler Skaggs, Bubba Harkins and now Callaway. Lots of recent problems in Anaheim.

This, that is why I am against extending Lynn, or the 4 year Grandal / Keuchel contracts. 2023 gets ugly quick if Keuchel vests and or they extend Lynn and not increase payroll accordingly. 2023 = Six Players for $90M with the top three old and likely declining, Lynn makes it over $105M for seven: 35 Keuchel ($20M if 160 IP 2021 & 2022) 35 Grandal ($18.3M) 34 Hendricks ($14.3M) 28 Moncada ($17.8M) 27 Jimenez ($10.3M) 25 Robert ($9.5M).

fWAR Steamer vs. WARP projections for remaining free agents with over 1.0 projected fWAR 1.0 + differences in bold Trevor Bauer 3.8 vs. 2.8 (fWAR Loves) Justin Turner 3.1 vs. 3.3 Marcell Ozuna 2.9 vs. 3.1 James Paxton 2.1 vs. 2.1 Kolton Wong 1.9 vs. 3.2 (PECOTA Loves) Rick Porcello 1.8 vs. 0.8 (fWAR Loves) Chris Archer 1.7 vs. 1.4 Jake Odorizzi 1.7 vs. 1.3 Matt Shoemaker 1.5 vs. 0.2 (fWAR Loves) Yodier Molina 1.3 vs. 1.1 Jackie Bradley Jr. 1.2 vs. 1.1 Taijuan Walker 1.2 vs. 0.8 Brett Anderson 1.2 vs. 0.5 Nelson Cruz 1.2 vs. 2.8 (PECOTA Loves) Brett Gardner 1.1 vs. 1.7

There is a CBA in place. The owners can do the right thing in the first time in forever and abide to the deal they signed. Period.

$ Saved / Not Signed (in 2020/21): LaRussa ($3M-$5M?) - WTF - Absolute Dumpster Fire on all levels. Ricky stays as was Hahn and Kenny's intention 60 games and best season in decades before Jerry fired him for his criminal BFF. Grandal ($18.3M) - Didn't like the signing at the time due to age/$s committed as a mid market payroll Keuchel ($18.0M) - Understood the signing at the time, don't have confidence it will work out, hope he doesn't vest the final season Eaton ($8.0M) - Child, please. Should have signed a higher cost quality player and clubhouse presence. OK Hendricks and Lynn - OK with both, though don't want an extension for Lynn. Rodon - Whatever, cheap option with upside Signing Alternatives Bradley $7M-$10M (perfect for defense, either start in CF or play on Robert off days / injuries. Pederson $7M-$10M (Would have signed him ultimately, could have if they didn't jump the gun on Eaton. Fine with a second year option / deal). Goes to LF, Jimenez to DH. McCann $8M-$10M Flowers $3M Kluber $11M Quintana $8M Lineup: SS Anderson 3B Moncada 1B Abreu DH Jimenez LF Pederson CF Robert RF Bradley Jr. C McCann 2B Madrigal Rotation: 1 Giolito 2 Lynn 3 Kluber 4 Quintana 5 Kopech 6 Cease 7 Lopez 8 Rodon

Baseball Prospectus released PECOTA projections today. Below are players projections at the 50 percentile rate. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/64332/pecota-2021-short-seasons-variance-and-collaboration/ Three projections presented: OPS & WARP = Baseball Prospectus WAR Projections + Comparable (Player at respective Age) C Grandal .790 / 4.7 Jorge Posada CF Robert .732 / 3.2 Victor Robles 1B Abreu .849 / 2.9 Cecil Fielder 2B Madrigal .756 / 2.7 Breyvic Valera LF Jimenez .834 / 2.6 Pete Incaviglia 3B Moncada .759 / 2.3 Brandon Lowe SS Anderson .732 / 2.0 Dale Svuem RF Eaton .711 / 1.9 Lloyd Moseby fip / WARP / Comparable (Player at respective Age) Giolito 3.96 / 2.9 / Jose Berrios Lynn 4.34 / 2.0 / Francisco Liriano Keuchel 4.41 / 1.4 / Garrett Richards Hendricks 3.17 / 1.3 / Tommy Hunter Kopech 4.80 / 0.9 / Trevor Bauer <== Jerry gave you Trevor Bauer afterall Rodon 4.89 / 0.5 / Daniel Mengden Cease 5.01/ 0.4 / Reynaldo Lopez <== Double the fun!!! Lopez 5.11 / 0.0 / Jose Berrios <== And two Berrios

The DH position has been a sad pathetic black hole since Jim Thome retired. I expect Vaughn to turn the tide, assuming he isn't traded, but it may take a year or two for him to acclimate to ML pitching. wRC+ & fWAR (Annual average for multi-year) 2020: E. Encarnacion 70 / -0.3 2019: Y. Alonso 54 / -1.3 17-18: M. Davidson 94.5 / -0.05 2016: A. Garcia 88 / 0.4 2015: A. LaRoche 77 / -1.2 11-14: A. Dunn 100 / 0.0 2010: M. Kotsay 80 / -1.2 06-09: J. Thome 137 / 2.7

There was at least one, and the current team is a possibility. Larry Himes assembled the key players for a legitimate World Series contender, but Jerry fired him, and then led his fellow owners / stooge commissioner to destroy their best chance at a World Series in 1994 . They also ruined baseball in Montreal simultaneously, more deadly than "Oswald's magic bullet" were their efforts. A similar CBA scenario is unfolding in 2021/2022, though Jerry does not hold the puppet strings over Manfred as he had over Bud. The larger concern is the fact several teams are assembling stronger teams, while the White Sox putter in their basement with a mid-level payroll in a league where a majority of teams tanking. Jerry's primary motivation over the years are spite/revenge and profit, in that order. He'll spend to spite those he can't control (Belle singing to spite his fellow owners), or withhold spending to punish those he attempts to exert complete control, which are the players, i.e. the only reason most fans care about White Sox baseball. Jerry will proudly wave a white flag to celebrate once this window is over, perhaps as early as 2024. Perhaps Jerry's happiest and proudest moment in life, pulling the plug on the Chicago Bulls championship run.

Thanks for posting. The article states "Jerry has virtually unfettered control", so there are restrictions, but much fewer restrictions than a typical LLCs, which the article points out. There is a very good possibility the White Sox will suck ass for perpetuity under this scheme, if his heirs or Jerry's hand picked potential successor, Andrew Berlin, obtains control from the estate. Andrew would need to sell his shares in the Cubs to assume control of the White Sox, but it sounds like the White Sox are his for the taking, and I can't see the League turning it down with Andrew already a minority owner of at least two teams. Sounds like Kenny and Hahn may live on Jerry's plantation for life, and life will suck for White Sox fans forever and beyond. Reminds me of this Twilight Zone episode.

Teams / leagues have ebbs and flows throughout time. My preferred format won't happen, even if MLB lost its anti-trust exemption, but the best format in terms of incentive to field competitive teams is the relegation / promotion process used by by most domestic leagues around the globe. If ownership chose not to compete at their current level, the entire franchise is sent down to the "minors". There would be few if any "tanking teams". This would allow new ownership groups to purchase teams and if they invest enough, they could be promoted over time to the major leagues. You wouldn't be forced to give the current cartel a billion dollars to enter their Congressional protected monopoly. Fans would actually be offered what they are paying for at their respective league level. All teams would be unaffiliated, ball clubs would have expanded rosters / current game day rosters similar to how Schaumburg and the AZ Fall League is held, which is where MLB is headed anyway. No drafts, all players are free agents. Also, no garbage playoff schemes. Round Robin regular season schedules across the entire league, playoffs limited to first place teams. The bottom 2 teams are relegated, top 2 teams promoted, throughout the various levels. Levels (Each league has a separate round robin schedule, no inter league beyond a Championship/World Series between the round robin winners, and a possible All Star Game): Top Tier - Bottom team in each league relegated, PCL and IL Champions Promoted. American League & National League Pacific Coast League & International League Second Tier - Top Teams in each of the four leagues play in a playoff (semi-final winners also promoted); last place teams do the same (the losing two are relegated). Eastern; Southern; Texas & California League Carolina; Mid-Atlantic; Midwest & Nortwest Florida State; South Atlantic; Arizona & Gulf Coast International Leagues like the Mexican and Dominican Leagues can sell their prospects to the highest bidder, at any level.

Cooper was given Lucas Giolito. Lucas had to literally leave the organization, go to his High School coach, and discard everything Cooper and the team tried to implement for naught. Always Be Coaching The leads aren't weak, you're weak.

1994-1995, when Bud Selig and friends literally killed baseball and attempted to play scabs, and allowed teams unable to beat out four teams as a wild card is when the credibility of baseball took a major hit. I lost interest in postseason baseball at that time. There have been several wild card champions / weak division champions since, including TLDR's you referenced. The 7-8 team division format / four postseason teams would mirror the equivalent ratio through 1968. A permanent 14-16 + team playoff expansion would render the regular season a lengthy exhibition season similar to the other sports. Baseball was unique in maintaining the integrity of the regular season until 1994. Back in the good old days, even as far back as a few years ago, nearly all teams were trying to field a quality team, now fans are down to a minority of teams. All five teams won the AL East within the past seven years. In fact, 13 of the 15 American League teams, the absolutely pathetic White Sox and Seattle Mariners the exceptions, have won their respective division in the past seven years. The answer is not to cheapen the process, the answer is to actually attempt to win baseball games.

I follow the regular season, primarily my rotisserie teams and the White Sox, but in terms of the playoffs I typically don’t watch or follow closely. I didn’t care last year after the Sox were out. If they went to sixteen teams permanent I wouldn’t care, or even bother to get Sox playoff tickets. It was special to go to all the games in 1983 and 2005, because the team earned a valid birth. Stepping up to buy tickets for a 82-80 “postseason team”, who gives a shit if they win some random crapshoot. Four (four eight team divisions post expansion) or six (Division champs #2 vs. #3 best if three) teams are the ideal playoff formats, in terms of rewarding actual 154/162 season. If a team is not good enough to win a four or five team division over six months, than you shouldn’t be eligible to be a “World Champion” on the basis of a 3-4 week tournament. Period.

I would be really interested in reading the story referenced, couldn’t find it. Beyond MLB ownership requirements and restrictions, it would be very unique agreement to allow the managing partner to do “anything he wanted” in terms of key partnership decisions, such as issuance of stock or debt, or departing from a board approved annual budget. Jerry can wake up one day and say, “I’m going to hire my BFF Tony” to a current position in the organization. But it would be a rare partnership agreement to allow Jerry to run a large operating loss without prior board approval. Jerry started out with 4% of shares, and I don’t believe his current % of ownership is publicly known. Even if Jerry wanted one more title “for the road”, I would suspect he could not unilaterally execute billions of dollars in player contracts (sign / acquire Trout, Machado, Harper, Tatis Jr., Freeman, Arenado, Cole, De Grom, Darvish, Kershaw, Yelich, Realmuto and more) even if he personally had the money or access to the money to do so and owned a majority of team shares.

Yes, **** these ****** ************* *********** ***** ** **** ******* ********. **** Rob, Jerry, and the other 29 ************ **** ** **** ***** ******** who would not only **** ***** ******, but would also send her ***, The proposal, however, would not guarantee full pay if the season was shorter than 154 games, while still giving Commissioner Rob Manfred authority to suspend the season for health concerns, according to two additional people with direct knowledge of the proposal. The union has steadfastly rejected the expanded postseason proposal in talks this winter, believing it would disincentivize teams’ willingness to spend if it would be easier to qualify for the playoffs.

Why settle for a view of the Chicago skyline and lake, when you can have an unobstructed view of the Robert Taylor homes. Reinsdorf and Wirtz, once a slumlord, always a slumlord.

Liked several comments / the discussion. I’m hoping pitch framing becomes irrelevant as early as the new CBA in 2022, after an electronic automated strike zone is approved and implemented, even if it hurts the Sox (paying Grandal in part for pitch framing through 2023).

Deleted original post. My post was before learning his 2021 option is deferred to 2022, so he remains in St. Louis a minimum 2 seasons.

The key for players to consider approving this proposed amendment to the current CBA agreement would be whether “full pay” is guaranteed (including any increased playoff compensation), even if regular season and or playoff games are cancelled / cannot be held or completed due to COVID or other unforeseen reasons. Otherwise, the players can just affirm to honor the current existing agreement, which calls for full pay of 162 games and the existing playoff format. The owners cannot deviate from the current agreement without either obtaining player approval and or violating the collective bargaining agreement and risk possible sanctions or financial penalties if successfully challenged in court. The players formally agreed last year to give MLB authorization to adjust the schedule as the commissioner saw fit, much to their (and our) detriment. Hopefully they learned from their mistake of trusting ownership to do the right thing.