South Side Hit Men

Finally, someone with integrity upholding their own guarantee and or ban bet. Welchers, take note.

Brantley is and will be far superior in LF than Eloy. Sox have the same DH overload issue. This is a good signing.

Joe Maddon was likely the deciding factor if he received bids from any other team. They had a good relationship. Q’s clubhouse ties with the White Sox are gone.

I'd trade Eaton for Quintana, straight up.

I was fine with Kenny flipping his draft picks back in the day, as most never panned out. With the current crop of prospects, I would prefer to keep players like Kopech, Vaughn and Crochet. Burnes is controllable for a few years and had a great short season last year against weak competition. He had a 3.1 HR/game rate the previous season. He is not worth the likely required prospect haul, IMO. The Sox need to hang on to as many quality low cost players as possible to have a legitimate shot at winning a World Series with a mid-level payroll.

@VAfan, you omitted the best part of Rick Hahn’s quote: Perhaps Rick Hahn pulled another Hoosiers quote during his interview of Tony. In terms of your question, I don’t believe they will spend “Eaton” money ($8M) on any individual player, but may spend $8M - $10M collectively, perhaps even a few million more total through the trade deadline, across 2-3 players (either guaranteed or part of Minor League ST invites) With the fact that MLB Collusion 6.0 is in full swing and 75% of MLB Free Agents remain unsigned, the Sox may be able to get a few more quality players at cheaper than reasonable / fair market prices. A legitimate backup catcher able to catch 60-80 games: Tyler Flowers. 1-2 Bullpen depth arms for depth (cheap or Minor League invites). Starting pitcher: Garrett Richards, Carlos Quintin, Adam Wainwright, Rich Hill. I believe they will replace Eaton with Cespedas in the Summer if/when Eaton sucks ass / gets injured / does stupid shit. As long as Eaton (and Madrigal) remain at the bottom of the order, and Eaton doesn’t crash into Robert or Abreu with his OF bullshit, whatever. I’d still give Engel the majority of starts in RF, he’s better circa 2021 in all aspects. That said, if cheap enough, they may bring in Rosario (I’d start him in LF and DH Eloy). Would really like if they brought on Bradley Jr., but he may be too expensive for JR, even with collusion pricing.

Where have we heard that before, twice?

I've been a Padres fan since October 1984. Loved the Chargers back then too, with Kellen Winslow, Dan Fouts and Charlie Joiner. Hope the Padres and White Sox win a World Series over the next few seasons. This trade helps the Mets as well, so happy on that front.

Mets are getting Lucchesi in the deal, a solid pick up. Padres get Musgrove and Pittsburgh is getting five players total. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Current 2021 Payroll Data (Includes Hendricks Signing) Chicago - Metro Population 9.5M Chicago Cubs Tanking = Current Payroll $133M (11th) Chicago White Sox "All In" = Current Payroll $126M (14th) San Diego - Metro Population 3.3M San Diego Padres = Current Payroll $159M (7th) Saint Louis - Metro Population 2.8M Saint Louis Cardinals = Current Payroll $128M (13th) And when the White Sox do pry the checkbook out of Jerry's cold still alive hands, there have been too many swing and misses. Hopefully the current deals pan out. All-time $6M + AAV Chicago White Sox Free Agent Signings $18.5M Dallas Keuchel 2.1 (2020) (2021 & 2022 - Hoping he fails to vest for 2023) $18.3M Yasmani Grandal 0.8 (2020) (2021-2023) $16.7M Jose Abreu 3.1 (2020) (2021-2022) $14.0M Adam Dunn -0.1 (2011-2014) $14.0M Melky Cabrera 1.6 (2015-2017) $13.5M Liam Hendriks (2021-2024) $12.5M Adam LaRoche -0.7 (2015 - Jerry's All Time Favorite Player for giving him $12.5M back for 2016). $12.1M Paul Konerko 2.0 (2006-2013) $12.0M Edwin Encarnacion -0.3 (2020) $11.5M David Robertson 0.5 (2015-2017 2 1/2 seasons before trade) $11.0M Albert Belle 4.3 (1997-1998) $9.0M Kelvin Herrera -0.3 (2019-2020) $8.0M Adam Eaton (2021) $7.5M Wellington Castillo 0.2 (2018-2019) $6.0M Derek Holland -1.6 (2017) $6.0M Steve Cishek -0.2 (2020)

Current payroll: $125.8M (14th in MLB). Affordable (Projected $8M or less) Free Agents with 1.0 + projected 2021 fWAR. 2.4 Tommy La Stella ($7M) 1.8 Chris Archer ($8M) 1.6 Jurickson Profar ($7.5M) 1.5 Garrett Richards ($8M) 1.5 Matt Shoemaker ($5M) 1.4 Eddie Rosario ($?) 1.3 Brett Anderson ($5M) 1.2 Adam Wainwright ($7M) 1.1 Kike Hernandez ($6M) 1.1 Carlos Rodon ($?) 1.1 Maikel Franco ($?) 1.0 Brett Gardner ($8M) 1.0 Mike Leake ($?) 1.0 Rich Hill ($8M) 1.0 Jason Castro ($?) 1.0 Tyler Flowers ($4M) Should be able to sign a hitter, backup catcher and perhaps a starter at $12M-$15M. Of the above options, I like Richards, Rodario and Flowers. Would also like Bradley Jr. if the Sox can work out a 1-2 year deal. Not convinced the Sox will sign anyone else, beyond perhaps a couple of $1M-$3M deals for a backup catcher, bullpen arm and or perhaps a lottery ticket pitcher or bullpen depth.

A few of the key pitchers injured while batting: Max Scherzer - Thumb Randy Johnson - Shoulder Strain Pedro Martinez - Neck Adam Wainwright - Achilles Tendon Josh Beckett - Back Losing tens of millions in pitcher salaries due to hitting / base running injuries. "Brilliant" We need more offense, let's keep .069 pitchers hitting in all National League Home Games, including the World Series. "Brilliant" RM: You trying to win the piece of metal this season Jerry? JR: Child, please. Want a carrot?

This is true, though by changing coaches it is ensured Cease, Lopez and others will have a fresh set of eyes. A new approach, a better attention to detail, flexibility. Something the White Sox hasn't gotten out of the pitching coach role in decades. It's a shame he wasn't here to perhaps salvage Rodon or Fulmer. Cooper is like Nagy, do it my way, whether it works or not.

No, second. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lindssh01.shtml

I've been to 42 MLB stadiums, 15 which are gone and 27 current stadiums. Top Five Current Stadiums: 1. Fenway Park; 2. Wrigley Field; 3. Dodgers Stadium; 4. Pittsburgh; 5, San Francisco Top Five Gone But Not Forgotten: 1. Comiskey Park; 2. Tigers Stadium; 3. Yankee Stadium; 4. Milwaukee County Stadium; 5. Stade Olympique Worst Five I've Attended: 42. Metrodome *; 41. Tampa Bay; 40. Miami *; 39. Veterans Stadium *; 38. Arizona (* = Gone) Worst Five "New" Stadiums: 1. Tampa; 2. Arizona; 3, Toronto; 4. Houston; 5. Philadelphia. To Attend List: Atlanta, Miami and Texas. Unique Circumstances: Cleveland Opening Day played in Milwaukee due to bad snow / weather over several days in Cleveland. Miami home game vs. Montreal played at Comiskey Park II due to a hurricane. National Home Game @ RFK Stadium (while new stadium was being constructed) Final Home Games Ever Played : Comiskey Park; Milwaukee County Stadium; Riverfront Stadium; Tigers Stadium (and Final Steelers Game @ Three Rivers Stadium - Also the last NFL Game I attended or watched). Had tickets for the final game in Montreal but didn't make the trip (Montreal is my second favorite team). No Hitter - White Sox no hit but won 4-0 over Andy Hawkins on July 1, 1990. Nolan Ryan's 300th Win @ Milwaukee County Stadium

Even with all of those advantages, Tim Anderson considerably outperformed Madrigal in their rookie age 23 seasons. Most here expect Andrew Vaughn to be a much more significant contributor next season during his Age 23 season, despite the lack of defensive contribution. bWAR Seasons recent #1 picks - Draft Picks which reached the majors by Age 23: Tim Anderson (17) 2.4 Carlos Rodon (3) 1.7 Carson Fulmer (8) 0.5 Nick Madrigal (4) 0.5 [2020 shortened season] Andrew Vaughn (3) - Age 23 in 2021 (TBD) Garrett Crochet (11) - Age 23 in 2022 (TBD) [0.3 bWar 2020 shortened season] Zack Collins (10) , Zack Burdi (26) and Jake Burger (11) did not reach the majors by age 23.

The disturbing point I read about this on MLB trade rumors is not the interest in Brad Hand, but the mention of Crochet in a bullpen role. Hopefully it is simply conjecture on the author's part. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ Unless the Sox state there are known or likely future health issues preventing Crochet to be a Starter, they should be doing everything possible to build him up for that eventuality. Crochet will never be a starter if he doesn't build up significant innings over the next two seasons. He could be a legitimate playoff starter for years.

At the plate, in the small (no pun intended) sample size, you are correct. However, he cost the team by not following his coaches on multiple occasions resulting in bad outs on the basepaths, including the time he got injured running through the stop sign, getting gunned out at third by miles, and getting injured in the process. Dumb on so many levels: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/nick-madrigal-exits-white-sox-game-apparent-injury-after-slide-third

Yes, the two high priced 2020 free agents * are not on anyone’s list so far. There are eight additional players on the 40 Man roster with no votes who appeared in 10 or more games last season. Cease Cordero Foster Fry Garcia Grandal * Heuer Keuchel * Marshall Mendick Of these, I really liked Cordero and Foster for stepping up last year and performing better than most people expected heading into the season. Cease is my pick for most improved in 2021.

My favorite David Eckstein anecdote is the fact he was named to the Jewish All American Baseball team. David had to break the news he is not Jewish. https://www.espn.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2002/0828/1424027.html Nick Madrigal is listed as two inches taller than David.

Yep, though still prefer Bradley Jr. for his fielding versatility. bWAR 2017 Grossman 0.9 vs. Eaton 0.3 2018 Grossman 1.7 vs. Eaton 1.1 2019 Eaton 1.5 vs. Grossman 1.0 2020 Grossman 1.2 vs. Eaton -0.7 Grossman $10M (2 yrs) vs. Eaton $8M (1) or $15.5M (2 yrs). Jake Cave (3.0 bWAR) outperformed Eaton (1.9). The offer to Eaton was ludicrous.

The Score spent a few minutes discussing this Portillo's tweet.

Of the five I listed as least favorite, Eaton is the only player I dislike and hope doesn’t report, based on his toxicity over the years, picking up where he left off with his introductory interview on the team’s flagship. He is led by children, and is a certified asshat. I’m OK with Dallas Keuchel as a person, if Tim Anderson is. Would like to hear Dallas has made amends in Spring Training for his comments made during the off-season. As a pitcher, he sucked ass in Oakland, and if he can’t improve in the post season, I hope he doesn’t reach 160 IPs the next two seasons and lock in $20M as a 35 year old in 2023. Madrigal is listed because of his mental errors. He is a rookie, so he should / must improve in that area. Not sure why he is hated by others, he performs well with his talents / abilities otherwise, plays with passion. Just needs to follow coaching signs and stick to fundamentals. Grandal reminds me of Roger Dorn in Major League, between his lackadaisical efforts at times, his lack of quality game calling management or bothering to catch the baseball. Hahn needs to go down on the field, piss on his contract and tell him he gets paid not just for pitch framing and bat on his shoulder walks. Lynn is new, so I just like everyone else more since they are here. That said, watching for any signs of a LaRussa Lord of the Flies situation, with him siding with Keuchel and Eaton and against the core we love. With Cooper gone, Tony and Boston are the only two on the on field staff I want gone, though many also share the same sentiment.

The Sox were a third place team in a crummy division with Jimmy Cordero as only pitcher other than Giolito who could get more than 10 outs in the playoffs. What was he supposed to say? Oh yeah, the obligatory "It's Ricky's fault." Wouldn't get too cocky, since 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates have won 77 more games than the White Sox, despite a much lower payroll. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

It appears the Cubs may also have let go of their dingbat color man. Mark was not afforded the same grace on the legal or commentary front as a certain person employed by a certain MLB team located ten miles south of Clark and Addison. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/looks-like-mark-grace-is-out-at-marquee-sports-network/ar-BB1ct0qr