South Side Hit Men

That bad call really hurt.

Roster construction far more important. Parrot yet another Adam Dunn signing, Hahn won't admit to it worrying about 2027 payroll (as if) with Vaughn playing video games in Schaumburg. Hope they can get to the bullpen the next two innings.

How is one start in eight days "too much"?

We'll see if Jerry wants to spend $30M on the entire team (down from $50M this season) with attendance likely limited or eliminated in 2021, I don't see much help beyond Collusion 4.0 Free Agency signings (with Parrot gone). So looking at what we have, and not projecting injuries which will inevitably happen, regular season projections (assuming avg starter innings 5.4 * 162 games = 875): Lucas Giolitto 180 Innings (Previous Maximum Professional Innings 176 2019) Dallas Keuchel 200 innings (232 / 2015) Cease 140 innings (124 / 2018 Minors) Dunning 150 innings (144 / 2017 Minors) Honey badger scraps 1st Half (125 innings) & Kopech Second Half 80 innings (Kopech 134 2017) Depending on how things go, you may see a conservative free agent pick up like Kenny's Gio obsession (or other obsessions), but that is likely the 2021 scenario preceding 2022 and the possible lockdown through the end of the decade (and beyond). " JR: "Can't we just lockdown through the decade, play scabs and have taxpayers subsidize us beyond our free stadiums? Have Congress eliminate minimum wage for major league players as we they did for minor league players? We can offer fantasy camps and have players play us, a weekly camp so rotating 26 men and women rosters for those wishing to pony up $5K for a jersey and a place in the Baseball Encyclopedia? We can advertise our game as of, by and for the common man, and make over $3 million per team without paying players, scouts or a front office?" BS/RM: "Sure, correct as usual King Jerry, I'll get right on it".

Yes, George is a great guy. I had a conversation after I was banned from WSI. He had nothing to do operating the site by that point. Many good posters there back in the day, but was very nazi like in terms of administration and conversations allowed or disallowed. Had a few thousand posts there under my user name here. The Sox pretty much sucked since, though I still followed the team. Faced a few ad hominem attacks here in my limited time, but for the most part the threads and conversations are civil and worthwhile Have to laugh at the in game posts and over-reactions, consistent with Rod Serling's "People Are Alike All Over" Twilight Zone episode. Looking forward to Ricky Renteria hoisting the World Series trophy within the next five years, hopefully Reinsdorf won't pull the plug on 2022 (CBA) and beyond to prevent it as he did in the 1990s. Let's Go Go Go White Sox, we're with you all the way.

MVP

I'd go with Shoeless Joe, but Abreu is up there.

Doesn't make any sense to not start a healthy McCann for Lucas' starts. The White Sox are 12-6 when McCann catches, 12-9 with Grandal starts,

Voted Tim Anderson, but strongly considered Luis Robert for his efforts covering the entire outfield this season, in addition to his bat. Tim Anderson is the leader of the team, the team wouldn't be performing collectively without his leadership. I can see arguments for Abreu as well. Dallas Keuchel has been the most valuable pitcher, Matt Foster and Danny Mendick are the two best pleasant surprises.

It's more realistic assessment of his strengths and weaknesses, and whether the highest contract should have gone to a position that was adequate (offensively / defensively / pitcher management / game prep) paired with Collins as backup, or whether $$$ was better spent in RF and the rotation. Perhaps Grandal can pick up some good work and game preparation habits from McCann and gain the trust of Lucas and others. Los Angeles and Milwaukee let him walk the past two off-seasons after seeing him first hand. both teams far more successful than Hahn during his tenure. Time will tell whether Grandal can handle full seasons in his 30s over the life of his contract and not suffer a significant decline. Molina and Fisk are anomalies in terms of going strong in their 30s behind the plate. It will take a lot of preparation and conditioning beyond what he has done to date. Steve Stone spoke to the fact that offensive catchers like Grandal do not come to the table with the same type of preparation and thoughtfulness as catchers like McCann. When the offense drops, to early to tell whether the slugging rate is a small sample or sign of decline, Grandal will need to do things he hasn't done in the past. Steve Stone compares and contrasts McCann and Grandal at the 20:45 mark on the Lawrence Holmes show. https://www.radio.com/media/audio-channel/holmes-steve-stone-interview-hour-1

2021 will be interesting with how they stack up against good teams beyond Minnesota and Cleveland, and how the young core handles the grind of a long season. Will need much better depth to withstand injuries and give the players adequate rest to allow postseason success in 2021 and beyond. Tigers 6-1 Royals 6-1 Pittsburgh 2-0 Chicago 2-1 Milwaukee 2-2 Saint Louis 1-2 Cleveland 2-4 Minnesota 2-4 Maximum Games Played / Innings Pitched Jimenez (127 / 2019) Robert (122 / 2019) Madrigal (120 / 2019) Vaughn (55 / 2019) Dunning (144 / 2017) Cease (124 / 2018) Rodon (120 (in 2018) since 2016) Foster (64 / 2019) Heuer (67 / 2019) Burdi (38 / 2016)

Sox needed a game like this after the Twins series. Great swing Robert! Use the bottom of the pen to close things out.

Crossed him up there, glad Grandal caught it. Nice pitch.

Best inning there.

Would be nice to have Dylan to get into the sixth. Let's go!

Not to mention the impact on Lucas trying to work with a new catcher with a few starts before the postseason. Would be good to get McCann two starts behind the plate every five games, Lucas starts and a second game against a lefty, with Grandal at 1B and Abreu DH (or for a scheduled bi-weekly Abreu rest day). Wouldn't waste a third roster spot on Collins, he should be on the taxi squad only as a DL fill-in. T Anderson Y Moncada J Abreu DH E Jiminez Y Grandal 1B L Robert J McCann C A Engel N Madrigal

Child, please. So wait until the window is closed and no Championship, because Hahn has proven what exactly? Hahn already extended Ricky Renteria's contract at least through 2021. He may be here until Reinsdorf is gone, just like the others. Ventura would still be here if he wanted it, he quit on them. Williams, Hahn, Cooper are all lifers. Hell, even Ozzie Guillen is still around. Professional organizations hold their executives accountable. Chicago's recent successful teams hold their executives accountable, even after championship(s), which was the point of my post. The Friends of Jerry are never held accountable. https://www.mlb.com/news/rick-renteria-agrees-to-contract-extension-c300349390 Also, this isn't a "now you want Hahn fired" declaration, they needed to fire Hahn and Williams after 2015 to revamp the entire organization. White Sox Gar / Pax needs to go the way of Michael's Gar / Pax.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredwyllys/2019/10/05/chicago-white-sox-owner-jerry-reinsdorfs-comments-show-destructive-approach/#570f364872f1 “Here’s my best advice to you: Finish in second place every single year,” Samson claims Reinsdorf told him. “Because your fans will say, ‘Wow, we’ve got a shot. We’re in it.’ But there’s always the carrot left. There’s always one more step to take.” With the new 16 team playoff farce, teams can now shoot for a third/fourth place carrot.

And the front office who hired Renteria should not be the ones replacing Renteria. The Blackhawks won three recent Stanley Cups and McDonough was held accountable. Gar / Pax left with a winning cumulative record, and some playoff success (and executive of the year honors) Maddon won a World Series and was let go three seasons later. Meanwhile Kenny "One Shining Moment" Williams is entering a third decade in a senior role, Don Cooper will die (could be dead already) as pitching coach, and Rick Hahn has zero winning seasons, whether "trying" or "tanking". Time to clean house from top to bottom, though unlikely to happen with Reinsdorf's group. Must be nice to screw up your job and write yourself a five year extension "plan", and then blame others when your draft selections and free agent signings have failed on a consistent basis, with success limited to tanking trades netting people drafted by others and Cuban signings, now restricted with the rule changes / spending caps.

I wish he was Executive VP, and was able to clear White Sox Gar/Pax and install a professional Front Office for the first time since Roland Hemond. Yes, but I am told Grandal is Elite. It is known! You mean Rick, Hahn is the one who shoveled this and Parrot in. Our three worst regular players. Training wheels, Hahn will never progress to that level. At least Gar Pax had a cumulative winning record and playoff success. Trying or tanking, White Sox Gar has always sucked, Pax had one shining moment entering decade three. Time to get a professional front office.

The signing was a bad allocation of resources and bad roster construction. The three hitting acquisitions are the three worst players in the lineup. If the Sox were to contend this year, they needed a RF, and sign a LF to put Eloy at DH vs. the Adam Dunn 3.0 and Grandal.

Using total WAR, not cherry picking aspects of Grandal's overall below replacement level AAAA player season. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grandya01.shtml Yasmani Grandal is "Elite", it is known!

Grandal has a negative WAR this year, and his "elite" .718 OPS is well behind McCann's 1.1 / .968.

Would rather see McCann and Grandal in today (and most days). Would like this for a regular lineup Tim Anderson SS Yoan Moncada 3B Jose Abreu 1B Eloy Jimenez LF Yasmani Grandal DH / C Luis Robert CF James McCann C / DH (split DH w/ Edwin) Nomar Mazara / Adam Engel RF Nick Madrigal 2B

Grandal should get better with working with the staff once he gets more time and he is a good pitch framer. That said, terrible or elite are bridges too far. He is on the wrong side of 30, and someone whose recent comps are Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Alex Avila shouldn't be a candidate for the biggest contract ever, but that is where the front office has taken us. Grandal career similarity scores: Stan Lopata, John Romano, Chris Hoiles, Jarrod Saltalamacchia & Alex Avila. Grandal's age similarity scores: Jarrod Saltalmacchia (25-28) & Todd Hundley (29-30).