Colome's Hat

Keuchel did ok, no? If I recall his ERA was below 4. Kimbrel definitely struggled though and was the poster child of the consequences of signing late.

The longer this plays out, I think he's going to sign a one year prove it deal with the White Sox. And I'm fine with that. He overrated his market completely and also likely got screwed by the lockout.

Lucas Giolito and the White Sox were off by 200K. Do you really think that is disrespectful? Seriously?

I don't know. I personally want to abolish the state. I come from the Anarcho Communist tradition. In reality, especially when applying it to today's politics, I'm a DSA member and would put myself in the democratic socialist category, at least in terms of what can be done while I'm alive. But I think in order to survive as a planet, we likely need to get something resembling an anarcho communist society.

I am counting down the days till Reinsdorf is no longer the owner. But I am a literal communist.

I have watched very little Spring Training. How has the velocity been for other pitchers? Because I'm genuninely worried that with the lockout going on so long, pitchers aren't reaching full strength till May.

I'm a Jewish communist. This is offensive on so many levels.

Yeah. This is the obvious one for me. I actually think the Padres are going to be really good next year. I could also see the Giants regressing and missing the playoffs. Although right now I still have the Giants in the playoffs. My gut instinct for the NL is the Padres, Giants, and Phillies making the playoffs in the Wild Card. I also see the Red Sox regressing in the same way the White Sox did from 2012 to 2013.

I think Burger could be traded. Why do we want Sheets gone? I really do feel a platoon of him and Vaughn is effective. And Sheets is going to develop into a solid left handed bat. With pop.

That should get it done. To be honest, I think this will happen very soon. Also, for people worried about Vaughn not getting at bats, he will. Vaughn can be used in the outfield and at 1st and at DH. He should get close to 400 at bats. Sheets should get at bats too. And the opt outs allow for the White Sox to get to the point where maybe Vaughn is the starting Right Fielder and Sheets is the DH.

He said Kimbrel wasn't going to happen either....

To be honest, with the abuse he takes each year (thinking about how scary those hit by pitches are), I'm not surprised. It was pretty scary watching some of that stuff last year and he could get seriously hurt.

I feel like people forget how insane the expectations that were placed on Matsui were. That he would essentially be the next Ichiro. He was a very good player but I think he was dinged because he failed to hit expectations that were ridiculous. I also would argue that Pederson is more valuable to the White Sox than Suzuki. Like there is a serious issue with the lack of left handed pop. It's one thing if it's Castellanos who is a proven commodity, I'm more amenable to getting a right handed hitter. I just don't think it's worth shelling out that kind of cash on someone who has never played a MLB game to a player who doesn't really help the White Sox right now.

The White Sox are making less splashy moves because the holes they have to fill are much smaller. There is a reason MLB ranked us number 2. This is a damn good team. Just hoping our big splash is Conforto. It would be dumb for the White Sox to do what the Rangers are doing.

Curious to see how the universal DH rule affects Conforto. I honestly think it could hurt his market which could help the White Sox in signing him. I like the idea of a platoon of Vaughn and Sheets at DH with Conforto in Right Field.

I expect Kimbrel to likely be traded. To be honest, even a rebuilding club could likely use Kimbrel for half a season and trade him somewhere else for prospects. But I also think they will spend regardless. This is their best chance to reach the World Series since 2006.

I think they are getting a left handed bat. Hahn was upfront about adding more power in the off season press conference.

I'm fine with this. His power output will likely increase a bit in the bandbox that is US Cellular Field. If this allows them to get another starter and go all in on Conforto or Schwarber, I'm cool with that.

To be honest, if Kimbrel can find his shit, I wouldn't mind keeping him and alternating him and Liam at closer. I think the Sox will spend regardless. And I think we will get a left handed power bat and another quality starter. I think bullpen help is critical because the accelerated spring training likely fucks over the starting pitchers for the first part of the season.

I'm assuming this is basically it. I still think they are going to add one more starter although it will likely be someone who is solid and not an ace. I think the big fish is clearly the big premier left handed power bat. Hahn stated so much in his end of the year press conference (Ball go far)

Don't have a problem with this. I think they have their sites set on the major upgrade in RF/DH. Would prefer Schwarber but will definitely take Conforto

That and also he shared a story where he was intimating he wish he was showing Ethan Katz what he had worked on over the offseason but of course can't because of hte lockout. I think a lot of people agree they need pitching. I think Rodon, especially with the lockout will get a one year deal. And I don't think he'll be that costly. And thinking about the fact that this might be a 120 game season at best anyways, this would be a perfect opportunity for him.

I feel like Rodon is dropping bread crumbs on his social media that he is resigning. I follow him on instagram and there have been some really unsubtle hints.

Listened to the podcast that Chuck Garfien did with Harold Reynold and I think Reynolds was spot on when he said that if nothing is reached on Monday, we are in a really bleak situation. I still mostly side with teh players on this but I think at a certain point, there needs to be some compromises made. The reality of it is though is that as much as baseball is dying, if the game itself just embraced people like TA, Tatis, Eloy, etc, I think it's popularity would start to tick up again. These big personalities who are really trying to bring in some of the spectacle that you get with basketball.