greg775

Hey Ron ... just out of curiosity what years in his career were you satisfied and/or pleased with Jose's performance? Are you saying he's been a detriment to the team? He's got 89 RBI for gosh sakes with five weeks to go. p.s. I bet you were a Mike Squires fan. He could play defense with the best of 'em. Defense isn't everything. Eloy has struggled and so has Timmy as well. Love both of them tho. All-stars.

It was a special broadcast/game. I can't believe how Walton never ever was at a loss for words. Watch it again if you can. There were no pauses. Yes he did some trolling. But his pretending to be falling in love with the Sox was precious. It's like he was a one-man play on Broadway (OK Jason helped, too). Think of the things he also offered: He was offering all these wild facts about California; his little diatribe about how to drive to the Big A (all these highways he was rattling off), he mentioned all these books you should read, he mentioned all this stuff about the city of Chicago (Studs Terkel bridge reference priceless); he had the line of the year about never being a catcher cause he has problems getting low but never a problem getting high; he rattled off all the baseball managers he's gotten to know including LaRussa; his fascination with Ricky's squeeze bunt and saying Ricky to the Hall of Fame after he gets a new contract and "brilliant" was amazing. And his taking over the call of the final out with Benetti looking on in amazement/shock was priceless. Yes Billy Walton trolled the fans a bit. But it's like he was not only a color analyst, but superstar Broadway actor putting on a performance of a lifetime. I'm assuming he did it for free as well. That was talent, folks. He probably should have been paid cause Bill Walton worked last night. It may have been effortless for him but he worked. (Kudos to Sox network for putting in the pictures of mountains between innings and have Bill comment on them; and highlights of Bill's days at UCLA and Blazers).

I agree with your post. However, out of respect to Jose and to motivate him even more, he should get a third year, team option.

There really should never be a negative word written about Eloy, especially by fans of the rebuild. Most of the rebuild people have said all along we won't be any good until 2021 or later. The rebuild people tell you not to rush players and when they come up there will be a period of adjustment/improvement before young players presumably all take off as all-star talents about the same time. Thus one or two WS titles. So Eloy is 22 and in his "getting adjusted" stage. You better believe the Sox will have him work on his defense this winter or whenever. Maybe in the fall when the team is sitting home again. Eloy has already shown he's a superstar in the making, a guy if healthy who is going to hit 40 homers a season without exception. Why talk about Eloy. Let him turn into the superstar he's going to be. He's not going to look like a clown defensively his whole career, folks.

I wanted Harper, not Manny. Too many red flags. None of it really had to do with money. I hate Jerry "hoarding" it. But Manny had red flags. Again, not trying to save Jerry money, but if I were Hahn I wouldn't want to tie up a significant percentage of future payroll on a guy with red flags and with examples of players not being worth much later years of their contracts.

And his call of the grand slam: "What a fantastic turn of events if you love the Chicago White Sox, and I'm falling in love by the breath." Yes Bill Walton said that.

Walton's call on the final out is one of the greatest moments in broadcast history. So enthusiastic after being an enthusiastic nut the entire game. This call belongs in the baseball Hall of Fame. The last out of Sox vs. Angels, Bill Walton color debut Aug. 16, 2019: Priceless! here's what Bill said, taking over for Benetti on the call: "That;'s a strike. The game is over. The White Sox win. Print the banner. Line up the parade. Michigan Avenue on the Studs Terkel bridge Division Street. Let's go." Yes Walton said all that. Loved it all. What a precious evening.

I'll shut up now and leave the thread a while, but suffice it to say this has been a night to remember thanks to Walton and Benetti.

I love his ripping of Evan Marshall there!!! Phenomenal moment in broadcast history. Who does that??

His lines are so amazing; including his line just now about the Windy City being named for a "bunch of blowhards." He's so creative, all over the map. He's precious and I am in heaven watching this all night.

"What inning are we in?" -- Bill Walton (over and over) priceless.

This Bill Walton broadcast should be saved for all posterity. Bill Walton has had so many crazy, zany, wonderful lines. He's been all over the map while exuding pure joy at watching the White Sox play. He's had so many memorable, amazing lines it's just hard to believe. This is the best broadcast of all timer (OK hyperbole) but this is special!!!!!

I agree with you. The stat people I believe think this is utter b.s. It's all about advanced stats baby and in the White Sox case many fans on here seem to want every player with exceptional advanced stats in the lineup at the same time. For instance, Abreu draws either a.) a big yawn from fans or b.) anger at the thought of paying him 12 million or more a year. This seemingly terrorizes fans even though the Sox don't need the money. 9 million to Alonso, LOL.

Yep, I realize Mr. Hahn doesn't want Tatis to be injured. Nobody but the devil wants people to fail like that. But it does forever take Hahn off the hook, the fact this young man gets hurt a lot. I hope his back heals nicely but these are warning signs that take the Sox off the hook IMO. Eloy forever; Tatis forever! Rest your back young man! Come back strong.

Great point. Rather than waste a second blasting Abreu and expressing desire to let him walk, fans IMO should think about this over and over. Alonso got 9 million. Where's the outrage. What wasted cash. Paying Abreu is the right thing to do. It's just monopoly money, folks, to those owners. Alonso gets 9 mill for NOTHING.

I accept the moniker "Abreunik" gladly. Bring it on. I'm a proud Abreunik baby. No doubt I am.

Society is very mean right now. Sports are very "what have you done for me lately" right now. Jose Abreu is everything that's right with sports and specifically White Sox baseball.

Angels announcers raving about Abreu's play there. My gosh I love that guy (in a true baseball sense; what a pro).

You can't react enough about the 2019 Sox losing 4 in a row to Kansas City, one of the worst teams imaginable. No hyperbole it ranks as one of the worst series in modern White Sox history. To go 0-4 vs. that bunch ... wow. It shows how truly bad this Sox team can be when it wants to be.

This is pretty much my position as well.

You are crazy IMO. Fact: People are bagging on Abreu in this and other threads. Fact: I worship the guy in a baseball sense. Fact: I battle back and support the guy. Some of my defenses of him are short; some longer. Few get any comments at all except the cold hard advanced stats that deny the intangibles and the fact he's an all-star who is not that old yet. Two years 26 million with a team option Year Three. Why not? I've already listed posts on what our lineup should look like.

I'm glad I don't live in the stat world that says Abreu is a blah to bad player. Wow. My stat world has him what baseball world common folk regular stat peeps say he is AN ALL STAR BABY!

In answer to your question ... hell no I would not want Belt for a two year 34 million deal and players. You bring up a good question. I don't know your position on this but I'm very surprised some of the guys on the board do not believe in team leadership. I know all about Fake News and all that, but for years, decades one of the hottest topics surrounding teams (not just college and high school, but pro) is leadership: Coaches/managers are asked day after day by media: "Who is emerging as team leader? How is the team looking in terms of Leadership? ..." Well we've got Abreu the best possible leader who is not making a ton of money and won't be making a (bleep)ton of money in his next 2-3 year deal. It's a no brainer. We've already got superstars (IMO) in Moncada, Timmy, Eloy, Robert and projected superstars in Madrigal and Vaughn. I'm sure Hahn will sign somebody very very good or even keep Leury if Rutherford is a bust for RF. So why in the hell would you replace a known LEADER in Abreu? Why? It makes absolutely no sense. You think he's not worth his next contract in his ability alone to work with young Cuban players? You think it's easy to come over here and excel when not even knowing the language? It's a lot easier and more fun when you've got a class act like Jose Abreu showing young Cuban players the way. The only reason you'd not bring him back as our glue guy (with McCann) is you fear he is ready to pull a Konerko (late Konerko) and suddenly became unable to hit .200. Or he'll become a Fisk (late Fisk) and suddenly not be able to catch the ball. For some reason I get the feeling some posters think he's going to suddenly go from an All-Star to one of the worst players in baseball just because the calendar moves a few months. Folks, the man is going to get a 2 or 3 year deal and that's it!! It's not like u are signing Pujols for 7 more years. The suggested upgrade you get to replace Abreu is NOT WORTH the danger of wrecking team chemistry or impeding team chemistry. It's obvious the pitchers love McCann from the dugout shots; it;'s obvious Jose is mentoring the young talent! It's obvious! So keep both. And if Vaughn is so much better than Jose NOW, fine. Jose can grudgingly accept being the DH or splitting DH/1B with Vaughn. Thanks for your time. Please read this post 3 times before commenting. I think it will grow on you and you will see my point. I have some points and am not just throwing out praise like a certain poster throws out disdain on Jose!

McCann's slam was special. It is the crowning blow in his amazing season. Is he really only making $2.5 million this year? It's a no brainer to sign him for next year. He and Collins should split time and Collins can wait his turn to be the main guy like Karko did. Timmy! Eloy is so special it's unfair to the rest of baseball! Abreu another multi hit/RBI game. I tell you I wonder sometimes why we're not over .500. We've got some good players. If we keep McCann (2 years 24 million) and Abreu (2 years 26 million) we have the leadership part taken care of. Our young guys are all cheap. Hahn needs to prove he's a great GM, figure out what we need and acquire it in free agency to start winning big in 2020. No need to waste such talent some of these players possess! At any rate in this winners thread ... hail to Eloy, McCann, Tim Anderson, Castillo, Abreu as well as Colome. Just.Win.Baby.In.2020

What a great victory. Once again a lot of individual stars. McCann cements his season as a resounding success with that granny. Eloy and Abreu and Timmy. My gawd he is good. There's so much talent on this team there just has to be a season we finish over .500 one of these days. Hahn should be having a blast getting this team to win ASAP cause he has the core players in place. Love the way (for the most part) the Sox have played at home. Had some very nice wins in another horrid season. Let's motivate Mr. Hahn to get it done soon.