greg775

If the bullpen comes through as you say it could the Sox might be able to hang on and win some games in which the team scores 5 or more. If these starters can only go four innings, that's leaving a lot of innings to that pen. Our pen has been so bad since the start of the tank I don't even know what to think. Plus the Sox have no closer. If they happen to lead after eight, good luck in the pressure packed ninth.

Again wait and see. I fear the bullpen of the Sox. Again.

Remember my prediction please and credit me when they win 49, 48, 47 games. My point was the Sox have a horrific 7, 8, 9 in the order. Our other guys are inconsistent at best hitters. Then the pitching. Our staff is not equipped for, uh, anything. Let's say a starter has a great night and goes six and we're leading 3-2. The bullpen blows so some nights the pen will implode. Other nights the closer in the pen will implode. Some nights the starter will get lit up. And finally some nights team just isn't going to hit. There always will be a segment that costs the Sox Ws. This team is incapable of more than 50 wins IMO.

Didn't mean to offend, just thought I'd start a thread that was moderately positive, wondering if this guy actually had a great year the Sox might be a tad bit better than I expect them to be which is 40-50 wins. I went with DeJong cause I don't think our catchers will surprise and the new RF candidates appear to reek. There has to be something positive about this wretched club. I wondered if it might be DeJong.

Folks ... instead of just saying we'll win between 40 and 50 games I have a question that could be answered optimistically or pessimistically. Is DeJong the key to our beloved White Sox season? Do any of you think the former Illinois State player will hit and field better than expected? Could he be the key to a turnaround? Is Paul DeJong destined to make fans as happy as if they sampled a bong? I saw he hit three early dingers in spring training.

I do respect fans who remain optimistic like yourself. Believe. me, it's taken a lot to beat me down to this pessimistic wimpering excuse for a Sox fan, just about ready to 'finally' punt it and start following the Royals and Cubs since they appear to 'maybe' have a clue. Cubs more than Royals. ... I wish I could be optimistic but when I see an up the middle combo of Maldo, DeJong, Lopez truly I give up. And to pitch a guy on Opening Day who won't go more than 3 innings makes me puke to be quite frank. I love our optimistic fans like yourself. For years on this board I've stood up for some players hated by others. I never gave up my love for Oz and even in my depressed state I am grateful for 2005. Hell it's tough to beat out all other baseball teams and we at least got one in Jerry's lifetime. .... Have pity on those of us who now despise the current Sox roster and current Sox manager and GM and owner. We don't want to be this negative, believe me.

The Sox deserve no benefit of the doubt til we see something good happening. This offseason was disgusting. Since letting Burger go for nothing, everything's been negative for good reason. Actually since the hiring of Grifol.

Been reading a little about Sox spring training while also noticing the Cubs have some great closer and a 40 HR guy at 3B. Interesting (I'm attempting to follow both teams this year since the White Sox have offended me as a fan by having to pull another tank/rebuild job. Fletcher has had a horrific spring at the plate (.159, .260 .205, .465) with no Hrs, two RBI. DeJong has had a nice spring; ditto Eloy except he's not elevating; Moose is over the hill; Benintendi has a good OBP; Luis is struggling but we know he's our one star, he's OK by me; Moncada has been excellent getting on base but has shown no power (this team will hit so few HRs it'll make our heads spin); Maldy is an automatic out as is Max Stassi. Lee has hit well but I'm thinking he is no major league stud. Nicky Lopez has been OK. Sheetz and Vaughn have hit some, too. Except for DeJong and Eloy, nobody's knocking in runs and Sheets is the only slugger lifting the ball over the fence. In summary, Sox have had good on base percentage and hitting for average during spring but have no power on the roster and no RBI power.

This is probably because he is one of our only pitchers with electric stuff. I'd love to sit in the stands and hear all the stereotypical older south side fans (isn't it true baseball's demographic is 55 and up gentlemen?) fans express displeasure at the thought of an opener pitching the opener.

I'm sick of the highlight of our season being who we can "flip" midseason. The Chicago White Sox should not be this bad. It's a big city for gosh sakes. The fans deserve more than cool hats and jerseys and anything with the best team logo on it.

The names you mentioned are all unknowns. Is this the Sox future? All cheap guys nobody's ever heard of? Ah for the days of Konerko, Thomas, Ventura, Ozzie, Dye, actual players. Who in the heck is going to watch this on TV or stream much less go in person? If it's true the Cubs are going to win the division that must mean they are at least trying a bit. Greg needs to read up on the Cubs a bit as they are at least from the city of Chicago like the Sox.

I think the problem is the Sox just were in tank mode and it didn't work. Now they are back in tank mode. For me it means total disinterest in the team. Hard to change the "culture" of fan negativity. The Cease trade is underwhelming because we traded one of our "name" players for guys we've never heard of. Can't give a nobody like Getz the benefit of the doubt. Sox have a horrible manager and an inexperienced GM. Yikes.

What do you mean by a lot? Starting pitching will alone cost the team a lot of games. I guarantee you if somebody keeps track of this, it will be the lowest amount of starts going past 4 innings in Sox history. Turning it over to the bullpen will cost the team games. Then you can't deny the 7-9 spots in the lineup are among the worst in Sox history. If and I say IF the Sox continue to have injury problems, wow, the depth is not there either. My point is even on a night the Sox play well, there are numerous factors that can cost them games. I guess the Sox could dominate the other lousy teams in baseball. Yes that is possible. But I say under 50 wins is assured because of lousiness pretty much in all areas except defense where the team is good maybe.

It's scary. What's the modern MLB record for fewest wins in a season? Sox have been bad in the past, but this team truly is the worst in all of our lives (non hyperbole).

Trust me, to lose me as an mlb.com subscriber because I have no interest in watching the Sox lose 110 games, is indicative of how our fan base will this year consist of so few people it'll make your head spin. The idea of another rebuild after the last one was a joke should make every die hard Sox fan consider jumping ship. It's just no fun to watch this bad of a team play baseball. Can't believe Stoney doesn't flip to another team. Just because this will be such bad ball to broadcast.

Don't like the trade. The way this Sox fan sees the offseason is we got rid of two of our best players, Anderson and Cease, a few months after getting rid of Burger for some reason. I'm not buying the mlb package so you'll probably not hear from me a lot on here ever again. Sick of rebuilding/reloading. My fave team is a joke folks. I used to enjoy watching some games in the summer. Sad.

Won't miss Grandal one bit. However acquiring Maldonado depresses me to no end.

The future of this team has never looked this bleak in my opinion. Should be interesting. Who's looking good for the Sox in spring training so far? Anybody looking like a player?

I get a kick out of baseball vs NBA and NHL. NBA plays 19 year olds; NFL has no minor league. Isn't monte old nuff to play?

But you aren't 'rushing' him because the team is so bad. It's like the Royals last year with Witt. He had zero pressure because the games mean nothing when the team's that bad. Monty could hit .086. Big deal. Just get him 500 at bats ASAP. No pressure.

Sox are talking too much about culture. Who cares if the team had a bunch of bad-chemistry guys last year? Nobody seemed to care that we let Abreu go and he was Mr. Culture. Like somebody said here: Sox get no-hit Maldonado partly for culture and he loafed running out a grounder in Game One. You can't make this stuff up. ... This team culture stuff is stupid. You win big and ballplayers will be alert and pay attention. Once the losses start piling up, who cares if Maldo has a team meeting. Who cares if Lopez and his .190 average turns over the food table or breaks a helmet? Geez. Just.Win.Baby

I'd take Massey, the pride of Brother Rice. But not Nape's Nicky. Nicky is no good IMO. Massey has potential.

Under. Sox have bad luck. Too bad they still don't play divisional foes 19 times. The non divisional teams will mash the Sox.

The Sox should do what the Royals did with Witt, play Montgomery every single day. Give him a day off every two weeks. Look, this team is going nowhere. The guy is 22. No pressure on him. Just play him. What good is playing DeJong for gawd sakes. Montgomery could hit .111 and I'd be OK with it.

Instead of those three ... you come up with a good idea. How bout we sign Ozzie to play short, Ozzie Smith to play second and Carlton Fisk to catch? People might pay to see those guys hit only about the same as those 3.