The Kids Can Play

Carlton didn't forget that brutal and unprofessional release. When Carlton Fisk was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, he chose to wear the Boston Red Sox cap and not the White Sox cap. Keep in mind, Fisk played 13 seasons with the White Sox and only 10 with the Red Sox. Furthermore, most of Fisk's all time records were set such as most HR's and games caught as a catcher having been achieved in a White Sox uniform. I guess this is where Jerry first learned how to be a classless and loser owner having no problem F'ing great players. Of course he did again in 1998 when he let Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson leave in 1999, because the idiot Jerry Krause wanted them gone.

Great point! Every great start going forward even if we lose, but Gio pitches great, is just making his trade value escalate big time!

Trust me Hahn will get fired twice. Once by the Sox and the second time he won't even get a sniff for a GM job from any team, especially even a losing team like the A's or Royals. Teams will fire him from even applying for a GM job. Who in the hell would want Hahn for a GM, knowing he sucks at: - Building a strong farm system. - Making good wining trades. - Making successful free agent signings. - Building a consistent wining major league roster that makes the playoffs often. As much as our delusional owner thinks he is so much smarter than so many other owners, I'm pretty sure there isn't one owner as dumb as Jerry to hire Rick Hahn.

Of course the Central division is a joke. The Twins were playing the Braves who have the best W-L % record in baseball at 53-27 .663 Braves in MLB rankings: BA #2 - .271 OBP #2 - .341 SLG #1 - .488 OPS #1 - .829 HR's #1 - 146 Runs #3 - 438 - 5.54 per game ERA - #T6 - 3.79 This is why it's so foolish to have the Sox avoid be sellers at the trade deadline and hope the Sox can win the Central. They will get killed in the playoffs when they play real baseball teams. This is like in college basketball when a small major conference team goes 27-3 in a weak BB conference. Then they get into the NCAA tourney and get demolished in the first round against the big time college programs. This is what will happen to the Sox, Guardians or the Twins in the 2023 playoffs.

The starting pitchers have been extremely pampered since around 1987-1989 when the complete game totals for starters started declining significantly. Take a look at the history of complete games. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/picomg4.shtml

I totally agree a full rebuild is needed, but only if it does not involve Rick Hahn. I also don't think they will because unfortunately JR is still around. Yet tbh, if by some major miracle JR fired Hahn and forced Kenny out into retirement, as well as JR would would go to the outside to get a new President of Baseball Ops from a the Rays, Dodgers, or Guardians, etc., I would be ok with a total rebuild. It's either Jerry wakes up and quits being so stubborn and does it now, or this will definitely be what happens when the new owner comes in some day.

Speaking of drafts, here is the list of White Sox former #1 picks starting from 1989 with Frank Thomas to last year 2022 with Noah Schultz: Year Rnd OvPck RdPck Name Pos Drafted Out of 2022 1 26 26 Noah Schultz P Oswego East HS (Oswego, IL) 2021 1 22 22 Colson Montgomery SS Southridge HS (Huntingburg, IN) 2020 1 11 11 Garrett Crochet P University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN) 2019 1 3 3 Andrew Vaughn 1B University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA) 2018 1 4 4 Nick Madrigal SS Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) 2017 1 11 11 Jake Burger 3B Missouri State University (Springfield, MO) 2016 1 10 10 Zack Collins C University of Miami (Coral Gables, FL) 2016 1 26 26 Zack Burdi RHP University of Louisville (Louisville, KY) 2015 1 8 8 Carson Fulmer RHP Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) 2014 1 3 3 Carlos Rodon LHP North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) 2013 1 17 17 Tim Anderson SS East Central Community College (Decatur, MS) 2012 1 13 13 Courtney Hawkins OF Mary Carroll HS (Corpus Christi, TX) 2012 1s 48 48 Keon Barnum 1B C. Leon King HS (Tampa, FL) 2011 1s 47 47 Keenyn Walker OF Central Arizona College (Coolidge, AZ) 2010 1 13 13 Chris Sale LHP Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers, FL) 2009 1 23 23 Jared Mitchell CF Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA) 2009 1s 38 38 Josh Phegley C Indiana University Bloomington (Bloomington, IN) 2008 1 8 8 Gordon Beckham SS University of Georgia (Athens, GA) 2007 1 25 25 Aaron Poreda LHP University of San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) 2006 1 29 29 Kyle McCulloch RHP University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX) 2005 1 15 15 Lance Broadway RHP Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX) 2004 1 18 18 Josh Fields 3B Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK) 2004 1s 34 34 Tyler Lumsden LHP Clemson University (Clemson, SC) 2004 1s 38 38 Gio Gonzalez lHP Monsignor Edward Pace HS (Miami Gardens, FL) 2003 1 15 15 Brian Anderson OF University Of Arizona (Tucson, AR) 2002 1 18 15 Royce Ring LHP San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) 2001 1 16 16 Kris Honel RHP Providence Catholic HS (New Lenox, IL) 2001 1s 39 39 Wyatt Allen RHP University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN) 2000 1 12 12 Joe Borchard OF Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA) 1999 1 15 15 Jason Stumm RHP Centralia HS (Centralia, WA) 1999 1 22 22 Matt Ginter RHP Mississippi State University (Mississippi State, MS) 1999 1s 35 35 Brian West RHP West Monroe HS (West Monroe, LA) 1999 1s 45 45 Rob Purvis RHP Bradley University (Peoria, IL) 1998 1 16 16 Kip Wells RHP Baylor University (Waco, TX) 1998 1s 35 35 Aaron Rowand OF California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, CA) 1997 1 15 15 Jason Dellaero SS University of South Florida (Tampa, FL) 1997 1s 33 33 Kyle Kane RHP Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, CA) 1997 1s 34 34 Brett Caradonna OF El Capitan HS (Lakeside, CA) 1997 1s 43 43 Aaron Myette RHP Central Arizona College (Coolidge, AZ) 1997 1s 46 46 Jim Parque LHP University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) 1997 1s 51 51 Rocky Biddle RHP California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) 1996 1 12 12 Bobby Seay LHP Sarasota HS (Sarasota, FL) 1995 1 25 25 Jeff Liefer 3B California State University, Long Beach (Long Beach, CA) 1994 1 26 26 Mark Johnson C Warner Robins HS (Warner Robins, GA) 1994 1s 33 33 Chris Clemons RHP Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) 1993 1 17 17 Scott Christman LHP Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR) 1992 1 24 24 Eddie Pearson 1B Bishop State Community College (Mobile, AL) 1991 1 25 25 Scott Ruffcorn RHP Baylor University (Waco, TX) 1990 1 4 4 Alex Fernandez RHP Miami Dade College, Kendall Campus (Miami, FL) 1989 1 7 7 Frank Thomas 1B Auburn University (Auburn, AL)

Regarding Jerry's loyalty, here are some comments I found from a Jun, 2017 article. More delusional comments from Jerry's perspective versus the actual reality. https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bulls/jerry-reinsdorf-loyal-bulls-front-office/ Last week, Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf made a rare public appearance at the Intersport Brand Engagement Summit in Chicago. He gave a brief interview to Abraham D. Markour of Sports Business Daily and openly discussed his penchant for being loyal to his employees within both organizations. Here is what Reinsdorf had to say:

Of course we suck at drafting talented college and high school prospects. To have success in this area, you have to have excellent scouts in the field who actually know what a good future major league player looks like, in order to recommend to the front office who to draft. Then you have to have a front office that is skilled enough that can determine which players to draft. Finally you have to have a FO that employs plenty of good coaches in the farm system that can nurture and develop these young prospects and get them ready for the major level some day. The Sox have never for one moment had and never will have a clue...in all these areas under the current POS owner and front office losers. Hopefully the next owner ( and it can't be soon enough) will change this Sox organizational flaw, by hiring winning executives from the outside of successful clubs that do excel in these areas of drafting and developing draft picks.

I agree he doesn't, nor do many other Sox players. However they make sense being on the Sox roster, since the genius Rick Hahn hasn't had a clue from day one in how to properly build a major league roster, or the farm system to supplement the Sox ML roster.

Really, you're making excuses for a major league pitcher who was the #33 overall pick in 2014 and one of the key pieces in the 2016 Chris Sale trade. There are two things wrong: 1. Michael seems to having major issues with control. It's been happening for awhile. Whether it's mental and/or physical mechanical issues, they happen too often and they need to be fixed. 2. The Sox are also at blame here. Obviously the Sox don't have the right knowledgeable pitching coaches, or the ability to go out and find and pay a pitching consulting expert to come in and help fix Michael's pitching problems. Most non-dysfunctional winning organizations usually have the proper resources available or on staff to fix a pitcher, that the organization deemed having so much potential and money invested in. Btw, I don't recall anyone mentioning these factors of lost development, Covid, marital issues and TJ recovery, back in mid May when he went 15 IP, 3 hits, 1 BB and 19 K's in back to back starts.

I agree, especially when a loser owner and GM, make us loyal die-hard fans so insane, by putting this horrible team on the field and getting us so upset to bring out our crazy feelings.

The Hollies - "King Midas in Reverse" The lyrics are below the YT link and so appropriate with Rick Hahn in mind. If you could only see me I know exactly where I am You wouldn't want to be me Oh, I can assure you of that I'm not the guy to run with 'Cause I'll throw you off the line I'll break you and destroy you Given time He's King Midas with a curse He's King Midas in reverse It's plain to see it's hopeless Going on the way we are So even though I'd lose you You'd be better off by far He's not the man to hold your trust Everything he touches turns to dust In his hands Nothing he can do is right He'd even like to sleep at night But he can't (All he touches turns to dust) I wish someone would find me And help me gain control Before I lose my reason And my soul

There is no doubt Cease and Robert will bring a huge haul. The problem is, it can't be Hahn or even Kenny making those trades. I don't believe they would get back the max best haul. I still think it would be a grave mistake getting rid of Robert. No matter how big the haul, there is no guarantee it will pan out. The Roberts of the world just don't come around that often. I truly believe he is just scratching the surface of how great he will eventually become.

I personally would not trade Cease, but if the right trade could be so impossible to pass up, then yes it should be considered. I agree you would get a decent haul for him. However once you get rid of him, you have to find another Cease. If Cease goes to a team with a good pitching coach and a team that can produce runs like the top four teams in the Rangers, Rays, Braves and Dodgers...Cease will be a dominant pitcher. An absolute hard NO on Robert. He is a generational talent. You are not going to find another Robert who is a true 5-Tool player that has his power, speed, and unmatched CF defensive ability. It's great to blow up the team, but you have to keep some top players to build around. Remember he is only 25 years old. I've said this before in here, if you ever surround Robert with guys who get on base in front of him and have dangerous hitters behind him....you are looking at a perennial MVP player, provided he stays healthy. The Roberts of the world don't come around that easily, even in the great organizations who scout, draft and develop well.

As it usually is most years. That is not true. You are assuming all left handed 1B get platooned. The fact is the top LH 1B do not get platooned. LH 1B GM AB Matt Olson 78 300 Freddie Freeman 77 305 Nathaniel Lowe 77 304 Anthony Rizzo 72 270 LaMonte Wade Jr. 70 226 Josh Naylor 69 254 Vin Pasquantino 61 231 versus Andrew Vaughn 78 287

This was simply based on qualified PA numbers. However it really only matters comparing Andrew to regular everyday starters at first base. I don't care much about the backup first basemen. We need to know how he compares to the premium top end first baseman.

I don't have the league average for the slash line numbers for all first basemen, but I can show you where Vaughn ranks in each slash line number relative to all other first basemen in MLB: BA 1.Freddie Freeman LAD .317 2. Yandy Diaz TB .316 3. Josh Naylor CLV .291 4. Paul Goldschmidt STL .286 5. Vlad Guerrero Jr. TOR .284 6. LaMonte Wade Jr. SF .283 7. Spencer Steer CIN .282 8. Christian Walker ARI .282 9. Nathaniel Lowe TEX .276 10. Ty France SEA .274 11. Anthony Rizzo NYY .270 12. Alec Bohm PHI .267 13. Dominic Smith WSH .259 14.Vinnie Pasquantino KC .247 15. Andrew Vaughn CWS .240 OBP 1. LaMonte Wade Jr. SF .416 2. Yandy Diaz TB .404 3. Freddie Freeman LAD .397 4. Ryan Noda OAK .387 5. Paul Goldschmidt STL .376 6. Spencer Steer CIN .368 7. Nathaniel Lowe TEX .368 8. Vlad Guerrero Jr. TOR .354 9. Anthony Rizzo NYY .353 10. Matt Olson ATL .348 11. Christian Walker ARI .346 12. Ty France SEA .343 13. Josh Naylor CLE .332 14. Dominic Smith WSH .331 15. Triston Casas BOS .328 16. Vin Pasquantino KC . 324 17. Andrew Vaughn CHW .323 SLG 1 Freddie Freeman LAD .549 2 Matt Olson ATL .537 3 Pete Alonso NY .529 4 Christian Walker ARI .521 5 Yandy Diaz TB .518 6 Spencer Steer CIN .493 7 Paul Goldschmidt STL .486 8 Josh Naylor CLE .469 9 LaMonte Wade Jr. SF .465 10 Vlad Guerrero Jr. TOR .453 11 Andrew Vaughn CHW .439 OPS 1 Freddie Freeman LAD .946 2 Yandy Diaz TB .922 3 Matt Olson ATL .885 4 LaMonte Wade Jr. SF .880 5 Christian Walker ARI .867 6 Paul Goldschmidt STL .862 7 Spencer Steer CIN .861 8 Pete Alonso NYM .843 9 Vlad Guerrero Jr. TOR .807 10 Ryan Noda OAK .804 11 Josh Naylor CLE .801 12 Nathaniel Lowe TEX .798 13 Anthony Rizzo NYY .786 14 Andrew Vaughn CHW .762 Extremely disappointing numbers for the former 2019 # 3 overall draft pick.

Yes maybe the Jake Burger club needs to pipe down and yes he had a bad game going 0-2. but give me a break, don't only single Jake and TA. What about the other slugs on the team not named Robert, who also had a bad game. You forgot to mention the other anemic hitters other than the one hit from Vaughn. 1-25 minus Robert: Vaughn - 1-2 Benintendi - 0-4 Anderson - 0-4 Jimenez - 0-4 Burger - 0-2 Frazier - 0-3 Andrus - 0-2 Zavala - 0-2 Grandal - 0-1 Sheets - 0-1 This is a team game offensively and collectively we have no resemblance of a productive offensive team.

Grifol made some managerial mistakes: You cannot use Lopez late in a tie game in the 9th, as he is not mentally tough enough. He is a head case in high leverage situations. You also cannot use Bummer in a high leverage bottom of the 9th tie game. He is too wild. He is also mentally weak. Yes he as wicked stuff, but he has no clue how to control his pitches. As soon as they brought bummer in, I knew the game was over. Having Grandal pinch hit for Seby in the 8th was a mistake. Yes Seby is horrible hitter, but so is Grandal. Now you are putting the much weaker catcher in defensively in a close game in the 9th. I don't know if Seby catches Bummer's wild pitch, but I do know this, he would have a much better shot at stopping it than Grandal, who is pitiful at digging balls out. As we have a seriously bad hitting team. They have the occasional game where they can score a lot of runs, but those are few and far between. The previous game against Boston where Robert hit 2 HR's, you had Robert and Benintendi go 5-8 to drive in all four runs. The rest of the lineup went 2-21. Well same S*it, different day. Robert goes 2-4 with a home run and the rest of the team goes 1-25. I don't care how great the pitching is, you cant win that way. Another wasted game from one of our starters. Cease pitched an awesome game all for naught.

I agree Hahn has made a few good signings and moves. I also agree that injuries and collapses of Anderson, Moncada and Grandal hurt them. However the major league roster is not the only part of his GM duties. The fact is other successful teams have injuries. The good teams with the strong farm systems bring those players up when they have injuries, because they are ready to contribute. Unfortunately that is not the case with Hahn's farm system. Hahn's farm system is ranked near the bottom. There is absolutely no pitching at the AA and AAA levels to bring up. He failed badly with recent high draft picks. This is why there is more to grading Hahn on just the lack of major league talent, as well as having a losing team record. If Hahn isn't fired, it will only be because of Jerry being even more stubborn with his blind loyalty and ignorance.

But every baseball player thinks he's the best player in baseball. Every great player should think they are the beast. That is what makes them great. Yet the Mike Trout's, Aaron Judge's and Shohei Ohtani's to name a few, probably do think they are the best, but you can be damn sure, not one of them would ever tell the fans or media that publicly.