WhiteSox2023

Okay, let’s get back on topic. It’s pointless to argue over a scrub organizational catcher with a 0.0 career bWAR as a means to bolster a team’s developmental prowess. How many other MLB teams’ best starting pitcher performance (2.3 bWAR for Smith) come from a Rule 5 pick in the same year the player was chosen, rather than a starter they already had on their roster? That’s a crazy statistic.

I still don’t understand what the Sox supposedly developed with Zavala. He was a much better hitter in the minors (.762 OPS) than he has been in the majors (.613 OPS) so it definitely wasn’t his bat that they developed. Also, is there a way to prove that Zavala didn’t have his own defensive skills at catcher to begin with? He is a bad backup catcher at best and more suited as organizational depth at catcher in AAA. If that is who anyone wants to claim that the Sox developed, that’s a sad state of affairs.

Exactly. The Sox obviously saw something they liked in Smith. I don’t remember if they tweaked him in any way or helped him add a new pitch once they acquired him, but how could the Sox not be able to churn out a pitcher of equal status as Smith or better with all the chances they have had over the years? I mean, the fact that their best chance at producing a good starting pitcher for the 2025 season was from the rarity of striking gold in the Rule 5 draft as opposed to numerous drafts and other player acquisition possibilities over recent years? That’s pretty crazy to think about.

We all knew Crochet was going to be traded and they had no intention of keeping him, so I don’t see him counting. Also, durability is a thing. I realize pitchers get hurt a lot but the Sox had so many pitcher injuries and surgeries that you have to wonder if it was truly fluky.

The Brewers also signed Greg Jones to a minor league deal. Almost as bad. 🤣

I do believe the Finnegan signing (2/$19) has priced the Sox out of the running for Fairbanks.

Well, durability is an important pitcher attribute as well. That’s why this Jedixson Paez pick is interesting. He doesn’t walk anyone and his best pitch is a changeup. I read that he usually sits at 91/92 but has gotten it up to 94. Sounds like he could have a better fastball than Drew Thorpe if the Sox can squeeze a bit more out of it, but it shouldn’t be at the risk of messing up his arm.

Well, I never used the word “embarrassing”. I said that it is “sad” that the Sox didn’t already have similar starting pitching talent as Smith. That is an indictment of the Sox, not the Twins, Tigers, or Brewers.

The sad part is that the Sox had to pillage another team’s player and he wound up being their best starter by far. Awesome that Getz and crew were able to identify Smith’s talent, but sad that they don’t have their own equally talented pitchers on the team already. Burke and Cannon are not that guy. I think that is the point that was being made.

Indeed. This shouldn’t be like when we had high hopes for Andrew Vaughn at #3. We should finally get our Bobby Witt Jr. at #1.

For once, the Sox may have an almost no brainer choice on ending up with a perennial All-Star position player. I really hope they don’t get cute and take a pitcher.

GreenSox is using SoxTalk to practice for his side gig. 🤣

Check Bleacher Report since Getz has cited their ranking of the White Sox farm system in the past. 🤣

Montgomery to 3B would seemingly make more sense. Maybe Carlson moves to 2B or CF.

Both Mt Carmel and Marist are 8A for football. BR has spanked Laurence in each of the past two seasons. Marist and Rita are definitely quite a few rungs up the ladder above Laurence and have much more competitive games with BR.

Not that I think this Pallette non-protection thing is a big deal, but the majority of scrubs Getz gave playing time to last season didn’t earn their playing time either. 🤣

That’s not what I said. I said multiple garbage players for a bunch of games. Meanwhile, you mentioned one scrub player from the Yankees that didn’t play in a single MLB game for them last year. The 2025 White Sox had all of these scrubs play for the team: Nick Maton Joshua Palacios Curtis Mead Jacob Amaya Tim Elko Will Robertson Vinny Capra Ryan Noda Bobby Dalbec Travis Jankowski

Exactly. They are all spare parts for a non-competitive team.

If your team is down to giving extended starts and at bats to guys like Ben Cowles, Tanner Murray, Derek Hill, Jacob Amaya, or Vinnie Capra, your season is over regardless.

Can you play 1B? What are your salary demands? Maybe the Sox can actually afford you…

Getz ain’t paying that kind of coin.

Not if you’re in the other ~50 percent that ends in a divorce. 🤣

Ultimately, they had better pick the best player at 1-1.

It’s amazing and enviable. While the Sox are signing MLB washouts out of Japan to their rotation, the Dodgers are adding yet another ace.

His 4.7 bWAR and .928 OPS. But I do agree, due to his age he doesn’t match up with the Sox timeline.