Chisoxfn

Mine wasn’t arguing picking him - more just curious who was last guy who was out that profiled like him from college / last high end college player who just crushed it.

Who is the last top 3 college position prospect who actually went out and panned out. Looking back the last 5 years I don't see any top end college position prospect who hit (ie top 3 ranked). I may be missing someone? Baz / Cags are maybe the best of the bunch.

To use a baseball analogy - I think of the Dodger front office and quite frankly I think the Celtics are kind of structured that way a bit as well (in NBA).

I normally say yes and I'm probably just too optimistic - but I think of some of MR's quotes of what he was looking for and how he wanted people being advanced thinkers and being forward leaning on the trends etc and how the franchise front office has consistently been on the slow side from innovation and seeing trends of the league. I take that combined with a comment somewhere around how the candidate they picked blew them away consistently in interviews around his forward looking visions and views that showed true leadership (along with fact he has a good rep as a scout). But that might be me piecing 2 things together as wishful thinking.

This - I would go to PETCO and literally mimic it. They have the local vendors all throughout, unique food, brews etc everywhere. Make it a differentiated and Chicago experience with a variety of well known institutions and vendors all over the place. You can still have your standard fare - but a much more nuanced experience and quite frankly - a very different experience that you can get from any other stadium in Chicago. Help make it an experience - use of venue for concerts post game in the city for weekend games that create just a totally different experience blending in the concept and truly maximizing benefit of a downtown stadium.

I'm curious if we see something even more modern based upon one snippet - will we see more of a multitude of GM / Asst GM types brought in as part of this exercise. I don't have much of an opinion one way or the other on the hire - I figured it would be Lloyd or the Boston guy (and for all I know the Boston guy could still be coming in as the GM). That said - while the franchises this individual is coming from don't excite me - I won't pretend to know much and will go to fact that league circles are not surprised he is getting elevated to this role (which at least says something). I also was excited we grabbed a guy from Denver last time and that sure was wrong - guy couldn't have been any worse.

Hell yeah - don’t stop now boys!!! Baseball is fun again!!!

I hope it never comes back onto the front page!!!

He needs to go down as his adjustments have him off - but he is a very talented catcher and will be fine in the long run. He needs a reset though - had a nice rbi later. Sox had a few hard hit balls with no luck but was a fun game. Last minute rushed to Petco with my son after his baseball game and ended. Was seated 10 minutes before first pitch - was a fun game and first time in a few years that I’ve had itch to watch Sox in person when they are in town. They are far more interesting to watch - once Colson, Queen, Meidroth and Teel came up last year and even more so when you add Mune, Antonacci, Schultz, Taylor and Vargas giving good at bats (with awful luck).

Dang - that was hit hard, just to wrong spot.

I also think if I squint out 2 years - I see a team that should have the ability to compete - especially if you pair it with a new owner. But even if you don't - I think there should be a window where Muni is 28-32 and this team is playing very competitive baseball. So I don't think this team is like 4 years away where I would say, you know what, lets move on because we are still in the pure stack 3-1 moves to build up a better base for a sustainable run. I'm not saying I have the upmost confidence in the above happening - but if I squint and even when I look at the first month - generally speaking I feel like outside of Quero taking a huge step back, this has been a pretty good 1st month from a rebuild: Majors: Focusing only on guys I consider core to the long-term rebuild Pitching Martin - Really pitching well and looking solid and at least a medium term fit (could also move him and wouldn't argue it given where we are in rebuild and his years of control remaining) Burke - Shows good stuff and fit as a mid - to - back of the rotation guy; Grant Taylor - Elite FIP; Stuff strong - still developing but you can see a high end reliever; Also will caveat this is the type of guy that is a potential asset to move if you can get a high end outfield / position prospect (or starting prospect). Rest of our rotation was never key to the LT success - if you got a hit with Kay or Fedde great, but they are back end guys at best. Hitting: Montgomery - Elite power and above average defense continues to show; Clear signs that he is trending to be a 3-4 WAR player with upside of a 5-6 WAR type player if he can be more consistent with the bat. Learn from Muni on the eye / patience, etc. Vargas - Don't think he went up or down - but you are seeing improved power and eye. Avg low but OPS still serviceable and defense okay. Worse case you can squint and see a very useful elite utility guy and still some scenarios where he is a solid player surrounded with other good players. Quero - Clearly took a nose dive; Probably the most disappointing 1st month of any player who was key to our rebuild. It is still 1 month and he was working through swing changes. Needs a reset. I also understand the nuances of learning your starting staff etc take a tole. Teel - Injury impacted and stinks; But you can see progress - hopefully he is healthy by mid to late May and he gets another year under his belt further validating he has a floor of a top 7 catcher in this league. Muni - Could not be off to a better start; Elite power / Elite eye with an ability to hit velo (which was the scouting report weakness); Swing and miss is real but with the other 2 attributes he looks to be a bopper in this lineup for a while (if you can sign him) Meidroth - Solid player - worse case good bench guy; Low ceiling but he's a major league player and a very good bench guy on a high end team. Antonacci - Jury is out - but lets see what he can do; Did well in minors and spring - small major league sample size but I wouldn't say anything bad relative to expectations but lots of questions. Perreria - Off to a good start; Good buy low candidate that you can at least squint and see some potential; May not be anything but if he isn't good doesn't hurt - if he is good its gravy on top; Acuna - Flawed player - but now is the time to give him at bats because he really isn't taking playing time away from people that critical. Rest of the big league roster - they weren't long term players anyway. Minors: Pitching: Top 3 prospects all showing front of the rotation stuff Schultz - Looks explosive and now up at the big league level - very evident he has elite stuff; whether he can pull it all together, who knows - but you see potential front line starter potential. Hagen - Building up innings / pitch count (not perfect) - but no red flags right now outside of innings (which is a real one); Command improving and seems to be looking more like the guy they drafted; Work still remains; McDougal - Same thing; Elite stuff; Production good; Expect he'll be up in MLB at some point this year. Next Set - Oppor has been mixed; Would like to see another wave shine - and also curious to see what Thorpe can do when he gets back out there. Hitting: Montgomery - Continues to show the tools; Still has some question-marks but still showing high percentage upside; Overall outfield depth remains weak - would love to see this as a spot the club makes an impact signing over next 1-2 years. Bonemer - Raking at a high level and continuing to show that he can be an impact player (I wouldn't call him elite - but looks like he has the makings of being a sustainable 3-4 WAR type of guy. Slew of other Infield Prospects - They all seem to be doing a nice job;

Ayo is killing it tonight - second straight stellar game. If Bulls go with Lloyd I wonder if we see them bring Ayo back on like a 3yr 65M deal. Hopefully we win the lotto and get Dybantas and than you got him, Matas, Giddey, Ayo…grab a center with Portland pick and get Essengue back….you have Smith and Jones on bench plus Miller….tons of cap space the following year and a pretty solid foundation.

I liked what they did on day 3.

I like the DB they drafted a lot. Probably means he will suck and the guys I complained about will deal. one thing I will say - Ben Johnson is someone I trust so I am going to hope if he flagged the TE and wideout than he has a plan and sees them being legit players. The LB from ASU was a solid get too. Nothing sexy but think that was much better than when they got cute with Hyppo but I hope Hyppo with an offseason put on a bit more strength and goes and wins a job.

I wanted them to grab McCoy. Don’t know how bad his injury is but dude was a baller and even if he missed the entire year I would take my chance cause the bounce back upside would be so high.