Chisoxfn

It will likely be in 1-2 weeks. Waiting for the latest version of the forum software (vs. the beta version). The look and feel won't be a big change - the big change of the forum software is set to come later this year - but have some stuff that needs to clean-up in advance of that and get onto a more efficient base and some underlying caapbilities that will help with server load/efficiency. I also am working on when we get to that version getting back to a much more simplified ad structure. The ad solution we use kind of takes off and gets out of control (this is NOT something I want to have that much of). So you should see a better experience there. And again - this site makes no money - but the traffic and volumes we get are large so while I appreciate the offer and generosity from others - the reality is - to be on a dedicated server has a material cost so ads are needed to cover it and ensure we can cover the costs. From the day this place started - never have I wanted to ever take anyone's dime or charge anyone to be on this site...but I also recognize the ad structure needs to be less invasive.

Yes - TalkBulls is there if someone ever wants to take the lead adn build up a forum its there for anyone (I don't have capacity to do so - but have always maintained name). And if no one does there, maybe one day one of my kids will take it over and build it out. Talkbears though is a hidden gem in my mind. Not a huge member base - but a quality member base. Far less bickering than on some of the more mainstream Bears forums - where you can't go more than 3 posts without it denigrading into nonsense. But all of those were offshoots - Soxtalk is the original.

I was expecting this to happen. Felt like Getz said it 2 days ago in his presser.

Definitely a shame - he was a really good dude to root for. At least he ultimately got paid. Hopefully he was able to squirrel that money away.

I’m convinced of this - my only hope is the new owner is legit and team stays in Chicago - but this is JR making sure new owner inherits no bad contracts and a fan base who will fall in love with the new owner

I thought our analytics department was smallest - not the scouting. Not that it makes it any better. Probably shrinking by the week as they divert more and more resources to robo dialing suckers (err fans) to get white Sox tickets.

Thome on an interim basis.

The problem is Sox fans expected elite - he has been good and can be frustrating in terms of not living up to his hype - but outside of the injuries he has been a good player. Get him in Dodgers as the 5th/6th best player and they will love him. He is such a good defensive player even though bat hasn’t lived up to hype.

Getz was quoted about his job security and basically said - well I just finished the deadline so lets see what tomorrow brings or something like that. He could have said almost anything better than what he did. Told me - my focus last couple weeks have been on executing trade deadline, now let me figure out what we are going to do with our Mgr (to me that means - who are the interim options and what is our plan and we'll get that aligned here in the next couple of days) and I think the leak around that quote is going to maybe accelerate that timeline.

The last part has been said many times and many times those players revert back to historical norms. I can think of Phil Humber who everyone thought was fixed and after a season...poof went right back to who he was. It happens - especially for someone who didn't have elite swing and miss stuff, which reality is MLB focuses a ton on that. Kopech will be around for a long time on that basis.

I'll just state this - on Robert and Crochet - I don't think they got an offer from either that involved an elite prospect (and I'm being loose on elite - I'm going top 50 guy). I think Crochet would have - but the extension and late news probably ruined any chance, but reality is the inning limit(s) were always a risk. Given that both Robert and Crochet are elite talents and are around a while from a contract perspective -> I think Getz made the right move punting and moving forward. Trading Crochet for a back end top 100 and 2 other top 250 guys isn't worth it in my opinion and would be a poor use of asset(s) and also set a poor precedent. And I fully don't blame any team that wasn't willing to offer that sort of capital up for Crochet knowing it was far more likely they are using chip(s) now for an asset that more likeley helps them next year and the following (vs. this year - teams in contention don't make those type of moves at the deadline). On Robert - I think reality is you would have got 75 cents on the dollar for him - I wonder if maybe a team through something out - but with how big of a funk he was in down the stretch and the Sox probably asking for multiple top end position prospects (which is what he would have been worth a few months ago) - I think rolling the dice on Robert either finishing strong (and/or having a bounce back next year under new management and with a fresh off-season) and than you flip him for far better value than today.

Now seeing the Flaherty deal - I guess one question is - who was worth more, Flaherty or Fedde. But with that in mind - I would probably argue Flaherty had more value - given he has a long term track record where he flashed vs. Fedde being a one year wonder. Both have been very good this year though - Flaherty has a much better ERA and FIP this season and track record. It wasn't like Flaherty got a Top 100 prospect. It seems like the reality is the market for these guys (in fairness Flaherty is a rental vs. Fedde) was not what anyone thought it was. So as I look at that, while I still think they got a guy less, I don't think ultimately the Fedde deal was as bad as I previously thought (unless the Sox wanted to roll the dice and keep him rest of this year and through the trade deadline in which case maybe they get one extra guy or something else).

This was super cool ?

With Sox sucking - been so great to just watch Olympics with the family at night. Nice work by girls gymnastics after the men’s did an awesome job day before.

Caufield - wishing you a quick recovery and no long term impacts. Get better quick!!!

I really think the 2020-2023 White Sox will go down as the shining example of why you don’t hand a bunch of elite talents a ton of money when they either hadn’t yet made the majors or were barely in the majors. At the time - I loved the idea, but in hindsight the Sox did it too soon and set the wrong precedent around ensuring players have the right hunger to earn that initial major pay day vs get it handed to them too soon (in fairness they earned it but it was clearly premature).

Heads up that in next week we will likely shut down site for a bit to upgrade the forum and clean up some server stuff. Was hoping to limp through season but trade deadline outages on site showed we got to take care of sooner vs later. Will give more of a heads up when I know exact timing.

Reality is - as soon as we hit tomorrow - some of the short-timers need to go and they need to give consistent at bats to Lee, Sosa, Colas and a bunch others over the next 2 months. I don't know what they'll do with Quero but you could put him on the list and obviously Vargas is a given. I'm sure I'm missing others - not saying you should rush everyone - but for those that have gotten enough expeirence and you need to see if they are MLB'ers or AAAA ers now is hte time.

I don't get it - Fedde was at least a #2/#3 starter or was pitching like one (FIP devalued him a bit but still a legit #3 at minimum). DeJong is a utility guy who can step in and start if someone is hurt but that is it. Getting a flyer which is what they got is all we should expect. Heck - if it were me, I Would have been trying to find international slot and / or draft picks where I could because I think in today's market teams are kind of undervaluing those vs. existing talent (call it time value - one is already here, the other is soon to be here).

I live out in SoCal - my Dodger friends all thought pretty highly of him and think he's going to be a good player, but he just didn't get enough playing time. Wouldn't be the first Dodger stuck in that position. Its kind of hard to get regular playiing time (vs. platoon) on that roster unless you are a bonafide superstar. Dodgers thought a lot more highly of Vargas than Busch. Busch has put up 2.5 WAR thus far this season. I really don't think it would be a shocker if Vargas became a 3 WAR+ type of player. With 5 years of control...that isn't bad.

I think the, they gave up Kopech and Pham needs to get levelized a bit. Pham wasn't going to get you much. He's a veteran leader who was a waiver pick-up and he's put up negative WAR. He has good grit and has been better than the rest of the Sox garbage, but he's still one of the last 2 guys on the roster - no one is giving up much for him at all. This was more of - we are moving you to a contender and maybe you got some iterative value. Kopech is a guy with a great arm and one year of control left - but he isn't super cheap either as he'll likely get a raise of some sort. I think getting 1.5 intriguing guys is probably right for him which means .5 of the 19 year old goes to Fedde plus Vargas. In my mind - that means Fedde is a bit of an underpay - but that is depending on how Sox rate Vargas. If they still think he is that top 40 type player who was roster squeezed - than they will end up looking pretty smart in this deal. I actually think there is a chance the Dodgers look the worst in this - as if the SS never regains form from injury, they basically get Kopech for 3 guys at that point. Cards did well in my mind - no denying that.

Have they really not won on a Monday all year?

Where is this coming from. I am not one to defend Getz but it sounded like they wee talking and working with him on a plan and than they got completely blindsided.

I think of it that way - if Vargas ends up a 3 WAR player for 5 years of control - that is a pretty darn good trade. If one of the other prospects turns into something as well - that is an excellent deal. I’m not betting on the second thing happening - but more they take chances on these type of guys on trades, the more one or two might hit. On Vargas, I think with him just being able to play regularly without getting consistently in and out (part of challenge for young dodger players breaking in)….we are going to end up seeing him blossom. He is a good hitter. I don’t know if he will be great - but I see him being a 750 to 825 ops type of guy without projecting too much. Also let’s not compare him to Sosa - his minor league numbers and hit tool is light years ahead of Sosas. Maybe he ends up like Sosa but they aren’t the same echelon of prospects.

Oddly enough - they both have the same FIP this year.