TaylorStSox

As far as game threads go, I've heard the bar room analogy used a lot. I don't know about you guys, but I'm most certainly not hanging out at the bar with guys that are going to piss and moan on pretty much every pitch over a 162 game season. I remember game threads being mostly fun. People were usually sarcastic. A couple posters would carry on some argument for a couple pages, but it never really got personal. Then the Sox would score and all would be forgotten, or they'd lose and people would move on. It was still generally fun though - win or lose. For the overall culture of the board, I'm probably not the best judge. When I come to the board nowadays, I have 1 of 2 reactions: I'll either read a page or 2 of a thread and think to myself, that's enough Soxtalk for the next couple weeks. Or, I'll read something that pisses me off and I'll get caught in the fray. I will say that I don't think it's negative vs positive though. Fathom has historically been one of the most negative posters here, and he's also one of my favorite posters. He adds value. He's not hateful. He's just a pessimistic guy, and after you follow his posts for while, it's kind of funny and you realize it's just his nature, but he's authentic . I think it has more to do with hyperbole and general combativeness. Once a board becomes hyperbolic, it becomes a rat race. Then you factor in the that posters are just downright nasty to each other (myself sometimes included), and I'm not really sure if there's any recovery from that. Too many longtime posters just build up too much resentment for each other. However, I really think the competition to see who can exaggerate the most has been the board's biggest downfall. I don't think there's a fix for it because it's impossible to moderate.

I don't come here very often anymore, and admittedly I'm a jerk when I do. I hate using the term "toxic," but this site has become truly toxic over the last few years and game threads are completely unreadable. This site was the fun alternative to WSI. Now it reads like the comment section of YouTube.

The philosophy of the league has changed. Maximizing pitcher health and longevity is no longer a priority. A lot of Coop's philosophy sacrificed peak performance for long term health.

Don't ruin the Skylark by inviting sports fans.

I'm really excited about the season as well. I haven't looked forward to a Sox season in a long time. As such, I won't be spending much time with the energy vampires on Soxtalk.

You reminding me of Ron Gant is worth this thread's existence. Cheers.

Right. There's so much done with analytics in baseball, but it seems like little is done with contracts. This contract is great for owners as they're maximizing expected value without being weighed down by a long term commitment. If I was other players, I'd be pissed at Bauer as these type of contracts destroy their nest egg - the ability to be highly paid during their decline. Nearly all long term contracts are are weighed down by paying players for past their prime production.

From an owner's perspective, I think it's a fantastic deal. True value, no fluff. You don't have to pay a guy $25MM when he's 37 and rotting away.

You're arguing production from completed seasons. My post specifically said "talent." If you don't think this staff has more talent than 93 or 05, I'm not sure what to say. It's pretty clear Giolito, Cease, Kopech and Lynn had more talent than anyone on those staffs, with McDowell and Fernandez being arguable. Calling MB a "borderline HOF" is gigantic stretch, unless we're completely buying into the Hall of Very Good. Contreras was somewhat of a failure at this level when we got him, and he was about 56 years old. Garland had talent, but was a disappointment each year heading into 05. We'll see where the production ends up, but 1-5, I'm not even sure how you even can make an argument that this staff doesn't have more talent than either of those staffs. None of those pitchers had near the stuff of Gio, Cease or Kopech.

That's weird. Rest assured, I don't care about your posts. Carry on being a baby or whatever you do.

I'm an adult that got over it? Are you so juvenile that you looked through my posts for a "gotcha?" Jesus christ, that's pathetic.

I didn't watch last season because playing baseball during a global crisis is fucking stupid and irresponsible. I still followed. This is the second most talented starting lineup and the most talented staff of my lifetime. I'll enjoy this season. Honestly, I post so little these days that I'm surprised you know who I am. I must have touched a nerve or something because I have no idea what you're even about.

At least I don't spend all day here being a baby. I just pop in occasionally hoping it will get back to the way it used to be, and leave disappointed.

This is easily the most talented rotation in most of our lives and people are still finding ways to b****. Modern Soxtalk. ??

I've changed my stance on Reinsdorf over the years from apologist to hater, but my God you guys are dramatic. I sat last season out because I thought it was irresponsible to play during the pandemic. This is the second most talented Sox team in my 40 years on the planet. I'm gonna enjoy it.

Well, there's that whole pandemic thing going on. Kind of tough to predict 4 or 5 months ahead.

This is the Sox putting out info to see who's leaking it.

Hahaha. That literally made me LOL.

There are some scenarios, albeit optimistic, where a very good Eloy Jimenez could be our 5th best hitter and Lynn could be our 3rd best starter. I like our team. Shore up the pen and go to work.

Collins has 120 career PA's. Calling him a reclamation project is the front runner for hottest take in the thread.

Any stat that doesn't put Vizquel among the top 3 defensive SS of all time is a broken stat. Smith was the only better fielder over the last 50 years.

It seems like you're the one that's the most "hypersensitive" here. For some reason you're offended. I can't fathom why.

It certainly doesn't feel good to be a White Sox fan right now.

Well, like Eaton, I do pay my mortgage, so that gives me the right.

Way too late for that. I have about as much chance of not being an asshole as Larussa does of not having another beer.