chitownsportsfan

I'll let the FGs analysis serve as most the analytics part of this one and focus on Colson's story more. Colson Montgomery was born in 2022 in a town called "Holland" in Indiana. Google suggests Holland is a one stoplight town at most, but Colson had a leg up on his small town brethren: his father, who was a two sport juco player in hoops and baseball and Colson's older bro -- who Colson wanted to beat at everything said his pops. His dad talks about his early career: Sure enough, Colson would make that dream happen when he was selected 22nd overall in the 2021 MLB draft. At 6-4" on a steady 215lb frame, with a sweet lefty stroke and ability to play up the middle he was a valued commodity coming out of HS. Here is one report from my local guy here at Lookout Landing: And I'd be remiss to not throw this in: After being drafted Colson impressed immediately at draft camp, including this memorable moment with La Russa: https://x.com/whitesox/status/1481028377624649730 In his first full pro ball season at 22, Colson slashed 274/381/429 across A, high A and AA. The hype was rising, and entering the 2023 season MLB named him the 38th best prospect in MLB, one slot behind our friend Miguel Vargas. Things would get even better prospect ranking wise, with the ceiling the floor as the kids say and in 2024 the top was reached prospect wise with MLB having him 9th. But, as well know, progress isn't linear. Thanks Rick. Montgomery slowly backslid, with questions about pretty much everything leading up to his "reset" last spring in Arizona. Just Baseball summed up it like this in hindsight: The rest is history, or gravy if you're a Sox fan. Colson has gone to produce 5.2 fWAR in his first 684 MLB PA. If he's not quite a superstar, he's certainly a star. The defense clears at SS for the foreseeable future, the power is elite, and the other stuff doesn't really matter too much for now. There's concerns obviously about his back, swing speed given said back, contact rate, and his long term position, but you won't blame any of us Sox fans for just enjoying this ride. At worst he settles in as a solid regular that flames out prematurely due to injury (think Joe Crede), at middle case he produces about 15 WAR career before he slides over to 3rd and gives us another 10 before he hits his age 33 season and the Sox make a decision. At best he improves his hit tool and patience without sacrificing power, remains an above avg defensive SS, and challenges for MVPs while helping lead postseason charges for years to come. Not bad.

They gotta s%*# or get off the pot on Pereria and Hays. Both guys obvious waiver wire bait and/or trade sweetener.

To me it's asset management over not just this season but the next few. Who are you getting that's going to give you say, 30% better production than what we have at the 4th or 5th starter spot not just this year but the next couple as well? Adams could be that guy himself, maybe not 30% better, but say 20%. The Dane Dunning trade come to mind, that one didn't really come back to bite us as he got hurt again, but it also wasn't a good trade by process or by results was just mediocre.

NGL, not a ass cancer hot dog guy but that looks as smashable as Sweeney. I'd def eat half in one sitting at least.

FGs updated list. Bonemer at 98 seems insane to me. FanGraphs Baseball2026 Pre-Trade Deadline Top 100 Prospects UpdateWith the 2026 draft in the books, the Top 100 gets a sweeping update.He's not even 21 raking in AA. They are seriously discounting his age relative to production imo and there's no evidence he's just a LF yet either. Most of that talk is that if he does rake next year the Sox will probably have to find a way to get him on the field in MLB come next summer, and LF is as of now the only open spot. The contact s%*# profile is so over played now. Players are rocking 30% k rates on the regular, especially LA guys, and having success. It's all about that slug.

3 up in the loss column now. I really feel 87 wins takes the division. Sox just need to play .535 ball in to get that.

Doesn't seem like a fit. They'd want a MLB ready player and we ain't giving them Sam, Chase or Braden. Mariners problem is that Cal Raleigh has been fucking awful and Julio was merely good, not elite, and is now hurt again (granted on a fluke play like Teal). Not sure why they'd even be looking to add, they should just let it play out in that awful AL West.

Today's dive will be on Colson Montgomery, give me a few hours, in the meantime, read FG's analysis of the man they just dubbed one of the 25 most valuable contracts in baseball.

Braden is the first guy I feel fairly confident will track a ball down out there since the brief Adam Eaton as healthy starter period. Bat is a WIP but at least he isn't turning singles into triples.

Everybody knew his arm was a big risk, even Crochet:

playing 1 game under from now until 162 gets us 84-78. At this point, I think you have to at least add a bit. Bullpen arm if nothing else. 86 wins probably gets a WC spot in the AL and 88 wins probably takes the central.

Must be gathering some data on his rotational forces with that bra. I like it. More data the better.

Masterclass by Will tonight and the pen. Hicks to Taylor was perfect and offense did enough to have a comfie 9th for whatever lefty he wanted. Kudos to Kay for just doing enough. Defense needs to get cleaned up. Vargas and Mune had a poor series overall, but off day and coming home. High vibes.

Great fucking win. Great road trip.

Big out!

makes sense. he's got it. 2 runs is enough.

Good changeup after all those FB.

Good rip Grichuk is on him.

480 OPS, oof.

damn another nut shot

Or even better score a few runs and make it not matter.

No way you give him the 9th. Just let whatever lefty you want come on.

Grant taylor is disgusting. what a great job by will using him there for the 6 outs.

taylor breaking out his slurve for fun.

great pitch selection.