chitownsportsfan

You guys ever tried to bunt a ball coming in at over 90MPH? Maybe go crank up the pitching machine at the batting cages see how consistently you can place one about 15 feet at a particular angle out in front of you. If it was easy, they'd already be doing it. You can count the amount of times a bunt beat the shift this year on one hand. Some possible rules changes I would like to see that would encourage more balls in play: changing drag on the ball via the seams (increase drag), moving mound back (or lowering it) slightly, raising fences or moving fences back. All things that are way less radical than banning defensive positioning.

The game has changed for the worse (three true outcome is boring AF) but the solution isn't to limit shifting it's to provide incentives against three true outcome. Easier said than done but banning shifts isn't the answer.

Manfred's job should be endangered.

Mazara will be lucky to have more than a NRI after the Sox non tender him. At best he signs a 2-3 million deal for a team trying a pump and dump.

I could post quite a bit of data suggesting Mazara is a poor mans avi but it's all going to fall on deaf ears for anybody still clinging to the idea his "breakout" is still coming. His pitch type data suggests a one trick pony that once the League adjusted wasn't able to adjust himself. Covid didn't prevent the guy from hitting any sort of off speed pitch this year the holes in his swing and approach did.

Agree I think it's pretty clear the Sox value the input of guys like TA, Dallas and Jose. Hell for all we know TA helped push Renteria out the door. Anybody they hire will be cleared with the team leaders. I really think the Sox have turned over a new leaf (finally) and joined more progressive franchises in the manager hiring process. I know it sounds crazy with the old man TLR as the seemingly main candidate but there's been a change in thinking otherwise Cooper would still be around even if Renteria was fired. It's all about empowering the players to be the best version of themselves. If that man is TLR, despite his age, that's cool.

Indeed. Still haven't finished the book but got through most of the Bauer stuff. He's a guy that will always have a chip on his shoulder and is internally motivated. He's not a guy that will stop working once he gets the big deal. I think his general IQ is overblown (he's a genius in a very narrow field) but that's what you want in a big signing: a hard worker that is smart enough to know how to keep improving or stay at the same level as he ages.

I'm pretty certain just replacing Renteria with an average in game tactical manager will be worth about 10 runs, or one win. A excellent in game manager might be worth 20 runs over Renteria -- so yea, your point is a good one the bigger difference will be in the players. It all adds up tho.

Yea he's supposedly fluent in Spanish, which is a pretty big point in his favor. That said, he's not my preferred choice. I'd prefer Jirsch as it would mean the Sox are basically doing what TB does and employ a manager that is good with the guys and will execute the analytics department's strategy in game and with the lineups. Cash took over when he was 37, still young enough to be "one of the guys". Same thing with Jirsch. edit: shit he's only 30. Might be a bit young still. Maybe they appoint La Russa the manager with the idea of grooming Jirsch into the job within a couple years. I'd be alright with that plan.

I'd interview la russa to just have him input his thoughts, hopefully he's not actually going to be hired.

lol perfect. all types!

This fuckin' guy would try and bargain with the girls selling lemonade on the corner. He'd pull up some figures on the wholesale cost of lemons or some shit before asking for a 5% discount.

Bingo.

It just cracks me up what is and isn't "crooked" among the 1 percent. JR took a stand when it might cost him a buck, bold.

Quite the thread we got going here.

Wait there are at least two people OK with Mazara round 2?! What! He's horrible and if he flukes into producing will leave in FA. There's nothing there!

Nobody wants la russa except JR I'd imagine. Hopefully JR is too cheap as Sox can do better.

the fuck would he have to be bitter about? Good lord this dude quit on the team. The revisionist history around the end of his tenure is pointless. He's never managing in Chicago again and 99% he'll never manage anywhere again.

Yea he's done a good job hard to argue otherwise. No GM is perfect and once Hahn was allowed to rebuild (I do think he was asked to not rebuild prior to 2018 by JR and KW) he did it well. He showed he's the 100% leader too firing Cooper and Renteria, which is great news for the future.

I give him a B. He's done a good job but not an excellent one. There are certainly worse GMs.

I wonder if Cooper will work in MLB again. Seems like the type that would rather retire than take a lower position and salary. I doubt anybody will hire him as a pitching coach right now.

Yea I don't know how it would work but if he's looking for a better chance to win Chicago is def the place.

Reylo should be traded for a bag of balls or cash. Cease needs a complete mechanical overhaul. Dunning just needs more reps. Dunning is not at all like the first two. Dunning had a great season.

I just don't know enough about him to really have a strong opinion but if the Astros hired him he must be doing something right. I'm still on the Girardi train I've been on it since he was let go in NY. I really think it's time for an ass kicker as the manager. Joe makes some bad in game decisions but he's not nearly as bad as Renteria and clubhouse wise I think the team is ready for a manager that is a bit of a hardass.

IDGAF. Hire the best people. Once he's served his penance he's good to go IMO.