chitownsportsfan

I'm surrounded by people 28-40 in my current social group (mostly bachelors around that age) so maybe it's a bit of a selection bias but I'd say most of them are baseball fans. Casual sure, like go to a couple mariners games a year, maybe a few more if the team is good or it's a corporate thing. Every major NA sports league makes most their bank off the casual fans. Sure hardcore MLB fans are in decline but with so many leisure options now that's not surprising.

lol maybe, but the Dash changing their logo isn't much evidence.

I'd imagine that there's a 50/50 chance if he's not brought up with the big club when rosters go to 26 in March he's cut loose and tries his luck in another org. I think he's insurance in case TA suffers a major injury in spring training, god forbid.

hopefully he likes the weather in Charlotte.

Because it's Jan 15th and we are all staring out the window waiting for spring?

Couldn't find that quote but I did find this article which really makes me not like Kenny Williams. lol, as if KW was in any danger of losing his job at any point post 2005.

A dude that has no passion to manage, no experience, no real natural charisma for it was elevated to Sox manager because he was a familiar face. Thankfully unlike the NBA the head coach doesn't really matter too much or the Sox would have a Bulls like problem on a yearly basis.

Kinda weird people are using Donaldson's ability to play 3B well at his age as some sort of knock. He'll move to 1B/DH in a year or two and his value will take a hit but Jose has no such room. He's already a very bad 1B and ideally a DH. There's a reason Jose is being paid what he is and Donaldson is being paid what he is.

You gotta think this is the year Nelson Cruz turns into a pumpkin.

That's more than fair on paper the Sox have a lot of potential in their rotation and on paper the Twins have a lot more proven production in their lineup. I'm putting Eloy down for 280/350/520 already in my mind and Robert with 250/300/460 and Madrigal with 280/330/400 with elite defense but those things are not etched in stone, progress isn't linear blah blah blah. I like Chicago's MLB roster situation from 2021+ a helluva lot more but the Twins are strong in LA and you know they will find some gems to plug holes. It's fun. We are actually relevant again and can have these discussions.

and if Gio regresses to a 3 WAR pitcher or gets hurt...I mean all the concerns about the Twins rotation apply to Chicago's as well. I don't see an argument for saying their chances are weaker than Chicago's based on a rotation comp.

I'm legit concerned he's going to hook up with the Twins' PED dispensers (they got some good ones) and have a monster next couple years. This is a blow across the Sox' bow no doubt. But nobody said it was going to be handed to them. And this puts more pressure on Hahn to continue to spend, continue to argue to Jerry to spend. Let's hope this turns into a positive for the Sox long term.

I dunno, Sox win a title and he's their Mookie? I'd take that.

money talks, even among countryman and teammates. moncada's agent isn't going to give 80 cents on the dollar because he likes playing with Robert or Jose. moncada is coming off a 5 war season at age 23 and has already made quite a bit. he will be due a monster payday. i'd be surprised if the sox can find it in them to pay him. enjoy his next three years.

And everyone of them produces more than 3 bWAR on 150 innings plus. That would basically mean an 100 win team or thereabouts. Sign me up please. I'd give Don Cooper a lifetime contract! More seriously if one of Kopech or Cease breaks out. Look the fuck out AL Central.

I really hope he steps into that role this year. He was lights out at times last year. Can he do it under a little more pressure in the 8th? Let's hope.

That would be awesome if things are going so well with the youngsters that Rodon and Gonzo are depth pieces out of the pen. Could even get creative and try using Rodon as an opener for Lopez/Cease/Kopech to save innings.

With the position players almost completely settled I have to admit quite a bit of ignorance about how the pitching is going to look. What is the rotation on opening day? What will it look like in mid-summer? As I said I'm a bit ignorant here but on opening day might be: Gio, Kuechel, Cease, Gio, Lopez. By mid summer might be: Gio, Kopech, Kuechel, Rodon, Gio/Cease/Lopez. I don't have a lot of confidence in Rodon coming back and contributing bot for now I'll pencil him in. The pen seems much more set: Colome, Herrera, Cishek, Bummer, (big drop off) to Fry, Cordero, Marshall and whoever else makes it. I have no confidence in Marshall to repeat his 2.79 ERA. I think the pen is going to be a dumpster fire at points this year. Bummer could be the wild card. If he has a year like last year he could elevate the entire pen as the 4 out guy in the 6th and 7th.

My first inning of my first spring training was pitched by one Dylan Covey. Thanks dude I'll always have that moment in my fandom. It was a beautiful early March day at Camelback...and I believe he got absolutely shelled and was pulled after about an inning.

This gone be good you got two of the most redass and easily offended fan bases (and two of the largest) pissing on each other's leg for the next year over this shit, covering them all in urine.

Well for starters he could point to a specific game so people can start going through the tape. But yea perhaps it's already being done.

I'd love nothing more than this to bring down Manfred as part and parcel of the scandal but Logan is going to need some receipts.

I doubt Luhnow will work as a GM again. If the Stros' owner is telling the truth then Luhnow violated his trust and that's going to be a problem for him regardless of how much ignorance he claims here.

might be worth a camp invite but he sucks. It would have to be a real upgrade on Leury to make it worthwhile to add someone to the 40 man imo. Not really sure what's out there. It's too bad they passed on Iglesias he would have been perfect.