Balta1701

I don’t know which “most on here” you’re referring to.

I’d do right in that range, 125-130.

Ill go with a D. I’ve seen worse concepts (specifically 2015/2016). Piling up expensive relievers and plugging other holes however they can doesn’t seem like a strategy anyone else would do, but there’s a nonzero chance it’s a complete success.

It’s darned close. If I can count only top 7 narrowly white Sox because 3/4 seem better, if I can take into account the next step of depth maybe the other way? A quick projection check has the White Sox ahead of the Astros and the difference is almost entirely covered by the fact that they have Kopech pitching more innings than McCullers. https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=SP

But if Kopech can’t get started until mid April or later, does that balance it?

$3 million.

No a spring training performance does not substantially change his trade value beyond the fact that he’s healthy. I just knew he was going to have a great game today because you said he’d be terrible against the Dodgers.

I get to say “I told you so” on this one man.

Who determines when a pitcher comes out of a game?

Because there’s no other effect there. It’s not like the average fastball velocity has increased by roughly 5 mph over that time, because if that was the case then no one would talk about babying arms.

Because there’s never a bad year to beat them.

Because you want to look down sometimes.

I will start this one off with some nice service time manipulation and a quality Twitter ratio.

For all your random MLB needs.

Steve Stone just isn't a White Sox fan, apparently.

Clevinger is what, 18 months from TJS give or take? Some struggles seem totally expected if I got that right.

If the white Sox had signed this years equivalent of Nick Williams, Brian Goodwin, and Billy Hamilton to a minor league deal - those are decent money right? If it’s right, Spotrac shows $2.28 million between those three last year? So if it costs $1 million to sign a guy to stash at Charlotte, and this guy gets $10k or whatever pittance they pay minor leaguers, this is a cost saving move compared to signing a vet. Did I get this right?

They dropped Zavala? Is that confirmed somewhere? That should be a thread if so.

You're completely right that losing a top of the rotation starter will hurt any team. The next step though is - "What is the likelihood of it happening, and what does that team have available to cover it". Let's go to our dear friends in Houston. Their rotation right now is Verlander, McCullers, Valdez, Garcia, Urquidy, Odorizzi, with Christian Javier as a 7th man, and Forrest Whitley and Hunter Brown as 2 pitching prospects who are likely to start the season at AAA. Recent callup Peter Solomon could also be a guy used for some spot starts, as could Shawn Dubin, although both of those guys long term probably wind up in the big league bullpen a couple of spot starts wouldn't be terrible. Obviously, McCullers is now hurt, which moves Odorizzi into the rotation, and Verlander is unlikely to throw a full season coming off of TJS, so Odorizzi in that 6th starter role will definitely get significant time in the rotation. Furthermore, if and when someone else goes down, there are multiple backup plans that you'd be ok with - spot starts by Javier, callups for one of the rookies if they're doing acceptably at AAA. Compare that with the White Sox and you'll see why this is a bigger worry for Chicago. Their rotation is Lynn, Giolito, Cease, Kopech, Keuchel, with Lopez as a 6th man and 7th man options including Lambert, Velasquez, and Crochet (who may not be stretched out). Both teams have a guy who is unlikely to throw a full season, Kopech and Verlander. Both teams have a guy you might not put in an ideal rotation - Keuchel and Odorizzi. Except for the Astros, that guy is the 6th starter, for the White Sox he's the 5th. For the setup you'd expect, the 6th starters, Lopez and Odorizzi, are both going to get some rotation time - except now for the White Sox you have both Keuchel and Lopez in the rotation, whereas for the Astros they still have 4 strong starters and Odorizzi. And then you get to the real worry part - if someone else gets hurt, the Astros have several options, the White Sox really don't. The Astros can get spot starts from Javier and they have young guys who could give them spot starts as well with some ability. The White Sox have Lambert and...? I'm not sure. The White Sox have traded away guys like Dunning and Pilkington, and they haven't successfully drafted anyone else who has moved up. While you might very well do some deals like those again, the lack of rotation depth they cause means somewhere you need to find a player who can step in, and unless Velasquez steps up and they stretch him out - that player is not obvious from the guys currently in the White Sox's organization. The Astros may not have the arms at the top of the rotation the White Sox have, but both teams have a guy that will need someone to cover for them, and the Astros have better solutions for when that happens and for when someone else gets hurt.

Bah, a “warm body who can play a few games when someone is hurt” has some value when we’ve already got an OF who will probably miss opening day.

This team has enough good players that it seems unlikely anything will kill them in terms of missing the playoffs. But…we saw last year how 2 more wins was the difference between home field advantage in the first round, and with the Byes this year seeding could be even more important. Whether it’s the manager giving away games, Lambert being the main backup plan, or keeping outfielders healthy, those little things in May could very readily have big leverage in October.

While they probably thought that, having scheduled double headers in addition to the normal weather ones adds an extra layer of indigestion.

That’s our 4-6?

Since I’m looking, Fangraphs overall predictions also has the White Sox with the 4th best pitching staff, but interestingly they peg the Yankees as the best staff and have Torotno down at 6th.