southsider2k5

Overreacting to spring training and one start is the classic Wild E Coyote set up for baseball fans. The next frame is you opening the box that blows up in your face.

I have a feeling this post gets regular laugh reacts for the next two years.

I get the feeling this story is just getting started.

No doubt this year is going to suck.

Part of me feels like better than last year, but that isn't saying much. We also are missing any real decent pitchers this year, like we had for parts of last year, which is scary. I guess we see who steps up, but it feels like the depth is much better than the last few months of 23. I wouldn't bet on it, but it feels like a Beatles year... when I'm 64.

Even the Soxtalk headline preview has jokes on this one.

Another example of the weirdness around Williams. Brett Farve went to Southern Mississippi, how did he turn out?

It's why depending on how the first 8 picks go, could really see him trading down for multiple extra picks this year.

Thinking about this a little bit more, this seems like something we in the trading world would call a pump and dump. I literally can't think of another reason for why.

As are hot takes

https://x.com/SlangsO nSports/status/1769813932921762295?s=20

His glove might actually be better than his bat, which is saying something because his glove is about as awful as it gets. His OPS+ last year was freaking 63!

Yeah every single QB that moves ahead of the Bears pick just makes sure that the Bears have the chance at a player who helps them on day 1.

Wait, what? Uh sure.

I am excited. I always like it when a guy forces himself on to a roster.

Speaking of roster options... https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/white-soxs-brad-keller-had-thoracic-outlet-surgery/

I could see them holding on to a couple of these MiLB contract guys for an extra week or two by creatively managing the roster to drag out their having to make 40 man roster moves. The wild card is always what kind of opt out date that guys who signed MiLB deals, but may not be worth cutting someone else to keep around. If that date is after opening day, maybe they get sent to Charlotte for a week/month so that they can kick that can down the road to see about injuries etc.

My guess? You need more catchers around during spring training.

I am with you there.

They know they don't have five starters which is why they are out there sniffing around guys like Lorenzen and Clevinger.

I mean if you have any belief in Williams at all, you draft him and start him every single time. If nothing else, recapturing a rookie QB scale against the salary cap for another 4 years versus Fields turns this into Williams plus tens of millions of dollars per year in cap space and who can be plugged in there just to start with. Is Williams plus say a $20 million a year player better than Fields? I can't see a scenario where the answer is no.

NIT invites, not NCAA ones.

The Caleb Williams experience is going to be amazing. If nothing else, I can't recall a more polarizing #1 draft pick. People are really convinced that he is either a generational QB or he is a mental case and the next Ryan Leaf waiting to happen, and there seems to be no middle ground to be had. I truly cannot think of a dude that has been more divisive at this stage.

Anything? No. Bad things? Absolutely!