JUSTgottaBELIEVE

But seriously, if the playoffs started tomorrow I’d be starting McCann over Grandal at catcher (assuming both healthy).

McCann > Grandal ?

You stated Grandal is one of the two best catchers in baseball over the past few years. Sorry, you simply don’t bench one of the two best catchers in baseball during the playoffs. And if he always sucks during the playoffs, why are the Sox paying him all this money to be a top line starter at his position? Also, everyone points to fangraphs but how does Grandal rate in bWAR? My opinion of Grandal aligns with the baseball reference version rather than the fangraphs version. Still a good player but not a great top 2 at his position type player.

Two years https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportingnews.com/us/amp/mlb/news/yasmani-grandal-dodgers-bench-nlcs-mlb-postseason-brewers-austin-barnes-rip-fans/kl7l8neelqws1drlfvktmug6y

Let me put it another way. I can’t imagine the Giants benching Posey or the Cardinals benching Molina during their primes and when those teams were consistently playing in the playoffs. I don’t care how much they may have been struggling at a point in time, you simply don’t bench them in the playoffs if they’re healthy. Is it possible that some are overrating Grandal? Or were the Dodgers, who I would consider a smarter organization than the White Sox, overreacting to a few bad playoff games from Grandal?

Yet, no one can explain why one of the top two catchers in MLB was benched by the Dodgers during the playoffs two years in a row.

I think we were one of the few around here that felt that way.

I just couldn’t believe it. Everyone was so damn fixated on overrated Machado while Harper was sitting there as the absolute perfect fit for this Sox team. Brutal

So dumb that they didn’t pony up for Harper two years ago

Just glad Rick didn’t trade him!

And Springer is a player I would avoid in free agency this winter.

You don’t think the science behind performance enhancing drugs and how to avoid positive tests advances regularly?

Yea, just like Nelson Cruz has been clean since 2013 lol

Except none of those guys you mentioned in the first paragraph is on the wrong side of 30 or been busted for PEDs in the past like Grandal.

Oh I know. I acknowledged it’s a SSS thus far but it’s still a worrisome start for a player that is traditionally a fast starter and then fades later in the season. This team is counting on this guy a ton and needs him to perform at recent levels in order to compete this season.

That’s nice but they didn’t pay him $73M to put up Madrigal-like offensive numbers. Grandal should be hitting 9 or 10 homers in this shortened season, especially if he continues to bat cleanup.

At least the Mazara and Edwin acquisitions were low risk, short duration, and aren’t blocking anyone (Engel really isn’t an everyday RF). With the Grandal signing, the Sox decided he’s their starting catcher for the next 4 years while booting last year’s all star McCann in the process.

SSS but off to a very ominous start to his Sox career. 281 slugging percentage thru 71 PA ?

Well, you won’t be waiting long. Because they’ll be there in less than two months.

Colome takes a lot of heat around here because he’s not a big strikeout guy but he gets the job done. Hasn’t given up a run yet this season and has a high save percentage and low ERA since joining the Sox. You’d think he was Craig Kimbrel or something based on board comments.

Fine with me

100%. He’s been the Sox second best hitter behind TA this year.

OBP machine

I guess paying $70M+ for a player that you can’t play in the playoffs (two years in a row with the Dodgers) was a red flag to me.

Isn’t he only signing one year deals? If so, sign me up!