JUSTgottaBELIEVE

White Sox are now 10-6 in games started by James McCann ?

Despite the low 5s ERA, Gio looks like a different pitcher this year. What a pleasant surprise that would be if he turned into a solid #3 moving forward.

No one competes the first 2-3 years after the start of a full rebuild. So throwing out 5 years as some type of long timeframe is ridiculous. Realistically, two years ago was the start of their contention window and they made the playoffs. They had a disappointing season last year but are right back to being in a great position to make the playoffs again this year. It’s very premature to call their rebuild a “bust” as we stand here today. Now if they are sitting here with no playoff wins come three years from now, then I would agree with you. They’re approaching the peak in their rebuild while the Indians are trending down so let’s see how this plays out first before declaring bust.

I was laughed at a couple weeks ago when I said the Twins will be the Sox biggest rival for the first few years of the Sox contention window. I was also dismissed when I said they had a good shot of winning the division this year and pointed out their WS odds (per fangraphs) were comparable to WS contenders like the Cubs and Phillies. @OneDog847 even told me their rebuild was a bust. They made the playoffs two years ago and will likely make it again this year. They are the most likely division favorite next year as well. They’re going to be a handful for teams in the AL Central over the next several years.

Kluber fractured his forearm yesterday. It’s getting to the point where I’d almost be surprised if the Twins didn’t win the division.

Isn’t Manny’s normal turn in the rotation this Saturday? He pitched on Monday.

Sure, at least until there is another injury, trade, or continual poor performance (possible in Nova’s case).

You know, Sunday just so happens to line up perfectly with Dylan Cease’s next scheduled start. Just sayin...

Those top Braves pitching prospects in AAA are getting knocked around a bit this year aren’t they.

He did think the Sox should have drafted him over Madrigal FWIW. So he probably views him as a top 30 or so prospect in MLB.

Rays and Mariners beat up on the entire league the first two weeks of the season. Sox took 2/3 in NY and split in Cleveland.

I’m not sure that .235 BA and 93 wRC+ would be such a huge upgrade over Sanchez/Rondon. Defensively I guess but I don’t see that as the difference of more than a few wins.

Machado alone does not amount to a 10 win differential.

Sure, but just get in and anything can happen (even as a wildcard which they were).

Colome has a proven track record, Ottavino (as a closer) does not. I’ll take Colome to serve as the closer the next two years over Ottavino 10/10 times.

No, just the next two years which is fine. Some combo of the guys you mentioned over the next two years would result in many more blown saves and late inning losses than Colome.

I have a hard time trusting a 33 year old with little to no prior closing experience to be the closer for the next 3 years.

All well past their prime...

Like who?

Probably because Castillo is an expiring contract and Narvaez netted a much needed closer. IMO, Colome + McCann > Narvaez. And yes, I know the dollar cost of Colome and McCann is greater than Narvaez but that doesn’t seem like an issue in the near term with a team payroll running sub $100M. Another nice perk with the McCann signing is that he’s under team control again next season via arbitration. He could serve as the starter next season while they ease Collins in or they could go out sign Grandal and relegate McCann to a backup role.

What is the Sox record when McCann starts at catcher? Don’t have time to look this up.

Think we still need that Lester type signature signing for the top of the rotation. Cole would be the obvious choice but I doubt Jerry signs off on that type of contract unfortunately.

What would a Juan Soto type surge from Luis Robert do for this team this year? They could potentially win 80 games if that happened, assuming relative good health from the rest of the roster. We are starting to see this team transition from a 2013 Cubs type roster into a 2014 Cubs type roster. With a big offseason in another 7-9 months, this team may very well contend for the division title in 2020 like the Cubs did in 2015.

I agree. Didn’t understand the Nova trade from the time it was made. The fact they absorbed the entire $9M and gave up a prospect (albeit a very mediocre one) never made sense to me. I would have preferred a Charlie Morton signing at $15M AAV for two years to serve as a TOR guy while the rest of the kids in the rotation developed.

Runs per game, looks like they are 5th in AL and 13th in MLB. So far a big improvement from last year when they were 24th in MLB. Last time the Sox finished a season 13th or better was back in 2012 when they were 7th.