JUSTgottaBELIEVE

I would have agreed with you if they didn’t promote Kopech this season and he didn’t follow through with immediate success (albeit small sample size). His presence as a possible legit ace as early as 2019 has changed everything.

+20 run differential over their last 31 games. Their play over the past month+ has been anything but a fluke. Tremendous starting pitching, very good defense, and timely hitting. If they had a quality bullpen, which they are starting to develop now, they’d have been even better.

25-21 4-3 this week against the AL East powerhouses and very easily could have been 6-1!

TA is a beast. Really think he’s going to be a top 10 SS in MLB next year.

24-20

Do the Red Sox and Yankees qualify as “terrible” teams because the White Sox would be 5-0 against them this week with a viable bullpen, which they’ll have next season between AA/AAA promotions and a couple free agent signings. The bullpen is already improved with the recent promotions of Hamilton and Burr. Just wait until Burdi, Frare, Ruiz, Johnson get here along with a couple veterans...has the potential to be dominant.

9 of last 12 for Gio. https://www.mlb.com/news/10-interesting-facts-about-the-2018-white-sox/c-292628794

Does Coop get any credit? Or does he only get blame?

Should have been a sweep of the Yanks but I’ll take 2 of 3

FWAR for starting SS on contending teams this year: Indians - 6.9, Dodgers - 4.2 (team number), Red Sox - 4.1, Yankees - 3.9, Rockies - 3.6, Mariners - 3.3, A's - 3.0, Cardinals - 2.2, Astros - 2.0, Diamondbacks - 2.0, Cubs - 1.6, Braves - 1.5, Phillies - 0.0, Brewers - negative 2.0 (team number). *Average value = 2.6 Anderson's 2.3 value is already near the average value for starting shortstops of all contending teams. He's definitely not a fringe starter.

If the Sox are considering signing a FA pitcher this winter, I hope it's someone of value and not another Gonzalez, Holland, Shields type where they are wasting both dollars and opportunity (missed playing time for a young guy).

Not saying it's likely but saying it's my preference.

Personally, I'd like to see Cease with the big club in early May after a few starts in AAA. That may sound aggressive but the Braves have been equally or more aggressive with promotions for a few of their pitchers at an even younger age in recent years. For the most part, those guys have succeeded at the MLB level too. Have a schmuck like Covey cover the 5th ststter spot in April and then by May roll out a rotation of Kopech, Rodon, Giolito, Lopez, Cease. Guys like Covey, Stephens etc can serve as a long man/spot starter if needed until Dunning is ready.

There’s a reason Hahn has been stockpiling young relievers in the farm. Question is will Ricky be too afraid to use them (assuming Ricky is still here next season)? www.minorleagueball.com/platform/amp/2018/8/24/17775752/chicago-white-sox-relief-prospects-thriving-at-every-level

You honestly expect to see Minaya and Covey pitching the last two innings of a close/tie game next year? They’ll be lucky to make the 25 man.

Tough loss but it’s super encouraging that the Sox have looked better than their potential 100 win opponent so far this series. Not concerned about the garbage bullpen because Minaya and Covey aren’t guys that will see high leverage situations starting as soon as next season.

Loved the trade. Said in the trade thread I thought he’d be a strong contender for top 10 prospect in Sox farm system by next July.

Jace Fry is really fucking good

Big Game thru 4 with 1 hit allowed on 50 pitches LOL

Lance Lynn and James Shields pitcher’s duel. Who woulda thought?

False. Money is an issue for every owner at some point. Even money-is-no-object franchises NYY and LAD made a conscious effort this season to stay below the luxury tax threshold to minimize the impacts of major FA signings this coming winter. It will be a deterrent for the north side as well when you consider their future obligations. The Darvish and Hayward signings really hurt and will limit their flexibility a great deal.

My expectations for 2019 are 75+ wins with minimal free agents signings this winter and 80+ wins with a couple impact free agent signings this winter. In this division, I think those are very reasonable expectations considering this team could be pushing close to 70 wins this season after a terrible start and a whole lotta dead weight on the 25-man roster in the first half.

Things are certainly looking up and have been for a couple weeks now. Even Dick Allen is getting excited.

Absolutely. They are already going to have luxury tax issues over the next few years with the team as currently constructed. Those Heyward and Darvish contracts start to become a real problem when trying to stay below luxury tax levels. With the way Hamels is pitching, don't they almost have to pick up his $20MM option next year as well? I'd think so if he carries his recent performance into October.

That would completely shock me. They already have the 4th highest team payroll in MLB this season and over $100MM+ in payroll commitments to just 6 players in 2019 and 2020, 3 of which are untradeable (Darvish, Heyward, and Chatwood). Plus a number of guys entering arbitration that will command big money - Bryant, Hendricks, Russell, Baez, Contreras, etc. Quite frankly, I'd be shocked if they signed one of those two guys.