caulfield12

"Chris Getz's commitment to improving the White Sox defense did not need a market forces explanation to be understood. Defensive specialists are less expensive to acquire than their offensive counterparts, and the Sox signaled they were dialing back their payroll from the outset of the offseason. Their positional group of the last few years was littered with unfulfilled Faustian bargains to enable an offense that was supposed to bash their way out of trouble. This tension even manifested itself at the individual level, like Tim Anderson trying to make up for being error-prone with his range/athleticism, or Yasmani Grandal's pitch-framing countering his blocking and other clunky elements of his operation. If the White Sox cannot be significantly better in the standings in 2024, focusing on glove work could at least make them less of a tough hang. It made sense, even if it's not team slogan material. But within minutes of trying to dial back the focus on his GM Meetings comment of "I don't like our team," the new White Sox chief baseball decision-maker provided a memorable snapshot for explaining his defensive-minded ethos. "In the offseason, when I began conversations with potential free agents and agents of pitchers, there was hesitancy to come to the White Sox because of the defense, so that led me to really be proactive in improving that," Getz said. "I wanted to be an attractive place for pitchers to want to pitch here." It rang a loud bell if only because this is certainly a complaint I had heard before on the beat, when pitchers who thought they'd be on a contending team in 2022 were finishing the year with a 34-year-old AJ Pollock pressed into center field duty behind them. Beyond that, defensive issues would quickly create an identity crisis for the Sox going forward." And where are we now exactly...1 1/2 seasons later??? https://soxmachine.com/2024/02/chris-getz-white-sox-defense

Kenny Lofton had eight years of averaging around a 6 fWAR. Belle Ramirez and Thome were absolute monsters. Robert Alomar made the HoF. Alomar Jr. was a perennial All-Star. Even Carlos Baerga would be a superstar compared to anyone on this year's Sox roster.

Why are we talking about Robert as if he's suddenly going to be on next year's team? Who is going to replace the speed of Robert and Taylor in the outfield...exactly?

You changed the topic to be about his offensive "greatness," not me. His lack of ability to play and his defensive metrics (including lack of foot speed) turn him into something much less than what you're describing.

Are you really arguing that you want Luis Robert's $20 million contract option picked up for next season? They don't carry over from year to year. What next, Fletcher next season will equal Robert and Taylor's stolen base totals? Where is the speed going to come from exactly?

Availability availability availability. He currently has a groin strain issue...which is what tends to happen to mid 30's outfielders. "The biggest issue has been his availability, as he began the season on the injured list with a strained right hamstring. He played just three games before heading to the injured list for a second time with a right hamstring strain, which caused him to miss about six weeks of action in April and May. Still, Tauchman managed to be the only White Sox player in the top 10 at their position in Monday's updated All-Star voting ballot. He came in at seventh among American League designated hitters." Of course that's the result of the Sox and Rockies league-wide joke of fans deliberately casting the starting lineups of both teams with votes to an extent. How could someone with less than at-bats be worthy of legitimate All-Star status? Let's just call it the anti or reverse Indiana Fever ballot stuffing phenomenon in the WNBA.

Jake Burger at 28.0 would be the fourth fastest on the Sox after Capra Robert Baldwin. Yet all we heard was how he was too old and unathletic. But at least he always hustled. And Tauchman ranks behind even Andrew Vaughn...which speaks volumes for his value as a mid 30s outfielder.

29.0 321 Capra, Vinny CWS 28 3B 38 4.36 28.3 322 Slater, Austin CWS 32 25 27.9 323 Elko, Tim CWS 26 1B 20 4.50 27.8 324 Amaya, Jacob CWS 26 SS 26 4.45 27.7 325 Lee, Korey CWS 26 C 16 27.7 326 Taylor, Michael A. CWS 34 RF 37 4.31 27.7 327 Vargas, Miguel CWS 25 3B 85 4.44 27.4 328 Benintendi, Andrew CWS 30 LF 62 4.36 27.0 329 Meidroth, Chase CWS 23 SS 89 4.44 27.0 330 Palacios, Joshua CWS 29 RF 43 4.47 26.8 Rk. Player Team Age Position Competitive Runs Bolts HP to 1B Sprint Speed (ft / sec) 331 Sosa, Lenyn CWS 25 2B 60 4.70 26.7 332 Rojas, Josh CWS 31 3B 36 4.42 26.3 333 Vaughn, Andrew CWS 27 1B 63 4.80 25.7 334 Tauchman, Mike CWS 34 RF 37 4.65 25.4 335 Maton, Nick CWS 28 DH 16 25.3 336 Quero, Edgar CWS 22 C 64 4.83 24.9

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/sprint-speed-team?season=2024&team= White Sox are alsof at 22nd here in average team sprint speed. And Baldwin/Robert are their two fastest...with both having "questionable" at best futures with the Sox. Players ranked #3-8 are all unlikely to be on the team next year. That leaves Vargas at #9 as their so-called speed merchants at first or 3B.

Is Luis Robert suddenly now on the next Sox playoff team?

https://nypost.com/2025/06/23/sports/reds-cut-jeimer-candelario-halfway-into-45-million-deal/ Budget-conscious Reds release J.Candelario...will have to fork over $22.5 million.

Just lucky it happened in a conservative state…he would have been suspended in CAL NY NJ MA. Maybe even back in Chicago.

At least we don’t have the Moncada/Jimenez of announcers. Or Lynn…or Clevinger.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2024/06/05/smallest-mlb-stadiums-ranked/73950295007/ Fenway Loan Depot and Progressive. GRate should be right there with diminished capacity.

Yeah most kids here in China...adults too...preferred the Segway-like stand up motorized scooters. Although bicycles are still quite popular.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/jay-johnson-says-kade-anderson-031047425.html

Better than 14 and 21 consecutive from last year...yay? Also, very quietly Jo Adell now has a 779 ops. Lower average, but lots of power.

Sox -83 rs/ra Marlins -90 A's -127 Rockies -202

Will the river bed swallow them like a gigantic kaiju?

Sounds like a new Schwinn bike model. Do they still make them?

Now 74+ innings in less than 1/2 season. Threw 94 ALL of last season. This wearing down was pretty much inevitable. Really should shut him down for two full weeks and skip three starts.

Game set match. Smith all the way up to 3.39. Bullpen game again.

Vargas has replaced Vaughn as Sox leader lol. If Smith's ERA goes above 4.00 before the ASG have zero clue who the Sox will send. Greg775 might be right. Sauerkaut...corrected. More concessions up selling lol. 35th Street Reubens.

And then Davis Martin was someone a number of posters were looking to trade at the deadline. That's no longer possible with the long-term injury concerns. Clevinger next in line lol.

Can't let Smith pitch well into 30's for pitch count in one inning. Finally got out of it. Rodriguez has been terrible. Shutout coming lol.