caulfield12

Supply and demand for only one elite pitcher still in his 20’s...at least 15-18 teams should be kicking the tires, including all the big spenders and probably coming off postseason success as well. Even Corbin got $140, so Cole will likely end up at $200-240 million.

SD

They’re less likely to add huge money to the payroll than they are to dip into their prospect currency and trade for an established starter with 2-3 years of control remaining...

Speaking of conspiracy theories, the Mets' announcers were claiming the White Sox were really dismayed with fans for calling US Cellular "THE CELL" because of the negative connotations of the South Side neighborhood back from the 70's and 80's., and more recent incident with the Royals and Ligues.

Wow, really thought Robert messed up his wrist with how he landed there....PHEW. Don't think the fanbase could handle him going down at this point. Wonder who was playing CF on his Cuban League team that they had Robert in LF?

Kershaw and other Dodgers' t.v. guy talking about how crushed Tatis, Jr., was when he discovered that White Sox had traded him in 2016...said that he cried and cried all day long and didn't understand why they didn't want him. Ouch.

"If the team hasn’t called me up yet, there’s obviously something I still need to work on,” said Luis Robert Great attitude...not criticizing the front office when almost everything's going wrong and it would be easy to take another shot. via James Fegan/Twitter

Christian Walker? For?

Only if Balta, Rabbit and SS2k5 are the guest moderators...

Selling XX amount of season tickets over two months. Of course, using logic I only see in the local tourist industry, if they lost 10-15% the following year in renewals, they’d simply increase prices 10-15% and it would balance out. Or they planned on spending in 2019-20 all along and felt it would be easier to get those fans already invested with ticket packages to follow through with a renewal when they finally signed Gerrit Cole, for example. Exposure to product, bringing in new customers instead of making their loyal, long time ticket holders happy...because those guys who are really loyal are stuck with the Sox brand for better or worse. Now that’s a conspiracy theory for you. Basic incompetence or arrogance or lack of preparation/research, though, seems even worse.

One can only wonder if Robert, Moncada and Abreu were Dominican...would it have made the difference, or a difference? Because obviously Alonso, Jay, Castillo, Nova and Herrera on short term deals wasn’t going to cut it....just seems that all we hear (or used to hear, until Jose fell off a cliff offensively) about is that we have to keep Abreu around to mentor the younger Cubans and be a mentor/role model for them. I know everyone will say it’s only about the Benjamin’s, but not sure it’s so cut-and-dried as that.

So why waste all that time and energy if they were so confident in Moncada and Anderson at third and SS? Seems strange they were invested in Machado at third for $250 million (keeping Moncada at second) but not for $300 million...which was the WELL-KNOWN asking price all along. The only conclusion is that they didn’t have a firm handle on how committed the Padres were 1) to spend more even with Myers and Hosmer deals on the books, 2) to pair Tatis and Machado together as early as Opening Day and 3) their pledge to put the best 25 players out there regardless of service time. Along with the weather (Manny was already familiar with SoCal due to Dodgers’ stint) and the Padres having the best farm system, a nicer stadium and better attendance, it wasn’t that hard to choose.

You have coined a new name for SoxFest...if they similarly strike out again in the free agency market, it will instead be Torches&PitchforksFest for Rick “Gaston” Hahn. They must have been convinced by the San Diego Union Tribune team finance articles that the Padres didn’t have the money...and were bluffing.

Stole and Cordell last two days...sigh. Poor Mendick.

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds Currently projected to be in a battle with the Mariners for the 6th pick, 69-93. First time this season their predicted win total has fallen under 70. Luckily the NL is all bunched up together except for the Marlins...Mets and Reds attempted to compete, etc.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/chase-anderson-12082/ Some were speculating Chase Anderson was a FA option this offseason...he’s likely still under Brewers’ control for two more years.

Those last eight words of your second sentence are what many of us are afraid of...allocated, but not altogether wisely.

1985-88esque when Calderon was one of the better hitters

4-16, outscored 104-55 if this score holds up. Sox “second wave” bullpen will probably add on 2-4 runs. Nice in-person audition for Wheeler. Someone should really interview Cooper for his thoughts on Zach after the game.

Don’t cancel the postgame show, Wheeler’s earning another $25 million by padding his stats against this AAAA lineup...

Same problem with López despite throwing as hard as he does...

The White Sox/Hahn apparently don’t believe in any of those three or Mendick would be up now and Castillo/Reed DFA’ed.

You’re forgetting another Top 4-6 pick in 2020...seems we say that every year now.

They’re almost back in the WC hunt...look at the standings. Unfortunately, after next series, their schedule turns really difficult. White Sox outscored 100-55 during this 4-15 stretch since ASB. Abreu 0 for his last 31.

Greg could have volunteered in the front office and opined...”please compare his stuff from 2014-15 to present day and past overuse in KC.” Not hard to foresee that he was on the downside. If you’re betting on rebounds, go after someone like Carl Edwards, Jr., that won’t cost much more than a Tilson, Engel or Cordell. Find four guys like that and one will have a Kahnle-like season and three will stumble. Still better risk that $15-20 million on “established” veteran setup guys.