caulfield12

Unless one considers Dunn Robertson Kimbrel and Grandal to be top of the line...Dunn was pretty darned close in 2011.

Luis Robert Jr. vs. Cardinals

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/white-sox-fan-pope-leo-xiv-trolled-with-gifted-custom-cubs-jersey-172031713.html&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjU8JSj482QAxUEnCYFHWtYL_EQFnoECAYQAg&usg=AOvVaw0QyOdkcRqofPrGOF_0r6aP

If history is any indication, the odds are very much in Toronto's favor. In a best-of-seven series tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 has won the series 46 of 68 times (67.6%), according to MLB's Sarah Langs. In series which have a 2-3-2 format (like this one), teams who take a 3-2 lead by winning Game 5 on the road before returning home for Game 6 and 7 have gone on to to win the series 20 of 27 times (74.1%). www.si.com

Karine Jean-Pierre articulated slightly better arguments recently...

One thing that's clear after watching the Brewers get wiped out again. You can still be in that $100-150 million payroll range like Detroit, Milwaukee and Cleveland and actually make the postseason...but that's where hopes and dreams eventually go to die. Meanwhile, the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees and Phillies have a lot of soul searching to do this offseason. Those pesky "underdog" Blue Jays are nearly $45 million below the 4th place Phils in spending at $239 million, although they did add Bieber and Scherzer at the deadline. Cubs Padres Red Sox all between $194-209 million. Seems to be close to a sweet spot.

Are the only tickets still remaining SRO? That's lot of excitement over a .679 hitter repeating Kannapolis with almost 150 k's. At least DePino's 42 contact number at the Baseball Cube is a major improvement over Wolkow's 8. Fwiw, single digit numbers here are the equivalent of white rhinos. For comparison, Colson Montgomery's a more robust 61, and Tim Elko at 22. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/209891/ Sam Abbott was a 4. And a better water polo player, unfortunately. Lowest I could find.

Nationals hire Blake Butera, at 33 youngest MLB manager since 1972 https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/nationals-reportedly-hiring-33-year-old-blake-butera-as-new-manager-142054191.html

Or Seattle, for that matter. Twenty plus years of largely disappointing results...the main difference ibeing their stadium and control of nearly the entire Seattle/Vancouver/Portland region.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/29/sports/howie-rose-not-happy-with-sandy-koufax-sitting-behind-prince-harry-meghan-markle/

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/breaking-news/article/twins-reportedly-hiring-former-pirates-manager-derek-shelton-as-next-skipper-225813413.html Twins hiring former Pirates' manager Shelton, fans probably not amused ("yes man" accusations already flying) "Not a fan of bringing in a former Falvine (Derek Falvey/Thad Levine) hire, and a guy who didn't do much in his first stint of coaching. Of course, that was because the Pirates stink and have little talent, but did he do anything to elevate the young talent they had coming up? The only thing I can remember about him as a Twins bench coach is that he took over a game or two when Rocco missed time for some reason. I recall in a game thread on one of those days somebody complained that Rocco pulled the starting pitcher too early, but they realized Shelton was managing. Tiny sample size there, but I expect more of the same. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a short-term deal with the lockout coming up, but I just don't see Shelton making it as our "manager of the future". Also worth noting the Pirates' interim manager had a .476 record after Shelton was fired with the team starting with a .316 record, and they were at .410 over his five years there. Sheesh." https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/72504-thoughts-on-new-manager-derek-shelton/#comments

Also to be noted: "hating" on prospects doesn't have anything to do with providing a realistic, balanced and objective (based on defined measurables) as possible perspective on their relative flaws and strengths. And if Sox fans do tend to lean more in the skeptical direction, there just might be a tangible reason for that based on years of frustrating fandom that's going to take years of winning/success in order to erase.

Why are we suddenly acting like taking "up the middle" athletes is some kind of new cutting edge/niche advantage or strategy? The Padres started 7 players in 2024 who began their careers as SS's at other positions around the diamond... Tatis RF, Merrill CF, Machado 3B, Arraez 1B/DH, Cronenworth 1B/2B/DH, Profar LF, Bogaerts 2B. Actual starter: Ha-Seong Kim That didn't exactly lead to a WS title...but they did have LA down 2-1 in the ALDS. And the White Sox still haven't produced ONE starting outfield candidate of their own that was drafted and developed to big league success (projected 2.5 fWAR or higher floor)...at least in the last decade or so. Note: Braden's acquisition model is far from repeatable.

He can have a fine career until early to mid 30s in Mexico Korea Japan Taiwan. Just look at Dayan Viciedo in JPN...although he was originally a more highly rated 3B prospect, obviously. There's also Indy ball as well...although those salaries are far from lucrative.

You mean Vaughn Burger and Madrigal...Madrigal lacked the arm and power for third and definitely wouldn't have survived in the OF. Fwiw Carlson still has to prove he can hit with at least 700-725 ops power.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2025/04/02/2025-mlb-team-payrolls-highest-lowest/82751012007/ AL East #3/5/12/15 TB irrelevant AL Central #17/18/20/25/29 You can pretty much cancel the Rays Twins and White Sox from competing at all. Set their 2026 postseason odds at 0.1%. Tarik Skubal will never remain in Detroit when they're already $250 million apart in extension discussions. That leaves just Bobby Witt, Jr. and Jose Ramirez as Central stars.

Reminds me of the parity increasing through NIL across the college football landscape this season. I went to Georgia Southern for grad school in the 90s and they had a great baseball/fb tradition at that time for a small school...guys like Todd Greene and pitcher Chris Beck.

Naylor is still going to get at least $75-80 million despite the concerns about his body type not aging well. He's not going to the White Sox unless every possible option to join an actually competitive organization is taken off the board first. Plus, to JR, there's almost no utility to finishing 3rd or 4th in the Central versus last place.

Can I please get a $1 royalty/residual for every time my name is invoked?

Statistics show that only a small fraction of college players—around 10-11%—actually make it to the MLB. https://sportslawblogger.com/what-proportion-of-baseball-players-get-into-the-major-leagues.html Elko has already beaten pretty immense odds just making it to the major leagues...and if he was drafted by about 25 other MLB teams, he still probably wouldn't have made it.

Vesia should be the choice here but not on the WS roster due to "personal reasons." Blue Jays winning it all is going to lead to a crazy FA competition in the AL East with NYY Boston and Baltimore...and the AL Central will basically cease to exist once Tarik Skubal leaves the Tigers. Toronto still have Yesavage Gausman Bassitt Berrios even if you subtract Bieber and Scherzer...and will undoubtedly have the nearly unlimited resources to add whoever and whatever they want.

"This is not the reliever you are looking for..." Dodgers' 2024 offense has been missing in action and at best erratic all season long.

Remember how much JR supposedly hates the Cubs? Why would he warn or help them?

Ask Lip about the slander campaign against Himes when he left... Ofc Himes was also known for the Alvarez Sosa Fletcher/Baines trade and then ended up with Sosa again on the Northside as the Cubs' star veteran core group aged out.

Ramos in the outfield yet another pretty dumb idea. (But that power hitter to move to 1B is probably George Wolkow.)