caulfield12

There's going to be a taxpayer-funded subsidy flowing to JR this year if attendance somehow drops below 800,000 though...

Whiffing Ohtani twice at 98 and Freeman as well just might be contributing factors...

Possibly...then JR countered when he saw his last/best chance flipping through his fingers.

35 years old...three stadiums in Arlington/Texas during that same timeframe.

Finally, Getz has something other than the Crochet trade to crow about...via the McKinven coaching addition. (Not exactly sure what that Green Beret consultant dude is doing now, though.)

On the Sox Machine Podcast Thursday, debate opened up on whether new White Sox fifth starter candidate Bryse Wilson is the next Chris Flexen or the next Michael Soroka. He’s aiming more for the next (former Brewer in) Wade Miley. “I’ve been talking a lot with Wade Miley the last couple of years,” Wilson said of his former Brewers teammate. “He’s made a very good career on cutters up and in to righties and changeups down and away.” https://soxmachine.com/2024/12/bryse-wilson-matt-thaiss-looking-to-establish-themselves-as-reliable-veterans-on-a-white-sox-team-in-need/

https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/milwaukee-brewers/did-the-brewers-make-an-unforced-roster-management-error-in-the-rule-5-draft-r2878/ "Shane Smith made his mark since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He broke out in 2023, becoming Brewer Fanatic’s Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year that season, then was fourth in the voting for Brewer Fanatic’s Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year in 2024. With honors like that, it’s quite surprising that he was available for the Rule 5 draft, where the White Sox made him the first overall pick. The Brewers received $100,000 for Smith, who must remain on the White Sox roster for the 2025 season or be offered back for $50,000."

Shane Smith had only 94 minor league innings last year...and 60 the previous year. Treating him a bit like Garrett Crochet in the second half would be a good idea. Let's not forget Davis Martin is coming off TJS as well. Bryse Wilson and Perez can just eat innings at the back end until they're traded OR guys like Thorpe Iriarte Nastrini Adams and Owen White push them aside by earning spots. (Let's hope not Clevinger.)

https://athlonsports.com/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/former-brewers-prospect-turns-heads-after-striking-out-shohei-ohtani-dodgers-stars Walter McKinven credited for the Smith acquisition...and one would assume Bryse Wilson as well. "After not protecting Smith for the Rule 5 Draft, the Chicago White Sox selected Smith with the first overall pick back in December. With a desperate need for pitching talent, the White Sox raided one of the most pitching-rich organizations in baseball. They also hired away Brewers pitching, catching, and strategy coach Walker McKinven this offseason, who knew of Smith already. Smith has been showing off his top-end velocity this spring as he is in line to make the White Sox starting rotation. Because the White Sox are in the midst of a rebuild and Smith has been so dominant, he's likely to stick around in Chicago all season. Even if he struggles, the White Sox will likely be inclined to keep him on the big league roster instead of returning him especially with the impression he's making this spring. The Brewers may have made a serious miscalculation this offseason when they chose not to protect Smith, hoping that no one would pick him up. They did add Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick, both of whom were smart additions and would have been selected, but perhaps they should've made room for one more."

I'm just going to look at it as making up for whatever Colson doesn't do or become... Now, if only they can get something useful back for Robert AND ace the 2025/26 drafts...

https://soxmachine.com/2025/03/what-do-the-white-sox-have-in-rule-5-pick-shane-smith/ "24-year-old Shane Smith grew up in the Boston area and attended The Governor's Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts. A star on and off the field, Smith chose to head to Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Unfortunately, he missed the 2019 season due to injury. In 2020, he was the team's closer but only pitched in five games before Covid ended the season. He made two starts for Wake Forest in 2021 before hurting his elbow and needing Tommy John surgery. With just 10 1/3 innings under his belt over three college seasons, Smith went undrafted. He could have stayed at Wake, rehabbed most of the 2022 season, and had a year of eligibility remaining in 2023. Instead..." https://brewerfanatic.com/news-rumors/brewers-minor-league/brewers-prospect-spotlight-rhp-shane-smith-r2776/ "White Sox Rule 5 pick Shane Smith generated a lot of enthusiasm in his second outing of the spring for averaging 98.3 mph on the 15 four-seamers he threw. While Smith had reportedly spiked to such velocity heights in the Brewers organization on occasion, it’s a solid four ticks over his four-seamer’s average from last season, and it comes early in the process of stretching out, as the 24-year-old has largely been relegated to the bullpen in the past by injury and circumstance. As far as early developments go, it’s certainly a lot better than starting out four miles per hour slower than his previous norms. In these parts, considering how things could be worse is never a waste of time, since an awful spring record proved not to be a fluke last season."

And the Dodgers had been the best team in AZ the last week plus...

https://www.mlb.com/news/shane-smith-strikes-out-5-in-spring-start-vs-dodgers%3Ft%3Dmlb-pipeline-coverage&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjZ66SF3PuLAxWbADQIHWH5Oh4QFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw0xRVGY94D-zKrT8ewNK0S5 He topped out at 98.4 miles per hour, and 44 percent of his fastballs were either called strikes or whiffs. He also mixed in his slider, changeup and curveball, but overwhelmingly relied on his fastball to establish control and take over the game. “Fastball for strikes; if I don’t have that, then it’s going to be a really long day,” Smith said. “If I can get that first strike, I think good things can happen.” His last start...he was consistently at 97-100, but that might have been a "hot gun." Glasnow's best fastball today was 98 as well. Interestingly possesses a fora or what they're calling a split change...although his offspeed was essentially a Thorpe-ish FB at 92 in this one. #2 story is Vargas and Sosa deciding they want to be real big leaguers.

The Wilsons and Perez won't fetch much. Martin might end up being the best trade chip...feel like Cannon will naturally slide to the back of the rotation. Leaving Thorpe and Shane Smith as the wild cards. Sh. Smith's emergence as a Rule 5 pick might be the biggest story of camp so far. Other than Taylor and the Schultz/Smith slider...might have the best "easy" 96-100 arm in the entire organization. And an amazing backstory, too.

Feduccia is a catcher with a very good idea of the strike zone...

I don't think it would have been possible for the majority to do worse than the worst since 1900...

All about health...

Skenes would second that notion.

Booser looked good today as well...big question is who's the closer? Taylor mowing down the Dodgers. He's definitely a Top 100 guy. Punches out the side. Oops Feduccia appeals and wins by an inch. Swing and a wild miss.

And they might actually peruse your resume...a new admin.

White Sox still with 61 in camp, 30 pitchers. Dodgers down to 45...only 4 games left in Arizona.

Taylor continues to impress. Meidroth needs more AAA time...

Cannon will definitely be in the rotation. Bryse Wilson will be fine out of the pen.

ND/Duke time...Nastrini at least at 94.3.

Robert looking much more engaged this spring. Walk after starting out down 1-2. Tauchman looking old up there. Another K. Snell Ohtani Glasnow Gonsolin led majors in baa over 2022-24 period. not fair lol.