caulfield12

Swisher would be a lot more fun...someone Sox fans already hate. Smardzija. Lynn Pham Middleton AJ Burger not enough.

The jury is still out on Kopech and Robert with other organizations. They're still in the prime of their careers age-wise. Giolito wasn't a failure...he just broke down and still has a shot to return. He was already a mess mechanically when they first acquired him before recording two close to dominant seasons. Rodon has righted the ship in NY....although has to be considered a slight disappointment. Burger is nearing a 30 homer season. Anderson Moncada Eloy Madrigal Vaughn have to be considered the biggest mysteries when all is said and done.

According to multiple reports, the Oakland A's are preparing for Thursday's finale at the Oakland Coliseum by beefing up security and urging players and staff to not interact with fans out of fear of violence. USA Today reports that manager Mark Kotsay was urged to scrap his plan to address fans postgame and to instead retreat to the clubhouse. Outfielder JJ Bleday told ESPN that players were advised by the team to "get on out of there," instead of gathering for postgame photos on the field. This, of course, does not sit well with an already spurned fan base. A's fan group "Last Dive Bar" issued a response to the reports via social media on Saturday. Fisher's letter was met with similar responses from fans on social media. "I’ve seen AI responses with more sincerity," one fan wrote. "Absolutely insulting to the fanbase," another added. Former MLB pitcher Trevor May, who played his final season in 2023 with the A's, issued a similar sentiment.

Most worthless investment in team history. Obviously a low bar to clear. Actually, it might be Leury. Or Benintendi.

Pretty sure DeJong had the best or second best OPS on the team, him or Pham.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2024/09/23/laurence-holmes-670-the-score-chicago-dave-portnoy-dan-bernstein-barstool-eddie-danny-parkins-matt-spiegel

And the A's have a really solid young offensive core that's marketable...only shortcoming is pitching.

With Clevinger and soon Moncada out...there's not really much besides Benintendi's seemingly indifference and contract. But he has been their best hitter the last six weeks. Vargas and Robert I guess. Everyone pretty much tired of Sheets and Vaughn.

That type of scandal would be one of the few pushing JR to sell. Or maybe not. Like Wal Mart making bets on health outcomes of its workers.

Vaguely remember...now it would be Netflix Stars

Gran Torino 2

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?team_ID=CHW&draft_round=2&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_round Steele Walker Petricka Trayce Thompson Eric Johnson the highlights Adams Hansen Kelley some of the bigger pitching disappointments Still have Grant Taylor and Palette to dream on...just a little.

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2024/09/23/jackson-jobe-promotion-detroit-tigers-call-up-top-pitching-prospect-playoff-push/75352746007/ #6 MiLB Prospect Jackson Jobe recalled...could be eligible for post season. Detroit with a one game lead and control of their own destiny. Braves/Royals the other exciting series of the weekend after Atlanta take on the Mets. https://barrettmedia.com/2022/08/30/jason-benetti-calling-college-football-is-espns-loss-fox-sports-gain/ A refresher on Benetti...past article about move from ESPN to Fox

"Rogers: Well, it would be quite fun if the Chicago White Sox could somehow avoid setting the record for the most losses in a single season by winning games against the Detroit Tigers this coming weekend -- while also preventing the Tigers from making the postseason. If the opposite happens and Detroit sweeps, it will have gone 12-1 against the White Sox -- the same record the Royals and Minnesota Twins have against the Sox this season. Chicago's futility kept the entire AL Central in the playoff race, impacting the playoff chances of other AL teams such as the Boston Red Sox and Mariners. Alas, the White Sox are just one loss away from a new record -- but that doesn't necessarily mean they can't spoil things for the Tigers this weekend." Jesse Rogers espn.com For all Benetti and Schiffren commentary down the stretch...haha

"When it's complete, the entirety of the organization's baseball operations will have been overhauled, the approximately 65 fresh faces in scouting, player development and analytics brought in with an eye toward modernizing the way Baltimore does business on each of these fronts. Under Elias, the Orioles’ previously bare analytics and international scouting departments have grown tenfold and fivefold, respectively. Their domestic scouting operations are in the process of drastic restructuring, and overhaul on the player development side, from philosophy to personnel, will soon be plain to see." https://www.mlb.com/news/orioles-rebuilding-under-mike-elias After it began in earnest with a round of dismissals in September, Elias framed the reshaping through the lens of a “very large wave of change going on around baseball” with regards to the data-driven processes organizations now adhere to. Keeping up with metaphor, the Orioles are an iceberg -- rapidly changing but in ways mostly under-the-surface and out of public view. “I’m proud of the organizational progress we’ve made in terms of setting up our staffing, infrastructure and capabilities for what we need them to be now and in the next couple of years,” Elias said. “Things are still moving in the right direction but it's still relatively early in my tenure, and we still have more than half the offseason left and a long ways to go as a team and as an organization.” That's where Elias was just one year into his tenure...a vision or mission statement, think of Jerry Maguire here if it helps.

https://thebaltimorebattery.com/2024/08/08/5-underrated-international-signings-of-the-mike-elias-era/

Hasn't Stone missed or deliberately skipped (road trips) more games than Benetti in Detroit this year? It's gotta be some type of karmic justice that he gets the Sox at home the last three games at home as they possibly clinch a playoff spot...just ike Tatis getting key hits these last two games as well. Someone "upstairs" has a sense of humor at least.

Pretty sure KC first rounders from late 80s through Moustakas/Homer drafts would clinch worst set of first rounders.

But he's actually really good at college football with Brock Heard and college basketball as well (solid). Schiffren isn't even good at one thing... besides manufacturing false enthusiasm/shilling for the worst product in the history of the game.

Hard to imagine even Hahn and Haber would have done worse...despite their public silence stance.

See Bears for the majority of post 1985.

Don't forget Fletcher's DRS numbers are simply off the chart...overlooking his putrid offensive performance. And Vaughn/Sheets will finally realize their potential. Benintendi will play well enough to get dumped for the likes of Julks DeLoach Ortega. One of the live arms in the pen will eventually master control...Berroa or Iriarte, magic ally morphing into the next Santos so we can flip them since losing teams don't need closers.

Except he's never going to be the type of hitter that puts up massive offensive numbers that generate headlines. Much more likely expectations should be lined up with Omar Narvaez...but better defensively at an earlier age.

Basically arguing nobody could have done much better due to the limitations or parameters set by JR. The problem is that Fedde and Crochet were the only two real positives, with one positive 100% negated by the negative of Vargas. Which only leaves Crochet...as long as his health holds.

Someone to analyze beyond his baseball card numbers and go into the advanced peripherals...such as quality of contact against, ground ball percentage, inferior Sox infield defense as well as poor positioing, batted ball velo etc.