caulfield12

At some, Getz is going to have to set a FIRM date for the "contention window" to begin. It's going to have to be 2026-27-28. The first one is unrealistically early (2026)...given the situation they're currently facing and declining budgets. The latter one (2028) just feels so far away for fans to sit through FOUR years of bad baseball to get to a competitive team after what just transpired in 2022/23. And it's not even like you can pile up those Top (1) 1-2-3 draft picks anymore as the Astros/Royals/Cubs did to spark their rebuilds a decade or more ago.

Sure, but where do you start? Schultz has a lot of long-term injury/mechanics concerns, as well. Anyone really at that size. Tier A FA is out. That leaves the June draft/international draft pool or bargain basement bin like this year (Fedde/Flexen/Soroka, etc.). It doesn't seem we're ever going to overspend/outbid on Japanese and Korean pitchers, either. At least not under JR Regime, or his son.

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/chicago-white-sox/garrett-crochet-48366/ Okay, I was counting this as one of the three since it JUST started. 2024-25-26 2027 UFA

You need to build around someone, like the Royals with Witt, Jr. Right now, almost all of their (future) eggs are pretty much in the Montgomery basket.

Three years of control remaining. You wait a full year and he keeps this up and he's getting more and more expensive by the start. There's also something to be said for "we're going to put all of our resources behind you into this whole starting thing working out" as quickly as possible. The price tag will be lower and suddenly you can start to project the makings of a Sox rotation into the not-so-distant future, past 2026. Part of this is a function of having almost no players on the roster to get even mildly excited about. This idea might seem completely preposterous just 2 months or so from now.

He's going to have to prove himself over an EXTENDED time period. Whether he can hold up throwing 30-40 max effort pitches (multi-inning usage)...just like tonight, in adverse weather conditions. Whether he can control his walks and keep hitters off balance by getting ahead and bringing his "A" wipe out slider. Otherwise, even at 99-101 he's going to end up unsuccessful and/or getting hurt again.

Obviously 2-3 months from this becoming a more serious consideration, BUT 1) White Sox desperately need "feel good" redemption stories after the unpopular Burger trade, both were considered key parts of the rebuild at one point 2) MAYBE MAYBE MAYBE Kopech can just let it loose as a closer/reliever and get away with it (obviously going to have to increase his slider usage though) 3) Both pitchers have/had such uncertain futures that guaranteeing or locking in XYZ amount of money right now (for the future) would or could be QUITE attractive...as getting injured again (TJS) would come close to spelling the end of both of their careers. Risk mitigation. Of course that works from JR's side as well. 4) They're going to have to start thinking of Crochet more as a "long term asset" and less as a push him to the brink (see Rodon 2021) type of situation where they knew he was leaving at the end of the year. Other than Montgomery, there aren't really any obvious players you would even consider for an extension. Robert, Jr., seems to be out of the question entirely at this point. OFC, the thinking coming into this year was just to pump and dump nearly everyone on the roster, but at some point you have to draw a line in the sand and say "the future starts now." Otherwise, there will never be an official date for when they're expected to start competing in such a weak-ass division. And you also need to have guys like this to draw/excite fans...with REAL talent and charisma that fans can actually get behind.

Kopech with 36 pitches. Topped out with two at 100.8. Over 10 at 100.

Would have more faith in Crede, Uribe or Julio Franco (even at today's playing ages) coming through at this point...

Would honestly rather watch the ghost of Joe Borchard because he at least might hit the ball 440-460 feet...and possessed some above-average athletic tools at his disposal as well.

Traded away the wrong first round draft pick last year...not that Vaughn had Burger's value. Maybe it was fairly close, though.

So the Sox can stay in the news again or distract from the team's record?

OFC it's Gavin Sheets coming up. K or 3 run homer, let's see...

There's the Benintendi of KC Royals Way, lol...well, obviously you need to get on in order to score a run, so I guess there's that. And ReyLo didn't even give Moncada a chance to bunt or "sacrifice" him over by hitting to right side.

At this rate, Crochet is going to end up his season with around 80 innings pitched and 16 starts...half a season? At some point, they're going to have to start skipping his turns....shut him down for a couple of weeks and let him pitch out of the pen...they can't just end his season in June or July. The problem is he's going to be too tempting for this stupid organization to overuse chasing after meaningless victories. Unless they're trying to showcase him for a trade...but that doesn't even make financial sense. And Crochet might be the second most interesting player on the team after Luis Robert right now.

Just getting too old...look what catching did to Mauer and Posey by their late 20's. Or Grandal.

KW Special in the 2000's...see Jenks, Thornton and Sergio Santos.

What's the historically worst MLB offense by OPS in MLB history? Recent...or has to be the dead ball period?

Before all the injuries...sure. But you actually have to DEVELOP that upside. But you don't draft a hitter that high in the first round without him having 1-2 outstanding tools.

What are the odds that Grifol will push Crochet another inning and up into the 80's for pitch count? Right now at 68.

Not very many Campfire Shakes moving at the concession stands, surely... OFC, probably not many at club level to buy them. Have to feel sorry for the vendors on a night like this.

Yeah, if you click on FIELD rather than batter's perspective. 3D vs. 2D as well for mobile phone viewing.

Almost have to consider Crochet for his fantasy strikeouts, but his innings and W's are always going to be limited...not to mention his season being curtailed or shut down at this rate.

It's going to be featured nationally like those Orioles' afternoon weekday games from a decade ago. 3 hitters over a .700 OPS. Does any team in baseball want a single member of the White Sox (outside of Robert) other than Crochet, maybe Kopech and Steven Wilson?

What's the exact day Holiday can come up at the end of April? Does anyone know?