caulfield12

The interesting thing is they're cutting back on their "business of sports" guys... which is seemingly no more relevant than today. Guess the NY Times already feels they have that area locked down, along with the WSJ.

Hahaha... I meant to write Cody Bellinger of the Cubs. Nobody would take "our" B guy. Along with Joc Pederson... whose name arises seemingly every offseason and then summer trade deadline.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-athletic-layoffs-june-2023 https://nypost.com/2023/06/12/new-york-times-reorganizes-the-athletic-with-layoffs/ “The Athletic has generally viewed every league in a similar manner, with similar beats and offerings. But our growing body of research and our own understanding of the sports we cover compel a more nuanced approach,” the note said. “There is no perfect formula for determining which teams to cover, but we are committing dedicated beat reporters to the ones that most consistently produce stories that appeal to both large and news-hungry fan bases, as well as league-wide audiences.” Hahn can stick that one on his bio...consigning the White Sox to the dustbin of MLB relevancy.

Tigers just managed to pull back within one half game of the White Sox after losing nine consecutive games. Of course, they mounted a pretty miraculous comeback against the Braves (of all teams) playing at Comerica. Does that mean the A's are going to take it to the Rays, too?

https://sportsnaut.com/mlb-trade-candidates/ Giolito, TA7, Lynn, Grandal to name a few... Seems like the Rays are already positioning to trade for Sal Perez...that would obviously cut down the list of potential suitors for Grandal. Conforto with the Giants because of the unique structure of that contract would have to be another candidate for trade. Benintendi as well? Starting pitchers Ohtani, Burnes (maybe), Bieber (maybe), Giolito, Stroman (no QO possibility attached to his deal), Kyle Freeland, Jack Flaherty, Clevinger Nola, Urias and Snell all going into FA but none of those guys likely to be moved...

https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/athletic-beat-writers-assigned-20-30-clubs-boston-dc-still-missing-coverage.html Look at how dramatically things have changed on the print media front just in the last five years...at least as far as print baseball coverage goes, including the Sun-Times, Tribune, Daily Herald, etc. Same thing with all the cable cord cutting.

The problem with that argument is that they've gone from Forbes 8th most highly valued franchise in 2006 to mid teens. So they're not even winning on that metric. That said, a riding tide floats all boats and that's certainly the case with the White Sox running on the coattails of those Top 10-12 franchises over the last 18 years or so.

Old habits die hard.

This is yet another problem with MLB. They had this great revenue producing model the last ten or fifteen years... but they still don't really know how to actually promote the sport. As Reinsdorf even mentioned...now all the legalized gambling and fantasy sports leagues, and yet they have no concept of the consequences of losing the last objective purveyor of their product. It really is encapsulated by all the White Sox issues. The sport is doing well from a financial standpoint...for now, but is still a sport with a fanbase in their 40s through 70s. The Sox can somehow afford $70-75 million for Benintendi and Grandal...but there's not enough there left over for a James Fegan (I know...obviously MLB doesn't directly subsidize The Athletic), modern-day analytics approaches and legit international scouting operations outside of Marco Paddy can pretty much handle everything himself. If there's a way to cut costs or corners (short season, intl., etc.), they're pretty much going to do the opposite of the Rays Dodgers and Braves...heck, can't even keep with the Twins and Guardians despite all their built in advantages with this pathetic division.

See owners of the Phillies, Padres and Rangers, for recent examples.

Hahn and Jr have to be happy, at least. I mean, fans of teams like the Rays Marlins Pirates Reds and DBacks are much more excited about their teams in 2023. We all knew that 20-30% fall off in attendance and "cumulative" interest was coming, but here is a concrete, in your face consequence of it all. We now find ourselves back in that bottom 5-10 of almost complete irrelevance when a near dynastic run was predicted by so many around the team. More Scott Merkin corporate PR crap is on the way. Sad he couldn't even finish out the season or at least the trade deadline.

Giolito has already passed the point of no return in terms of staying. Cease and Kopech are the only remote possibilities left. They probably aren't even willing to go be Lucas half of $131 million... let alone $100. Jose Berrios was going to be in the same free class before the Twins gave up on signing him to prioritze Buxton and then Correa. Jose Berrios signed a 7 year / $131,000,000 contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, including a $5,000,000 signing bonus, $131,000,000 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $18,714,286. In 2023, Berrios will earn a base salary of $15,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $15,714,285.

But the veteran deals (Grandal/Keuchel/Lynn/Hendriks/Benintendi, etc.) basically were just as bad if not worse than Robert/Anderson/Moncada/Eloy. None of them have turned out well, except for Luis Robert at least not "costing" the Sox money or not paying off the $$$/fWAR return on investment. Someone will argue for Moncada (still), but it's hard to spin him as anything but a disappointment as the former #1 prospects in the entire sport.

Jason? Even Anderson simply said it was a faster baserunner and he was thinking too far ahead and rushed the throw...probably flashbacks to similar play/s or muscle memory. He did have ONE that worked out well this year, but at least 3-4 that turned into absolute disasters.

Then there would have had to be international bonus money tied to him...

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-power-rankings-2023-week-11 Marlins, meanwhile, jumped from 17th to 11th... Also, Dodgers fall to #6 and "just" 8 games over .500 and now 3 1/2 games behind the blazing DBacks...first time ahead of LA in a decade.

Reds at 31-35 and one of the most interesting teams in baseball over the Cardinals at 27-39 a pretty big shocker as well.

This recent stretch for 2-3 weeks might have gotten Hahn out of the headlight for a period of time (and all the positive vibes about Liam returning from cancer)...but the schedule for the next 2-3 weeks is going to quickly remind them they're a 14-18 games under .500 when all is said and done. Especially if they have ANY problem in the starting rotation and/or trade away Gio, Lynn, Clevinger, Kopech, etc. Then you've got a mini-controversy brewing with Tim Anderson, again.

Howry and Foulke? Nate Jones? Roberto "Bobby" Hernandez, lol?

Middleton.

Bummer comes on...Dodgers are going to get out of their slumo in a hurry.

That's the season.

Needs to be at least a 650-675 ops guy eventually.

Benintendi with two intentional walks in one series.

Former Pads' starter Lamet entering game at 16 2/3rds IP and 43 baserunners allowed. Poor Rockies.