caulfield12

Having 8 pennant races is a lot more fun than just four or two with a bunch of wild cards mixed in if if if the talent is distributed relatively equally. Of course, you can argue that the Central teams in both divisions would never be able to compete with the coasts…echoing where the majority of GDP growth and wealth is being generated. This is also largely reflected in tram payrolls as well as attendance, with very few exceptions. It’s largely not the Rust Belt and Midwest anymore…accompanied by the elitist “flyover territory” stereotype. Then again, maybe those teams should be forced to compete and innovate in ways they’re not doing right now.

There’s always a bigger picture. Dumping Valentin, Lee and Ordonez led to the greatest season in White Sox history because of how that money was reallocated across numerous key veteran contributors who combined to have the season of their lives. From a talent standpoint, illogical, almost. But from a team/chemistry and financial standpoint, it was almost magical. That $65 million payroll from 18 years ago is almost the yearly salary for just two star players right now.

Have never done it with Yankees/Mets, A’s/Giants, Dodgers/Angels, Orioles/Nationals…

https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/17-year-old-ethan-salas-impressing-in-padres-farm-system How did you celebrate your 17th birthday? Probably not quite like Ethan Salas. The top international prospect in this year’s class, Salas made his professional debut at the Padres’ Single-A affiliate Lake Elsinore last week. He has begun his pro career by hitting .300/.482/.500 through six games. He also turned 17 a week ago. Make no mistake, the Padres were taking a chance when they decided to start Salas at Single-A. Prospects Salas’ age often spend their first professional season in the Dominican Summer League. The advanced players? They start their careers at Spring Training facilities in the Arizona Complex League. The rest of them? Well, they’re usually still completing their senior year of high school. But Single-A? For a 16-year-old? Just doesn’t happen very often. The Dodgers’ Julio Urías did so in 2013. Even for a 17-year-old, Salas is just the third player in the past five seasons to play in the California League in his age-17 season. Salas, the Padres’ No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 86 overall, is proving that he’s ready. It’s not merely the homer or the already-excellent plate discipline. (He’s walked seven times in his first 27 plate appearances.) It’s the way Salas comports himself. In the early innings Tuesday night, Salas struck out twice. His response? He didn’t sulk. In fact, according to one person who was there, Salas grabbed the dugout iPad and made a point to watch his at-bats with the team’s hitting coach to try and decipher how he was being attacked. In his fourth at-bat, he launched a no-doubter to right-center.

Witt, Jr., Sal Perez and Pasquantino? Melendez?

Until you consider the QO for Kimbrel, then the trade for Pollock (look at his OPS THIS year for Seattle), and then basically being "forced" into forking out $75 million for Benintendi due the lack of capable outfield prospects (other than Colas, in theory) in the minors...not to mention Eloy's "highway to the danger zone" act in LF.

LoL. Okay, fair enough. Well, everyone over 50 years old needs to stick together at SoxTalk...we don't mesh well with Millennials/Gen Z. It's one of the reasons (generation gap) I'm shocked Benetti is so well-liked by younger posters, but, then again, ANYTHING is better than either listening to Gordon Beckham or Connor McKnight's chipper/peppy "just happy to be here" shtick.

Greg775 might be more likely to homer. Although he always claims Fathom could homer... Heck, the OU softball team might be more likely to homer, especially their biggest power hitter last year.

Frazier 639 Sheets 723 Moncada 675 Grandal 698 Gonzalez 597 Andrus 505 Can't expect to win much with 6/9 hitters having those numbers.

Yeah, would go with KC Masterpiece (if it still exists), Gates or Oklahoma Joe's. Kasper just predicted 86-76 would be enough to win the Central. That's almost where the 2008 season ended, and both those Sox and Twins teams were much better...not to mention the increased difficulty of schedule this year.

Romy 604 OPS Andrus 509 OPS

Kasper just spent 2-3 minutes talking it up, lol. That's what happens when you're paid by your team to promote the product on the field.

Guardians crushing the Red Sox, looks like they'll somehow just be 1 1/2 games back at 29-33 going into action tomorrow. Naylor and Jose Ramirez the ONLY two hitters with over an 800 OPS in the CLE line-up..everyone else below 700.

Burger with a nice pick at first base...

White Sox are going to stay percentage points above DET for 3rd place tonight, regardless of what happens in the Sox/Yankees game.

Boogie Nights? Phillies just tied it in the bottom of the 9th against DET. Tied 2-2, 1st and 2nd, two outs. Lange another blown save.

Who in God's name is going to eat a whole tub of mustard with a wooden spoon, lol? DJ Len Kasper talking about the current Guardians' home crowd shot on MLB.tv. Created a poll even...if forced to, would you choose to eat a tub of ketchup, mustard, mayo or BBQ sauce with a WOODEN spoon, haha?

This one in danger of getting out of hand...

Really does just feel like the White Sox were content to get 2 out of 3...a sweep was expecting way too much. 8 groundouts so far in this one already. Game moving fast, not shocking for the finale of straight DH with the challenging weather conditions.

Maybe keeping things simple and not THINKING/ANALYZING things too much is actually what works best for him. I don't think most were expecting a mid 800's OPS. Hoping. But not expecting, exactly.

Vasquez looking for his first major league win in only his second start...

Or the Red Sox to keep them competitive...as they're in last place with a .500ish record.

Like Gary Sanchez? Well, I guess Seby's two great games per season and better defense would block that. At any rate, Clevinger's at a 4.15 ERA and that's pretty much what most would have expected. Solid 4/5 guy, no longer TOR. Worth $12-13 million? Depends on your payroll.

Just going to have to look at this as "house money" with the likelihood of a sweep on the road or not giving up one run in Graveman's inning not exactly the best of bets in LV.

Well, that turned fast...