Chicago White Sox

I think we’re stuck with him for at least half of this season. I do think at some point they might consider cutting him.

Pereira is worth a gamble as the weak side platoon partner for Baldwin in RF. No guarantee there obviously, but he’s the exact type of player we should be taking a chance on for that role. The others I’m unsure on. I think people here are writing off Mead way too early though. He’s another guy I feel could eventually rotate in at a few spots against LHP, but he’s very redundant with Sosa. If we keep Robert, then Hill doesn’t do much for me. I think Lee is fine as a backup catcher, but he won’t serve much purpose other than injury insurance. I do think Antonacci will be a key bench piece by the 2nd half of the season. And one of our corner OFs will likely he delegated to a reserve role once Braden comes up. With the versatility of certain guys, I feel ok about a learn bench. But to me, that is assuming Sosa is the 10th man and playing quite frequently.

I agree on Sosa, but don’t agree on Benintendi. He can’t field at all and has bat is basically league average at this point. I guess he could fit as a role player, but I’d rather go find a LF upgrade and cut ties altogether. Again, I just don’t see a great role for him if we are planning to use Quero as our primary DH.

Was just about to post this. This kid just wants to fucking hit bombs and win ballgames. And the fact he’s already making adjustments for the MLB is fucking impressive. I haven’t been this excited about a White Sox player in years.

Does anyone know how to watch the Murakami press conference?

Yup. We’ve had a lot of signings go to s%*#, but thinking a light power, bad defending LF was the final piece was just terrible process and the final gift from an incompetent Rick Hahn.

If you keep Quero, you have to give him consistent at-bats at DH when Teel is catching. As such, it really limits how much Benintendi can also DH. Something has to give there IMO or you have to accept shitty LF defense next season to ensure Quero’s bat can develop. As for Sosa, we now have four LH hitters in our lineup and one switch hitter who is far better from the LH side than that right side. Sosa as the 10th man who fills in at multiple spots (especially against LHP) can work. Meidroth being able to cover SS allows us to carry a non-traditional backup infielder like Sosa. Honestly, if he can learn some LF, he should be able to get plenty of playing time. It’s actually Mead who seems kind of pointless as the roster is currently constructed.

He’s last place in OOA for LF at -34 runs from 2023 to 2025. That’s out of 32 guys with 1,000+ innings at the position during that timeframe. And if I break his OAA down between range and arm, he’s still dead last in range at -22 runs. To illustrate how bad that is, the 5th worst is at -11 runs or half of how bad Benintendi is.

So do Sosa & Vargas though. Honestly, I need to see Quero impact the baseball more and hit less ground ball before I move him up above any of the other guys. If Meidroth can’t get his OBP to the levels I’m expecting (.370+. vs LHP), then he could eventually move down. But I want high OBPs in front of my best two power hitters against LHP in Sosa & Robert.

Zero chance I’m moving Robert anywhere below 4th in the lineup when he has a career 130 wRC+ vs. LHP. He’s got to be a top 4 hitter against LHP. I could see a strong argument batting him second though. That being said, I kind of like the idea of keeping him in the 4 hole regardless of pitcher handedness and letting him focus primarily on impacting the baseball rather than getting on-base. I could be convinced on swapping Montgomery & Murakami for sure. Whomever ends up better against LHP should be in the 5th hole IMO.

Last year yes, but I don’t believe he’ll ever replicate a .287 ISO again (his career avg against LHP is .134) and his defense is god awful. Candidly I don’t want him on team as I think he’s got a 1 win ceiling at this point in his career and gun to head I’m taking the under on that for sure.

He was very bad against LHP last year as a righty. Maybe that changes at some point in time, but Pereira is a natural partner for him.

Against LHP: 2B - Meidroth (R) 3B - Vargas (R) DH - Sosa (R) CF - Robert (R) SS - Montgomery (L) CA - Quero (S) 1B - Murakami (L) RF - Pereira (R) LF - Hill (R) And to be clear, I don’t love the idea of Hill on this roster, but I’m using Fangraphs’ 26 man projection as my basis of available players. As such, against LHP, our best LF option is Hill by default due to plus defense and a career 115 wRC+ against lefties (SSS).

That’s my primary lineup against RH starters.

Always trust the Times of India over Bartolo’s butthole

Right now, I’m assuming Quero is the primary DH (and backup catcher). As bad as Baldwin was in the OF corners last year, I think he’s worth giving an extended look there to see if he can improve with more repetition. I think there is still room for Sosa on the 26 man roster, but they need to see if he can play some LF along with filling in at 2B, 1B, & DH. His ability to crush LHP is still super valuable.

Same here.

Jersey being ordered right now…thanks!

I’m not against trading Robert, but it’s got to be for a solid return and there has to be a plan for the OF. I actually kind of think Baldwin could handle CF and that idea is highly intriguing to me. Small sample sizes last year, but per Statcast he really struggled in the corner OF spots (primarily on lateral movement) and was overall solid in CF. He may be a guy who struggles with reading the angles in LF or RF due to limited experience there, but can get by in CF due to his sneaky speed and the easier reads of the position. But that would leave a massive hole in RF and force us to play Benintendi in LF without a decent addition.

s%*# work ethic?

As currently constructed, I think a high leverage reliever is our biggest need. Our expected W-L last year was 70-92, which is 10 games better than we actually finished. Finish stronger in close games, see continued growth from the kids, and get some of the TJS-impacted arms back and we could surprise a bit next year IMO.

And that’s totally fine. Would be a great problem to have a 2.5 win 3B in Vargas for three more years while Cholowski is pushing for the SS job and forcing Colson to 3B.

Yup, it becomes a potentially serious lineup when he’s up. And while I’m a huge Meidroth fan, if he can’t get further improve his OBP and ability to impact the baseball against RHP, then that opens the door for Antonacci to make a case for the 2B job. Outside of Benintendi, this positional group should super exciting.

100% agree. And Venable did say he expected multiple moves happening soon. I still think Fairbanks is a real possibility. That being said, I do think they go cheaper with whatever vet starter they sign, although would love to be surprised there.

100% agree. And I didn’t think his defense was bad there to start last season. Either way, the bat is better suited for 3B and this commits to that.