Chicago White Sox

We had some great stretches of talent evaluation IMO, I personally think player development has been the larger issue over the past decade.

One consideration here is that our player development function was well behind the times for years and appears to have caught up quite a bit under Getz, even if it took a long-ass time. We’ve already seen some success stories on the pitching side (Stiever, Lambert, etc.) and hopefully the position player side will soon follow. We invested a ton of draft capital in Collins, Sheets, & Burger and these guys have gone from likely lost causes (which killed our depth) to possible contributors. Obviously it’s way too early to call any of them successes, but at least we’ve seen work / changes Collins & Sheets have made to address weaknesses and improve their chances to contribute. The real test will be all the young guys at Kanny and to a lesser extent Winston-Salem. If we can develop enough of those guys into potentially serviceable players we may finally start seeing an acceptable level of depth in the upper minors.

If the Bears don’t find a way to trade up in the draft for a QB, which is admittedly looking harder by the second, then it might be two years before we find a possible long-term option. Next year’s team shouldn’t be good, but will they be bad enough for a top 5 selection? I really doubt it. And assuming the 2022 class isn’t nearly as deep, it should be much harder to move up if there are only a couple high end options. Point is, keeping Pace & Nagy around is simply delaying the need to tank for a high end QB prospect and we’re going to be stuck in purgatory until that happens. I know many here don’t want them taking a shot at another QB prospect, but IMO we’re just spinning in circles until we get that spot fixed once and for all.

Sheets didn’t even get assigned to Schaumburg last year, he’s still got to prove himself with the bat. Vaughn clearly flashed enough last year that they want his bat in the lineup somewhere. None of this ideal, but alas with the way Collins has looked in camp it’s worth a shot.

He was a league average bat against RHP in 2019 in his second stint with us after making his swing changes. I think he can be much better than that as a platoon hitter if given the opportunity.

Hopefully until Abreu exits the organization

Gotcha and fully agree. Vaughn against RHP in LF is probably the optimized outcome given that Leury & Engel are both good against LHP.

Not trying to be a dick, but what allows him to play 2-3 times a week vs everyday?

And it’s done! What a damn good feeling!

Mitch Haniger for Jared Kelley Who says no?

Yeah, if we can’t do better than him, just stick with internal options IMO.

Ok that’s who I figured, but dude is 35 and didn’t even play last year.

Who is Cargo?

I think it’s more Jerry’s budget is adverse to that.

Getting my first vaccine tomorrow! Can’t fucking wait!

I’m only playing on the banning, but that lineup is brutal. We can’t afford to start both Lucroy & Leury unless it’s against a LHP. It’s Vaughn or die time for better or worse.

Ban his ass!!

That lineup is brutal

Yup, pretty much. Still hoping they trade for an OF though.

Here are my new lineup ideas: vs RHP | vs LHP Anderson, SS | Anderson, SS Grandal, C# | Grandal, C# Abreu, 1B | Abreu, 1B Moncada, 3B# | Robert, CF Robert, CF | Vaughn, LF Collins, DH* | Moncada, 3B# Vaughn, LF | Mercedes, DH Eaton, RF* | Engel, RF Madrgial, 2B | Madrgial, 2B Just brutal how much losing Eloy changes the complexion of the lineup.

Probably worth a shot!

I wish there was a way to get Austin Meadows, but alas we don’t have the pieces without further impacting the major league roster.

Playing LF isn’t inherently risky unless you are Eloy Jimenez though.

He had incredibly flukey numbers against RHP with bad BB & K rates. He’s a fine 4th OF who can be very good LHP but he’s probably not an everyday player.