MiddleCoastBias

...sounds like an Opening Day starter to me!

For people that think we're going to sign the middle-tier starters to round out our rotation, take a good look at this deal for this caliber of pitcher, and now reconsider what our rotation will really look like this year.

Didn't it use to be a thing that we'd make a big signing or trade the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for a few years running? Vaguely recall something like Thome being announced on Wednesday, might be making that up. Obviously a bunch of new faces making decisions but maybe we get a little Thanksgiving appetizer again this year.

Did I miss the Cal signing or is that just speculation?

Obviously the Sox signed Nicky to lure Benetti back with the friends and family plan again.

Those in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. 2017: Jake Burger #1, traded for nothing. Gavin sheets #2, possibly DFA'd this week 2018: Madrigal #1, traded a piece that actively set us backward. Steele Walker #2, fart noise 2019: Vaughn #1, plenty of people calling to trade him. Matthew Thompson #2, going nowhere fast 2020: Crochet #1, huge ??. Kelley #2, going nowhere. I'll take the Braves' draft failings with their perennial World Series aspirations over our draft failings and *gestures at steaming pile of s%*#*

My personal hope is that he ends up in Seattle. I think he would be so fun up there with Julio. Wonder if they're still stung by the Cano contract but it seems like that's fading into the rear window.

I'm a sucker and easy money for Jerry. I pout and moan about this franchise, and then I'm over on '47's website looking for new hats to wear to the one series the Sox come to Boston every year. It's an abusive relationship and I can't quit it.

The Robert jerseys are on sale as well. All of the jerseys are on sale (you can get a Keuchel jersey for $49 if you hate yourself and money doesn't mean anything). Don't read into the sale prices for off-season stuff. They're just trying to move inventory to free up space and capital for next year's products. '47 Brand just had a huge sale on all of their MLB gear too for the same reason.

That's an interesting perspective, haven't thought of yet. So you're suggesting they won't be in the market for the hired gun to put them over the top, like the Cubs' move for Lester? I can see them not making the trade with the intention of extending him, but they may look at the 'contention window math' see that two years of "win now" Cease is worth more than five+ years of "sustained success" with whichever prospects are being considered.

Just helping folks narrow down teams that might be interested

Like, we knew this was probably going to happen based on his national attention on ESPN and the fact we hadn't heard anything about an extension, so ok it was coming. But to the TIGERS. Come on, man. What a kick to the dick.

We are not a serious franchise.

White Sox: "Hey man, broke up with my girlfriend." Soxtalk: "Oh thank god, she was the worst!" WS: "but we got back together." ST: ".... happy for you guys!"

Craig Counsell signed what would be the 11th largest free agent contract the White Sox have ever given out. As a GM. We are not a serious franchise.

What has happened to make me feel better about this team since Oct 1? Better: - Darryl Boston is gone - Clevinger is gone - Grandal is gone Worse: - we hired a pitching coach from the Angels, a franchise near the bottom of the league in pitching success - we hired a college assistant coach to run player development - we bungled the TA move (this goes back to not trading him last year) - our rotation is now Cease and *gestures wildly at a trash heap* - multiple other qualified GM candidates have become available, but we needed to lock up Getz before anyone else could! - our media group is still spinning the "we're going to compete! Maybe we'll have a slight step back [from a 101-loss season], but we're not rebuilding!" I'm pretty damn low on this team and we haven't even made the truly boneheaded moves we all fear are coming yet (like Salvy Perez, Whit Merrifield, and Jason Heyward).

I'm convinced Baltimore will pull the trigger this off-season. They were very interested at the deadline but our ask was too steep. They're on the verge of breaking out, and the taste of the playoffs (only to be swept) will be enough for them to make the play.

Cool, and now they're both gone, so let's try calling Miami again. Or LAD. Or literally anyone else.

I just don't understand why we didn't pick it up and trade him? Or trade him last year? We get $0 of value from this we end up in the same place. Just, why. What are we doing.

El oh el.

Took me a second, forgot the ESPN part of that sentence

This and Balta's comment about coaches telling them to hit the ball into the ground and be aggressive, just look at the difference in Jake Burger on the Sox vs. the Marlins this year. Worlds apart. I have no doubt that Eloy would mash somewhere else. We just won't get fair value because we'll continue to suppress it by asking him to hit line drives.

Don't worry, we still have next year!

Relative to the traffic here, I've been thinking about that myself. Normally I'm checking countless times a day, even if I post or respond infrequently. I've found myself checking in, seeing the same tired threads on the main page that don't do anything for me, and I check out. A losing team and losing culture definitely have trickle down effects. I know this comment adds nothing to the discourse and I'm doing nothing to make it better, and I'm part of the problem as a result. And that's my observation.

Yeah, I can definitely see someone making the case a few extra million this year for a team that is already close is money better spent next year possibly starting all over. If someone sees Clevinger as the piece to solidify their run, that's worth the money.