Eminor3rd

I believe that JR has a very specific, very idiosyncratic vision of how “things should be,” with regards to compensation, player culture, management structure, fan experience, public relations, etc. I believe that vision may have had some link to reality in about the 1980’s, but has persisted totally unchanged in the subsequent decades, other than perhaps to have been strengthened in the few instances that someone was able to talk him into some divergent tactical decision that went onto fail anyway because of the impossible scenario within which it was expected to thrive. With each year that passes, JR’s version of “the business of sports” becomes increasingly untethered from anything resembling current reality, but unlike an average person in this scenario, JR’s superpower is to remain unflinchingly stubborn, such that no amount of influence or persuasion can pull him from his course, and perhaps to the point that the most heroic efforts to do so may even further harden his resolve. I believe he truly wants to win. But he ONLY wants to win HIS WAY. And having mired himself in this cesspool of toxicity for so many years, it may even be to the point where he would refuse an opportunity to win any other way, even if it was right in front of him. He has become an anti-hero, so unwilling to get out of his own way that he now finds himself consistently in the way of others’, but his utter lack of self-awareness and shame make it impossible even to pity him. Maybe years after he’s gone, we’ll be ready to dig in further, because I think he may be as interesting as he is malignant — but it doesn’t feel interesting right now.

From the league numbers I’ve seen, I think his pocketbook is definitely taking a hit.

Maybe it’s wins that’ll get him fired? Idk I’m grasping at straws

When your GM inexplicably hard commits to filling the roster with defense-only players, and your team ends up with the worst defense in the Majors by a wide margin, it’s okay to say the manager needs to go.

Also, check the current team defense leaderboard on Fangraphs: https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=0&type=1&season=2024&season1=2024&ind=0&team=0%2Cts&rost=&age=&filter=&players=0&startdate=&enddate=&month=0

MLB (Mayo/Callis) is also very consistently the worst of the mainstream prospect evaluators.

Every time I think the franchise is at the lowest possible point.

In defense of Pal, this stuff changes all the time. We just had a similar situation at work the other day with regards to a social media promo including a player. Call came straight from the AGM telling us to run it immediately because it would be unusable tomorrow. Three days later, the guy is still here.

I'm actually not sure that's true. If the White Sox hold him, and he just manages to not get injured, even if his innings are tapered, he very well may be worth more over the offseason, with a team able to plan around his "full season." While theoretically getting him now gets you next year plus whatever is in the tank here, the teams that are pushing in at the deadline specifically need something now, so giving up chips for Crochet represents opportunity cost against an alternative. Even if that alternative is inferior, it may be a better fit for the rest of 2024, and you can plan for 2025 when the time comes.

How can this possibly make sense? They're team options. The team can decline them. Someone please frame for me the argument that these could be seen as "negative value." The buyouts are $2M lol

I read Longenhagen's profile then cross-referenced with mlb.com. Looks like those are the lowest guys on him.

Makes me feel better. I guess I spoke too soon, looked at FG/mlb.com. Reading PG, does seem like he's had helium.

Bonemer seems like a massive reach. EDIT: not being a hater, every publications seems to have him ranked in the 70s or 80s

Ahh, didn’t see that. Thanks

Would be a boon in round 2 imo. More realistically, but still kind of unlikely, I’m hoping for William Schmidt

Longenhagen is leaking picks early at the FanGraphs chat.

Well, here's to hoping the Sox are saving a little bit of money on the pick, from what I've been consuming the last few months, it seems like there are some really interesting late first round HS arms, and one or two should slip out. Hoping for Kash Mayfield, but there are others.

Sox will get to clear the medicals before signing, right?

Yeah, I saw something like that somewhere

Yeah, I mean. If I'm steel-manning it, Smith is surest guy in the draft to be a significant big leaguer. The sox can't f*** him up, really. I'm just having trouble with the volatility of the injury risk given the org is so objectively far away from contention.

But he's also already had a TJ

I don't get it. It's the shortest term asset in the first round. Polished, fast mover, already had a tommy john. I know he's good but what is the plan here.

Shocked at what Longenhagen leaked for the Sox

My point is that there is a clear second or third tier to their prospects, even if the hype makes them all seem elite. I think they’ll move a guy that has warts that fans overlook because of name value.

Kenny? Is that you?