Eminor3rd

How did he compare to the “road” versions of all of those players?

Choosing to look backward instead of forward would be a classically and commonly dumb way to make such an important decision. The team’s reputation over recent history is absolutely a factor in how you assess the immediate future, but it’s only one factor. If the past ten years is his primary decision driver, he’s missing the first for the trees in an epic and tragic way.

If our FO is smart, they’ll be reiterating to Machado that when you sign a ten year contract, you have a lot more to think about than contention chances in year one. I can see wanting to play for the Yankees or Phillies or trusting in one FO versus the other as potentially significant factors, but butwould be hard for me to believe that the White Sox projected 2019 record could be what disqualified them. Over ten years, you’re likely to see two complete contention cycles with any franchise, regardless of where each is at the start.

This is not a sentence.

Well I mean, I think my whole list is guys who I hated for objective, performance reasons. If it was the all-scumbag team, I’d have different answers for sure. I can see how you could interpret the OP either way.

I didn't remember KW wanting Thome back, but that's on brand, too. So sorry for that post, KW. Actually I'm not sorry, KW, because you never should have let Ozzie talk you into that dumb shit. You were the boss.

Yep, part of the famed and now meme'd "KW always gets his man" era, where he'd sign "premium athletes" when they were 34 and slow, only to put them in positions that required them still to be premium athletes.

Avisail Garcia Jeff Samardzija James Shields Scott Linebrink Mark Teahen Honorable mention: Mark Kotsay. Nothing personal, I just hated his inclusion on the roster and everything it represented.

1. Frank Thomas 2. Lyle Mouton 3. Matt Thornton 4. Jose Quintana 5a. Paco Martin 5b. Ron Karkovice

They JUST dumped Santana so they could move Hoskins back to first, had the worst defense in a decade last year.

Alonso is a substantially better defender than Abreu. But yeah, this means Palka has to *gulp* play the field... !

I'm fine with that -- I meant I hope we didn't give up anything significant.

It's a trade

Better be basically for free

I think it’s going to be higher than that. I have some good firsthand info that I can’t repeat. But if it lands at 50m, I’ll be surprised and upset that the Sox wouldn’t beat it.

I’ve seen about fifteen Kikuchi starts over the last two seasons. He’s good. His release point reminds me a lot of Rodon, his slider (at its best) reminds me a lot of Kluber, and to my eyes, he tunnels well. He’s got a loopier curve and a splitter as well. Media reports on his velocity are overblown — if he can touch 97, I’ve never seen it in a game. He sits in the low 90s and ramps it up to the mid 90s when he needs to reach back. Unlike a lot of Japanese pitchers, he’s not afraid to throw the heater upstairs. There are a LOT of miles on his arm for his age. NPB aces routinely throw 30-50 more pitches in a start than MLB guys do. Also, premium young talent tends not to spend much time in the minors —he’s pitched 7-8 seasons in the NPB already. He’s had minor but recurring shoulder issues. Look, I’d love to get him. I think he’s a solid #3 over here with some upside. But there are simply too many teams on him right now. The winning bid is going to be full market value from a contender that thinks he’s more of a #2. For the Sox to BEAT that Would be to take a lot of risk on an arm with veteran miles on it that has reached its peak already. As fun as it would be for me (a big NPB fan), I just don’t see it happening. And I can’t blame our FO.

I don’t think there’s any chance the Sox sign this deal if they thought they were really in on Grandal. And I’m not saying they need Grandal. But they should at least try NOT to get a guy that’s going to make it even harder for their young pitchers to throw strikes.

I wish they would prioritize receiving skills with these guys.

I love him, but there are too many teams on him. He’s gonna max out his value, and I can’t think of any reason he’d choose Chicago over anywhere else even if we matched the highest offer.

I mean no one is going to argue that they like LAX, but that’s not really what we’re talking about lol

Every city is nice if you can afford to live where and how you want in it. Every city is miserable if you can’t.

Alright, children. That’s enough

Dig back into NPB. Gonna be a long year in Chicago. Dayan Viciedo just signed a massive three year, ten million dollar extension with the Dragons. He was the CL batting champion last year! Plus, my Rakuten Golden Eagles signed Hideto Asamura away from the lions. I’m so excited I’m buying a jersey.

I’d have no problem with grandal. Castillo is gone after next year. Collins is in the mlb as backup c and dh

Incredibly thorough, thanks @Y2Jimmy