ChiSox59

Yep. Even if Robert doesn't really improve on his career slash of .289/.334/.426 (122 wRC+), he still a 4-5 WAR player with 145 games played. While typing out his slash line you can't help but be a bit surprised since the narrative around him (both within the fanbase and nationally) is largely that he has been a huge disappointing with the bat. And while he has gone long stretches looking like he doesn't have a single clue what he's doing, his overall numbers are still strong. The upside is still absolutely astounding.

No s%*#. Buxton has cleared 92 games 1 time in 8 seasons (7 non-covid seasons). Robert has played 56 games (60 game season), 68, and 98 games. His injury history isn't even close to Buxton's at this point. So Jack's statement was silly (shocking!).

I had to turn that game off in the second inning last night because my dog kept barking at that awful horn noise every 20 seconds.

I mean, he had yet to appear in AAA at the time they would have promoted him and it was his first minor league season. Plenty of reasons to not bring him to the big leagues. But I tend to agree - once they made that decision, it’s pretty dumb to put him on the OD roster in 23 from a roster management perspective. Looks like Oscar may not give them much of a choice tho if he keeps this up.

Robert has been in the league 5 less years, Jack.

Byron Buxton, the guy that’s played more than 92 games 1 time in 8 seasons. I bet Parkman has him penciled in for 162 tho.

I have him on ignore but can’t help myself sometimes. Had him ignored on WSI back in the day too. I see him pop up on Twitter all the time. Always the same BS. Quite a way to go about fandom…all those years. Mercy!

I get all that and think its fair, but the Twins and Guardians also need an awful lot to go right (either again in the case of the Guardians, or different than 22 in the case of the Twins). That just gets completely ignored in the analysis of the division by many.

Interesting take considering they were worse than the Sox last year, and did lose a good bit of their roster and didn't have a manager that was basically throwing games. As @Squirmin' for Yerminand @hogan873 alluded to above, it sure feels like most these takes of the Sox being bad are just being negative for the sake of being negative and completely ignore context and what has happened around the rest of the division.

Yet, even if they accomplish all of these plus some, you'll complain daily along the way.

Lol at anyone that think JR would have allowed that. It quite literally took a third party doctor intervening.

What have the Twins done to improve from a team that lost 2 more games than the Sox last year?

White Sox 90-72 Twins 86-76 Guardians 84-78 Tigers 70-92 KC 68-94 Will be an entertaining race in the ALC and very fun season of baseball.

Wrong thread

Obviously I have. They have their motives even if we can’t see them. You cannot possibility actually believe long time baseball execs don’t actually know how to use it.

Well, he’s a career 75 wRC+ player and been over 90 since 2017, so chances are that he’s closer to that than 39 in 2023. He still sucks, but could still be useful as 26th man.

I don't envision a lot of lineups if this roster is health in which this team is playing multiple bench players in one game resulting in "alot of lineups with .600-type OPS hitters stacked". If the lineup isn't healthy, Sheets and Burger will be on the rsoter. So its kind of a moot point. I don't expect Leury and Marisnick/Billy to be garnering multiple starts a week. We've been over this like a dozen times, but if Colas is on the roster and everyone else is healthy, there is virtually no at bats for Sheets. The Sox are going to live and die in 2023 by their core of Robert, TA, Eloy, Yoan, AV, and Benintendi being in the lineup most days.

While I actually agree with you on this assuming Colas is on the roster, its a hilarious take for a guy saying Burger is a no brainer on the roster. Sheets can actually stand in RF (a position of need) and hits RHP pretty well as lefty bat (a huge team need). Burger does neither. IMO, this team will be at its best when both Sheets and Burger are in AAA however. THat is only happening when the team is at 100% full strength, which I doubt we see much.

Tough start to spring for the Twins - Gordon high ankle sprain, Celestino out 2 months with a thumb injury and the prize of the Berrios trade in Austin Martin likely out for the season with a UCL strain.

Believe they've said late April - early May. The fact that they haven't 60 day IL'd him and had an opportunity to I think is telling of his expected timeline.

I would be absolutely shocked if he played anything close to 75 games in the field. - we have a full OF without him I could see 25-30. Guess we'll see.

Well, ideally none of the other options are playing all that much. You say "he won't be on the team to play the field", but he's going to have to play the field or his presence on the roster will force Eloy or Sheets into the field which is just as bad. We don't need another DH type on the roster. Again, I like Jake. He's easy to root for. I think he will be needed for everyday action for extended stretches this year and probably get 200-300 PA depending on health of Moncada, Eloy, AV and Sheets throughout the season. But again, if the roster is healthy, he is basically never going to play. With his development already stunted alot due to injury, I'd rather him play 3B everyday in Charlotte getting at bats against RHP so when he's actually needed he hasn't been getting 5 PA a week mostly against LHP. And all of the other options sans Sheets are significantly better than Jake in the field so not sure what you mean about "the only other options are utter trash, both in the field.."

According to what...exactly? Burger can mash LHP, something most of this roster can already do. But he cannot play defense. He is borderline unplayable at 3B defensively, and has never really played 1B in his life and has no other defensive utility. He will continue to struggle against RHP, which, coupled with awful defense, gives him no role on this roster unless one Moncada, AV or Eloy are hurt. I like Jake and all, and think he's great depth to store in AAA. But he's pretty useless on this roster if its healthy.

Still love Yoans sweet lefty stroke.

Speaking of Fantasy Baseball, I won't make a new post on the main board as not sure if that is allowed but did put one in the Diamond Club - looking for some new managers. DM me if interested / want more info.