Tony

Do you know what's stopping the Sox from doing both? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Again, reading comprehension is a skill, and one you seem to be lacking. The comment from OP was "I was more excited about the team heading into last year than I am this year." That doesn't mean OP isn't excited about this season, it means they were more excited in 2021. If they were at a 10 in 2021 and an 8 in 2022, that doesn't mean they "aren't excited about THIS team" I don't understand why this is so difficult for you.

You show me where I said that, and I'll give you a gold star for the day. Seems like you have a reading comprehension problem as well. Makes sense.

This is incredibly false. But you seem to be in a nasty habit of just making up statements and thinking they'll stick. The Sox have been ranked as having the worst system in the league by multiple publications. When people that are paid to give these assessments create their Farm System Rankings, they don't penalize teams for having "young" prospects lol. It's a very bad farm system at the moment. There are very few high ceiling guys currently in the system, and very few players (especially pitchers) that are ready to help the 2022 and 2023 White Sox.

You have a very poor understanding of how baseball works.

I actually agree with him. We should ALL have the expectation that the Sox were going to improve their team in the offseason, especially after two back-to-back first round playoff exits. Thus far, they have lost a 5 WAR pitcher and replaced him with Vince Velazquez, I guess? They have made multiple high-dollar bullpen investments and signed a soon to be 35 year old 2B who put up a - 0.5 WAR in the second half of the season. Yes, this team is very good on paper. I don't think many are arguing that. But this is a franchise that made a large time investment into being bad on purpose (instead of just being bad on their own) to get to this very point. And they did a very good job getting here! They built a team that can compete! But what looks to be the final 2-3 years of this core being together, they don't seem all that interested in actually pushing this team over the top, and improving. It seems like they have taken the attitude of "Eh, this team seems pretty good as is, let's see what happens, maybe we'll get lucky in the playoffs, who knows!" Doesn't exactly get the fan base fired up.

They've always done a lot of great things with the promo department. The Sox are VERY good at the overall ballpark experience (aside from when it's packed and they have no idea how to handle the crowds lol)

These bobbleheads are awesome, especailly the Robert/Eloy and TA7 ones.

This topic really doesn't need more time spent on it than I've already given it, but greg said "let pitchers go 3 innings max" Going "once or twice through the lineup" is a different topic, and not what greg said. Additionally, what is done in the playoffs currently can be done because teams know the offseason is right around the corner, and it's lose or go home. All the chips are on the table. I'll bet you anything you want that in 20 years, there are still "Starting Pitchers" that go 6, 7 innings deep during the regular season, and post-season.

This isn't a thing. Anywhere. Honestly, what are you even talking about?

Winning Time on HBO has been awesome.

I've wondered that as well. And I'm not saying it's a valid excuse for the Sox not to sign Conforto. I could give a shit, build the best team possible (aside from the Brett Myers of the world.) But I do wonder if them coming out a few months ago about Spring Training does impact things?

This…….is a very good post

Still haven't watched a minute of these guys this year and don't plan on starting anytime soon, but I'm still interested in watching this process unfold.

Is that on Rodon, or the coaching staff? It's not like that was a secret going into the season. Additionally, with your background, you are one of the guys always talking about work loads, and increasing them in smaller increments. He pitched 135 IP last season (with the playoffs) in a "contract year" and was the best Rodon we've seen with the Sox. If he came back on a one year deal, he would still be pitching in a contract year, and who's to say he can't build off of that 135 and stretch it to 160 IP? He's hit the 160 IP mark before in his career. And yes, if Rodon would be brought back, he would be replacing Keuchel in the rotation. It would be Giolito-Lynn-Cease-Rodon-Kopech. Those would be your Top 5 starters. With Rodon not in the fold, Kopech gets bumped up, and Keuchel is currently back in the rotation.

1. That's not what you said earlier. You said "What he got really doesn't matter." That was incorrect for a number of reasons. 2. You keep saying "stuck with him" but you're leaving out some small details: - He posted a 5 WAR last season in 132 innings - He's entering his age 29 season - It's a one-year commitment, not 6 or 7 years. - His current replacement in the rotation is Dallas Keuchel, who was left off the playoff roster and posted a 5.28 ERA last season - You're defending the Sox decision on Rodon, but seemingly not bringing up their decision on Craig Kimbrel, which are absolutely related. Kimbrel carries almost as a big of a price tag as Rodon would with he QO in 2022, yet at most you're pegging Kimbrel for 60 IP this season. They didn't want to get stuck with Rodon so they didn't offer him the QO....but they picked up the option for Kimbrel...why exactly?

Of course it does. Let's say he was in line for a 5 year, 100 million dollar deal. You still think the Sox shouldn't have "risked" offering the QO, because there was a chance he accepted the 1 year deal, instead of taking a 5 year commitment? Because if what he got really doesn't matter, that's still how you would think, which makes zero sense.

I believed that for a while, but after seeing what they have done with Kimbrel, I can't buy this line of thinking anymore. They clearly are fine "rolling the dice" on a player that they don't feel like should be part of the roster moving forward. Additionally, seeing what Rodon got from the Giants, it's clear they didn't judge the market accurately. Yes, Rodon turning down the QO would have hurt his value, but not enough where he wouldn't have received any multi-year deals.

The same reason they didn't offer Rodon a QO. They lack a basic understanding of the market.

So by that logic, Carlos Correa sucks?

By the way, one thing that needs to be said, although it shouldn't have to be.....if the Sox trade Kimbrel, get salary relief and don't do anything with the flexibility after that....it's a bad move. Craig Kimbrel should be somewhat productive this season, with the Sox or someone else. The Sox already have too much invested into their pen, and Kimbrel carries a huge price tag. But if that money is moved, and nothing is done with said savings, the Sox really accomplished nothing. Again, that is incredibly obvious, but I feel like some have missed that point. It's not just about dumping Kimbrel. It's then using that money on something the Sox actually need.

If this is an attempt to get Sox fans prepared for Kimbrel actually being part of this team in 2022...woof. If the Sox enter the season with Josh Harrison at 2B, Sheets/Vaughn splitting up RF/DH, and Dallas Keuchel in the rotation...and Craig Kimbrel as a 16 million dollar set up man, this off-season was an unmitigated disaster.

Wouldn't be spring training without it