Tony

Two things can be true at once. The Braves have gotten incredibly hot at the right time. We've seen that happen before, and it will happen again. That's great for the Braves, it's made a great story. The team they are playing in the World Series has been the absolute class of the AL for the last 5-6 years and it's not luck or coincidence that has gotten them to 5 straight ALCS appearances (cheating however, has played a role lol) Yes, getting hot and "luck" can and do play a role in the playoffs. But the idea of just building a playoff team and hoping for the right breaks to happen to your team once you make the dance is short-sighted and lacks an understanding of the game. The Sox have shown us in back to back seasons that at this point, they have not reached the "elite" level of teams of which there are only a select few. Does that mean they couldn't still win a World Series with his collection of players? No...they absolutely could. But there are absolutely improvements they can make that will help their chances in October.

I know, it's really hard to figure out why so many here would like a player who bats LH, plays solid OF defense and slashed .292/.401/.437 in 2021 and is still cost controlled. Bunch of weirdos.

Fuck this entire franchise.

The first season of Ted Lasso may be my favorite season of TV in a long time. I just love that show.

Emily Kaplan is reporting everyone is safe over there, this is all part of the plan....it's unreal.

Stop bringing up "Abreu" and "Trade" Sorry to single you out, but I've seen it multiple times already this offseason. He will NEVER be traded from the White Sox. We need to stop mentioning it.

I don't know what really happened. I also don't really care (this isn't a shot at you, you're point is valid) But if @tray believes the Astros cheating is that severe, I'd have serious pause giving my support to Tony La Russa, who has allegations of cheating against him from former MLB players (not to mention the juice heads out in Oakland, but that's a different issue)

Interesting. https://elitesportsny.com/2020/01/17/jack-mcdowell-says-the-chicago-white-sox-cheated-in-the-1980s/

Well said. We are in rare times when the Sox make the playoffs, lose, and we're still all very hopeful for the future. They just need to continue being aggressive and improving.

Additionally, @Balta1701 is using a premise that with a different manager, every button would have been pushed correctly. That doesn't happen with any manager, ever. Coaching staffs can make an impact for teams, no question. The idea that a starting pitching staff put up an ERA collectively over 10 would be cut in half (or more) simply with different coaching is ludicrous to me. Players need to be held far more accountable for their performances on the field. TLR didn't ask Lynn to throw with his left hand. Yes, the Astros were a bad matchup...but tough shit. It's the playoffs. This is coming from a guy that hated the TLR hire and still hates it. But LaRussa wasn't the main issue in the playoffs. The players on the field were.

Nah, I just think you're an asshole for not being able to comprehend why a male can't root/enjoy women's sports other than being "woke" If that's me being a "White Knight" then so be it, I guess? But you've gotten significantly throttled in this thread already, so not sure what you think about everyone else. But we'll be done with this convo. It's clear it's not going anywhere.

Ok so you're just an asshole then. Got it. Glad we cut right to the core, saved some time.

Correct. I have a hard time getting into college sports in general a lot of times for various reasons, but I don't begrudge anyone for enjoying them. But there is a certain "type" of person that can't help but let everyone else know women's sports are stupid, not good and there is no reason a man should enjoy them, other than being "woke".....which obviously makes total sense.

I know it isn't exactly what you asked, but if the Sox acquired Max and Trea from the Nats instead of the Dodgers....our Sox are getting ready for a game in Boston today.

So because you don't like it, the only reason a man would like it is because they are trying to please their girlfriend? Or the only reason I can support the WNBA is because I'm "woke?" These are all things you said. Is that right?

This is bananas in my opinion. The starters ERA in the series was over 10. You're saying AJ Hinch lowers that by 5, 6 runs? I just don't buy it.

I'm sorry, what now?

Says the guy that has posted about it twice in the last 6 hours. Beat it, you clown.

Welp, that's it for me tonight.

In that specific case, it kind of doesn't matter what I think. (It really doesn't matter what any of us think, ever lol) but those are the two options, as I see them, for any GM/President that would be running this team. They are sort of at a fork in the road. They can't be totally complacent, and I think they know that. So then it's deciding which route you take. The short-term "Go Big or Go Home" approach, or the "We need to think more long-term" approach.

There is a large difference between Eloy and Robert and Vaughn, Burger, Sheets, Collins, etc. The difference isn't just talent. It's money. Eloy and Robery and locked into long-term, somewhat expensive deals. The others are not. Here is what the Sox are going to need to decide, and quickly. How long do they truly envision their "window" being open? They need to be very honest with themselves. They know they don't have an owner that is going to support a long term payroll of 200 million+, and if they want to keep this entire core together, it's going to cost that much to accomplish. If they really believe they can make the playoffs with the current payroll restraints year after year, you need to hang onto those young players as they will play a very key role in staying within the payroll limits imposed. If they decide the window is closer to 2-3 more years....then trading some cost-controlled players like Vaughn actually makes some sense. Make the roster as good as you can until 2024, because at that point Grandal-Abreu-Lynn-Giolito will all be FA's. I'm not saying that's what they should do or that's what will happen, but if you've made the determination that this is the group and once that group hits FA it's over.....then trade anyone with cost-controlled value that will help you NOW, win as much as you can the next 2-3 seasons, and then start it all over again (with a few key pieces to either help start the rebuild over in Robert and Eloy) or build around those guys moving forward.

Luckily it doesn't sound like the Sox want to screw with him, just fans.

Especially when it leads to killing innocent drivers on the road.

This isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement for Tony La Russa.