Tony

Listen, I'll admit part of me is envious of you. Your ability to detach from reality and live in a fantasy world is pretty impressive. You reference letting "history" cloud my judgement, as if I'm citing what the 1974 White Sox did has some baring on what's happening in 2025. I'll repeat myself for the folks in the back: Since the start of the 2023 season, the White Sox are 125-272. They have been the worst team in baseball over that stretch. We're still in that stretch. It's happening..right now. Lastly, you're on this crusade against those that are too negative, using phrases like "spare me your angry tears that blind you so much." I'm not going stop you from trying to sound like drunk Shakespeare, but it seems like you may be the angry one? I don't watch the White Sox. A few weeks ago I watched about 6 innings of a Shane Smith start, and it was the first game I had actually spent time watching. For the very limited time I spend around the White Sox, 95% of that is spent here. It's upsetting their poor management has led to my lack of interest, but I'll start to care more when ownership cares more. I'm not crying, I'm not angry. All I did was state objective fact to you. They have the second worst record in the league in 2025, and have been the worst team in baseball over the last 2.5 seasons.

I'm sorry, what now? Did you get a memo none of us got? The White Sox are 23-50, and have the second worst record in the sport, only behind the historically bad Rockies, who have the "privilege" of most likely dethroning the 2024 White Sox as the worst team in MLB history. Since the start of the 2023 season, the White Sox are 125-272. The Rockies are still 11 games ahead of the Sox over that time, at 136-261. This has been the worst stretch of White Sox baseball any of us have ever lived through, and that's saying something, given how mediocre this franchise has been historically. You have every right to be as "positive" as you want. Go nuts. But spare everyone the puzzled thought of "Gee, can't understand why people are down on the White Sox??"

I think it's much easier for a fan base to get upset with a player who is complaining to the media about a position switch...when they aren't performing. While I don't follow the Red Sox on a daily basis, from the outside looking in, it seems as though Devers was upset the franchise told him one thing and did another. I don't care how much it happens in other walks of life, it sucks when you're a baseball player or a plumber. The biggest thing, for me, is that while Devers may have not preferred to play DH and made that known...he started every game for the Red Sox this season, and is in the middle of having one of his best seasons. He may not have been thrilled with the position the team put him in, but he's gone to work everyday and performed. As a fan, that's what I want out of my franchise player.

These are....contradicting thoughts.

Even if Jerry/Ishiba would approve it, it's still not a smart deal. While the package the Giants sent over to Boston certainly wasn't impressive, it would still have cost the Sox assets, but much more importantly, Devers will be 29 when the season is over. With or without Devers, the White Sox aren't close to competing in the next 2-3 seasons. Paying a 33,34,35,36 year old Devers 23 million + each season is not something I'd want my favorite team signing up for.

Is it fair to call it the “back” when like 20 of the 26 guys wouldn’t be on other ML rosters? 😂

But the two don't have to be mutually exclusive. I know I'm not making this point, and I don't believe AJ was...that if you have great player development, you can turn any baseball player into a star. Kind of goes without saying that talent evaluation is always going to be incredibly important. BUT...say your talent evaluation is on par with the upper echelon teams in the league. You identify someone with tremendous skills, but is raw (like most young talent) What are you doing to bring out those skills and develop them into great major league players? What coaching are you providing that gives your players an edge? What data are you providing to your players that no one else in the league is doing?

Every case is different. But the key is development doesn't stop in the minor leagues. AJ Pierzynski was on the radio this week on ESPN 1000, and they asked him "With new ownership coming aboard, what would you do if you were the new owner? One of things he said was "If you talk to players who have played for the Sox recently, they'll tell you about deficiencies and coaching that players get in other organizations that they don't get with the White Sox." Historically, I believe there is enough evidence from results and reporting that have told us the White Sox were in the stone ages on player development. Hopefully that is changing, remains to be seen and I have serious doubts because of who the owner still is...but we'll start to get a better idea if change is really happening over the next 24 months.

Tonight was the first game I've watched basically the entire game, and seemingly picked a good one. Still a VERY long way to go big pitcher, but there is at least enough young talent on the team to make them watchable, which I suppose are baby steps.

They have way more information than we have to go off of, obviously. While I'm certainly not in the habit of doing it recently with the White Sox, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt here. But I would think most agree that the goal should be to see if Taylor can start at some point here in the next year or so, and not already committing to him being an RP at this point.

We spent months talking about Crochet, how from 2021-2023, he pitched a combined 79 innings in three years, (in 2023 he had 25 total innings) and went on to pitch 146 innings in 2024, making 32 starts. I believe he's on pace right now for over 200 IP in 2025 (currently sitting at 88 IP over 14 starts) Another outlier? Maybe...but we seem to be seeing it more, where guys can make big jumps year to year.

No it isn’t. Emmanuel Clase has been a fantastic closer in his career. Last year, he put up a 0.61 ERA in 74 IP, giving up 5 ER the entire season, notching a league leading 47 saves. He had a 4.4 WAR In 2005, Jon Garland put up a 4.6 WAR. No one has ever confused Jon Garland with an ace.

Yeah, don't love spending 2nd round picks on bullpen arms, but this also shouldn't shut the door on him starting long term. At least I would hope it doesn't.

So you’re people that can’t see the “progress” happening are dumb?

One happened 20 years ago. The other happened last year. Can’t imagine why some aren’t willing to “eat crow” yet

It’s your classic “lower the bar as far as you can so when you slightly raise it at the lowest point possible, we can call it progress!”

You got one of those too? 😂

Just the absolute worst organization. They always find new, creative ways to say “f*** you” to their most loyal followers

But that's not what you said. "Days being numbered" does not in anyway imply he's got another 3-4 years left on the job. Those are two very different things. And with Jerry keeping control until at least 2029, I don't think Getz is looking to put his house on the market quite yet.

What?? What evidence is there to tell you Jerry would have ANY interest in removing Chris Getz from his current role??

This is objectively false, so I'm starting to understand why we don't see eye to eye on this...you're working with information that just isn't accurate. The A's made the playoffs in 2012, 2013, 2014. Three consecutive trips to the playoffs, something the White Sox have never done in their franchise history. In 2012, the A's went 94-68. They drew 1.6 million fans. The same year, the White Sox went 85-77, missed the playoffs, and drew 1.9 million fans. In 2018, the A's went 97-65. They drew 1.5 million fans. The same year, the White Sox went 62-100, missed the playoffs, and drew 1.6 million fans. In 2019, after going 97-65 the year before, the A's posted the EXACT same record, and once again went to the playoffs. They drew 97,118 more fans in 2019 than in 2018. In 2005, the White Sox drew 2,342,833 fans in their World Series year. In 2006, they saw an increase of 614,581 fans. In the last 10 years, Oakland has never been higher than 10th out of 15 teams in the AL in attendance. The White Sox were 5th in the AL in attendance in 2021, and wouldn't you know it...they made the playoffs.

The Sox drew 2.9 million fans in 2006, good for 3rd in the AL that year. In 2007, they drew 2.6, good for 5th in the AL that year. They were also 5th in 2008, 6th in 2009. In 1991, they were 2nd in the AL in attendance, in 1992 they were 3rd, and the same spot in 1993. Sox fans have shown historically that if you put a good product on the field, people will pay money to see them play. Seems fair. Ownership has not held up their side of the agreement.

You sound like an absolute blast at parties.

Do you really want to get into debate about successes and failures when it comes to Reinsdorf owned teams? Because based on the angle you're taking, that's an argument you're going to lose. Additionally, as owner of a professional sports team (two, actually), everything falls under your watch. He's employing the people in making the draft picks, executing the trades, engaging in player development. If it's not working (which is clearly hasn't with both franchises) then changes are needed until they are consistently competitive with the rest of the league. His teams have failed to do that at an alarmingly high rate. And even using your premise, that Jerry isn't "personally responsible" for day to day roster decisions, the people he hired are. Why should we think at 89 years old, his hiring practices and what he looks for in GM's is suddenly going to change?