Tony

I actually agree with this, but it also goes against what you're arguing with me on Jerry. If the Sox wanted to, they could absolutely find a way to sign Crochet to a long term extension. They won't do it, because they don't want to spend the money.

What's the common theme in all of these? They didn't sign the player. Instead of offering the most money for Machado, they signed his brother in law. Close doesn't count in baseball, close only counts in horseshoes and handgrenades.

Kenny and Rick had a lot of faults, but they also identified bringing in Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Blake Wheeler, among others. They wanted to add them to the team. Why didn't any happen? Money. Is that a Kenny/Rick problem, or an owner and his budget?

You're leaving out key details to help paint the picture you want to paint. The Sox and the "Wherever" A's are the only two franchises not to hand out a $100 million dollar deal to a player. They've dipped their toe in the water on big name FA's, only to be left shocked when a player doesn't sign with them because someone else offered more money. JR may "want to win" but he wants to win his way. 2020 and 2021 was the first time in franchise history the organization went to back to back post seasons, and 2020 was a 60 game season. That same Oakland team I mentioned, have gone to the playoffs 11 times since 2000. The Sox have gone 5. And since 1917, there has only been one year in which the Sox have won a playoff series. Once. In your second post, you say "You sign one big contract" like history is on the Sox side to just sign this big name, franchise altering player. What historical evidence or data are using to come to the conclusion that is what the Sox will do?

They really should try and trade Keenan.

Not every decision carries the same weight, but there has been more good than bad with Poles. He's brought in a good amount of talent via the draft, and while there was luck involved in getting the No. 1 pick from Carolina, there is an element of good fortune or "luck" with most moves GM's make. At the end of the day, luck or not, he hit it right with the trade, one of the best, most lopsided trades in sports history. His two biggest whiffs have been the Claypool trade, and not bringing in a new staff around Caleb during Year 1. I actually didn't even hate the Claypool trade as on paper it was done for the right reasons, they just simply didn't do enough homework on Claypool the person.

It's the one trait truly all the owners share in this town. No one is willing to be aggressive. They make moves only when they are forced to, not when it's simply the right thing to do. There isn't a single fan in this city that would have taken issue with Flus getting canned in the offseason, but they stuck by their guy, and we're seeing the results. Now they'll be forced to make a move when the win 7 games this season, and fall into the same trap every Bears team before them fell into, and wonder how it happened, or why it's not working.

It’s just so fucking exhausting to do this every 3 years. It’s the same thing over and over and over again.

So to be clear, the argument you are making is the World Series Champions had no impact on Michael Kopech, but instead the success he found in LA can all be attributed to his learnings from the 41-121 White Sox? Just want to be on the same page.

The Royals signed Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo. Both were very good for the Royals in 2024. The Royals made a 30 win improvement over their 2023 record. If the White Sox make a 30 game improvement in 2025, they'll be 71-91. The White Sox also don't have anyone in the same stratosphere of Bobby Witt Jr, who coincidentally was drafted 2nd overall by the Royals, after a season where they are bad and "rebuilding"

I could, you're right. I choose not to. I terms of your second paragraph, I really don't think any fans lowered expectations themselves. The Sox have done more than enough to lower expectations to a point where it literally can't get any lower. THEY are responsible for the low expectations, not the fan base.

I know it's your bit to take things to the extreme, but it just makes you look like a clown. Will Venable may be a good hire. Maybe he won't. None of us really know. I agree it's a positive that it isn't a former Royal or someone with close ties to La Russa, but as Ray was pointing out, it's sad the bar is low enough that excitement comes from the Sox not doing what they always do. But that's what happens when you've turned into one of the worst franchises in sports. Expectations become so low, that anything slightly different feels like a huge win. Everyone on this board hopes this is the start of a new chapter of Sox Baseball. But it's absolutely asinine to look down or judge a fan for having doubts about this organization putting in a real effort to turn this franchise into a perennial winner.

Waddle and Silvy had ESPN Stats and Research run the numbers, based on those 4 games and where the win percentage was in the 4th quarter. I don’t totally understand the equation you would use, but the stat guys came back with the odds of that happening were well over 1 in a million.

He added a lot of fuel to the fire in the last 24 hours with what he said postgame and on Monday, along with what others said. Not only did he take no accountability for really anything, but he now has players coming out in the media actively questioning his coaching decisions. Then Jaylon Johnson went on The Score yesterday and said this: Now that's also on the players, but it doesn't reflect well on the coaching staff either, and you add on the absolute unforgivable mistakes Flus made on Sunday...the vibe TOTALLY shifted.

Jesus your arms must be tired.

But it should have never gotten there. Caleb was getting beat up early and often. Why were there not more designed plays to the TE’s and RB’s? Kmet had one catch today, and the entire RB grouo didn’t have a reception today. You cut the only FB on your roster on Friday. On the biggest play of the game, you used a backup OL to run a FB handoff. Then, on the final drive of the game by the Bears, they used AWFUL clock management to allow WSH to hold onto timeouts and gave them enough time to make a drive down the field. This team has shown over 7 games they can hang with most teams. So then it comes down to putting your team and players in the best position for success. That is NOT happening.

They deserved that

I think some of the posts here are missing the bigger problem. It’s not just about player selection. With the players listed having success elsewhere..it’s not about player identification, but how those talents are used and developed. We’ve seen it far too many times for it to be a random coincidence. The coaching and player development, at all levels, just isn’t close to where it needs to be in order to be competitive.

Good for you. I'm in the North Shore and while I don't see me ever going to the Cubs, I would have no problem giving my fandom to the Brewers. I miss caring about baseball.

There are plenty of reasons. I’m a fan of the White Sox, not the owner. Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t the White Sox. And at this point, I’m not ready to let Jerry make me root for another franchise. If he decides to actually sell the team to an owner that has no interest in keeping the Sox in Chicago, then I’ll feel OK moving on.

f***’em, move the team. End of us this misery. Do I want an actual owner who is interested in fielding a competitive team in Chicago? Of course, but that seems like such an impossible ask at this point, I’d be fine with them moving and let me be a true “fan free agent”

And given that Fields hasn't been great but the Steelers have still been winning, you have to think that went into the decision by Pittsburgh. If Fields isn't giving them great production but the team can still be successful, why not see if Russ can do the same, and save them having to give up a 4th?

They clearly needed a few weeks to get going, and playing the Texans in Week 2 didn’t help. They have been fortunate to have a really soft schedule the last 3 weeks, and they need to go 3-1 in their next 4 honestly if they want to be a playoff team. But they are doing exactly what you should be doing to bad teams, and that’s stepping on their neck. Caleb’s last two weeks have been better than anything Fields did in 3 years here. He’s the real deal, they just have to get this OLine bolstered with some more talent, and hopefully the coaching staff can keep up. They still worry me, but there are a lot of good pieces here.