Tony

I honestly don’t know what happened to your brain

You proposed the bet.

Sure. Ban bet?

I never had it fully diagnosed but I had a bad bout of what you're describing for like 3-4 months, it finally went away after doing some exercises recommended by my doctor. But it SUCKED. Whenever I would get up from bed or a chair, I would get light-headed, dizzy, that rush of blood feeling, it was awful.

And yet the Astros have made the ALCS 5 years in a row, including 3 World Series appearances. On the other side of the coin, you have the White Sox, who have made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in their 121-year history, and were outclassed by a somewhat wide margin in both series. You don't have to just count on luck to be successful in the playoffs. Yes, some years crazy things happen. And yes, some years everything comes together over those 170 or so games ( see 2005 White Sox.) But having a deep, talented roster that is well-managed sure seems to help your chances. I'd like that for the team I root for, but unfortunately we can't seem to have nice things.

I guess the issue I have with that premise is we are just focused on the Central. As Sox fans, the goal needs to be bigger than that. Just because the Sox got gifted a spot in the worst division in baseball doesn’t give them an excuse to accept horseshit baseball.

I truly do you respect you always being positive because you do it in a way where you don’t bury your head in the sand, but you’re at least approaching it from a logical perspective. With that said, I just can’t stomach the “Hey just make the playoffs and anything will happen.” That’s not good enough, and I don’t even think it’s totally true. Why? Because we know this team will get trounced by Houston, the Yankees and the Rays, let alone the Dodgers. They just aren’t close to that level. So if they make the playoffs…what does that really get us? I’m not saying by any means I DON’T want them to make the playoffs, of course I do. But we have seen more than enough of this team since last July. We know who they are. A .500 team. Nothing more. That doesn’t play in October.

Live look at the Giolito household

These are very good posts, shouldn't be available on a free site lol

This was the most common reply when Nightengale first had the report that the Sox were considering interviewing LaRussa for the job…..just saying.

Hand up, I have never heard of Paul Blackburn.

Man, I have zero idea what they are doing over there

It's a complicated issue. I will always want the team I root for to go for BPA, at all times, in the MLB Draft. Different for other sports, but I never believe in drafting for a need with MLB. So if the Sox thought he was BPA, I'm for it. It becomes more complicated when you don't have faith in the structure of the White Sox and their development plan. If there is an argument to be made that they are more successful with college bats than a high school arm, I can see taking a player that fits that profile more to try and hedge your bet, so to speak.

Good or bad?

They all do, but Carl Crawford just turned 40. He retired 2016, Holliday retired in 2018, which is just as crazy.

CARL CRAWFORD HAS A KID THAT'S ABLE TO BE DRAFTED?!?! WTF

Dylan deserves to go, but Liam is very deserving as well. Dude has lived up the contract thus far.

How about not picking up the Kimbrel option (meaning they wouldn’t have to spend the 11.5 on Pollock) not signing Vince Velazquez or Joe Kelly, offering and/or brining back Rodon, and still signing Cueto? Finding a RF that actually knows how to play RF and is somewhat productive? Not giving Leury a 3 year deal when there wasn’t a market for him? Signing FA’s isn’t the only way to acquire talent. The team won 93 games last season. They are on pace for 79 wins this year. Sorry you’re surprised your thread praising Rick for his offseason isn’t being met with bouquets of roses.

Finished it last night, what an awesome show. Didn’t totally get what “the cans” and what Michael was doing, but aside from that, great first season.

This is sad. Who fucking cares? The Sox are supposed to be in the middle of their World Series window and they’ve struggled to stay at .500 and we are nearing the end of July. Why are we grading Rick Hahn for his offseason? How about we grade him on the team he’s build in 2022? What grade do you give that?

I’m sorry, I know it’s “just money” but if you know that in two years he’s an FA and he’s going to cost your franchise AT least 500 million in order to keep his services for the rest of his career, the cost to acquire him shouldn’t be that great. The Nationals are in an absolutely terrible spot and that franchise is a mess and needs a total rebuild. Soto isn’t really “helping” them the next few years. Yes, he had tremendous value to other teams, the White Sox very much included, but because of his earth shattering contract requests, I can’t fully get on board with a team shipping out a incredible trade package as well. The only way the Nats have ant leverage is if other GM’s act foolish, which seems to always take place.

Finally some big W’s from this team. Keep them coming.

To be clear, we don't think that about EVERYONE. We for sure think it about you, just not everyone. That's an unfair shot, and I won't stand for it.

He has a shtick to keep up with. No matter what happens, for guys like @wrathofhahn, once he believes it, NOTHING will change his mind. Logic and facts be damned.