Tony

Players should not have their salaries artificially suppressed because owners don't want to spend. In the last decade, the Royals and Nationals have won a World Series, the Indians have been to a World Series, as have the Rays and Diamondbacks. The best record in baseball, today, is held by the Milwaukee Brewers, who have the 23rd highest payroll in the league. Spendings the most doesn't equal an automatic World Series Championship. It certainly helps, but there are plenty of ways to successfully build a team. But if a salary cap going into affect is from ownership groups saying they can't compete with other teams in their own league...then get the f*** out and let someone in who wants to compete.

Good. This isn't a player problem, it's an ownership problem. It's going to get ugly, but I hope the players stick to their guns.

Heard Jesse on the radio on Friday talking possible Sox moves, he said for this reason, he actually doesn't think Tauchman gets moved. The FO seems to really like what Tauchman has done inside the room with a lot of the young guys that have been called up. We have no way to know if that's true or not, but I don't have any reason to doubt it...so given that he has one more year on control and where this team is at, I'm probably not moving him unless a team out there wants to really overpay for a Mike Tauchman, which I doubt.

Hard not to look at Kurtz, who was a 1B drafted 4th overall, and not compare him to Vaughn, who was drafted 3rd overall in 2019. All the talk was "You don't draft a 1B that high unless you know the bat is going to really play at an ML level" and you just see the differences in results by the organizations. The A's historically draft and develop very well....and then there is the White Sox.

It would seem stupid not to, no? Granted, even if he's good again for the Sox, no one is going to trade for him again, and it's not like you got a kings ransom the first time around...but would make sense for both the Sox and Fedde.

I don't think it's a thought, I think it's a given at this point. Not that Robert is suddenly going to be a .400 hitter with any club he goes to, but that talented players are not in a good situation with the White Sox and that classic "change of scenery" cliche holds a lot of water here. There is just too much evidence at this point to really believe otherwise. Especially as it relates to players that are still here that played under Grifol. I think A LOT of damage was done during the 2022-2024 seasons with players attitudes and culture. As we have discussed before, I don't care if you're playing professional baseball or an accountant..people go to work everyday and company culture plays a huge role for a majority of people. You come in wide-eyed and want to do your absolute best, but when everyone around you isn't putting in the effort, management doesn't give you the proper tools to succeed and your boss seems in way over his head...people check out. And it works the other way too. I don't think Andrew Vaughn is suddenly the best hitter in baseball, but you spend 5 years in a circus, then get traded 90 miles up the road to a team that has a strong foundation, players with experience winning and are in the middle of a playoff race, you adapt to that culture as well. You know you have to bring your A game every day, because being lazy or giving minimal effort isn't going to cut it here, like it did at your other place. And I'm all for personal responsibility, it's on the player to bring that level wherever they play...but we've seen in all walks of life, that always isn't the case.

I mean......the elephant in the room you leave out is what if it's a White Sox problem? Robert has not been a very productive player in 2024 and 2025. He had a very good year in 2023. He's making 15 million this season and will probably be about a 1 WAR player in 2025. He serves very little purpose for the White Sox in 2025, and this team certainly doesn't project to be very good in 2026...so an interested team probably doesn't have to give up a ton to acquire him. Now, if he's traded for very little and goes on a rampage for the team that acquired him...White Sox fans shouldn't be at all upset that their favorite team couldn't get that type of production out of him? Because clearly we haven't seen that on the South Side in two years, and doesn't seem like we're in for a prolonged stretch of Luis Robert domination. So I think both things can be absolutely true.

Is someone paying you to be here? If so, can you let me know who, because I'd love to get in on that action. If not...door is over there. Feel free to leave at anytime. We never lock it.

Honestly wonder if what Vaughn is doing in Milwaukee helps the case of Robert. Maybe getting out of Chicago cures all?

It's not about "giving up on them" because I don't think anyone has. And I think of the names you listed in that group, most will probably be somewhat positive contributors at a ML level. The problem is of that group, ideally two of them are becoming 3/4 WAR players on a season by season basis. And I don't know if we see that with them right now. There are just SO many holes to fill in this organization. As you look at things right now, almost everyone can agree 2026 is going to be another bad season. While Getz was hired in August of the 2023 season, fair to say his job really started in 2024. So 2024, 2025, 2026 were his rebuild seasons. 2027 shouldn't have the expectations of a World Series, but in normal circumstances, I'd like to think you should expect to see some vast improvements by that time. Looking at that potential roster today: C - Teel/Quero 1B - Vargas? 2B - Meidroth SS - C. Montgomery 3B - ? LF - ? CF - ? RF - B. Montgomery DH - ? SP - Shane Smith SP - Schultz SP - H. Smith SP - Burke SP - ? That's a lot of actual question marks, and is anyone in the projected lineup better than just "ok"? They just don't have the horses right now. It would take A LOT of money to fill those holes with "good" players, something ownership has simply not done.

1. A lot of words doesn’t make it a “thoughtful” post. In this case, it gave you more of an opportunity to say things that were rooted in craziness. 2. I’ll make it easy. Say MLB decided to shake things up, and said every team is getting a new GM. Each team submits a list of 5 GM’s they want, any team can select any executive they want. How many lists does Stearns make, how many does Getz make? The guy that was the GM for 4 straight playoff appearances for the Brewers and a .536 winning percentage? Or the guy currently rocking a .293 winning percentage and currently holds the distinction of being the GM behind the worst team of all-time? And to be clear, YOU made the comparison of Stearns vs. Getz. Not sure what measurement system you’re using to evaluate GM performance. I’d say I’d love to hear it, but that would be a lie.

What is happening to this place? When did everyone go insane? what are we even doing here?

Who is the current owner of the White Sox? The answer is Jerry Reinsdorf. Justin Ishbia isn’t even on the front office page on the team website. You are a colossal waste of time. A true imbecile

This is objectively false

It has nothing to do with the location of the team. It has everything to do with the people working at that location who you now report to. No one wants to sign up for that

Others have said that's crazy so I'm not going to pile on too much, but I'll present it in a little different way. Adrian Houser has been incredible for the Sox, basically a 3 WAR pitcher in 9 starts. Can't deny what he's done. Removing those 9 starts (57 innings), Houser has pitched 608 ML innings, holds a career 4.21 ERA and has a total WAR of 2.7 in his career. So in 57 innings with the White Sox, he's put up a higher WAR than his previous 608 ML innings. So with that in mind, along with him being 32 years old and being on his third team in three years..doesn't the historical evidence tell you the odds of him keeping this up seem incredibly slim? Wouldn't this be buying on him at just his absolute high point? Do you expect Houser to get better than this? And how comfortable are you paying a 35 year old Adrian Houser 20 million in 2028? Adrian Houser, to me, given where this team is at in their "rebuild" is the most clear cut, obvious trade candidate that I can remember. All of the evidence says he's not the guy you make an investment in. It's incredible what he's done and I hope he keeps it up. And maybe he's fantastic the next few years, it's possible. But he's literally pitching at a HoF level right now, I would not be comfortable paying him at that level based on the totality of data we have on Adrian Houser.

If you scroll past this video title really quick, and don't stop and read it, it can be mistaken for "We will never see the playoffs again" 😂

You just used 889 words in a topic titled " How to Fix Shane Smith and Miguel Vargas" and your conclusion was: - Miguel Vargas: I don't know how to fix him - Shane Smith: Pitch less than he is, because he's been bad Just riveting stuff.

This is the correct answer

I said all along they should have gotten creative. The Red Sox signed him to a six year, 170 million deal. The White Sox have very little salary committed to 2025, and that will most likely be the case in 2026. Pay Crochet 35 million 2025, 2026 and 2027. Ideally, in 2028, the White Sox would be putting the finishing touches on their core roster, and you've got Crochet making 21 million a season instead of 35, and he's still 28 years old. But again, the Sox would NEVER do that.

I think in any normal circumstances, the organization should have done everything in their power to keep him. He was 25 when they traded him, even in a rebuild, he's someone you should be building around. However, the White Sox don't conduct business in normal ways. I think Getz knew they weren't going to have the resources available to resign him, and my guess is Crochet didn't have much interest in being here long term. And as we sit here today, it looks like Getz did a good job in the return, but we'll see how the guys develop.

July 7th Update: Crochet - 3.5 season WAR, good for 8th place for WAR for pitchers in 2025 Smith - 0.6 WAR, good for.....way down the list. Don't think Shane Smith will be stealing any votes going from Crochet.

It's such a stupid rule. The All-Star Game should not be a participation trophy. The best of the best should be playing, not "everyone gets an invite!"

About the same amount of fans who bought tickets to see The Tim Elko Experience.