2/23/2026 - Sox @ Rockies - 2:10; Smith v. Lorenzen

[fathom]

5 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Then he should be traded.  Thinking him being used as a backup catcher for a season will somehow increase his value is crazy.  If Quero doesn’t get 400+ PA’s somewhere then I’ll be pushing for Getz to lose his job.

Only way he gets 400 at bats is if Teel gets hurt

[chitownsportsfan]

6 minutes ago, fathom said:

The Sox would love for Kelenic to win the starting spot and let Baldwin be a utility guy 

Baldwin is 2 years younger than Kelenic and had a 92 wRC+ compared to Kelenic's 47 last year. The idea the Sox are hoping Kelenic wins the job seems farfetched to me. Baldwin is the better player, regardless of (now long gone) draft pedigree.

Edited 10 hours ago by chitownsportsfan

[Chicago White Sox]

4 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Never giving him an extended run at one spot against both rh and lh starting pitching.

He was mostly a regular after July 1st and used primarily within the OF during that time.  He sat against some lefties but that’s not really that unusual for a first year player.  Seems like you are trying to shape the facts to fit a narrative that isn’t really true.

[Chicago White Sox]

6 minutes ago, fathom said:

The Sox would love for Kelenic to win the starting spot and let Baldwin be a utility guy 

According to who?

[Chicago White Sox]

6 minutes ago, fathom said:

Only way he gets 400 at bats is if Teel gets hurt

Then Getz should resign for asset mismanagement.  Really hope that isn’t the plan.

[Chicago White Sox]

4 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Baldwin is 2 years younger than Kelenic and had a 92 wRC+ compared to Kelenic's 47 last year. The idea the Sox are hoping Kelenic wins the job seems farfetched to me. Baldwin is the better player, regardless of (now long gone) draft pedigree.

I’m sure the Sox are hoping Kelenic somehow achieves his former top 5 prospect potential, but not sure why anyone would expect any sort of outcome like that at this time.  He was legit awful last year.  Meanwhile, Baldwin put a 119 wRC+ in the second half of 2025 (his first season), which is better than Kelenic’s best season by nine points.  I’m just blown away by these Kelenic & Baldwin takes.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

15 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Based on what?  What have the Sox said or signaled that suggests a lack of faith in Baldwin?  I keep hearing this narrative and have yet to find anything substantial backing it.

Especially since I just got done telling him Venable gave him a big vote of confidence at Soxfest. 

[WestEddy]

12 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I’m sure the Sox are hoping Kelenic somehow achieves his former top 5 prospect potential, but not sure why anyone would expect any sort of outcome like that at this time.  He was legit awful last year.  Meanwhile, Baldwin put a 119 wRC+ in the second half of 2025 (his first season), which is better than Kelenic’s best season by nine points.  I’m just blown away by these Kelenic & Baldwin takes.

I suppose I give more weight to the way the Sox rolled out Kelenic's signing, and the way they're talking about him. I don't disagree with your take that Kelenic should start the season in AAA and get his mind right out of the spotlight. I just think he's got a real shot to make the team with a strong spring and an air of maturity. 

[WestEddy]

Will Venable told me Colson Montgomery was not feeling well after his workout this morning. He wanted to play but Will and his staff thought at this point in the year, it was better for him to get hydrated and recover. #whitesox

— Brooke Fletcher (@BrookeFletcher) February 23, 2026

[Chicago White Sox]

13 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I suppose I give more weight to the way the Sox rolled out Kelenic's signing, and the way they're talking about him. I don't disagree with your take that Kelenic should start the season in AAA and get his mind right out of the spotlight. I just think he's got a real shot to make the team with a strong spring and an air of maturity. 

I don’t disagree that the Sox have been elevating his status beyond the typical NRI and obviously have higher hopes for him than me.  But I also think people have come to this conclusion that the Sox have soured on Baldwin for reasons unknown.

[WestEddy]

3 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I don’t disagree that the Sox have been elevating his status beyond the typical NRI and obviously have higher hopes for him than me.  But I also think people have come to this conclusion that the Sox have soured on Baldwin for reasons unknown.

Oh yeah. That's ridiculous. Baldwin's a great asset. I think they don't want to nail him down in one single position. And yes, they're stocking up on OF options, the same thing they did in the infield. 

[Autumn Dreamin]

20 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I don’t disagree that the Sox have been elevating his status beyond the typical NRI and obviously have higher hopes for him than me.  But I also think people have come to this conclusion that the Sox have soured on Baldwin for reasons unknown.

A couple NRI's get talked up every spring, and people read way too much into it every time. Last year the narrative was that the Sox hated Sosa/Meidroth/other in house IFs and were going to do everything possible to force Brandon Drury on the roster because they talked about his potential and experience and whatever.

And then Drury had an excellent spring (1.260 OPS) and still took exactly 0 ABs for your 2025 White Sox.

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

5 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

A couple NRI's get talked up every spring, and people read way too much into it every time. Last year the narrative was that the Sox hated Sosa/Meidroth/other in house IFs and were going to do everything possible to force Brandon Drury on the roster because they talked about his potential and experience and whatever.

And then Drury had an excellent spring (1.260 OPS) and still took exactly 0 ABs for your 2025 White Sox.

To be clear, the Sox did hate Sosa for all intents and purposes. 

I agree though, kelenic is washed and shouldn't be taking anything from anyone. 

I would also take Baldwin over him, but Baldwin needs to get a good bit better out there before I call him an actual outfieldee

[Bob Sacamano]

4 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

To be clear, the Sox did hate Sosa for all intents and purposes. 

I agree though, kelenic is washed and shouldn't be taking anything from anyone. 

I would also take Baldwin over him, but Baldwin needs to get a good bit better out there before I call him an actual outfieldee

And he should go out there and play in what is likely a lost season anyway.

[T R U]

9 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

A couple NRI's get talked up every spring, and people read way too much into it every time. Last year the narrative was that the Sox hated Sosa/Meidroth/other in house IFs and were going to do everything possible to force Brandon Drury on the roster because they talked about his potential and experience and whatever.

And then Drury had an excellent spring (1.260 OPS) and still took exactly 0 ABs for your 2025 White Sox.

If Drury hadn’t gotten hurt he would have been on the opening day roster

[southsider2k5]

2 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

And he should go out there and play in what is likely a lost season anyway.

This right here.  Unless there is a huge outplay in ST, Baldwin should be on the opening day roster, clearly.

[fathom]

47 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I suppose I give more weight to the way the Sox rolled out Kelenic's signing, and the way they're talking about him. I don't disagree with your take that Kelenic should start the season in AAA and get his mind right out of the spotlight. I just think he's got a real shot to make the team with a strong spring and an air of maturity. 

Sox have loved Kelenic for years.  No one would be happier than them if he dominates ST and starts opening day.

[BamaDoc]

Is this the game thread?  Smith doesn't make it out of the first.  25 pitches.  Hope just bad day

[wegner]

5 minutes ago, BamaDoc said:

Is this the game thread?  Smith doesn't make it out of the first.  25 pitches.  Hope just bad day

I always hope with pitchers who basically have a spot set on the team, that they are just working on stuff when they have a bad outing/spring

[WestEddy]

Well, Kelenic ain't making the team with groundouts like that. 

[BamaDoc]

The magic of spring training, Smith back in bottom of second.

[chitownsportsfan]

13 minutes ago, BamaDoc said:

The magic of spring training, Smith back in bottom of second.

Did they put that rule in recently?

[DoUEvenShift]

6 minutes ago, chitownsportsfan said:

Did they put that rule in recently?

I think it started during Covid IIRC

[Autumn Dreamin]

Early rest for Beni after a part of hard hit doubles in his first two ABs

[DoUEvenShift]