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3/1/2026 - Sox @ Cubs, 2:05pm - Kay v. Imanaga - radio - ESPN 1000


WestEddy

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4 hours ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Antonacci is the most exciting revelation of spring by far imo. 

I would give him the job over meidroth. The questions he had were all around getting to power with + EV's which he's now shown he can do.

I might be getting crazy, but his path reminds me so much of Jose Ramirez with the difference being Antonacci never had the down year. Elite contact and zone rates, but questions on growing into power. We obviously know what happened when he did.

Spring doesnt matter for almost anything, but for EV's it's very meaningful. 

109.5 and 107.1 this spring. Also another ball at 101. It's the peak that matters though.

I don’t think he’ll break camp with the team but I think he can certainly take the 2B job later.

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11 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Why though?  Who would keep over him?

For a brief moment before games started, I thought that if Acuña, Pereira, Kelenic and Hays all started out gangbusters, a short trip to AAA for Baldwin could help sort through the embarrassment of riches early in the season. But Kelenic looks like just a guy, and Pereira could take weeks before he's playing in games, which puts Baldwin squarely on the roster. 

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4 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

James Fox had a tweet quoting Juiced Levine to that effect. 

I definitely believe the CF part.  I am far more skeptical of the top of the order part.  I think he’s clearly in the 8 or 9 hole until he demonstrates some ability to hit MLB pitching and get on base at a reasonable level.  Until then, I fully expect Chase & Teel to be our #1 & #2 hitters.

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31 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Has anyone but Levine said the above, especially the top of the order part?

mlb.com merkin had him at CF and second to meidroth

maybe depends on pitcher handedness

 

"fast guys must hit at top of the order" lol

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2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I definitely believe the CF part.  I am far more skeptical of the top of the order part.  I think he’s clearly in the 8 or 9 hole until he demonstrates some ability to hit MLB pitching and get on base at a reasonable level.  Until then, I fully expect Chase & Teel to be our #1 & #2 hitters.

I think he's hit as high as maybe 5th in one of his games?  But yeah, he's a 7-9 guy until he's putting up numbers. 

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5 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I definitely believe the CF part.  I am far more skeptical of the top of the order part.  I think he’s clearly in the 8 or 9 hole until he demonstrates some ability to hit MLB pitching and get on base at a reasonable level.  Until then, I fully expect Chase & Teel to be our #1 & #2 hitters.

The only way I can see him towards the top is against lefties.

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4 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said:

Even though it doesn't count it's always nice to beat the Cubs. 

The White Sox started the last two spring seasons 3-8 and 3-9. It's also nice to see a way that this team could improve this season. 

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2 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

For a brief moment before games started, I thought that if Acuña, Pereira, Kelenic and Hays all started out gangbusters, a short trip to AAA for Baldwin could help sort through the embarrassment of riches early in the season. But Kelenic looks like just a guy, and Pereira could take weeks before he's playing in games, which puts Baldwin squarely on the roster. 

The thing is Kelenic is on a minor league deal and can simply go to AAA.  Forcing him onto the OD roster is not actually protecting him.  IMO, I want him down in AAA for a month or two and see how he hits.  Call him up when you believe his chances of success are higher and when he’ll have access to regular at-bats.

As for the makeup the bench, if you assume CF is Acuna, LF is Benintendi, and DH is Quero (I think him and Andrew split the DH role), that leaves four spots without requiring us carrying a third catcher.  Additionally, there are four players without options in Sosa, Mead, Pereira, & Lee plus you have Hill on a two way contract.

All the bubble guys are RH hitters and it seems incredibly unlikely we rock a fully RH bench and don’t have at least one more guy to rotate in who bats LF.  And while Hill can play a hell of a CF, he gives you no platoon advantage at the spot when paired with Acuna.  The same applies for Pereira but without the plus glove there.  Given how good of a hitter Baldwin is and his ability to play CF, I just can’t see an argument for not keeping him on this roster from an optimization standpoint.

From a protection standpoint, I don’t see a need to protect Hill at all as I think he’d clear waivers and is more of an insurance policy anyways if the young kids don’t work out and/or get hurt.  If you keep Sosa (which we will), I don’t see how Mead even gets access to playing time.  He’s simply too redundant so putting him on the OD roster won’t help his value.  The same applies to Lee but at least there another team’s backup catcher could get injured in May and make him tradable.  I do think we should keep Periera given our question marks in the OF, but you can do that while also rostering both Sosa & Baldwin and one of Mead or Lee.

I just don’t see the roster crunch that requires Baldwin starting in AAA and that’s before any injuries happen and make this entire debate pointless.

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3 hours ago, Timmy U said:

Tanner Murray is doing nothing but impress this Spring. He has options, but he might make this roster.

Murray's better than Mead (comparison as both are the products of oddball trades with the Rays).

I can't see keeping Kelenic around if he isn't hitting.  What's the real upside there to make him worth the wait?
If there was a tangible/discernable reason why Wade was so bad last year, that makes him interesting than just a Charlotte player.
Benintendi is the culprit in all of this....really the FO that signed him...we still owe him for 40% of his contract!

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30 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I just don’t see the roster crunch that requires Baldwin starting in AAA and that’s before any injuries happen and make this entire debate pointless.

I don't either. My reasoning has always been that if all of Acuña, Pereira, Hays and Kelenic are OPSing 2.500 at the end of camp that would be a situation where they could use Baldwin's option to sort out the roster into the season. Obviously, that fantasy scenario won't be happening. All of Acuña, Pereira and Benintendi have been injured in the first 11 games, and Kelenic hasn't hit the field like a man among boys, so I would think Baldwin has an OF spot that's his to lose. 

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11 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Murray's better than Mead (comparison as both are the products of oddball trades with the Rays).

I can't see keeping Kelenic around if he isn't hitting.  What's the real upside there to make him worth the wait?
If there was a tangible/discernable reason why Wade was so bad last year, that makes him interesting than just a Charlotte player.
Benintendi is the culprit in all of this....really the FO that signed him...we still owe him for 40% of his contract!

Murray has options and should start the season in AAA.  But he’s another guy who can offer some of the RH power off the bench that does Sosa does, but with much more defensive versatility and value.

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1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

mlb.com merkin had him at CF and second to meidroth

maybe depends on pitcher handedness

 

"fast guys must hit at top of the order" lol

Nothing like having your two least impactful hitters getting the most at bats

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10 minutes ago, GreenSox said:

Murray's better than Mead (comparison as both are the products of oddball trades with the Rays).

I can't see keeping Kelenic around if he isn't hitting.  What's the real upside there to make him worth the wait?
If there was a tangible/discernable reason why Wade was so bad last year, that makes him interesting than just a Charlotte player.
Benintendi is the culprit in all of this....really the FO that signed him...we still owe him for 40% of his contract!

I think the entire positional player side of the roster is mostly wrapped up. One of Lee, Mead or Pereira won't make the team. 

C - Teel, Quero
IF - Murakami, Meidroth, C. Montgomery, Vargas, Sosa
OF - Benintendi, Hays, Acuña, Baldwin

There's 2 spots left. Lee, Mead and Pereira are all out of options. If Pereira is healthy and hitting, he most probably makes the team. So, 3 catchers, or a backup 2B? Tanner Murray would have to either force Meidroth to the minors, or another DFA/trade. 

Somebody previously mentioned Murray as a backup SS, and they already have Acuña, Meidroth and Baldwin who can back up short for a few innings. 

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Re the game today, Hicks got hit hard.  2 Singles and a lineout for DP.  it's early of course; but Sox have him for 2 seasons.

I will confess that I enjoyed today's broadcast; prefer this group to the regular Cubs crew (and Sox crew for that matter).
Hire some women broadcasters, JR!

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1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Why though?  Who would keep over him?

Everson Pereira. Baldwin had some issues catching fly balls last season in LF and I just wonder if he has proven he can defend a much larger field in Center.

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If Everson Pereira is the starting CFer and Acuna, Sosa and/or Ant are options to play 2B, what do the Sox do with Meidroth ? I guess it may take a few months to iron those decisions out. Ant is one player who is really gunning for a roster spot. Max effort.

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12 minutes ago, tray said:

If Everson Pereira is the starting CFer and Acuna, Sosa and/or Ant are options to play 2B, what do the Sox do with Meidroth ? I guess it may take a few months to iron those decisions out. Ant is one player who is really gunning for a roster spot. Max effort.

Antonacci really would have to keep this up for three more weeks.

Still think he's targeted for the minors...at least for the first half of the season.

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