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In other words those of you who think Mookie Betts is a legitimate option - stop.

These videos are incredible. This rabbit hole is going to be DEEP. Also, I just asked around... they stopped using the banging method after Farquhar caught on to them

Those two whales are not fucking.

My realistic offseason: sign stratsburg ( 370M / 4 years ) sign Rendon ( 422M / 8 years ) sign Wheeler for ( 217M / 5 years ) sign Grandal ( 145M / 3 years ) trade Fernando Tatis JR. from San Diego for Mookie Betts to our Sox. ... Lineup ... CF - Robert 2B - Moncada RF - Betts LF - Eloy 3B - Rendon 1B - Abreu C - Grandal SS - Anderson DH - Madrigal SP1 - Stratsburg SP2 - Giolito SP3 - Wheeler SP4 - Cease SP5 - Lopez / Kopech *Important note... make each contract above be for $1.00 a year for the first two years and then in 2023 file for bankruptcy protection*

Would have been awesome if he added something like 'We'll see if they come to play' and dared Jerry to do something.

This is bad. I'm one of the hosts in Houston on the Astros' flagship station, Sports Talk 790's morning show. I went off today about how bad this is and it's bullshit. Astros fans all say the same dumb shit. I don't like this at all. If the White Sox did this I'd be tearing them apart. Astros fans are just making stupid excuses or acting like it doesn't matter.

I wrote about Zack Wheeler today if anyone is interested: https://southsidehitpen.com/2019/11/12/picks-to-click-free-agent-starters/

Hahaha yeah they played me I just wanted to hype up this thread. Hoping for JDM, Grandal, Rendon, Wheeler, Betances But highly doubt it happens

Imagine needing to cheat against the 2017 White Sox. ?

Excellent contribution

No, unless you offer to pay an extra 100 million on top of that 260 when a player meets the incentive of playing 182 games in Chicago per season on Thursdays after doubleheaders played on Tuesday AND Wednesday.

Look who's back.

Let’s hope! After all, Jose is the team leader in the clubhouse for a reason. The more players the Sox have who comport themselves the way Jose has all these years, with his work ethic and positive attitude, the better the team’s chances.

Astros sign Cole, trade Greinke

Hard to really trust anything Boras says pertaining to negotiations and signings. The piece about how the sox are viewed was interesting and not necessary.

If this is true and signings actually happen by the end of the calendar year (roughly), that would be fantastic.

I've barely been active here for a couple months because I'm trying to avoid a repeat of last offseason. But I'm sort of with you, all the buzz this week is bringing me back. Not expecting Cole/Stras/Rendon types, but cautiously optimistic that the money will be spent.

Hit .316 in the ALDS, .412 in the world series, 1.112 OPS in the series. Was awful in the ALCS but was good to really good in the other 2 series. Whether he's getting electronic help is a different question.

What do you expect from a fanbase that called Lunhow a genious for acquiring a wife beater? Or how they gave Guerriel a standing ovation after his Darvish taunting and racist comments? They are the worst, not sure if its a geolocation thing or what.

If (big if, because its not going to happen) the Sox move Moncada to RF full time because they signed Rendon, by the time FA rolls around, he isn't going to be an option at 3B any longer, because he will have played OF full time for a half decade. I would think Moncada has more value as an infielder than an outfielder, but again, this is all moot because the Sox aren't moving Moncada to the OF, even if he COULD do it.

That’s about what has been in my head, too.

I would think they'd want one of Cease, Madrigal or Vaughn, to start. Which is why it should be a HARD PASS.

Rosenthal reporting Mariners are willing to trade Haniger.

Don't waste resources via trade. Free agency is better if a team is smart enough. Oh wait, did I just say that?

Yep, good point. Also they should give the white sox all the astros draft picks.

The White Sox trading for a guy with 1 year of control that will require giving up any notable pieces of the MLB club or prospects is beyond idiotic. Trading a spare prospect part of two for Joc Pederson is one thing. Trading Madrigal +++++ for Betts is quite another.

I would agree. But I would wait for FA and take a shot at him. I would assume the trade pieces for Betts, even for 1 year, would be very pricey

The Houston Asteriks

To be clear, I think it's serious too. I have been saying that we could expect a punishment as serious as Atlanta received. Frankly, it's hard to see how that would not serve as a precedent, because while serious in itself in that it may have seriously injured some other teams international pools - it's hard to believe that if they find Luhnow knew of this system (har har) that he wouldn't be in deep. I think it may be very likely he is forced out of baseball. That's a big deal.

Jon Gray

They also want to get paid market value.

This isn't even including the weird shit like an Astros employee caught video taping Clevelands dugout during the ALCS, the weird security guards that were constantly in Bostons bullpen checking their monitors. It's actually extremely deep already.

It's actually more than 1 pitch. They were doing 2 knocks for changeup 1 knock for breaking ball No knocks for FB They essentially removed half of the offensive side of the game. This is just what we know after less than a day. I am SURE they had a system on the road too.

ThIs level of coordinating cheating should have unprecedented consequences. I’m talking a loss of draft picks / LatAm bonus pool dollars, significant player suspensions, and possibly even lifetime bans for the coach & GM or whoever the ringmaster ultimately was. The integrity of the game is at a stake and the Astros need to be made an example of.

Everyone watch how blatant this shit is.

No it's not. I didn't want to link it because I don't know what the rules are. And Yes. The whistling in the WS is pretty damning, and it's the same thing the Yankees accused them of this year.

Shoeless Joe Jackson was banned for life from baseball for doing nothing wrong. I think he hit .375 in the WS with 12 hits and good defense. They called the 1919 team the Black Sox but other teams were cheating with regularity back then. So maybe similar to the cheating that was rampant back then, teams are now stealing signs with the aid of cameras or taking other steps to cheat. Winning has become a be all and end all in our society, but that is another story.. Anyway, anticipating the speed and/or location of a pitch (by improper means) changes the game in an insidious way that is insulting to fans of the game on many levels. While MLB addresses this issue, smart pitchers and catchers should become even more aware of this possibility and take further steps to thwart the cheaters.

lol I remember you...You were the guy that kept telling us to “get ready” for the Machado signing last year!

Welp, I’m ready to be hurt again. All aboard the hope train toot toot

Temper your expectations......This is more in line with what Bruuuuuce is saying

Nice of you to remember :). I wouldn't call myself a W'sox fan, but this board is the best board for offseason talk. Padres didn't do it for me, I ended up more of a Rays fan, but honestly, I don't really follow any personal team right now. Just enjoying MLB the Show.

Castellanos old?

Shocking that a young player would not want to be relegated to DH. I'm shocked.

“Bunt? Again? They must be on to us, no one can be this stupid”

Imagine stealing signs from the 2017 White Sox.

Farquhar is a super smart dude, and the Astros are really outing themselves as an uber gross organization.

It depends on which of his two teams you are referring to. He gets an A for helping to build the Padres and a C- for his overall work with the White Sox.

Yolmer will be resigned simply to be the court jester for big name FAs. He will come out on a unicycle while juggling bowling pins and put on a show for Rendon and others.