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Interesting...I don’t usually pull this card, but: I’m in the United States military (which you’ve already invoked...are you?). I was one of the first “asked” to deploy in the COVID environment in May. I was not given an option to opt out, and neither were my teammates. Had I not gone, it’s possible that the person I was to replace would have stayed much longer this his/her standard tour. I traveled on commercial air and military air that might as well have been commercial. Once I arrived, things were probably safer here than in the US, although that wasn’t clear at the time. More importantly, I left my wife and two children at home to navigate a global pandemic on their own. Had we had been given the option to opt out, I think I would have gone anyway...after all, no one volunteers for military service based on the guaranteed safety measures. Would have been a difficult decision though. But I would never, NEVER disparage a teammate for opting out when he/she had the chance. And I damn well wouldn’t talk bad about a fellow service member WHO I DIDNT EVEN KNOW about the decision he/she made. I’m confident you don’t know what it’s like to be part of a team. Because when you’re part of a team, you understand that a teammate’s personal/family life take precedence over the team. Even, when possible, when you’re a teammate in the US military. SO MUCH MORE SO than when you’re a teammate playing a game. I’m so tired of this. So many people think they have a right answer in a situation that doesn’t lend itself to right answers, then they impose their opinion (note: not right answer) on everyone who disagrees. It’s so ignorant, which is so tiring. Chaneling Jason, go puck yourself, assuming you’re a hockey fan. Otherwise...

Please be advised that inappropriate racial/group slang words such as "Injuns" are not allowed and will result in a minimum 10 day suspension. You wouldn't use the N word to describe a black person, or the R word to describe a person of special needs. Don't use this one either.

I took two years off to be present with my son during one of the most difficult times our family has been through yet. Keep talking about things you don’t know anything about. ?

Ignorance at its finest here.

I second this. Green Line is one of the worst recent posters in Soxtalk history.

So you are an awful teammate if you opt out during a pandemic, comimg off of an injury, have mental heath issues, are expecting a child, and going through a divorce. A good high school or little league teammate, whatever level you are “coaching”, would never even miss a practice because the team comes before anything else. Let me be the first to write, I am glad I don’t have a kid on your team. And the WhiteSox making the playoffs for the first time in 12 years are making personnel moves to send Kopech a message. Can there be a hotter take than that?

Because some people believe that baseball players are only there for their entertainment and not actual human beings.

Maybe Soxtalk should consider a new policy preventing children under the age of 14 to be allowed on the site.

Sometimes, I think "Ron is ok." Today is not one of those days.

OK rick I see you:

Just wait till Cooper makes him throw 93 with a cutter

Rick Hahn right now.

You should, though.

She's still in a vulnerable situation were I'd imagine Kopech would not want to heighten his chances of passing her COVID. Kopech made his choice and he did it early enough where I don't think it is accurate to say he "quit" on the team. Opting out was his choice like every other players' before the restart. I still think the kid needs some good advice in his life but he doesn't owe us fans anything. He does owe it to himself to get hid mind right and imo he has maturing to do as a person.

Fact check: Yup, he did quit on the team. Regular people don't get to take a year off of work because they're getting divorced.

Not a big deal especially for a guy with his height. Pitchers used to be taught to keep the knee flexed that way like Tom seaver. Nolan Ryan was more like the way crochet throws. Mostly today they like to teach posting up with the leg and crochet does get there after the flex in the knee. I dont imagine too many people will have issues with it since he does finish off with the post and spin in the Mike Marshall philosophy. From an injury stan point there is a lot less stress going through to leg, pelvis and spine with the muscle of the knee absorbing some of the force.

We definitely sent down Mendick to send a message to Kopech.

Pregaming at the Revolution Brew Pub. While I hope pregame Thunderstruck is a permanent casualty of COVID, because well, 15 years and AC/DC, Revolution’s imperial stout Thundertaker is very good. Calle, a sippy cup sweet Hazy Citrus Line pour. Thundertaker, a Barrel Aged Imperial Rye Stout. As close as I’ll get to the Revolution tap room in Comiskey Park II this season, or the Goose Island section for that matter. Go White Sox!

For a guy who hated the idea of rebuilds, greg sure has rebuilt his reputation here quite a bit over the last year.

You're a tremendous slouch Judge.

Too many people feel that way about all athletes.

I don't even care anymore. He quit on the team.

Too bad this bum decided to take the year off. He would be a great asset right about now.

Last year, I was not sure about whether the Sox should extend Jose...then I saw the story of Abreu's Amigos and what he does with those developmentally disadvantaged youngsters. The story showed Jose interacting with them with such love. At the end of that story, I was very sad at the prospect that Jose might not be a White Sox for his whole career. Jose Abreu is such a genuine guy who works his butt off and leads this club by example. I am so happy at the outstanding season he has had to really show how vital his extension was to the success of this ballclub.

Madrigal Vaughn Grandal D.K. Welcome to the future boys.

I cant believe he can generate that much velocity while short arming his mechanics like that. He never straightens out his elbow past 90. It cant be easy on the shoulder but it hides the ball really well until he almost releases it. To the hitters it has to look even faster than the 101. If he can throw his slider for strikes he could be unhittable. I dont know how he would generate the spin though.

how did crochet fall to 11th in the draft. highway robbery. he's the aaron judge of pitchers.

I can see why they drafted him.

I think Sale lasting as long as he did without elbow issues is encouraging. It's good to know that his floor is probably a setup man/closer in case he can't start.

This night just got so so much better.

That's a whole lot of unproven outside of the top 2. Unless you can find a stud rf in free agency(you can't), you absolutely use your capital to bring in Bauer and let the youngins fight it out for the final 2 spots because that's the only place to use your resources. If you have an abundance of young staring pitching then you can use 1 or 2 to bring in a long term solution for rf.

Have been critical of Hahn in general, including worrying about 2027 having Biggie Smalls Madrigal playing video games to start the season in Schaumburg, but like the use of internal resources with the Stiever and Crotchet callups. Kudos to Hahn for recognizing the moment and preparing for possibilities, be it closing out the season and or having standbys on hand for the postseason. Props also for all of the under the radar picks and development of said pitchers such as Matt Foster.

How did you get out of the basement? Who left the door unlocked?

Also, assuming he debuts this year: 12 rookie debuts. On a first place in the AL team. In year one of the contention window. Damn it feels good.

I'm 100% in favor of this move though if they were willing to call him up I wish they could have done it earlier in the month, give him a long look prior to the playoffs, he's exactly the type of reliever that could dominate a playoff series.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit *wwe chant* You're the man, Greg!

Greg with the boom hammer.

This is not a good take. You feelings about locker room mentality do not hold water this season because of COVID. MLB and NBA and some other sports are make believe cause of the kind of cash these players make. For a guy to sit out and pass up this kind of money, that in itself means it's serious. His teammates will be fine with him and welcome him back. For one this is the age of COVID .You wanna opt out; you opt out! Second if there are family issues or mental issues you opt out. If anybody complains they are the ones with the problem. As far as him getting a ring if the Sox won it all ... teams give rings to a lot of people. I remember reading some former Chiefs player got a ring in the mail the other day. So no harm in giving MK a ring if Sox win it. Players don't wear those huge rings much anyway; they put them away for keeping in a display box.

Full disclosure here: I was a terrible athlete. I played on two state championship teams in high school playing football and I coach high school football and junior high track and field. This is an absolute trash take. What Kopech did was fine and his teammates understand.

Damn it. Hahn gave up on an elite talent too soon AGAIN.

Thats rude

Conveniently ignoring the fact that Kopech has a newborn child.

He needs to start hitting more than singles. If not, bye bye

13-11 pre yolmer 19-6 post yolmer signing Yolmer is the real mvp of this team edit...now 20-6 with yolmer. Clearly the right move was sending mendick down. You can all start apologizing now.

He also leads the team in walks, and is third on the team (behind TA and just behind Jose) with a VERY good .357 OBP. This team desperately needed guys who can get on base and see pitches. It also desperately needed some balance. Yasmani provides both. As a big supporter of bringing Grandal on board, I won’t sit here and say I am tickled with his performance this year. But this is who Grandal is and always has been. An elite OBP switch hitting catcher who is also an above average framer and receiver. People who were expecting him to hit .280+ and not strike out a lot frankly just didn’t know his game very well.

Great link. Nick breathes nothing but baseball. Love it. " It would start the night before, with Madrigal laying out his uniform and massaging his glove with oil." I have a very similar routine but something else I oil up.

I love my nickname of Thick Madrigal