Leaderboard

My wife who has asthma, had an appointment for March 6th. Her doctor called her this morning and asked her if she wanted a shot today. She is there now. I am so thrilled.

Love this piece. He didn't just sign for the money, even if the money was critical to the process. Colome was an effective closer for us, but he didn't strike me as a team-leader type. I think Hendriks is the kind of guy who will help lead the entire bullpen to shut teams down.

My favorite quote from the article:

My brother in law and I will probably be the last people of my immediate family to get it since he works for a brewery and I work in insurance. I signed up through DuPage for when my time is ready and I will probably do so through my doctor’s office as well. My wife is a teacher on maternity leave caring for our son until August, I told her not to miss this phase since she could probably get the vaccine real soon if she signs up. The other person I really want to get vaccinated is my 72 year old aunt who doesn’t leave her apartment much except for appointments or for groceries. Thankfully the rest of my immediate family (except for my wife’s immediate family) are vaccinated. Can’t wait for all of us to be vaccinated.

It means 30 teams wouldn't guarantee him money. If I think I am suddenly healed and back to my 27 year old self, I can think of more desirable places to show that than behind Grandal. I hope the guy is great but the odds are overwhelming he is a 0.0 WAR player.

I will say that in that 2019, I would have preferred Yermin getting those at bats over Alonso, Reed, Skole, etc. But I would have preferred Collins getting those at bats over Yermin.

Getting my first shot tomorrow. Originally was supposed to be Moderna, but we were just informed it will be Pfizer. Happy to get the ball rolling.

No way Kopech is on this team opening day. This is one of the times you want the extra year of control and it’s actually in the best interest of everyone to do it.

You youngsters might not recall that LaRussa invented the second leadoff guy in the nine spot. Julio Cruz.

I recently sent in an item for a private signing for Aaron Rowand, and it got me thinking, what are some of your favorite pieces of memorabilia that you have from the 2005 World Series team? Here is mine. Got this back in 2016 at a signing at Jewel. https://twitter.com/patrickhoward50/status/1361398309143855112?s=21

Totally agree with a floor, especially when some of these teams are doubling their revenue via revenue sharing yet still not even trying to compete. I wouldn't see an issue with the cap bottom being the bottom teams revenue for a year minus 10 percent but how do we eve find out what that is???? Oh yeah we won't. However, an article in Forbes in 2019 said the central shared revenue was $2.76 billion or about $92 million per team before local revenues and other profit sharing by market. There is zero reason there shouldn't be a minimum cap at $100 million. I don't care if you want an upper cap but it needs to be at about $250 million then because teams that draw 3 million should be able to spend more than a team that brings in 900,000 and just pockets the rest. This will never happen because the owners don't want a floor and the players don't want a cap https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2019/04/10/baseball-team-values-2019-yankees-lead-league-at-46-billion/?sh=52d7a3fd69b2

Right there with you. Will take the summer extreme over this always.

Of course you would draw that conclusion when I told you I'm not pretending he is something he isn't and when I also said 9 out of 10 times players are exactly what they appear to be. A quick 1 liner for yucks that completely ignores everything I said. That's how people usually respond when a well thought out argument calls what they say ridiculous only I was polite enough to state my case unlike you. The Road Not Taken By Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

So your argument is that Yermin Mercedes is a once in a generation player, with just one major league AB and no defensive position. Pass.

I have a framed picture of the team celebrating on the mound in Houston and I spent 2 years going to card shows and autograph signings to get everyone to sign it. I even have Reisdorf and Gene Honda on there. The only autograph I do not have is John Rooney, and he's said he will sign it if I come to St. Louis, just haven't had the foresight to do it yet.

First, I preface by saying Grandal's a great catcher, one of the best, that's obvious. But it seems the Sox catching valuation process has been a little odd the last 2 years. Both Yermin & Collins had shown in MiLB that they were ready to compete for a job in 2020; both having very good 2019 O & D #'s, Zack had his troubles in his 2019 call up but still deserved to be in the mix again. McCann also had his breakout 2019. So the 3 of them formed a pretty good trifecta with lots of potential & at the least, adequate. But instead the Sox do this kneejerk reaction and sign Grandal. That was a real head scratcher for me at the time. They basically thumbed their noses at all 3 of them. That $18m could have been spent much smarter by re-uping McCann for 2-3 years relatively cheaply and spending the rest elsewhere. Then both Yermin and Zack would have had a much fairer chance to compete and prove if they were worthy. All the while, the dropoff from Grandal/McCann to McCann/Collins/Yermin would not have been that impactful with an extra $12-13m spent elsewhere (after a McCann signing). We had bigger needs elsewhere particularly with all the TJ's going on, and still do. Even if they didn't spend it and hung on to it for this offseason, think of how they could have used it. Like I said, I like Grandal but I'll never understand his signing in that moment. I4 s as if they lost site in what they had and went for a big splash event instead.

That's the whole point . What was he before that breakout season ? Before that season he had 245 ML PA's . After it he had a little over 800 AB's so don't use your words to make it seem like he had close to 1000 PA's before that breakout season. He did well in 3 partial season while Seattle couldn't find him much playing time. He was set back to the minors . Yes he played 3rd base in the early part of his career. For 3 years playing 3rd he put up great seasons but the next 2 years he had some injuries . By 1995 he was a full time DH at the age of 32. Anyway it's not ridiculous to think that the Sox missed an opportunity to see what they had. 9 out of 10 time you find you have nothing. I'm not here to pretend Yermin is something he isn't. Practically everyone here didn't see 2020 as a contention year. The young pitchers were still injured and not developing. With a little foresight you give Yermin some PT in 2019 and maybe you find out he can hit ML pitching. Then in 2020 maybe there's no need to get Encarnacion. There really wasn't a need to get him anyway. I was against that signing. The Sox weren't winning anything with him doing well or lousy. I'm pretty sure you didn't see 2020 as a contention year. Look beyond what's right in front of your face for a moment. Maybe the Sox spend money on more pitching instead of EE . Maybe Yermin hits good as the DH. Maybe then the Sox are playing so well , they actually do pick up someone at the trade deadline and go a lot farther in the playoffs. And now they have a good DH more pitching to enter the off season. Sometimes what a team doesn't do can change things as much as what they do. I don't need a dose of your "he is what he is". I heard that often enough with McCann and also with Mazara. Mostly "he is what he is" is true but when it isn't it can start a chain of events that could change a team's fortune. Just like the Tatis trade probably has.

I really do not get the whole non-masking thing. What is the issue with wearing a mask it is the height of stupidity. I find it insanely baffling.

Probably because the station has been in cost cutting mode and spring games don't bring many viewers so it isn't worth the cost. Probably when Covid passes, they will show a lot more games when thei finances are back in order.

Fair to share it's probably Reinsdorfs fault.

March 14...27 days, 3 hours, 6 minutes. Not that I'm counting.

Cause this team failed to address the SP depth and sign someone they could plug into the 5th starter role to be a bridge for Kopech.

Why the fuck are we bending over backwards to pencil in some Rodon starts? He's on a middle relief salary and has a middle relief arm. Come on.

Hit tool is usually what it comes down to. They can talk to one guy who thinks he's Darryl Strawberry and another who says he's Jake Gatewood. Some guys just don't like long levered hitters. Either way he's a guy you have to log lots and lots of AB's on.

If Lucroy is in the opening day lineup then this off-season was even more of a disaster than I initially thought.

I always say this in reply - I hate using Mr. offday as the 5th starter in a normal year more than a couple times all year. This year, coming off a season where guys' innings and arm work went completely haywire, you should really want to keep a 5 man rotation and give your starters the extra day of rest.

My OD Lineup: SP Giolito 1. Anderson SS, 2. Moncada* 3B, 3. Abreu 1B, 4. Jimenez LF, 5, Robert CF, 6. Grandal* C, 7. Engel RF, 8. Vaughn DH, 9. Madrigal 2B Crony La Russa's OD Lineup: SP Lynn 1. Madrigal 2B, 2. Eaton^ RF, 3. Abreu DH ,4. Jimenez LF, 5. Grandal* 1B, 6. Anderson SS, 7. Moncada* 3B, 8. LuCroy C, 9. Robert CF,

I'd skip the 5th spot when there's an off-day too. Looks like you'll need that 5th guy three times in April unless the weather comes into play. If you want to get him (Rodon?) some work just use him in a long man fashion as that'll lessen the need to use Lopez.

This would be my lineup too. Anderson is the table setter for the whole offense. Has great speed. Will continue to get better. Moncada is #2 so you don't need any kind of platoon, and no reliever will gain an advantage. Abreu is the MVP. Jimenez is the heir apparent to Abreu's role. Bats behind him in case Abreu is out or walks. Grandal is the second lefty/switch hitter. High on base percentage. Vaughn/Collins. Vaughn will also be a high OBP guy, with less power and speed than Robert, which is why I put him here. Robert. At some point he'll have to move up. But for now, I like his HR power cleaning up the high OBP guys ahead, and his speed ahead of the two guys with the least power on the team. I expect LaRussa to use the speed of Robert, Eaton/Engel, Madrigal, and Anderson to disrupt pitchers. Eaton/Engel. With Madrigal it's like a second lead-off group to bring the order around to Anderson. Madrigal. He's not easy to get out. Can hit-and-run with Eaton or Engel. Having the 4 fastest players grouped together gives the White Sox another dimension other than just slugging teams to death. LaRussa will use this as a weapon

You are embarrassing all of us Midwesterners.

Mully was saying how happy he was for Spiegel and said something like "dare I say he got his revenge". I liked it because I wasn't a fan of the lineup changes either

This is exactly how I would write it up.

You want to go with a six man rotation when we have six off-days in our first 40 games and the likelihood of a few rainouts? Finding reasons to give both Rodon & Lopez starts at the same time seems like a good way to dig ourselves a hole to start the season. I’d much rather skip the fifth starter spot altogether on off-days and just limit our top four starters to shorter starts over the first six weeks. That seems like the better plan of attack if you believe our bullpen is the real deal.

Lucroy is so great he commanded a minor league contract.

Yes, teams should be “punished” for signing the best players, and rewarded for signing the worst / cheapest players. This logic explains the fervent defending of those who delivered decades of White Sox mismanagement and failure both on and off the field. Remaining hopeful regime change occurs this decade.

How many teams in the NBA have a legit shot at a title every year? Way less than MLB. Same with the NFL. I think it is a shame a team like the Blackhawks built what could have been a dynasty with maybe 2 or 3 mor Stanley Cups, but had to trade players as they became more expensive because of a salary cap. MLB hasn’t had a repeat champion since 2000. Yes , there are some teams that will probably never win, but that is the case even in the hard cap sports.

I get your points but the major problem is the teams on the bottom not spending. The very tiny problem is the disparity between large markets and small. I gurantee you that difference isn’t as big as it seems. These low narket teams are liw market because their pocketing the money.

But they rarely take advantage of their advantage. We are White Sox fans. Look at the advantage the White Sox should have over their division rivals, yet ownership plays down to their level. I know you don't find that noble. The Dodgers above their payroll which will cost them $14 million do also throw a lot into the revenue sharing pool. Winning a WS makes you some money. If they want to spend it on players more power to them.

Found out I can get a shot on Wednesday and just about cried

A salary floor can't work unless the teams agree to share local TV revenue equally. Also, don't look up where the Sox rank in local TV revenue. It will make you puke when you compare it to this season's payroll.

1. Norge Vera hasn't signed officially. I've been told that it should be any day now but I was told the same thing last week. It'll happen at some point. 2. Cespedes is probably looking for a big league deal and I'm not sure anyone has that for him at this rate. I connected the agency to the Sox but they'd probably only be interested on a minors deal. 3. MLB Pipeline made him the #1 international prospect and it's probably not fair to the kid. He's safe in a sense that he's the closest guy to the majors. Many of the 16-year-olds who were signed have significantly more upside though and I'd rank many of them higher. Marco Paddy is one of the better international scouts in the business. He has Jose Abreu, Luis Robert and Fernando Tatis Jr on his ledger. Jerry Reinsdorf hates paying amateur talent so there's a question on Sox strategy. Does Paddy not have the relationships with trainers to land the top end teenage Dominicans or is Jerry opposed to giving $2-$5 million to 16-year-olds and they don't even bother? When in doubt, I blame Reinsdorf.

Come on man. You can't be serious with this.

Some teams aren't sticking to the Collusion/Covid script/payroll.

A team with owners willing to spend that much. It's no fault of the Dodgers that everyone else chooses to spend less year after year.