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This is for the guy who complains about how much Grandal sucks

Last 30 days: Sox pitching - 3.43 ERA [0.30 below season ERA], 9.73 K/9, 3.13 K/BB, top 4 starters threw 76.2 innings Houston pitching - 4.02 ERA [0.26 above season ERA], 8.37 K/9, 2.16 K/BB, top 4 starters threw 106.0 innings Sox pitchers are more rested and have been pitching better

James Fegan wrote an article with a paragraph or two about the player and specifics of how they were acquired. https://theathletic.com/2862389/2021/10/03/how-the-white-sox-built-their-division-winner-rebuild-trades-free-agent-splashes-and-hidden-gems/?source=emp_shared_article&redirected=1 Below I have grouped the players using James' article categories, and have added their 2021 salary and final bWAR. (P Min = Prorated ML Minimum for time on roster). Rebuild Trades ($27.9M; 19.4 bWAR) Lance Lynn ($9.3M; 5.4); Lucas Giolito ($4.2M; 4.3); Reynaldo Lopez ($2.1M; 0.9) for Adam Eaton (2017-2020 $29.4M; 4.8) & Avery Weems (High A). Dylan Cease ($0.6M; 2.9); Eloy Jimenez ($4.3M; 0.6) for Jose Quintana (2017-2020 $36.9M; 4.6). Yoan Moncada ($6.8M; 4.0); Michael Kopech ($0.6M; 1.3) for Chris Sale (2017-2019 $39.5M; 15.4). High Draft Picks ($10.0M; 7.4 bWAR) Tim Anderson ($7.3M; 4.6) - 2013 1st Round (17th pick) Garrett Crochet ($0.6M; 1.3) - 2020 1st Round (11th pick) Nick Madrigal (P Min; 1.2) - 2018 1st Round (4th pick) Jake Burger (P Min, 0.4) - 2017 1st Round (11th pick) Andrew Vaughn ($0.6M; 0.2) - 2019 1st Round (3rd pick) Gavin Sheets (P Min; 0.2) - 2017 2nd Round Zack Collins ($0.6M; -0.5) - 2016 1st Round (10th pick) Cuban Connection ($21.2M; 6.6 bWAR) Luis Robert ($3.5M; 3.6) - Signed May 27, 2017 Jose Abreu ($17.7M; 3.0) - Signed October 29, 2013 We Mean Business Free Agent Signings ($58.6M; 11.5 bWAR) Carlos Rodon ($3.0M; 5.1) - Signed February 1, 2021 Yasmani Grandal ($18.3M; 3.7) - Signed November 21, 2019 Liam Hendriks ($11.3M; 2.6) - Signed January 15, 2021 Dallas Keuchel ($18.0M; 0.1) - Signed December 30, 2019 Adam Eaton ($8.0M; 0.0) - Signed December 10, 2020 Deadline Deals ($12.8M; 1.8 bWAR) Leury Garcia ($3.5M; 2.0) - Acquired August 11, 2013 as player to be named in the August 9, 2013 trade of Alex Rios ($16.3M; 1.2). Ryan Tepera ($0.3M; 0.6) - Acquired July 29, 2021 for Bailey Horn (High A). Craig Kimbrel ($7.1M; 0.0) - Acquired July 30, 2021 for Nick Madrigal ($0.2M; 0.0) & Codi Heuer ($0.2M; 0.5). Cesar Hernandez ($1.9M; -0.8) - Acquired July 29, 2021 for Konnor Pilkington (AA). Very Late Draft Picks ($5.2M; 0.9 bWAR) Adam Engel ($1.4M; 1.5) - 2013 19th Round Aaron Bummer ($2.0M; 0.5) - 2014 19th Round Codi Heuer ($0.6M; 0.0) - 2018 6th Round Romy Gonzalez (P Min; -0.1) - 2018 18th Round Jimmy Lambert (P Min; -0.1) - 2016 5th Round Seby Zavala (P Min; -0.2) - 2015 12th Round Danny Mendick (P Min; -0.3) - 2015 22nd Round Matt Foster ($0.6M; -0.4) - 2016 20th Round Give That Pro Scout A Raise ($6.5M; 2.6 bWAR) Ryan Burr ($0.6M; 1.1) - Signed as a free agent on December 16, 2019. Jose Ruiz ($0.6M; 1.1) - Selected off waivers from the San Diego Padres on December 22, 2017. Yermin Mercedes ($0.6M; 0.5) - Drafted in the Rule 5 Draft from the Baltimore Orioles on December 14, 2017. Billy Hamilton ($1.0M; 0.3) - Signed as a free agent on March 16, 2021. Mike Wright Jr. (P Min; 0.0) - Signed as a free agent on December 24, 2020. Jake Lamb ($0.8M; 0.0) - Signed as a free agent on March 30, 2021. Evan Marshall ($2.0M; -0.2) - Signed as a free agent on October 30, 2018. Brian Goodwin ($0.8M; -0.2) - Signed as a free agent on May 5, 2021. Note: I moved Adam Eaton from "Rebuild Trades" and Carlos Rodon from "High Draft Picks" to Free Agent Signings reflect their 2021 acquisition; and also moved Codi Heuer to Very Late Draft picks (was in Deadline Deals). Note: Batters not mentioned in the article who played for the Chicago White Sox this season include Luis Gonzalez (P Min; 0.1) and Nick Williams (P Min; -0.3). Pitchers not mentioned who pitched for the Whtie Sox include Zack Burdi (P Min; -0.1), Jace Fry ($0.9M; -0.3) and Jonathan Stiever (P Min; 0.0).

Honestly, the way the Sox came out in the Field of Dreams game and against the most popular team in all of sports, knowing the entire world was watching, has me fairly optimistic about this series. Don't get me wrong, I'm still nervous but what are the chances the Astros make it to 5 straight ALCS'? Eventually that has to change. Just pitch solid and I think we can get to theirs, McCullers got beat up last postseason, We hit Valdez hard last time out, Garcia minimal playoff experience. We already know what our guys are capable of and now they are pretty much fully healthy. Sheets, Vaughn dangerous bats potentially off the bench. We have a lot to look forward to. LFG. Anything can happen, just play solid ball! I trust TLR will have them ready.

This is another reason why we needed to win HFA. If first game would have been at GRF we would be a heavy favorite not a heavy underdog in Houston. What good would resting our stars and punting so many games be, if we do not go beyond five games. What good was to overpay for Kimbrel if we don’t go beyond the Houston series. This why the HFA should have been an integral part of our strategy.

This will be White Sox playoff baseball game. At least in my world that is 1 million times more interesting than game 5 of the Bears season. No need for me at least to flip back and forth if they are on at the same time.

1 o'clock on Friday is absolute garbage

This series will be won by the team with the manager who turned a blind eye to blatant steroid use while one of his players broke the single season home run record.

I guess a big reason why is because the White Sox are so difficult to assess. Because of the incredible amount of injuries they've had this year, no one can look at regular season results and stats and provide a truly intelligent prediction to this Astros series. But here's a way us White Sox fans can do so in an optimistic way. Sports fans know about the "Fab Five," which was the Michigan basketball's team nickname in the early 90's. Well, maybe we can look at this White Sox team as "The Main Six." Meaning regulars Anderson, Robert, Abreu, Grandal, Jimenez, and Moncada. Because of injuries and extended resting, these 6 guys were all in the lineup together, incredibly, only 10 times!! Not sure if there have been too many other division winning teams that have had their top 6 regulars in the lineup together 10 times, which is a tribute to this team. And no matter what happens in the upcoming playoffs, this will be something we can look back on this team in years to come with pride that they overcame this and won their division. But in those 10 games, the White Sox went 8-2 and averaged exactly 7 runs a game!! So based on this, for experts to say Houston has the edge offensively because they scored more runs then we did, wouldn't really have all the facts. It's also a shame that if these guys, (only Abreu and Moncada of these 6 weren't out extending periods due to long term injuries,) would have been together in the lineup more, we surely would have won enough games to have home field advantage in this series, but let's not worry about that, because if we win this series that becomes a moot point.

I have looked at the numbers. 2 of our guys are going to finish top 5 in the AL Cy Young. Another guy is Giolito. Another guy is Cease who just finished 3rd in the league in Ks. The Astros have a rock solid McCullers, an overachieving rookie who had a very nice year in Garcia, and 3 backend types in Urquidy, Valdez and Odorizzi who strike just about zero fear in me. The Sox SP is measurably better than the Astros in both the numbers you are referring to, and stuff. Now are we going to get the A versions of Rodon and Lynn? Probably not. But the Astros SP hasn't been great for the last month either.

To TLR who turns 77 today.

Astros to me seem like the toughest AL opponent. I imagine they'll be favored strictly because of home field advantage (woulda been nice to at least try).....

It was easier to get Sox playoff tickets than it was to get City Connect jerseys.

Friday start time is awful

I think there needs to be serious discussion on who is starting the game thread Thursday.

The pressure is on everyone. If we win one in Houston, the pressure is then on us to sweep at home or face a daunting game 5 on the road, where we are not as good.

It’s amazing to spend 300+ hours of regular season baseball and then basically be screwed by workday baseball games when your team finally makes the playoffs.

Night game on Sunday is cool

It's really damn rude to keep us all hanging and waiting for the Wild card game finished. Fuck Boston, fuck New York, finalize the fucking schedule so we can fucking plan already.

Not against the Astros they aren’t.

It would be so much better for everyone if they didn't have to take this route

TLR may live to regret. it. I think it was a big blunder not to go for HFA. Hope I am wrong.

Luis Robert will ascend to superstardom this post season.

I'm just going to blindly assume that DK screenshot is correct

I was thinking last night and wondering where did all my confidence go in the Big Bastard? How about Giolito and Lynn both dominate in Houston and we only need 1 win back home to move on??

Just gotta take 1 of the first 2 in Houston. If they can that, I like our chances. If Sox head back to Chicago in an 0-2 hole, we’re obviously on a world of trouble.

Agreed, i see ourselves as the underdog but we just need to win 1 game on the road. Anything can happen in a best of 5

In the AL, I just don’t think there is much of a tier in quality from the top 5. Tampa, to me, is built for the regular season dominance, is a likely favorite but doesn’t feel inevitable. Their depth among other things means to me I’m they won’t get crushed in a game of a player (pitcher) underperforms. The Yankees could hit 30 home runs. The Astros are a very well rounded team but have had some bullpen struggles. The Red Sox feel the weakest but also have had hot SP, Bullpen and offensive stretches.

IMO, the assessment is simple. We needed HFA to be the favorite. I’d say Sox are the underdog and I would predict an Astros series win if asked. Having said that…Go Sox and it’s moot point, not mute. Sorry, couldn’t help myself. ?

Did not realize Bummer was drafted so late.

Great writeup. The FO has done a very nice job of maximizing their trade chips. Im still not sure of the Kimbrel trade but that we will find out in playoffs if it was worth it.

Really interesting that despite the grief we routinely give the front office on here (some of it deserved) that trades and free agent signings have provided us with the biggest bWAR contributions. I know stats can be used to prove many things but in my opinion Hahn can't be all that bad at his job looking at those figures. And no I am not related to him or any member of the front office ?

Yeah, I’m glad the games are spread out over 6 months.

I am disappointed by the 2nd half, but wouldn't dub the entire season a disappointment by any means. They could and should have HFA in at least the ALDS, but it is what it is. They are healthy and going into the playoffs on a bit of a hot streak with an AL Central banner to their name; the rest is water under the bridge at this juncture.

You weren't disappointed with the sloppy play, poor fundamentals and baserunning, the blown leads late by the bullpen, the questionable managerial decisions, the seemingly "punting" of many games not to mention all the injuries and setbacks? I certainly was. You're not disappointed that they failed to get HFA when it certainly seemed within reach? You weren't disappointed with the performance of two of their trade deadline acquisitions? I was. Thankfully the Sox are in such a weak division. But now that this disappointing season is over, let's hope they can get hot/lucky in the postseason. The best team doesn't necessarily win the World Series, but often times the hot team does. Go Sox!

Exactly, that's all you need. MAYBE the last game before the All Star break. When it's unique, it's special. Any more than that and it gets played out and we don't care about the other games being played throughout the day.

Are you talking every day of the 162-game season has all of the day's games played at the same time? Terrible idea. That would kill the game. It would be so hard to watch baseball games of teams in other markets, meaning it would be harder for fans to be a fan of the game, learning about those other teams and players. Part of the fun of being a baseball fan is know that when your team isn't playing, someone else is. The excitement of today's slate, flipping back and forth and having live cut-ins of the other scores, would be lost if they did this every day. Broadcasts wouldn't care about the other scoring updates on a random game 77 of the season played on a Tuesday.

It’s okay for special stuff to be special. Pretty sure the west coast is happy not to play at 4pm every day. If anything it’s a shame MLB can’t get a big network to have a “coast to coast” show cutting across all the game 162 happenings like a final day red zone.

Fans of the teams that did not make the play-offs are disappointed. Cub fans are deeply disappointed. My only disappointment is that I do not have tickets for the play-offs.

Sorry, but I was disappointed that Eloy and Robert suffered major injuries and missed significant time. I was very disappointed in Adam Engel's injuries and setbacks. I was disappointed in the sloppy play and "stupid" baseball we saw in too many games this season. I was disappointed by the drop in power production by a couple of our stars. I was disappointed that we traded for arguably the best reliever in baseball and then he pitched like crap most of the time. I was disappointed that we traded for a 2B with 18 HRs to fill the power gap and he only hit 3 since coming over. I'm disappointed that for a team that has been much better at home vs. on the road they punted so many games when they could have secured home field advantage. I was disappointed with some of the unnecessary drama surrounding the team this year as well. Yeah, I'm glad they won the division but still disappointed by the way they played for much of the season. If you weren't disappointed in those things that's your point of view. I don't give a damn about what you think about my credibility. If you can't disagree with someone's personal opinion without resorting to personal attacks, then you're the one that lacks credibility.

Current Vegas Odds from the MGM sports book (amounts are your return for an $100 wager, you would get your $100 back plus the amounts below): Los Angeles +325 Houston +475 Tampa Bay +625 San Francisco +700 White Sox +750 Milwaukee +800 Atlanta +1400 New York +1600 Saint Louis +2000 Boston +2000 https://www.vegasinsider.com/mlb/odds/futures/

I never ceased to be amazed by how great of a job you do of showing your ass when you post.

The Card of Asshat Franchises would be a good descriptor.

whoever the coaches are who prepare these guys daily, they all gotta be replaced, fucking christ, old man at 3b can go too

Playoff teams are allowed to have additional players available for travel and practice with the team. They can also be in the dugout during games. I expect Goodwin to be with the team the entire playoffs. I'd expect Zavala as emergency catcher to be around, possibly even a longshot like Mercedes, but these two will likely be quarantined. Not for COVID reasons, but rather so their presence will not upset he who shall manage until he passes Connie Mack (915 to go for the all time record).

Tony likes to give you a day off when you're hot. If Ceasar needs a day off he better start hitting.