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Those AB's should probably go to *anyone* else who might actually be productive. If anything I think it points to him being on the roster unfortunately.

Crochet done after 2.1IP, 0ER, 3H, 4K. Got into a few deeper counts, which I imagine is the cause of the early exit. Berroa in now.

I mean honestly, has anyone in management looked at his defensive numbers over the last 2 years? If he can even remotely hit the ball, then it MIGHT make sense, because this roster will need all the offensive help it can get, but if his bat flounders there is no need to keep him on the roster.

A thoughtful discussion regarding the increase in pitching injuries and the role of increased spin rates vs. increased velocity in terms of stress on arms over the last few years. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/injury-notes-rangers-tigers-treinen-martin.html https://theathletic.com/5325032/2024/03/08/elbow-injuries-mlb-pitchers/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twhq&source=twitterhq

Rays are even kicking in $650 million out of $1.3 billion. HALF.

Moncada 3-3 after a bunt single.

Soroka looks good. 5K through 3IP, the only solid contact was the Machado double (which is maybe caught if not for the AZ sun?)

Sox webcast, if you'd rather hear familiar voices: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/cws-sd-spring-training-webcast-92229

I noticed the Pirates suffered their worst stretch of baseball into the Bob Nutting regime when Galbreath hired Branch Rickey to start the 1950s. The Dodgers had four equal 25% owners include the 25% owned by Branch, until 25% owner John L. Smith died in the Summer of 1950. Life long scumbag Walter O’Malley scooped up his shares, giving him 50%. After the 1950 season concluded, O’Malley reworked Rickey’s contract to strip him of nearly all of his power. Rickey refused to sign the contract. O’Malley offered to buy Rickey out, and he sold after he goosed up the purchase price via a friend’s offer, which O’Malley begrudgingly offered $5,000 more to gain effective 75% control of the team. Galbreath immediately offered Rickey an offer to run his old (oldest team in the majors) moribund (96 losses in 1950) team, and Rickey accepted. Rickey stayed for five years and while the records remained poor during his tenure, when he retired due to poor health, he left the Pirates as the youngest team in baseball, one which in five years would win the World Series. Once the new Forbes business of baseball 2024 article is released (2024 valuations, 2023 income and other financials), I will post here how recent tanking teams made out vs. the rest of the league. Will create the template during the radio broadcast of the Six game this afternoon.

Well in some positive news, Ramos looks like a dude

After seeing the playing time Sheets has received over the past couple seasons and where he has played, while being awful with both the bat and the glove, I don’t think we can assume the Sox will make the no brainer decision here. The Sox think he’s good because he’s a lefty and is perceived to have power.

Whyyy is Sheets still playing RF? The stupidity knows no bounds.

Jay Cuda already did the work

The bottom four lineup slots are a galactic black hole. The offense is scary bad.

How finishing as the worst team in 1954 and a Branch Rickey/Getz connection led to a HoF career... "Anyway, I recently read somewhere that Clemente was the only bonus player immediately sent to the minors and thus left unprotected. I can't confirm if that's true, but Clemente was now eligible for the Major-Minor League Rule 5 Selection Committee. The Pirates, with the worst record in the National League, had the first pick. They were run by former Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, and scouts Howie Haak and Clyde Sukeforth -- brought to Pittsburgh from Brooklyn by Rickey -- had seen Clemente during the International League season. Branch Rickey Jr. represented the Pirates at the draft and selected Clemente. The price: $4,000. And that's how the Pirates stole Roberto Clemente from the Dodgers. As a footnote: When Branch Rickey Sr. finally saw Clemente play for the first time in the Winter League after the Pirates drafted him, he was not impressed, remarking on Clemente's timid play on the bases and in the field and his disappointing foot speed. Rickey did admit, however, that the kid had a good throwing arm. Clemente had to spend the entire 1955 season on the Pirates' roster since he originally signed for more than $6,000; he hit just .255 with a .284 OBP and a .382 slugging percentage, plus five home runs, in 474 at-bats. While he hit .311 the next season, he hit just 26 home runs his first five seasons and didn't have his breakout season at the plate until 1960, when he was 25 and his power finally developed." https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/62869/how-the-pirates-stole-roberto-clemente-from-the-dodgers

Yeah Schultz is fine. Healthy and ready to go.

This question is legit. Longest thread in Soxtalk history will be: Fire Chris Getz Building in the south loop Dylan Cease trade concepts

Entering this season, there are only two current franchises in their current locations without an 100 loss season. They reside in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. In terms of the 30 current owners, five including Jerry Reinsdorf have lost 100 or more games in multiple seasons. Jerry can rise to the top of the list with another 100 loss season this season, coupled with the Pirates and Orioles avoiding an 100 loss season. Half, or 15 of the 30 current owners have tanked between one and three seasons during their current ownership tenures. Tom Werner is the 16th owner, but conducted his 100 loss season with the Padres before his current Red Sox role. Before the revenue sharing era, many of these seasons consisted of expansion teams, owners in their first or last season. Now it seems to be a right of passage. The current Cardinals ownership group lost 91 games last season, the most among the 15 current ownership groups without an 100 loss season. There have been a total of 168 one hundred + loss teams through the entire 148 year history of professional baseball entering the 2024 season: 22 MLB Modern Era Teams - Current Owners (1981-2023) 83 MLB Modern Era - Previous Owners (1947-2022) 56 MLB Segregation Era (1901-1946) 7 Pre MLB Era (1871-1900) (168) Total 100 + Loss Seasons by Franchise (Current Franchises with 0 seasons also listed) 14 Philadelphia Phillies (141 Seasons National League 1883-2023) 11 Philadelphia Athletics (55 Seasons American League 1901-1954) 11 Boston Nationals (77 Seasons National League 1876-1952) 10 Pittsburgh Pirates (142 Seasons American Association 1882-1886 & National League 1887-2023) 8 Saint Louis Browns (52 Seasons American League 1902-1953) 7 Kansas City Royals (55 Seasons American League 1969-2023) 7 Boston Red Sox (123 Seasons American League 1901-2023) 7 Detroit Tigers (123 Seasons American League 1901-2023) 6 New York Mets (62 Seasons National League 1962-2023) 5 Seattle Mariners (47 Seasons American League 1977-2023) 5 San Diego Padres (55 Seasons National League 1969-2023) 5 Baltimore Orioles (70 Seasons 1954-2023) 5 Cleveland Guardians (123 Seasons American League 1901-2023) 5 Chicago White Sox (123 Seasons American League 1901-2023) 4 Washington Senators II (11 Seasons American League 1961-1971) 4 Kansas City Athletics (13 Seasons American League 1955-1967) 4 Washington Senators (60 Seasons American League 1901-1960) 4 Saint Louis Cardinals (142 Seasons American Association 1882-1891 & National League 1892-2023) 3 Washington Nationals (19 Seasons National League 2005-2023) 3 Tampa Bay Rays (26 Seasons American League 1998-2023) 3 Miami Marlins (31 Seasons National League 1993-2023) 3 Toronto Blue Jays (47 Seasons American League 1977-2023) 3 Texas Rangers (52 Seasons American League 1972-2023) 3 Oakland Athletics (56 Seasons American League 1968-2023) 3 Houston Astros (62 Seasons National League 1962-2012 & American League 2013-2023) 3 Chicago Cubs (148 Seasons National League 1876-2023) 2 Arizona Diamondbacks (26 Seasons National League 1998-2023) 2 Montreal Expos (36 Seasons National League 1969-2004) 2 Atlanta (58 Seasons National League 1966-2023) 2 Minnesota Twins (63 Seasons American League 1961-2023) 2 Brooklyn Dodgers (74 Seasons American Association 1884-1889 & National League 1890-1957) 2 New York Yankees (101 Seasons American League 1903-2023) 2 Cincinnati Reds (142 Seasons American Association 1882-1889 & National League 1890-2023) 1 Baltimore Terrapins (2 Seasons Federal League 1914-1915) 1 Washington Senators (9 Seasons National League 1891-1899) 1 Cleveland Spiders (13 Seasons American Association 1887-1888 & National League 1889-1899) 1 Baltimore Orioles (18 Seasons American Association 1882-1891 & National League 1892-1899) 1 Louisville Colonels (18 Seasons American Association 1882-1891 & National League 1892-1899) 1 Colorado Rockies (31 Seasons National League 1993-2023) 1 Milwaukee Brewers (54 Seasons American League 1970-1997 & National League 1998-2023) 1 San Francisco Giants (66 Seasons National League 1958-2023)) 0 Los Angeles Angels (63 Seasons American League 1961-2023) 0 Los Angeles Dodgers (66 Seasons National League 1958-2023) (22) Modern Era Teams - Current Owners (1981-2023) (3) Peter Angelos 115 2018 Baltimore Orioles (American League) 110 2021 Baltimore Orioles (American League) 108 2019 Baltimore Orioles (American League) (3) Robert Nutting 105 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) 101 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) 100 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) (2) Jim Crane 111 2013 Houston Astros (American League) 107 2012 Houston Astros (National League) (2) John J. Fisher 112 2023 Oakland Athletics (American League) 102 2022 Oakland Athletics (American League) (2) Jerry Reinsdorf 101 2023 Chicago White Sox (American League) 100 2018 Chicago White Sox (American League) (10) Single Season 114 2019 Detroit Tigers (American League) - Christopher Ilitch 110 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks (National League) - Ken Kendrick 107 2022 Washington Nationals (National League) - Mark Lerner 106 2023 Kansas City Royals (American League) - John Sherman 105 2019 Miami Marlins (National League) - Bruce Sherman 103 2023 Colorado Rockies (National League) - Dick Monfort 102 2021 Texas Rangers (American League) - Chris Young 101 2012 Chicago Cubs (National League) - Thomas S. Ricketts 101 2006 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (American League) - Stuart Sternberg 100 2022 Cincinnati Reds (National League) - Bob Castellini (83) MLB Modern Era - Previous Owners (1947-2022) (6) David Glass 106 2005 Kansas City Royals (American League) 104 2004 Kansas City Royals (American League) 104 2018 Kansas City Royals (American League) 103 2019 Kansas City Royals (American League) - Sold team after season 100 2002 Kansas City Royals (American League) 100 2006 Kansas City Royals (American League) (5) Joan Whitney Payson 120 1962 New York Mets (National League) - Expansion Franchise 112 1965 New York Mets (National League) 111 1963 New York Mets (National League) 109 1964 New York Mets (National League) 101 1967 New York Mets (National League) (4) John W. Galbreath 112 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) 104 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) 104 1985 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) - Sold team after season 101 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) (3) Michael Ilitch 119 2003 Detroit Tigers (American League) 109 1996 Detroit Tigers (American League) 106 2002 Detroit Tigers (American League) (3) Labatt Brewery 109 1979 Toronto Blue Jays (American League) 107 1977 Toronto Blue Jays (American League) - Expansion Franchise 102 1978 Toronto Blue Jays (American League) (3) C. Amholt Smith 110 1969 San Diego Padres (National League) - Expansion Franchise 102 1973 San Diego Padres (National League) 100 1971 San Diego Padres (National League) (3) Charles O. Finley 105 1964 Kansas City Athletics (American League) 103 1965 Kansas City Athletics (American League) 100 1961 Kansas City Athletics (American League) - First year of ownership (2) Claude Brochu 110 1969 Montreal Expos (National League) - Expansion Franchise 107 1976 Montreal Expos (National League) (2) Robert R. M. Carpenter Jr. (Across two eras) 108 1945 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 107 1961 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) (2) Ted Turner 106 1988 Atlanta (National League) 101 1977 Atlanta (National League) (2) Danny Kaye & Lester Smith 104 1978 Seattle Mariners (American League) 103 1980 Seattle Mariners (American League) (2) Phillip K. Wrigley 103 1966 Chicago Cubs (National League) 103 1962 Chicago Cubs (National League) (2) Richard E. Jacobs 105 1991 Cleveland (American League) 101 1987 Cleveland (American League) (2) Vincent J. Naimoli 106 2002 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (American League) 100 2001 Tampa Bay Devil Rays (American League) (2) James M. Johnston 106 1963 Washington Senators II (American League) 100 1964 Washington Senators II (American League) (2) Bob Short 105 1973 Texas Rangers (American League) 100 1972 Texas Rangers (American League) (2) Ted Lerner 103 2009 Washington Nationals (National League) 102 2008 Washington Nationals (National League) (2) Nintendo of America 101 2008 Seattle Mariners (American League) 101 2010 Seattle Mariners (American League) (2) Bill Veeck Junior 102 1951 Saint Louis Browns (American League) 100 1953 Saint Louis Browns (American League) - Team sold & relocated after season (2) Elwood R. "Pete" Quesada 101 1962 Washington Senators II (American League) 100 1961 Washington Senators II (American League) - Expansion Franchise (30) Single Season 111 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks (National League) - Jerry Colangelo - Stepped down mid-season 108 1979 Oakland Athletics (American League) - Charles O. Finley - Sold team following season 108 1998 Florida Marlins (National League) - Wayne Huizenga - Sold team after season 107 1988 Baltimore Orioles (American League) - Edward Bennett Williams - Died during season 106 2002 Milwaukee Brewers (National League) - Wendy Selig-Prieb 106 2011 Houston Astros (National League) - Drayton McLane - Sold team after season 106 1970 Chicago White Sox (American League) - John Allyn - Purchased team outright before season 104 1949 Washington Nationals (Senators) (American League) - Clark Griffith 104 1952 Detroit Tigers (American League) - Walter Briggs Junior - Father died before season 103 1954 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) Earle & Roy Mack - Sold & Relocated after season 103 1993 New York Mets (National League) - Nelson Doubleday Jr. & Fred Wilpon 103 2016 Minnesota Twins (American League) - Jim Pohlad 103 1989 Detroit Tigers (American League) - Tom Monaghan 102 1956 Kansas City Athletics (American League) - Arnold Johnson 102 1932 Chicago White Sox (American League) - J. Louis Comiskey - Father died previous year 102 1982 Minnesota Twins (American League) - Calvin Griffith 102 1983 Seattle Mariners (American League) - George Argyros 102 1975 Detroit Tigers (American League) - John Fetzer 102 1971 Cleveland (American League) - Vernon Stouffer - Sold team after season 102 1985 Cleveland (American League) - Estate of F.J. "Steve" O'Neill - Died August 29, 1983 101 1949 Saint Louis Browns (American League) - Bill DeWitt & Charlie DeWitt - First year as owners 101 1948 Chicago White Sox (American League) - Grace Comiskey 101 1993 San Diego Padres (National League) - Tom Werner 101 1982 Cincinnati Reds (National League) - James Williams & William Williams 100 2013 Miami Marlins (National League) - Jeffrey Loria 100 1965 Boston Red Sox (American League) - Thomas A. Yawkey 100 2001 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) - Kevin McClatchy 100 1985 San Francisco Giants (National League) - Bob Lurie 100 1974 San Diego Padres (National League) - Ray Kroc - First year of ownership 100 1954 Baltimore Orioles (American League) - Jerold Hoffberger - First year of ownership (56) MLB Segregation Era (1901-1946) (6) Gerald P. Nugent 111 1941 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 109 1942 Philadelphia Phils (Phillies) (National League) - Sold team after this season 106 1939 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 105 1938 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 103 1940 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 100 1936 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) (5) Benjamin Shibe & Connie Mack 117 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) 109 1915 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) 106 1920 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) 104 1919 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) 100 1921 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) - Benjamin Shibe died after this season (5) J. A. Robert Quinn 111 1932 Boston Red Sox (American League) - Sold team after season 107 1926 Boston Red Sox (American League) 105 1925 Boston Red Sox (American League) 103 1927 Boston Red Sox (American League) 102 1930 Boston Red Sox (American League) (5) Connie Mack (Across two eras) 105 1946 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) 105 1943 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) 102 1950 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) - Sons Earle & Roy took over control in July 100 1940 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) 100 1936 Philadelphia Athletics (American League) (5) William F. Baker 109 1928 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 104 1923 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 103 1921 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 103 1927 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) 102 1930 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) - Died after this season (4) Emil Edwin Fuchs 115 1935 Boston (Atlanta) (National League) - Sold team midseason, confiscated by N. L. after season 103 1928 Boston (Atlanta) (National League) 100 1924 Boston (Atlanta) (National League) 100 1923 Boston (Atlanta) (National League) - First season as operating owner (3) Thomas C. Noyes 113 1904 Washington Senators (American League) - First season as owner 110 1909 Washington Nationals (Senators) (American League) 102 1907 Washington Nationals (Senators) (American League) (3) Robert Hedges 107 1910 Saint Louis Browns (American League) 107 1911 Saint Louis Browns (American League) 101 1912 Saint Louis Browns (American League) (2) Donald Lee Barnes 111 1939 Saint Louis Browns (American League) 108 1937 Saint Louis Browns (American League) - First season as owner (2) Frank & Stanley Robison Brothers (Previous Cleveland Spiders Owners) 105 1908 Saint Louis Cardinals (National League) 101 1907 Saint Louis Cardinals (National League) (2) Arthur Soden 103 1905 Boston Nationals (Atlanta) (National League) 102 1906 Boston Nationals (Atlanta) (National League) (2) Charles Ebbets 104 1905 Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) (National League) 101 1908 Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) (National League) (2) William S. Devery & Frank J. Farrell 103 1908 New York Highlanders (Yankees) (American League) 102 1912 New York Highlanders (Yankees) (American League) (10) Single Season 108 1909 Boston Doves (Atlanta) (N. L.) - George B. Dovey & John Dovey - George died in season 107 1915 Baltimore Terrapins (Federal League) - Ned Hanlon - Folded after season 107 1911 Boston Rustlers (Atlanta) (N. L.) - William Hepburn Russell - William died after season 106 1906 Boston Americans (Red Sox) (American League) - John I. Taylor 103 1917 Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) - Barney Dreyfuss 102 1914 Cleveland Naps (Guardians) (A. L.) - Charles W. Somers - Sold after following season 101 1912 Boston (Atlanta) (N. L.) - James E. Gaffney - First season as owner 100 1904 Philadelphia Phillies (National League) - James Potter 100 1910 Boston Doves (Atlanta) (N. L.) - John Dovey - First and lone full season as sole owner 100 1922 Boston (Atlanta) (N. L.) - George W. Grant - Sold team after season (7) Pre MLB Era (1871-1900) (2) Chris Von der Ahe 111 1898 Saint Louis Browns (later Cardinals) (National League) - Sold team after season 102 1897 Saint Louis Browns (later Cardinals) (National League) (5) Single Season 134 1899 Cleveland Spiders (National League) - Frank & Stanley Robison - Team folded after season 113 1890 Allegheny City (Pirates) (National League) - William A. Nimick - Sold team after season 111 1889 Louisville Colonels (American Association) - Mordecai Davidson & John R. Botto 101 1892 Baltimore Orioles (National League) Harry Von der Horst 101 1898 Washington Senators (National League) - George Wagner & Jacob Earl Wagner

Former Royal? ✔

With all the bizarre veterans continuing to pile up, and Tony continuing to hover over Glendale like buzzards awaiting the death of their next meal, I continue to have at least a suspicion Tony continues to call the shots as he has since Jerry hired him in October 2020.

Fletcher better start hitting.

You can circle Benintendi too unless he somehow becomes a productive starter after finishing with a 0.0 fWAR after playing 151 games. Only four White Sox position players appearing in over 1/3 of the teams games finished worse (Grandal, Anderson, Colas and Sheets).

Hope for a big, healthy year and taking over for Moncada mid-season.

It will be amazing if both Sheets and Moustakas make the opening day roster, which would indicate that the Sox are indeed this stupid and view him as a RF primarily. Crazy considering Getz is supposed to be Mr. Defense, that he would allow this. I know it’s just Spring Training but why play Sheets in RF if you aren’t going to be willing to do the same during the regular season?

Agreed, it does show how truly awful that Kenny and Hahn were at adding depth, even mediocre backup pitchers. They never had any. Basically, the opening day pitching staff had to stay healthy all season or else the Sox were screwed. And it makes no sense either considering all of these guys can be had for a minor league deal or a couple million.

The irony is how similar the level of success is between the two teams. It shouldn’t be a surprise that JR would want to imitate a team that had a brief window of success, won one World Series, and went back to being perennially bad. The Sox were already the Royals, a decade earlier.

I gotchu

We lose the best because of jail. Flip a bat? Jail. Run too hard? Jail. Swing on 3-0? Believe it or not, jail.

Tired: Change the game Wired: Respect the game

Question: How many of our Royals were part of that "fight everything that moves" Royals team? Obviously Pedro and Keller were. So...culture?

Definitely you are right about Sheets, and Colas could get a season of experience to show what he can do in the MLB on a team that isnt under pressure. We already know Sheets can't do it at MLB level especially as a RF.

While true, what exactly has Sheets done to have a virtual lock on a roster spot? Other than be worse at everything? If suddenly guys need to earn a roster spot through merit, then, um, there are quite a few names on the list that would be way ahead of poor Oscar.

I hope you're right.

Don't get me wrong, I think it would be really cool if the Sox got a stadium in the 78, but I just think that no public money should go to it.

These days they use the Sox as more of a stick than a carrot...get some Ds? Go spend 3 hours at the park watching the grass grow in between a 6-2 snoozer. No phone or tablet allowed. That will learn 'em up.

He could hit 500/600/800 this spring and I wouldn't reconsider a single thing about him. His numbers are horrific, for a LHB DH, they are almost unfathomably bad.

Their minor league system needs players as well. You'd think he was signed and named opening day starter. These are the guys that pitch in AAA and come up to start when needed. These are the moves that Hahn did not make when he should have for organizational depth.

Oscar Schmoscar. It's critical to the future of the franchise that Mike Moustakas gets more at bats.

You mean like the Atlanta Braves?

I think it's more that he just needs a good half season in the minors with some intense learning. Either fielding, managing the strike zone or getting 1B reps. The 1B reps are the most telling to me. Either they don't see a RFer when they look at him, or they're lining up 5 bench lefty hitters to make Sheetz expendable to somebody.

This front office really hates Oscar, damn.

holy s%*# this team is fucking horrible lmao

RIP Oscar.

If it's one thing I've learned about the Bulls this year, it's that they'll lure you in when you don't expect it and then when they're about to hit .500, they disappoint you.