South Side Hit Men

1 Iowa takes on 16 Holy Cross Saturday at 2 PM CDT on ABC, Iowa currently is a 36 1/2 point favorite, with an O/U of 154. https://awfulannouncing.com/college-basketball/caitlin-clark-womens-championship-game-viewership-mens-outdraw.html 2023-2024 NCAA Basketball - Top four highest average viewer totals (Regular Season through Conference Championships): 5.18M Men's 11/23/23 FOX: Arizona 74 vs. Michigan State 68 - Followed Fox NFL Thanksgiving Day Broadcast - Game Played in Palm Springs, California 3.39M Women's 3/3/24 FOX: Iowa 93 vs. Thee Ohio State University 83 3.08M Men's 3/9/24 ESPN: North Carolina 84 at Duke 79 3.02M Women's 3/10/24 CBS: Iowa 94 vs. Nebraska 89 OT - Big Ten Championship Game in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jordan Montgomery is now intentionally waiting beyond Opening Day to avoid a QO hung around his neck next offseason. Tommy Pham may be the only other signed player among the five unsigned players listed below. Updates through reported signings through Thursday evening. I would like a Greinke signing if interested, he has historically stayed healthy and lately provided 137-171 innings per season (2021-2023). Players signed after Spring Training Games began on 2/22: Preseason Rank of players signed 3/18-3/21 AAV contract estimates vs. Actual Guaranteed AAV Received E Estimate R Received Signed Players: SF 3/19 #4 B. Snell E $28.6M R $31M CHI NL 2/27 C. Bellinger E $22M R $20M SF 3/2 M. Chapman E $25M R $18M NYM 3/21 #20 J. D. Martinez E $20M R $12M MIA 2/24 T. Anderson E $12M R $5M TEX 3/20 #34 M. Lorenzen E $11M R $4.5M PIT 3/15 M. A. Taylor E $7M R $4M ATL 3/14 A. Duval E $8M R $3M DET 2/23 G. Urshela E $10M R $1.5M Unsigned remaining prominent free agents: #6 J. Montgomery E $25M R TBD #45 B. Belt E $15M R TBD #30 M. Clevinger E $13M R TBD HM T. Pham E $8M R TBD NR Z. Greinke E $7M R TBD

Crochet mentioned his pitch count as the reason he was pulled after post game comments his previous ST start. The Spring Training Games do not have accurate pitch counts, with nearly all balls in play recorded as one pitch, and all strikeouts or walks recorded as 0-3 or 4-0, respectively. https://www.mlb.com/player/garrett-crochet-676979?stats=gamelogs-s-pitching-mlb&year=2024 I didn't watch or listen, but assume he pitched more than 31 pitches today over 3 2/3 IP with 5 H, 1BB and 2 Ks, and very likely more than in his last more efficient outing (3 IP, 2 H, 0 BB). Assuming they are managing reasonable pitch counts, and Pedro doesn't deviate to get him a quality start, no hitter, or some other personal milestone, hopefully it will work out.

So it’s “Better at the Ballpark”, a ballpark and location Jerry says sucks so bad, he needs billions in handouts not to mention several billion plus to cover bond interest payments over 30-40 plus years in less than 60 months. Oh, and don’t mind the in-stadium shootings or future attempts to violate Illinois facial recognition technology protections when it suits our interests. Brooks Boyer - March 21, 2024

Robert needs to continue to work on plays approaching the walls, seems to hesitate at times though I can see him still she’ll shocked after contending with his injuries and avoiding Eloy collisions until they finally pulled the plug. Thought 2020-2021 was Luis’ best year in terms of aggression and maximizing opportunities out in the field. May have stepped back a bit intentionally to prioritize maximizing games played, which makes sense both for the team and his long term career.

We can only surmise what Jerry’s budget marching orders. Jerry likely gave Chris a hard / firm payroll number, or a tight window, to get payroll under $130M (currently $55M under 2023 per Cot’s). It looks probable Jerry ordered Cease gone before OD to avoid paying salary vs. his interest in any prospect acquisition. Can also see Jerry micromanaging yet another GM he hired on training wheels, perhaps running select decisions past Tony as well, on contracts above $1-2M, or whether to start the clock on top prospects or to slow walk them like Luis Robert. Also, pitching performance in terms of veteran starting pitchers signed or considered as NRIs is irrelevant beyond the number of innings they can help you reach 1,450 without rushing young prospects plus Crochet, since he never was a professional starter and barely was in college, or killing your bullpen.

It’s one thing to judge expensive contracts signed early (Top 10-25) because setting aside owner collusion, several or more teams are interested in obtaining these types of players. For the low end under $10M deals, hard to quibble about overpaying by a few million here or there. Really can’t quibble about the actual pitcher signings this offseason. Just wished they brought in a 1 or two additional pitchers like Cueto, Hill or others not in any camp who could have been plugged in for April starts, and beyond if effective or to cover future injuries or demotions. Rather spend several million on a Rich Hill and Cueto than on redundant retirees like Moustakas, Maldonado, Pillar, etc.

Don’t worry, the best smash burgers and fries will continue to be available to all fans. Just west of the railroad tracks on 35th. For those who really want to try the Comiskey Park version without club level seats, they likely won’t be checking tickets to get into the 300 level weekday day games and many Monday-Thursday April/May/September night games. I bought club seats via stub hub for a few games last year, and the ushers didn’t check up front at the entrance to this level. Hit or miss whether the ushers would check tickets in the seating area, though some were proactive your first time in the outdoor seating sections.

Gambling a top 2-3 factor in terms of interest in the sport over time. MLB owners banking millions each year directly, much more indirectly, off of direct sports gambling with sports books and bookies, plus the enormous Rotisserie / Fantasy market. MLB Investigations, suspensions and enforcement of rules are nearly always based on whether the people in charge (MLB Owners - Guggenheim for Bauer / Ohtani) wants to renege on a player’s contract. Typically the same procedure for most business, civil, and criminal proceedings in most societies.

He was solid on both ends for sure. Chet Lemon remains my all time Sox favorite, but Luis has a good shot of having an awesome career as well. Sure hope they keep Luis vs. another tanking trade of an all time White Sox great over the next couple of years. Top overall bWAR White Sox Starting CF Seasons (1901-2023) Total bWAR Multiple Seasons: 25.3 Chet Lemon (6) 24.8 Johnny Mostil (7) 24.2 Fielder Jones (7) 20.9 Lance Johnson (6) 18.7 Jim Landis (7) 18.3 Happy Felsch (5) 12.5 Luis Robert Jr. (4) 11.0 Tommy Agee (2) 10.7 Mike Kreevich (5) 9.4 Aaron Rowand (2) 9.3 Adam Eaton (2) 8.2 Chris Singleton (3) 8.0 Thurman Tucker (4) Single Season: 6.4 Johnny Mostil (1926) 6.4 Tommy Agee (1966) 6.1 Lance Johnson (1993) 5.9 Chet Lemon (1977) 5.8 Chet Lemon (1979) 5.7 Jim Landis (1959) 5.7 Aaron Rowand (2004) 5.6 Happy Felsch (1920) 5.2 Adam Eaton (2014) 5.0 Luis Robert Jr. (2023) 4.9 Larry Doby (1956) 4.9 Fielder Jones (1905) 4.9 Chet Lemon (1978) 4.8 Chris Singleton (1999)

Aaron Rowand and Adam Engel are the two clear leaders in terms of CF Defensive Ratings for the Chicago White Sox over the past 21 seasons stats in FanGraphs are available (2002-2023).

The prior excuses for Getz failures player development were pegged by many on Hahn and Tony rushing unprepared players due to lack of ML depth. DH/1B Vaughn and Sheets slotted in corner OF roles and zero to minimal minor league development. Kopech / Crochet pulled from their acquired roles as Starters to fulfill La Russa bullpen fetish. These excuses ring hollow with these types of decisions, assuming Getz is the “One Baseball Decision Maker” in 2024. Have to believe most teams facing a similar situation with the current organizational roster would begin both Crochet (no professional starts, one 3 1/3 Tennessee Vol start in 2020) and Nastrini (19 1/3 AAA innings, 4 AAA starts) in AAA to start the season, and have sufficient starters who can give 3-5 innings as placeholders.

On what planet was Lorenzen ever discussed as having a potential nine figure contract?

MLB Owners mad, want their cut. https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/mlb-draftkings-expand-betting-partnership/ https://www.marqueedevelopment.com/our-projects/draftkings-sportsbook-at-wrigley-field

I looked forward to listening today but shut it off once I heard him trying to do play by play. Really hope we don't lose Ken and DJ a lot like last year between Stone's 30 + games off each year and whatever Jason was off.

The most important aspect in 2024 is prospect acquisition and player development. Not sure what we’ll get on that front, but the most interesting development may be seeing unfold who is running the show this season between Getz, Grifol and or Tony. Getz doesn’t have to address publicly areas Grifol needs to work similar to Hahn’s public criticism of Ricky. Getz does need to assert authority over the roster, overall playing time and pitcher usage. Hoping against logic they will come together and manage things better than expectations this season. I was hopeful until February.

“It’s all Joe West’s fault.” - Hawk Harrelson (1976-2021)

Poll locks just over a week from today before first pitch of 2024 Opening Day. Assuming an 162 Game Schedule. Based on 160-162 game season, including 1-2 game wiggle room for rain out or unexpected cancellations. All Time Great White Sox Season? Solid to incredible improvement over 2023? Improvement over 2023? Further drop off from 2023? One of the worst White Sox or all time MLB teams? The choice is yours. Ten options to choose from.

Nice under the radar selection. Will add a more well known though not sure how much here Canadian selection.

Jimmy Rollins is trash, played like trash here. 41 Games, .624 OPS, -0.4 bWAR Same as the trash Tony brought in in 2021-2022. Same as the veteran trash Getz brought into camp as NRIs. Veteran trash signings each and every offseason - The White Sox Way since 1981.

That was to pitch for the Yankees, and maybe he just doesn’t want to go there which is perfectly understandable. He will need $118M over five years, or a very possible if healthy $88M over four years in the future (one or more contracts) to lock in the same guaranteed money over time. Has possible upside with the Mets, Phillies, Padres, Dodgers, Yankees, Baltimore (if Angelos dies and hedge fund guy fully assumes ownership), or a few other teams, hell even the White Sox, if new ownership groups are involved in bidding over the next 1-5 years. The MLBPA really needs to fight to strip the QO / Draft Penalty from FA, and also the voidable Arbitration Settled Contract and out of the next CBA.

Go back two more years to a day which will forever live in White Sox infamy. There are great individual performances over every season. But in terms of great moments for the entire team, 2020 Game One vs. Oakland was the high point for White Sox baseball since the 2008 Blackout Game. 2021 Field of Dreams under Manager Miguel Cairo was the one great team moment since, with honorable mentions for two off field occurrences; White Sox Cane Guy and Liam beating cancer.

The test results are in. Jim Thorpe is not your Great Great Grandfather.

Chris, The several levels of bosses you report through, Jerry, Tony, Brooks, Thome, others, made it so teams that reach the third or fourth thresholds of the “Competitive Balance Tax” (named similar to the “Affordable Health Care Act”) lose draft pick slots and bonus pool money. Jerry likes it that way. Stops the handful of MLB owners who want to field winning teams each season from signing all the best players. Jerry loves fielding bad teams and knocking payroll under the checks he receives from NYC just for fielding guys wearing MLB laundry. Doesn’t matter if they are quality players. Never has since 1981. Looking forward to the master class in winning you have planned for 2024 and beyond. Moustakas, Chavez, Maldonado, Fletcher. I can smell the crisp cool World Series November air just thinking all the winning you’ll enjoy with Jerry over the next seven months. PS - Eat this. Sincerely, Jason Benetti Proud employee of a competent MLB organization for the very first time.