South Side Hit Men

What strikes me most watching games from the 1980s is the relatively normal size of the players (and let's be frank, also many of the fans) compared to today. Watching the Mets Red Sox WS, Sox games from this era or other games with players were on average a 3-6 inches taller than the average person (most in the 6 foot to 6 foot 3 inch range) but at an average build (175-200 lbs). Today, players are close height wise, perhaps an inch or two taller, but the weight is on average 20-30 lbs + heavier. The smallest players last year (Danny Mendick or Cesar Hernandez (listed as 5 10 195 lbs), would be in the top half in terms of weight on the 1988 team. Ozzie was listed at 5 11 150, Lance Johnson 5 10 160. Billy Hamilton was the only White Sox under 185 lbs last season (160), and he looked like a twig compared to everyone else.

Sad news, he was a solid pitcher, and closed out his career in his 40s stronger than most relievers in their peak (3.0, 2.4 and 1.3 bWAR ages 40, 42, 43). He pwned the Sox (61 1/3 IP, 3 HRs, 2.79 ERA, 5-4, 21 Saves). Hard pass for those terms.

Solid projections as usual by FanGraphs. Keuchel, Cease and Kimbrel were working behind the eight ball last year greatly exceeding their 2021 IP count vs. 2019/2020. Nice to see Giolito's projection, he has the stuff and focus to hit that number. Also expect regression with Lynn. If he can somehow strengthen his stamina, it is not inevitable. Rodon should also be stronger longer next year, still holding longshot hope they can make something work with him again. For hitting: I see Robert as the most likely to exceed his projection. Time will tell regarding whether Grandal can catch more than 90 games, will likely get another 20-30 if healthy at 1B and DH. The less he catches, the more negative fWAR plays (Zavala, Collins). A few of the potential veterans have already signed. Eloy's defense will continue to drag down his value if he continues in LF, assuming he can pull a miracle and stay healthy out there. Really hoping they explore external interest as you may get someone to overpay (still hoping for a Pablo Lopez for Eloy/Mercedes trade) which will greatly enhance the staff, and remove one less DH from the half dozen the Sox are carrying. Resigning Garcia and getting a starting 2B is the key priority overall. if they get a stronger fielding shortstop than Tim (Semien), would be interesting if they ask Tim to shift, may be a better fit there if he starts working on the position early. Some may say "these projections are too pessimistic", but they take into account likelihoods of injuries (missed time and reduced production), slumps / regression applied across the entire league. Young players may have potential and talent, but they must prove it over the grind of an 162 game season. Vaughn (127 Games) slowed down toward the end, and Eloy (122, 55, 55 Games) and Robert (56 and 68 Games) will also face inevitable slumps / tired if they are fortunate to be healthy enough to play 140-150 games in a season.

Marcus Semien is a better defensive SS than Tim Anderson. He sucked it up and played 2B on his one year collusion restrained late Toronto signing last off-season. His preference is likely to return to SS, and he'll likely receive at least one offer allowing him to do that at terms similar to an offer to remain at 2B.

RF Joc Pederson. 2B Jose Iglesias or Josh Harrison.

2022: 1B Todd Helton; 3B Scott Rolen; SS Alex Rodriguez; LF Barry Bonds; LF Pete Rose (Write-in); CF Andruw Jones; SP Roger Clemens; SP Curt Schilling. 2022 Early Era Committee: SS Bill Dahlen. 2022 Golden Days Committee: 1B Dick Allen; 3B Ken Boyer; LF Minnie Minoso. Future Ballots through 2025: C Joe Mauer; 3B Adrian Beltre; RF Ichiro Suzuki; CF Carlos Beltran; SP C. C. Sabathia.

SoxTalk's Chickens, Are Coming Home To Roost!

Was Squirmin' for Yermin already taken on Twitter? Still waiting for the first legitimate White Sox rumor this offseason.

And Hahn has found his OD Starting Second Baseman, perhaps also an OF. Jerry: “$600,000, a LH hitter, such a deal. Much better than that bum from Cleveland. Sign Frazier as well, he can play the corners, all on the Yankees dime. What a country! Hey, can we begin trading our international bonus money again? Isn’t this great!” https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/rougned-odor-homers-14-on-a-fly-ball-to-right-center-field-luke-voit-scor

A NFT Hahn has been eyeing.

Yes, it is similar the Southern states scrambling to incorporate the Confederate flag into their state flags after the Civil War. Not the only instance of MLB catering to their dwindling target audience. Located 15 Miles Outside of Atlanta is Stone Mountain, The park was officially opened to the public to honor the Confederacy and celebrate the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 100 years to the day, on April 14, 1965.

They are solid moves to address what the Sox need, and provide depth, since the Sox wouldn't be trading guys like Vaughn and/or Sheets to fill these holes. In terms of speculation, not sure why you get upset at others hoping for high end FAs. I ignore those posts / speculative threads, and quite frankly was happy the Sox lost out on Machado, it just doesn't fit in a mid tier payroll. Wheeler hurt, but you are not going to win every FA attempt and they made a legitimate top offer to him. Hendriks was a solid move. The Lynn trade also made sense, though not as big a fan of the mid-season extension, with a knee surgery possibly in the works. If he can show up lighter and able to pitch health wise the next two seasons, it should work out. Hopefully he shares the same commitment the team made to him.

I personally like Escobar as a value 2B pick. Primarily against Conforto for payroll flexibility and potential bad contract his final years, but if the Sox make those two work and get two relievers and a #4/#5 starter, I would be ecstatic. T hey are heavily committed top end ($100M Abreu, Lynn, Grandal, Keuchel, Kimbrel and Hendriks), but if payroll opens up beyond $170M to say the $180 + range, and the Sox brought in decent to very good players like the two mentioned, instead of Eaton lotto ticket types, it would be an excellent off-season based on where they started at year end. Really need to be able to move Kimbrel, I think they keep Keuchel and he turns it around next season a bit (nothing stellar, but a decent starter with a 3.8-4.2 ERA).

Alec Baldwin and his fellow EPs have hired the same firm (Jenner Block) as the Wirtz family did to “investigate” what happened on their tragic film set. https://deadline.com/2021/11/alec-baldwin-lawsuit-new-rust-fatal-shooting-mamie-mitchell-gloria-allred-1234876099/ Meanwhile, there was a solid interview with the attorney representing the two victims last week. https://www.audacy.com/670thescore/podcasts/parkins-spiegel-show-63/attorney-susan-loggans-addresses-new-developments-in-case-against-blackhawks-936774314 From the interview:

You put in a lot of of effort into this, and while I don’t agree with all of it (primarily counting on Quintana to be able to be a 4, and losing Crochet), your acquisitions of the Marte’s make a lot of sense, and it’s the most realistic plan in terms of reasonable execution. I also like your emphasis on bringing in younger and more reasonably priced talent than many are proposing (Verlander, Scherzer). It’s a solid plan, likely better than what we’ll end up with. Now that the QOs are set, and additional trade information is available, I’ll try to get something in over the next week.

Solid piece by Keith Law discussing the misaligned incentives between the Angels and Noah Syndergaard. https://theathletic.com/2960809/2021/11/16/law-with-a-one-year-contract-noah-syndergaard-and-the-angels-arent-on-the-same-page/

Indeed, this is the proper take.

And Brandon Belt is likely the only player to accept a QO. Pending final confirmation Players 13 (Castellanos; Conforto; Correa, Freeman; Iglesias; Ray; Rodriguez; Seager; Semien, Story, Syndergaard, Taylor; Verlander) Teams 1 (Belt)

What does Kate Upton have to say about Chicago?

https://www.twitter.com/JRFegan/status/1461009411556528132 “He is going to decide how good he can be,” Contreras said through Russo. “He can do all the things that he wants to do. If he says he wants to be a 20-win pitcher, he can do that. If he says he wants to win a Cy Young, he can do that. If he says he wants to carry a team to a World Series championship, he can do that. Because he has the tools.”

Plus Jay Jaffe's (JAWS creator) articles on his top two selections for the Golden Era Committee. Minnie Minoso Dick Allen

Meanwhile, Rocky Wirtz has still not have been investigated nor answered a single question. This is what Rocky is demanding from the child rape victim while he stonewalls this payment.