South Side Hit Men

Laurence Holmes discussed Minnie Minoso and Dick Allen’s HOF credentials on the show today with Shakeia Thomas. https://www.audacy.com/670thescore/podcasts/laurence-holmes-on-670-the-score-61 Buck O’Neill is also on the ballot, another criminal omission.

Or you could have eat $1M and let him walk away, the more prudent option of the two.

I’d take pick up neither as the preferred option, with if you “had to”sign one Rodon being the preferred route, assuming his medicals are in order for someone to sign him this off-season. Im certain whatever the Sox get in return for Kimbrel will be praised high and wide, regardless of merit.

Agreed on both counts, though it’s unlikely Jerry will hit anything close to the near $200M people here are expecting. Same false expectations as last offseason. Eloy doesn’t want to DH, in part because he has sucked ass to date when he has attempted it (.592 OPS). There is no evidence he can stay healthy at LF, or can be even league average the times he is able to play. He is the one core member I’d listen to trade talks for as his juice is not worth the squeeze. Get a solid #2 SP for him, the Marlins have ample pitching, other teams may also be interested in giving up a solid return. I don’t agree with Hahn’s assessment that RF is a good fit for Vaughn or Sheets, but he pissed away all the cash on players who have shit the bed in October, leaving people hoping they can get decent garbage for Kimbrel and/or Keuchel by the guy who thought they were wise acquisitions in the first place.

Hahn joining 1000AM in a few minutes. Will they ask any pointed questions, and will he answer any questions. They asked for fan questions on twitter, this was the best one so far, would love to see it on zoom. EDIT: It was an absolutely worthless segment.

https://theathletic.com/news/white-sox-dont-extend-qualifying-offer-to-starter-carlos-rodon/VYBok0WMza35/?redirected=1

Not sure how you state that, when the upper $120s is the all time high, and $165 is where they are at with their current roster including likely arbitration awards. Sox have spent based on revenue higher when available, but don’t see a scenario where revenue will increase 50% to pay for a 50% increase in payroll. Hahn has spent the money on Keuchel, Lynn, Grandal and Abreu for 2022, and also has Kimbrel until he can move him. They currently have the 6th highest 2022 payroll on Cot’s Contracts. If they can dump Kimbrel, it will pay for the four FA type acquisitions listed and still keep them 6th until everything else shakes out. I don’t see more than a few high end teams spending on the top free agents, top acquisitions will be concentrated among the usual suspects. At least a 1/3 of MLB will do absolutely nothing, 1/3 will tread water, and the Sox are already 6th among teams actually attempting to win something.

I don’t agree with that. Detroit may possibly be the only other team that has a legitimate chance finishing over .500, depending on whether they step up and bring in Correa or other significant pieces. Cleveland isn’t spending anything, Minnesota is looking to sell including Buxton, Royals will add a couple of old cheap guys, but they aren’t going anywhere. Rick set the expectations Friday with his focus on internal growth. Based on the already record high payroll ($145m without Kimbrel), I just don’t expect a major acquisition FA wise. Lynn’s extension was a major acquisition. Perhaps we will see a creative trade, perhaps Eloy, similar to what they did to acquire Lynn, or sign a creative $ deal like what they did for Hendriks, or somehow pull a Houdini and can dump Keuchel.

Hahn’s comments Friday focused on internal options improving, be it a healthy Robert, younger players like Sheets and Vaughn improving, Kopech transitioning into the rotation, and Crochet into Kopech’s 2021 role. If the off-season acquisitions boil down to Leury ($8M/2 years) Tepera or equivalent ($9M/2years) Josh Harrison/Jose Iglesias type at 2B ($5M/1yr + team option or $1M Buyout) Danny Duffy/Michael Wacha/Michael Pineda SP (1-2 years /$7-8M AAV) Kimbrel for a prospect, bench and or low leverage bullpen piece or swingman Will folks here be satisfied? Because this seems like what will likely occur based on their current payroll commitments. Hahn said “his team was on the floor” after Hendricks, and has since added $19M, 10-15% of payroll, on Lance Lynn for 2022 (assuming Kimbrel’s $16M is gone). The Sox also have significant payroll bumps due for the Core the next two seasons.

I agree, it doesn't make sense to pay top AAV value with little upside, but lots of risk. Feel contrarian with the board, but thought Hahn had a much better season this year (Nov 2020 - October 2021) than his "Executive of the Year" season (Nov 2019 - October 2020), though with more cash. Hendriks and Lynn trade acquisitions had solid upside as compared to their payroll, Tepera pitched well and Hernandez made sense, just didn't work out. Eaton and Tony didn't make sense but Tony was never his decision. He also worked with Lucas to recruit Katz, the most valuable acquisition by far, responsible with Rodon and Cease's turnarounds. If they can move Kimbrel, and they don't get dead cash in return, they hopefully have at least $20M to get a solid pitcher (perhaps Ray at 3/$60M). Still expect RF is an internal fill, possibly a low end 2B like Jose iglesias plus Leury's return, a quality $4M-$5M reliever to get payroll in the $160M-$165M range, which would still be a substantial increase from last season. Still think they need to catch 1 or 2 major upgrades with a bargain salary (like Dye (2005) or Rodon (2021)) to be serious contenders in October, hopefully Hahn and FO can find another Rodon and or snag a FA hitter with big upside.

You asked, and I provided my estimate for the 2022 OD Payroll. Do you have one at this point?

Tony likey.

One less quality catcher available for the White Sox. Also, J. D. will remain with Boston.

https://theathletic.com/2939486/2021/11/06/lazerus-with-the-blackhawks-jeremy-colliton-never-stood-a-chance/ Expect nothing less from Rocky Wirtz.

Kimbrel should bounce back, was fatigued down the stretch, coming off low workloads the previous two seasons. That said, with Hendriks already here, hard to fit that salary with the existing veterans and fill other pressing needs without a substantial budget increase to the $200M range, which I just don't see happening. Believe they are strongly considering keeping him for next season, at least until the deadline vs. the sign and flip many here assume. Definitely worth more here than flipping him for some of the garbage mentioned here such as Cano. Dodgers can afford the cash and could use a closer. Lux would be a nice return if they are going to trade this offseason. Rodon is the more important piece, if healthy (instead of merely fatigued). They have a better handle on his health since we have little public information, so at least encouraged by what was reported this week that the team remains interested, reflecting on his health being OK. The COVID/CBA turmoil may work in the Sox favor, afraid the Dodgers will sign him as they have the money and willingness to overpay compared to the rest of MLB.

If you're the New York Mets.

Dick Allen and Billy Pierce also eligible. Dick Allen is a top 10 all time offensive 3B, and should have been in a long time ago while he was alive, same as Marvin Miller. Hopefully Jerry won't publicly or privately campaigning or working against Dick as he has in the past. My grandfather really liked Billy Pierce. Had a great career, though falls short in terms of on-field numbers and accomplishments. Somehow Jerry thinks he is a more worthy candidate than Dick Allen. Former White Sox Goose Goosage:

You have jinxed two separate franchises with your so called fandom. Any connection with Peng Shaui or Zhang Gaoli during your time in China?

His entire coaching staff is returning. It's about the entire two years, not just the three "All Star" deadline failures. Keuchel, Adam Eaton, Parrot, Mazara, Cesar, Kimbrel, and dumping two cost controlled players in the process. It's not a big surprise as Hahn's acquisitions primarily sucked the first four years he was "trying" (2013-2016). Coupled with the dinosaur manager Jerry saddled him with, the Sox are at a severe disadvantage against the handful of AL Clubs actually trying to field a competitive team. And for the thousandth time, I don't "hate" or even dislike Grandal as a player or person, it's just that his contract is a poor fit within the heavy DH roster, and his glaring defensive and game calling weaknesses will continue to hurt the White Sox. Giolito, Rodon, Kimbrel cannot throw their best pitchers because Grandal is unable to handle balls in the dirt. In his prime, the Dodgers benched him for all but one of the 2017 World Series Games, and for good reason. He can hit, but is is a net negative managing a game, especially important games like playoff games. The Sox have gone 1-5 with Grandal catching, McCann managed and caught the one outstanding pitching performance over the two seasons. When the games count, Grandal carries a .605 career OPS. Successful MLB team Managers and GMs focus on winning: The White Sox focus on petty beanball wars, hitting Ohtani, crying about Dusty after being completely pwned by him, just as they were in the regular or "resting" season. Winning: Losing, let's bring back Menechino, Boston, Shelley Duncan.

Tony listens to nobody and runs the front office. The Sox are bringing every single one of Tony's Cronies back. Tony coupled with "data" from Dave Duncan's son will continue to handicap the Sox.

Because he is a complete fucking idiot, obsessed with platoons and unwritten rules. He was completely owned by Dusty Baker, during the season, in the post-season. The bottom line is the Sox never have advanced under La Russa and likely never will.

The only "made up scenarios" involving White Sox baseball is Rick Hahn's absolute bullshit regarding "multi-championship windows" with their budget and the horseshit acquisitions he has made the past few seasons.

Tough day for the WIN MORE crowd as well. Goes hand in hand.

There would be more a lot more value to the Sox if they had a manager willing to align how they were pitching to hitters and shifting more than 27th or 30th in MLB. The Sox shifted from just below league average to the bottom under TLR. The stats proved they were effective the limited number of times Tony and Dave Duncan’s son employed it. They are near league average in attempts vs. LHB. The problem is their complete lack of shifting against RHB. The second unasked analytics question is why beyond the fact Jerry has a soft spot in his heart for Scabs did the Sox keep GIDP Menechino. Successful clubs, i.e. clubs which have advanced in the playoffs over the past 16 seasons, teach their hitters to lift the baseball? In an era when ground balls are converted to outs at a higher rate than ever before, in large part due to the fact the most teams are not like the Sox and actually increase shifting, the Sox once again go backwards or are left in the dust by teams with modern successful baseball philosophy.