South Side Hit Men

Fans for 18 of 30 MLB teams could possibly stream in market games in 2025, though neither Chicago team would be on that list at this juncture. Hope Jerry doesn't kill this for local Sox fans. My understanding is there still are no final plans in terms of what happens with NBC Sports Chicago after September. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/rob-manfred-discusses-rsn-situation-expansion-timeline.html

Vegas' WNBA team nearly outdrew the A's last year. The only people who want Fisher's team in Vegas are construction workers, it's the only reason this weak watered down deal passed after the better one was rejected. 2023 Average Home Attendance 10,275 Oakland A's 9,551 WNBA Las Vegas Aces 6,838 Summerlin (Las Vegas) AAA Aviators (Down from a high of 9,299 in 2019)

Currently Washington is limited to 23% ownership of their broadcasting rights, increasing 1% per year since they relocated, and Baltimore owning the rest. This may change per comments from Manfred yesterday. It appears the Nationals sale might be being held up due to their lack of their own rights, with a proposed solution that Baltimore may either sell the MASN or the Nationals' rights within the network before the Baltimore sale is approved. Per Manfred, he would like to see the Baltimore sale formally approved over the next two months. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/report-mlb-can-make-orioles-relinquish-nationals-tv-rights-as-condition-of-sale.html Possible solution to the Orioles / MASN / Nationals situation Timing of approving the Orioles Sale

2026 will be a much better year for Cease hitting the market than 2024. There is a much weaker pool of SP Free Agents available in two years than what free agents and trading teams are facing this off-season. The Mets and likely Padres will join the Dodgers, Rangers, Yankees, Phillies, Toronto and Houston (Verlander will be 43) as active participants at the high end of the SP market. New Orioles and Nationals ownership will be in place and might significantly bump payroll to make a splash. Hell, even the big revenue teams with alligator arms when it comes to FA and spending like the Giants, Cardinals, Cubs and Red Sox may even put a decent bid out there.

Nice to see Tony is being magnanimous after the Max Muncy incident. June 9, 2022 - Danny Mendick (0:26 mark)

Nice to see four more games covered via WhiteSox.com. Looking forward to Spring Training more so than the past three years, since I was able to attend in what ultimately became a worthless exercise in March 2020.

They don’t list players currently on the 40 man roster in these types of announcements.

I’m one of the few here who think they can both stay with a larger development they can profit from with more land available at the current site, or build at 78, and be happy either way. As long as the final deal is done thoughtfully, and taxpayers and Sox fans are better protected than the bad 1988 deal. Jerry got his way, but screwed up as well (stadium direction, upper deck). Would also want future development at the current site to be a win for Bridgeport. Have more confidence with Pritzker over Thompson, and with the public in general having more skepticism in these handouts. The devil is in the details, and we are a long way from anything formally happening. No need for LH or anyone to fret about anything at this stage. Politicians, citizens and Sox fans just need to stay diligent during the process.

Agreed. I preferred Stassi and Perez to start, with Lee or Quero, picked up any guy available with an injury. We don’t need Sanchez. We never needed Grandal. We don’t need Maldonado, but that’s water under the bridge. Hoping they consider him for a future coaching role if he is interested. And yes, I meant Oakland A’s organization, not the city in the post in the Vegas thread.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/brewers-to-sign-gary-sanchez.html There is a second year mutual option, but between 2024 and the 2025 buyout, $7M is guaranteed.

That's some Tori Spelling right there. OG: Correct Photo in the NBC Report. Not sure if the WGN photo was accurate or photoshopped, or the photo had the wrong spelling at first and the clown developers sent media a correction. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/renderings-for-potential-white-sox-stadium-in-the-78-reimagined-35th-street-released/3350195/

Found the 1991 renderings on the same site as the Addison stadium renderings. They are pretty consistent, but wonder how far along construction was the time these were produced, or if they were released before construction began. https://www.stadiumpage.com/future/Comiskey_G.html Here is an interesting article and past rendering of the two previous attempts to move the White Sox to the South Loop. https://www.southsidesox.com/2012/11/9/3619970/south-loop-sox 1964 - Mayor Richard J. Daley formed a commission to build a $49 million South Loop sports complex: Located between Clark Street (West), State Street (East), Polk Street (North) & 15th Street (South). Baseball Stadium Stadium to host the Sox and Cubs Football Stadium A second stadium called Halas Field for Football and possibly Soccer Winter Sports Arena For the Hawks and Bulls to share. 1986 - Mayor Harold Washington Jr. preposed a shared Baseball / Football Stadium at Clark and Roosevelt discussed previously.

I tried finding renderings of Comiskey Park II, and Ironically found the 1910 stadium and proposed 1987 Addison renderings, but couldn't find an image of the 1986-1988 renderings. I wanted to compare what renderings were offered to lawmakers and the public versus what was actually built for 1991. 1910 Rendering of Comiskey Park: 1987 Addison Illinois Stadium Renderings; https://www.stadiumpage.com/concepts/Addison_R.html Jerry has been obsessed with the Royals since the mid 1980s. Print of all three White Sox Stadiums: Actual Construction Picture Comiskey Park II:

Everyone on record has stated no "new" taxes will be raised, which most seem to take as the current hotel stadium funding tax will be extended if it is not formally grandfathered. There are also large piles of cash sitting in TIF fund accounts the city and team can raid, and claim they didn't raise new taxes. I personally prefer the Sox to negotiate ownership of all Bridgeport land owned by IFSA, acquire additional land have own and develop the entire parcel with only the minimal infrastructure funding since most is already in place, but I concede it is a long shot at this point unless something falls through with the current proposal. The stadium they have is fine, management and the players they field is what is substandard, and just like Oakland/Las Vegas, a new stadium doesn't guarantee anything changes on that front.

Assuming the Sox are not seeking additional tax funding sources beyond existing TIF funds plus ongoing stadium taxes, they are ahead of Oakland in the process and have two additional years at their disposal (Oakland 2028 season, White Sox 2030 season). The city, state and ISFA still have to formally reach agreement on any Sox proposal, put Fizer and Jerry are much more likely to have this completed properly. They also have the fallback option of staying at their current stadium in a renegotiated agreement. The only stadium commitment Oakland has secured beyond 2024 is their January 2025 Fantasy Camp in Mesa.

If anything, the clips make me want to short the stock.

There are at least a half dozen spots on the 26 man roster which are open including this one, which is fine. All I want is if Sosa or other guys under 27 are on the roster, they play 4-5 games out of six each week, or are sent down to play regularly if they need more work and are struggling and ruining any confidence.

So glad I don’t hand a penny over for any of these hacks televised on JerryVision. They are all buffoons except for The Big Hurt.

I will watch the White Sox go 173-0 this season with these. I may also be arrested.

I still see 30 guys on the 40 man roster the Sox can either flip, let walk as FAs or DFA, and beyond any possible trade returns it won’t matter in terms of the next possible competitive team. These are the 10 with possible future value in 2026 and beyond. Prelander Berroa (23) Dylan Cease (28) Garrett Crochet (24) Jake Eder (25) Michael Kopech (27) Bryan Ramos (21) Luis Robert Jr. (26) Jose Rodriguez (22) Lenin Sosa (24) Andrew Vaughn (25)

Which is why you don’t give up pitchers for fungible reserve outfielders. Every year there are dozens of these guys released / added throughout Spring Training and the season.

The biggest difference between the two systems is there appears to be a much tighter window at the top and bottom of the predicted standings for FanGraphs vs. the wider Baseball Prospectus predictions. Largest Variance Total Wins (PECOTA vs. FanGraphs) PECOTA System Prefers These Teams 7 Los Angeles Dodgers 101 vs. 94 6 New York Yankees 94 vs. 88 5 Texas Rangers 86 vs. 81 FanGraphs System Prefers These Teams 7 Washington Nationals 58 vs. 65 6 Oakland Athletics 64 vs. 70 5 Kansas City Royals 70 vs. 75 5 Colorado Rockies 58 vs. 63 Largest Variance Division Titles (PECOTA vs. FanGraphs) PECOTA System Prefers These Teams 18.0% New York Yankees 57.8% vs. 39.8% 14.7% Los Angeles Dodgers 94.6% vs. 79.9% 14.5% Houston Astros 75.8% vs. 61.3% 14.0% Saint Louis Cardinals 52.4% vs. 38.4% 13.8% Minnesota Twins 67.9% vs. 54.1% FanGraphs System Prefers These Teams 16.1% Seattle Mariners 10.2% vs. 26.3% 14.3% Detroit Tigers 2.8% vs. 17.1% Largest Variance Win Total Odds vs. BP/FG Average (Best Feb 5 Odds vs. Projection Average) Bet Over 10 1/2 Oakland Athletics 56 1/2 vs. 67 5 Cleveland Guardians 76 1/2 vs. 81 1/2 Bet Under 7 Los Angeles Dodgers 104 1/2 vs. 97 1/2 6 Philadelphia Phillies 90 1/2 vs. 84 1/2 6 Texas Rangers 89 1/2 vs. 83 1/2 5 1/2 Baltimore Orioles 91 1/2 vs. 86 5 1/2 Washington Nationals 67 vs. 61 1/2 The Vegas odds are more dynamic, since they take their own proprietary predictions, but adjust both for fan perception to try to balance money on both sides, and also to account for the likelihood teams will either continue to add players through the deadline like the Dodgers, Rangers and Phillies, or whether they will likely continue to dump anyone like Oakland and possibly Cleveland. They also have to account for possible ownership changes such as Baltimore and Washington.

Ok, FanGraphs released their updated standings and playoff projections. Below is an updated projected standings with just wins and probability to win the division which should make this easier to follow on a phone. PECOTA Link: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/standings/ Fangraphs Link: https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds Projected wins & odds to win division. American League East PECOTA (60 > .500) FanGraphs (34 > .500) New York Yankees 94 57.8% 88 39.8% Toronto Blue Jays 88 16.0% 84 14.6% Baltimore Orioles 87 12.1% 85 18.8% Tampa Bay Rays 86 12.6% 85 21.1% Boston Red Sox 80 1.5% 80 5.7% American League Central PECOTA (48 < .500) FanGraphs (38 < .500) Minnesota Twins 88 67.9% 85 54.1% Cleveland Guardians 83 28.8% 80 21.9% Detroit Tigers 75 2.8% 79 17.1% Kansas City Royals 70 0.5% 75 6.4% Chicago White Sox 65 0.0% 67 0.5% American League West PECOTA (2 > .500) FanGraphs (0 > .500) Houston Astros 95 75.8% 91 61.3% Texas Rangers 86 13.8% 81 9.2% Seattle Mariners 85 10.2% 86 26.3% Los Angeles Angels 75 0.2% 77 3.0% Oakland Athletics 64 0.0% 70 0.2% National League East PECOTA (4 > .500) FanGraphs (10 > .500) Atlanta N. L. Team 101 93.3% 98 87.9% Philadelphia Phillies 84 2.5% 85 7.4% New York Mets 84 3.2% 81 2.3% Miami Marlins 80 1.0% 81 2.4% Washington Nationals 58 0.0% 65 0.0% National League Central PECOTA (18 < .500) FanGraphs (6 < .500) Saint Louis Cardinals 86 52.4% 84 38.4% Chicago Cubs 80 20.2% 81 21.3% Milwaukee Brewers 79 12.7% 81 19.1% Cincinnati Reds 78 12.5% 79 13.2% Pittsburgh Pirates 73 2.2% 77 8.0% National League West PECOTA (0 > .500) FanGraphs (0 > .500) Los Angeles Dodgers 101 94.6% 94 79.9% Arizona Diamondbacks 85 3.4% 84 11.6% San Francisco Giants 81 1.2% 80 3.3% San Diego Padres 80 0.8% 81 5.2% Colorado Rockies 58 0.0% 63 0.0%

Love that Spanky is on this list. Five of the nine played in the postseason. Nine White Sox For Life for 10 + Seasons Player bWAR (# of seasons years) Division and League Titles plus World Series Championship Teams (4) Segregation Era Red Faber 63.9 (20 Seasons 1914-1933) 1917 World Series Championship Team & 1919 American League Pennant Team Ted Lyons 70.6 (21 Seasons 1923-1942, 1946 + 3 Years WWII Military Service 1943-1945) Johnny Mostil 24.4 (10 Seasons 1918, 1921-1929) Lee Tannehill 20.9 (10 Seasons 1903-1912) 1906 World Series Championship Team (2) Split Eras Luke Appling 77.5 (20 Seasons 1930-1943, 1945-1950 + 1 Year WWII Military Service 1944) Orval Grove 1.7 (10 Seasons 1940-1949) (3) Modern Era John Danks 20.2 (10 Seasons 2007-2016) 2008 American League Central Division Title Ron Karkovice 14.6 (12 Seasons 1986-1997) 1993 American League West Division Title Mike Squires 0.3 (10 Seasons 1975, 1977-1985) 1983 American League West Division Title

It was impossible to “undo” Konerko playing briefly before coming here. I appreciated Jerry keeping Pauly through the end. Among the players who began their MLB careers with the White Sox, the seven during my life I would have loved to have seen Sox for life who played during my fandom are Abreu, Baines, Beuhrle, Lemon, Sale, Thomas, and Ventura. They still have two potential current players if they continue to play outstanding baseball (Cease and Robert Jr.). Tim was on that list as well until things crashed the past two seasons. Made sense for both to move on, though I’d be happy if Tim would like to return this season, turn things around, and remain a Sox for life.