South Side Hit Men

The results in the study indicate it is the case.

During the season whatever, but Hahn better step in if Tony tries to pull this shit in the playoffs. Bring Kenny with if he is scared.

The Tigers have historically hired trashy broadcasters. Hope he gets shit canned, but “HOF players” get a lot of leeway in this world compared to others deemed more expendable.

Yes, I didn’t mean to confer the Cubs will be legitimately good next season, more so the weak ass 16 team playoff format will accommodate teams with 75-80 wins for the final slots. With Pittsburgh, Arizona and Colorado perennially eliminated, they just need to beat out four other teams out of twelve to make the playoffs under a sixteen team playoff, a very sad and low bar if enacted. I’d be shocked if they spent that much money, but I can see them landing Rizzo, who barring a standout final six weeks and playoffs is not going to command a huge contract at an easy to fill position. His signing will be more for the fan base. They will likely sign a few more players, but more of the Joc Pederson $5-$10M variety, and maybe one higher priced option. Jed did take care of each of his core on the way out, accommodating as best as possible their destination for personal / family issues. Kimbrel wanted to stay in Chicago with his sick daughter, Bryant wanted to go out West near Vegas where he lives, and Rizzo had some personal reason he wanted to go to the Yankees I can’t recall at the moment. Baez wanted to go to the Mets to play with Lindor. Jed spoke with each player and tried to accommodate as best as he could. Of the four, I’d say Rizzo is the most likely to come back based on what the market will offer for an aged 1B with a bad back. I don’t see many teams clamoring for his services, the Yankees were pretty desperate this season with not wanting to spend any money due to the “luxury tax” and the Cubs eating all the cash over the ML minimum (Yankees did the same with the Odor and other trades), and their team devastated with injuries/Covid with Voit a bust this season and Stanton locked at DH.

Anything is possible, but I wouldn't assume that they are planning to tank beyond the final two months of this season. They have shed all but one bad contract ($44M left over 2 years for Jason Heyward), and Jed stated they aren't looking at a multi-year rebuilding process. They can be aggressive in the FA market this offseason with just over $50M committed. If the owners degrade/cheapen the sport even further than today with a 16 team playoff they have a chance of returning to the playoffs. It will likely take at least a few years to be a serious World Series contender, IMO, assuming they can draft / develop solid players and payroll returns to the $160M-$200M range. I see them trying to go after Rizzo and Chaffin, and then players they never had before this offseason to attempt to return to .500 ish baseball. Players under 2022 contract or control (Arb/Pre-Arb) + projected 2022 fWAR (ZIPS): 2.4 Wilson Contreras (Arb 3) 2.4 Ian Happ (Arb 2) 1.9 Nick Madrigal (ML Min) 1.2 Jason Heyward ($22.0M) 1.1 David Bote ($2.5M) 0.9 Nico Hoerner (ML Min) 0.2 Rafael Ortega (Arb 1) 2.1 Kyle Hendricks ($14.0M) 0.6 Alec Mills (ML Min) 0.5 Adbert Alzolay (ML Min) 0.7 Codi Heuer (ML Min) 0.4 Rowan Wick (ML Min) 0.2 Dillon Maples (ML Min) 13 Players (7 Hitters $36M + 6 Pitchers $17M = $53M + 13 FAs/Callups TBD)

I'd prefer they muddle through one more year and transition Eloy to 1B in 2023, or at least begin the transition if Jose signs another extension, which would be fine if reasonable if he's playing the same through the end of next year. Vaughn can be a good enough LF, I'm assuming the Sox will bring someone up or can acquire someone who could better fill RF in terms of defense. I understand at least a third of all outs are now strikeouts, so OF defense and particularly corner OF defense isn't as important as in the past, but every small difference counts, and that ball in the gap or the runner held at 3rd or gunned at the plate can still make a difference in a ballgame.

Andrew Vaughn keeps on delivering. ROY odds keep improving.

Andrew Vaughn with the clutch hit!!!

Agreed. Not sure if Collins has one more chance to gain sustainable improvements both offensively and defensively. I was hopeful he was able to make the leap to perhaps be a starter when Grandal's contract was up, but he may not even be in baseball at that point. Hopefully Seby can play at his current level, and possibly continue to work defensively and hit well with regular at bats. @WhiteSoxFan1993 - I agree, time will tell whether Seby can have sustained success at this level, though there are many low cost catchers available each offseason/trade deadline as well if he does not work out. With the Sox payroll increasing by over 50% since his signing (high $120M to around $170-$180M based on who the retain / sign), Grandal's contract isn't as significant as it was when it took up nearly 15% of payroll. Hopefully he is committed to working with our top pitchers, and is able to catch 90-100 games each of the remaining two seasons. He can have significant ABs in the playoffs, as he did last year, so the priority this season is to get him to the point he can catch most of the playoff games.

$73M (Grandal) vs. $2.4M (Four Zavala) Is one worth the difference, or can the money be better spent across the roster. That is what I have questioned since the signing. Keuchel is another contract to consider regarding overpaying when there are also other glaring needs (like the perennial hole in RF).

Radio generates far less revenue and rights fees. Radio stations are not owned by MLB owners. Most RSNs are. Radio stations are paying for their announcers to travel. MLB owners, with more wealth and more broadcast revenue, are not. Yes, JR is not the only owner doing this. They all are. They all suck.

I concur, this is not a good season with the closure of the lounge downstairs, you need to go upstairs for any decent kind of beer or drinks, and it's a cluster with the lack of staffing / Chicago COVID rules at this point. Zavala (37th) is out catching Grandal (44th) in the one thing Grandal can do well behind the plate, pitch frame. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/catcher_framing?year=2021&team=&min=100&sort=4,1 Zavala has a .768 OPS, and is $18M cheaper. Grandal is a sunk cost. He is an upgrade offensively, but definitely not a savor, or worth $18M more per year. If he was, the team would be playing a hell of a lot worse than .667 baseball they are when Selby Zavala is catching. (Grandal's percentage is .596). .768 OPS / 109 + OPS Young, healthy, ML minimum salary Superior pitch framer .667 team winning percentage in Zavala starts (vs. Grandal's .596) 2020 was the same story, as McCann held a 17-10 .630 record in games started vs. 17-15 .531 for Grandal (Collins 1-0 in his lone start). Collins has been majorly disappointing since Grandal's latest injury, but Zavala cannot catch every ball game (same with Robert who needs rest, regardless of the poor present options to back him up). Just grateful Zavala stepped up when his opportunity arrived. He is playing 3+ out of every 5 turns through the rotation, and has been a huge asset to the Chicago White Sox.

White Sox W-L Record - Games Played 2021 Seby Zavala 15-9 .625 Yasmani Grandal 37-26 .587 2020 James McCann 19-12 .613 Yasmani Grandal 24-22 .522

What are you talking about, each team gets just under $100M from national and web based revenue, and the "small market" teams gets welfare payments / food stamps in the tens of millions from the teams that actually generate revenue and compete. Each team takes in at least $100M, you have several teams spending less than half of that money and pocketing the difference. https://econintersect.com/pages/analysis/analysis.php?post=201911150136 The CBA calls for these welfare payments to be spent on player salaries, but most of these spongers pocket the money and field their horseshit teams, year after year after year. It's an absolute disgrace, there needs to be relegation like the EPL and other European football leagues.

Not saying he is better, just saying he is the pitcher "standing in the way". AL Cy Young Odds https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/mlb?tab=player-futures Lance Lynn -220 Garrett Cole +260 Carlos Rodon +750 Robby Ray +1200 Chris Bassitt +3100

"Fuck shit fuck you fucker" = Fastball "Fuck shit fuck motherfucker" = Slider Pretty easy to pick up on radio broadcasts, can't imagine it would be too hard for opposing hitters to hear Liam on the field.

Linked below is a good read regarding Kevin Goldstein. https://awfulannouncing.com/online-outlets/fangraphs-hires-former-astros-scouting-director-kevin-goldstein-analysis-commentary.html Didn’t realize he is there now, will start reading. Thanks @Harold's Leg Lift

Jerry Reinsdorf has never been the cheapest owner in Chicago. The Halas McCaskey family have held the title of the cheapest owner in Chicago for over a century.

What wasn’t included in the screenshots, but was in the article was the fact when police officers arrived at Bauer’s apartment to investigate, she showed her injuries to police, the police did nothing with Bauer but arrested her instead for underaged drinking at his house. So in summary, if you are a HOF type baseball person, you can “allegedly” beat, rape, assault and serve a minor alcohol and suffer no consequences, but if you are a minor who reports to police you have been raped and beaten, and possibly served a drink served by your “alleged” rapist, than you go to jail. I’d really like to see a copy of the arrest report, with the rape victim’s name redacted., listing what the police did or did not do in relation to the victim’s arrest and her accusations. The article did not state that she was intoxicated, it stated “underage drinking” which could mean anything from a sip to legally drunk to beyond. Would like to see why Bauer was not charged with providing alcohol to a minor, if the report states she was arrest drinking at Bauer’s house. Quote below is not from the newspaper article.

DJ mentioned adjustments with Liam’s slider worked on in a bullpen yesterday. Hope that is all that was needed to get him back on track. Kudos again to Tony for using Kopech for two innings. Hope he would have done the same if it were still tied (pulling Keuchel after 5 w no “win” opportunity and no “hold” for Kopech). Kopech should be able to handle two inning outings twice a week from here on out. Keuchel battled back after a very shaky first time through the order. Tomorrow will be harder with Bassitt on the mound and heavy bullpen usage with Reynaldo likely limited to 3-4 innings at this point. Cheers!

Nice bounce back by Liam tonight. Very happy with the win here!

On the radio broadcast, both Connie and DJ have repeatedly said Goodwin getting caught up was intentional and a smart play to allow the runner to score. Is this a true assessment? Others here said Stone ripped it, though he has his favorites and others he dislikes.

Any chance Bummer gets the ninth here?

Let the record show this was Hahn and Kenny’s top priority. Then again, TLR was Jerry’s top priority.