South Side Hit Men

A 90 + win division winner in a division heavy schedule through 2022 is meaningless. The American League Central has the longest World Series drought and the least number of winning teams. World Series Championships during Three Division Era: 9 A. L. East (2018, 2013, 2009, 2007, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1996) 6 N. L. East (2021, 2019, 2008, 2003, 1997, 1995) 5 N. L. West (2020, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2001) 4 A. L. West (2023, 2022, 2017, 2002) 3 N. L. Central (2016, 2011, 2006) 2 A. L. Central (2015, 2005)

Curious as to this board’s thoughts based on m a poll within the MLB Trade Rumors chat. Our poll will be open for voting for two weeks. Who wins the AL Central? Guardians (24.7% | 477 votes) Royals (12.1% | 233 votes) Tigers (21.2% | 410 votes) Twins (37.4% | 722 votes) White Sox (4.6% | 89 votes) Total Votes: 1,931

Ballots were due in Cooperstown yesterday. 93 voters, or 26%, have publicly declared their ballots. http://www.bbhoftracker.com/2023/11/2024-bbhof-tracker-summary-and-leaderboard/ It appears three of my six selections are likely to reach the 75% threshold. 98% Adrian Beltre (1st) 83% Joe Mauer (1st) 82% Todd Helton (6th) My remaining three selections are either eliminated or extremely unlikely to make it this year, but all should make it within their remaining eligibility window. 65% Carlos Beltran (2nd) 64% Andruw Jones (7th) 44% Alex Rodriguez (3rd) Billy Wagner (79%) is the one player I omitted which will likely be elected this year. Gary Sheffield at this stage (73%) will likely finish just short of the threshold on his final BBWAA appearance. I continue to be against shortening the ballot eligibility window from 15 years to 10. I do appreciate there is far less dicking around by voters to withhold votes for nearly anyone in their first year of eligibility.

Doth protest too much. End of Season Los Angeles Dodgers 100-62 Arizona Diamondbacks 84-78 (16 GB)

Well we should hope these moves are based on short term budget constraints for Jerry/Hahn nuking interest over the past decade. I'm holding on hope they can improve drafting, player development and when money is available FA acquisitions over the next few seasons and build around the growing prospects they have been acquiring since July.

https://www.southsidesox.com/2023/12/31/23987994/in-memoriam-the-chicago-white-sox-we-lost-in-2023-gary-peters-dave-nicholson-lee-richard-cotton-nash Major League Level White Sox 1/26 Gary Peters (85) 1959-1968 2/25 Dave Nicholson (83) 1963-1965 3/30 Fred Klages (79) 1966-1967 4/14 Dave Frost (70) 1977 4/24 Dennis Ribant (81) 1968 5/7 Deacon Jones (89) 1962, 1963, 1966 Also White Sox Scout 1968-1975 & 2008 5/23 Cotton Nash (80) 1967 Also Played for the Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco Warriors of the NBA and Kentucky Colonels of the ABA 8/6 Lee Richard (74) 1971-1975 First MLB Hitter to face a clocked over 100 MPH pitch (Nolan Ryan 100.8 MPB 1974) 9/28 Bob Priddy (83) 1968-1969 11/3 Dennis Higgins (84) 1966-1967 Joe Crede's cousin. 11/17 Lou Skizas (91) 1959 Crane Tech HS Graduate 12/2 Joe Hicks (90) 1959-1960 12/6 Dave Wehrmeister (71) 1985 Lyons Township HS Graduate Additional White Sox Connected Losses 1/2 Vince Harris (55) Minor Leagues 1986-1988 4th Round 1986 Draft 2/7 Andrew McKenna (93) White Sox Chairman 1975-1981 2/25 Joe Goddard (85) White Sox Beat Writer Chicago Sun Times 1974-2000 (Alternating Seasons) 3/5 Dave Wills (58) White Sox Broadcaster / Pre/Post Game 1997-2004 5/14 Matt Borne (46) Minor Leagues 1998-2000 6th Round 1998 Draft 10/5 Joshua Crede (40) 48th Round 2001 Draft Selection (did not play), 3B Joe Crede's brother 11/26 Bill Young (69) White Sox Scout 2002-2023 12/17 Barry Johnson (54) Minor Leagues 1992-1997 Joliet Catholic HS Graduate

Nightengale is the same ass clown who stated on The Score Tony La Russa’s DUI sentence was the equivalent of David Ross missing time because of the flu. Receipts https://soxmachine.com/2020/11/following-up-police-report-puts-some-tony-la-russa-words-on-the-record/

“I Love It When You Analyze.” - Hawk Harrelson (to Darren Jackson) Love that Michael Kopech is also in the Top 10. Wouldn’t mind the Sox taking a look at Luke Weaver to kick the tires if people are passing on his decreased K rate.

Pretty sure he was good in 2021. The Sox had 13 total pitching seasons as good or better over the past decade, with Sale & Quintana accounting for the majority (7 vs. 6). Rodon and Cueto marked two buy low success stories under Hahn’s six acquisitions. White Sox Pitchers with x > 3.4 bWAR Season(s) 2013-2023 Acquired by Kenny Quintana (2013, 2015 & 2016) Sale (2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016) Acquired by Hahn Cease (2022) Cueto (2022) Giolito (2019 & 2021) Lynn (2021) Rodon (2021)

The Committee got it right. https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401551773 Alabama, Michigan, Texas and Georgia would have worked as well.

Has been since 1981.

Now that 162 games is basically a meaningless exhibition season with the ever expanding playoffs, I wonder if at some point rules become more flexible in terms of teams like the Braves or Dodgers simply delaying the start of the season for pitchers like Sale, Ohtani, Scherzer, Kershaw, etc. without a formally declared injury. Let veteran pitchers ramp up in the Spring / Summer so they come online between the ASB and trade deadline, throw 80-100 innings and be fresh in October and November. Reduces the injury risk. Spring training: Father’s Day - Trade deadline. Soft launch 3-5 inning starts: August is the new April. Labor Day: Unleash the hounds, 90-100 pitch starts. October - Veterans Day: Fresh for playoffs & World Series.

We’re going to need more cowbell.

Sale is due $27.5M for 2024, $10M of which is payable in 2039 and $17.5M in 2024, so Atlanta is basically paying the MLB minimum this season and deferring $10M until 2039. Also, there is a $20M 2025 Club option ($15M due in 2025, $5M in 2040) which becomes guaranteed if Sale finishes Top 10 in Cy Young voting and does not end the season on the IL.

For five years it is. On a Reinsdorf team it is. He can’t play anything beyond LF, and he failed miserably at that last season. At least with another albatross like Jason Heyward, he could cover CF and RF.

I personally would have signed one or the other catcher (Stassi or Maldonado) I’m also not going to fret about it. None of this will matter beyond 2024-2025, and none of the guys DFA’d or sent to AAA (Lee) are amounting to anything. I’m with @nrockwayand @CaliSoxFanViaSWside on this. I accepted the likely budget in November. People here demanded a vast roster overhaul and they are getting it. This is what it looks like when Hahn leaves you with dick at the major or minor league levels, and you are stuck with albatross deals like Benintendi.

Well near the halfway poll, and here are the teams which have increased and decreased year over year Opening Day Payroll through 12/29/23 acquisitions. There should be several additional teams to exceed their 2023 OD payroll once we get to Opening Day. That said this helps show which teams likely have more room to spend on the remaining free agents, which teams may be done, and which teams are likely tanking payroll because they make more money sucking. Love that the Dodgers have cut payroll year over year to date despite the Ohtani and Yamamoto signings. it is a bad year for high priced free agents with the Padres, Angels, Mets and White Sox significantly cutting payroll. $427.6M will need to be spent through opening day to avoid a year over year decrease in spending. Cots Contracts 2024 & 2023 Teams which have increased year over year OD payroll as of 12/29/23: Net $133.7M $36.8M Houston Astros (6) $16.9M Atlanta MLB Team (5) $16.3M Washington Nationals (20) $14.6M Kansas City Royals (21) $14.0M Tampa Bay Rays (26) $12.6M Arizona Diamondbacks (16) $11.2M Baltimore Orioles (27) $8.9M Texas Rangers (9) $2.1M Cleveland Guardians (25) $0.3M Miami Marlins (24) Teams which have decreased year over year OD Payroll as of 12/29/23: Net $561.3M $95.7M San Diego Padres (12) $67.9M Los Angeles Angels (14) $62.7M New York Mets (2) $58.4M Chicago White Sox (18) $38.1M San Francisco Giants (13) $36.1M Colorado Rockies (15) $34.5M Minnesota Twins (19) $28.1M Detroit Tigers (23) $22.1M Oakland Athletics (30) $20.8M Milwaukee Brewers (22) $14.6M Chicago Cubs (9) $13.8M Cincinnati Reds (28) $13.1M Seattle Mariners (17) $12.8M Boston Red Sox (10) $12.7M Saint Louis Cardinals (11) $11.0M Philadelphia Phillies (3) $9.1M New York Yankees (1) $9.0M Pittsburgh Pirates (29) $0.5M Toronto Blue Jays (7) $0.3M Los Angeles Dodgers (4)

Do you have access to an approximate Season Ticket Full Season Equivalents for 2022, 2023 and 2024? This would really provide context as to what their budget is / should be, especially in light of your comment 2025 payroll may be under $100M. He’d be an upgrade over the past several POTUS. Ditto MLB Commissioner or Chairman of the Board - Chicago White Sox.

Flexen is known as the Hulk. Don’t get him angry. You wouldn’t like him when he is angry.

2024 MLB Free Agents - 2023 White Sox bWAR -2.0 Tim Anderson -1.1 Lance Lynn -0.7 Yasmani Grandal -0.6 Jake Diekman That said, teams have a broader perspective beyond a year. The White Sox received some value (Soroka my favorite of the haul) for -1.0 Bummer, and Atlanta is widely considered to have a smart FO.

That’s possible if they start horrendously like last year, as this will absolutely crater attendance. They need a decent start, be within 5 games of .500 to end May, to draw some fans to enjoy a nice Summer day. 2026 is the earliest I see them having a possible decent young core if a lot goes right. Where the rubber hits the road is how players develop over the next two seasons, and their philosophy of acquiring players and roster construction for a contention window. If it’s the same old same old like the past few decades, then yeah, sign out of Soxtalk until Jerry is gone because it’s never going to happen.

He flexed in 2021, was decent in 2022. https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2021/11/9/22770497/2021-mariners-exit-interviews-chris-flexen I understand people are coming to grips with a $130M - $140M payroll, expecting a lot higher number after the past two years, but this is how it’s going to look until the Sox start acquiring and developing quality players internally.