South Side Hit Men

I agree, La Russa is unlikely to try it, that is why I phrased it "what I would do", versus saying what will (Keuchel / Grandal in decline phase / overpaying in terms of $s and length of contract) or will not happen (Grandal will not start 120 games at catcher in a regular season ever again). Doesn't mean it shouldn't happen. Mercedes has a great arm, can work with a regular pitcher and gain mutual comfort. Both public projection systems are down on Vaughn, as is La Russa, so that may be his best path, Vaughn failing. Abreu is most likely staying and productive beyond 2022, and Eloy is here to stay. Projected OPS (Blended rate and player) (BP / PECOTA, Fangraphs Depth Charts (Zips + Steamer) .823 Abreu .819 / .826 <= Likely here through at least through 2023-2024 .820 Jimenez .746 / .873 <= Not Going Anywhere until at least 2025 .772 Moncada .761 / .783 .771 Grandal .757 / .786 <= Not Gone until 2024 .763 Anderson .745 / .780 .761 Robert .726 / .795 .759 Mercedes .796 / .721 <= My Guy to give a legitimate shot at Backup .746 Madrigal .757 / .735 .735 Eaton .722 / .748 <= Hopefully Tony doesn't sign him for 2-3 more years .679 Collins .670 / .688 <= Tony's Guy at Backup .655 Engel .655 / .655 <= Both systems hate Adam Engel, I think he outperforms this big time .642 Vaughn .624 / .659 <= Both systems hate Andrew Vaughn, at least to start his career @caulfield12 If Cespedes not up, they should sign a new RFer, not keep Tony's pet Eaton around. He's had a good week, but that doesn't mean he'll stay healthy and productive for multiple years. Engel can prove he can handle more playing time with regular playing time this year, he seemed to turn the corner.

This, plus there is no "conundrum", good teams have more than 6 or 7 hitters that are solid, 10-13 make you a solid contender with depth. You can't worry about 2022 until you see how this season plays out. For this year I would do the following: Catcher: Grandal 3 of 5; Collins 1 of 5; Mercedes 1 of 5. Outfield: Vaughn goes to AAA to play everyday LF for 4-6 weeks when Engel returns. Eaton Robert Engel OF w/o Vaugh, four OF rotation upon Vaughn's return. Eaton really should play LF when Vaughn isn't, but Tony / Hahn doesn't have the balls or sense to do it. Designated Hitters: Primarily the catchers to start, mix in part of the four OFers once they are in place, Eloy is the primary upon his return this year and beyond. Bench: Garcia is OF and 3B only; Mendick is 2B and SS only (emergency 3B). 2022: Upgrade bench, Cespedes up to replace a FA Eaton, sign a starting 2B if Madrigal doesn't make it as a starter.

I’m a Mets fan, but this is complete bullshit. I don’t believe players should be able to wear those pads. Guys like Rizzo and Bonds entered the strike zone with their stance for years with no consequences because of all that padding. They’d think twice if they face a possible broken elbow every time they put their arm into the Strike Zone.

I can see MLB going after him specifically for exposing this in the first place for revenge, and also coming up with this policy to discredit the lawsuit against the Angels by the clubhouse guy who made this for his players and opponents. That said, there is no expected punishment phase of this initial testing scheme. https://theathletic.com/2474483/2021/03/24/mlb-will-use-statcast-lab-testing-to-catch-pitchers-doctoring-baseball-but-punishments-could-be-tricky/?redirected=1 Also, this is typical of MLB’s half ass garbage measures, including: Half ass steroids testing, easily avoidable. Halfass “investigation” into the various electronic cheating scandals of the past several years, with the only formal report issued solely to exonerate Houston ownership who by all accounts were fully aware and approving of their vast cheating conspiracy. This ridiculous scheme. If a player has been cheating all along, their stat cast numbers will not deviate from past performance, and thus they will not be subject to scrutiny.

In between games I listen to White Sox segments on the Score podcasts, and also general baseball talk, select Cubs segments and Spiegel’s Sunday Show. They’ve been great all season. The only issue is that for three West Coast Night games so far, we’ve lost the game feed for at least 5-10 minutes to some garbage ESPN National show, before the station returned back to the game. NFL draft, off-roading one point, skateboarding. Likely too cheap to have a late night station engineer, Sox broadcast the only live employee there. Typical ESPN trash. I hadn’t listened to that station for 15 years since the Sox left.

I’d be more comfortable sending Vaughn to work on playing LF and play every day in Charlotte for 4-6 weeks. Let’s him return able to pay full time in LF, pre/post Eloy return. That leaves time for Engel and Mercedes to play 4-5 games a week, let Collins catch every third day and play DH 1-2 more per week. Grandal (1B) and Abreu (DH) get fielding breathers. After a few months settles, can see who deserves to keep playing time upon Vaughn, and later Eloy’s, return.

Yermin Mercedes > Joe Borchard

Loved the MVP chant as much as the Double!

Fixed this for you, hope you don’t mind.

More importantly, what is the length of his contract, and Hahn’s contract? We know Jed (2025) and Ross’ (2023), and knew Theo (2021) and Maddon’s deals (2019). Know the length of every other coach’s deal (Bulls, Hawks, Bears). We knew Ricky’s deal, and his extension given sixty games before he was fired. Yet crickets for La Russa and Hahn. I don’t recall a single person asking this at his introductory press conference.

Back in the 1980s, before La Russa was shit canned, he was booed at home regularly. Our entire section and much of the stadium booed him every time he stepped foot out of the dugout, up 10-1, still booed. He finished with a .506 winning percentage here. His “HOF Career” began once he had access to credible ownership, the top GMs in the game, and tens of thousands of steroids filled syringes and other PEDs. He still pissed away two of the three Oakland World Series.

It must have taken La Russa 45 minutes to speak that quote.

Compare and contrast to Nick Madrigal. WTF indeed.

Have to hope there is no rain delay, forcing him out early. It's colder tomorrow, but less likely for lengthy rain, at least according to the current forecast.

Agreed, and it's for the whole window, not just 2021 in terms of what Hahn declared as a "multi-championship window". If the Sox win 1 + WS over the next 4-5 + years, that should and will be considered success. I'm just addressing the comment "if they make 2 or 3 playoffs, they are outperforming the rebuild". That is not what the stated goal is, or what Sox fans should put up, and Hahn's record "trying" 2013-2016 wasn't any better than when he was "tanking" 2017-2020. White Sox Baseball, "It's getting better all the time" I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved. Man I was mean, but I'm changing my scene, and I'm doing the best that I can I admit it's getting better, a little better all the time (it can't get much worse)

The White Sox have now lost 13 straight when facing a right handed starting pitcher, scoring 3.46 runs per game, facing a pitcher with an average career bWAR of 6.7. (Runs Scored) Date Pitcher (Career bWAR) (4) 4/7 Justin Dunn (0.5) (4) 4/4 Shohei Ohtani (0.8) (3) 4/3 Alex Cobb (12.6) (3) 4/1 Dylan Bundy (9.1) (4) 10/1 Mike Fiers (12.2) (3) 9/30 Chris Bassitt (5.6) (8) 9/27 Adbert Alzolay (0.2) (0) 9/25 Yu Darvish (24.5) (4) 9/24 Zach Plesac (3.9) (2) 9/23 Shane Bieber (9.0) (3) 9/22 Cal Quantrill (1.0) (4) 9/21 Aaron Civale (1.8) (3) 9/20 Michael Lorenzen (6.2)

This cannot be the standard fans hold team ownership and the front office to. The White Sox organization stated the goal is “multiple champions”. “Making” the playoffs a couple of times is not the objective, and should be considered an unequivocal failure. Rick Hahn 12/7/20 Dunning Lynn Trade Rick Hahn 12/10/20 Adam Eaton Signing Rick Hahn 1/19/21 - Liam Hendriks Signing Rick Hahn 2/17/21 - Avoidance of La Russa discussion day:

Today is the first day all six divisions have an undisputed leader. As the season continues, this will be more common than not. Houston was off today, but retained their League and Division Lead. They open a series at Oakland later today. The Dodgers lost today, losing their one day NL lead to Cincinnati and Philadelphia, but retaining their lead over the NL West. Kansas City relinquished their first division lead since the start of 2019. Minnesota is now atop the AL Central with a half game lead. They will host the Seattle Mariners starting tomorrow. Baltimore has their second undisputed hold over the AL East this season after their win over the Yankees. They host the team they swept opening weekend, Hawk's Carmines, for a three game series starting tomorrow. Division Lead - The last time each team has led their Division (ties don’t count). (AL #1) 4/6/21 Kansas City (Mike Matheny) (AL #2) 4/4/21 Houston (Dusty Baker) - 4/8 vs. Oakland (AL #3) 4/4/21 Baltimore (Brandon Hyde) - 4/8 vs. Boston (NL #1) 4/3/21 San Diego (Jayce Tingler) (AL #4) 4/2/21 Tampa Bay (Kevin Cash) (NL #2) 9/27/20 Atlanta (Brian Snitker) (NL #2) 9/27/20 Chicago (David Ross) (NL #2) 9/27/20 Los Angeles (Dave Roberts) - 4/9 vs. Washington (AL #5) 9/27/20 Minnesota (Rocco Baldelli) - 4/8 vs. Seattle (AL #6) 9/27/20 Oakland (Bob Melvin) (AL #7) 9/22/20 Chicago (Ricky Renteria) (AL #8) 9/2/20 Cleveland (Terry Francona) (AL #9) 8/19/20 New York (Aaron Boone) (NL #5) 8/15/20 Miami (Don Mattingly) (NL #6) 8/12/20 Colorado (Bud Black) (NL #7) 7/25/20 Saint Louis (Mike Shildt) (NL #8) 7/5/19 Milwaukee (Craig Counsell) (NL #9) 6/9/19 Philadelphia (Gabe Kapler) - Current Manager Joe Girardi - 4/9 @ Atlanta (AL #10) 4/27/19 Seattle (Scott Servais) (NL #10) 4/23/19 New York (Mickey Callaway) (NL #11) 4/21/19 Pittsburgh (Clint Hurdle) (AL #11) 4/10/19 Detroit (Ron Gardenhire) (AL #12) 9/30/18 Boston (Alex Cora) (NL #12) 8/31/18 Arizona (Torey Lovullo) (NL #13) 6/10/18 Washington (Dave Martinez) (AL #13) 5/6/18 Los Angeles (Mike Scioscia) (NL #14) 5/7/17 Cincinnati (Bryan Price) - Current Manager David Bell - 4/9 @ Arizona (AL #14) 10/2/16 Texas (Jeff Banister) (AL #15) 9/5/16 Toronto (John Gibbons) (NL #15) 8/20/16 San Francisco (Bruce Bochy) This list contains the last date each team held the overall best record within their respective League, tied leads do not count: (NL #1) 4/6/21 Los Angeles (Dave Roberts) (NL #2) 4/5/21 Philadelphia (Joe Girardi) (AL #1) 4/4/21 Houston (Dusty Baker) - 4/8 vs. Oakland (NL #3) 4/3/21 San Diego (Jayce Tingler) (AL #2) 9/27/20 Tampa Bay (Kevin Cash) (AL #3) 9/17/20 Chicago (Rick Renteria) (AL #4) 8/28/20 Oakland (Bob Melvin) (AL #5) 8/18/20 New York (Aaron Boone) (NL #4) 8/14/20 Chicago (David Ross) (NL #5) 8/8/20 Colorado (Bud Black) (AL #6) 8/6/20 Minnesota (Rocco Baldelli) (NL #6) 5/2/19 Saint Louis (Mike Shildt) (AL #7) 4/21/19 Seattle (Scott Servais) (NL #7) 4/20/19 Colorado (Clint Hurdle) (NL #8) 4/16/19 Milwaukee (Craig Counsell) (AL #8) 9/30/18 Boston (Alex Cora) (NL #9) 7/2/18 Atlanta (Brian Snitker) (NL #10) 5/12/18 Arizona (Torey Lovullo) (NL #11) 4/20/18 New York Mets (Mickey Callaway) (AL #9) 10/1/17 Cleveland (Terry Francona) (NL #12) 6/8/17 Washington (Dusty Baker) (AL #10) 5/9/17 Baltimore (Buck Showalter) (NL #13) 4/15/17 Cincinnati (Bryan Price) (AL #11) 4/12/17 Detroit (Brad Ausmus) (AL #12) 4/11/17 Los Angeles (Mike Scioscia) (AL #13) 10/2/16 Texas (Jeff Banister) (NL #14) 7/18/16 San Francisco (Bruce Bochy) (AL #14) 4/22/16 Kansas City (Ned Yost) (AL #15) 4/4/16 Toronto (John Gibbons) (NL #15) 4/23/09 Pittsburgh (Fredi Gonzalez)

My responses were to your statement that critical posters are calling for Bummer and Hendricks to have pitched five or six games out of seven. Nobody is calling for Bummer and Hendriks to pitch in every close game. Hendriks should have pitched Sunday after having warmed up, rather than scurrying to rush Foster on Sunday, because he was saving Hendriks "for a save". He or Bummer also could have come in today, when the game was still in doubt, and Foster didn't have it. That equates to three games pitched, not 5-6. Tony had nobody warming up yet again, didn't learn from Sunday, the game he stated "This was one of the most impressive losses I can remember being a part of". Tony was specifically brought in here to "manage the bullpen Ricky refused to manage". He enters the season with far superior bullpen pitchers at his disposal (Kopech, Hendriks and Crochet beyond the 6 IPs in 2020). Tony is doing less with more. Ricky blew one game in sixty with the lead after seven, Tony topped that after three games. Based on blowing two of the two games Tony actually had a chance to impact the game as a manager, not being prepared for replay, not being prepared with the bullpen, there is no evidence Tony is any better or even Ricky's equal at this juncture of his life, after being out of the game for a decade.

Unlike Rick Hahn, Rick Renteria took ownership for the mistake of using the reliever Hahn brought up in Cleveland, (Rodon) when his staff was on fumes, and the Game Three game plan either jointly agreed to or imposed by Rick Hahn, because “GM of the Year” Rick Hahn couldn’t scrape up more than one single decent starting pitcher for a three game playoff series, after a “grueling” 60 game season. One is still here, despite never hitting 79 wins in eight seasons, and one is gone, despite having the best season in decades in his lone opportunity with a team with even a remote chance to compete, the same manager Hahn extended 60 games ago and led them to their only .500 season in Hahn’s eight years of worst in MLB baseball, trying or tanking.

Nobody was even warming up when Foster was in, just as nobody was warming up when Ruiz was brought in to start the ninth inning with the heart of the Angels were due up. Bottom line is Tony has been literally asleep at the wheel for decades, he blew a World Series game before “retiring”because he was unable to use a telephone, and people are quibbling like Tony regarding whether he was asleep at the wheel as opposed to being passed out at the wheel. This is no upgrade in the manager, and through seven games has been a downgrade, no matter how many millions of dollars in JR’s worthless paid for media hacks attempt to spin it. It’s a shame we didn’t acquire actual legitimate players, instead of nearing a decade of JR/Hahn spin.

No, he would have been in 3 or 4, but he has pitched 1/3 IP in meaningful situations, because reserving your $54M reliever to possibly accumulate a Save trumps putting your team in the best position winning the game in whatever functioning brain stem remains operable in La Russa’s body.

Just like I’m “wrong” that Grandal won’t sniff 120 games the rest of his deal? Or Keuchel and Grandal were overpays and severely restrict roster additions starting this offseason? Or will @Chicago White Sox chalk this up as “hindsight” when it to comes to pass. Not that Hahn knows or EVER WILL know what to do in any scenario or amount of $ available. Even Gar Pax and Ryan Pace shake their heads at Hahn’s level of incompetence over approaching a decade as GM, with no end in sight until Jerry croaks.

People need to stop counting last years bogus sixty games schedule as some type of norm. Baseball will resume if played on 2022, or 2023 once a CBA is finalized, and return to a more normal footing. A team’s # 1-3 will be expected to average 6 IP, #s 4-5 5 IP. Plus Theo is working in the Commissioner’s Office to improve the game, and further restrictions on rosters like the number of pitchers allowed, and minimum hitters faced. This will bring a better balance to the game. An enforced 20 second pitch clock would help as well, to prevent pitchers from delaying and ramping up for max velocity each pitch.