South Side Hit Men

I agree, he should be the backup catcher. He could not have done anything more in Arizona. Steve Stone said on the Score two weeks ago he is an eventual starting catcher in this league, and he isn’t going to cost you much in terms of salary. How the Sox manage their roster out of Spring will be more enlightening in terms of how things will work out with La Russa and his staff more so than what they do with LF before Engel returns. Will they stick with the inferior veteran options they brought in (Lucroy, Hamilton, Turley) because they are guys “known” by the manager and staff, or will the go with the superior options (Collins, any OF on Earth, Ruiz) because there was an honest competition, and the better player is given an opportunity.

Data spewed from politicians are a majority of the time bullshit, be it Cuomo or DeSantis. Same thing with data from MLB Owners saying they "lost" billions last year. Always watch the money and how it flows, and look at data anomalies. There are differences between state reporting COVID methodology. One way to eliminate reporting is just count the increase in total death by state, 2020 vs. 2019, which cannot be manipulated. Total Florida Deaths increased from 206,975 to 246,448 (Take total through 3/20/21 and back out through WE 1/9/21), or 19.1%. Total Illinois Deaths increased from 108.937 to 130,426, or 19.7% Total California Deaths increased from 270,780 to 327,650, or 21.0%. Total New Jersey Deaths increased from 74,675 to 95,551, or 28.0% Apparently it takes over 15 months for New York State to count the number of 2019 deaths. These states which "did the right thing" have a higher increase in deaths in 2020, despite the fact that both average age / mortality and obesity (except Illinois, which is 4.4% more obese, though much younger) would favor these states in terms of COVID death rate based on the fact that most COVID death involved people either 65 and or obese. Looking at the CDC data, it is clear the United States across all 50 states did not attribute COVID deaths correctly. The average death rate between diagnosis and total deaths across the entire country is 12.9%, with states varying from 10%-15%. It's clear based on the substantially larger mortality rate that these numbers are undereported, that is why it is best to use year over year total deaths to get a better picture as to a more accurate death toll.

Death rate by state. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109011/coronavirus-covid19-death-rates-us-by-state/ Cases by state https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109004/coronavirus-covid19-cases-rate-us-americans-by-state/

Yes, the fish rots from the head down. It was Jerry's brilliant idea to fire Hemond and bring in Hawk. Hawk also purged Dave Dombrowski, architect of the great 1990s Expos teams, Miami's two World Series Championship teams, Detroit's two AL Pennants, another WS title in Boston and likely a solid contending team with the Phillies after he gets a few years to clean up that mess (the bullpen is already much improved, their major issue the past few seasons).

You also have 40-60 games of Grandal DH/1B time to consider, because at his age he likely can't catch much beyond 100, assuming he will be healthy enough to do so during his final three seasons (he only caught 32 last season). And if you say fuck it, make him catch 120/130, good luck with his health or any playoff production if he survives the season. The other option is sitting $18M in salary for 40-60 games because Hahn was excited last December, despite having solid a solid starting catcher. People bashed me for daring to criticize their poor roster construction and heavy portion of payroll dedicated to players in their 30s, instead of adding more depth across several players and pitchers. This isn't the only injury that will occur this season, and the architect of this roster is entrenched as long as Jerry is alive, so I don't expect anything thing to change next off-season or beyond.

With Engel out, they are limited in OF. They were last year when Hahn was spending $36M on Grandal, Parrot and Mazara, and ended up with Nicky Delmonico in RF on OD. I'd bring up and start Collins over Lucroy, but the manager and Narron are likely to side with "veteran presence". That's why Billy Hamilton was brought in, before the Eloy injury. My lineup is based on what I believe La Russa and Narron will do. Garcia is the best actual outfielder option unless they go out an get another OFer before OD. Does Vaughn even own a mitt beyond a 1B mitt? It's reckless to put him out there, even with a one week crash course. Then again, recklessness is how they got to this point. It is ironic that La Russa was shitcanned in part for his experiment of Carlton Fisk in Left Field.

WTF? Who is going to be different if Grandal can't catch? If he can, than perhaps Vaughn will get the nod at DH if JR is not worrying about his contract when JR is in his 90s. Would be irresponsible to shove Vaughn in Left Field, but then again this is what the White Sox do as general operating procedure.

Even more egregious is the $61M in stupid money spent during tanking years. Kelvin Herrera $18M Yonder Alonso $16M Wellington Castillo $15M Todd Frazier $12M The Royals outspent the Sox this off-season, before the Salvador Perez signing.

Opening Day: SP Giolito 1. Anderson SS, 2. Eaton^ RF, 3. Abreu 1B, 4. Moncada* 3B, 5, Robert CF, 6. Grandal* DH, 7. Garcia* LF, 8. Lucroy C, 9. Madrigal 2B If Grandal can catch, than perhaps Vaughn will be brought up or they'll go with Collins at DH. EDIT: RHP Bundy is the Angels' pitcher, so I believe La Russa will bat Eaton 2nd and Grandal 5th or 6th. (Had Grandal 2 and Eaton 6)

He's a Katz guy. Lucroy is a Narron guy. Lynn and Hendriks were LaRussa guys.

1-2-3 for Carson Fulmer.

Joc Pederson 1.247 OPS, 5 HRs Kyle Schwarber 1.147 OPS, 4 HRs Jose Quintana 5 G, 14 IP, 15 K, 1.07 WHIP, 0.64 ERA.

Because the Sox did not have the balls to tell Eloy no to this sham the past three years, and the FO kept signing and drafting more DH types as if it weren’t a problem. Decisions like these is why this team now entering its ninth season under Rick Hahn has never won more than 78 games. Kim Ng should have been hired in 2013.

There is a Cuban still available, may sign for a cheap contract.

“I’m thinking Nick Delmonico, we’re capped out in terms of resources.” “I’m thinking Arby’s, I have a coupon about to expire.”

The Biggest Hurt ?

It doesn't have anything to do with Machismo, unless meatballs like Kenny or Ozzie are involved. Most ML hitters, the best hitters on Earth, no longer have the ability to bunt consistently, because fundamentals are not highlights on Sportscenter and that's not why were promoted to the show. The best athletes are raking throughout the lower levels, and are never asked to bunt. Also, hitters do not have the ability to consistently launch a batted ball (non bunts) safely to specific areas on the field. Pitchers are pitching you a certain way to force you to hit into the shift. If batters had the ability to consistently hit balls "where they ain't", shift or no shift, they would be hitting .500-.600 +. This isn't 16 inch softball. The best batting average hitter ever caped out at .366 (Ty Cobb). The best of all time, who spent their entire career working hard at their crafts like Cobb, Williams, Gwynn, etc., were better than their peers, but could not beat the law of averages beyond a couple standard deviations beyond the best hitters in the game.

"Rick, Let me get this straight, because I'm hard of hearing as you know. You mean to tell me we can get Texas to eat the remaining contract for guys like Castillo and Jones, and in return we also end up spending far less on International players? Way the hell are we not doing this every season?"

Fangraphs 2021 projected OPS: Eloy Jimenez .878 vs. Anderson .776 In terms of leadoff, I do agree Anderson is not always optimal vs. RHP. However, I do agree with LaRussa’s call to slot Anderson in the lead off hole, and Abreu third as permanent fixtures to solidify the lineup is a different animal psychologically vs. the other lineup slots, same as closer for bullpen pitchers. Would rather maximize at bats across the four best hitters, Anderson, Moncada, Abreu and Jimenez, and let the bottom sort itself out. I can see an argument of Grandal at #2 vs. Moncada vs. Righties (.813 vs LHP, .702 vs. RHP) , moving Moncada 5th. I don’t have a lot of confidence in Eaton at this stage of his career, and Madrigal needs to prove himself with only a few dozen games under his belt. If either prove consistent production after a few months, perhaps top of the order would make sense, but I wouldn’t start the season that way.

Sweet Baby Jesus

I’m entering year three of saying permanent DH and ban him from owning or wearing a mitt. Lance Lynn or David Wells would make for a better LF option on their off days.

And you act as though the team couldn’t have brought in an actual left fielder the past three seasons, or not draft yet another DH only type in 2019 to prevent the inevitable, over the past four years. So they have Vaughn, Eloy, Collins, Abreu, Grandal for at least 50 games and Burger if he’s viable at the ML Level vying for two lineup spots. And little depth anywhere else beyond Garcia and Engel. More Hahn Brilliance.

Should never hate the player, he is only playing up to his capabilities, and he has tried to get better. It's the Front Office and Manager / Coaching Staff who need to make the correct call and DH him. Perhaps stop drafting year after year of hitters who can't seem to play any position at the ML Level besides DH and 1B if you're lucky. Can't expect anything different at this point.

When your defensive metrics indicate Carlos Lee and Dave Kingman are Gold Glove LFers compared to Eloy, he very well may finish as the worst defensive player with the highest negative dWAR if the stubborn front office continues to stick him out there year after year. Not to mention the lost games at the plate due to his constant injuries. He got injured jumping up and down after Giolito's no hitter, would likely have gotten injured if he was in Moncada's music video.

I didn't "predict" anything, I posted what Matt Spiegel reported on the Score, discussions between the city and sports teams.