South Side Hit Men

Definitely worth listening to the replay once it’s on WSCRs website. Great to hear from Tim today!

Glad they got this closed out, looking forward to how he progresses this season.

https://www.radio.com/670thescore/podcasts/best-of-the-score-20603/tony-la-russa-on-rejoining-the-white-sox-357967190 TDLR: "So Crochet, Kopech, uh, are, uh, the organization's attitude is that, what's best now. And there's no doubt that Kopech, and probably, possibly Crochet, as a starter later. But for this year, for them and for us, that they start the year in the bullpen. and it makes it deeper and deeper." So there is hedging and or thinking through what he wanted to reveal there. I believe most people will interpret that direct quote to mean is development of the two primary SP prospects in the White Sox organization takes a back seat to the bullpen needs of 2021. If the plan is to eventually work both 2-3 + innings well into the season for a good number of appearances to reach 100-120 innings, on the road to becoming starters in 2022, it's a good / acceptable plan, though I can also see an argument to stretch them out in the minors to start the season. If they are going 70-80 innings in 2021, with the sole/primary consideration during the season being how do we win "today", be it July 3 or April 29, or September 15, then this will be a long term waste of valuable assets.

Its public knowledge how Hahn spent on a substantial external free agent budget ($64M last year, over $35M + carryovers this year). You know who has and can interpret "way more data and information"? Just about every other Front Office in MLB. The best and brightest in the game, reading books. Rick Hahn, reads tweets.

The evidence is you can disagree, but you would be wrong. Money matters, but Hahn will piss it away every time. Let's focus on the second White Sox window Hahn is "trying" to win, since as we all know, his first go around sucked ass (2013-2016 - Four straight years of terrible under .500 baseball, missing an 100 loss season by a game). 2019-2020 Off-season - Biggest Needs (Multiple Starting Pitchers & Right Field, one or two RPs). 2020 Budget for external free agents $64M $18.3M - Hahn's biggest contract - a lengthy contract (15% of payroll) to a catcher on the wrong side of 30. Caught just over half of games in a shortened season. $18.0M - May as well handcuff the club further with another overpay and lengthy deal for Keuchel, who can't top 90 MPH. $12.0M - Hahn just HAS TO HAVE yet another negative WAR mid 30s DH on his resume. The one saving grace, not another four year deal. $9.7M - Gio Gonzalez and Steve Cishek - Yeah, we found a playoff starter and late inning guy. $5.6M - Yes, Hahn filled the RF hole. Take a bow. Extends Ricky Renteria through at least 2021, fires him 63 games later after their best record by far under GM Hahn. Not counted in the $60M budget, eating $8.5M with Kelvin Herrera, because well who wouldn't want to spend $18M when your tanking on Kelvin Herrera. 2020-2021 Off-season - Biggest Needs (wait for it, multiple starting pitchers and a RF plus one or two RPs). 2021 Budget for external free agents $64M $28M + Grandal and Soft toss Keuchel signed last year. $8.0M - I "promise" this former clubhouse cancer is better than Mazara. Hangs up on the flagship radio station interview 2 minutes in. Brings a negative WAR as well. The several better RF candidates, some of which are cheaper with any patience? No, White Sox policy is to sign a RFer before Christmas, doesn't matter if they are any good. $9.6M - Yes, we have a solid young SP, but why keep our youth when you can trade for a guy Tony knows. This is the best of Hahn's transactions, assuming he doesn't do something stupid like extend him 2-3 more years into his late 30s. $13.0M - You have solid internal candidates, can return Colome for $5M. Still have other ways to spend money. No, we need more guys La Russa knows. Long term contracts to relievers in the 30s, usually works out well. Hopefully a good chunk goes to pet rescue, at least it is a worthy cause. $4-5 +M? Signs Tony La Russa, because hey when you have a mid market payroll, why not pay for two managers.

Well, he has been a HUGE hit at the MLB owners meetings for the past several years.

Jerry Reinsdorf to fans: Fuck You! Rick Hahn to fans: Fuck You! Steve Stone to fans: Fuck You! This is White Sox Baseball. I do agree the money isn’t necessarily the issue. The primary issue is the way Hahn has spent it during his tenure that has resulted in his abysmal record, even during the years the team actually “tried”.

In reality, baseball would be better off contracting two teams. Leading up to 2020, owners were considering expansion this decade. COVID has changed this stance in significant ways: There is no appetite or money for new stadium taxpayer shakedown schemes. As the proportion of overall net revenue from shared sources increases (National TV, MLB.com, etc), the short term $ boast from expansion fees are offset by the fact teams split less of the overall pie. While revenues hold on for now in terms of RSNs, and attendance declines are offset by raising ticket prices and auxiliary revenue, baseball demographics continue to trend in the wrong direction. Part of this is due to MLB’s antiquated management of the game. Until owners truly repair their relationship with the players and fans, and better promote said players and the game as a whole, this trend will continue. The least desirable markets remain, at least domestically. You may get short term fan interest, but demographics in terms of market size and revenues will soon render these new franchises revenue sharing/welfare teams. Baseball needs more Harlem Globetrotters and less Washington Generals.

Good post. Grandal / Abreu will get plenty of DH time (Grandal also 1B) as well. If LuCroy is healthy and good enough to make the team, I believe Tony will play him twice a week. Assuming no IR stints, I’m projecting 2021 games caught as follows: Grandal 97 LuCroy 58 Collins/Mercedes/Zavala 7 If there is a significant injury to Grandal, I expect Tony will order Hahn to pick up a grizzled veteran he likes within 48-72 hours of diagnosis from one of the dozen plus “tanking” teams around the league to split time with LuCroy.

Is Evan Katz Ethan's brother? Dave Duncan's Son?

This. Besides, I expect changes in the next CBA to counter service time manipulation with the new agreement. Former Seattle CEO Mathers helped galvanize union prioritization on this issue. In terms of Abreu, I’m hoping his illness is nowhere close to what Moncada suffered. We won’t know whether Abreu is 100% until Jose recovers enough to release his own music video. Moncada set a high bar, but I know Jose has the passion and talent to make it happen.

That's nonsense. This is one of the few young high quality teenagers the Sox signed, due to their club and Jerry's aversion. He had the pedigree with a professional baseball player father, and was given a half a million by a Wall Street hedge fund while he was in A ball, because unlike the White Sox, they had enough reason to believe it would pay off big time based on their algorithm. https://www.wsj.com/articles/fernando-tatis-jr-340-million-investment-fund-padres-11613732572 The Padres and this hedge fund were playing at a level several levels higher. Analysis of data separates the haves from the have nots. While the Sox have attempted to improve in this area, they are still light years behind other clubs. Six years ago, they were further away, hence Fernando Tatis Jr. for James Shields.

I don't recall coming across this, but a great piece regarding Katz' work with Rodon. I have confidence at least a few pitchers will make big leaps this season, and be much improved to start 2022. I'm hoping the Sox could get big improvements from a Rodon, Cease and or Lopez this year. https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2021/2/21/22294283/white-sox-have-ideas-for-left-hander-carlos-rodon

It’s disgraceful. Many teams are playing these games. Kudos to the Padres, Yankees and other teams who have rewarded top prospects with promotion when their ready.

? It would be cool if the team wins 100 + at some point over the next few years. The team is set to really do well if Kopech/Crochet/Cease, perhaps even Lopez or Rodon, can stay healthy, build their arm strength, and develop as expected/hoped. That said, while the fact they have a strong young core is an asset, there will be development and conditioning bumps this season. There would be even coming off a normal previous season. There are just too many key pieces attempting their first 120+ game season in the majors for the very first time. Love the optimism, but wouldn’t piss on the 2005 team. Their starting staff is better than the current one, but perhaps the 2022/2023 staff can put up a credible challenge.

I'm up for a ban bet taking the under 105 in 2021. You game?

I just find it interesting La Russa mentioned 3B and RF for Vaughn, hopefully this can come to fruition at least on a PT basis. Eloy is more valuable to protect from injury, especially at this juncture. Without viable alternatives, he's stuck in LF, which pleases him but not necessarily his pitching staff or White Sox trainers. Hope they can begin the transition to at least PT DH, and he escapes further injury during his "adventures" in Left Field. If Vaughn has any ability, he is already ahead of Eloy's current metrics. Primary OF dWAR per 162 games Carlos Lee -1.0 Manny Ramirez -1.8 Eloy Jimenez -1.95 Greg Luzinski -2.04 (Phillies stats, DH only here)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/andrew-vaughn-is-looking-to-make-the-leap-from-class-a-to-the-chicago-white-sox-designated-hitter-job-e2-80-94-though-tony-la-russa-cautions-e2-80-98he-e2-80-99s-in-pencil-e2-80-99-not-ink/ar-BB1dXor9 Three key snippets: “But when we start putting down the guys you expect to make the club, the guys that have an opportunity, one’s in pencil, one’s in ink,” La Russa said. “He’s in pencil.” La Russa likes that in addition to first base, Vaughn has worked at third base and in the outfield. “That helps you make the club when you can play in other places rather than the one place,” Vaughn said facing higher level pitching in Schaumburg last year really helped with his prep, including valuing every pitch and at bat.

Just stating facts, Hahn extended Ricky so he should have remained, or Hahn was as wrong on that move as with most of his other 2020 acquisitions. Must be nice to make almost every wrong move possible, and win "Executive of the Year". Must also be nice to be arrested and win a high paying promotion as a result, courtesy of your crony patron. Privilege and greed runs a world in need.

There is no evidence any manager with one viable starting pitcher and a bullpen running on fumes the final week will advance in a playoff series. Perhaps if Hahn didn't saddle Ricky with a bunch of high priced negative value players like Encarnacion and Mazara, or secured some (any) pitching help or any help at the deadline beyond the laughable Dyson trade (that Steve Stone hyped as a major spending commitment on the Score - what a fucking boot licking ass-clown), or if Hahn's big high priced free agent pitcher signing could walk the walk in the playoffs matching his non stop "teaching and schooling" bullshit he spewed all season and beyond, they advance. Hahn either concurred with Ricky or ordered Ricky to have the bullpen game Game 3. Hahn called up Rodon to relieve for the first time in in his career, because they were desperate with no other alternatives. Hahn signed a negative war OF, a zero RF, and no starting pitching help beyond the cocky FA who got his ass pounded lasting a few innings in Game 2. McCann was the superior catcher in 2020 over the extremely high priced free agent Hahn signed rather than the starting pitching the team so desperately needed. They couldn't even muddle through 63 games with the staff Hahn built. Still doubt Ricky would have survived even with a 2020 World Series title. Tony was to lose his Angels job, a team already mired in substance abuse, deaths, issues and arrests, once Tony's latest arrest became public, and Jerry was hiring him period, full stop. This is the same manager, mind you, who Jerry (who barely ever speaks on the record) stated had no business returning to managing, in part because he couldn't relate to players 50 + years his junior, several months prior to undercutting his front office, recruiting, and then hiring him with no consideration to any other candidate beyond the disgraceful Willie Harris "Bud Selig" rule interview, and this is even before his latest DUI arrest Bob Nightengale reported Jerry shared with NO ONE. No competent organization or executive, not even an "Executive of the Year", signs a manger, has the team perform finish unexpectedly with a .583 winning percentage with two credible starting pitchers (one in the playoffs), and fires said manager after 63 games. Those are the facts, whether or not you choose to accept them. The players thought he was a valuable manager, he finished second in Manager of the Year voting, and the players sentiment after he was fired was near unanimous. I'll side with the players who worked with him, who he developed into the players they are now under his leadership and coaching, and who loved playing for him over old bitter media types with their over the top and many times inaccurate or one sided with out the full story criticism.

This topic is based on a news report from Jerry's personal leak receptacle, the same designated leak receptacle that broke the story on this idiotic hire in the first place. Perhaps you and the usual suspects would be more comfortable sticking with the White Sox official site and Steve Stone's twitter account, assured all discussions will conform with your myopic view of the world and White Sox baseball.

While I have been critical of Hahn's player acquisitions during both "competitive windows", there is nothing to indicate over Kenny or Hahn's lengthy tenure any professional issues in terms of inappropriate workplace conduct or comments with a hint of racial overtones. Kenny and Rick are also smart enough not to violate the CBA by discussing collusion (owners have already been sanctioned multiple times for previous violations) or service time manipulation. Mathers is not smart or disciplined enough to say the same on any of these fronts. Folks also should consider Mathers was bold/entitled enough to say all of this in a single short public discussion. Coupled with the documented sexual harassment and subsequent settlements, ignorant comments and actions has been his MO, not the exception, for a lengthy period of time without repercussions until this latest public outrage. Replacing Mathers was necessary, but there must be a commitment from ownership for true change over time.

Posters concerns related to La Russia’s previous history with Ozzie Smith or Ron Grant were that it to also happen here. Fans spend a significant amount of time watching and discussing the team, no true fan would want players to be unhappy, have a divided or toxic clubhouse just to say “I told you so”. Also, the totality of posts questioning the LaRussa hire paled in compared to the “frothing at the mouth” against Rick Renteria, the man who earned a contract extension for his player development, positive team culture, the man players loved to battle for, and manager who led the team to their best record since 2008.

Exactly. I believe everyone here wants the players to be comfortable and accepted, regardless of whether we support the hire or not. If his DUI and other discussed issues resulted in positive personal reflection and growth, than kudos to Tony for committing to change at this stage in life. Baseball is a grind and despite COVID based restrictions on media access, players can still communicate directly with the public. Beyond a crazy blowup, the truth good or bad will emerge over time. I expect Tim to be candid via his personal social media in either case, and hope for the best.

My work is done here.