South Side Hit Men

I'm pointing out the relevant issues and players perspective. Did you listen or read the legal reasons why the players correctly rejected this latest owner scheme, or do you just lob ad hominem attacks without any knowledge of the pertinent issues, both in 2021 and beyond?

The key for any team under the current CBA is the acquisition and development of young talent. Even top payroll teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs are unable to consistently field quality teams (90+ wins) if they fail to acquire and develop a significant number of younger prospects. Saint Louis and Tampa are examples of mid and low level payroll teams which consistently lead the majors in drafting, acquiring and developing solid players. Fans may focus on Holliday or Arenado, but the Cardinals live or die based on the many unheralded beyond those who closely follow the team/industry prospects, not their one or two high profile acquisitions of superstars. People here / many fans will equate whether the current White Sox' rebuild is successful based on whether they win/reach a World Series, which is but a series of 3 (owners trying to increase it to 4) coin-flips. Better teams are slightly favored/advantaged to win each individual series, unlike the NBA/NFL where the top teams consistently win titles. The true measure is whether the White Sox can sustain consistent success with this core and beyond with new player acquisitions and improvements in player development beyond a 2-4 year window. The White Sox have only had three teams capable of sustained success (three plus 90 win season) in their 120 year history, the reason the club owns a .502 all-time winning percentage. Jerry/Selig pulled the plug on the only team in my lifetime (Larry Himes drafted teams of 1990 & 1993 - likely would have been 1994 and beyond if it wasn't for Jerry's crusade to kill the players union and MLB). Judge Kennesaw KKK Landis pulled the plugged on the franchise's most memorable team (1915, 1917, 1920 (they only won 88 in 1919)) that would have continued success if eight men weren't out. The Lane, Comiskey/Rigney, Veeck/Greenberg, Short teams in the 1950s-60s. (1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1964, 1965). Two of the all-time top three White Sox teams capable of sustained success were cursed. Will the Sox have such a team this decade, or will internal or external forces conspire to squash a run in the 2020s? Time will tell.

Just stating that before you and others write-off "baseball guys" off as at "the end of the line", consensus opinion in and out of the game is these two "highly trained Harvard guys", GMs Hahn and Bridich, made the worst all time trades in franchise history.

There is a huge difference between signing Cubans at cut rate deals and being able to evaluate talent. Hahn and Bridich are the only two GMs who haven’t won a division in several years who remain in their jobs. https://mobile.twitter.com/MarcCarig/status/1356777151425613827 Non Harvard guy can Kenny Williams flip his GM World Series ring out to Hahn and Bridich if they ever pull the Harvard card and ask “How do you like them apples?”

Apparently, Manfred pimped his "Cactus League" letter to the White House. https://sports.yahoo.com/biden-administration-officials-mlb-season-1-month-delay-mlbpa-020629747.html Stand strong MLBPA

You need to have full disclosure of all revenues before you can discuss having legitimate and equitable "revenue splits". The esteemed labour attorney, blocked on Twitter by owner leak receptacle Jon Heyman, Eugene Freedman was on the Score to discuss relevant issues for 2021 and beyond for those interested. Interview starts at the front of the podcast linked below https://www.radio.com/670thescore/podcasts/bernstein-rahimi-show-65/bernstein-rahimi-eugene-freedman-interview-midday-midway-hour-2-355977069

This is what happened when Jerry handed control to Crony LaRussa , resulting in mostly crony signings at or above their market value (Lynn, Hendricks, Eaton, Duncan). Another smart Twins signing. That cat looks terrified.

The key is who is making this decision. If Tony makes the call, he is a high leverage guy until Tony departs. If the FO make Tony adhere to what Getz laid out (multi-inning relief role), it could work if they stick with the plan and don't panic and shift him when the inevitable bullpen injury occurs. The bottom line is a healthy Crochet needs to be able to be slotted into a starting role in 2022 if healthy and capable, likely with inning restrictions (140-160?).

I'm most intrigued by Jefferson Mendoza. I'd like to read more about the Sox' specific catcher development efforts, whether they have or can add a catcher guru who can help prospects develop defensively throughout the organization.

I went to a game in early March. It was my first time I was able to attend Spring Training, based on the fact Winter was typically my busiest time while working. Was really excited to see Robert and Keuchel for the first time, Robert didn't do anything at the plate, but Keuchel pitched well. Like many Sox games, it was organically socially distant, with 3,233 tickets sold, and about 500-700 actually in the stands on a cloudy day with rare brief rain in Arizona. It's a nice complex, would definitely hit Spring Training in the future.

True, but he was born in 1956, Don is a a mere baby compared to Reinsdorf (1936), or his hires last year of Stone (1947) and La Russa (1944).

2021 is to build arm strength and for Robert, Eloy and Madrigal to gain additional experience working through their first full MLB seasons (Eloy had one season over 60 games). The key to any World Series window is player development over the next two seasons. If you get two Kopech, Cease and Crochet to dveelop into top 3 starters, and cover their two outfield corners internally and move Eloy to DH/1B in 2023, they will have a legitimate shot at competing for a World Series. Beyond 2023, they need to commit future top contracts to Anderson and Lucas, and move away from the early-mid 30 year old free agents / trade acquisitions. This all assumes Jerry and Tony continue running the show. New ownership can institute consistent winning windows by upgrading the FO, field a consistent top 10 payroll, and invest in player development and talent acquisition in the States, to help complement Marco Paddy's great job. Young cost controlled players remain the key to consistent success.

Step aside Nick Madrigal, you’ve come up short among 2020 White Sox in delusional statements on reaching baseball milestones. https://mobile.twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1356403204335017984

First of all, the nature of this discussion is what we would do as GM. This is what I would have done. My lineup and rotation are better than the current one, with the same or less payroll. Second, the Sox outperformed all expectations under Ricky Renteria. They lost at the end because they had one decent starting pitcher in the playoffs. Hahn assembled a team that did not have enough starting pitching depth to cover 63 games, let alone a real season against real teams outside of the pathetic Central Divisions which couldn't win a single series against legitimate teams. Keuchel, Hahn's biggest signing, sucked ass when it mattered most. Grandal's fWAR was the equivalent (1.7 vs. 1.5) as McCann, and Grandal's enormous contract is a mistake which already cost the club in flexibility this off-season based on their cheap ass owner. Parrot and Mazara sucked ass, another waste of $17M. Despite all that money done the drain, when the games were on the line, Ricky Renteria lead the White Sox to their best record since the 00s. Hahn extended Rick Renteria 60 games prior to Jerry's firing. He would still be here if Jerry's BFF could avoid repeated trips to jail. Nobody in their right mind would hire someone gone from managing from over a decade.

This might be the first accurate and relevant set of tweets in the history of that sordid website. How pathetic that the paid propoganda hacks at MLB.com blocked an intelligent and worthy rebuttal to their rubbish. If I had an account, I'd ask Baghdad Jon why the hell he blocked an experienced Labour Attorney from responding. Here is the response from the MLBPA:

Alderson and Mozeliak are smart and patient, and have owners willing to spend among the top 10 in MLB. They White Sox, not so much by any measure. Following the Bulls now for the first time in decades. Huge change in Bulls fortunes now that Jerry and his crony FO have been removed from the situation. Hopeful this also happens with the local team I care most about in the next few seasons.

Eric Kay/ Tyler Skaggs, Bubba Harkins and now Callaway. Lots of recent problems in Anaheim.

This, that is why I am against extending Lynn, or the 4 year Grandal / Keuchel contracts. 2023 gets ugly quick if Keuchel vests and or they extend Lynn and not increase payroll accordingly. 2023 = Six Players for $90M with the top three old and likely declining, Lynn makes it over $105M for seven: 35 Keuchel ($20M if 160 IP 2021 & 2022) 35 Grandal ($18.3M) 34 Hendricks ($14.3M) 28 Moncada ($17.8M) 27 Jimenez ($10.3M) 25 Robert ($9.5M).

fWAR Steamer vs. WARP projections for remaining free agents with over 1.0 projected fWAR 1.0 + differences in bold Trevor Bauer 3.8 vs. 2.8 (fWAR Loves) Justin Turner 3.1 vs. 3.3 Marcell Ozuna 2.9 vs. 3.1 James Paxton 2.1 vs. 2.1 Kolton Wong 1.9 vs. 3.2 (PECOTA Loves) Rick Porcello 1.8 vs. 0.8 (fWAR Loves) Chris Archer 1.7 vs. 1.4 Jake Odorizzi 1.7 vs. 1.3 Matt Shoemaker 1.5 vs. 0.2 (fWAR Loves) Yodier Molina 1.3 vs. 1.1 Jackie Bradley Jr. 1.2 vs. 1.1 Taijuan Walker 1.2 vs. 0.8 Brett Anderson 1.2 vs. 0.5 Nelson Cruz 1.2 vs. 2.8 (PECOTA Loves) Brett Gardner 1.1 vs. 1.7

There is a CBA in place. The owners can do the right thing in the first time in forever and abide to the deal they signed. Period.

$ Saved / Not Signed (in 2020/21): LaRussa ($3M-$5M?) - WTF - Absolute Dumpster Fire on all levels. Ricky stays as was Hahn and Kenny's intention 60 games and best season in decades before Jerry fired him for his criminal BFF. Grandal ($18.3M) - Didn't like the signing at the time due to age/$s committed as a mid market payroll Keuchel ($18.0M) - Understood the signing at the time, don't have confidence it will work out, hope he doesn't vest the final season Eaton ($8.0M) - Child, please. Should have signed a higher cost quality player and clubhouse presence. OK Hendricks and Lynn - OK with both, though don't want an extension for Lynn. Rodon - Whatever, cheap option with upside Signing Alternatives Bradley $7M-$10M (perfect for defense, either start in CF or play on Robert off days / injuries. Pederson $7M-$10M (Would have signed him ultimately, could have if they didn't jump the gun on Eaton. Fine with a second year option / deal). Goes to LF, Jimenez to DH. McCann $8M-$10M Flowers $3M Kluber $11M Quintana $8M Lineup: SS Anderson 3B Moncada 1B Abreu DH Jimenez LF Pederson CF Robert RF Bradley Jr. C McCann 2B Madrigal Rotation: 1 Giolito 2 Lynn 3 Kluber 4 Quintana 5 Kopech 6 Cease 7 Lopez 8 Rodon

Baseball Prospectus released PECOTA projections today. Below are players projections at the 50 percentile rate. https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/64332/pecota-2021-short-seasons-variance-and-collaboration/ Three projections presented: OPS & WARP = Baseball Prospectus WAR Projections + Comparable (Player at respective Age) C Grandal .790 / 4.7 Jorge Posada CF Robert .732 / 3.2 Victor Robles 1B Abreu .849 / 2.9 Cecil Fielder 2B Madrigal .756 / 2.7 Breyvic Valera LF Jimenez .834 / 2.6 Pete Incaviglia 3B Moncada .759 / 2.3 Brandon Lowe SS Anderson .732 / 2.0 Dale Svuem RF Eaton .711 / 1.9 Lloyd Moseby fip / WARP / Comparable (Player at respective Age) Giolito 3.96 / 2.9 / Jose Berrios Lynn 4.34 / 2.0 / Francisco Liriano Keuchel 4.41 / 1.4 / Garrett Richards Hendricks 3.17 / 1.3 / Tommy Hunter Kopech 4.80 / 0.9 / Trevor Bauer <== Jerry gave you Trevor Bauer afterall Rodon 4.89 / 0.5 / Daniel Mengden Cease 5.01/ 0.4 / Reynaldo Lopez <== Double the fun!!! Lopez 5.11 / 0.0 / Jose Berrios <== And two Berrios

The DH position has been a sad pathetic black hole since Jim Thome retired. I expect Vaughn to turn the tide, assuming he isn't traded, but it may take a year or two for him to acclimate to ML pitching. wRC+ & fWAR (Annual average for multi-year) 2020: E. Encarnacion 70 / -0.3 2019: Y. Alonso 54 / -1.3 17-18: M. Davidson 94.5 / -0.05 2016: A. Garcia 88 / 0.4 2015: A. LaRoche 77 / -1.2 11-14: A. Dunn 100 / 0.0 2010: M. Kotsay 80 / -1.2 06-09: J. Thome 137 / 2.7

There was at least one, and the current team is a possibility. Larry Himes assembled the key players for a legitimate World Series contender, but Jerry fired him, and then led his fellow owners / stooge commissioner to destroy their best chance at a World Series in 1994 . They also ruined baseball in Montreal simultaneously, more deadly than "Oswald's magic bullet" were their efforts. A similar CBA scenario is unfolding in 2021/2022, though Jerry does not hold the puppet strings over Manfred as he had over Bud. The larger concern is the fact several teams are assembling stronger teams, while the White Sox putter in their basement with a mid-level payroll in a league where a majority of teams tanking. Jerry's primary motivation over the years are spite/revenge and profit, in that order. He'll spend to spite those he can't control (Belle singing to spite his fellow owners), or withhold spending to punish those he attempts to exert complete control, which are the players, i.e. the only reason most fans care about White Sox baseball. Jerry will proudly wave a white flag to celebrate once this window is over, perhaps as early as 2024. Perhaps Jerry's happiest and proudest moment in life, pulling the plug on the Chicago Bulls championship run.

Thanks for posting. The article states "Jerry has virtually unfettered control", so there are restrictions, but much fewer restrictions than a typical LLCs, which the article points out. There is a very good possibility the White Sox will suck ass for perpetuity under this scheme, if his heirs or Jerry's hand picked potential successor, Andrew Berlin, obtains control from the estate. Andrew would need to sell his shares in the Cubs to assume control of the White Sox, but it sounds like the White Sox are his for the taking, and I can't see the League turning it down with Andrew already a minority owner of at least two teams. Sounds like Kenny and Hahn may live on Jerry's plantation for life, and life will suck for White Sox fans forever and beyond. Reminds me of this Twilight Zone episode.