South Side Hit Men

Even with all of those advantages, Tim Anderson considerably outperformed Madrigal in their rookie age 23 seasons. Most here expect Andrew Vaughn to be a much more significant contributor next season during his Age 23 season, despite the lack of defensive contribution. bWAR Seasons recent #1 picks - Draft Picks which reached the majors by Age 23: Tim Anderson (17) 2.4 Carlos Rodon (3) 1.7 Carson Fulmer (8) 0.5 Nick Madrigal (4) 0.5 [2020 shortened season] Andrew Vaughn (3) - Age 23 in 2021 (TBD) Garrett Crochet (11) - Age 23 in 2022 (TBD) [0.3 bWar 2020 shortened season] Zack Collins (10) , Zack Burdi (26) and Jake Burger (11) did not reach the majors by age 23.

The disturbing point I read about this on MLB trade rumors is not the interest in Brad Hand, but the mention of Crochet in a bullpen role. Hopefully it is simply conjecture on the author's part. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ Unless the Sox state there are known or likely future health issues preventing Crochet to be a Starter, they should be doing everything possible to build him up for that eventuality. Crochet will never be a starter if he doesn't build up significant innings over the next two seasons. He could be a legitimate playoff starter for years.

At the plate, in the small (no pun intended) sample size, you are correct. However, he cost the team by not following his coaches on multiple occasions resulting in bad outs on the basepaths, including the time he got injured running through the stop sign, getting gunned out at third by miles, and getting injured in the process. Dumb on so many levels: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/nick-madrigal-exits-white-sox-game-apparent-injury-after-slide-third

Yes, the two high priced 2020 free agents * are not on anyone’s list so far. There are eight additional players on the 40 Man roster with no votes who appeared in 10 or more games last season. Cease Cordero Foster Fry Garcia Grandal * Heuer Keuchel * Marshall Mendick Of these, I really liked Cordero and Foster for stepping up last year and performing better than most people expected heading into the season. Cease is my pick for most improved in 2021.

My favorite David Eckstein anecdote is the fact he was named to the Jewish All American Baseball team. David had to break the news he is not Jewish. https://www.espn.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2002/0828/1424027.html Nick Madrigal is listed as two inches taller than David.

Yep, though still prefer Bradley Jr. for his fielding versatility. bWAR 2017 Grossman 0.9 vs. Eaton 0.3 2018 Grossman 1.7 vs. Eaton 1.1 2019 Eaton 1.5 vs. Grossman 1.0 2020 Grossman 1.2 vs. Eaton -0.7 Grossman $10M (2 yrs) vs. Eaton $8M (1) or $15.5M (2 yrs). Jake Cave (3.0 bWAR) outperformed Eaton (1.9). The offer to Eaton was ludicrous.

The Score spent a few minutes discussing this Portillo's tweet.

Of the five I listed as least favorite, Eaton is the only player I dislike and hope doesn’t report, based on his toxicity over the years, picking up where he left off with his introductory interview on the team’s flagship. He is led by children, and is a certified asshat. I’m OK with Dallas Keuchel as a person, if Tim Anderson is. Would like to hear Dallas has made amends in Spring Training for his comments made during the off-season. As a pitcher, he sucked ass in Oakland, and if he can’t improve in the post season, I hope he doesn’t reach 160 IPs the next two seasons and lock in $20M as a 35 year old in 2023. Madrigal is listed because of his mental errors. He is a rookie, so he should / must improve in that area. Not sure why he is hated by others, he performs well with his talents / abilities otherwise, plays with passion. Just needs to follow coaching signs and stick to fundamentals. Grandal reminds me of Roger Dorn in Major League, between his lackadaisical efforts at times, his lack of quality game calling management or bothering to catch the baseball. Hahn needs to go down on the field, piss on his contract and tell him he gets paid not just for pitch framing and bat on his shoulder walks. Lynn is new, so I just like everyone else more since they are here. That said, watching for any signs of a LaRussa Lord of the Flies situation, with him siding with Keuchel and Eaton and against the core we love. With Cooper gone, Tony and Boston are the only two on the on field staff I want gone, though many also share the same sentiment.

The Sox were a third place team in a crummy division with Jimmy Cordero as only pitcher other than Giolito who could get more than 10 outs in the playoffs. What was he supposed to say? Oh yeah, the obligatory "It's Ricky's fault." Wouldn't get too cocky, since 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates have won 77 more games than the White Sox, despite a much lower payroll. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

It appears the Cubs may also have let go of their dingbat color man. Mark was not afforded the same grace on the legal or commentary front as a certain person employed by a certain MLB team located ten miles south of Clark and Addison. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/looks-like-mark-grace-is-out-at-marquee-sports-network/ar-BB1ct0qr

Moments of magic will glow in the night All fears of the forest are gone But when the morning breaks they're swept away by golden drops of dawn, of changes. - Phil Ochs

It's also quoted in the twitter linked article in the original post. The Emmy-winning Sambolin, who first joined NBC 5 in 2002 and then rejoined the station in 2013 after a two-year stint with CNN, announced Dec. 29 that she has been taking a break from the station to focus on her health and to care for a loved one. It’s not publicly known where Williams and Sambolin moved.

Thanks for posting, Rick Hahn's account much more interesting than the fast food garbage. Deep Thoughts, with Rick Hahn.... Madrigal has already reached his "short" ceiling Go make me a sandwich Correction - Should be "White Sox" "high priced" vets..... Sucks to be a Padres fan. LOL How did it work for you Hahn the past 15 years? Grandal, Keuchel, Parrot, Dunn, LaRoche, etc. prove otherwise. Hopefully Hahn's lesson learned sticks

Link to a story from two weeks ago, an "anonymous owner friend of Bob Nightengale" explicitly stated there is no chance in hell the season will start on time or be a 162 game season. Said an American League owner (*cough* Jerry Reinsdorf *cough*) who also requested anonymity: “I don’t see any way spring training starts in February. Zero chance of that. I don’t care if we play 140 games, 120 games or 80 games, we have to make sure everyone is safe to do this right.’’

Tony sighting in Wicker Park

MLB is the only sport with an anti trust exemption. The union should lobby Congress and or consider a lawsuit to overturn to create a level negotiating field. MLB has a de facto salary cap, and does not bargain in good faith, is not open and honest with their business disclosures as the other three professional leagues are contractually obligated to provide. (The NHL's Player Union was a complete cesspool in the 1970s-1980s, read Career Misconduct). The Players Union has lost a lot of ground under Tony Clark, They need to Seek arbitration regarding collusion over the past few seasons fight collusion. Seek arbitration or a lawsuit for clubs not adhering to the CBA by skirting minimum player salary requirements under CBA revenue sharing provisions which dictate funds must go toward payroll. Negotiate a significant increase to the MLB minimum salary and incorporate significant increases to arbitration awards, to combat ownership collusion over the past several years. The Union also should consider expanding their membership to the minor leagues or help create a minor league players union, and to fight to restore previous compensation and draft count levels for the international and domestic drafts the owners rescinded last year.

He was good on ESPN Sunday Night / Playoff Baseball radio broadcasts (with former Sox announcer Chris Singleton). Is he going to skip Sunday Cubs games, or be limited to MLB Playoffs only, and skip Sunday night baseball? An ESPN spokesman said Sciambi will have fewer MLB weeknight telecasts because of his Cubs deal, but his MLB work on ESPN Radio and college basketball duties will remain more or less the same. Sciambi has worked for ESPN since 2005 and became full-time with the media giant in 2010.

They agreed to sign Beckham and he passed the physical before the LaRussa announcement. LaRussa's views on race and his criminal behavior are nauseating. I hope the White Sox post the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission contact information in their clubhouse and front office. https://www.eeoc.gov/field-office/chicago/location Phone (312) 872-9744 If you believe you have been subjected to employment discrimination, please access the online Public Portal here. You will be asked to answer a series of questions about your employment situation, and where applicable, be directed to schedule a telephone interview with an investigator. You must have access to the internet and an e-mail address to use the Public Portal.

Yes, even more so than Dallas Keuchel in Game 2 Year Age Tm Lg Series Rslt Opp W L W-L% ERA G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W WPA cWPA 2020 30 SDP NL NLWC W STL 0 0 6.00 3 0 3 0 0 1 3.0 3 2 2 1 3 0 5 0 0 0 15 2.000 9.0 3.0 9.0 15.0 1.67 0.02 0.2% 2020 30 SDP NL NLDS L LAD 0 0 36.00 1 0 1 0 0 0 1.0 2 4 4 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 8 4.000 18.0 0.0 18.0 9.0 0.50 -0.01 -0.1% Old white guys Tony can remember seems to be the lone player acquisition philosophy since A.J. Hinch Tony LaRussa was hired. Jerry aims to please.

Trevor Rosenthal is the correct answer. He is an old, ineffective guy Tony may still remember as a Cardinals draft pick while he was there. He is also a lot cheaper, so Jerry may all Tony to pull the trigger for $2M-$4M, or $0.5M-$1.5M prorated once the cancelled regular season games are factored.

The owners cannot be trusted. If they try to screw the players again and cancel many/most regular season games, I hope the players walk out in late September and there are no playoffs if they are not treated fairly. If the owners have no regard to the integrity of competition, the regular season and fans, the players shouldn't have to carry the burden. The owners add nothing to MLB, they only take. Keep all profits, socialize all costs to taxpayers and players. Completely reprehensible.

Have the same concern with the White Sox’ richest contract (assuming Keuchel doesn’t lock in his 2023 option). https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grandya01.shtml

“I think there’s likely to be a work stoppage after the 2021 season. Any CBA that would encourage one of the richest and most storied franchises in the game to trade away a generational talent like Mookie Betts for pennies on the dollar is fundamentally broken,” Hocherman, the Nats fan with opening day tickets, said. “Thirty billionaires laying people off in the middle of a pandemic to save what amounts to a couple days’ worth of interest to them is enraging. The destruction of the minor leagues, which is where baseball grooms not only their future talent, but their future fans who don’t live within reasonable distance of a major league franchise, or can’t afford to drop $400 on a game and a couple dogs, is another issue I find maddening. I was an early adopter of ‘Moneyball’ and the thinking behind finding undervalued statistics that correlate strongly with winning in order to compete with the big spenders, but it’s gotten to the point where a team like the Red Sox would rather fly an ‘In Under the Luxury Tax’ banner than a pennant. How is a fan supposed to love a game that is so despised by the people who run it? PS - Liesdorf hates Basketball too.

The Twins and other teams have been talking to Colome. I don't want this to happen.

It would have been interesting, but barring a loss of Kopech, Vaughn or Crochet, I would have loved the move. Welcome to SoxTalk!