South Side Hit Men

Was expecting to see Robert in the frame for the final out.

Would love an 150 minute 2-1 White Sox winner tonight. Looks like everyone wants to play a quick one tonight.

Hope the Sox can work some counts against Mize this inning.

He could and most likely would, with pinch hitters used the rest of the way in a close game. Would really hurt with an early injury, as 2-3 PH attempts would deplete the bench vs. a likely 4 or 5% chance a pitcher would reach base. Also impacts bullpen management in a close game, replacing pitchers due to pinch hitting vs. pitching considerations. The 2020 extra inning rules makes proceeding with the backup catcher at DH slightly more palatable, as the likelihood of a game beyond the 10th/11th inning is reduced,

I'd prefer a White Sox player (Abreu, Anderson, Robert, Keuchel, Giolito) win the Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player Award. Of the three primary contenders, Bieber's contribution is single-handidly keeping Cleveland in it, Abreu's support will be watered down with votes going to other White Sox. Joe Maddon's Angels are worse than Brad Ausmus', between that and Trout's WAR not sure why he is considered the position player favorite beyond reputation. One last comment. The biggest loss in run differential would be the loss of Robert, primarily because of the defense he provides and the major hole he is asked to cover. Anderson would be the next most difficult to replace. The offense drops off significantly without Abreu, but the Sox have a players at least who can man his position. I think there is a possibility Eloy Jimenez would suffer a tragic accident if he didn't have Robert to cover his position to the extent he does.

Would be nice to attempt to win the Division, but I understand the thought process of giving Reynaldo more opportunities vs. having a slightly higher win probability by going with Gonzalez to start. If this was a playoff game, I'd be spewing expletives, but it isn't, and Gio is a better option following an opener than vice versa, so it makes sense.

You can't DH him with no 3rd catcher. Abreu needs to DH more to accommodate.

Would prefer these regular lineups (baring injury or rest) for the remainder of the year (no platoon considerations except RF). Anderson SS Moncada 3B Grandal C (Keuchel / Cease / #5 Starter) or 1B (McCann starts) Abreu 1B/DH (DH when Grandal plays 1B) Jimenez LF Robert CF McCann C (Giolito / Dunning Starts) / Encarnacion DH (Grandal C starts) Mazara / Engel RF (Platoon Starts) Madrigal 2B

In either event, I will retain the ability to spell prophet.

Actual salary is $50M this season, and the White Sox are committed to nearly double ($89M) after the other FA money drops, assuming a full season and no negotiated salary reductions, or owner lockouts / player walk-offs heading into the off-season CBA. I don't believe there will be COVID clarity until scheduled Spring Training, at the absolute earliest, and possibly not until the CBA is over.

Hahn spent $17M on the last two Free Agents, EE and Cishek, already had Grandal, McCann, Abreu, Vaughn and Jimenez on the 40 man. By that time most of the big names were gone beyond the pricey Ozuna and Castellanos, and Hahn's Mazara gamble made better sense in terms of $s and flexibility. Brad Miller ($2M) & Jeremy Jeffress ($0.9M) were two low cost signings after the Sox were done that turned out to be good 2020 signings (both 1 year deals so FA again in 2021). https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/2020-transactions.shtml Hope Encarnacion finishes strong, but not strong enough for any temptation to pick up the club option (or sign outside of the option at a lower rate). Current 26 man roster options plus Vaughn makes Parrot expendable. I'll review the 2021 Free Agents and post good market and bargain FA candidates after the off-season. I don't project the White Sox to sign a $10M+ FA this off-season beyond the possibility of Colome, pressed in part due to the injury to Bummer. Taijuan Walker & Anthony DeSclafani may be affordable options to bolster the rotation at first glance.

Biggie Smalls is my nickname for him. Biggie Biggie Biggie Biggie can't you see Sometimes your bat done hypnotize me

The doubles rate will be more important than HRs for Nick. The ability to hit gaps and make OFers play deeper, to allow his line drives over the infield to drop. His speed will help stretch 1Bs to 2Bs, and hitting the gaps 2Bs to 3Bs.

Thanks for making the image big enough where we can see it. It has to be a challenge for game-feed graphics to accommodate a players like Gaedel or Madrigal. All kidding aside, @Perfect Vision, I agree size should not impact the discussion in terms of playing smart baseball. Hopefully he can add more muscle the next few years to allow increased power / prevent the ability for teams to squeeze him against major league pitching. I believe he will be a quality MLB starter, with his elite contact ability, and good speed. He has played excellent being thrown into the deep end after a single minor league season, and his success this year has been a very pleasant surprise in a season of many. In some aspects, reminds me of Altuve when he came up. He has the ability to add significant stolen bases if the White Sox allows him to run and he works at it at the ML level. He won't hit .380 in his career, but a .300 + BA (and hopefully an increased walk rate as he gains experience) is very valuable.

Appreciate the hitting breakouts. I appreciate the strengths both players can bring to the table. Grandal pitch frames well, and is a valuable left handed bat in the lineup. McCann is better at working with pitchers, especially young ones. The 2019 off-season question was whether Grandal was the best use of limited resources in terms of dollars, current roster, and defensive limitations of said roster based on numerous DH/1B types (Abreu, Vaughn, Parrot, Jimenez (whether acknowledged or not), and soon Vaughn (and Burger if he is every healthy enough to play)). Even if Kopech elected to play, they still could have used another starter and bullpen depth. I still believe due to severe economic uncertainty, and specific to MLB uncertainty regarding revenue / attendance, free-agent spending which actually contracted recently will become heavily restricted, and McCann has a chance to return, at a better higher rate than Yolmer, but still far below what the expectations were pre-COVID. MLB teams will be extremely conservative until Spring Training in terms of spending in light of all that has happened, and will continue to happen, over the next few years.

Sign of a good teammate.

Why clutch at straws? I am a new poster here. Why disparage new signups? I believe we are all White Sox fans here, or that is what I assume when i am responding to a post. Most fans have different opinions regarding the quality of the front office, managers, coaches and players, or lack-thereof. Is that allowed here, or is the pervasive group think I've seen my few weeks here (RR can do nothing right, Hahn no wrong, YG is "Elite", McCann is garbage, Abreu is the true MVP, Anderson shouldn't be in the conversation, some consider Hawk a "professional" announcer, etc). Lots of strong opinions, I have a few as well, willing to have a discussion based on the merits. I've been a Sox fan since birth, and then a few years later in 1975 could provide positive affirmation once I was old enough to have a choice in the matter.

What is his paid salary in 2020? $2M. Period. Why did you cut the quote short? Either have a legitimate discussion, or move on.

That is what he is being paid, regardless of your "feelings". Let's deal with reality, that is his 2020 salary. Perhaps reply to my posts within context instead of jumping on a sentence outside of context. I stated the current economic environment, and the fact it will likely not appreciate within the next six months. Jerry wanted to cut salaries further, much lower than $2M, but the players held firm. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QdJEFEHa6YbLrnNhI7Z3DCZwOEycKPNVVMnkI_eN8zU/edit?usp=sharing

McCann 12-6 in starts behind the plate. Nice to see a professional catcher work with his starter and man the plate throughout the ballgame. Nice game for Dunning and the entire team. McCann Go Bragh!!!

Don't drink and moderate. It was a refreshing pace to see a catcher who, wait for it, actually can catch a baseball and call a good game. Would be good for pitcher development to allow McCann to work with Dunning and Cease for their remaining starts, in addition to Giolitio's starts, , to help with their development, before McCann is told to walk to assuage Hahn's ego and poor roster construction. Wouldn't be surprised if Adam Dunn 3.0 is brought back, because you can never have too many DH/1B.

Well James is taking home $2.0M in 2020, so it's a much higher probability than zero, or $18.0M.

Boyd gave up 3 HRs in 4 IP his last start against the White Sox. Boyd and the Tigers took it to another level today, with Boyd giving up 7 ER in 3IP and the Brewers plating 19 runs in a record setting shellacking. The Sox will miss Boyd for their final season series this weekend, with Skubal (4.70), Mize (6.75) and Fulmer (8.24) the likely starters.

In a world everything lines up perfectly, there would be a good possibility he would get something in the $8-$10M range from a team with limited catching options. I don't see 2021 as that world, especially on the revenue side. There is no world $18M is a possibility. Free Agent catchers, Pre-Covid 2020 Contracts (Full amount, not the fraction they actually received) Travis d'Arnaud ($8.0M) Jason Castro ($6.8M) Robinson Chirinos ($5.5M) James McCann is better than the above players. Unfortunately for him, his free agent year is 2021.

The Sox' 2020 adjusted payroll is $50M. The jury is out on whether fans (full/partial) will be allowed to attend games in 2021. The chance McCann gets a contract with $ above his current deal is minimal, whether here or elsewhere, even if fans are allowed to attend next season. The chance he gets $18M anywhere including here is zero. Owners were contracting free agent spending in a record growth economy, most will reduce spending even if revenues recover simply to keep the profit they didn't earn this year.