The Kids Can Play

I will tell you what Hahn has earned: If he continues to destroy this organization further, which he will, and refuses to resign... then he will probably never see another GM job again. Even if he were to get another one, it would be only at some major losing franchise. The fact is though, I don't think he even gets a GM job at the worst team in baseball. What sane owner would want Hahn based on his debacle of all the critical GM duties that he failed miserably at: 1. A trainwreck of the full blown rebuild. From the 2016 into 2023 he has one of the worst teams in baseball. 2. The people under him responsible for scouting, drafting and developing young prospects has been a utter disaster! Hence why they are currently ranked 26th in farm systems. 3. Horrific free agent signings! The Sox currently have the 11th highest payroll and yet third worst record to show for it. 4. Brutally unsuccessful track record of trading way key starters and getting poor value in return off the prospects...he overvalued and then underdeveloped in his own Sox system. If you were a owner of a struggling losing club, would want Hahn to be in charge of turning your team around? If some owner was....good luck!

That probably will happen! At this point, we really need that "very very bad" Sox team. It's the only hope and prayer we have as Sox fans...and trust me, I know its small chance...but it's only hope we have for JR to get more crucified and then hopefully JR will be forced to fire Hahn and hopefully the entire FO.

That will be a no-brainer! The Sox will pick #1,#2 or #3 in the 2024 June Draft. The fact is, since we have such a horrible farm system and Hahn will probably dump several players at the trade deadline, the only way to be competitive again is through free agency. Unless Jerry wants to spend massive free agent money, which we all know won't be allowed, the unfortunate fact is, the Sox will probably be picking in the top three picks for the next several years beyond 2024.

Now you're talking about something completely off the original post or specific comments I was referring to! You're getting into a different argument that is for a different future post. I was not debating the state of our pathetic farm system. I realize the scouting and drafting from 2018-2022 sucked and can't be changed or improved until we clean house in the front office top to bottom. All I was suggesting was, it was an absurd decision to take a washed up pitcher in Colome, after they DFA him, then followed by 29 other clubs, clearly saying no way in hell do they want him on their ML roster...and then our idiot GM says, no worries Colome, we will take you back at AAA Charlotte and waste a AAA roster spot on you. That was insanely stupid and that was my point. My only point was, if there is no Colome being wasted at Charlotte, then they would need to move up a AA Birmingham pitcher to Charlotte instead of Colome, which is what should have happened. That was my only point. I was not debating our dysfunctional farm system and what it will take to change it.

Maybe I didn't clarify my point well enough. I wasn't suggesting to bring a pitcher up from AA Birmingham to the Sox ML level. Instead, I was suggesting the Sox lose Colome and not let him waste a AAA Charlotte roster spot. Then because you don't put Colome at AAA Charlotte, you move the next best ready AA Birmingham pitcher to AAA Charlotte instead of Colome taking that AAA roster spot. It would be a lot better to let a AA Birmingham pitcher move up the final level to try and get better at Charlotte, instead of wasting that spot on the reject Colome. The minors should be for prospects the Sox are trying to develop for the major league level. It should not be used for ex-ML players, especially pitchers who are past their prime. Obviously the clueless POS Hahn doesn't have a clue about this concept.

The Twitter world is having a field day...and rightfully so, mocking Moncada with the typical jokes that SoxTalk always post.

I haven't researched the past teams enough to decide how many years it goes back and 1970 may be accurate. I do know 100 percent for certainty, its the most frustrating and unlikable Sox team I've ever watched

You're absolutely right and unfortunately that is exactly what kind of utter low point it will take for a complete overhaul to occur when the fans seriously go away.

This is what a smart and successful owner would do when it's not working with his same people doing the same old wrong things. Unfortunately that type of forward thinking called "Best Practices"...is completely out of Jerry's cognitive capabilities.

Just when our dysfunctional FO looks like they can't get dumber, they role up their sleeves and succeed in finding a new way to become even dumber! The Sox DFA Colome because he sucks and he hits waivers. Then 29 other teams pass on him. Oh but wait, the genius Sox FO says he is probably not good enough for our major league club, but perfectly fine for Charlotte. WTG Hahn! Let this reject loser Colome waste a roster spot at Charlotte, when you should have let him walk and let some other young pitcher in AA move up and have their opportunity. At this point the absurdity of Hahn has reached a new higher level in this laughable disgrace of a baseball franchise!

The Sox are entering into the worst case nightmare, which is having a garbage ML roster and a horrible minor league system across all levels...both at the same time as you are pointing out. The goal before the trade deadline is to trade our good players who can be of great value to other GM's looking to solidify their team going for the World Series run. Those are the desperate GM's like Rick Hahn was the last two years...willing to give away good prospects. The other problem is, do the Sox have enough valuable talent coveted by other teams? I'm sure some GM's will want these players, but at what cost? Many of the players we want to dump, because they are struggling offensively, might just diminish a successful haul. Thus it's impossible to improve the Sox 26th ranked farm system significantly at the trade deadline. This means adding more years to getting the farm system strong again, saying the FO even does it right. Another major hurdle for the Sox in trying to successfully rebuild a stronger farm system, is the fact the FO will have to drastically change the people in charge of their dysfunctional method in scouting, drafting and development of the young prospects. Even if we did have enough attractive players to trade away to get quality prospects back, is anyone confident in Rick Hahn attempting Rebuild 2.0? Furthermore, even if Jerry fired RH, does anyone want Kenny or Chris Getz doing the rebuild? I'm just not seeing where this gets better anytime soon, which could be years...because we all know why it will take that long. Thanks Jerry!

It doesn't matter if the Sox have less players injured on the IL compared to other ML teams. The problem is the Sox don't have quality depth on their roster. When the good teams like the Dodgers, Rays, Braves have injuries, they have a deeper bench than the Sox to survive until their players get back. Furthermore the Sox have one the worst minor league systems. Good teams like the Dodgers and Rays have strong farm systems and they can bring up good players, which obviously the Sox cannot do. I don't care how many Sox players come back in the future. This is not a good team, nor a team that can contend for a World Series championship now or in the future with this assembled roster. Nor is this team a WS contender we were promised and sold on.

There was no doubt when Chris Sale pitched, that was "Must Watch TV!"

You guys are missing a few big points. 1, He was a third overall draft pick which as we now know was probably a bad use of that high of a draft pick by Hahn. There were other more pressing needs. Having said that, do you have a first baseman in this organization to replace him if in fact you plan on trading him? 2. Go check the Sox 26th ranked farm system. I've looked at all levels and I assure you there isn't a good 1B in Charlotte or Birmingham to step up right now and produce Andrew Vaughn like numbers. 3. Since all of you are down on Vaughn that he isn't worth building around, and I'm not necessarily saying you are wrong. However playing devil's advocate, if Vaughn isn't that good, why in the hell would other ML teams give the Sox a ton of great prospects for Vaughn, since as many of you said...he is an average first baseman. 3. Give the position to Gavin Sheets. Gavin Sheets is probably a worse fielder at first than Vaughn and clearly isn't even close to Vaughn's run production. 4. I know the batting average isn't as high as we expected from Vaughn. I do think it will get better. The home runs aren't there either. Maybe in time he can be a 20-25 HR guy. However he is on target to drive in 120 runs. We have nobody on this team can do that like Vaughn. The fact is you have to keep a few players in a rebuild and he is only 25 yrs old. 5. Speaking of RBI's, Jose Abreu never hit more than 36 HR's in a season and usually in the low 30's or below. However Jose was a RBI machine driving in over 100 RBI's most years...which I believe Vaughn is showing us he can be a RBI man for the Sox. 6. Go get the next first White Sox baseman from free agency. Here are the 2024 UFA's listed at current age and many of these obviously a year old next season. Josh Bell 31 Rhys Hoskins 30 Joey Gallo 29 Brandon Belt 35 Giovanny Urshela 31 C.J. Cron 34 Ji-Man Choi 31 Garrett Cooper 32 Jesus Aguilar 32 Jake Lamb 32 Yulieski Gurriel 38 Darin Ruf 36 Eric Hosmer 33 Matt Adams 34 If the Sox are going to be prudent and spend their free agent dollars in 2024...which Jerry will have a hard time allowing in rebuild 2.0, then maybe that money should be saved for a starting pitcher or two or many of the other weaknesses we have besides first base on this horrible team. The bottom line is go right ahead and trade away Vaughn, when you don't have anyone on the present roster, or in the minors to replace him, as well as a lackluster free agency group...be careful what you wish for? Don't forget Hahn will probably be in charge of trading of Vaughn and he'll probably get fleeced like he always does.

1. Frank Thomas hit 39 home runs and 114 RBI's in 2006 and in 2006 for Oakland had 26 HR's and 95 RBI's in 2006 for Toronto, which was his 17th and 18th season. He retired playing 19 seasons. Are you kidding me, most players don't ever see an 18 year career before falling off, let alone a 19 year career. 2. Frank Thomas was not a freak of nature. He was seriously into weight and strength training back in high school and college. During his long career as a White Sox, he was notoriously known as a player who worked out extensively hard in the off season as a pro on his strength and conditioning, as well as during the season. 3. They never had radar guns in the 50's and 60's. When they did finally have radar guns, they were not accurate like today. From most experts, players and historians, it was detailed how many pitchers like Bob Feller, Sandy Koufax and Sam McDowell and many others all three upper 90's. 4. Giolito and Lopez would not destroy that era. Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Willie Mays and Hank Aaron and many many others would have crushed their pitches today. 5. Yes players are built up more today and maybe as we are seeing, all the bulk and strength training doesn't amount to anything positive, if they don't do the other parts of training like flexibility and core strength, which many of players lack today. Hence, go see several constant injured Sox players today.

I was right there with you and felt this rebuild would work. I bought into the multiple championships and parades from Rick Hahn. But that was 2016 and now it's 2023. I feel horrible I was duped by this POS Hahn. This rebuild has been an utter trainwreck and embarrassment. Not only did he fail on developing a winning roster that was deep in quality hitting and pitching, he failed even worse in developing a strong farm system. The worst crime is everyone but Reinsdorf knows it's been a massive failure...but nothing is changing because of the demented inept and uncaring owner. Sadly we as life life-long loyal Sox fans are once again screwed and deprived of having a fun summer of baseball to follow our favorite team.

I won't get into a tizzy over it, but we will never know the amount of users...and as you said, not everyone was on them. I truly believe in fact, more off them were not on steroids than were on them. Again my opinion and no way to prove either way. I never have and never will for one second think Frank Thomas was one of them. He was a big man playing baseball long before the White Sox, when he played both baseball and football as a tight end at Auburn. In fact, he was a big dude in high school earning all-state in both baseball and football and helping his baseball team when a state title. One more thing about the good old days when players played a full season. Forget the 90's or 00's with steroids. What about the 50's, 60's and 70's where there weren't steroids. You can go look up tons of players playing full seasons and pitchers going 9 innings routinely and getting complete games often. Oh yeah and not only did some pitchers get 20 plus complete games back in the 50's and 60's, but they also pitched on a four-man rotation and not five-man rotation like today.

Totally agree! This new GM must come from a consistent winning organization that has shown consistently in building a strong farm system over the years through the proper scouting, drafting and developing in the minors. Until Jerry is gone and we have a new owner, I seriously doubt Jerry could think that intelligently to go to the outside for "Best Practices"! It's much easier for Jerry to be loyal to his mediocre FO losers and make a few changes from his internal pile of White Sox FO s%*#!

Jerry did say recently, "Sports is a business of failure. But the fact you finish second, third or fourth, doesn't mean you had a bad year."

The pathetic thing is, Jerry is just dumb, arrogant and senile enough to do an absurd move like that. Let's face it, this entire rebuild since 2016 has been a constant display of Twilight Zone episodes.

The good old days where major league ballplayers played most games and somehow were able to avoid injuries or be able to play through them.

We could be someday once JR is gone and the team is sold. Then hopefully the new successful billionaire owner will go use "Best Practices" and go steel some executives from either the Rays, Dodgers and Braves.

We better pray Tim gets hot before the trade deadline, or we won't get crap for him, especially with Hahn negotiating the trade.