The Kids Can Play

The dirty little secret is MLB only sanctions the WBC because they have an agreement with the player's association in that every player is required to buy personal insurance in the event they are injured and can't play for their MLB team. The MLB team gets full compensation for the missed time the player misses.

I admit I didn't phrase that right, it is about entertainment but that entertainment is suppose to be for the owner that pays the player and the fans that support him in MLB. I know its legal to play the WBC and I didn't say it wasn't. I said they have moral and legal obligations to their MLB team that pays them multi millions, as the WBC as I last checked doesn't pay their salary. If any superstar player during the WBC tears his ACL or pitcher tears their UCL in their arm and in either example, are out for a full year at least, are the owner, manager, teammates and fans all happy and celebrating? Go check and see how happy the Mets owner and manager are that they are losing their all star closer Edwin Diaz for 7 more months. I realize the WBC and MLB have an agreement that requires all players who play in the WBC to have personal injury insurance which goes back to the MLB team owner. However I can't imagine the Mets owner right now excited about receiving compensation from insurance as he lost his stud closer for the season. Interesting how Dylan Cease was invited to the WBC and respectfully passed on the invite, as he said he wanted to work harder on being prepared for the 2023 White Sox team and season.

Of course they are not going to keep this insane pace up and set a new W-L record, nor did I say or imply that. I do think they will win 95ish wins, which would be great considering the balanced schedule. My only point regardless of their hot start was the fact the Rays win every year. They do it in a way that the Sox FO is clueless and ignorant to, which is the Rays scout, draft and develop better than most teams, especially the Sox, due to their small payroll which forces them to be great in those areas. Saying the Sox could possibly win the series based on "if they play good baseball" is of course true in any game, but is it realistic? With Kopech and Lynn struggling and the worst bullpen in baseball, taking one game maybe if Cease pitches great is a possibility. Even then based on the number of dead weight hitters in the Sox lineup, I'm just not seeing it. I'm tired of being optimistic and having them let me down. Until they prove they can win consistently and actually win a series, I'm not buying the fantasy.

I guess there is always a contrarian in the audience. Based on your analysis the Rays are an overrated team earning this lofty record against inferior teams. Based on that the Sox should sweep the Rays or no less than 2 of 3.

It's not about entertainment. It's about their commitment and the legal and financial obligations to their ML team that employs them. The MLB players for all these countries, are paid huge millions to play MLB. If your side ventures interfere with your main job, then that is a huge problem.

I hope you're wrong too, but the Rays not only have one of the best coaching and scouting staffs in baseball to analyze Kopech in detail and be prepared for him, but they have the top offense in almost all major MLB categories and have the best record at 16-3. BA #1 .288 OBP #1 .360 SLG #1 .542 OPS #1 .903 RUNS #1 133 - 7 per game 2B #6 38 HR #1 42 TB #1 354 Of course this is what a great consistent winning organization does, especially when they don't have the payroll dollars like the top 8 big dogs do, 1-8: NYM, NYY, SD, PHI, LAD, LLA, TOR and ATL all over 200 million. The Rays are 28th in payroll at 75 million.

Your damn straight they would! Especially if Jerry was smart enough copy like what the Dodgers did when they recruited the GM Andrew Friedman away from Tampa Bay back in 2014 and made him the President of the Dodgers total baseball operations. Then let the new Sox President hire his own GM and front office people. Just go find one of the top GM's from one of the highly consistent winning baseball organizations. Give him a big new title as president in charge of total baseball operations and a huge new increased contract like the Dodgers did with Friedman. If Jerry did that, you're damn right many successful GM's would leave their current team and want this Sox job. Sadly as we all know, this will never happen under Jerry.

I agree with you that Madrigal was not some superstar or face of the franchise. But to trade him away along with a decent Cody Heuer for a washed up Kimbrel, who we no longer have on our roster, was clearly one of Hahn's dumbest trades. The fact is tell me anyone here including yourself, that would not want Madrigal right now playing 2nd for the Sox, as opposed to living with Andrus and Sosa. To your point when Rick Hahn is launched some day, the Madrigal trade won't be the only reason, but it will be one of many reasons that loser Hahn will be fired. Ultimately when they do the pros and cons and add them all up on a balance sheet, the cons will totally out number the pros of Hahn's track record regarding his trades, free agent signings, draft picks, developing a farm system and most importantly, properly handling a rebuild.

I don't know, but right now he sure would look a lot better at 2nd than Andrus or Sosa.

Sadly it took the Sox until May 28 to figure out Keuchel was a horrible pitcher, washed up and to finally DFA him.

Good idea, but better yet, instead of accepting a team from Peoria, why not recruit Tampa Bay to come to Chicago, since the TB fan base refuses to support one of the better teams in baseball. Let's bring TB to a city who would die to be passionate and attend games played by such a successful team, who yearly who have so little money to spend, but do it right in all the other areas that our owner and FO are clueless about.

Likewise to you, thinking Moncada will have another 2019 season and most importantly be healthy all season, is also wishful thinking. Also Burger hasn't been playing at the big league level as long as Moncada. Yet since he has been up, Burger has played more healthy and produced more. Time will tell in 2023, but at the end of this season we will see who plays more, is inured less and produces more. Again this my opinion and one you will never change my mind on. We will agree to disagree!

1. The Dodgers actually have two World Series championships since 1988 ('88 & '20) and not one. 2. Tampa Bay was not a franchise until 1998, so not fair to lump them in since 1988 in the comparison. 2. Although the ultimate goal is to win the World Series, that is not the only factor in finding a great GM from a consistent winning club. Tampa may not have won a WS yet, but they have been in two World Series since they cleaned out their front office in 2004 when they hired Andrew Friedman. Not to mention, they are one of the winningest clubs in baseball in the last 15 years. 3. You don't have to only find a Pres & GM from TB or LAD. You could also find one from the other successful clubs out there since your 1988 reference. NYY - 5 WS titles BOS - 4 WS titles SF - 3 WS titles ATL - 2 WS titles ST.L - 2 WS titles The point the poster was making is very simple and logical; we should want the next President and GM of the White Sox to come from winning club that knows how to win, scout, draft, trade and sign free agents, as well as the most important ability, which is to develop great talent in the minors. These are the massive flaws of the Sox FO losers. Keep in mind, having only won one WS title is a pretty big deal. They are not that easy to win. Hence why 11 teams since 1988 DO NOT have a WS title yet: TB, BAL, CLE, DET, TEX, SEA, NYM, MIL, PIT. SD and COL. Again this is all what a logical and smart owner should do. Sadly we don't have that. Until Reinsdorf is no longer the owner, these sound "Best Practice" philosophies which are commonly followed by not only successful sports franchises, but also successful businesses, will probably not happen during Jerry's ownership until his death. Unfortunately for all the loyal die-hard Sox fans who spend money and time supporting this bad team...they will keep on being f*#ked and denied any consistent fun and winning. Thank you Jerry...may I have another!

Absolutely not as long as Rick Hahn, Kenny and all the other Sox FO losers in this pathetic organization are around. If you fire all of the these horrific FO people and bring in some solid GM from a consistent winning organization like the Dodgers, Tampa Bay, who could bring in their "winning plan" and "best practice" philosophies, then hell yes, go with a total rebuild and start getting rid of all these overpriced and garbage talent for young future prospects.

Damn right! This should be the new Sox slogan from the fans!

I do and I have a right not to like the Cubs. Don't be so naïve! You think NY Mets fans love the Yankees? I know for a fact I have many friends and family that hate the Sox. This is what happens when two teams play in the same city. The fact is I DO CARE the Cubs have a owner and front office that seems to making good decisions and we have an owner and GM who are complete utter clowns and worthless garbage at their jobs.

I guess we will agree to disagree, I don't think Moncada's celling is any than Burger and it is actually debatable. I've seen many others on this forum agree on Moncada being a bust and overpaid. I think Moncada's one only good year in 2019 was an aberration. They do happen in baseball. Even if he has potential it will never be fully realized because he gets injured constantly. I think Burger has insanely great home run potential which Moncada does not. I also believe Burger's fielding will improve over time. If you recall Abreu was not a good fielder his first few years and then he put the extra work in and become a solid defensive player.

Going to a Sox game even with promo items and dollar dogs is never a cheap night. The beers and other food you will buy will be outrageously expensive. I don't know, but if this team continues to suck and perhaps be 10 or more games under 500 after the second Tampa Bay home series, then if people keep going to the park, then shame on them and they better never complain about how crappy their team is.

It absolutely would with any of the other 29 owners. Yet if the Sox finish with 100 losses and as much a Reinsdorf does give a sh*t, at least the embarrassment and harsh criticism from the fans and media that Hahn will feel, will be worth it, even as you said, nothing will probably change.

Well said and great first post!

If we get killed in the next two road series with TB and Toronto perhaps they go 2-4 or 1-5 on top of this 7-12 start, when TB comes to town in that 4 game series, who says the Sox even draw 10K.

Yep, we end up playing all the good teams. 95-100 losses for sure.

Alrighty then, I didn't know we were here to defend the Cubs or were not allowed to say anything frustrating about our feelings towards the north side team. I'm so glad you cleared that up for me. My bad, I guess I need to go find that talk room you seem to like called "Cubs&SoxTalk...we love them both!

I guess until he is gone and a new owner comes in, I guess we continue to be loyal machoistic fans that will continue saying. "Thank Jerry, may I have another."

You are probably totally right about the money aspect, but it would be an ugly look for Jerry to watch only 8-10k or even hopefully much less fans showing up. I would love Jerry to have to witness that.