wsox05

Go check out the home/road splits in the 2017 playoffs for the Astros. They are laugh out loud funny with all this noise about stealing signs. Most OPS were .400-.500 points better at home and in some cases more. Especially Altuve, Bregman, Correa, McCann, Gattis, Yuli. it’s bad for the Astros.

The Astros aren’t trading Greinke and keeping Cole. The reason they traded for Greinke is because of the impending Cole departure. Cole doesn’t want to be in Houston. I live in Houston and we’ve known he isn’t coming back for a while. The Astros will say they’ll make a run at keeping him just to appease their fans. They’re going to be working to get out from under this tax which is going to be close to impossible for them.

This is bad. I'm one of the hosts in Houston on the Astros' flagship station, Sports Talk 790's morning show. I went off today about how bad this is and it's bullshit. Astros fans all say the same dumb shit. I don't like this at all. If the White Sox did this I'd be tearing them apart. Astros fans are just making stupid excuses or acting like it doesn't matter.

Yes on Haniger. I don't know if he cost as much as people think. Only has 1 full season played so far in his career. While he's put up good numbers and value, that's a huge factor. I bet they don't end up trading him because his value is low.

We know Nightengale can get chatter from agents and other teams too right? It all doesn't come from the White Sox.

In fact you’re right with Grandal at 4 breaking up the RH bats in the middle.

Haha so we’re really close to being lock step and in fine moving some of those middle pieces around a bit.

The lineup I’d like to see if Giolito we’re pitching if they signed Grandal and Castellanos. (once Robert & Madrigal called up) 1. Robert CF 2. Moncada 3B 3. Grandal 1B 4. Eloy LF 5. Abreu DH 6. Castellanos RF 7. McCann C 8. Anderson SS 9. Madrigal 2B Then you have Collins that can take ABs when McCann isn’t catching and Grandal is. Plus you still can put together a bench with guys like Leury, Mendick, Engel and someone else now that they’ll have the 26 man roster. That helps Collins out a lot IMO.

Yeah I got ya. But I think Robert would actually be better served to hit right in front of Moncada and hopefully someone like Grandal or Eloy. Plus Anderson/Madrigal at 8/9 turns the order over with two very good hitters that can get on base with really good speed for the Robert/Moncada+ top of the lineup.

I want Robert leading off every game with Moncada hitting two where they both play. I also think the Sox will have a good lineup with TA hitting 8th and Madrigal hitting 9th. Fill in with good power bats in between and the lineup will be good.

Not testy at all. I just think your point is dumb. Yelich showed signs of being a good ball player. The only thing that Mazara does above average is hit long HR. But he doesn’t hit many at all. Especially for the ballpark he played in the last 4 years. When you talk about maybe he could be between Avi and Yelich, there is NO sign that could happen. He’s been a below average baseball player for 4 years and nothing has changed at all. The Sox have to start aiming higher or this rebuild will be a disaster. Any of the main OF free agents would be so much better than Mazara. The Sox have the money, spend it, don’t trade for below average baseball players is what I’m also saying.

I will never take anything you say serious ever on this site. Yelich’s first four seasons by wRC+ 1st- 118 2nd- 118 3rd- 120 4th- 134 Mazara’s first four seasons by wRC+ 1st- 91 2nd- 87 3rd- 95 4th- 94 His career fWAR is 1.7. Yelich’s first 62 games he ever played was 1.8. Yelich had one 2.4 fWAR season and the rest are 4.1 and over. You should stop talking.

Sure because every team says “man we just need some average players”. If our offseason is Avi, Wheeler and Hamels as the main pieces, Hahn should be fired.

Where did I say that? Did you actually read what I wrote? I said Mazara sucks and the Sox can do better. So I’ll ask you, I guess you’re fine with below average players both offensively and defensively eh?

Exactly Max. So getting a shitty OF from the Rangers is a good idea? No way. Why would the Rangers trade a 25 year old OF? They’re still trying to win and sign players. Who else do they have that they’d actually trade that would make sense for the Sox. They’re opening their new park and don’t want to tear it all down.

To me there is no way that Mazara makes sense for the White Sox. They have the money to go get anyone they want. Mazara is a below average player that has shown no signs of getting better. The White Sox are looking to win now, if this were another rebuilding year, then I'd understand. But bringing in a below average player and giving him a starting spot doesn't make sense to me.

This makes no sense. Your 4th OF especially with Eloy in LF should be a defensive guy. Mazara is a bad defender.

The White Sox need to just avoid the Rangers in discussions. They aren't going to trade Gallo as he is their star heading into the new ballpark. He's the only player on that roster that is worth going after. Therefore, just stay away from them. Mazara isn't a good baseball player. He's a LH version of Avi Garcia who they just got away from. They can do better than Mazara. Yuck.

Steven, the more I read your tweets, the more I think you're reading my mind. I'm 100% with you. If they thought Collins, Mercedes or Zavala were part of the catching future, they would've done it more last year.

They're not going to add core players at every need. But they can maybe add a core guy in RF (would have to be thru trade IMO) and at C (with Grandal), plus in the pitching department (Wheeler/Ryu/MadBum and Betances). Encarnacion can split time with Collins who plays C/1B/DH. McCann with Grandal becomes a backup/Giolito personal catcher. Then EE is a one year stop gap to Vaughn who is a piece of the core.

This makes no sense.

Yeah the Astros have almost no money to spend at the moment. I have them slightly over the luxury tax as of now after I put in their arbitration numbers. Jim Crane has always said he won’t go into the tax until yesterday, but nobody believes him. They tried to get Wheeler at the deadline, but they just don’t have the money unless they’re trading multiple pieces. Reddick will be traded and that frees up only $13M. plus if they go into the tax, it’ll be to keep Cole.

Yeah this was my thought as well.

Wonder what Encarnacion is going to get? I can’t imagine he gets a 2 year deal. I’d say 1yr/$12M max. It may end up under $10M with the amount of teams looking for a DH. To me it would make sense to have Grandal be the #1 option for the offense. Then get EE for the DH spot for a season. Then you could have this C- Grandal/McCann/Collins 1B- Abreu/Grandal/Collins DH- Encarnacion/Abreu/Collins Keeps everyone fresh and EE on a 1 year deal leaves open 1B for Vaughn. Then I still say trade for a RF. How about this lineup 1. Robert CF 2. Moncada 3B 3. Grandal C 4. Jimenez LF 5. Abreu 1B 6. Encarnacion DH 7. RF 8. Anderson SS 9. Madrigal 2B Just an option I was thinking about.

Yeah I don’t think Strasburg gets that contract. Cole will be in that area. I talked to a few people with the Astros who think 8/$264M could be the winner.