Tony

While I don't think I'll ever be in that position, I have to imagine at that level, you have so few people around you that will tell you "how it is" and instead just kiss the ring. Obviously it's on the person (in this case Jerry) to be aware of what is going on in front of him, but I think if you insulate yourself with yes men, your view of things can be significantly altered from what is actually going on

Given that Pedro currently holds a 64-117 record, you would think at some point he says “This isn’t working, I have to take a slightly different approach here” but instead he continues with the same shtick every day. Hey Pedro, maybe take your own advice and flush the script, try something new.

But you also know he’d be hitting .185 here

As fans, it was the best option there was. It was either continue to watch a 76 win team on a regular basis not be able to get over the hump with guys like Abreu-Eaton-Sale-Q-Rodon on the roster, or start from scratch and try to build up a core. You are correct at that point the faith was lost in Rick and Kenny, they shouldn't have been employed at that point seeing as we were celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the 2005 team at that point, but given their seemingly lifetime contracts, it was the right move given the circumstances.

It's sort of like the Joker speech in The Dark Knight. It's ok to be awful, but it has to be part of the plan. Everyone was pretty much on board when the Sox traded away Sale and Eaton, because we had seen too much mediocre baseball, it wasn't working, and at least they had a vision and plan in mind for what they wanted to become. So we were ok watching really awful baseball for a few years because there was this baked in pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that it was all leading to something. This isn't that. No one knows what the plan is. The Sox owner said he didn't want to "waste a year" after going through "the most painful season of his life" last season. They are far worse than they were last season. If Getz met the media in January and said: "Listen, I didn't agree with a lot that went on here over the last decade. I respect Kenny and Rick a great deal, but this roster isn't anywhere close to where it needs to be. I know Sox fans want a winner and they deserve a winner, but as the roster currently stands, where not very close. So I've got a lot of work to do, and it's going to take us all, as a unit, some time to build this foundation the way we know it needs to be built. I'm going to be as transparent as possible with this fan base of what we're trying to do, and I hope in short order you're going to start seeing those results on the field. It's going to hurt for a while, but my only goal here is building a sustained winner for the Chicago White Sox. We owe the city that." You say that, and the attitude of this fan base changes a good deal, in my opinion. Obviously results will be the true test, but if we are talking about where we sit on April 15th, 2024...a simple level set last winter would have done this fan base a lot of service. But of course, that's not what they decided to do.

I've watched probably 5x as much Cubs Baseball than White Sox Baseball, which still isn't a ton given how much I've actually seen of the Sox...but it doesn't make you a better "fan" to suffer through watching a 2-13 team when there is another team in town that actually competes in the sport they play in. It just makes you the fool.

This really is an incredible visual in 2024. Just insane how you can have a roster deteriorate so quickly.

I don’t really get that part either

So Ohtani's interpreter stole money from him and is a degenerate. I stand by what I said a few pages back...unless it's proven Ohtani was making bets on baseball, very little reason for any of us to really care about this story and it's long term impact on really anything.

We can talk about all the details until we're blue in the face...if Caleb is great, the Bears will be in the Super Bowl conversation for the next 5 years. If he's a bust, none of the other roster moves will make that much of a difference.

My buddy put it well over text: "If getting the top 2 players on your draft board costs you a 2nd, you do it and don't think twice."

Not super worried about the secondary right now, as Kyle mentioned, they've done extremely well there. Dealt with some injuries, but not overly concerned there. The RB room isn't a concern at all for me personally. There is ALWAYS a D'onta Foreman out there in street clothes if s%*# hits the fan. And I think everyone is on the same page another WR will be drafted by the Bears early, so you'll have Moore-Allen-Draft Pick-Scott-Jones

Do they? They need to fill DE, upgrade the OL spot, and DT probably is slightly a need. Other than that, where are the holes?

Yes and No. I want more picks as well, but this will be his 3rd draft with the Bears. If they only make 4 selections this year, which is all the draft capital they have, they will have made 25 draft selections in 3 years. Thats still more than 7 rounds per year obviously, and Poles has stated publicly he feels like there is a sizable drop off in talent after Round 4 this year. They have 8 picks in 2025 right now, including a 2nd from Carolina, which should be in the high 30's in terms of placement in the draft. If the Bears LOVED MHJ, and he was there at say No. 5, I would have no issues with them using the Carolina pick and No. 9 to move up 4 spots and get the guy they feel will be an all-pro for the next 6-8 years.

I don’t think he wants to win. I think he thinks it would be nice if it happened, but I truly don’t believe “winning” is on his list of “goals” for his franchise. There is simply too much evidence that says otherwise

Don't totally agree. A "spitfire" manager has their act get old really quick when they continue to lose 90+ games. Listen, we're all in agreement Pedro is a terrible manager, and shouldn't be managing this team. I also don't think it's making a huge difference in the W/L column, and almost every manager would have a 1-9 record with this collection of "talent" on the roster. But if you're bringing someone else in, it should be someone you want leading this team for the next 5-6 years ideally, and I don't know if a qualified manager would take this job given where the franchise is at this point. If I were him I'd tell the Sox to pound sand...but I'd get on the phone and see if Ricky would take the job back.

This once again brings up the question...who is taking the job? Unless it's another internal hire (likely given the Sox) who from the outside thinks this is a good task to take on? Everyone talks about AJ/Ozzie wanting back in, getting a shot to manage. But those guys are smart enough to know sometimes you only get one bite at the apple. There is no light at the end of the tunnel with the Sox right now, they are going to be bad for the next 2-3 seasons, at minimum. Who is signing up for that?

I can't see Crochet having much value to a team at the deadline. IF he makes it to July, which is a big if, you can't expect much out of him down the stretch given the innings he would have on his arm this season. If everything goes well, he'd have more value in the offseason, IMO.

Don't know if I buy that. He's not an idiot. And if he has the ego you think he does (and I don't think you're wrong about him having a huge ego), I think it would hurt him to be remembered for coming back a second time and having a terrible 3-4 years with the Sox, which is what is going to happen with any manager they bring in. Pedro has no redeeming qualities, should have never been hired and is a terrible manager...but I really don't think this team performs any better with Craig Counsell, Joe Torre or Earl Weaver in the dugout. You can only go so far with a roster that lacks in basically every important category.

For one, I can’t imagine Ozzie having any interest in managing this team.

Since 2020, the start of the “World Series Window” the Sox are 271-283

If he can ever stay on the field, it's becoming more clear Robert should probably be shopped. If you really want to fix this thing, it's gotta be totally started over. The farm system, as you mentioned, is far from impressive. Par for the course. The ML team is SO far away from anything remotely competitive, I'd put most of my budget into the draft and development. This is going to take 3-4 years at a minimum. Just the reality of the situation, especially when you consider the limitations Getz will have on him when it comes to signing big dollar contracts. Will they do any of this? Of course not...but I don't see many other options.

But I don’t really understand that comment. 1. Um, what else should they be discussing? No Sox fan is going to be “upset” about Garret Crochet starting the season well, and feel free to talk about it until your blue in the face, but that can only be discussed for so long until you zoom out ever so slightly and realize the hole is so deep, individual performances really seem insignificant given how much needs to change. 2. I’ll never have a problem with someone being positive. My issue comes when those “positive” fans get upset when people are being “too” negative. I’ve been there before, I remember getting upset with people in late 2005, still doubting the Sox even as the playoffs begun. I get it. But after what we’ve all collectively seen over far too long, I just can’t get upset with anyone for being “too negative” at this point. In my opinion, any anger you have at those fans should be redirected to the White Sox. They’re the reason they are angry.