Two-Gun Pete

I'm afraid that that ship has already sailed. I'm HOPEFUL that a RFer can be secured. But I'm horrified at what they did at SP and 2B. I maintain that this team is ACTUALLY top ~10-ish right now; I maintain that MLB.com putting the SOX @ #2 is pure clickbait. I dont know how they can look at RH's work this offseason and honestly tell us that we're #2 with a straight face.

Exactly this. The list of LHH RFers that have an ability to cromulently play the position, AND are available is a list of one guy. One guy who comes pre-injured, is > 30, has an asshole for an agent, and who has a laundry list of suitors. Oh, and his contract ask would be the franchise record as well. Its setting your entire offseason up for FURTHER disaster to do it this way. I agree with you, that it's better to secure a competent everyday RFer NOW, and then use the TDL to finish the roster in time for the postseason.

Yeah, Im probably still imparting my preference for cromulent defense when I suggest Pederson. And yeah, Im also probably imparting this board's preference for a LHH as well when I suggest him. So, if I'm (snicker) "thinking" like RH/KW, I want an older player, so I'm paying for past performance. I'm probably not giving 2 shits about handedness. And, I don't give 2 fucks about defense... ...all that taken together means it'll either be Rosario, or Soler, if I'm (snicker) "thinking" like KW/RH.

1. Nah, I won't go "small data sets," I'll go SSS. Its ALWAYS sound policy to determine your offseason plans, based on a single series, amirite? 2. I never assume that they'll do anything right, and I always want everyone fired from the FO as part of my idealized vision of an offseason. But I also hold out hope that one day those numbskulls will figure shit out at the TDL. Call me blindly optimistic, I guess... 3. Conforto's drop in performance, his age, and his injury history are reasons why I dont prefer him as the RF target. True hes got a LH bat, but we've seen guys fail to adjust from the NL to the AL. All of these factors taken together give me reason to pause WRT Conforto. I wouldn mind him being here, but I'd also prefer that this FO do something different for a change. 4. I haven't "suddenly" determined that handedness is of little concern. I look at the numbers, and the numbers tell us that in an injury-riddled season, the SOX finished 6th in WRC+ V RHP. So, IOW, its a "need," but not a "CRITICAL need" to have more LH hitters. There's a dire need for an MLB-caliber RFer, since there isn't one in the roster now. 5. Oh, I've accepted that it won't be Conforto, nor Schwarber, nor Suzuki. It'll probably be either Joc Pederson or Jorge Soler, based on this FO's behavior. But a rational actor in the FO (I know, I know) would be able to look at the roster, and look at the numbers, and choose better.

Couple things: 1. Sox were 6th in WRC+ vs RHP last season. So no, its not a "critical" need. 2. This org DOES have a critical need for an actual MLB-Caliber RFer, because there hasn't been one in this roster, like AT ALL. Whether or not its Suzuki can be debated. 3. There's this thing called "the trade deadline." Assuming those geniuses in the FO don't stupidly grab another piece they don't need, a LHH bat could be gotten then. And there's a bonus to #3: If you grab Suzuki and he's MLB caliber, and fits the budget, a hypothetical LHH bat @ the TDL could be position-agnostic. That is, you could get ANY LHH bat at ANY position and plug him into the lineup. Much easier proposition, IMO. By contrast looking for a LHH RFer gives you a list of 1 player that's available.

I'd think you'd be right, IF they'd only prioritized the right things this offseason. I mean, Adam Eaton was cut on 7/12/21. This org has needed to improve that spot at least since then. And more likely, even a month or so BEFORE then. Instead, look at all the cash, and all the trade assets, and all the effort squandered on other things that this roster hasn't needed. Look at all the youngsters being forced into suboptimal roles for their skillsets. Look at all of that, and the roster is actually worse NOW than it was at the close of last season. And some wonder why this board has turned negative? Really?

Or, we could have gone with LHH Miller, or SH Villar for 2B. I mean, I have no explanation for Harrison whatsoever. But you're absolutely right about the need for LHH being overblown. I looked at the SOX splits, and we finished ahead of WS Champion Atl v. RHP in wrc+. So, Suzuki should be under consideration. Whether or not the geniuses that blew $30MM or so on steaming turds this offseason agree is a conundrum.

I've been in favor of pursuing Suzuki since day 1. The SOX having been 6th in wrc+ v RHP last season meant that Suzuki's handedness should have meant less than whether or not he's an actual MLB-caliber RFer overall. The other thing about the SOX OF is that both the CFer and LFer have injury histories; I didn't much care for Conforto coming pre-injured and >30 years old. Does Suzuki have a significant injury history?

Shhh!!! Don't let anyone else know about these super-secret numbers that, like, ANYONE could have gotten. Even RH/KW.

Where did you read that Suzuki is a LF? Hes been a gold glover in RF in NPB.

No, there isn't. This board seems sold on desperately needing a LHH RFer, but I'm not convinced. The 2021 White SOX finished 6th in WRC+ V. RHP, according to FANGRAPHS. Now, that also came alongside a 10th ranking in slg% v. RHP, and 2nd in OBP V. RHP But, there's "context," in that those rankings came with a number of serious injuries last season, so some improvement could be expected organically from roster returnees. So, to answer your question, no, there isn't really any good reason why the SOX shouldn't look into Suzuki.

Let me Google myopia I think my favorite thing about this is that a myopic person lacks foresight, and therefore, would have to wait until you "see the finished work." Thank you!

Yeah! Too many myopic people!! If you criticize a move right away, shut up until you see how they do! If you wait to see how bad they play later, or if a pile of bad signings disallows signing one GOOD player, LET. IT. GO, amirite?! Just basically, never criticize this FO, because they're doing great.

We don't have a record of that, TBH. As we post this, the only teams that have more $ in the bullpen than the SOx are the yankmees and SD. Both of them also have more $ into their OF as well. The other issue is that the longer the RF hole persists, the more enemy FOs get involved in the Conforto and Suzuki markets. We saw this same thing when Machado was on offer; as the SOX dawdle, SD finally said, "fuck it," and swooped in. We'll have to see.

Priorities can either be in order of occurrence, or by size of assets allocated. $34.5MM to the pen, $15.5MM to the OF. Here: Wikipedia'd that for you. I've posted the data, courtesy of Spotrac. You've cited imaginary posts. Go ahead: find a post by anyone that made any of the statements you claimed were made. Thanks.

No, you strawmanned it twice. And honestly, thats fine. Nowhere did I or anyone say that they were mad about the rebuild. However, I and others have posted that we are disappointed in their chosen priorities wrt RPs vs RF vs SPs. I've posted the data as well. A strawman argument starts with stating something that the other party never stated, then arguing against that. Thats fine, no big deal.

Nah, I've supported my viewpoints with the data; you were posting things that were never posted by me or anyone else. Don't like the numbers? Tell us why the numbers lie.

No, you tried to setup a cool strawman, but thats fine. And, the rotation is young? When 40% of it is > 34 years old? And spending $34.5MM on a BP, when the OF has needed a RF since what, last May/June? Its good that they've added talent this offseason. But they haven't solved a few problems that are/were evident. The OF and rotation remain incomplete, and in the case of the OF, underallocated. I get that they're not finished yet, but it doesn't seem promising that they'll get everything they need.

Agree. Hell, I'll be sated if its Suzuki as well, because he solves RF, even if he isn't Conforto. This all seems backwards to me, them now having to trade for a SP, because they de-prioritized the position.

Nah, not mad about them having young cheap stars. Mad that they're overallocated into RPs, rather than using their previously-extant payroll flexibility to get the RF and SP they need. $34.5MM on the pen, $15.5MM in the OF.

I mean, they've needed a RF since Eaton was cut. They've needed a SP since they let Rodon go. While its true they STARTED the rebuild correctly, instead of finishing it up with bigger spends at RF and SP, they're overallocated into RPs. Even without Kimbrel, $34.5MM into the pen, while only $15.5MM or so into the OF. Yes, that means there are cheap stars in the OF, but it also means that it's incomplete.

Yup, you're right. And this is why I wanted a SP first. The SP market went quick.

Well, I had wanted a SP before all else; I'd wanted Rodon, or Kikuchi, but we really needed more RP depth. Maybe Kwang Hyun Kim, if we tell RH/KW that he can pitch out of the Pen, and spot-start? Yeah, Im afraid you're correct. As much as I'd hate it, it could be Soler. I'll still wish on Suzuki, but I doubt that will happen.

Is it too late to hope for Suzuki + a SP?

This, exactly. Even without Kimbrel, we're spending roughly double the league average on the BP, by % of payroll total. Its inefficient and backwards, particularly for a team with holes and an operating budget like the SOX. Meanwhile, go ahead and look at the positional spending on OF. The SOX have young/cheaper options for LF/CF, but they've needed a RFer the second they cut Eaton. It shows, when the OFer spending is but ~9-ish% of the total payroll. That aside, the news about LAD declining Kelly is a thing to ponder. Even with their unlimited payroll, those guys don't make many mistakes in their FO. Here's hoping it works out.