Two-Gun Pete

I'm using the working assumption that this org will sign a proper OFer for RF. To me, that means that it's a question of EITHER Vaughn or Sheets as primary DH. But not both on Opening Day. Sheets or Vaughn can't hurt the defense if they're the DH most days, assuming they sign an OFer. For me, while I'd prefer a LHH OFer, in looking at the OF defensively, its more important to find someone who can field the position now during the offseason. If they find a OFer who happens to be RHH, so be it, as long as he isn't a negative with the glove. Then, assuming they don't moronically look to acquire another closer they don't need, look for a lefty bat at the TDL.

How would Sheets DHing impact OF defense? I mean, he'll be chomping on sunflower seeds in the dugout while the actual OFers are playing in the OF. And yes, I agree that this org punts on OF defense too much. Thanks.

Since they both suck at defense, I'll just put this out there: Andrew Vaughn vs RHP: 68 wRC+ Gavin Sheets vs RHP: 143 wRC+. Yes, its SSS, and one has more of a prospect pedigree than the other. I just think that since they both suck at fielding, I don't know that I would automatically write in Vaughn into the 26 man roster. Especially when this roster is desperate for lefty production. IMO, this isn't a question of who is the better prospect, so much as who is the better FIT for the rest of this roster. (Yes, I already know that Vaughn did well vs LHP, but we already have a roster full of guys that can do that, AND field a position.)

Yeah. It's called "high school." Well, at least its mostly amateur in the rest of the country... What's that saying? "Fool me once, shame on you." "Fool me SIX FUCKING TIMES IN A FUCKING ROW, well, WTF am I still wasting my finite time left on earth watching this shit, giving air to a corrupt organization, and giving ratings to a (snicker) 'competition' that's lost all fucking credibility?" I think that's the saying. That said, if after SIX FUCKING TIMES IN A ROW, who's the fucking moron, you the viewer, or the ioc? just askin'.....

I think they shat their pants from the very beginning. I think they think that the rest of the industry stupidly over-values RPs as much as they do. And I think they didn't consider all the negative and positive consequences. Unfortunately, the rest of the industry read the book (not the stupid film) "Moneyball" 15 or so years ago, and discovered that RPs aren't worth as much as the SOX think they're worth. Now, with no negotiating leverage to sell an old, expensive, and mostly-ineffective closer, they're kinda screwed. Let's all hope for Philly's BP to have a few season-ending injuries like day 1 of ST. Just the mere fact that they got a player they didn't need, this far into their tenures as GM/President or GM/Asst GM should remove any benefit of the doubt. They should have known better, and they still did it. Now, as I'd mentioned before, reverse the situation: If some other schmucks already had an All Star at closer, and were DESPERATE to have Kimbrel's obese salary the fuck off their payroll, how eager would you be to pick up ALL $16M of an old, bad closer's contract? And were the roles reversed, what would you want the SOX to give up to get him? A bit of salary relief? A 27 year old AAAA type? A live arm in low A with a career 4.5 era? I'm genuinely curious. For me, If Kimbrel were on another team's payroll, and they were desperate to have him fuck off, I'd send Adolfo or Rutherford for Kimbrel, and the other team eats $8-10M. Take it or leave it. What would you send for him? All that said, I hope they can work miracles, so that a Conforto type can be signed here. We'll have to see.

Disagreed. Compensating people fairly for their efforts is morally upright, and is the basis for freedom, capitalism, and all that's good in today's economy. Some might call "free labor" "slave labor." Or "indentured servitude." The ioc and nbc blowing smoke up your ass, while taking free slave labor ain't "special," whether its free labor to build venues nobody wants, or free labor from the athletes themselves. The problem with the olympics is the corruption, them allowing cheaters to cheat, the ioc stealing from hosts, and their stupid marketing. (I.e. "the olympic movement," as if it were a fucking religion or something.) Pay the athletes. "Amateurism" is thievery. If you read the history of the modern olympics, "Amateurism" was actually a way to keep working class types out of the competition. Coubertin wanted to keep working sailors and rowers out of the Olympics, so moneyed elites had a chance to win. IOW, keep the poors from competing and beating the rich in competition. Carry on, then...

And why would Philly take the entire steaming pile of Kimbrel's contract? Seriously, SOX fans need to think about it this way: If YOUR team were trading for an ancient closer who's been shitty for years, apart from a ~30 IP 1st half of 2021, would YOU be stoked if your team took on all steaming $16MM? AND traded away an asset? Didn't think so. So I would make peace with the reality that it will likely take some cash to remove that tumor from the payroll. (Unless some other team has a last-minute injury, or their GM loses their fucking mind.)

This, and the shittiness of all White Sox OFers defensively, apart from Roberts are why I prefer Suzuki over Conforto. If Conforto's coming in at ~$20M/per, I don't see how it can work under the luxury tax. Especially as I believe that the White Sox will have to eat some of the moronic Kimbrel contract to have him fuck off. (GOD, I fucking hated that stupid shit.) Also, despite Conforto's history, he's coming off a down offensive and defensive year, with an injury to boot. By contrast, Suzuki's been rumored to come in for anywhere from $7M, up to $11M/per; the SOX could easily fit that under the cap. And while he might have an adjustment period offensively, no one can question the man's glove and arm. Also, Suzuki's smaller price tag allows to further fortify a SP depth chart that desperately needs options beyond Lopez and Keuchel.

So the same guy who said that the SOX were "checking in on Semien" is now "linking the SOX to Conforto." Color me dubious, though I'd be pleased if it were to happen. I'd rather roll dice on Suzuki, and sign Villar (15 HR v RHP last year) for 2B. Figure ~$9M * 4 for a gold glove RFer, and ~$3.5/1 + an option for Villar. Leaves room to find another SP, and also room to send money along with Kimbrel to have him fuck off, and preserves whatever scant resources are available in the 30th ranked system for other moves.

1. This is correct. The players salary does not = luxury tax salary, as it does not include bennies. 2. Which is why it was dumb to add an expensive piece they didn't need, while giving up a cheap piece that would have allowed them to do other things in FA this season. 3. Again, you are correct. To those hoping for a big splash this offseason, sure, perhaps the SOX could do so, but then they could be handcuffed at the TDL. (Although, I kinda like the idea of this FO being unable to do anything at the TDL, given their craptacular history of failure at the TDL.) 4. Agreed. 5. And this is why I dont see a "multiple championships window." If you haven't even been to the LCS, and you already have to think about contract-dumping, and you'll have 10 of your 26 man > 30 years old by year end, and your #1 SP is leaving in 2 years, and you've got the #30 MiLB system, well.... ...let's just say that it'll be interesting to see what they do to try to remain competitive.

Here's hoping she's feeling better soon. To your question, I have heard of kidneys recovering from stage 5 ESRD. It can and does happen, but I don't know what can cause one person's kidneys to kick in, while another's do not. I also do not know how frequently or infrequently kidneys can recover from such a case. The surgery most likely presented the kidneys with some degree of insult that disrupted blood flow to those organs. (One major structure of the kidneys has millions of tiny blood vessels that are a fraction of the width of a human hair, and one can imagine how open heart surgery could injure that structure.) Going forward, I would do everything in your power to help her manage any outside conditions, such as her blood pressure and her stress. I might also check into the national kidney foundation (www.kidney.org) or with DaVita (www.davita.com) for food and medication ideas, so as to help "lighten the load" on her kidneys. Make sure to work with her dietitian and her nurse for insight into how to manage the day-to-day overall care. At the same time, one should be mentally prepared for the unfortunate possibility that her kidneys might not "wake up," though thats up to what the nephrologists and cardiologists have to say. If (God forbid) this could be the case, then to consider future treatment options, such as a transplant. My prayers for your gal. I hope this is helpful.

1. Yes, thank you for reinforcing my point that its "one or two stars" that make anything, while the other thousands of performers are indentured servants. FFS, even the NCAA can compensate its performers moreso than the overwhelming majority of olympians. 2. And yes, thank you for reinforcing the point that most cities don't need/want to squander time and resources on getting ripped off by the ioc. I mean, Athens just made out like gangbusters, amirite? 3. Nice "whattabout." But hey, since you offered, I'll give you an answer to your "whattabout": I hate the fact that corruption lead to workers dying in the desert for a WC that should have gone elsewhere. But, at a minimum, losers at FIFA lost jobs, and a few officials went to jail. Contrast that with the "hardass" approach of the ioc, like, totally stomping on russias nuts by forcing them to compete as something called the roc. And look at all those crooks the ioc rounded up and put in jail, amirite? And the (snicker) "olympic movement," like, totally brought down the hammer on cheating cheaters, right? So yeah, like, totally similar situations.

1. Those moments on WWOS weren't tied to coddling authoritarian regimes and looking the other way as individuals and entire nations cheat. 2. I agree with Rogan, when he says that the Olympics are gross, given that the performers get jack and shit for compensation, while the ioc and nbc get free labor. 3. I can watch all of that, without giving the attention that the ioc craves. 4. Good moments, to be sure. But since then, the games have regressed into a competition of "our dopers vs your dopers." Its akin to a basketball player being allowed to run without dribbling, and the ref just shrugging his shoulders. 5. And thats another gross thing: pre-teens in figure skating and gymnastics competing as "women," vice actual, ya know, WOMEN competing in Witt's day. Add into it the pre-teens and teens being doped up, and its all a bit nauseating.

Ok, so if I'm understanding you correctly, its the novelty and scarcity angle for you. And ya know what? That's as good a reason as any. However, on a per-minute basis, Id opine that something good on Netflix carries a much higher "eWAR" (entertainment Wins Above Replacement) than the olympics.

Ok, given that you and I and everyone on Earth have a limited and finite amount of time left to live, I'm genuinely curious. Given that the (snicker) "olympic movement" has been reduced to seeking host sites in authoritarian shitholes, Given that the competitions as a whole have regressed into a festival of "my country's dopers vs your country's dopers," Given that the lack of balls to enforce any sort of rules against individual cheaters and systemic cheaters has degraded the Olympics down to WWF level mental masturbation, Given that apart from the "one or two stars" each cycle, only the assholes at NBC and the turds at the ioc are making money, Given that most of us have never competed in most of these events: How can you be motivated to squander any time watching any of this shit, instead of actual competitons, such as the NHL/NBA/NFL/European soccer, or even binge watch something actually good on TV? And again, I ask, because you and I are all on a one-way ticket to our deathbeds, whether its sooner or later. Thanks in advance.

While I agree with your hopes for a longer window, they've kinda already started this process to "White Sox it up." With: The way they handled Kopech and Crochet, The super-awesome strategic and tactical gem to trade for an old and expensive closer they didn't need, The awesome gift of a league minimum 2B across town, without a replacement on hand, The awesome assembly of DH types all over the field, The pending aging curves for Abreu/Grandal/Hendriks/Keuchel/Lynn, The fast approaching departures of TA and Giolito, The 30th ranked MiLB system, and The way some of the ALC foes are building themselves up, I ask: Do you really see a 5-6 year window here? I'm not too sure, unless some youngsters come up from said 30th ranked MiLB system and surprise us. We'll have to see. But for the next 1-2 seasons, I feel pretty confident in this roster. Beyond that? Who knows?

Ok, I'm quoting you, because I think you're the poster who introduced this to this thread. I have questions: 1. WTF is "cancel culture," exactly? 2. How is this simply not being "fired for cause?" (A weak and MORONIC "cause," but cause nonetheless.) No, I don't think that KR should have been fired. And yes, I think that is was weak and dumb to let him go/fire him/not renew his contract. But I have no fookin' idea what makes something "cancel culture," and what is NOT "cancel culture." I used the googly-masheen, and all I got was a pile of nebulous, ill-defined horseshit. Thanks in advance.

We kinda already know this. That said, I don't think that tanking can be fully eradicated, TBH. I do favor something of a salary floor, provided that a stronger revenue sharing policy was also in place. I just don't think that a salary floor is going to keep teams from doing moronic things that cause them to be losers. At the same time, there is a time and a place to go "all in," and there's a time and a place to fold, depending on what cards you're dealt.

Look, if you want to be a RH-stan, that's cool. But to the bolded, why should we celebrate something that's pretty commonplace elsewhere in MLB? Thinking of small-pocketed orgs, the Rays won the ALE "back to back," despite having a fraction of the financial might that their division enemies have/had. Oh, and BTW, they're on a back to back to back [yes, THREE postseason appearances] streak, despite having fewer resources than the SOX. Or Oakland, who made the playoffs three times in a row out of the ALW, despite having fewer resources? See, we had to sit and watch the shitshow that included: 7 consecutive losing seasons, cavalcades of bad [Samardzjia trade] and dumb [shields trade], being mired in mediocrity, as well as a deep tank to top it all off. I think we as a fandom can and should demand better out of an org that really should be DOMINANT in a division that has neither a top FO, nor deep-pocketed, large market enemy. But hey, if you want to fall all over yourself and throw platitudes at RH/KW, despite their multitude of fuckups, be my guest. I also recognize how "WSI" it is for you to feel so personally hurt about anyone not doing the same. YMMV.

Agreed that some orgs will close some gaps, but this industry, like any other, adapts and evolves with time. There are still orgs that just crush it, both in MLB, and in other sports as well. [BTW, has the gap between Tampa and RH/KW closed at all? just askin'...] Having a salary floor won't make for much more competitive balance, if mouthbreather MLB orgs are bad and dumb at scouting/drafting/developing, while others are just lightyears ahead of them. Having a salary floor won't help competitive balance when some orgs make moronic moves at the TDL, while others make intelligent ones. Talent matters on the field. But talent matters up in the FO, in the scout seats, and in the clubhouses. Some orgs have figured this out, while others just haven't or just won't bother to figure this out. Paying shitty players more money won't make bad GMs/scouts/coaches better at their jobs.

Well, IMO, it depends on who will be more desperate: 1. The Mets to dump McNeil, OR 2. RH/KW to patch the hole they foolishly blew in the MLB roster, while trying to maintain their financial flexibility to keep this window open until Gioilito and TA sign elsewhere in FA. I'm not so sure that the SOX can afford to be so "high minded" when their only even marginally MLB caliber 2B is Leury Garcia. Actions have consequences.

Damn it, I'd forgotten that cherington moved there.... OK, how about this: Tampa will continue to scout, draft, and develop players better than cincinnati/Baltimore and other mouthbreather orgs. Houston and Atlanta will work the TDL better than RH and KW. Better? Either way, more money into salaries might help a little bit, but dumb orgs will continue to get curbstomped by intelligent orgs. All that will happen with a salary floor is that mediocre and bad players will get paid more. We already see a bit of this in the NBA, where shitty players rot on the ends of benches, despite them not really being NBA caliber.

Having a salary floor will only work in the margins. The mouthbreather orgs will continue to get curbstomped by the intelligent orgs. Shittsburg will still suck at scouting, drafting, and developing players; Tampa will continue to crush and punish enemy orgs through their superior FO's processes, for example. The only substantial difference is that shitty players like Adam Eaton will get even more obese contracts to suck at baseball.

Yeah, this is true with respect to Tampa and Oakland. OTOH, imagine if the SOX kept/used all their INTL FA cash, instead of giving it away... Or in the example of the scrubs, if they had only developed a pitcher or two of their own, they wouldn't have "HAD TO" give away Cease/Jimenez, and thus, kept their MiLB system in better standing To me, the ability to maintain a MiLB system, AND to compete at the MLB level comes down to FO intellect FIRST, and then financial might second.

I'd also rank the SOX as a "mid-major" economic power, but on academic probation for repeat violations of the "Don't Do Stupid Shit" Rule. This is true, but OTOH, the SOX have more economic might than their divisional enemies; there really isn't a true "WHALE" of an economic opponent to fight in the ALC. There also isn't a super FO that causes Detroit/Cleveland/KC/Minn to punch far above their weight, like Tampa or Oakland or Milwaukee in the ALC, either, IMO. [As I think about it, the ALC is the only division in MLB that has neither an economic WHALE, nor a super FO in it, is there?] Really, with better FO management, this org should RULE over the ALC like a fucking tyrant. Instead, through their self-inflicted wounds, they go through mostly bust cycles, with the ~once-a-decade or so return to relevance. Yay! I dunno, how do Tampa always seem to have a guy to call up? I mean, its not like they shit money. Or Oakland? Yes, they're going through a rebuild right now, but they're much more relevant more often than the SOX are. They don't seem to be scraping the bottom ~10 or so MiLB systems most years, despite not having an ocean of cash.