$75M = One of the worst White Sox LF Seasons

[South Side Hit Men]

This very well could be Rick Hahn's worst acquisition ever in terms of contract and value. Albert Belle he is not.

Sox fans focus on the holes at Catcher, Second Base and Right Field, but Left Field has also been a black hole during "Ozzie Ball" and Rick Hahn eras. Nicky Delmonico was six starts shy of claiming the top spot (76 games in 2018, minus 1.0 bWAR).

Worst Primary * White Sox Left Fielder seasons (1901-2023)

bWAR Player Year / Total Games Played (Age; Career bWAR)

1. -0.9 Juan Pierre 2011 G 158 (33; 17.3) - Ozzie Ball
2. -0.9 Tommy Davis 1968 G 132 (27; 20.4)  - Another bad Sox vs. Dodgers trade
3. -0.6 Carlos Quentin 2009 G 99 (26; 10.5) - Post break hand season
4. -0.4 Ducky Holmes 1905 G 92 (36; 9.2) - Ducky? LOLz
5. -0.3 Scott Podsednik 2006 G 139 (30; 6.9) - Ozzie Ball
6. -0.2 Jimmy Callahan 1912 G 111 (38; 24.9) - Out of MLB baseball from 1906 (Age 32) through 1910 (Age 36)
7. 0.1 Bibb Falk 1921 G 152 (22; 22.7) - 22 Year Old replaced Shoeless Joe Jackson banned by Commissioner KKK Landis
8. 0.1 Andrew Vaughn 2021 G 127 (23; 0.8 - still active) - Rick Hahn did that
9. 0.3 Juan Pierre 2010 G 160 (32; 17.3) - Ozzie Ball
10. 0.3 Carlos May 1974 G 149 (26; 10.5) - Lone bad White Sox season
11. 0.3 Al Smith 1958 G 139 (30; 20.9) - Replaced Legend Minnie Minoso - Lone under 1.9 bWAR White Sox season (1958-1962)
12. 0.4 A. J. Pollock 2022 G 138 (34; 22.3) - Rick Hahn did that
13. 0.4 Andrew Benintendi 2023 G YTD 110 (28; 16.2) -Rick Hahn did that
14. 0.5 Bibb Falk 1922 G 152 (23; 22.7)
15. 0.5 Patsy Dougherty 1910 G 127 (33; 17.8)
16. 0.6 Ron Kittle 1984 G 139 (26; 4.7)
17. 0.6 Dayan Viciedo 2013 G 124 (24; 1.1) - Rick Hahn did that
18. 0.7 Rip Radcliff 1935 G 146 (29; 9.0)
19. 0.7 Carlos Lee 1999 G 127 (23; 28.3)
20. 0.7 Jimmy Callahan 1911 G 120 (37; 24.9)
21. 0.8 Alejandro De Aza 2014 G 122 (30; 7.2) - Rick Hahn did that
22. 0.8 Dave Nicholson 1964 G 97 (25; 0.5)
23. 0.8 Pat Seerey 1948 G 95 (25; 4.0)
24. 0.2 Ron LeFlore 1981 G 82 (33; 18.0) 
25. 0.9 Ralph Garr 1977 G 134 (31; 14.8)
26. 0.9 Ralph Garr 1978 G 118 (32; 14.8)
27. 0.9 Melky Cabrera 2017 G 98 (32; 20.6) - Traded 7/30 - Rick Hahn did that

Note *: Minimum Games Played in Left Field greater than 50% of total White Sox games played.

[T R U]

Yeah I wish Benintendi was on someone else’s team. Going to be a long 4 years. 

[South Side Hit Men]

25 minutes ago, T R U said:

Yeah I wish Benintendi was on someone else’s team. Going to be a long 4 years. 

And Left Field should be the easiest spot to fill beyond 1B and DH.

GM Rick Hahn Acquired 2.0 + bWAR Seasons (2.0 = Average League Starter):

44 Total Seasons by Position:

• C 2
• 1B 9 
• 2B 1
• 3B 3
• SS 6
• LF 1
• CF 5
• RF 2
• DH 0
• SP 13
• RP 2

Acquisition Method:

• Trade 16
• International Free Agent 12
• Domestic Draft 9
• Domestic Free Agent 7

Players:

• 9 Jose Abreu (1B 9) - 10/29/13 International Free Agent
• 6 Tim Anderson (SS 6) - 6/6/13 1st Round Draft Selection (17th overall)
• 3 Adam Eaton (CF 2; RF 1) - 12/10/13 Trade
• 3 Lucas Giolito (SP 3) - 12/7/16 Trade
• 3 Luis Robert Junior (CF 3) - 5/27/17 International Free Agent - Includes 2023 (4.8 YTD)
• 2 Dylan Cease (SP 2) - 7/13/17 Trade - 2023 Possible (1.6 YTD)
• 2 Yoan Moncada (3B 2) - 12/6/16 Trade
• 2 Carlos Rodon (SP 2) - 6/5/14 1st Round Draft Selection (3rd overall)
• 1 Aaron Bummer (RP 1) - 6/7/14 19th Round Draft Selection
• 1 Melky Cabrera (LF 1) - 12/16/14 Free Agent
• 1 Johnny Cueto (SP 1) - 4/8/22 Free Agent
• 1 Todd Frazier (3B 1) - 12/16/15 Trade
• 1 Avisail Garcia (RF 1) - 7/30/13 Trade
• 1 Leury Garcia (2B 1) - 8/11/13 Trade
• 1 Miguel Gonzalez (SP 1) - 4/6/16 Free Agent
• 1 Yasmani Grandal (C 1) - 11/21/19 Free Agent
• 1 Liam Hendriks (RP 1) - 1/15/21 Free Agent
• 1 Dallas Keuchel (SP 1) - 12/30/19 Free Agent
• 1 Michael Kopech (SP 1) - 12/6/16 Trade - 2023 Possible (1.4 YTD)
• 1 Reynaldo Lopez (SP 1) - 12/7/16 Trade
• 1 Lance Lynn (SP 1) - 12/8/20 Trade
• 1 James McCann (C 1) - 12/19/18 Free Agent
• 0 Mike Clevinger (SP) -  12/4/22 Free Agent - 2023 Possible (2.0 YTD)
• 0 Gregory Santos (RP) - 12/22/22 Trade - 2023 Possible (1.7 YTD)
• 0 Jesse Scholtens (RP) - 12/20/22 Free Agent - 2023 Possible (1.4 YTD)

[Texsox]

Thank you for another reason to hate this franchise. What few positive thoughts I've had for this team have finally been extinguished. I wish he'd just move the damn team, it's an embarrassment to the city. Fucking loser franchise.

[South Side Hit Men]

27 minutes ago, Texsox said:

Thank you for another reason to hate this franchise. What few positive thoughts I've had for this team have finally been extinguished. I wish he'd just move the damn team, it's an embarrassment to the city. Fucking loser franchise.

Are you the keeper of the Chicago White Sox Doomsday clock?

Do you have any leads as to the lucky city who will steal from their men, women and children and future generations of unborn children to give Jerry yet another free stadium?

Will The Big Guy get his standard 10% kickback? Gotta hurry before everyone dies.

 

[joejoesox]

I doubt he's this bad next year. doesn't make the contract good though, still an awful deal in hindsight (a lot of us wanted him)

[bmags]

4 minutes ago, joejoesox said:

I doubt he's this bad next year. doesn't make the contract good though, still an awful deal in hindsight (a lot of us wanted him)

I hated it then. While the defense is solid, it was basically the exact profile we were seeing too much of. Yay, contact. The team was starved for power from players who were not DHs. Even our DHs were starved for power.

The best part is this is his most affordable year. 

I really do think Hahn is overly influenced by BA100 books. The Casey Gillaspie trade, the Korey Lee trade. Clint Frazier, Adam Hasely, Travis Swaggerty, Brent Honeywell, the paying for Blake Rutherford as he's about to fall off a cliff, the new yankees pitcher, Alen Hanson, Toukki, Delmonico,

I don't know how much worse of an offender we are compared to others tbh. But it does feel like even in trade he has been obssessed with getting the best ranked prospect...vs say an example would be when the Nats acquired James Wood and CJ Abrams. Abrams was ranked higher but at the time everyone was saying the prize was James Wood. That has appeared to be true so far. But I think Hahn would be floored by stuff like that.

It's probably because it gets him such good post trade media when he can say he got X ranked player.

[T R U]

14 minutes ago, bmags said:

I hated it then. While the defense is solid, it was basically the exact profile we were seeing too much of. Yay, contact. The team was starved for power from players who were not DHs. Even our DHs were starved for power.

The best part is this is his most affordable year. 

I really do think Hahn is overly influenced by BA100 books. The Casey Gillaspie trade, the Korey Lee trade. Clint Frazier, Adam Hasely, Travis Swaggerty, Brent Honeywell, the paying for Blake Rutherford as he's about to fall off a cliff, the new yankees pitcher, Alen Hanson, Toukki, Delmonico,

I don't know how much worse of an offender we are compared to others tbh. But it does feel like even in trade he has been obssessed with getting the best ranked prospect...vs say an example would be when the Nats acquired James Wood and CJ Abrams. Abrams was ranked higher but at the time everyone was saying the prize was James Wood. That has appeared to be true so far. But I think Hahn would be floored by stuff like that.

It's probably because it gets him such good post trade media when he can say he got X ranked player.

I get its how free agency works, I just don't know how any spending conscious organization can look at a player and see a non elite defender, a non elite bat, and decide that's the guy we want to invest $15 million per year to.

[Texsox]

5 hours ago, South Side Hit Men said:

Are you the keeper of the Chicago White Sox Doomsday clock?

Do you have any leads as to the lucky city who will steal from their men, women and children and future generations of unborn children to give Jerry yet another free stadium?

Will The Big Guy get his standard 10% kickback? Gotta hurry before everyone dies.

 

Who would care? 

JR leaves with his team and someone else will move in. Anyone else would be better. 

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

6 hours ago, Texsox said:

Thank you for another reason to hate this franchise. What few positive thoughts I've had for this team have finally been extinguished. I wish he'd just move the damn team, it's an embarrassment to the city. Fucking loser franchise.

Man, you sure like rooting for this team to be moved. Pretty weird thing to hope for as a Sox fan.

[Texsox]

15 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Man, you sure like rooting for this team to be moved. Pretty weird thing to hope for as a Sox fan.

I'm so fed with this crap franchise. Every day we figure out something else that sucks about it. When was the last bit of good news? Find one positive thread in the past six months. It's brutal. 

Owner? Worse in all sports

GM? Couldn't get a job running a Dollar Store

Manager? The Royals rejected him

Today look at LF, tomorrow it will be something else. But it will be bad. 

[JoeC]

8 minutes ago, Texsox said:

I'm so fed with this crap franchise. Every day we figure out something else that sucks about it. When was the last bit of good news? Find one positive thread in the past six months. It's brutal. 

Owner? Worse in all sports

GM? Couldn't get a job running a Dollar Store

Manager? The Royals rejected him

Today look at LF, tomorrow it will be something else. But it will be bad. 

Still trying to figure out why this necessitates moving the franchise as opposed to just having JR's heirs selling the team.

[Dick Allen]

2 minutes ago, JoeC said:

Still trying to figure out why this necessitates moving the franchise as opposed to just having JR's heirs selling the team.

He's trolling you.

[Kyyle23]

10 minutes ago, Texsox said:

I'm so fed with this crap franchise. Every day we figure out something else that sucks about it. When was the last bit of good news? Find one positive thread in the past six months. It's brutal. 

Owner? Worse in all sports

GM? Couldn't get a job running a Dollar Store

Manager? The Royals rejected him

Today look at LF, tomorrow it will be something else. But it will be bad. 

I also hate the front office but that doesn’t mean I want to see the Sox moved and recommend others to follow different teams

[Texsox]

3 minutes ago, JoeC said:

Still trying to figure out why this necessitates moving the franchise as opposed to just having JR's heirs selling the team.

Of the incredibly small likelihood of either happening I think moving and allowing another team to fill the spot is more likely than them ever selling. He threatened to move to Florida and the state literally turned back the clock to keep them here. Next time let them go. Move another franchise in. 

It's obviously hyperbole to say move, but man, day after day, we find more reasons this team is horrible. 

[Texsox]

5 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

I also hate the front office but that doesn’t mean I want to see the Sox moved and recommend others to follow different teams

It's not just the front office, have there ever been a worse group of players to cheer for? The coaching staff? I'm cheering for guys to make plays without getting hurt. 

Fans were all in and they delivered crap. Now the franchise either has to step up and win back fan support or step out and allow the type of franchise that Chicago deserves. This is a franchise that deserves a small market far away. 

[Bob Sacamano]

43 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

Man, you sure like rooting for this team to be moved. Pretty weird thing to hope for as a Sox fan.

I don't think it matters as much if you are an out of town fan of the team.

They just need a new owner that is willing to spend at the levels of the big market team they are.

Edited August 14, 2023 by Bob Sacamano

[RichieZisk]

Any true White Sox fan would hate the team moving infinitely more than them losing.  Constantly promoting the idea of moving the team is an insult to Sox fans who live in Chicago and the surrounding areas who actually go to the games.   I've also noticed over the years that on this board and the old WSI site that its always Sox "fans" from out of state who never even go to a game are the ones who promote moving the team.     If you hate the team that much then move on to another team.

[Kyyle23]

10 minutes ago, Texsox said:

It's not just the front office, have there ever been a worse group of players to cheer for? The coaching staff? I'm cheering for guys to make plays without getting hurt. 

Fans were all in and they delivered crap. Now the franchise either has to step up and win back fan support or step out and allow the type of franchise that Chicago deserves. This is a franchise that deserves a small market far away. 

Yea this is just not a fun Schtick for me.  Sorry 

[nitetrain8601]

Awful deal the moment it was announced. Hahn bid against himself, similar to Ryan Pace when he did that draft day deal. No one was going to give Benintendi that. The team had so many glaring holes too and he blew it all in one spot for someone you could've paid league minimum to do the same job for. If you liked the deal, it's only because you liked the name. 

Don't get me wrong, Andrew could be a serviceable player, but you don't give the richest contract in your team's history to a serviceable player when they already count enough pennies as it is.

 

Edited August 14, 2023 by nitetrain8601

[T R U]

31 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

I don't think it matters as much if you are an out of town fan of the team.

They just need a new owner that is willing to spend at the levels of the big market team they are.

They don't even need to spend at the levels of big market teams. A $150ish million payroll with the correct resources added to scouting and development would run this division.

[WilliamTell]

18 minutes ago, nitetrain8601 said:

Awful deal the moment it was announced. Hahn bid against himself, similar to Ryan Pace when he did that draft day deal. No one was going to give Benintendi that. The team had so many glaring holes too and he blew it all in one spot for someone you could've paid league minimum to do the same job for. If you liked the deal, it's only because you liked the name. 

Don't get me wrong, Andrew could be a serviceable player, but you don't give the richest contract in your team's history to a serviceable player when they already count enough pennies as it is.

 

I like Andrew, but he's a complimentary player. If 2B and RF were resolved, he'd be a fine LF option batting 7th in our lineup or something. But being the premiere off season acquisition is beyond ridiculous. He's not the reason this team is a disaster, just a product of how terrible the team is constructed.

[Texsox]

42 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Yea this is just not a fun Schtick for me.  Sorry 

I need to censor myself a bit. Thinking about it, it's not fair for an out of towner to say move. But geez, he knows how unhappy everybody is. What else can fans do but tell him to move? We know he won't sell. 

The past couple seasons just aren't fun. 

[Texsox]

46 minutes ago, RichieZisk said:

Any true White Sox fan would hate the team moving infinitely more than them losing.  Constantly promoting the idea of moving the team is an insult to Sox fans who live in Chicago and the surrounding areas who actually go to the games.   I've also noticed over the years that on this board and the old WSI site that its always Sox "fans" from out of state who never even go to a game are the ones who promote moving the team.     If you hate the team that much then move on to another team.

How happy are you with this team? Find one positive thread in the past year. 100 pages of fire Hahn. Add LF to the hell holes of positions we've overpaid for. 

Yep, I moved from the city. Gave up my tickets on the way out of town. Posted a lot here. Planned vacations around seeing the team. Up until 2019 even out of town I went to more home games than most fans. 

 

[Eminor3rd]

The thing is, Benintendi could have had an average year and this would still be a disaster.

I mean, the White Sox richest free agent deal in franchise history was to a league average-ish left fielder. This whole thing, this whole “plan,” it was just never going to work out.