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2025 Things to be Excited About List


hi8is

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As a community, let’s put forth a collective roster of things to keep our eyes on.

This thread was inspired by someone mention of Shane Smith in today’s game thread… so we’ll begin there.

I’m looking forward to seeing how he fairs with our team. Being that he’s a Rule 5 pickup, dude is destined for Chicago.

It will be cool to track his journey with Banister and Katz, I will not be surprised if he winds up in our rotation.

Within this thread, please limit any “Thing to be Excited About” item to one per person. Since there are likely very few options, having a limit will allow for others to join in on “the fun.”

Oh joy… so much fun!

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In my opinion, the infield and rotation will be fun to follow.  Colson will likely force his way into the SS equation and then you have a ton of interesting kids for 3B & 2B.  The same applies to the rotation, where even if we don’t see Schultz or Smith, there probably 10 other SP prospects with legit promise who will be in the mix.

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Ishbia, Colson hopefully making Keith Law look like a hack. I’m excited to see how the other Montgomery plays. Hope some of the young pitching takes the next step, and hope for minimal injuries. If players are going to be hurt, hopefully it’s not the young guys who need to play to get better.

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  On 2/25/2025 at 1:09 AM, Quin said:

Safe-ish guess: Schultz, Smith, Taylor tear of the minors.

Less safe: Colson as Rookie of the Year 

Scorching hot, campfire milkshake is laced with something take: Lenyn Sosa All-Star campaign

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What did Montgomery do besides strike out?

He was challenged more than his first game defensively???

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  On 2/24/2025 at 11:16 PM, Dick Allen said:

Ishbia, Colson hopefully making Keith Law look like a hack. I’m excited to see how the other Montgomery plays. Hope some of the young pitching takes the next step, and hope for minimal injuries. If players are going to be hurt, hopefully it’s not the young guys who need to play to get better.

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Reinsdorf family might keep the Sox like the Wirtz and Halas families did with their family franchises, but we shall see. Let's not worry about it for now. Frankly even with new ownership it will take a while to change direction...like bringing an aircraft carrier about.  Having said that, a few high impact free agents would really jump start the rebuild.

I like that you mentioned both Montgomery players. After I saw Braden Montgomery on Hot Stove  and after seeing him run in Spring Training, I am hoping he cracks the OD roster. Braden is extremely fast. He can easily cover CF or LF. Hypothetically, if Teel and both Montgomerys are in the lineup you would have decent LH hitting from 3 spots and above average speed on the bases. Let the kids play. Not buying the wait and develop strategy for outstanding players like that while less talented  boring players are used as place holders for whatever reason.

 

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  On 2/25/2025 at 1:24 AM, tray said:

Reinsdorf family might keep the Sox like the Wirtz and Halas families did with their family franchises, but we shall see. Let's not worry about it for now. Frankly even with new ownership it will take a while to change direction...like bringing an aircraft carrier about.  Having said that, a few high impact free agents would really jump start the rebuild.

I like that you mentioned both Montgomery players. After I saw Braden Montgomery on Hot Stove  and after seeing him run in Spring Training, I am hoping he cracks the OD roster. Braden is extremely fast. He can easily cover CF or LF. Hypothetically, if Teel and both Montgomerys are in the lineup you would have decent LH hitting from 3 spots and above average speed on the bases. Let the kids play. Not buying the wait and develop strategy for outstanding players like that while less talented  boring players are used as place holders for whatever reason.

 

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You realize that Braden was playing in college a year ago...and never even played MiLB/shortseason in his draft year last year?

He's looking at a late 2026/early 2027 arrival.  And that's still pretty accelerated for a college draftee from a power program.

And almost all the scouting reports have him playing RF due to his arm strength. 

 

Did we not learn any lesson rushing Andrew Vaughn and Madrigal to a lesser extent when they weren't ready or were out of position?

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  On 2/25/2025 at 1:24 AM, tray said:

Reinsdorf family might keep the Sox like the Wirtz and Halas families did with their family franchises, but we shall see. Let's not worry about it for now. Frankly even with new ownership it will take a while to change direction...like bringing an aircraft carrier about.  Having said that, a few high impact free agents would really jump start the rebuild.

I like that you mentioned both Montgomery players. After I saw Braden Montgomery on Hot Stove  and after seeing him run in Spring Training, I am hoping he cracks the OD roster. Braden is extremely fast. He can easily cover CF or LF. Hypothetically, if Teel and both Montgomerys are in the lineup you would have decent LH hitting from 3 spots and above average speed on the bases. Let the kids play. Not buying the wait and develop strategy for outstanding players like that while less talented  boring players are used as place holders for whatever reason.

 

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Jerry has already told his family to sell the franchise when he dies.  And he’s very public about this.

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  On 2/25/2025 at 1:46 AM, Chicago White Sox said:

Jerry has already told his family to sell the franchise when he dies.  And he’s very public about this.

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I recall Reinsdorf made made a comment years ago to the effect that IF his family were to sell either the Bulls or WSox, he would prefer they sell the WSox. I have not see reporting that he has directed his family to sell the team upon his death. Where was that reported?

"You realize that Braden was playing in college a year ago"

He will be 22 years old in April.  

What did all the years in Japan and the minors do for Colas? He isn't going to make the roster and may be cut this Spring.

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The ensuing board arguments that will ensue when CLEVINGER makes the team and is named closer...

 

Clevinger has minimal bullpen experience; all told, he has only pitched in relief 14 times in his career, and it’s been several seasons since he’s done anything but start. nearly all of his relief appearances – 13 of the 14 – came during his first two years in the big leagues, in 2016 and 2017 with Cleveland.

It is possible that the veteran right-hander can adjust to a different role and prove to be at least a serviceable reliever, but whether or not Clevinger can handle closing duties is a much bigger question. He has a pretty wide pitch mix, which would likely have to be narrowed in order to have success in the bullpen. Throughout his career, Clevinger has used at least six different pitch types, though two of those – his sinker and curveball – he has used rather rarely in the past two seasons. During Clevinger’s successful 2023 season, batters struggled against his offspeed and breaking pitches, but of his primary repertoire, Clevinger’s cut fastball caused opposing hitters the most trouble, to the tune of a .250 batting average.

Even though Clevinger does not seem like an obvious candidate to pitch in relief for any team, the White Sox are in such a state of rebuilding that they can afford to take such chances. They lost 121 games in 2024 and aren’t projected to do a lot better this year, so giving high leverage innings to a guy like Clevinger is a risk they can afford to take.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredwyllys/2025/02/21/will-the-white-sox-use-mike-clevinger-as-their-closer/

Edited by caulfield12
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