P.O. Sox: Pleasant surprises, breaking points and J.D. Martinez

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Steve

I’d recommend it to anybody who’s single and looking to mingle, at least with men.

Wearing White Sox gear in Wisconsin works as well. It’s a bond of pain.

tdogg

“I’ve stopped depending on the White Sox as a boost, instead resorting to the edification of learning things and applying that knowledge. That’s actually kinda healthy?”

This. Between real life and taking the White Sox for what they are short of a change in ownership, I’m a lot better off.

Kudos for the mention in Fegan’s column today.

As Cirensica

The White Sox being a pathetic team is well understood here in Canada. When I speak with people, and I mentioned I follow the Sox, they all get sympathetic…. they know we are in pain.

Trooper Galactus

Another 1994 type of situation would drive me away until Renisdorf is gone. Even then I’d be in wait-and-see mode with new ownership.

Hulksmash

I’m close to that point already, and I’m shocked I’m saying that (I grew up by the park, and I’m a lifelong fan). Look, I know baseball is a business, and Reinsdorf and his group are in it to make money. I get it. But they are making money. A LOT of money. And I, personally, am not of the temperament where watching old right dudes pile on more and more wealth is that entertaining to me. It’d be nice if they can couple that with a little bit of competitive baseball.

I mean, I’ll always duck my head in. I can’t imagine a time where I’m not engaged with the team in some way or another. But I feel my level engagement sinking to an all-time low, and if they blow this rebuild–and the chances of that are stronger than we’d all like–I don’t know how much I’d really invest in this franchise anymore.

Also, Jim, I also love that you gave the Sox the ultimate dad scolding. “I’m not mad, I’m disappointed.”

Trooper Galactus

For me it’s not even about the money being spent (or not being spent) but about the commitment to personnel who continually prove their incompetence and steadfast refusal to rock a boat that’s already capsized.

PauliePaulie

If there isn’t a solid core making a real run at the playoffs in ’21, I don’t see myself caring about this team anymore.

hackwilson

That’s officially a path to Sainthood.

salsashark21

I’m still having trouble moving on from the Machado affair and it’s really because of how the whole thing went down. They were so close, but the timidness and cheapness of the franchise showed up at almost the last possible minute when it looked like it was going to go their way and just sucker-punched us. I might never get over it.

As far as finding a new team, I think I’m stuck with this no matter where it goes. I haven’t watched a Bulls game in 10 years, a Bears game in two years and the Hawks are what I do in the winter. I don’t think I have anywhere else to go, lol.

TBradley

I’m stuck with the Sox for life no matter, but I live in DC and at least I get to root for a second team. Until this year, they broke my heart too with first round painful playoff losses to the Cards, Dodgers, Giants,and Cubs. But seeing my second team win the WS in Houston brought back 2005 joy.

NDSox12

Exactly the same for me (I also live in the DC area).

Soxfan2

MLBTR saying the White Sox have early interest in Wheeler. That certainly makes me happy.  Looking at Fangraphs, the White Sox got -1.7 War from the Detwiler, Covey, Banuelos, Santiago, Despaigne, and Santana . Steamer is currently projecting Wheeler for 3.1 fWar in 2020. Signing Wheeler is an easy way to add 5 wins to the White Sox in 2020. Fingers crossed it happens. 

TBradley

MLBTR today is saying Howie Kendrick has been offered a 2 year $12 million contract by the Rays. The guy rakes, can play 2nd, 3rd, 1st, and DH. Yet we consider Yolmer or ME=endeck over him? All the great teams have fabulous benches, we settle for the “nice” guys or up and coming rookies.

burning-phoneix

You do know that Yolmer is only .5 WAR behind Howie Kendrick this year? At this point of his career he’s moving into 1B/DH role full time and is not a gold glover who can provide elite defense all across the diamond like Yolmeme

burning-phoneix

There’s a reason Kendrick only gets 370 PA a year. Injuries and age have limited him to pinch hitting for the Nats and DHing when they visit AL teams. Durability is still a skill in and of itself that WAR takes into account. If Kendrick goes to the AL he would DH full time and get over 500 ABs but that would still put him at around 3.0 WAR, not too far ahead of Sanchez.

It’s all moot anyway, Howie Kendrick isn’t playing 2B with any regularity in the future so comparing him to Yolmeme is an apples to oranges kind of deal.

Denman

I would think that lefty starters MadBum or Keuchel would be more fitting targets. Both of those two are Boras clients; Wheeler is not. I hope the Sox aren’t avoiding those free agents represented by Boras. That would eliminate some very good players.

Shingos Cheeseburgers

There’s zero chance JR is all of a sudden going to be labor friendly so hopefully the whole thing gets resolved before it gets to the point of him torpedoing his best team of the decade again. 

I was an Expos fan growing up and they’d still be my team if they were still around so if Montreal (or Las Vegas) gets a team my attention would definitely be divided. 

TBradley

Good session Jim! and, as you can see you fixed my problem of not being able to reply to posts. Thanks

lil jimmy

with good behavior, you’ll be out in no time!