A Realistic View of 2024: Part II

[moonslav59]

Right, but I can't give credit to a CBO who drafts good prospects with picks that are the direct result from his big league team losing nearly every year.

Drafting the best player available left on the board when it's your turn is standard practice for baseball GMs. It's their job, and most follow suit. Media who cover the draft reported surprise that Mayer and Teel fell into Bloom's lap. His strategy to take Yorke so he could afford Jordan, on the other hand, raised eyebrows. Later round guys like Anthony and now Campbell developed faster than the industry expected -- or just show the crapshoot variables of drafts, where there are loads of past examples, from Betts to Judge...

A CBO should be judged on how he builds his MLB roster each year, and supplements it with sufficient big league depth to properly deal with annual injuries. Epstein and Dombrowski were good at that, and Bloom wasn't. Argue if you want that the same owner determined their fates, depending on his spending moods.

And pray he gives Breslow a chance to improve... our summer entertainment value.

We’ve seen enough high picks fail for me to disagree, some.

Good points, though.

[Yaz Fan Since '67]

Not sure where to put this question but has anyone noticed how bad outfield arms are today? I swear 95% of all throws to home plate are off line and never near the plate. We have scored so many runs on plays where an accurate throw would cut down the runner.

[moonslav59]

Not sure where to put this question but has anyone noticed how bad outfield arms are today? I swear 95% of all throws to home plate are off line and never near the plate. We have scored so many runs on plays where an accurate throw would cut down the runner.

I have noticed that, along with more runners going for it.

[Nick]

Not sure why Cora would play Valdez over Hamilto at 2B when Rafaela is starting at short.

Hamilton's speed just plays better.

[Bellhorn04]

Not sure why Cora would play Valdez over Hamilto at 2B when Rafaela is starting at short.

Hamilton's speed just plays better.

Valdez hasn't played the last 2 games. But as we've been talking about here lately, Cora uses everybody, and Valdez was pretty hot with the bat for a while, and Hamilton was slumping.

Hamilton, however, has been by far the better player over Valdez this year.

[moonslav59]

Valdez has played much better after the call up. It’s a tough call.

BTW, happy 4th to all!

[Nick]

Tanner again will be asked to save the pen.

Pivetta throws a 1hit 7 IP and comes away with no decision.

A win is better than a loss especially to lowly Marlins.

[moonslav59]

Tanner again will be asked to save the pen.

Pivetta throws a 1hit 7 IP and comes away with no decision.

A win is better than a loss especially to lowly Marlins.

A strong Pivetta would make a huge difference for the Sox going forward.

The Sox record when he pitches, career:

48-46

[moonslav59]

Sox are 4 down in the loss column to the Yanks, now.

Thanks, Cincy!

With some games still pending, the Sox are currently 9th in win% in all of MLB.

Is it okay to have fun watching these Sox, now?

[Nick]

Why do clubs always wait till the last minute to bolster the team?

Why don't we just go get a starting pitcher?

Looks like White Sox has two starters available.

[moonslav59]

Why do clubs always wait till the last minute to bolster the team?

Why don't we just go get a starting pitcher?

Looks like White Sox has two starters available.

Two teams are needed for every trade, and one team might want to wait it out for a desperate team to offer more.

[moonslav59]

For an off season with budget cutting and just one major trade, here is a look at Brez’s additions to the team and farm:
(Note, nota complete list)

O’Neill
Slaten
Criswell
Weissert
Romy G
Anderson & Keller
I Campbell
Booser, Horn & Uwasawa
Smith & Cooper (gone)
Westbrook
Grissom
Hendriks
Giolito & Fulmer

7. Fitts
9. Sandlin
Judi r

[Larry Cook]

For an off season with budget cutting and just one major trade, here is a look at Brez’s additions to the team and farm:
(Note, nota complete list)

O’Neill
Slaten
Criswell
Weissert
Romy G
Anderson & Keller
I Campbell
Booser, Horn & Uwasawa
Smith & Cooper (gone)
Westbrook
Grissom
Hendriks
Giolito & Fulmer

7. Fitts
9. Sandlin
Judi r

Was gaspar a bres-slow addition?

[Maxbialystock]

Not sure where to put this question but has anyone noticed how bad outfield arms are today? I swear 95% of all throws to home plate are off line and never near the plate. We have scored so many runs on plays where an accurate throw would cut down the runner.

I sure have. Sox lost tonight because Duran couldn't throw to home plate to save his life.

Oh, wait. He ran hard to grab that single on the run and then made an absolutely perfect throw on one hop to beat the runner--from centerfield, yet.

[Maxbialystock]

We’ve seen enough high picks fail for me to disagree, some.

Good points, though.

Breslow in my opinion has been awful. I can't even blame JH because, although he has certainly placed limits on contracts, especially long and big contracts for starters, the Sox payroll this year is still $182M, 11th biggest in MLB. Breslow made things worse by dumping Sale, continuing to pay him $17M to star for the Braves, and acquiring Giolito for 2 years, one of which is shot, and $38M. Grissom has shown nothing, plus he seems to have bad hamstrings.

However, as I've said too many times, this year's Sox no-names have been terrific. Houck is a true ace and better than Sale, and Duran has the 4th highest WAR in MLB among lineup players. So the screw-ups have not hurt much.

Right now I think Cora is driving the train--he and his excellent pitching coach--which is why Cora has been saying the FO and the owner need to reinforce success by bringing in some help this month. Even an idiot like Breslow should be able to find a deal or two that will help the Sox.