Random Thoughts 2.1

[Mingo]

The Sox figure to be better than the Twins, but no by much. It should be an exciting Division race.

On the Covid and baseball - I think the NFL and the NBA have shown you can play out your schedule and cope with the Covid - now that the players have gotten into better - more informed habits. I don't see a reason to shorten the season - they will all have shots soon enough.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

The Sox figure to be better than the Twins, but no by much. It should be an exciting Division race.

On the Covid and baseball - I think the NFL and the NBA have shown you can play out your schedule and cope with the Covid - now that the players have gotten into better - more informed habits. I don't see a reason to shorten the season - they will all have shots soon enough.

The Twins have quickly been catching up, but I agree that we still hold the edge. When we look back, I'm counting on the Lynn trade as being the biggest single factor taking us over the top.

As for the season and the covid, I'll simply say that being a total fan who is really psyched to see my team play as many games as possible, I personally have no issues with going the full schedule. Guess we'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

OMG, the Twins signed yet another Ex-White Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ian Hamilton

 

[Mingo]

OMG, the Twins signed yet another Ex-White Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ian Hamilton

Now we can go with Hamilton vs Burr like in real life - someone call Juan Manuel Miranda.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

With Ozuna inking a 4 year contract with the Braves, this is the last of the super FAs who were out there. The rest of the signings for any team is now going to be patchwork. Ozuna helps the Braves keep afloat with the Dodgers and Padres, as well as likely remaining ahead of the Mets. Most of the big names have either signed as FAs or have been traded into the NL, which to me has definitively become the stronger of the two leagues, if it wasn't already.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

MLB planning small changes to deaden the baseball for 2021 season, per report

The league is trying to prevent wild year-to-year fluctuations in the home run rate

www.cbssports.com

Not sure if this negatively impacts our lineup, being we have some long ballers swinging the bats. But then again this affects every team to a certain degree. What's your take?

And on a side note, I don't believe we've gone over Bauer's contract, which was brilliantly set up by his agent. At first blush, we're looking at 3/102, so it's not a really long contract, nor is the AAV setting any records. But then we see he's given 40m the first year, with an opt out, and the 2nd year at 45m, also with an opt out. And that second opt out becomes crucial when you see that his 3rd year is only worth 17m. In other words, the man can make 95m over two years, then if any other team is willing to beat 17m, he can walk and take that on that new contract. Of course it all remains to be seen as to how it will all work out. But on paper, that is an incredible contract his agent drew up.

 

[Mingo]

If the White Sox used humidors - the balls will come out smelling like Jerry's cigars.

 

[Jiddy]

258 days until the World Series gentlemen.

Just a random thought...No implication.

 

[Jiddy]

I mean...I went into the Kordell thing with hope combined with the typical skepticism...and said hope was smashed faster than any other hope I've ever had as a sports fan. Kordell had 95 yards passing for the game...and 3 picks...The halftime score was 33-7. He couldn't even top the century mark with an entire half of garbage time....and he threw the ball 34 TIMES....

How the football Gods could give us the Rex Grossman Super Bowl performance after THAT is just unfathomable....and then they give the Packers the NFC Championship and Super Bowl over us...I don't even know why I continue on sometimes...Only pain lies in my future.

Carson Wentz to the rescue...Mother f....


I just posted this in another thread and it gave me a random thought...The above all happened between 2003 and 2010...and frankly, Chicago Sports has been sh*t on a stick since...

If it wasn't for the Sox in 2005, I'd probably be a broken man when it comes to sports right now riding a turn of the century of full-blown sports disaster. (If you're the "what about the Cubs in 2016" guy...Don't....Just stop right there and back away from the thread slowly)

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

If physique equaled talent, Robert should be one of the leading candidates for MVP.



Of course it doesn't, but it's still nice to see the kid keeping in shape during the offseason.

 

[Mingo]

If physique equaled talent, Robert should be one of the leading candidates for MVP.



Of course it doesn't, but it's still nice to see the kid keeping in shape during the offseason.

That's the ladder of success he is standing next to.

 

[Jiddy]

If physique equaled talent, Robert should be one of the leading candidates for MVP.



Of course it doesn't, but it's still nice to see the kid keeping in shape during the offseason.

His hair looks like popcorn.

 

[Mingo]

Proving there is no better sport for income than MLB - the Detroit Tigers have signed Mazara to a $1.75 million dollar deal to stir the air with his bat for the Tigers this season.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

These 10 teams 'won the winter'

These 10 teams 'won' the winter

We like to joke about the worthlessness of “winning the winter.” Baseball history is, sadly, loaded with examples of teams whose much-hyped offseason activity netted them nothing in games that counted. But actively trying to get better sure beats the alternative. So while there is still plenty...

www.mlb.com

Ah, the annual winter world series where no games are played, yet there's always a champion. They have the Pale Hose ranked 4th - about right.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

So according to MLB.com, these 10 hitters are predicted to have a breakout season.

Just you wait ... These 10 hitters will break out

Some hitters rake from pretty much their first day in the big leagues. In recent seasons, precocious talents such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger and Juan Soto have immediately announced themselves as stars. But more often, finding your footing against Major League pitching...

www.mlb.com

Since Robert is listed first of the bunch, you can save time by just reading his review below, but if you want to read about the other 9 as well, have at it.

Key number: 9 batted balls with 110+ mph exit velocity

Yes, I’m fully aware that Robert struck out in roughly one-third of his plate appearances last September, nosediving his early bid for the AL MVP. Chases and whiffs aren’t going to suddenly disappear from Robert’s game, but I’m choosing to view those struggles in a shortened season as a plus for ‘21. He packed all the ups and downs into 60 games, preparing him for the rhythms of a 162-game grind. And, to put it simply, Robert is simply too talented to stay down for long.

Robert is capable of tape-measure blasts (see: that 487-foot moonshot in the AL Wild Card Series), but, more importantly, he consistently scalds the ball. His nine batted balls with a 110-plus mph exit velocity put him in company with superstars like Marcell Ozuna, Corey Seager, Giancarlo Stanton and Ronald Acuña Jr. last year. That’s the kind of power La Pantera can tap into, and it's why I think he could rack up 25-30 homers as a force for those dynamic White Sox.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Found this article comparing the AL Central bullpens:

AL Central Bullpens

Brad Johnson covers the bullpens of the AL Central with an eye on value, potential breakouts, and fantasy targets. (Cody Glenn-USA TODAY Sports)

sports.yahoo.com

Don't really know enough about the respective BPs of our division rivals, but it sure does seem as if the Sox have the top pen overall and certainly the deepest. Of course that could be the kool aid kicking in.

 

[idseer]

Found this article comparing the AL Central bullpens:

AL Central Bullpens

Brad Johnson covers the bullpens of the AL Central with an eye on value, potential breakouts, and fantasy targets. (Cody Glenn-USA TODAY Sports)

sports.yahoo.com

Don't really know enough about the respective BPs of our division rivals, but it sure does seem as if the Sox have the top pen overall and certainly the deepest. Of course that could be the kool aid kicking in.

i don't think this is even close. sox have the best relief staff in the al and probably the majors.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Whew!! File this baby under Holy Crap!!!

The Padres have agreed to a historic 14-year deal with superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). It is worth a guaranteed $340MM, Robert Murray of Fansided adds on Twitter. The deal provides Tatis with full no-trade rights, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand tweets. There’s a $10MM signing bonus.

 

[idseer]

Whew!! File this baby under Holy Crap!!!

The Padres have agreed to a historic 14-year deal with superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). It is worth a guaranteed $340MM, Robert Murray of Fansided adds on Twitter. The deal provides Tatis with full no-trade rights, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand tweets. There’s a $10MM signing bonus.

just curious ... why two M's?

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

just curious ... why two M's?

**Shrugs** You'll have to ask the writer.