Random Thoughts 2.4

[Mingo]

Well, we got the big 40. And yes, it's just as pathetic now as when I posted this the other day.

At least the Sox are showing some life at the end of this season and no longer has 30 some year old castoffs playing on the field.

 

[Bearsfan81]

White Sox win today and they’ll have a better winning percentage than the 1962 Mets - just sayin’.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

It appears as if one trade has gone the Sox way, at least so far:

Grading The Eloy Jimenez Trade As The Season Wraps Up

As the season wraps up, we take a look at the Eloy Jimenez to Baltimore trade to see how it has aged up to this point.

www.sportsmockery.com

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

If you would have told me the Sox will go 8-7 in their final five series, I would have advised for you to put down the crack pipe. Granted, two of those series were against the hapless Angels and one against the A's. But considering how we played all year, EVERY team was a playoff caliber team when it came to facing us. So I'm glad they at least refused to quit and played their hearts out to close out the '24 campaign.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Hard to find positives in this season from hell. MLB worst in hitting, runs scored, and EBH, 30th in ERA, 22nd in fielding percentage, but it wouldn't shock me if deeper analytics had our D performing even worse. And defense was supposed to be a team strength this year. Guess not.

Only two pitchers on entire staff who had at least one game decision (30 altogether) had a winning record, and one of them, Eric Fedde, was traded. Eight pitchers with the worst won-loss records were a combined 7-63. That's not a misprint.

Only one player currently on the active roster, Lenyn Sosa, hit above .250. Only Andrew Benintendi hit as many as 20 HRs. Only Andrew Vaughn reached the 70 ribs mark. He also led the team with 55 runs scored - again, not a misprint.

We have a few young guys on the roster who might offer encouraging results in the coming seasons. The aforementioned Sosa might have some potential. He hardly had an earth shattering season, but his arrow seems to be pointing upward. And Sean Burke should be in the mix next Spring for a starter's spot. Jonathan Cannon is another candidate for consideration next season. And of course our minor league teams have shown some positive trends. Who knows which players/pitchers can make the leap to the bigs in the next year or two.

I purposely left off Garret Crochet and Luis Robert, as the chances of them still being on the team next year are probably not very good. I still feel Crochet is the kind of pitcher you build a roster around. But all the articles and rumors out there indicate he'll be traded. Robert had a terrible season by his standards, but there will undoubtedly be a market for his services.

All said, I find it hard to believe we'll avoid a 3rd consecutive 100+ loss season in '25. But you never know.

 

[Jiddy]

Jerry wrote us all a letter.

I'm more angry now after reading it.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Jerry wrote us all a letter.

I'm more angry now after reading it.

Didn't waste my time. I'm sure it's full of BS tho.

 

[idseer]

Jerry wrote us all a letter.

I'm more angry now after reading it.

i can't express how much i hate reinsdork as an owner. his letter is pure shit pretending to "take responsibility" for the heaping pile of garbage he has produced (and suggesting he will do better). he will NOT do better! taking REAL responsibility would be to just apologize, admit he's never known how to run a ball club and then sell the team and fucking LEAVE!
THAT would be a serious apology!

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Not that it will matter much, but here's a list of the '25 free agents:

2024-25 MLB Free Agents

The pitching class in the 2024-25 offseason is stacked! Click to see all the projected free agents.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

As the article suggests, pitching seems to contain the most talent. Obviously any of the top tier candidates will be way out of range when it comes to Reinsdorf's paper thin wallet. Most of the positional players are either has beens or will be overpriced. Maybe there's a gem or two is worth taking a flier on.

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

Looks like the AL Central is representing. Both the Tigers and Royals won their respective openers. Impressive!

 

[Mingo]

Guys who I think merit a shot next spring:


Byran Ramos
Lenyn Sosa
Brooks Baldwin
Korey Lee
Dom Fletcher
Jack DeLoach
Jacob Amaya
Miquel Vargas

Good by - see ya:

Andrew Vaughn (he is still couple of data points shy of being a replacement player).
Andrew Benintendi - Surely the Sox can eat half his salary and trade him (thanks for getting hot after all was lost).
Gavin Sheets - I like this guy, but you are not left handed power hitter off the bench if you only hit 10 hrs in 450 abs.

Trade you later:

Robert - his useful window will be past probably when the Sox are ready to compete.
Crochet - Same for Crochet

The Sox need some guys who can hit the ball - regularly.

Starting Pitcher rotation:

Sean Burke (top of the order)
Thorpe
Cannon
Davis Martin
Ky Bush, Jairo Iriarte, Flexen, Nastrini, Grant Taylor, Jake Eder

First up after those starters:
Noah Shultz
John Curla
Mason Adams
Tyler Schweitzer

Top Reliever call up:

Jordan Leisure
Payton Pallette

Guy to bring back - Nicky Lopez

 

[Lake Shore Drive]

You nailed the list pretty well, Mingo. Altho, sad to say, this potential roster, even if we retain Robert & Crochet, which I don't think we will, still has the look at best of a AAA ballclub. The keys will be our rotation and pen. We already know our bats are going to be of the bottom feeding variety, so it will be up to our pitching to keep us in the games. I thought under the circumstances, our rotation wasn't really all that bad. It was the horrendous BP that killed so many chances for a win. If Getz & co do nothing else, improving the pen should help reduce the number of losses next season.

 

[Mingo]

I guess someone will offer Eloy Jimenz an MLB contract next year, but what happened to him - just doesn't figure. He still hits the ball off hit ball at over 100 MPH - you would think he could fix this problem.

I would DFA Vaughn rather than pay him $6.4 million in arbitration.

 

[Mingo]

I hope Jiddy can get a post off and let us know if he and his family are ok.

 

[Jiddy]

I hope Jiddy can get a post off and let us know if he and his family are ok.

Fine.

There was a tornado in my neighborhood, though. As well as one a couple blocks away from my office.

Scary, but mother nature isn't going to challenge the Sports Gods that want me to suffer many more years of White Sox baseball. She knows that power is not one to mess with.