Some big nuggets from Hahn as we look at 2021

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Madrigal also had shoulder surgery and recovery is 5-6 months so he'll be limited in Spring Training

We have to remember that he played that last month of the season with a separated shoulder so the guy is a gamer. I'd have to think the pain may have negatively impacted his play too

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

I think Vaughn at DH day 1 is an upgrade over Edwin. Guy was said to have a major league ready bat this year so I'm excited to see what he can do. Ceiling is Frank Thomas

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

They need another veteran SP, and perhaps a closer if Crochet or Bummer are not it.

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If he's Frank Thomas they are gong to win the division by 15 games next year. It will be interesting to see what they do. If Bauer only wants a 1 year deal las it's been speculated it would be a no-brainer.

I wonder what they will do with Colome and McCann. Even if McCann isn't resigned they will need a defensive specialist. Grandal is not reliable. If Colome can be had on a one or two year deal I would do that. Don't want to have to rely on Bummer.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

someone with a pulse would be an upgrade over Edwin...

I would resign McCann and have him catch Giolito and Kopech 100% of the time.

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McCann won't be back, especially with Vaughn likely to DH next year. He won't pass up the chance to be the guy somewhere else. Even if the Sox pay up, he wants to start.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Bauer is serious about the 1 year deal thing so throw money at him and go for it. Jerry's big hang-up with pitchers is the long term deal and that's not a concern here.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

I'm also in the camp that Vaughn needs to be in the lineup. Gotta let McCann go. Unless you trade Grandal which is fine by me.

Giolito, Keuchel, Cease, Dunning and Kopech. They will need at least one other guy to eat innings. There are 3 question marks for sure, and Kuechel went down for a DL stint as well. I wonder if they are done with Lopez or if he sticks around as a bullpen arm.

What the market will be for McCann? He's in his ideal roll as a spot starter. His offensive failings are exposed if he starts everyday.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

I don't want to go into game 3 of a playoff series again next year with nothing but hopes and prayers on the mound. Get a competent veteran starter, good enough to push Keuchel down to the #3 spot.

Let the young guys battle for 4-5 and let a diamond form from the pressure.

Cease needs a good kick in the ass in his career anyway.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Good summary of the press conference. Crochet is fine apparently.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

As much as I like Grandal in the lineup, I'd seriously find a way to trade that contract and pay McCann.

THAT is the guy you want handling your pitching staff and defending home plate.

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That's where Bauer on a 1 year deal makes good sense. He's an ace on any team he pitches for.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Don Cooper will be 65 before the beginning of the season. He probably forced them to fire him rather than gracefully stepping away because he is an old, drunk prick.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Narrative is building.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

Sox fans look like Cub fanboys with the fetishization of McCann. There are other competent defense first catchers out there.

We got the best of his career. He's going to disappoint anyone who gives him a 3+ year contract.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Despite all the losses and regime changes, Kenny Williams gets to sit there and keep his job until death do he and JR depart

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

He's pretty powerless in that job at least as evidenced by his favorite snitch getting tossed aside.

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

Kenny got his World Series. It's allowed him to stick around for a decade of losing amid terrible planning and being an insufferable red-ass.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

One player has made his thoughts known on today's changes

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

It's not a fetish with McCann....it's the fact that I don't want Grandal as the primary catcher. I want McCann or someone like him handling the pitching staff and preventing pass balls. I'm fine if it's someone else who has the same skillset.

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Some interesting stuff from Hahn re Vaughn in the Athletic. Clearly they have him pegged as an every day DH/1B for next year and won't have to sign anyone for the role.



“If Andrew had had daily competition outside of what we’re able to do in Schaumburg, it would have been evident to everyone that he was ready for next year, if not sooner,” Hahn said. “That was just sort of a mild casualty of the pandemic. But the skills are there, tools continue to grow. He’s a remarkable hitter and real solid makeup and a guy we envision being part of this thing in the not too distant future.”

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“When I walked in this morning, and saw the flag was at half mast, I thought 'alright another bureaucrat ate it.'" - Ron Swanson

I wonder if Vaughn will strictly be a 1B/ DH or if they can get away with him at third base or left field for just a little while in case of a long extra-inning game or somebody is banged up.

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He's competent at the plate. Like a lot of veterans, he's going to mop up the below avg pitchers and get mopped up by the decent pitchers. But he's also streaky. He's going to fall completely off the table for a month, month and a half. IMO, he'd do well to either stay or go to a team with a really good lineup to surround himself with. I admit, I just LOVE him behind the plate. Totally fetishize him there. Giolito too. He barely credits himself. He constantly is sucking off McCann. I mean, what's it worth to keep an ace confident and relaxed?

I don't need my catcher to be the 3-5 hitter in my lineup. I need the catcher to call a good game and elevate the pitching staff to their best levels. Grandal does not do that, but he sure does hit. There's another team out there that could really benefit from Grandal's bat....the sox are in much more need of McCann's catching ability.

The Sox still need a veteran SP. I'm glad Kopech appears to want to play baseball again, but i don't trust him.....you go into 2021 and look at any contributions by Kopech as gravy.

RF is also still a problem. I don't want Mazara or EE anywhere near this team.

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I'm also on record for trading Grandal for pitching. Sign Springer for RF, and BAM, a dominating team for years.

I’ll go counter consensus here. I like Grandal for his plate discipline and being one of the few guys who doesn’t swing at anything he thinks may be in the zone. And Mazara...I’m torn. He’s been so remarkably consistent that I’m more willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for a weird year. A guy with his production is fine in that OF.

I like McCann but he needs to go be an everyday catcher somewhere, and that’s just not here.

If they can somehow swing a short term deal for Bauer I’d do it irrespective of cost. They’re a starter or two away, with no telling how Crochet and Kopech (and Rodon and Dunning) play next year. IMO Bauer should be the singular focus in the off-season.

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Bauer would be perfect for this team, even on a two year deal instead of one. Let him start every fourth day most of the time as he wants, as long as Giolito always goes every five. I question if they are so far behind on stuff like Driveline, though, that Bauer would find that a deal breaker.

If Bauer does come to the White Sox, whoever has the radio rights needs to give Bauer and Anderson an hour long show together weekly.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal