MLB HOT STOVE ‘25-‘26

[WhiteTrash]

I know you loving hating on the Sox, and it's plenty justified, but things are looking up. 19-win improvement last year with a team starting five rookie or second-year position players by season's end. Two potential 30+ homer bats from the left side this year. A top 10 farm system even after graduating four top 100 prospects last year. And in five months they'll be adding the highest-rated draft prospect since at least Adley Rutschman, if not beyond.
Enjoy some positive momentum.

I don't "love" calling out the obvious. As you say, "plenty justified". I'm not as high on the farm system as you and have seen the ranked about 20th in multiple rankings. I don't see another 100+ loss season but I still feel like they will top out as a .500 club in the next few years. But I'm still a fan and hopeful for the new owner.

[18thandWells]

Meanwhile, in Denver...

[Billy Hoyle]

I thought I had read Melton was being considered for a starter, and Jobe should also be back after the All-Star Break. I suppose there is no such thing as too much pitching depth.

JV was 4-11 last year with an ERA under 4. The guy still has gas in the tank and will be a great mentor for the younger dudes.

[WhiteTrash]

Meanwhile, in Denver...

Is he the Kawhi Leonard of MLB?

[tower912]

JV was 4-11 last year with an ERA under 4. The guy still has gas in the tank and will be a great mentor for the younger dudes.

He needs to be a 5th starter, mentor, big brother.  Olson and Jobe won't be around this year.  Which meant Montero, Melton, and Gipson-Long.were the likely 5th starter candidates.
I like Montero.  I think he is the designated extra starter for double headers.  I think Melton will be used in middle relief.

If Skubal, Valdez, Mize, Flaherty, and Verlander stay healthy enough to start 140+ games this season, I think Detroit does very well.

I hope they remember how to hit in the playoffs.

[GB Warrior]

Just out of curiosity... compared to every other season of Marquette basketball in your lifetime, how enjoyable would you rank this 2025-2026?

Precedent has been established here that Sox fans are not entitled to experience enjoyment except for very extreme positive performances

[WhiteTrash]

Precedent has been established here that Sox fans are not entitled to experience enjoyment except for very extreme positive performances

Honestly, being a Sox fan has been generally enjoyable for most of my life. They have been a moderately decent club over the past 40 years. The 2005 club is a vastly overlooked championship team that went 11-1 in the playoffs. ESPN would run a 30 for 30 every year on them if they were the Yankees or Red Sox. 

But the massive amount of incompetence and mismanagement in the past 3 years has been, well quite frankly, historical. It is unfair to expect Sox fans to ignore the results and have great faith that they will become good (.500+) again any time soon. But, this is just one fan's opinion.

[wadesworld]

Honestly, being a Sox fan has been generally enjoyable for most of my life. They have been a moderately decent club over the past 40 years. The 2005 club is a vastly overlooked championship team that went 11-1 in the playoffs. ESPN would run a 30 for 30 every year on them if they were the Yankees or Red Sox.

But the massive amount of incompetence and mismanagement in the past 3 years has been, well quite frankly, historical. It is unfair to expect Sox fans to ignore the results and have great faith that they will become good (.500+) again any time soon. But, this is just one fan's opinion.

No they wouldn't.  ESPN made a 30 for 30 on the Red Sox comeback over the Yankees, where they came back from down 0-3 against their biggest rival, a rival that had historically owned them and beat them in the previous post season, and then won their first WS in over 100 years.  They also made one 30 for 30 on the Yankees franchise under George Steinbrenner, the best franchise in baseball.

They aren't making 30 for 30s for the Yankees or Red Sox (or Dodgers) for every really good team that wins a title.  The 2018 Red Sox finished with 9 more regular season wins than the 2005 White Sox and they beat both the Yankees and Dodgers (as well as Astros) in the Playoffs (and never losing more than 1 game in any series) and they weren't running a 30 for 30 on that team.

[The Sultan]

No they wouldn't.  ESPN made a 30 for 30 on the Red Sox comeback over the Yankees, where they came back from down 0-3 against their biggest rival, a rival that had historically owned them and beat them in the previous post season, and then won their first WS in over 100 years.  They also made one 30 for 30 on the Yankees franchise under George Steinbrenner, the best franchise in baseball.

They aren't making 30 for 30s for the Yankees or Red Sox (or Dodgers) for every really good team that wins a title.  The 2018 Red Sox finished with 9 more regular season wins than the 2005 White Sox and they beat both the Yankees and Dodgers (as well as Astros) in the Playoffs (and never losing more than 1 game in any series) and they weren't running a 30 for 30 on that team.

I think his point is that they were simply overlooked by history. I doubt he was being as literal as you are making him out to be.

[Pakuni]

But the massive amount of incompetence and mismanagement in the past 3 years has been, well quite frankly, historical. It is unfair to expect Sox fans to ignore the results and have great faith that they will become good (.500+) again any time soon. But, this is just one fan's opinion.

Disagree a bit here.
The incompetence and mismanagement largely occurred in the previous 10 years, during the last rebuild. They paid Moncada, Eloy and Robert way too early to save money long-term, and they all got fat and lazy. Paired the club with the worst fit of a manager imaginable by bringing in Tony LaRussa. Had terrible drafting and a sh*tshow of an international development group under Rick Hahn. Failed to embrace data and modern baseball. And were beset by infighting among the front office, which included Kenny Williams making trades behind Rick Hahn's back. Add all that up, and you get the last three years.

On the other hand, I really believe they've turned a page under Getz. They've consistently hired respected people from outside organizations to leadership posts (Jesse Barfield, Brian Bannister, Ryan Fuller, Paul Janish, Will Veneble, David Keller and most recently Carlos Rodriguez from the Rays). They've doubled the size of their player development staff. And, while you may not agree, there's a young core to get excited about, and it's going to get much better in July.
None of this guarantees a future pennant or any future success at all, but if you can't find some optimism in what's occurring, you're a tough man to please.