Front Page: Fears of White Sox Competency Alarm Local Fans

[RandBalls Stu]

The surprising hot stove activity of the Chicago White Sox--signing Yasmani Grendal, their rumored pursuit of Zach Wheeler--is causing some tough conversations in Minnesota homes.“I don’t understand, mom,” said 6-year-old Aaron Sillman to his mother. “You said the White Sox were dog poop, like the Tigers. But worse, like Tigers diarrhea.”

 

Joelle Sillman didn’t have a good answer.

 

“I mean, I barely remember yesterday, much less when they won the World Series with A.J. (Pierzynski),” said the Farmington woman. “How do you tell a kid about something so impossible? May as well tell him Spider-Man is real and his new dad.”

 

Other local families are dealing with similar concerns.

 

“Ellen is panicking and having night terrors,” said Julie O’Doyle, discussing her 9-year-old daughter’s recent troubles. “She has zero idea about Ozzie Guillen or Nick Blackburn or Game 163. Why would she? How do you talk to a child about the White Sox being good? It’s horrifying. Adults are scared. I’m scared.”

 

Baseball trauma experts say this is not uncommon.

 

“The first thing I tell troubled parents is that the Chicago White Sox, while absolutely worthy of your disgust and derision, have been good before,” said John Bonnes, a Minneapolis man with a website and frequent attendee of Twins games in the late ‘90s. “They’re usually a terrible team, like the Mets yet somehow worse. But they will occasionally put out a quality product at whatever dumb name their stadium has this year. When kids discover the sad clown is dangerous? It can test any family.”

 

Will Ostrander can confirm this. His nephew Xander was troubled by something he saw about the White Sox on the internet.

 

“Xander loves baseball, and he loves the Twins, so he’s used to being worried about how Cleveland is doing. He was futzing around on my sister’s phone the other day and saw some jerk talking about how Chicago was a new threat in the AL Central. ‘Uncle Will, what is that? It sounds scary.’ How do you prepare for that? How do you respond?”

 

Bonnes said there is no pat answer.

 

“My best advice it to tell them you love them, regardless of what the next day may bring. And that the Twins should sign at least two starting pitchers so we can all sleep better. Maybe three.”

 

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[adjacent]

I totally share the kids feelings and fears. And I am over 60.

[ashbury]

Parents, give your kids an extra hug today, when you send them off to school. You can't know whether this will be the day we see the news bulletin that Chicago has signed both Cole and Strasburg.

 

Kids, give your parents that hug, too.

[John Bonnes]

It is an unsafe world out there. All you can do is keep your head on a swivel, prepare them as best you can, and let them know that at least for now, Jose Abreu still only has a one-year deal. 

[Squirrel]

THE FEAR IS REAL!!!!!!!!!

[Dave The Dastardly]

This explains the fresh dog poop in my driveway every morning... my neighbor is a White Sox fan.

 

At least I think it's dog poop...

[USAFChief]

But they will occasionally put out a quality product at whatever dumb name their stadium has this year.

 

"Betty's Really Neat AirBNB Field at ReCyCl Aluminum Can Recycling, Inc Stadium" per source:

 

http:www.bidhereforWSStadiumnamingrights,com

 

Local fans already referring to it as BRN'd out ReCC.

 

[Tomj14]

I tell my son don't be an idiot signing free agents and spending money means nothing if your minor league system isn't stacked to produce in the future. Sure this type of thinking might get you to the world series or even win it but it can't be sustained over the long haul.

[Mike Sixel]

Well written. I enjoyed this one a lot. 

[bustedstuff88]

Im not trippin.... I feel like the recent moves by the pale hose will blow up right in their faces before too long. 

[Cody Pirkl]

The extension for Abreu doesn't change anything for this year and may actually hurt them down the road. The bigger implication of it though is that it looks like they're poised to spend whatever kind of money they want on whatever they want. They've made their interest in Wheeler well known too, who's obviously a main target for the Twins. The front office can't sit in the weeds and wait until the end of January and see who's left with a discount this time. If division rivals start plucking up targets that we need we've got ourselves a problem.

[hugelycat]

 

and let them know that at least for now, Jose Abreu still only has a one-year deal. 

33 minutes after you wrote that, MLB Trade Rumors announced that the White Sox extended Abreu.

Please say something about Twins signings next, John!

[bird]

How I long for a simpler, safer time when it was the Baltimore Orioles who were the nemesis that we tried to tune into on our Philco 8-transistor radio from the confines of our freshly built bomb shelter.

[bird]

 

I tell my son don't be an idiot signing free agents and spending money means nothing if your minor league system isn't stacked to produce in the future. Sure this type of thinking might get you to the world series or even win it but it can't be sustained over the long haul.

 

 

Did you tell your son this from the front seat of a $55,000.00 SUV that you acquired with a 7-year loan for 90% of its value? 

[railmarshalljon]

Drake LaRoche will have his revenge.

[Blake]

Signing Grandal put a better fielder behind the plate.

 

What are the Sox going to do about the rest of the infield catching the ball?

[jorgenswest]

Signing Grandal put a better fielder behind the plate.

 

What are the Sox going to do about the rest of the infield catching the ball?

Their infield defense was below average and Anderson struggles but Sanchez is above average at 2B and Moncada will get better at 3B with experience. I would think their defense at catcher and infield is better than the Twins.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

It is no longer true that "He gone !" Instead, "He back...maybe".

[Mike Sixel]

I really think some people don't understand the purpose of this post.....

[Platoon]

Their infield defense was below average and Anderson struggles but Sanchez is above average at 2B and Moncada will get better at 3B with experience. I would think their defense at catcher and infield is better than the Twins.

Faint praise indeed! :)

[Doctor Wu]

I think the Chisox released Daniel Palka last week.

[ashbury]

I think the Chisox released Daniel Palka last week.

Does this soothe or stoke the Fears of White Sox Competency mentioned in this article?

[Platoon]

Does this soothe or stoke the Fears of White Sox Competency mentioned in this article?

Yes

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think the Chisox released Daniel Palka last week.

Next week’s satire headline:

 

.031 Hitter Finishes Strong, is Released

[Melissa]

This is what I need to hear, too:

 

“My best advice it to tell them you love them, regardless of what the next day may bring. And that the Twins should sign at least two starting pitchers so we can all sleep better. Maybe three.”

[ashbury]

But they will occasionally put out a quality product at whatever dumb name their stadium has this year.

 

"Betty's Really Neat AirBNB Field at ReCyCl Aluminum Can Recycling, Inc Stadium" per source:

 

http:www.bidhereforWSStadiumnamingrights,com

I refrained from clicking on this link. It's just an ad for shooz, right?

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I for one welcome healthy competition.

 

Maybe it will help us to deal with those pesky east coast teams...