Watching good baseball players is fun. Watching bad baseball players, relative to those they are playing against, is generally less fun. As we embark into the 2019 season with a White Sox roster that is as Jim would say, "sub-optimal", from a talent perspective, I"m curious which White Sox players rate highest on your fun meter. For me ability is part of the overall fun equation but these other factors play a much larger role:
Emotion: I need to see the player being invested in what they are doing from an emotional standpoint. I want them to grieve with an error and rejoice with a play made, not in a rehearsed showboat kind of way, but rather in a genuine reaction to joy of success.
Extremes: Fun is a guy who will do something, either to the good or the bad in a manner that is epic in nature. Give me majestic home runs, swinging strikeouts where the guy corkscrews into the ground, throws from deep in the hole regardless of whether they are caught my the first basemen or the guy in row 4 and diving attempts in the outfield. I also include in this category, those players with the gift of making the routine play an exciting play by their inability to do it conventionally see Melky Cabrera.
Athletically Gifted: As Hawk used to say about Ray Durham, "I love to watch Ray run!". I find myself agreeing with that sentiment when I watch a guy speed around the bases or fly across the outfield. Outstanding athleticism is fun to behold.
Move it Along: Don't be the reason people complain about pace of play. I appreciate your routine, but get in the box, throw the ball, and for heaven's sake please don't have each batter go to a full count. Yes I'm looking at you Lucas.
For this year's team, I have Tim Anderson first, followed by Yolmer and Palka. Honorable mention to Lopez and YoYo.
Your thoughts? Who do you find the most fun to watch either from today or yesteryear.
