Josh and Jim empty out the P.O. Sox mailbag for this special podcast episode.
Kyle Nelson
I feel like this is the eternal question for the White Sox in the off-season...
What would you categorize as the biggest need going into 2022: RF, 2B, or SP
Mohammed Alsaadoon
Should the Sox do wholesale changes to the rotation after the showing in the post-season or should they stay the course (ie, trying to offload Keuchel and replace him with an FA)? And should Michael Kopech be in the rotation next season?
MoSox
During the playoff series, the White Sox starting pitching was not sharp, as everyone knows. My question is about fatigue. Giolito, especially, looked tired to me. I understand that playoff pitching is at another level of intensity, but do you think fatigue was a factor? Does Tony LaRussa leave his pitchers in -- in regular-season games -- longer than other managers?
Scott Milburn
We really didn’t hear much about pitching substances of late. I’d be curious to see if the data were to suggest that the Sox were truly benefactors of this before the crackdown.
670WMAQtheElder
MLB Trade Rumors listed FA corner outfielders. It is an unremarkable list of mediocre and over 30's except for Castellanos and Conforto. The former is going to be really expensive and demand a multi-year contract at 30 years old. The latter, according to MLB Trade Rumors is going to have QO. What about sending Vaughn and Sheets to Glendale on Dec. 1 and teaching them both to play RF with two weeks off for Christmas? I think both have earned the chance to start in RF, maybe Gavin more than Andrew, but the Sox need pitching badly. Wouldn't it make more sense to invest JR's money there than in RF?
Kevin Shannon
Some debate this week in Sox Twitter over trading Eloy/Vaughn. What are your thoughts about trading from the 25 man roster to fix the 25 man roster? Also, do you think 2021 helped or hurt Eloy/Vaughn's respective trade value?
Andrew Segall
I know Jim has talked a lot about how he values the regular season and winning the division. What is your take on an LCS that features wildcards in both leagues?
Mark
Now that the season is over can we revisit a question that came up sporadically during the season: what impact if any did Bench Coach Miguel Cairo have on the team?
mark sambor
From a White Sox perspective, what are you watching for with the Bears' potential move to Arlington Heights?
Ed Casey
When do you each predict that the CBA will get settled? Also, what are your biggest wish list items that you would like to see be included in this CBA?
Mark Hope
Are we any more confident in Sox ability to add the talent needed to get this team to where it needs to be? There’s been a whole lot of moves in the last 2 years that haven’t added much: Keuchel, Eaton, Hernandez, Kimbrel, Encarnacion. Admittedly Hendriks and Tepera were nice adds but not consistent contributors due to their roles as relievers. Grandal has largely worked out but leaves a lot to be desired defensively.
Terrence Smith
As there appear to be no high impact prospects on the horizon and that our team has flamed out early in the playoffs for the second year in a row, and, Given the spotted that our front office has in making trades to improve this team, do you think that the White Sox front office has it in them to get this team into the World Series?
Philip Moore
The Sox clearly are a second-tier team in the MLB pecking order. Do you feel one off-season is enough to make the Sox a true contender?
Bonus P.O. Sox Questions (Patreon-only)
John Collins
Does Yoelqui Céspedes have a shot at winning a roster spot this coming Spring after his .298 BA in AA? Are there any reports of his defensive skills? On that same note, if Oscar Colas can be a two-way player and just be in the bullpen, that could be interesting. I’m suddenly having pipe dreams of Colas trotting in from RF to close out a game. That would be cool, can you envision that as a possible reality down the road?
Rodney W. Schmisseur
Likelihood of cracking opening day roster in 2022. Micker Adolfo. Yoelqui Céspedes. Blake Rutherford. Jake Burger.
Mark Jontry
Norge Vera - is he a consideration for SP #5 to start the ‘21 season?
Click play below to listen:
