No way Cleveland is better than us. This projection is flawed for some reason. Perhaps too many young guys without enough sample size.

_________________

Abreu will likely "regress" into the normal Abreu type season where he has some really good numbers, but also gets ice cold with the bat for a couple weeks at a time.

We'll likely see something in the middle with Robert. He won't be as good as he was for the first month of 2020, and he won't be as bad as he was during the final month. I think like Abreu, we'll see him go white hot and then ice cold. If he can hit .260, get on base at a .300 clip, and figure out where the wall is when he jumps, he will be fine. With his power he should cruise past 20 HRs.

Like last season, the Sox success will depend on the starting pitching. There will be rough games offensively for sure, but overall this team is going to score runs again. Its time for Cease to take a big step up. I don't need him to be an ace, but he needs to be a reliable #3, bordering on a #2 guy in the rotation. Win 10 games and go 180 innings. I know starting pitching is different nowadays, but I don't think that is asking too much.

Maybe LaRussa will actually make guys work on some basic fundamentals of the game like catching the ball (Grandal) and running the bases (Madrigal). For all the talk of him not being able to relate to the young guys, LaRussa would likely blow a gasket-- with good reason-- if Madrigal runs the bases like he did at time last year.

_________________

Pitching staff and no faith in young hitters seems like the larger concern for the projections.

For shits and giggles, the Cubs are projected for an 85-77 season.

_________________

Yeah, LaRussa will get down with the fundamentals and "fix" everything. Jesus Christ this isn't little league

No fucking way.

_________________

There are still guys out there that can be had for depth. So I hope they go after a guy like Odorizzi. As for this projection, it's laughable. Somehow they are worse than last year because... Abreu regression or something?

They played .583 ball last year without Lynn, and with Cease as a rookie. Vegas has them a favorite for the American League Pennant. I trust them over Pecota.

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

I didn't say "fix" I said work on, you fucking dumbshit.

_________________

They find pitching behind the bushes around the stadium. It perpetually pisses me off.

I'd say Giolito is still ascending and I honestly expect this to be a big year for him.

I wish these projections came out earlier and the Sox organization read them because they seemed to think they had finished their job after getting Hendriks.

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

I hope so, and it's part of the reason I hope they extend him. Losing McCann is gonna hurt a bit though.

_________________

When will fans be allowed at Cubs/Sox games?

Honestly, there is no reason other than playing political games to have zero fans in attendance on day 1. Easily 6-8K can be spaced out at Wrigley, and 10-12K at The Rate. 20% capacity for both ballparks would be somewhere around 7500 fans.

I'll be optimistic and say around Memorial Day, but with JB and Lightfoot, I'm not sure I would be surprised if there were no fans again all season.

_________________

I think there will be 25% capacity at the start of the season.

Masks required and I'd imagine no vendors roaming the aisles.

_________________

Have a couple thousand in close quarters protesting outside. "We Want In".

Lori LikeTwat doesn't even know High School basketball can be played, I'm sure she will be right on the plans to approved 15K fans in the seats.

It seems insane to be saying this nearly a year into this thing, but I think that would be a huge win for fans if that were the case. I hate the masks, especially outside, but I would wear one (for the time being) to go to a ballgame.

_________________

Forgot the cost of the ticket, who in their right mind would treck out to a game, pay $12 for a beer to watch a 84 win team with a chin diaper on.

Cubs fans. And 84 wins would be a "good" team comparatively speaking.

_________________

Count me in.

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur

Me too. I'm insane.

PECOTA (REALLY SMART PEOPLE) peg around 84 wins for both sides of town. But to be honest, I might throw this on just to see the Sux finish 3rd in the AL Central!

WHITE SOX GAME MEETUP!

_________________

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur

Bob, you simply have to do better than Elmhurst Steve insults.

_________________

The other Elmhurst Steve insults got me in naughty timeout.

I'm certainly not going out of my way to go to a game until the weather is nice.

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

Agreed. I can see this is how the season starts. I'm all in for attending baseball games this season, but will hold off while there's a mask mandate. I'm not wearing a mask to sit outside and watch baseball....ridiculous.

_________________

Fangraphs projections out today. Much more favorable.

88-74. 60% chance to make the playoffs.

_________________

Pecota regularly misanalyzes the White Sox by a margin outside acceptable divergence rates

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

Yes, last year they had the Sox winning 83 games and they only won 35. Pathetic.