We are just a few days away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. I spent a lot of time in the car this week driving, and it gave me an opportunity to get caught up on numerous Chicago White Sox-related podcasts. It\u2019s certainly been an interesting winter, if nothing else, for our beloved baseball team, and being delayed in hearing some of the commentary on the team\u2019s moves this winter allowed me to really dissect the initial reactions with a level of objectivity.<\/p>\n
The overall reaction to the winter had by Chris Getz and Co. has been overwhelmingly positive from local and national media, as well as many within the fanbase. But is it really warranted? <\/p>\n
This past weekend, Anthony and I dusted off the microphones for the season premiere of the Sox On Tap Podcast, and we dove extensively into this topic (if you\u2019re interested in hearing our musings and other typical hijinks, feel free to give it a listen). <\/p>\n
Maybe I\u2019m too cynical in my advanced age, or maybe I\u2019m too scarred by the failures of two other rebuilds since 2013, but I just don\u2019t see what others are seeing right now.<\/p>\n
During last week\u2019s episode, I mentioned a saying that is often echoed in my profession: \u201cDon\u2019t confuse activity with productivity.\u201d <\/p>\n
Story continues below.<\/p>\n
More Sports News<\/p>\n
\t .wp-block-group__inner-container:has(> .embla),
\n\t.wp-block-group:where(.alignfull) > .wp-block-group__inner-container:has(> .embla) {
\n\t\twidth: calc(100vw – (var(–side-spacing) * 2)) !important;
\n\t}
\n\t.embla {
\n\t\tposition: relative;
\n\t\toverflow: hidden;
\n\t}
\n\t.embla__container {
\n\t\tdisplay: flex;
\n\t\tflex-wrap: nowrap;
\n\t\tgap: 0 !important;
\n\t\twidth: 75%;
\n\t}
\n\t.embla__slide {
\n\t\tmargin-inline-end: var(–column-gap);
\n\t}
\n\t.embla__arrow,
\n\t.embla__arrow:active,
\n\t.embla__arrow:target,
\n\t.embla__arrow:hover,
\n\t.embla__arrow:focus-visible {
\n\t\tdisplay: none;
\n\t\tposition: absolute;
\n\t\ttop: 50%;
\n\t\ttransform: translateY(-50%);
\n\t\twidth: 40px;
\n\t\theight: 40px;
\n\t\tmargin: 0;
\n\t\tpadding: 0;
\n\t\tline-height: 0;
\n\t\tbackground: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75);
\n\t\tcolor: var(–color-primary);
\n\t\tborder-radius: 100vw;<\/p>\n
\t\tsvg {
\n\t\t\twidth: 24px;
\n\t\t}
\n\t}
\n\t.embla__prev {
\n\t\tleft: 0;
\n\t}
\n\t.embla__next {
\n\t\tright: 0;
\n\t}
\n\t]]><\/p>\n
No one can deny that the Sox have been active this winter, particularly in the last six weeks, but can we really say these transactions are going to move the needle in a meaningful way? Once again, I\u2019m just not seeing what others are.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not trying to say the offseason has been a disaster or even bad, because it hasn\u2019t been. It\u2019s been fine, honestly, but I think saying it\u2019s anything more than that would be a stretch. I\u2019ve liked several of the moves that have been made, as I believe they\u2019re the right level of risk (my internal monologue echoes the famous Seinfeld scene where George says that to understand risk, we must first define risk) for where this team is in its competitive cycle. However, even among the moves I\u2019ve liked, only one carries a significant level of upside that could put this team in a better position when things start to matter again.<\/p>\n
The Good<\/p>\n