Scott Merkin talks White Sox's catcher shuffle

0:00One thing we've been set out to do is build depth in all areas and on the catch inside, you know, in particular. You know, we've got Edgar Carro and Cori Lee and Roma and Camp here. So we do have some depth there that we feel good about. So, you know, unfortunately these types of instances happen, whether it be in spring training or throughout the year and so depth is vital to be able to be able to stay competitive in those particular positions or wherever they're affected. In the case on the catching side, we do feel good about the depth we have there. Mully and Ha one oh four three the score that of course is the voice of Chris Gets. He's reacting after the hamstring pull of Kyle Teal while playing for Team Italia in the world baseball classic and I don't know maybe we just maybe

1:05we have to admit that as much as you like guys drinking espresso, maybe it's bad for the hamstring might be could possibly. I don't know. There's Kyle Teal's hamstring pull. I feel like our legs are pulled. Oh boy. It's it's a good point David and we'll get to that with Scott Merkin the the fine white socks writer from mlb.com friend of the program joins us now the the smart the handsome Merkin depending on who is making the assessment joins us on the plumber's 9-1-1 hotline plumbing emergency call 1-8-3-3-plum 9-1-1 local 130 plumbers get the job done right the first time go blue Scott how are you yeah I'm good I heard I get pushed back a little bit by the universe Illinois men's basketball coach right who's a great coach let me tell you but let's hope the Michigan Wolverines can push back against them if that match-up comes in the championship game it

2:09would have to it would definitely be in the championship game I like that though at all big 10 final yeah that would be good final it could be an all big 10 final four the way things are going right now right away look in that way look in that way look at it the south side bracket Merck so what are the white socks doing and signing Reese McGuire and cutting Corey Lee loose I thought that he was a to quote your story which is fine story that he was a good clubhouse strong clubhouse voice and having an outstanding camp behind the plate yeah he what I mean he had a good camp overall I mean again I think they kind of knew what they had in Corey one way or the other before camp I think sometimes maybe I mean spring training isn't necessity sort of like the minor leagues isn't necessity for almost every player before you get to the majors right but I'm not sure if those numbers are predictive of anything really except for your preparation for the regular season or your major league career so I think they knew what they had and I will go on record again saying you know in 2024 which is one of the worst seasons in baseball history Corey Lee was like one of the three or four

3:12voices of that team he helped guide them through that really brutal season right there's no way around there's 121 losses but now again he's a great clubhouse guy he's a I think a solid player overall but they felt like you know Edgar Carroll was better from the right side to go against left-handed pitchers and Reese McGuire is better the left-handed hitter he come came in and hit to his last night and late in the game in the final home tactically game so it's kind of a tough move you know you hear that all the time and Will has been a lot of talking about how great people were when they're going out the door this spring I think with Corey it really meant a little more because he's been there for a while he kind of knows the organization and it'll be interesting to see how it plays out next if he gets traded if he gets released what what happens he has no options left but a really solid dude I think to me he's a better catcher than maybe some of the numbers catching wise will suggest but that's just my take and you know they're not checking with me before they make personnel move so we'll see how works any here's the other

4:15interesting thing you know Reese McGuire is getting what 1.2 million dollars now yeah guaranteed for a year I mean I talked to Kyle Teo on Saturday and you know again these things can be tenuous you never know but he sounds real up beat that he may be back not too long and after the home opener which I believe is April 2nd I think on that Thursday against the defending AL champion Blue days so it'll be interesting to see what happens at that point you know I don't think they're gonna keep three catchers maybe it'll change at that point maybe the one at ease Kyle Teo back in and catch him a little bit and put him at the age part of the time and they will for a short time keep three catchers but Chris gets his gone on record saying you know that he wants to catchers we asked him that during spring training so it'll be another interesting move when when Teo comes back and again well I got a little goal that seals goal you know he may not be back right in what's your theory I my theory is this is just my theory which I've created from nothing but my theory is that at this time a year teams are settling on the final roster and maybe there

5:17are teams that are unlikely to want to take on a catcher that they hadn't thought through or you know he's available but he's not he doesn't have any options maybe they feel like they can sneak him through waivers now and send them to to the miners and then keep them in the system whereas later in the year it would be a certainty that someone might claim them I mean it's a possibility I can't think of any reason they would do this and think they're gonna keep them I think this team you know let's be honest it seems got good young players right we saw that in the second half of last year that's the whole momentum slogan that they're pushing you know build the momentum carry the momentum I don't know exactly what it is because I didn't see it at the ballpark but it's something to do with momentum and they had a strong finish last year we saw how good the offense could be a times last year but I still think you know they don't have a Bobby with junior on that team they no one has a shoheo Tony so that's a bad example but they don't have yet superstars they

6:19have guys like Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teo and hopefully want to talk a Murakami who could step to that level so with that said I think the white socks are gonna take every measure they can you know they're gonna be hunting they're gonna be stealing bases they're gonna be taking the extra base they're gonna be playing the you know matchups lefty righty righty lefty they're gonna be going to the bullpen number time they're gonna be using that roster throughout the year you know guys the opening day roster against Milwaukee this Thursday may look very different not very but somewhat different by the middle of May for all we know you know I think they're gonna be a very fluid team very aggressive team and you hope that plays out you know I mean the biggest thing process is great and they have a great process and they are prepared and they're a cohesive unit but what you ultimately judge on is wins right like no one ever applied for college and got rejected in the school said great process we're not taking you right so I mean you you gotta it's a it's a pass-failed game ultimately now I understand the socks are still building and I believe when Chris first took over and started

7:20talking about the rebuild you know it was basically a five-year plan and this would be like year four so I think they want to as Chris has said make significant steps forward this year but you know they need to win they you can't have another year like the last three even with the second half being better last year they need to put wins on the board this year Sam Antonacci is a second base and played shortstop for team Italy made an impression he has played both corner outfield positions in the past weeks since returning from team Italy any significance there and even though he'll start the season in Charlotte I believe does he look like a guy that you'll see in Chicago by July 1st yeah I think July 1st the possibility I think you saw what a smart baseball player he was during the World Baseball Classic how intense he is and that he's talented I think you also saw maybe in some of the events that he's probably not quite there yet right he's probably not quite ready for the majors and the biggest thing I think is you know he hasn't had that much experience I mean he had a break out your last year and was tremendous in the minor leagues but you

8:23want to get him a little more time you don't want to rush the guy and I think that I was gonna say the biggest thing is you don't want him up on the bench and playing once or twice a week right if he's up here you want him to be a semi regular if not a regular player it's interesting though because I talked to him after the spring breakout game Saturday which by the way went close to four hours which should never happen with the pitchcock and he said you know he was kind of mad at himself because he misplayed a ball in left field he felt he did throw a guy out of the plate in the same the same inning but I think he's that competitive he's had a couple experiences in the outfield you can understand that he's gonna learn it as he goes another kind of tool in his belt but he's still mad at himself that he didn't make the play and that tells you a lot about the kind of player Sam Antonagia's yeah it was wild to see all those young guys out there and in the the game against the Dodgers the the breakout game with all the young players I'm just I'm wondering like how will they eventually be fielding an entire team of short stops especially after Rock Chalowski becomes

9:28the number one thing well there was a time where they had a lot of VHs on the roster right so now they've at least moved this is better move again I think one good thing you know a couple things Chris gets is very focused on being strong up the middle you know center field shortstop second base catcher so the school thought in baseball if you take a short stop he's usually the best athlete in the field I played right field by the way when I played baseball so that packs up that theory that the best athlete is a short step and you know you you can move them around right I mean Colson played third and last night's tactically game there's some school thought the Colson will end up at third eventually you have Billy Carlson who's a great defensive shortstop Sam Ensenaji Kyle Lodi is down there I mean every I've never seen a draft pick it's so much coverage before he was taken and Rock Chalowski out at UCLA right now so there's another possibility right so there's you know I'm sure I'm forgetting people in there but they're going was out there playing second I think and they have I mean they just have a lot of short stops on that game and

10:30let's not forget William Bergola who had a very good camp and who is probably one of the favorites in organization with good reason I mean he just does everything well he may not have that loud major league skill that says okay this guy is going to stick but he does everything well and I think you're going to see him move fastest and so it's a good problem to have right if these guys pan out and you know we know that rarely all prospects pan out in fact never all prospects pan out but if some of these guys pan out you have a you know you have a good problem to have where you can move them around and kind of maybe strengthen your ball club and letting them learn other spots Mark have to ask you for let's go you had a nice little item in your newsletter which is always must read for socks fans Gordon Beckham was in uniform for a week was he is an instructor as another shortstop instructor what was Gordon what was he doing I can break it now he's turning 40 soon he's making a comeback for the white side he's I just turned 60 so I get that he's the comeback stop after a while you know no you know he's you know he was friends of

11:35guests from playing days and I think yeah I know he's a very smart baseball guy you know he's been around the team in terms of his broadcasting he'll be back again this year and they had him in camp this year it was Josh Barfield's ideas matter fact he was in uniform he kind of talked to the guys kind of work with the guys he said he caught all the throws down to second when he was out out except the best row Carol made so you said he felt bad about that one but you know he it's it's just kind of another you know you see it all the time I think your main die was in camp with the royals for a little bit I think glad a Guerrero was out here with the angel so you see kind of you know former players you were connected to team kind of come back and help a little bit and that's what he did for about a week that's pretty wild great stuff Scott thanks a ton thanks Scott okay guys take care see you soon yep that is Scott Mark and it's fun stuff