Chicago White Sox... The thread.

[Rogue219]

Catching has been their achilles heal since #12 left, and his arm stunk, but he was a good catcher, and hitter.

Their achilles heel has been being bad. When Grandal is healthy he gets on base. They need a backup catcher pretty badly as this point.

Why'd they give up on Tyler Flowers?

To be fair, they started their rebuild and probably were not worried about what Omar Narvaez was going to do for them

 

[Rogue219]

This team played 16 days in a row, had Monday off, then had two with the Pirates. Just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Southside Sully]

This team played 16 days in a row, had Monday off, then had two with the Pirates. Just what the doctor ordered.

Yes sir.. also with some faux, IL stints to get a few guys rested. I'm ok with it. Get them ready for the long haul, race for home field and the playoffs. Only one who isn't going who needs it more than anyone is Dallas.

 

[Rogue219]

Is it true the new pitching coach figured out that Reynaldo Lopez coudn't see? How the hell did this get by the Nationals and White Sox for so long?

Cease and Lopez look like different men. New pitching coach looks like he's doing things to get these guys to trust their stuff. That's the name of the game with the younger guys. Kopech looks like he trusts his stuff. Cease and Lopez didn't look that way prior to this year.

This team is so fun. Ball go far, team go far. They're crushing the ball and had their team together for the first time there for a bit. Get them healthy for October and let 'em rip.

 

[BobbyMac]

Looks like Sheets made the playoff roster last night.

On a team of right handed power, Sheets is .278/.356/646 w/ a 1.002 OPS, 5 doubles, 8 HR's and 20 RBIs in just 30 games.

 

[Rogue219]

Some developmental gems in their lower farm system and some depth in Triple A. Very young squad. Magic Number is 15.

They have a little less than a month to get healthy and sort out their rotation. The series with Houston will be tough. I think they will need home field to advance.

Such a fun squad.

 

[Rogue219]

I'm thinking they wrap this up on Wednesday at Detroit during a day game. Such a fun team to follow.

The nonsense with the umpires and the Angels was complete bush league crap on the part of MLB.

 

[Wild Bill]

Will be tough making a run without Rodon. Hopefully he's fine but doesn't look good.

 

[Southside Sully]

He was hot in his presser.. Hope they shut him down for 2 weeks and its ok

 

[Rogue219]

Offer another one year deal or let him walk. Dude can't stay healthy. Sadly stuck with Keuchel for another couple of years. Lance Lynn is 34.

Roster is poised for a good run and this is the start. Decent depth in the minors too. It's always the pitching that needs sorted.

 

[Wild Bill]

Offer another one year deal or let him walk. Dude can't stay healthy. Sadly stuck with Keuchel for another couple of years. Lance Lynn is 34.

Roster is poised for a good run and this is the start. Decent depth in the minors too. It's always the pitching that needs sorted.

Agree on Rodon. I don't see many teams lining up to give him three years and piles of money so maybe we get him on a good deal and he stays healthy. Really like Rodon and hope it works out for him, whether it's here or somewhere else.

If, and it's a big if, Kopech and Cease continue to progress and reach their potential, the rotation will be more than fine. Throw Giolito into the mix and you have three guys under the age of 28 moving forward plus Lynn for the next couple of years.

 

[Rogue219]

Agree on Rodon. I don't see many teams lining up to give him three years and piles of money so maybe we get him on a good deal and he stays healthy. Really like Rodon and hope it works out for him, whether it's here or somewhere else.

If, and it's a big if, Kopech and Cease continue to progress and reach their potential, the rotation will be more than fine. Throw Giolito into the mix and you have three guys under the age of 28 moving forward plus Lynn for the next couple of years.

Cease will be fine. He needs to trust his stuff. Same with Lopez.

Kopech...I am starting to wonder if he is starter material. Ultimately they know more based on what small sample size I see but I don't have nearly as good of a feel for him being able to go 5-6 innings.

 

[Southside Sully]

Cease will be fine. He needs to trust his stuff. Same with Lopez.

Kopech...I am starting to wonder if he is starter material. Ultimately they know more based on what small sample size I see but I don't have nearly as good of a feel for him being able to go 5-6 innings.

Kopech 100% is in rotation next year.. Keuchel, will be in pen if he keeps this up, or off the team. I have the feeling they will spend on a free agent or trade for another starter, unless they give Crochet his shot, which will be coming.

 

[Rogue219]

Kopech 100% is in rotation next year.. Keuchel, will be in pen if he keeps this up, or off the team. I have the feeling they will spend on a free agent or trade for another starter, unless they give Crochet his shot, which will be coming.

What are you basing this on? When you say 100% I assume this is something the franchise had said publicly? He needs to stay healthy and throw more strikes consistently to be a starter. Do they feel he's doing this? He throws a ton of fastballs and sliders. Rarely uses his change and curve. He's going to need them both if he intends to start.

Keuchel is due $18M next year and an option $20M the year after. $1.5M buyout. I don't know how you stick all that money in the bullpen.

Crochet is the same as Kopech in terms of pitch type. Fastballs and sliders with a change he throws 8% of the time.

 

[Rogue219]

Congratulations White Sox fans. Such a fun team to watch during this rebuild process.

Now the fun part starts. Keys to their postseason: Rodon's health, Kimbrel being able to get people out, Eloy getting on base.

 

[Wild Bill]

Congratulations White Sox fans. Such a fun team to watch during this rebuild process.

Now the fun part starts. Keys to their postseason: Rodon's health, Kimbrel being able to get people out, Eloy getting on base.

TA getting on base and Eloy hitting HRs.

They score runs when TA is swinging it well and can't do shit when he struggles.

 

[Southside Sully]

Congratulations White Sox fans. Such a fun team to watch during this rebuild process.

Now the fun part starts. Keys to their postseason: Rodon's health, Kimbrel being able to get people out, Eloy getting on base.

Lets goooo!!!!!!

 

[Rogue219]

TA getting on base and Eloy hitting HRs.

They score runs when TA is swinging it well and can't do shit when he struggles.

Per FanGraphs, Anderson is a 3.6 WAR right now. He's been very solid throughout.

Eloy is 0.5. Not good enough. This is on level with Hamilton, Goodwin and what Adam Eaton was doing for them.

 

[Wild Bill]

Per FanGraphs, Anderson is a 3.6 WAR right now. He's been very solid throughout.

Eloy is 0.5. Not good enough. This is on level with Hamilton, Goodwin and what Adam Eaton was doing for them.

TA has has been great most of the year, and would have had better numbers if he didn't have a few injuries. Not knocking him at all.

It just seems like they can't get anything going if he has an 0-4 day at the plate. It would be great if both TA and Eloy got hot against the Astros but if I had to take one, I'd take TA.

 

[Rogue219]

TA has has been great most of the year, and would have had better numbers if he didn't have a few injuries. Not knocking him at all.

It just seems like they can't get anything going if he has an 0-4 day at the plate. It would be great if both TA and Eloy got hot against the Astros but if I had to take one, I'd take TA.

All Anderson needs to do is be a 3.6 WAR player that he is. You're getting nothing from Eloy and it is part of why the team has struggled since the All Star Break. That and they're attempting to stay fresh having already endured multiple injuries to key players. You need more out of Eloy than what he's been giving, particularly offensively.

There were some graphics yesterday about their record when Anderson homers, drives in a run and or scores a run. It's impressive. Seeing as how he hits first in the lineup, he's getting more at bats there. I'd have Grandal up the ladder personally. That guy needs as many plate appearances as possible.

If this lineup is healthy and together for the playoffs their 1-6 is about as good as it gets. Eloy is the guy in there that has to do more. Not like he can do less.

Kimbrel has been garbage since he got traded. If he is going to take the 8th inning, he needs to start keeping people off base.

 

[Wild Bill]

All Anderson needs to do is be a 3.6 WAR player that he is. You're getting nothing from Eloy and it is part of why the team has struggled since the All Star Break. That and they're attempting to stay fresh having already endured multiple injuries to key players. You need more out of Eloy than what he's been giving, particularly offensively.

There were some graphics yesterday about their record when Anderson homers, drives in a run and or scores a run. It's impressive. Seeing as how he hits first in the lineup, he's getting more at bats there. I'd have Grandal up the ladder personally. That guy needs as many plate appearances as possible.

If this lineup is healthy and together for the playoffs their 1-6 is about as good as it gets. Eloy is the guy in there that has to do more. Not like he can do less.

Kimbrel has been garbage since he got traded. If he is going to take the 8th inning, he needs to start keeping people off base.

I didn't see the graphic but this has basically been true for a few years. Last year Abreu won the MVP and TA was more valuable in my opinion. We agree for the most part, TA needs to play like he's been playing and Eloy has to hit ball. My point is merely that if TA goes 1-14, or something similar, in the first three games against the Astros it's all over. If Eloy does the same, they could survive it and get some big hits off the bat of Grandal, Abreu and Robert who has been impressive since he got back into the lineup.

Kimbrel is a mess. I don't know enough about the nuances of pitching ot understand the issue. I can't imagine it's Katz - he's done well with everyone else. Comiskey is a hitters park when it's hot out so maybe that plays a role. Who the hell knows. It's incredibly frustrating to watch.

 

[Rogue219]

I didn't see the graphic but this has basically been true for a few years. Last year Abreu won the MVP and TA was more valuable in my opinion. We agree for the most part, TA needs to play like he's been playing and Eloy has to hit ball. My point is merely that if TA goes 1-14, or something similar, in the first three games against the Astros it's all over. If Eloy does the same, they could survive it and get some big hits off the bat of Grandal, Abreu and Robert who has been impressive since he got back into the lineup.

Kimbrel is a mess. I don't know enough about the nuances of pitching ot understand the issue. I can't imagine it's Katz - he's done well with everyone else. Comiskey is a hitters park when it's hot out so maybe that plays a role. Who the hell knows. It's incredibly frustrating to watch.

Abreu was more valuable last year, albeit in a Covid season cut way short of games and he had 40 extra plate appearances than Anderson did, but what he did offensively in that shorter season was tremendous. Defensively I'd say they were even at their respective positions, but shortstop is always the more important of the two versus first base.

This year, Moncada has been their best position player by a hair over Anderson because of more plate appearances and slightly better defense. His defense at third as actually been quite outstanding. Anderson has been very good, but Moncada has been better. Moncada has also improved his plate discipline a great deal this year. A career high 80 walks. Anderson has 20. At the top of the lineup. Speed and athleticism do nothing if you're trotting back to the dugout after an out. Moncada's slight edge in the metrics is likely due to this.

Anderson doesn't walk a lot, so if he's not getting hits, he's not doing anything. That's a bit of an issue, so I would agree that if he's not doing anything it's a problem. At this stage of the game, this is just who he is and it's not going to change. It just seems odd that in this era they'd keep hitting him first when he has no intention of taking pitches. Then again, dudes like that are a pain in the ass to get out.

Bottom line, if everything as is stays the same, it's a problem. If you get Eloy Jimenez hitting and getting on base, you advance. If not, I'd bet on the field.

 

[Wild Bill]

Abreu was more valuable last year, albeit in a Covid season cut way short of games and he had 40 extra plate appearances than Anderson did, but what he did offensively in that shorter season was tremendous. Defensively I'd say they were even at their respective positions, but shortstop is always the more important of the two versus first base.

This year, Moncada has been their best position player by a hair over Anderson because of more plate appearances and slightly better defense. His defense at third as actually been quite outstanding. Anderson has been very good, but Moncada has been better. Moncada has also improved his plate discipline a great deal this year. A career high 80 walks. Anderson has 20. At the top of the lineup. Speed and athleticism do nothing if you're trotting back to the dugout after an out. Moncada's slight edge in the metrics is likely due to this.

Anderson doesn't walk a lot, so if he's not getting hits, he's not doing anything. That's a bit of an issue, so I would agree that if he's not doing anything it's a problem. At this stage of the game, this is just who he is and it's not going to change. It just seems odd that in this era they'd keep hitting him first when he has no intention of taking pitches. Then again, dudes like that are a pain in the ass to get out.

Bottom line, if everything as is stays the same, it's a problem. If you get Eloy Jimenez hitting and getting on base, you advance. If not, I'd bet on the field.

You're a big fan of Moncada. I like him too. For whatever reason, I assumed he'd have more pop in his bat than he has shown. For now, at least. Would be nice to get 25+ homers out of him moving forward. He's been lights out in the field recently.

 

[Rogue219]

You're a big fan of Moncada. I like him too. For whatever reason, I assumed he'd have more pop in his bat than he has shown. For now, at least. Would be nice to get 25+ homers out of him moving forward. He's been lights out in the field recently.

He's good at baseball. I have enjoyed watching him develop from afar. They kept sending him up there for at bats in 2018 and he set a record for strikeouts. Kept sending him up and he figured it out.

25 HR in 2019 and he had Covid last year that really messed him up. His career high .377 OBP might mean that taking some pitches and walking more has led to a drop in the home runs. He's 26 years old. What needs to happen next is the power comes back WITH the new found plate discipline.

His defense has been absolutely superb. I would not have expected that, honestly.

 

[Rogue219]

Whatever happens, Tony LaRussa has really made some questionable calls in this series. Especially in the first two games. It made it all feel like a lateral move because they got rid of Renteria for mismanaging the Covid playoff series against Oakland. I'm sure as long as Reinsdorf wants him there and as long as LaRussa wants the gig, nothing is going to change, but those two games in Houston had to be cringe worthy for the G.M.

This team going forward needs a second baseman, right fielder and another bullpen arm. Craig Kimbrel evidently can only pitch the ninth inning for teams that are not playing for anything.

 

[Southside Sully]

Sunday was one of the most electric sporting events I've ever been too.. The weather is shitty today, lets hope that helps our boys. McCullers led league in walks, hopefully crowd is loud, flusters him and the batters are patient.

 

[Wild Bill]

Whatever happens, Tony LaRussa has really made some questionable calls in this series. Especially in the first two games. It made it all feel like a lateral move because they got rid of Renteria for mismanaging the Covid playoff series against Oakland. I'm sure as long as Reinsdorf wants him there and as long as LaRussa wants the gig, nothing is going to change, but those two games in Houston had to be cringe worthy for the G.M.

This team going forward needs a second baseman, right fielder and another bullpen arm. Craig Kimbrel evidently can only pitch the ninth inning for teams that are not playing for anything.

To be fair, they're playing a game 4 in large part b/c of Leury, who has played both RF and 2nd. He's swung the bat as well as anyone in the lineup and his three run shot saved our ass. Hernandez had a good game 3 batting 9th. We didn't get any production in game 1 outside of Anderson, Robert and Abreu. Your point still stands - they need an upgrade at those positions but I doubt we can both done. Maybe Castellanos opts out and they pick him up and move forward with Hernandez at 2nd. I guess we'll see.

My issue with Larussa is how they finished the year. It felt like we threw some games away to get some rest rather than making a push to catch Houston for HF. Maybe they really needed rest. Maybe he thought there was no way to catch them. I don't know but I would have pushed hard to try and catch them. Houston is 51-30 at home and the Sox are 53-28. It'll probably be the difference in this series.

I would have thrown Gio in game 1. Lynn is better but he is awful against the Astros and Gio has been really good all year in domes. I'm not sure they had much of a chance in game 1 after watching their ace get smacked around after 1.1 innings.

Gio should have never seen the field to start the 5th inning in game 2. He gave them a few good innings, had a lead after the top half of the 5th but was clearly battling without his best stuff. Could have been a different game if he went to the pen right away.

Hindsight is 20/20. Let's hope they can stay hot today and tomorrow.

 

[Rogue219]

To be fair, they're playing a game 4 in large part b/c of Leury, who has played both RF and 2nd. He's swung the bat as well as anyone in the lineup and his three run shot saved our ass. Hernandez had a good game 3 batting 9th. We didn't get any production in game 1 outside of Anderson, Robert and Abreu. Your point still stands - they need an upgrade at those positions but I doubt we can both done. Maybe Castellanos opts out and they pick him up and move forward with Hernandez at 2nd. I guess we'll see

I think Hernandez had 20 HR when they received him via trade. He finished with 21. Glove is very good but second is not a value defensive position. Consider an upgrade. Garcia is a utility guy. They need every day guys at those positions. Engel can't seem to stay healthy?

My issue with Larussa is how they finished the year. It felt like we threw some games away to get some rest rather than making a push to catch Houston for HF. Maybe they really needed rest. Maybe he thought there was no way to catch them. I don't know but I would have pushed hard to try and catch them. Houston is 51-30 at home and the Sox are 53-28. It'll probably be the difference in this series.

This team saw a lot of key players out with injury over the course of it. Eloy, Robert, Engel, Grandal, Abreu, Anderson. They did the right thing taking that time. Even though they were way better at home than away, baseball playoffs don't work like the NFL and NBA.

I would have thrown Gio in game 1. Lynn is better but he is awful against the Astros and Gio has been really good all year in domes. I'm not sure they had much of a chance in game 1 after watching their ace get smacked around after 1.1 innings.

Agreed

Gio should have never seen the field to start the 5th inning in game 2. He gave them a few good innings, had a lead after the top half of the 5th but was clearly battling without his best stuff. Could have been a different game if he went to the pen right away.

Agreed

Hindsight is 20/20. Let's hope they can stay hot today and tomorrow.

Actually, these were decisions being questioned in real time right from the get go. Play the numbers. Even if the goofy old white guys on the broadcasts can't wait to tell you how much they hate analytics, go with the numbers. That was Tony's super power when it came to using his bullpen.

Sheets goes deep. 1-0 Sox headed to the third.

Beat Houston, Beat Boston. Please.

 

[Crazy Balki]

To be fair, they're playing a game 4 in large part b/c of Leury, who has played both RF and 2nd. He's swung the bat as well as anyone in the lineup and his three run shot saved our ass. Hernandez had a good game 3 batting 9th. We didn't get any production in game 1 outside of Anderson, Robert and Abreu. Your point still stands - they need an upgrade at those positions but I doubt we can both done. Maybe Castellanos opts out and they pick him up and move forward with Hernandez at 2nd. I guess we'll see.

My issue with Larussa is how they finished the year. It felt like we threw some games away to get some rest rather than making a push to catch Houston for HF. Maybe they really needed rest. Maybe he thought there was no way to catch them. I don't know but I would have pushed hard to try and catch them. Houston is 51-30 at home and the Sox are 53-28. It'll probably be the difference in this series.

I would have thrown Gio in game 1. Lynn is better but he is awful against the Astros and Gio has been really good all year in domes. I'm not sure they had much of a chance in game 1 after watching their ace get smacked around after 1.1 innings.

Gio should have never seen the field to start the 5th inning in game 2. He gave them a few good innings, had a lead after the top half of the 5th but was clearly battling without his best stuff. Could have been a different game if he went to the pen right away.

Hindsight is 20/20. Let's hope they can stay hot today and tomorrow.

I would've done the same, but hindsight is 20/20 re. game 1.

I don't think it mattered who started for us in game 1, it was gonna be an L because McCullers torched our lineup. I don't really blame TLR for the game 1 loss, as that seemed inevitable based on how well McCullers pitched.

Game 2 was 100% on him and very likely cost us the game.

 

[Rogue219]

Houston's hitters are destroying White Sox pitching in this series. They do it with two strike counts, two outs and they've made quick work of all four starters they've faced.

If the plan is to make Kopech and or Crochet starters, these two lads are going to need quite a bit of work this winter and spring if they're going to get stretched out.