Colome's Hat

This is infuriating and enraging and I can't watch this.

Katz is arguably responsible for the success our starting staff had. Without him, I don't think Rodon and Cease have the years they do. Or even perhaps Lynn. Obviously he can get better but I'm not sure we are going to find a much better pitching coach for this staff than him. Also I can't blame him for the bullpen. Bullpen pitchers are volatile.

You came close with Eloy actually. Didn't go on the IL but missed some time. Homered in the second game.

If Hahn needs help finding, let's say some stuff, he can call me.

Get the GM really really high and have him agree to Ohtani and Fletcher for Kimbrel and Keuchel.

I like Dusty. I want him to win a World Series. I think he's just a great character in the game and someone I've enjoyed following over the years. And the reasons his teams have lost have been unfairly blamed on him. The Marlins were a better team than the Cubs in 03. They won the World Series that year. And Baker was stuck with a crap bullpen and didn't have many options to turn to.

Worst comes to worst, we open with 6 starting pitchers and I'm fine with that.

Goddamnit. I am doing a terrible job of taking a sabatical but I read some of this stuff in this thread and I have thoughts. 1) We don't need a fulltime catcher. We need a back up, and I would do everything I can to sign Maldonado for that, but Yasmani Grandal is a really good defensive catcher. He needs to get better at blocking pitches but his framing is excellent. And to be honest, the reason the Astros were able to run at will on him is not his fault but the fault of the pitchers. Pudge Rodriguez in his prime would not have been able to throw these runners out. The pitchers did such an awful job of holding them on. Ozzie pointed this out. The only pitcher it seems who is somewhat good at this is Keuchel. He works quickly and he has a pretty solid pickoff move. But the rest are really bad at this. They need to get better at it. 2) It would be awesome if we got Scherzer but I'm kind of torn about even trading Keuchel. Keuchel was atrocious but its very likely that we could see a bounce back year. Dude finished fifth in Cy Young voting in 2020. And had a solid first half. That being said, if they can find a suitor and get something back in value, I would do it. To be honest, I think adding another starting pitcher isn't a priority. These guys are who they were this season. And with more experience in the postseason, they will get better. 3) Eloy shouldn't be traded. This is such an overreaction. LaRussa actually got an A- from Fangraphs for his lineup construction in the playoffs. But I do think with Abreu and him, you should break them up in the order. Let's say we get someone like a McNeil (let me dream for a second), my lineup would be something like this. TA McNeil Abreu Luis Eloy Grandal Moncada Sheets Vaughn Eloy's struggles this year were pretty bad but Dude is a bonafide superstar. 4) I think the White Sox should stop looking at the AL Central and look at the Astros as their Northstar or their bullies. In the same way we did with the Twins in 05, how can we make ourselves a little like the Astros. How can we gain that killer edge? How can we match up better with them. It's a small signing but Maldonado would be huge. He's a veteran who can likely impart a lot of wisdom onto some of these younger players, especially during the postseason. 5) Change up the coaching staff. La Russa isn't going anywhere and quite frankly, nor should he. And Katz and Cairo are both really good. But like the rest of the coaching staff is basically what we had with Ventura and Renteria. Tony has talked about leaning a lot on his coaching staff in St. Louis. A lot of these guys aren't very good. Also Menechino, if he doesn't go, is on a short leash. There's probably not a chance in hell they could get Cintron from Houston but someone like him would be amazing. Anyways, I'll try and get back to my sabbatical.

I'm going to break my own sabbatical and throw out a name that I really like that I think provides the Sox a lot of balance and he can play multiple positions. He's also someone who just might be available if the Mets do resign Baez, which I think is likely. Jeff McNeill. He had a crappy year last year but dude has been pretty damn good both at hitting for average, getting on base, not striking out, and also plays multiple positions. He also has enough pop to hit 23 home runs and that will likely increase if he played half his games at Comiskey. Just throwing this out there. I don't know if he will be available or not but I'm a huge fan having watched him a fair bit in New York. Rumor has it the Mets were in on Kimbrel. To be honest, I think McNeill is a much a better version of Nick MAdrigal. Again, not sure how likely it is that he's on the market but I would check in to see if he's available. Diaz was a high wire act down the stretch for them anyways. And even if it's not Kimbrel who they trade for him, I'm wondering if the Sox might have enough to amke it work.

This is gonna be last post for a bit jsut because after this whole playoff run, I need a break from baseball. But I will say I think part of our disappointment is that this has never happened before. This was the Sox first back to back postseason appearances in franchise history. And maybe outside of 06 or after the 08 season, we aren't really conditioned for this. The fact is, we have a really amazing core group of players who are young and who are only going to get better. And we play in a division that quite frankly won't have a team ready to really do serious damage against us for another few years. The team absolutely needs some additions but I think we can win the World Series next year. I would really like to see us go after Semien at 2nd base. I'm very willing to let Vaughn compete for a job in RF and have Sheets be the DH. But Semien at 2nd base would be a game changer. And resign Tepeara. Kimbrel, I'm up in the air on largely because I think he showed his real self in the last week of the season and in Game 4. It's pretty fucking obvious to anyone who was watching that Tony used him pretty badly in Game 2 and in this game (He should have had a clean inning). But $18 million is a lot to pay a set up man. That being said, I think this team will be very competitive next year.

Gonna watch at the bar that I watched at Sunday in Gowanus. Will not step foot in the bar near me that I did for Game 2 until the ALCS.

I said it in another thread but the Rodon we saw against the Reds is pretty likely to dominate a fastball hitting team like the Astros. To be honest, I was most impressed with his start against the Reds. He didn't let his lack of velocity get in the way. He figured out how to mix and match and was able to get it done. He's become a real pitcher this year. I would absolutley offer him a CO and maybe even an incentive laden contract. If they can dump Keuchel on someone desperate for starting pitching, it's worth it.

Lynn. To be honest, I can see him doing fine as a reliever against the Astros. His issues against them usually come after one time through the order. I guess Gio if necessary. I dunno.

The Rodon cat.

Funny story. I was supposed to go on a date with this woman tomorrow night and scheduled it specifically because it was an off day. Had to cancel it now because of the rainout. I literally can't schedule dates with people because I can't schedule till after the postseason or if the Sox do get eliminated. As a Sox fan, this shit is so foreign to me. Like I have not seen the Sox in the playoffs (last year excluded) in my proper adult life where I did things like went on proper dates with people. I'm pretty sure I was seeing someone when the Sox made the playoffs in 2018 but can't remember but also that was like sophomore year of college.

This! I thought it might be a good move but after thinking about this and talking with my friend who is a Stros fan, they are pissed.

I think there is a definite advantage to the Astros throwing out McCullers but I'm not sure Baker will make the gamble. Because it suddenly turns Game 4 into a must win. And as we saw in Gio, there is no guarantee that he will pitch this well.

For a second I thought you were talking Carl Everrett

I'll ask her. She does dig Vaughn and Sheets.

I'd go Rodon with four and Lynn. Than would get two innings from Hendriks and turn it over to Kimbrel. To be honest, the Rodon we saw against the Reds might be real trouble for a fastball hitting team like the Astros.

All I know is that I'm drunk and I watched this game at a Chicago bar where they put it on full blast outside and a bunch of White Sox fans retreated with me to the back. And my friend who is an Angels fan came with me and cheered as loudly for the Sox as I did. I fucking love this team!!!!!!!!!!!! GO SOX!!!!!!

He's hitting more than Engel. I think you take him out after the fifth or sixth. If we are agree taht we need to play Leury, I don't know where else to put him. Because Engel is not hitting and Cesar is at least putting together quality at bats.

Love it. You should check out Roger Bennett's podcast with Chuck Garfien about his fandom. Although me trying to explain that Alexi Ramirez was a good hitter when he was hitting near .300 to my flatmate was impossible. He demanded that Alexi get a hit everytime he came to at bat. He also called Francisco Liriano a good bowler.

Can I ask where in England do you live? And why did we not know each other in 2012 so we could comfort each other when we choked down the stretch. I lived in New Cross Gate, Lewisham, for my years there.

Yes. Hernandez put together a genuinely good at bat which resulted in a walk. He has killed the Astros over his career. Nothing to lose. If they really want Leury, put him in RF and put Engel in after the sixth inning.