Leaderboard

April numbers: .255/.364/.362, 12.7% BB%, 30.9 K%, .106 ISO, .400 BABIP, 115 wRC+ May numbers: .276/.405/.448, 16.2% BB%, 13.5% K%, .172 ISO, .292 BABIP, 147 wRC+ He's also increased his contact rate from 65% to 77%. Not only has he cut his strikeout rate by more than half, but he's no longer reliant on a high BABIP to fuel most of his line and he's hitting the ball harder as well. His improvement in just a month is already so impressive.

Hope it was worth the suspension for this. Enjoy your 10 days off. Anyone else, step up next.

I think that this exact post is precisely what the organization from reinsdorf, Hahn, Kenny on down to TLR and Katz needed in order to realize that Giolito was not performing up to his expected level and something may not be totally right. I'm confident that each of them spit out their morning coffee and exclaimed "oh shit!" when they fired up soxtalk this AM to see what the experts were saying, gaining newfound insight on the performance of their ace as they realized something may be out of whack. Thanks, parkman for enlightening them.

Nothing against @South Side Hit Men, but shouldn’t someone else be starting this thread given we lost game 1? Not sure if double-headers have special rules, but I wouldn’t temp the baseball gods after a game 1 that included a shitty Giotilo performance, a Nicky Two K’s game, and an injury to MVPito.

Well at least we don't have to read anymore of your posts this game.

It. Doesn't. Fucking. Matter. He is vaccinated, outside, and around other vaccinated people. The masks are theatrical bullshit at that point anyway

Yeah, typically, once the Sox lose, your GT starting duties are over, for some period of time. That being said, seeing that lineup, I’m not sure anyone else would voluntarily start the GT, with the odds stacked against them so badly, so let it roll

Is this the mask thread or game thread? Woof. Let's talk about baseball.

Sox *could* be up 5 or so games in the division if not for some terrible managerial decisions early. Those are tangible results. Sox might still run away with the division but the concern about those same tendencies popping up when it matters the most is still real. We can love every minute of the winning while still being critical of the mistakes a good manager probably doesn't make. It can be nuanced.

See this here is straight trolling. The team is winning because its core is so talented it can overcome two major holes in the OF. Even if you’re not a La Russa hater, to suggest he’s the reason we have the best record im baseball is laughable.

I agree they should only do the jingle after a Leury hit...I'd also like Leury traded immediately.

Lineup construction is overrated until you bat someone with a career .280 OBP vs RHP in the 2nd spot. Put terrible hitters in prominent lineup positions and the game will find them.

She is just trying to do her job. Inexcusable to laugh at her.

Thank god. That was getting intolerable.

if you are going to wear it, wear it right? his nose isnt covered, like what is he doing ??? either wear it or don't? He just looks like a moron the way he has it.

You got me, dude. You got your cheap two “likes,” everything is good in the world...the thirty something millenial has delivered what we used to call “a burn” to someone now eligible for AARP discounts. Good stuff. You cancelled me. I’m not sure how I can go on, to be honest. “It's not clear what started the (Hummer) fire, but when emergency crews arrived the SUV was already, as the kids say, fire. The vehicle was a total loss. Photos show it completely singed and missing the hood and windows. One fender sat forlornly on the ground nearby.” Gotta love today’s Yahoo News contributors.

Sorry, but this is just nonsensical. I'm overjoyed about the Sox, I predicted that they'd be good and they are, and I roll my eyes at most of the reflexive negativity on this board. But to suggest that you can't criticize a *single* aspect of the team just because they're winning is crazy. I was overjoyed when the Sox were cruising after smoking Minny at the end of last season, but I had no illusions that Ricky was a great manager and remained worried that his in-game strategy would cost us games. I was right. I have the same worries about TLR even while my overall positivity rating is sky-high.

I am sure I'll get flamed for this take because Gio is the sweetheart for a lot of fans but his body language has been awful this year. Not only that, he gets tagged in Boston and he blames that start time. Gets beat up by Detroit and blames the manager for not pulling him. Just seems like he feels entitled to success. He should be watching how Lynn composes himself because Gio has not been acting like an ace this year. I believe in the ability and think he'll snap back but he's been of the biggest disappointments on the team.

The ump?

If they sing 2 verses of that damn jingle, I might go to radio full time.

just the way vaughn tracked that popup was sexy.

and the best defensive 3B in MLB. He's a stud.

Yep, it’s ‘unwritten’. It’s my biggest contribution to SoxTalk, ~15ish years ago, the GT starter stuff. Man, I feel old now.

Garcia…base hit walk Madrigal…same Timmy…loads the bases Eaton…DP home to 1st Moncada…walk Collins…walk Mercedes…walk off Yerminator sandwiches for everyone…my treat. Let’s do this boys!!!

Calling a Sox comeback win?

,

Thanks Doctor

They're all vaccinated. Can we all stop giving a fuck about how they wear their masks, please?

Hey needledick, don’t run with your head down. We teach 3 years olds that.

My bad, I should have checked my words better before sending, which I normally do. Thanks for being the designated English teacher here on the forum. We greatly appreciate your support to the community. I sure hope you never post something where you make an accidental grammar or spelling mistake. I'm sure that has never happened to you! I'm curious though, do you reply to all the posts here with grammar and spelling mistakes? I have seen a ton of them on here and not sure if you replied to every single one of them. LOL. Like most here, I thought we were to reply to the content of the post.?

For my two cents when someone states that a manager has a minimal effect on a game, I think there is an underlying assumption built into that statement that the manager is of a level of competence that they aren't doing ridiculous and unexpected things such as not knowing the rules of the game, and instead of turning a quick statement into a long statement full of needless qualifiers, they make a quick and simplified statement, which is well understood in its context. I mean when I say managers have a minimal effect, do I need to say mention that as long as they play all nine defenders that they have a minimal effect, or can that be assumed? Do I need to mention that I am not including managers who would move their starting pitcher to CF for every other batter as it wouldn't be a good idea? Again, that can be assumed. So when people make that statement, I can accept that an acceptable assumption would be a manager who understood the rules of the game, and other basic things we assume of managers in 2021. I mean if you can't read between the lines to understand a statement like this for what it is, that is fine. I personally think too many take it as just an opportunity to argue something that was never said, and reframe the argument to something it never was instead have having a healthy respect for the baseball IQ of the person posting the comment.

No one is rooting against the White Sox or unhappy that they're playing great. In fact, it's the idea that we really love the White Sox that makes many of us so upset that they weren't given the best leader to steer their ship. They are a well equipped war machine and they were going to be lethal regardless of the Captain, but now many of us are concerned that strategically speaking they might be handicapped this season and will be forced to overcome that handicap to reach their full potential - which isn't in May. Managers don't impact many games, the fact that we have 5-6 examples of ways he has and it's May 14th is scary, not exciting. Bill Hamilton is an awful hitter, and if you want to give his success in one game to anyone (which is hilariously nonsensical anyway) then give it to this guy: When your options are Hamilton or Garcia, I'm not sure how you can go "wrong" given that both suck.

I agree CC does a good job on the podcast. And what do you mean "somehow he came up?" Are you telling me when you see the thread title "White Sox #1 in power rankings" you don't think of CC Sabathia's HOF chances?

That's just one comment tho.

The Chicago White Sox are going for their 7th straight victory for the first time since August 16-22, 2020. Alex McRae has been recalled from Charlotte as the 27th Man. No Jake Lamb, no cry! Full regular slate for game one. I'll create a second thread after this game. Go Sox!!!!!!!

Everyone playing pop psychologist today. Well, eccentric is the word for rich people. Like Howard Hughes. So I will just go with unique and varied interests.

Bullpen Usage - Previous 5 Games Jose Ruiz likely unavailable after pitching the past three days. TBD is the availability of Hendriks (19 Th / 28 W), Crochet (21 Th) for today. For the Royals 9 man bullpen, Bubic is the only pitcher unavailable for the double header today.

I've been about as transparent as possible on this in my tenure at Soxtalk. A managers impact on a game is minuscule and only becomes slightly meaningful when he deliberately makes moves that cause the team themselves to doubt his actions (which has obviously happened even though the TLR stans pretend the reports are all fake for some reason), and consistently makes decision that decrease the run expectancy of the team (starting worse players consistently, and leaving terrible players in to hit in big spots). LaRussa has had 5ish games where he has made decisions late in games or lineup wise so egregious that it legitimately lowered their expected runs scored. Does that mean they would have won those games? No, but it does mean he gave them a lesser chance to win them. Any manager can be expected to put their better players in the game to start, and use their better relievers late in a game; that's really easy stuff that you could do. Managers shouldn't be expected to do the exact opposite of that, which LaRussa has done multiple times. Very rarely will I ever blame a manager for a reliever blowing a game or etc. I thought him leaving Giolito in the game was egregious and the Foster thing was just flat out strange but besides that, bullpen management is pretty luck-of-the-draw driven. I thought the Ruiz idea wasn't a bad one, for example, yesterday. See what he has in a high leverage spot without letting him blow the game. I'll say it for the last time. If you are going to use Billy Hamilton as a defensive replacement to preserve leads, then you should have an offensive replacement for him when trailing. This isn't complicated stuff. Garcia and Hamilton should not take another big at bat late in a game with guys on the bench available.

If I were you I would aim this sentiment at the contingent of posters who are indiscriminately negative about *everything* (and there are plenty—remember, wins don’t count if we just won them, and losses are the only games on which we can draw conclusions), rather than critics of TLR. The latter is a much more focused and reasonable group. There’s really nothing inconsistent or unreasonable about believing a team is winning despite their manager rather than because of him.

Moot

Where did this come from? lol

Why assume Katz, of all people, doesn't know if something is wrong? Knowing something isn't right, and being able to get changes made, are 2 completely different things.

I love Jose and he’s obviously a huge influence on all the Latin players, but Timmy is the cog that makes the machine and is my MVP full stop.

And I get to see him pitch in person!!

Brother Tony. I watched every game in the Twins series and I am certain that some ("inexcusable"?) decisions that LaRussa made could be questioned and tallied on some score card, but to what end? The Sox swept the series, I am ecstatic, and I don't want to hear constant whining about LaRussa. It is beginning to look petty and distracts from discussing the main topics here. As a mod, you should be trying to keep the flow of the discussion and encouraging fan dialogue, , not accusing posters of trolling. Listen, if LaRussa deserves to be fired, the Chicago sports media will be all over that. However, he is no where near that threshold right now. It's just not an issue at this time. Maybe save your bullets as the saying goes, and attack him if and when it looks like he deserves to go.

Cespedes won't be able to break into the lineup when he gets there ?

The Sox have an incredible roster and are firing on all cylinders. Every Sox fan hopes that continues. Some feel LaRussa has made multiple inexcusable, very avoidable mistakes early in the season and are worried those mistakes could emerge when it really matters. I gave the Cody Parkey example about 30 pages back. So when @VAfan asks if the "TLR bashers are unhappy that the Sox are winning?" I feel it's appropriate to ask if he's trolling....because I really don't think it's that confusing to figure out. Maybe I'm giving too much credit to people.

Can't wait for all the pants pissing LaRussa haters to look the other way when he's up there getting Manager of the Year. Especially Dan Bernstein and the rest of the Score.

As someone who has surface level understanding, sure. Sox lead the majors in wOBA at .332. Here's what wOBA is. MLB's example: This means that the Sox are getting on-base the most effectively. Even if they aren't home runs, it's still very, very effective because it's so often. How do I know that? Because I can still pull in the traditional stats of average, where they rank first (.262) and on-base percentage, where they rank second (.345). They're second in wRC+ (at 117), which MLB defines as this: This means the Sox are 17% above league average at creating runs. Also, unlike Houston and the Dodgers, the other top two offensive teams, the Sox are Top 6 in BsR, which FanGraphs defines as this: So the Sox are elite at creating runs (when normalized for stadiums, leagues, etc.), elite at getting on base and despite not hitting homers, towards the top of the league in "quality" of getting on base, and great on the base paths. Does that satisfy you?