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Bob talking draft is the funniest thing ever.

If any game deserves a Winner thread it was this one ! Let's hear what you all liked about it !!!

Fast forwarded to the end. Maybe my favorite game of the season. Soriano and Martin were really fun to watch, especially the part where the Sox touched Soriano up -- his ERA increase to 0.84. My guy Romo made a Sox milestone, it seems like one of those is happening every game this season. Mike Trout still had a good game and I love that he's having a great season, playing center field, stealing bases...but still losing. I really like this team! Most fun I've had watching the Sox in years.

Ill take that inning. Get him out and bring on their bullpen.

Lol

Well, Acuna's being dinged not for true lack of range, just for not making as many plays as the statistical model expects. His non-catches have been on plays that were rated as pretty easy. Somewhat interestingly, he's caught every non-routine ball hit his way so far (but he hasn't had many challenging opportunities). I expect with a little development and larger sample size, he'll end up at least average by these metrics. If his batting outcomes meet his expected ones, you at least have a useful little bench player thanks to the baserunning and positional versatility.

I also think if I squint out 2 years - I see a team that should have the ability to compete - especially if you pair it with a new owner. But even if you don't - I think there should be a window where Muni is 28-32 and this team is playing very competitive baseball. So I don't think this team is like 4 years away where I would say, you know what, lets move on because we are still in the pure stack 3-1 moves to build up a better base for a sustainable run. I'm not saying I have the upmost confidence in the above happening - but if I squint and even when I look at the first month - generally speaking I feel like outside of Quero taking a huge step back, this has been a pretty good 1st month from a rebuild: Majors: Focusing only on guys I consider core to the long-term rebuild Pitching Martin - Really pitching well and looking solid and at least a medium term fit (could also move him and wouldn't argue it given where we are in rebuild and his years of control remaining) Burke - Shows good stuff and fit as a mid - to - back of the rotation guy; Grant Taylor - Elite FIP; Stuff strong - still developing but you can see a high end reliever; Also will caveat this is the type of guy that is a potential asset to move if you can get a high end outfield / position prospect (or starting prospect). Rest of our rotation was never key to the LT success - if you got a hit with Kay or Fedde great, but they are back end guys at best. Hitting: Montgomery - Elite power and above average defense continues to show; Clear signs that he is trending to be a 3-4 WAR player with upside of a 5-6 WAR type player if he can be more consistent with the bat. Learn from Muni on the eye / patience, etc. Vargas - Don't think he went up or down - but you are seeing improved power and eye. Avg low but OPS still serviceable and defense okay. Worse case you can squint and see a very useful elite utility guy and still some scenarios where he is a solid player surrounded with other good players. Quero - Clearly took a nose dive; Probably the most disappointing 1st month of any player who was key to our rebuild. It is still 1 month and he was working through swing changes. Needs a reset. I also understand the nuances of learning your starting staff etc take a tole. Teel - Injury impacted and stinks; But you can see progress - hopefully he is healthy by mid to late May and he gets another year under his belt further validating he has a floor of a top 7 catcher in this league. Muni - Could not be off to a better start; Elite power / Elite eye with an ability to hit velo (which was the scouting report weakness); Swing and miss is real but with the other 2 attributes he looks to be a bopper in this lineup for a while (if you can sign him) Meidroth - Solid player - worse case good bench guy; Low ceiling but he's a major league player and a very good bench guy on a high end team. Antonacci - Jury is out - but lets see what he can do; Did well in minors and spring - small major league sample size but I wouldn't say anything bad relative to expectations but lots of questions. Perreria - Off to a good start; Good buy low candidate that you can at least squint and see some potential; May not be anything but if he isn't good doesn't hurt - if he is good its gravy on top; Acuna - Flawed player - but now is the time to give him at bats because he really isn't taking playing time away from people that critical. Rest of the big league roster - they weren't long term players anyway. Minors: Pitching: Top 3 prospects all showing front of the rotation stuff Schultz - Looks explosive and now up at the big league level - very evident he has elite stuff; whether he can pull it all together, who knows - but you see potential front line starter potential. Hagen - Building up innings / pitch count (not perfect) - but no red flags right now outside of innings (which is a real one); Command improving and seems to be looking more like the guy they drafted; Work still remains; McDougal - Same thing; Elite stuff; Production good; Expect he'll be up in MLB at some point this year. Next Set - Oppor has been mixed; Would like to see another wave shine - and also curious to see what Thorpe can do when he gets back out there. Hitting: Montgomery - Continues to show the tools; Still has some question-marks but still showing high percentage upside; Overall outfield depth remains weak - would love to see this as a spot the club makes an impact signing over next 1-2 years. Bonemer - Raking at a high level and continuing to show that he can be an impact player (I wouldn't call him elite - but looks like he has the makings of being a sustainable 3-4 WAR type of guy. Slew of other Infield Prospects - They all seem to be doing a nice job;

This is Sox fans being Sox fans. Always betting tomorrow will be better. We don't have masterminds in scouting since we often rely on other teams' prospects. This is what losing teams always do. I wonder what it's like for other teams wanting Sox prospects and willing to give up a good player. I'm exhausted as a fan with this approach. I've often wondered how long Frank Thomas would have remained a Sox in the current organization. The Brewers are the model in baseball. Not everyone can be like that. Everyone is like that with no World Series. I know everyone can reply with something rational but emotionally I'm tired this organization mimicking the Marlins or Pirates.

I never felt the sense of dread in this one, like a pitcher just has us shut down. They ran up Soriano's pitch count, and even though they didn't really make anybody "pay", they did enough. Davis Martin is a beast. When Benintendi strikes out, he looks so lost, then next at-bat, kills one.

Hey Soriano, sorry about that .20 ERA

We are only 2 games back on 4/28. Think it was double digits the last few years. I miss this song! Let's Get the sweep tomorrow, enjoy an off day, and then get back to work!

You never need to tell Soxtalk twice!

Win #13 on halfway to Halloween night? Spooky. Took until May 13th last season and May 14th in 2024. Sox secure a series win and (at least) a split of the homestand. Soriano's first loss, 3 ER in 5 IP after none in his previous ~25. Dominguez 4 straight saves and 7/8 for April. Sox playing .500 ball since the opening roadtrip and 6-4 in their last 10. Half a game behind the Twins for 3rd, 2 out of 1st.

NEVER A DOUBT, SIR!

Need the save Sir Anthony . Your Knighthood and head are at stake. The Queen of Hearts is watching !

Romo has no chance up there

Would one describe it as a "clean-ass swing?"

Was thinking of a future infield last night of Mune-Bonemer-Roch-Colson-Teel That would be awesome

I will be very surprised if they trade him during this season

I like Mune’s gangster lean back when he really gets one

watching the replay of the game, Grant Taylor gets lit up more often than you would think based on his stuff

I never thought in my wildest dreams Vargas could play this well. I take back all the rotten things I've said about him.

Nice hustle by Vargas to get that ball otherwise I think the tieing run scores.

It worked, y’all

He's also taken a handful of HBPs during the homestand. Not a bad time for a day off his feet.

Fork Found in Kitchen. This is why waiting until 2026 to trade him was so extraordinarily dumb, especially if they weren't going to pick up any money.

CHURN BABY CHURN, ROSTER INFERNO, CHURN BABY CHURN, BURN THIS MUTHA DOWN

Bidet got good use after the game apparently

They should move Anthony Kay to the bullpen and have Hagen Smith start in the majors.

In Vargas, Sox have a 26 year old under team control for a long time who is actually hitting. Maybe someday he has to get moved due to his limitations or due to getting closer to eventual free agency, but I wouldn't be making moves based on any of those other infielders until they actually get here. If Billy ever makes it, and I sure hope he does, it could realistically be in Vargas's free agent year. The most optimistic take on Caleb is that he could arrive as soon as next season but for now he's striking out at a 30% clip in A-ball so again I'm not eager to start moving one of the few bonafide major leaguers to make room for him yet. Roch hasn't yet been drafted, but I don't know what a realistic timeline for him will be. I assume the Sox will want to test him at least a little bit at the minor league level in 2027 (what happens after that would depend on the result of the "test"). These things tend to work themselves out. My gut feeling is we won't find ourselves lamenting how the Sox compiled too many good players.

I think he's gone up. He's been worth 1 bWAR/.9 fWAR so far, which would be a 4.5 - 5 WAR pace if he keeps this up. His advanced hitting metrics are all really good, and his eye has improved. Given his age and mediocre defense he's probably a guy they should move, with Carlson, Bonemer and Roch on the way.

But it's the White Sox. If they are ready to be competitive and aggressive with their offer, then fine. If they are hoping for a discount, quit fooling themselves. Trade him for a haul.

Agreed, but he also seemed to have a hard time throwing his fastball past anyone. Can’t be giving up two strike hits then on your breaking balls to Grissom.

I think Murakami is exactly the guy we should try to extend, and he’s just flawed enough that we might actually be able to.

if he continues this absurd pace to the end of the season, or just finished with like .850+ OPS and 35+bombs, they should extend him after 2026 is over. he adds value to the franchise in more ways than WAR

Yep, the Sox couldn't just have an honest conversation about what they were looking for in an announcer, they had to piss in the well before he left like a jilted ex-girlfriend getting dumped on prom night.

Yes and no. Sure, it was all about Jason's network commitments that they didn't like. If he had zero other announcing job scheduling conflicts, we'd have never heard about his eating in the booth. But once the Sox brass soured on him, oh you better believe they let slip petty little pot shots like things about his eating habits. If you don't believe the Sox under Jerry Reinsdorf would do such a thing against someone who they've soured on, then you haven't been paying attention for the last 45 years. It's the White Sox way through and through - from Harry Caray and Bill Veeck down through Jason Benetti. I guess the joke's on the Tigers. They're now "stuck" with a PBP guy who also does network broadcasts and is getting national recognition. Suckers. Does anyone think that the Tigers would switch Benetti for Schriffen......or that they wouldn't burst out laughing at such a suggested swap?

Someone already said this but I have to agree. Vargas’s hustle in backing up Antonacci’s missed dive probably saved the game from going into extra innings. Very few 3rd basemen would have had the awareness and athletic ability to get there so quickly. An outstanding play. Stoney talks all the time about his high baseball IQ. People who want to dismiss his importance to this team don’t understand baseball.

You really love win pace early in the season even though it jumps wildly from game to game.

"What do you know about development, Pal?"

If the Sox won both of the 10 inning losses preceding this game to sweep the Nats they would have a 5 game winning streak and there would be a different vibe among fans right now. Just have to stop blowing late leads and losing close games. So it was great to watch a 7 run 7th, the Angels bullpen implode, and of course,Yoan Moncada suck it in the clutch.

Decent defense all around , especially Tristan Peters, but several balls just beyond the reach of Antonacci, Vargas, and Montgomery. A lot of luck in this game for both sides but HRs erased another terrible start by Kay and a shaky bullpen. If/when Teel comes back, our line-up is gonna hit a lot of 'em. Beautiful doggers out there tonight. Thank you to all the Sox fans who brought their little pals out.

Yes, great win. Cześć!

Needed this one with Soriano on deck, he's been unhittable and goes deep enough into games to not guarantee a good chance against the Angels' weak pen like they capitalized on tonight. Nice to get win #12 on April 28th, after it came on May 11th in both 2024 and 2025. Those teams diverged by 19 wins in their final records, and this year's got even longer to go.

I'll take the W.

Seems strange. Must be in the head. That pitch to end the 8th was unhittable.

Big win with Soriano on deck.

Hero Hudson. He's had a hell of a month.

A good broadcaster enhances the viewing or listening experience and helps connect fans to the team. A poor, bad, mediocre one does more damage in these areas than you might think.