WestEddy

I started out thinking this was a 77-78 win team, to feeling better about .500+, to now thinking they actually have a shot with this offense to make the playoffs. Looking at the injuries around the league, I start thinking there's a lot of green in front of the White Sox. They're dealing with the roughest stretch and looking like they could come away from the Phils, Braves, Dodgers, Yankees, Guards and Tigers over .500 for that stretch. Then the schedule gets easier. Then they get Mune and Teel back. Then some of their starting pitching depth should be throwing and percolating up to the parent club. Then they have depth to deal from to shore up the rotation and bullpen. I don't want them to blow it all up for one post-season run, but they certainly have the horses and depth to make an interesting go of it.

I always cringe when a player leaves, and the dialog is "they just lost 25 HR. Where are they going to get those 25 HRs from, now?" Production comes in different shapes. It's pretty stark when Mune goes down, and the team kind of morphs to become a slightly different mode of run production.

I'd imagine they're working with him to adapt his stance and swing changes to the big-league game, not unlike Acuña. He's got to put the ball in the air, more. We'd get pounced on for mentioning Mark Grace or Hosmer as dudes who didn't need to be big HR hitters at 1B. I think Tony DiPino would have something to say about Gonzo as the fallback in the case of Murakami bolting for LA, but Gonzo's definitely in the convo.

I'd like to see an actual heater before I declare him a perennial All-Star, but there is a reason for his rebirth on offense. You're ignoring the numbers that underlie his Charlotte success. Long-term answer at 1B seems to be a bit of a stretch, but 5th/rotating infielder/DH looks plausible if he can OPS .780 and hit you 15+ HR/162.

Which really translates to teams taking the Sox seriously, and vigorously game-planning them. I think we're up to it.

This is Saturday's game thread.

SoxMachine's pre-game notes Pregame notes: Just trying to get back-to-back series wins against the two best teams in baseball - Sox Machine a couple items I found interesting

Maybe it's just Fuller's way of talking, but this sounds brutal to me: Like, he was just not in the White Sox' plans, and he was on his way out.

Then I guess I'm off base. Came home with a chip on my shoulder and lashed out. Sorry.

nvm

Um, are these people telling you how to "fan" in the room with us now? I have no idea what TexSox and Ptac have to do with this discussion. Yes, Celtic fans should be rooting against their team being dunked on. I really don't get you guys rooting for other teams to take the Sox' lunch money, then shaming everybody else because another team took the Sox' lunch money. You're basically rooting for the Sox to get cucked so that you can appear to be superior to everyone else here. How about you smack yourself in the balls with a hammer, then shame yourself in the mirror? I'm fine rooting against a no hitter. You don't get grist for the mill.

Zakly. Go perfect game the Padres 3 nights in a row. I'm sure our friend would certainly root for that.

I went to a graduation party for twin great-nieces. I imagine that's some sort of bad voodoo.

one hit's a hellava lot more than zero. f*** off and go no-hit the Giants on their faith night. Or maybe they should call it "Jesus Is The Only Thing That Keeps Me From Living As A Fish In An Ocean Of Jizz" Family Night.

No, that's not human nature. That's psychotic nature. That's why hometown fans cheer when a no-hitter's broken up. I really can't understand the mindset of people who demand their fellow fans be "embarrassed" by losing, but root for the extremes. Liptak isn't a fan. I imagine he's still dealing with some Freudian thing with his dad where he needs the team he was brought up to root for to be deflowered by every other team he hates. Maybe he should talk to his therapist about that. Maybe you and Lippy can do couples therapy. I hear that's helpful.

This is psychotic. I guess I understand why you root for White Sox players to get injured.

The wand is getting a bit tiresome. It's cool, but you can't laugh at the same joke for 162 games.

Not sure what you're referring to. There's a cock-suredness that rookies who go 0-4 against a perennial Cy Young candidate suck and should be thankful to be breathing the same air as us keyboard Koaches. But then they go silent when the guy they wanted DFAed all winter turns into a top reliever. I don't even know what "eating crow" is. It doesn't seem to stop the subsequent screeds.

Neither was Bryan Hudson, until suddenly, he was. And something tells me that all the AAA relievers people scream about will come up and be embarrassing, too. Until they turn a corner, then they won't be.

Wouldn't the worst team to play professional sports be the football teams who had zero wins in a particular season? The '72 Sixers went 9-73 for a .110 record. I get the point, but the hyperbole is a little out of control.

Surf's Up!!

Just beers. We go on a walk. 4 bars one mile away. Waiting for a Pete's Pizza at home, now.