SoxBlanco

We didn’t go ALL IN this year.

Yes, I did read your first paragraph. Funny how no Cubs fans complain about the Chapman trade. If we had won the WS this year and Kimbrel was lights out, nobody would be questioning the trade. I don’t disagree with everything you are saying. I just hate the hindsight criticism. And people can say they hated the trade whether we won or lost, but I promise you nobody would be complaining if we won the WS.

Yes, of course. Rick made moves trying to win a World Series. Craig and Cesar decided to suck once they got here.

We had two Cy Young candidates in August, plus a guy named Giolito. If Grandal’s defense is the problem, then nobody should be upset with Cesar as our second baseman.

And if we went that route, there would have been so much bitching about the lack of making a deal.

Jesus. You are the worst.

Yep. And by saving McCullers for game 5, you give yourself a chance at the absolute best case scenario, which is winning game 4 without him and having him available to start game 1 of the ALCS. I would be saving McCullers for game 5 without a doubt if I were Dusty.

Found out late last night that I will be in attendance today. Gonna try my hardest to bring home a W.

Couldn’t think of a better guy to start this must-win game thread. Also pumped because that means you’ll be starting the game thread for game 1 of the ALCS. @Chicago White Sox, really sorry about your dog. Let’s get this W.

I wanted Sheets at first too, but it wouldn’t make sense. I’d rather save him for a pinch hit for Engel (or Leury) later.

Me too. But you can definitely get through 5 innings with Tepera, Bummer, Kimbrel, and Liam.

It was a joke.

Let’s GO! Lots of pressure on Houston. They need to win one of the next three if they want to force a game 5.

This is exactly why I wanted Lynn in game 1 and Giolito in game 2. Some people here are acting like the series is over. Everyone said we wanted to leave Houston with 1 win, and that’s still very possible.

Sheets and Grandal got one in the zone during the first time through the lineup.

Yep. Remember when we were up 3-0 against Oakland last year?

AJ wants the Sox to win, 100%.

Expanded playoffs. We weren’t in the ALDS.

This is another way I look at it: If I could lock in a win right now for either game 1 or game 2, and let the other one play out, I’d be locking in game 2. That’s why I want Lucas in game 2. He’ll also be facing a worse pitcher for Houston, so we just maximized the chances of winning one of the first two games. And since he can still pitch game 5 on full rest, it makes the decision easier.

Gio wouldn’t be on short rest. But I agree with you on Lynn.

I like it because they will have the option of Lynn or Lucas in game 5.

I’ve shared my thoughts in other threads, but I agree with this decision.

Exactly. Whoever pitches game 2 will be on normal rest for game 5, so we would still have the option of Lynn or Giolito for game 5. I look at it like this...there are three different scenarios for Lynn/Giolito to pitch in the first two games: series tied 0-0, we are up 1-0, or we are down 0-1. The most dire scenario is if we lose the first game, in which case I want Gio on the bump for that super important game 2. The other way to look at it is obviously that if Giolito just pitches game 1 and we win, we won't even face that game 2 scenario where we are down a game. But I would hate for a scenario to happen where Gio pitches well in game 1 and our offense goes cold, and we lose 2-1 or something like that. Then we are in trouble. Like I said, I'm fine with either decision, but I would personally go with Lynn in game 1.

I usually agree with you on most things, but I would probably lean toward starting Lynn in game 1 if it were up to me. I don't feel strongly either way though, so I would be 100% behind Giolito getting the ball.

Do we know who is pitching game 1 for us yet?