vilehoopster

I was fine when Civale was acquired, and he pretty much did what the Sox wanted him to do: Eat innings. And I don't really care that he's gone, unless he's replaced by Clevenger. But what I don't understand is how this happened, that he's gone and the Cubs "claimed" him? When I look for an explanation, all I can find is the Cubs "claim" Civale. Could someone please explain how he was available to be claimed. Did the Sox release him? Did they DFA him? Is there another way a player can be made available to other teams? Did the Cubs reach out to the Sox and say they'd be glad to take over his salary if the Sox made him available? If someone knows, please explain the workings of MLB front offices that this could happens so quickly and so unlooked for. Again, I'm fine with him being gone, but I don't want to see him replaced by Clevenger. If it is Clevenger today, (as a guy who often defends Getz/ Sox management here), pitching Clevenger is an indefensable misreading of the White Sox fan base. NO ONE wants to see Clevenger pitching for the Sox.

What is he, 24 or 25 years old? It's not the 3rd consecutive night game on an NBA west coast road trip.

How can you possibly justify Colson not in the lineup tonight. It is completely indefensible. WTF!! Are we even trying to win?

Who is this starting pitcher? Where did he come from? Is he the best we have to throw out there tonight? I guess the answer is yes.

Now, I am Mr. Over-Optimistic on this board, and get grief for it now and then, but even I have to say that the idea Sox can win 81 games this year is rather silly. I think winning 70 games is realistically out of reach. I would say that making 63, my preseason prediction and goal, is slightly, slightly less likely than 50/ 50. If they can stay hot for a couple more weeks, than winning 63 becomes probable and maybe they can even reach 65 or so wins. Would winning 24 or more games over last year, an over 50% increase in wins, would that be enough for Lipman to consider that the White Sox have moved things forward "quite a bit"? Probably not.

I think the overall opinion on win totals, when people were predicting as the season was about to start, was that just by random chance, it was all but impossible for the White Sox not to win five or six more games, just because so many things went wrong to reach the 41 win total; and that the odds were strong that the Sox had to improve, at least, a few games, even if the personal on team wasn't any better.

Even with Meidroth and Vargas out, this is not, at all, a bad lineup. Especially when you compare it to some of the Sunday lineups from earlier in the year. And especially compared to the absolute garbage Sunday lineups Grifol and TLR would put out. I think we'll see a good job from Burke today. I feel good about this game. I'd really like to get it going into Seattle next. We get today and even one in Seattle, it's a GREAT west coast road trip. Keeps the momentum moving forward.

Thanks for bringing this up. In my post that Kyyle is talking about, this is my opening few lines: "First of all, you who have been making these statements know who you are,and it's time to admit that you were wrong. Statement 1) This year's Sox are not any better or are not significantly/ noticeably better than last year's Sox. I don't think I need to even put for reasons for this; it is now clearly obvious. Statement 2) Getz should never have signed Slater and Tauchman." So, in my original post, Kyyle also use the words that I "demanded apologies". Does any reasonable person see or hear in my intro to that post that I was "demanding apologies"? What is going on there? Well really, you can understand it if you try. It's pretty common tactic of people who are unable to intelligently counter your points, that they will instead change or manipulate your words and then use that manipulation of what was said to now complain or argue against your point. It's really ironic that this past post has been brought up. Because now, 45 or 60 days later, my two points 1) that the Sox are significantly better and 2) getting Tauchman and Stater were good moves by Getz; both those points are even more evident now than when I originally posted this thread.

So when do wins matter? Do the Sox have to be Wild Card contenders for wins to matter. Or is that not good enough? Do wins only matter when the Sox are one of the top five or so teams in baseball and then serious World Series contenders? Will that be the only time wins matter? Is that what you're saying that Sox fans have to wait for? That the Sox will just keep trading off assets for lottery pieces until they are a legit World Series contender? Well, how will they ever become a Wild Card or World Series contender if they keep trading away every decent trading chip? When fans buy tickets, this year, right now if the Sox win, it matters. When we all tune in to watch the game. If the Sox win, it matters; it matters this year. Plus I don't understand your point that kids developing matters but wins don't. I don't understand why they are exclusive. Can't the kids develop as the team continues to win and develops a winning attitude, and expectation of winning. Isn't expecting positive results and winning, isn't that super important to "the development of the kids"? I just listened to a podcast and the guys speculated that maybe the reason that Vaughn is hitting so well is that he has escaped the malaise of the White Sox under achievement, that he's at a place that expects results and a place where they're (here it is again) "winning".

Again, I would argue that Benintendi is their best bat, certainly one of their best bats. It seems that the people who are most worried about his contract and/ or just want him gone are posters whose number one agenda on this board is to bad mouth and complain about management and Getz. You know, people like you.

A lot of well-argued counter points in that statement. You're right; I have been put in my place. Believe me this is exactly the type of replies I expected to get. The only argument that can be made against what I've said is the "wins this year don't matter" thing. So, poster will resort to this type of thing.

Houser has been the Sox best pitcher this year. I don't think anyone can reasonably argue with that. But also, I don't think anyone can reasonably argue against Vasil has been their 2nd best pitcher this year. I'm not talking about potential, but plain results and consistency for this year. I am ecstatic about Shane Smith and how he appears that he is going to be an outstanding starter for the Sox for years to come, but right now, Vasil has out performed him so far this year. I'm pretty excited about Mike Vasil going forward with the White Sox also.

I have thought this since before the all-star break when the White Sox were already playing better: I don't think the Sox should just completely dismantle what they have right now. Especially, especially for a bunch of lottery picks. And lottery picks is an apt metaphor for what they would get back. The odds are low that they would get anything of value back, so why make trades just to make trades? I understand that Robert and Houser have to go; it get that completely. Trade both of them while their value is high; I get it. But as far as I'm concerned that's it; don't trade anyone else. Don't trade Tauchman. He is clearly the best RF they have had in what?? 8 or 9 years? All the people who say we should trade him, what are the Sox going to get back?? Be honest, a minor leaguer who has what? A 1-in-5 chance of every playing in the majors, at best? Probably more like a 1-in-10 chance. Keep him this year and keep him next year. He really helps the team win; he's important to this young improving team. . Keep Sosa. Again: he's the best 2nd baseman the Sox have had in, again, 8 or 9 years, at least. Yes, he makes bad decisions, but he hits. He hits. The Sox don't win 2 out of 3 games in this series and some other series since the break is Sosa isn't on the team. Keep him, the return won't be worth it. He's young too. He's going to improve just like all the others. Somehow, everyone seems to forget that about him. Keep Benintendi. I would argue that he is the Sox's best bat. He is important to this team and a vital cog in the lineup. His defense isn't anywhere near as bad as all the people on here complain that it is. We kinda saw a good example of that tonight. Plus everybody talks about how expensive he is? What? 17 million is not that expensive at all. And Jerry and the Sox management can afford 17 million. My God, if you eat Ramen noodles everyday for lunch and dinner, you can afford to go to Olive Garden once a month. He's not too expensive with what the Sox are paying everyone else. Keep him and let's keep this momentum going on through September and on into 2026. A know a lot, A LOT, of people argue on here that wins this year don't matter. Wins next year don't matter. I will never, never understand that thinking. When the White Sox win, it matters. I and a whole lot of people are happy. We're happy with the 9 -3 win over Philly and every time the Sox win. When they lose, we are decidedly not happy. Keep winning this year. That's why we should keep Tauchman; keep him for now instead of trading him for a chance, probably a slim chance, that the Sox might be better in the future. Keep Benintendi for the same reason. I have had more fun watching the White Sox this past month, even before the all-star break, then I have at any time in the last five years. Why would anyone willing want it to stop? I don't get it.

If Perez is okay and can go and be decent, that is a big step toward us Sox fans never having to see Clevenger or Thor this season. So . . . let's go Martin!! With that said, I would be very intrigued and in favor of the Sox resigning Fedde. Has anyone heard anything about him lately? What his status is?

You mean like being up 6 games in the division on June 16th and now that's it's July 30th, they're down two games. Would it take a collapse like that? I'm not sure of the numbers, but best I can remember from seeing them in an article on MLB.com this morning. (Too lazy to fine the article again.)

I know he's got some struggles coming, and I'm not saying that Colson is going to be as good as the people I'm about to mention, I'm just making a statement about how much a big bat can make a different. But Colson, the way he's been swinging the bat and driving in runs with power since the all-star game, that must be what it's like to have a Judge or Ontani on your team all year long. Colson's big bat has made this Sox team so much better in these two weeks. It really shows, again like Judge or Ontani, how just one huge bat in the lineup can completely change a team.

All you guys with the "don't be embarrassed" or "not shellacked" or "small miracle", come on guys! Have some faith! Believe! Their guy is 7 & 3 with an ERA of 2.40. House has him bettered in both stats. Also, the Sox have scored 49 runs in six games (is my math correct?). They are hot and more likely to light up Imanaga as the Cubs get to Houser. C'mon; have some faith. And even if you don't feel good about the Sox in tonight's game, on this forum and on this day for God and the Pope's sake, Lie!!!

I think his tight groin is all about keeping Luis away from a tough pitcher and his not looking bad. I'm just guessing, but I would think it's like Shane Smith leg injury, just an excuse to give him time off without calling it time off.

Also, if you were going to trade for Houser, wouldn't you make the trade sooner, rather than later, like two days ago? If a team had acquired him say yesterday, that's two more starts you can get out of him before the end of the trade deadline. He's only for this year, so I would think a team would want to get every start they could possibly get from him? So if a team is struggling with starting pitching, they're probably hurting right now, and not just in ten days at the deadline. It's seems dumb to wait on this trade for a team contending for a spot that needs starting pitching.

Well, please let me reply in the same tone that you exhibited in your comment. So, I didn't say anything about moving Vargas down in the order but staying with him and giving him time? The giving him time and not giving up on him; it seems by other's less insulting comments that they agree. So, nothing about how well Tyler Alexander has been pitching and how we need to be giving him Smith's innings as the Sox reduce Smith's innings for a while? Nothing on that? I didn't mention that? Here's a crazy idea. Next time, instead of letting the computer count how many words are in a post, maybe your should read them? "Hey, Tony, what do you think of that book?" "I hated it!" "Really Tony, what didn't you like about it?" "Oh, I didn't read it. It had too many words."

Well, baseball sure can turn around on you. The two guys, who four or five weeks ago, we were debating which one would be the Sox all-star rep, both of them have really fallen into the crapper. But what can we do to try to get them both back? So, here are my suggestions to try to get some discussion going and give us something to debate until the game tonight. 1st for Vargas: I really don't know what to do about fixing him. His BA his last 15 games is (all my stats are off MLB.com) .127; for the last 30 it's .183 . . . ouch! I don't have a guess of what has happened, and I'm not ready to agree with the naysayers that May was the aberration, and last year and this last month is the real Vargas. But I am starting to consider they might be right. It's weird, watching the TV view from the centerfield camera, back in May, you'd see a good swing with good contact and it would go off or over the leftfield fence. The last few weeks as you watch, again from center camera, and he gets a good swing with good contact, and it doesn't even make it to the warning track, just a fly out to left field. I don't know. But what I do know is that the Sox have to pull him out of batting 4th or 3rd; he is killing them right now. Yesterday made it very clear, his results with guys in scorinng position are awful. I don't want the Sox to give up on him and believe (hope?) he can get it back together. But if the Sox care about winning games now and having a good showing against Cleveland, they have to move him down in the batting order. A month ago, I was complaining that he has no protection behind him; now he gives absolutely no protection to whoever is batting in front of him. 2nd, now Shane Smith: I do have a plan for him, and i think it would work. It would work to help the Sox win games going forward for now, and save on Smith's arm for now and next season. Smith's last four games have been terrible. In all four of those games he has given the Sox with their weak offense NO CHANCE to win. July 6 - Col -- 5 earned runs in 4.1 innings July 1 - LAD - 6 earned in 4.2 June 23 - AZ - 5 earned in 2.0 June 17 - Stl. - 6 earned in 4.1 -- all four, no chance for Sox to win. I think the thing to do is (at least for the next month to rest his arm) is to turn him into a opener, for one inning, maybe two. And . . . I know exactly whom he should open for -- Tyler Alexander. When people lately have been discussing great pitching pick ups by the Sox, no one seems to be bringing up Tyler Alexander. If you want a contrast to Smith's last four games, look at what Alexander has down his last five games: July 7 -- Blue Jays - 3 innings - no runs (again off MLB.com) July 1 -- Dodgers - 2.1 innings - no runs June 27 -- Giants (not so good) - 3 innings - 2 earned runs June 25 -- AZ - 1 inning - no runs June 20 Blue Jays - 4 innings - no runs There's no way around that: that's some very impressive pitching against some really good offensive teams. I think the Sox need to sit Smith down and tell him (all-star or not) that there needs to be some changes and they need to rest his arm. Tell him he will be the opener for two innings and only two innings, even if he's throwing a perfect game. So he knows he can throw hard and work just to get six outs. I think this would go a long way to helping him and keeping the Sox in the games that he's been starting. Also, it's a nod to Alexander on how well he's been doing and that he knows going into the game that he's got a good 3 or 4 innings to cover and he can prepare. I really think this would work for a while. Try it three or four times and see how it goes. I think this would give the Sox six solid innings of pitching and give them more of a chance to win Shane Smith's upcoming starts. Now about Meidroth, who has also really struggled his last 15 games . . . . I got nothing there.

I don't understand this stuff sometimes. It clearly bounced off the ground back into the mitt. What is the point of using instant replay and then ignore what it shows?

Is anyone else worried about Shane Smith because I am, both for this game and going forward for the rest of the year. If I'm correct, he's had three BAD games in a row. With the light air in this stadium, I could see him giving up 4 or 5 runs in the first couple innings. Hasn't he done that two games in a row? Three? It seems that his arm is really tired. If I were the Sox, I'd be keeping a very close eye on him today, and keeping Tyler Alexander ready to pop up very quickly. More and more lately, it is really starting to seem like Alexander is another nice pitching pick-up. I know it's a small sample size of him pitching well, but it is trending up, while Smith is really trending downward. I hope I'm wrong and Smith pitches five great innings, but I would be ready to get people up.

Where is he going to play. I assume that it has to be SS. So then that moves Meidroth to 2nd. Does Sosa sit?? That would really bother me. With Vargas struggling, the Sox have only 4 or 5 real major-league level hitters, and Sosa is one of them. Are they gonna sit Sosa so we can watch Capra and Rojas bat??? I really think that's what's gonna happen; they sit Sosa; this and keep putting Rojas and Capra out there.

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/the-measure-of-a-fastball-has-changed-over-the-years/ So, this article shows that some of the posts after mine are correct. That yes, where the pitch is measured from makes a huge difference, but using whatever stats/ tech, baseball has been able to get a universal velocity to measure back against/ over time, and this shows for various reasons stated in those above posts, that clearly pitching speed has/ and is increasing. The conclusion was that since 2008, pitching speed in the majors has increased from 91.9 in 2008 to 94.2 in 2023. But here's a question, is that because fewer pitches are off-speed and more pitchers are just throwing it fastballs? Is that factored in?