vilehoopster

This Gio thing, like so many Sox injuries, seems so odd. We hear that it's nothing, then just it goes on and on. With Gio, it was some abdominal pain, and he just came out as a precaution; that's what I heard on the radio during and after the game, talked about how cold it was and a good idea to get him out. Later on it changed to was going to be maybe, worst case, sit out a start. Then it became sit out two starts. Then he was on 10 IL. It seems these thing just grow and go on forever. No where near as bad, but a lot like Engel's thing last year. Is my memory correct, that he pulled that hamstring in spring training? It seemed he was always about to return, but really, he never returned for any time at all and would go right back on the IL. He was more or less out out the entire year. I just looked it up. He only played in 39 games last year, for a hamstring injury in spring ball. Now Gio, originally out as a precaution, out, at least two starts. Let's hope only two starts.

Am I correct that Cespedes, regardless of how good his defense is or his homers/ power, that he’s not going to be seriously considered for the White Sox until he solves his strike out problem? Isn’t that his major concern that needs fixing. Plus, how does one fix that. Learn patience? A better eye to tell a slider from a fastball? What do you do?

Let me start out with an immature "I told you so". So, here goes, about three weeks ago, I said on here, that if we shared an office or worked together and could do a handshake bet, I would bet and give ten to one odds that the Sox would not sign Conforto. Some people called me on that wanting to bet, and I said that it was not realistic (I had no desire) for me to do online bets, but that if we worked together, I would bet $10 or $20 dollars and give that 10 to 1 odds that the Sox wouldn't sign Conforto. I even commented that I if we made the bet, I would feel like I was stealing money from you; that how unlikely I thought it was that the Sox would sign him. Well, with the Pollack trade, I think I can say that I'm have been proven correct. Here's my next metaphorical bet. If I worked with you and someone gave me odds, five to one, you pay me $50 to my $10; I would bet you that Keuchel gets more wins this year than Rodon. ERA, Whip, I don't give a shit about that; Rodon can great in with stats and still not be pitching in August. But wins are accumulated over the entire season; those I would bet on. I believe that with his high cost, the Sox are going to put Keuchel out there every 5th day,or close to that, as long as they can, which I believe will be most of the season. Keuchel doesn't get hurt, as opposed to Rodon. I believe Keuchel will be pitching for the Sox in August into September. I would make that bet; hell, I'd make it at three to one odds. I don't feel as confident about this one (really it's a prediction, not a bet since I won't do it online), as I did about the Conforto one, but I would take that bet, certainly I would take it at five to one.

This is some serious revisionist history here, not close to reality. I just checked the box score and play by play to make sure my memory wasn’t wrong about how bad Rodon was in this game. It wasn’t. He was terrible. 1st inning, he survives a lead off double and Houston doesn’t score. He got a couple strikeouts to strand man on 3rd. This must have been when he was throwing 99. 2nd inning, lead off single, an out later Tucker flies out to warning track. If he was throwing 99, Tucker was barely, barely missing. Can I claim Rodon was more lucky than good this inning. Now things turn ugly: 3rd inning. Starts with a strikeout, that’s good. Than a hit batter, than a flyout, so two out. Now real ugly, walk and another walk, now Bases loaded. A double and two guys score and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Kopech comes in and gets last out stranding those two base runners. To portray that outing as “he gave up some baserunners and two runs” is totally inaccurate. His arm was cooked by the 3rd inning (a hbp, 2 walks, double) before he could get eight outs. The results clearly show that. I would argue his arm was cooked from the first few pitches and he very was lucky the first two innings. But whatever; but my point is that it not realistic to claim that Rodon had a healthy arm to pitch well in this game.

I was happy with what we got from Keuchel. If he stays our 5th starter and gives us all year what he gave against Seattle, I think Sox will easily win the division and be serious World Series contenders. But that’s assuming (hoping??) he’s our 5th starter all season and we keep four starters better than Dallas and keep him as 5th man. I also think tonight with Cease will show a lot. Has he really taken another significant step forward, or was his 1st outing just a beating Detroit thing?

I am really surprised people bemoaning the Sox not outbidding SF for Rodin. Are our memories this short? He was outstanding last year then he wore down. A total non-factor after August 1st. A total non-factor after August and that was his best/ healthiest year in five years, since 2016. Do you really think the Sox should have gone over $44 million for two years for a guy who was, only part way healthy, once in the last five years? Again are our memories this short? Sure he was great that last start. We’ve seen that before too. I could be completely wrong, but I would be shocked if Rodon wins 22 games for SF over the length of that contract, shocked.

Put me as someone else who agrees with this take. Not sure if he’s better or not than Moncada. But the first two steps to being successful are 1. Showing up and 2. Trying your best. For Moncada, that’s zero for two. I’m tired of his shit. Go Burger!

I disagree. I think he makes some very good points, except for # 5. My biggest fear is his reason # 2, we could be giving up players who could be very productive for a long time (Burger and Sheets) for what is clearly a one-year rental. With that said, make the trade.

So, do we need to salt and burn??

That we haven't hear a report that everything is okay and they're just being cautious is clearly a bad sign. It must be a real injury, worthy of some real time, but hopefully not too long.

I don't see that happening. Unless some sort of injury to Vaughn, I would be very surprised if this happens. As a guy who defends management on here, I would be very unhappy if Leury starts 100 games. He is extremely important as a fill-in-anywhere utility backup, but for the Sox to be good, he needs to be a back up. Now if this or that player(s) on the infield is/are injured and he's plays at ton because of that type of situation, that's fine; that's why he on the roster and valuable. But to just start him everyday because he's deemed the better player or option, that is not good.

Me also. I see, at least, 30 home runs from that group, at least 30. Whatever wRC that translates too, it will more than make up for the defense. Am I crazy, but didn’t Sox win a World Series with Dye level defense in RF, literally?

On the other hand, if we can never quite manage to pull the trigger due to fear of risk or making a mistake, we can never be a truly great team, This is ridiculous logic. Again, according to MLB.com (call it click bait if you want, but they’re clearly knowledgeable and missing your anti-Sox-management bias and just plain weird takes) the Sox sit behind the Dodgers with a # 2 power ranking. Absolutely capable of winning the World Series with their present talent. Again, this entire thread is an embarrassment to this board.

Again, MLB.com has the White Sox #2 in their power ranking . . . and people are on here saying we should fire Hahn. This is embarrassing for the poster and to a lesser degree to the Sox fan base. And, of course Ron833, agrees. That’s all you need to know.

Oh, I just reread your post. You said 100% for $20. My bad.

We don’t work in the same office, so don’t see a bet here. Did you mean to say $100 dollars? I would never go that high; I’m a poor teacher. But if you were at my school and we hung out in teachers’ lunch/ lounge, I’d be glad to make a handshake bet for $10 or $20 at 10 to 1 odds. Really, I’d feel I was taking your money. Surprised you’re so confident. I mean Sox made offers to Harper, Machado, and Wheeler, but they were never gonna happen. Believe me, I could be wrong. I would never have guessed that the Sox would make a bold move like trading for Kimbrel. No matter how that trade turned out, it was bold and shows Sox are capable of making a move to win in this window. Also, Sox grabbed Grandal while we still had McCann, so they can make moves. So signing Conforto is possible, I just think the odds of it happening, by all the signs I mentioned, seem really small

I think this “going to sign Conforto thing” is a wishful thinking fantasy, like Sox we’re gonna sign Harper or Machado. Not going to happen. Of course I could be wrong, but if we worked in the same office I’d bet you it wouldn’t happen and give you 10 to 1 odds. Every sign says it’s not gonna happen: Boras is his agent All talk of finding Vaughn at bats. No way Vaughn is going to Charlotte, no way. Anyone who suggests this, loses credibility as a poster in my opinion. Sheets is staying, so far . . . seems to be the feeling, he needs and will get at bats Eloy is the starting LFer, it isn’t even being discussed, so Vaughn not playing there. Abreu wants (Probably “insists upon” is more true) to play everyday and doesn’t like to DH, so not a lot of Vaughn time there. Just my opinion, but I see Grandal DHing a lot as season progresses. Sox want to use money and resources to get another pitcher and sign Giolito long term. Biggest bottom line is the cost; I don’t see it happening. As I type this the now, it seems even more than 10 to 1 against signing Conforto.

Except we don’t have a giant hole in RF. We have an outstanding young talent with the very real possibility (I would use the term, likely) to produce a line of .280 to .290 with 30 home runs. A player who has shown he can be adequate, especially considering the bat he will supply, as a defensive outfielder. It’s Vaughn’s. I’ve said before and repeating. I believe the Sox can absolutely believe Sox can win World Series with a RF of Vaughn, Sheets, Engel. What they need to get is another good starting pitcher.

This is 100% true. Put Vaughn there and use that money to resign Giolito.

I love that baseball is back. Coming home from work, watching video highlights and reading comments on here. I got all the windows open; it’s 70 here in northern Indiana. Damn life is good.

During that “healthy” three year stretch, Conforto averaged about 29 homer, 80 rbis, and batted about .270. If that comes out to a wRC+ of 133, then yes, I expect the Sheets/ Vaughn RF platoon to easily reach that, easily. I already said I expected at least 30 homers and we’ll over his career BA of .255. Of course, Conforto has only hit 23 homers the last two years total. I guess he wasn’t healthy.

With this overloaded bullpen, what is the possibility of turning Crochet into a starter? Isn't it time? Send him down to AAA and carefully (I said carefully) start building his innings with the goal of bringing him up in August and/ or September as a five-inning starter. The problem with that, is that leaves Bummer as the only lefty in the bullpen. Keuchel? Maybe but I don't see that. If we could get another bullpen lefty, I really think it's time to turn Crochet into a starter. That will go a loooong way to solving future problems.

I just said this on another post, so saying it here. I believe that the Sox will gain so much with the offense from a RF of Vaughn/ Sheet/ turning-it-over to Engel during late innings, that they will more than compensate for however bad they might be defensively. I see that platoon having, at least, 30 home runs and batting batting way over Conforto's .255 batting average. Score a ton of runs and catch the ones you can get to (however much people will exaggerate the low quality of Sheet's and Vaughn outfield defense). RF isn't shortstop, 3rd base, center field, or catcher. With all the offense the Sox will gain, the defense will be plenty to take care of business. I'll say it again, I totally believe the Sox can win a World Series with a right field of Vaughn/ Sheets/ and Engel. What the Sox need is another starting pitcher, a good one.

This is my first time stating this, but I feel I'm going to be repeating it over and over. I believe completely that the Sox can win the World Series with a RF of rotating Vaugh, Sheets, and Engel. I completely believe that. I have said this before, I don't start to get the Comforto love on here. Career .255 hitter, batted .232. last year with a War of 0.8. What does he bring that would be worth the cost to get him? I can't start to believe that Vaughn and Sheets can be so terrible defensively that the tons more we're going to gain on offense won't faaaar and away be an advantage over having Conforto's defense. Look at the huge jump Moncada and Robert had their 2nd years, and that's with minor league seasons behind them. Vaughn is going to make a major leap offensively this year, regardless of batting against lefties or righties. How are people not seeing that? Sheets was outstanding last year. Yes, the Sox put him in favorable spots to succeed; so, just do it again this year. That's why you want to platoon him with Vaughn. Yes, Vaughn needs to face righties; he can do that DHing. People keep talking about this or that person DHing. Am I the only one who thinks that Grandal is going to be DHing a lot this year? I would guess that it will average out to one day a week by the end of the season. It will happen less early, but become more common in August and September. Now, what I don't believe is that the Sox can win the World Series with this current pitching rotation. The Sox need another GOOD starting pitcher, not a 5th level pitcher, but a 3rd level pitcher or better. I have no confidence in Keuchel, none. I don't have a ton of confidence in Kopech. I think he will be okay, average, but not great yet. I strongly think the Sox have to trade for a quality pitcher. Again, I'm fine with the platoon in RF; I'm okay with 2nd base. But we need another starting pitcher.

In their 1st top five power rankings, MLB.com has Sox at # 2 behind Dodgers. That sounds very good to me.