South Side Hit Men

I’d prefer starting three professional ML outfielders on a pitchers focused low scoring team. The White Sox started one today. They started one yesterday and were burnt a few times.

PS, why the f*** is Burger not playing 3B with Moncada out? It's the one position he can field, and he's better there than Alberto. DH Moncada or if he "needs" a full day off, DH Grandal and catch Zavala to give Cease the best chance at winning. Alberto shouldn't even be on the team.

Well, if they had a better 5th OFer who can actually field CF and RF adequately and could hit, then I'd go with that option but they don't. Billy is valuable to close out games and steal runs in tight ballgames as a PR late. Moncada and Robert are the only two complete baseball players at this stage on the team solid at the plate and in the field. If Anderson turns it around at the plate, than that would be the third and final possibility. The rest of the team are either DH/Faux C/1B who cannot field, fielders who cannot hit, or players who cannot field or hit. Sheets/Eloy/Frazier manning RF and spelling Robert in CF is not a solid plan, and will destroy this pitching staff and Robert. Robert has played 273 games since being called up to start 2020 needs regular rest. 3-4 games a month would be preferable to keep him fresh and on the field. Then you have Eloy who you're lucky to get 80 games out of. Unless they are playing in Thillens Stadium, they need someone better than DFA pickup Clint Frazier in CF. Perhaps they should have signed an actual RF over the past seven off-seasons instead of the absurdly overpaid LF with Nick Madrigal power. The only alternative on the current 40 man is to call up Colas in June or July, as he can adequately spell Robert in CF. At that stage, I'd be OK with Billy in AAA or helping another team. Still rather have Billy than Sheets or Frazier as the 26th man, but can understand arguments against. Leury and Engel were solid in 2020 and 2021. Their decline/loss in 2022 was a major blow, and they weren't replaced this offseason. Those are the two missing pieces on the team, players who can cover the entire field between the two of them, and provide cromulent hitting.

I rather see the seven position players rotate their off days one game at a time versus multiple guys off consistently during the final game of a series. Punting this game makes the road trip a losing one (3-4), and deflates any momentum the team had leaving Cleveland. LHS: SS Anderson R CF Robert Jr. R 3B Moncada S RF Jimenez R DH Burger R 1B Vaughn R C Grandal S 2B Gonzalez R LF Benintendi L RHS: SS Anderson R LF Benintendi L CF Robert Jr. R RF Jimenez R 3B Moncada S DH Burger R C Grandal S 1B Vaughn R 2B Gonzalez R Elvis Andrus & Billy Hamilton Return (Alberto & Frazier AAA) Game 1 - Shortstop: Anderson Off, Andrus Game 2 - No off days Game 3 - Third Base; Moncada Off, Burger Game 4 - No off days Game 5 - Center Field: Robert Jr. Off, Hamilton Game 6 - No off days Game 7 - Left Field Benintendi Off, Sheets Game 8 - No off days Platoon or split positions: Catcher (Zavala - Giolito & Kopech, possibly Cease after Giolito traded; Grandal - The other 3) First Base (Sheets or Burger can spell Vaughn) Second Base (Gonzalez / Andrus) Right Field (Eloy Primary, Sheets (1-6) Billy (7-9) Secondary) Designated Hitter (Burger primary, Sheets secondary)

Eloy has died, alleluia Eloy is risen, alleluia Eloy will die again, Alleluia, alleluia Welcome back Eloy and please remain healthy and prosper!

Hells to the No. The White Sox need three capable OFers, folks saw what happened yesterday with Sheets in RF and Frazier in CF.

Compare and Contrast: Bill Veeck Eddie Gaedel: Born and Died in Chicago, Illinois. 3 Feet, 7 Inches. Signed August 17, 1951, $0 Signing Bonus, $100 Salary. 1 Game, 1.000 On Base Percentage. Designated for Assignment. Jerry Reinsdorf / Rick Hahn Nick Madrigal: Born in Sacramento, California. 5 Feet 7 Inches. Signed July 3, 2018, $6,411,400 Signing Bonus plus $563,684 Salary. 83 Games, .676 OPS. Traded with Codi Heuer (0.6 bWAR over 25 Appearances with the Cubs) for Craig Kimbrel (0.0 bWAR over 24 Games) White Sox pass on Carlos Rodon Qualifying Offer, Pick up Craig Kimbrel's $16M 2022 Club Option. White Sox trade Craig Kimbrel in desperation for AJ Pollock, $16.5M total salary, 0.4 bWAR, .681 OPS over 139 Games. Bill Veeck turned a red paperclip into a house. Jerry Reinsdorf turned a Winnetka Lakeshore Mansion into a red paperclip.

Independent Unrestricted Minor League Baseball plus Relegation and Promotion needed in North American Professional Baseball now more than ever.

Many times they are facing a decent RH Starter after pounding a LH Starter, like the last two games. Come on Soxtalk, I need someone to pick me up and bring home a win tomorrow with Cease on the mound and a winning Game Thread. Let's do this!

No need to troll Billy Hamilton. Your worthless Padres lost again.

This. A healthy 2020-2021 era Engel was important. Now the Sox have Frazier and Haseley, big downgrade. Hopefully Billy Hamilton returns and can hit .650 spotting Robert.

Bummer made more sense facing McKinstry and Greene, who gives a s%*# about Baddoo

@caulfield12- That pitch was on Kelly.

Say it ain't so, Joe.

Hate him with an OF glove on. OK to good with the bat and could be at 1B. It's not his fault Hahn is an asshat. Don't like Eloy playing defense, either.

Best Crow Ever!!!

Make me eat crow.

That was a crucial pitch / at bat. Lorenzen was on the ropes. Bases loaded with a walk and Burger up with 1 outs meant a single would have tied it. Time for Burger to break out of it and hit a 3 run home run to change the game.

Yes, now we're cooking. LFG!!!

The Sheets era needed to end last season. Romy breaks the perfect game on first pitch, but one pitch later the Sox have three left to score 3 or more.

Still four innings to go, need to keep it at two, get to their bullpen, and then open a can of whup ass.

And this is why you don't obsess about platooning and carry DH/1Bs on the roster.

Only a four win drop off at this stage from last year. Somehow feel more optimistic about the White Sox' 2023 chances.

Yes, would prefer Sheets at DH, let Burger get a day off on the road to regroup, and have Haseley in CF, Frazier in RF to help out Scholtens. That said, the Tigers lineup is brutal. Sox need to scratch out 3-4 runs against Lorenzen. Be patient and work counts to get to their bullpen. Win today to celebrate Yoan’s and Frank’s Birthdays!!