South Side Hit Men

This is most logical. Eloy needs to play only one OF position to avoid adding injury risk and to minimize the communication bullshit with Robert (Robert is responsible at times by being a Dick / cutting off balls in straight away RF). The problem with Sheets in LF is Sheets/Benintendi are both LHB. Sheets should never start vs. LHP. Ever. RF LH Power was the logical place for FA dollars, of course Hahn went LF Podsednik power, though without the speed (46 SB every 162 Games) and at this stage 25 points below Podsednik’s career OPS (.719). Hahn truly out Hahned himself with this move, only the Kimbrel fiasco (trade, QO, Pollock) reached this level since extending than firing Ricky Renteria within 63 games after the Sox to date best season record and playoff performance (1-0 lead, spoiled by worthless Keuchel, than Hahn bullpen plan game with no SP beyond Cease they would not use).

Just trying to put together a logical scenario for playing time. Think it makes sense to keep starting players to one outfield position to avoid issues with communication or possible injuries (Sheets/Eloy RF only, can’t platoon Sheets with Benintendi). What will likely happen IMO is Sheets and Eloy will split RF close 5/5, Burger getting 7 DH (Eloy 3-4) and Burger with 1-2 3B starts. 10th DH rotate for regulars to rest. It would be asinine to play Burger outside of 3B (he should work on trying to cover 1B either for trade value or here value) as some have suggested (OF,2B) or move long time starters (the time for transitioning would have been October-March). Nobody knows how long Burger will remain this hot, would definitely listen to trade offers for him if not contending in June/July. Don’t see the Sox as buyers unless they are over .500 at the ASB and are drawing well in June/July, and even then it will likely be bullshit Hahn buying like 2020 (Garbage - Dyson) or 2021-22 (trade youth for likely bad old guys). The catcher / pitcher pairings are far more important than trying to get Grandal’s better bat in the lineup, and if keep others through the playoffs to ensure pitchers are at their peak (rotation would be Giolito/SZ, Cease /SZ, Lynn/YG, Kopech/YG). Could see Sheets possibly platooning with Vaughn in a playoff scenario as well. Kopech had his great start with Zavala on Friday. Grandal really only matches up well with Lynn because he doesn’t have to worry about trying to catch/frame breaking balls. Don’t really know or care about Clevinger’s pairing, as he’s not a playoff starter baring injury or just a collapse by one of the likely four.

Will set aside a Colas return, which makes more sense long term for his development and the roster, for another day . Ten Game Rotation (facing on average 3 LHS, 7 RHS): Rotation: 1. Giolito (SZ); 2. Kopech (YG); 3. Cease (SZ); 4. Lynn (YG); 5. Clevinger (YG) Player Position Allocations: Player Age Bats: Games Position (Games and Career Platoon OPS splits) (5) Hanser Alberto 30 R: 5 2B (2 R .591, 3 L .799) (9) Tim Anderson 30 R: 9 SS (6 R .715, 3 L .866) (6) Elvis Andrus 34 R: 5 2B (5 R .684); 1 SS (1 R .684) (9) Andrew Benintendi 28 L: 9 LF (7 R .800, 2 L .712) (8) Jake Burger 27 R: 7 DH (5 R .801 2 L .994) 1 3B (1 L .994) (6) Yasmani Grandal 34 S: 6 Catcher (Clevinger, Kopech, Lynn) (8) Eloy Jimenez 26 R: 7 RF (4 R .842. 3 L .772); 1 DH (1 L .772) (9) Yoan Moncada 28 S: 9 3B (7 R .779, 2 L .712) (9) Luis Robert Junior 25 R: 9 CF (6 R .761, 3 L 1.034) (7) Gavin Sheets 27 L: 3 RF; 2 1B; 2 DH (All vs. R .788) (8) Andrew Vaughn 25 R: 8 1B (5 R .705, 3 L .816) (4) Seby Zavala 29 R: 4 Catcher (Cease, Giolito) (2) Billy Hamilton 32 R: 1 CF (1 R .625) 1 LF (1 L .598) Playoff Lineups: vs. RH Starter LF Andrew Benintendi (L) .800 CF Luis Robert Junior (R) .761 3B Yoan Moncada (S) .779 RF Eloy Jimenez (R) .842 DH Jake Burger (R) .801 C Yasmani Grandal (S) .782 1B Andrew Vaughn (R) .705 SS Tim Anderson (R) .715 2B Elvis Andrus (R) .684 (C Zavala .633 - AV #6, TA #7, EA #8) Backups: (R1) Catcher, DH 1B (R2) Sheets; 2B (R3) Alberto; SS Andrus; 3B Burger; All OF/PR (R4) Hamilton vs. LH Starter SS Tim Anderson (R) .866 CF Luis Robert Junior (R) 1.034 3B Yoan Moncada (S) .712 RF Eloy Jimenez (R) .772 DH Jake Burger (R) .994 C Yasmani Grandal (S) .797 1B Andrew Vaughn (R) .816 LF Andrew Benintendi (L) .712 2B Elvis Andrus (R) .721 (C Zavala .598 - AV #6, AB #7, HA #8) Backups: (R1) Catcher, DH 1B (R2) Sheets; 2B (R3) Alberto; SS Andrus; 3B Burger; All OF/PR (R4) Hamilton Catcher Data (Games OPS / ERA): Giolito: Zavala (24 .672 / 3.76) over Grandal (30 .731 / 4.45) Kopech: Grandal (28 .744 / 4.14) over Zavala (21 .725 / 4.88) Cease: Zavala (25 .546 / 2.06) over Grandal (40 .728 / 4.48) Lynn: Grandal (29 .635 / 3.09) over Zavala (20 .754 / 5.20) Clevinger: Grandal (8 .791 / 3.99) over Zavala (3 .742 / 7.00)

At this point, they will need to muddle through with Anderson and Andrus, and hope for the best. There are no unsigned FAs that can help at this point. Not having a 2021 level Leury Garcia is killing this club far more than is stated, was so valuable filling in throughout all the necessary positions and was cromulent fielding.

They are taking care of the teams they should be beating / are better than. Their pitching has been the major reason. If they can win a few series against average / decent teams, starting with their week on the road, they can start gaining confidence and perhaps playing better. Their first challenging stretch will be @ Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle, than home to face Texas and Boston.

If Lynn and Kopech can pitch well, and that acquisition can pitch 5 innings / game, their pitching is OK. If they could acquire a legitimate backup infielder and starting RFer, this team would be capable of contending. Agree, hopefully he can be fully healthy and bounce back this season. Abreu and Tim have been the best players by far through last season. Robert is the new leader, but Anderson is a key either for the Sox the next two seasons or for a solid return if he is traded. I'll criticize contracts, but not players who do the best they can based on health and ability (with rare exceptions). It's why I focus on ownership and GM, they are responsible for acquiring, developing and fielding a team.

Updated in today's game thread. Rightfield performance during the White Sox "Multi-Championship" Window. Trying to salvage Colas is the only logical step at this point. Would likely be far better for his development working directly with Grifol like Robert has versus pwning AAA pitching and learning nothing. Games Started Player Salary Overall bWAR Cumulative Negative bWAR for Projected starters through yesterday -1.3 2023 Rightfield - Projected Starter Oscar Colas 18 Colas $0.7M -0.9 16 Sheets $0.7M 0.3 4 Haseley $0.7M 0.1 4 Gonzalez $0.7M -1.0 3 Jimenez $10.3M 0.2 1 Marisnick $0.7M 0.0 2022 Rightfield - Projected Starter A.J. Pollock 78 Sheets $0.7M -0.4 39 Vaughn $0.7M -0.2 27 Engel $2.0M 0.0 11 Pollock $14.5M -0.3 5 Garcia $5.5M -1.0 1 Haseley $0.7M 0.1 1 Gonzalez $0.7M -0.3 2021 Rightfield - Projected Starter A. Eaton 48 Eaton $8.0M 0.0 33 Goodwin $0.7M -0.5 28 Garcia $3.5M 2.1 14 Vaughn $0.7M 0.1 11 Sheets $0.7M 0.2 8 Engel $1.4M 1.5 8 Lamb $1.0M 0.0 7 Mendick $0.7M -0.4 2 R. Gonzalez $0.7M -0.1 2 L. Gonzalez $0.7M 0.1 1 Hamilton $1.0M -0.1 2020 Rightfield - Projected Starter N. Mazara 38 Mazara $5.6M -0.1 16 Engel $0.6M 0.6 4 Delmanico $0.6M -0.4 1 Garcia $3.3M 0.7 1 Dyson $2.0M -0.1

Grandal's agent created Fangraphs to con Hahn.

Let's face it, we are quibbling about what garbage options Grifol has this season. The pitching is keeping the White Sox in ballgames, and it's too taking to allow 4 and 5 outs across multiple innings with hacks in RF throughout their "multi-championship contention window". I rather have Colas working with Grifol and making progress both hitting and in the field. Sheets is a negative career player in RF, Haseley AAAA. No reason to piss away $75M on a worthless LF position you can actually get by on and let RF go for yet another season. Games Started Player Salary Overall bWAR Cumulative Negative bWAR for Projected starters through yesterday -1.3 2023 Rightfield - Projected Starter Oscar Colas 18 Colas $0.7M -0.9 16 Sheets $0.7M 0.3 4 Haseley $0.7M 0.1 4 Gonzalez $0.7M -1.0 3 Jimenez $10.3M 0.2 1 Marisnick $0.7M 0.0 2022 Rightfield - Projected Starter A.J. Pollock 78 Sheets $0.7M -0.4 39 Vaughn $0.7M -0.2 27 Engel $2.0M 0.0 11 Pollock $14.5M -0.3 5 Garcia $5.5M -1.0 1 Haseley $0.7M 0.1 1 Gonzalez $0.7M -0.3 2021 Rightfield - Projected Starter A. Eaton 48 Eaton $8.0M 0.0 33 Goodwin $0.7M -0.5 28 Garcia $3.5M 2.1 14 Vaughn $0.7M 0.1 11 Sheets $0.7M 0.2 8 Engel $1.4M 1.5 8 Lamb $1.0M 0.0 7 Mendick $0.7M -0.4 2 R. Gonzalez $0.7M -0.1 2 L. Gonzalez $0.7M 0.1 1 Hamilton $1.0M -0.1 2020 Rightfield - Projected Starter N. Mazara 38 Mazara $5.6M -0.1 16 Engel $0.6M 0.6 4 Delmanico $0.6M -0.4 1 Garcia $3.3M 0.7 1 Dyson $2.0M -0.1

Sheets is not a legitimate outfielder, let alone in MLB. Colas should be playing everyday with the putrid options Hahn provided Grifol, Sheets can play occasional DH until being sent down when Eloy returns.

Veeck had the sense to bat him once, not give him $75M.

In Right Field, number 1/4, Herve Villechaize.

Meanwhile, Brian Anderson smacked Barrett and broke John Mabry's ribs. Wasn't the only time Barrett was made a b**** in a highly publicized incident.

Why are people continuing to sabotage White Sox win streaks? @Polar Bear did a most excellent job with the thread yesterday, and should have the honors today.

This post makes no sense. The values are based on the remaining value of the contract as of now. It’s not a reflection of the past. In terms of Grandal or Keuchel being “pretty good contracts”, the verdict for two are already in, the third is a foregone conclusion, including prorated 2020 contracts. This article actually deals with past FA contracts, and it’s ugly, far worse than the overpay inherent with FA deals in general. Signings 50 Positive surplus value (SV) players 8 Salary paid to free agents $568,235,053 WAR value of those free agents $213,698,292 SV of free agents -$354,536,761 Would wager Benintendi falls in the bottom five when this listed is revisited in 2028. Hopefully Hahn and Benintendi are long gone before the deal is up.

Benintendi has a substantial track record, and you can find projections a few years out at Baseball Prospectus (paid) or fangraphs (free). ZIPS/Fangraphs estimates 3.0 fWAR average this and next year, and a 1/2 point drop. I see him more as a 1.5-2.0 fWAR/year player over the life of the deal if he stays healthy. Houston was the only other team with reported interest, at the 4/$54 range, and Hahn paid $21M more, consistent with the Keuchel and Grandal signings.

Hey, this was a great game and it's always good to celebrate a win, whether the Sox are 90-70 or 70-90. Love that the bullpen rests as well for when they are needed. Lucas dealing tomorrow and then Lynn against perhaps a call-up or bullpen game with no named Royals starter. Perhaps Katz will survive the weekend.

White Sox Supercut:

The stewards have determined South Side Hit Men has won the photo finish. Thanks for checking in, such a great game. Hate I can search Twitter for highlight videos, but hope to post a few in a hot minute.

This is the OG and official post game victory thread.

What an excellent game, 2 hours 8 minutes of pitching dominance.

Graveman is up in the bullpen.

Damn it. Still an excellent outing, has a great shot at 7 - 8 innings. Nice double play to get out of the inning.

Let's Do This!