South Side Hit Men

Vs, RHP SS Anderson .725 3B Moncada # .815 1B Abreu .841 LF Vaughn .643 (.894 in 2022) C Grandal # .799 CF Robert .768 RF Pollock .800 DH Sheets ^ . 839 (.297 vs. LHP) 2B Harrison .703 Vs. LHP SS Anderson .877 CF Robert 1.052 C Grandal # .806 1B Abreu .930 DH Vaughn .949 3B Moncada # .701 LF Pollock .855 RF Engel .678 (.620 vs. RHP) 2B Harrison .757 Bench (Engel and Sheets platooned above plus three below) C McGuire ^ R .726 L .412 2B/SS/RF L. Garcia R .644 L .692 3B J. Burger R 28 Games .771 L 14 Games .546 If Abreu continues to slump through Memorial Day, consider moving him down to the 5th or 6th spot. I think his best shot is with Vaughn protecting him.

Unwritten rules

And then negated it by dumb baserunning.

MLB Double #200 for Josh Harrison.

Nice to see Tony attempting to win today. Must have put down a sizable wager in today on the betting app.

Was never a fan of the signing since day one. That said, it's just another sunk cost. No sense cutting him now, the Sox still need innings eaten. The Sox need their core four back (Lucas, Cease, Kopech and Lynn) and two workable options (Lopez, Cueto, Velasquez) to cover #5 and an injury before one could even consider cutting Keuchel. He can still give you 100 innings, and with the injuries and caution with Kopech, it's prudent to keep him at least until Labor Day. Doesn't have to start every fifth game, can be a long man out of the bullpen.

The long delay between the 8th and 9th (long ass Top of 9) really impacted Lorenzen, IMO. But it was nice to see the Sox battle back. Maddon should have had Tepara warming to start the 9th, saved Iglesias for an actual save situation (tomorrow, or if necessary today). Closers seem to shit the bed with a 4 + run lead.

Time for Sheets to make many here eat crow.

Hendriks warming up, you need three NOW.

Turn out the lights, the party's OVER. (In Vegas)

He was safe per Len and DJ.

Leury Legend!!!

That 40 minute Top of the 9th has impacted Lorenzen.

The top of the 9th feels like two hours.

Right Groin tightness for Ohtani. Could cost him the game tomorrow.

Rick Hahn 627-748 .456 "You are what your record says you are." - Bill Parcels

Not saying Sheets is a good defender, but Pollock has never played RF and has looked uncomfortable and terrible out there. Cost them the game in Detroit. His primary worth is if you can salvage his bat and keep him on the field for 100 games. They have needed a RF for three years, and Hahn has come up with Mazara, Eaton, and rotating spot (Leury/Sheets/Engel).

Really cool exchange between Trout and Vince after the ump called for a rain delay. Both wanted to play through it. https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-trout-wants-to-take-at-bat-in-pouring-rain Umpires should defer to Mike Trout when it comes to weather related decisions. https://calltothepen.com/2022/01/28/los-angeles-angels-mike-trout-keeps-flying-weather-geek-flag/

Straight ball he hit it very much. Curve ball, bats are afraid.

Through the chill of winter Running across a frozen lake Hunters are out on his trail All odds are against him With a family to provide for The one thing he must keep alive Will the wolf survive?

Nice to see Velasquez start well, hope they can score a few more to build a comfortable lead for the bullpen.

I agree this specific instance primarily impacts the Dodgers and the authority of the Commissioner's Office. That said, owners in general have an interest in testing the boundaries of escaping the terms of a "guaranteed" contract. Other MLB suspensions (performance enhancing and recreational drugs, on field actions such as fights and bean balls) were doled out in a narrow negotiated range between MLB and the MLBPA. I don't believe the MLBPA intended for this wide range of discretion when they agreed to the Domestic Violence Policy. That said, it will be interesting as to whether the Union will join Bauer in actively fighting this, or it has agreed to the terms of the suspension, as it has done throughout the past several months of his fully paid suspension. Public relations wise, it puts the union in a tight / bad PR spot to back Bauer, and puts the owners on the moral high ground. There have been no public releases regarding the suspension by the MLBPA. Noted defenders of the MLBPA have tweeted in support of this suspension (see below).

Bauer is a POS, but I don't see a credible arbitrator upholding this ridiculous suspension length when compared to the length of prior MLB domestic violence suspensions. It's a negotiating starting point by the owners. The Dodgers will waive him and pay off for whatever games are left on his contract upon any reduction of the suspension. They have made it clear throughout this process they have no interest in him returning. The two interesting scenarios at this juncture are what, if anything, with the MLBPA do to challenge this suspension, and whether another MLB team will take a chance after he is reinstated. Perhaps he'll sign with a Japanese or Korean team to stay sharp in the interim, not sure how open these leagues would be to signing him.