South Side Hit Men

Fuck me, nothing.

Unfortunately the Sox have a half dozen of those.

Catch the fucking ball.

Conway was one of my keys today, has a tight zone in general and really squeezed Lucas his only start behind the plate this season, even though Lucas was totally on and in command. Really could have used yesterday's ump today, Lucas could be flirting with a no hitter.

Fuck all you all, Lucas owns you bitches.

A lefty sure helps as well. Eloy needs to make them pay.

Lucas Giolito said he is dedicating his win today to Jack Parkman.

"That guy is going to be too good." Where have I heard that before?

Jerry brought in Krause when he bought the Bulls in 1985. He never fired a GM during his tenure as president (Jerry Krause resigned due to health issues in 2003, and Gar / Pax were around until Michael was able to fire the two a few more years after his father stepped down. On the baseball front, Jerry pushed aside the solid executive he inherited in Roland Hemond with Hawk, who didn't last a year. Himes lasted five years and was tossed after he built the core of the solid teams in the 1990s, and replaced Schueler with Kenny after a decade. 78 Years, 3 executives fired (really 2, because Hawk should never have been hired in the first place and didn't even last a full season in the job)

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/giants/why-kris-bryant-teared-after-being-traded-giants-cubs

I like Leury and Adam’s defense over the alternatives. Houston has Maldonado, but love him behind the plate. Lucas should be familiar with Grandal at this point, Grandal needs to provide Lucas confidence he will block sharp sliders to allow Lucas to throw with confidence with runners on. Secondary key would be Conroy behind the plate. Lucas had nine Ks vs. Detroit, but took 105 pitches to get through six, and he had a lower strike percentage than normal despite the 9ks his one Contoy start. Conroy calls balls / walks in the top third of umpires. So really need Lucas to go strong 5-6 minimum today.

I don’t see Leury sitting with Tony managing. Cesar only starts at this point if Leury is in the OF.

Thanks for reading. Not familiar with fangraph blogs. Listed in total pay order, let the reader make their own conclusions about efficiency and the types of pitchers (Sox, Mets and Yankees the three teams with two intentional relievers (aka not converted injured or ineffective starters).

In the hear me now, believe me later department (keep clicking the laugh button trolls LOL). https://www.mlb.com/news/2021-mlb-playoff-and-world-series-schedule Monday, Oct. 11 Astros v. White Sox, Game 4* (FS1, 3:30 ET) If BOS-TB concludes after Game 3, then HOU-CWS Game 4 will go from 3:37 p.m. (ET)/2:37 p.m. (CT) to 7:07 p.m. (ET)/6:07 p.m. (CT) on FS1

The Sox have a chance to do some damage against their LH Starter tomorrow. Dusty was wise starting Valdez at home, as he didn't pitch well at Comiskey Park II ( 5.68 ERA, .905 OPS) whereas he has done well overall against the Sox (3.38 ERA, .727 OPS). Greinke's last pitched against the Sox in 2019, but did not pitch well at CP II (.809 OPS, 119 OPS +), so I expect him to come in tomorrow in a close game to bridge Valdez to Pressly. Win or lose, I expect a much more competitive game. Hopefully Abreu gets rest and can play 1B (Eloy DH Vaughn LF or Eloy LF, Vaughn 1B, Abreu DH). I think Engel will sit and you'll get Leury (RF) and Cesar (2B) for five RHB and four switch hitters. I think Tony will go with the following to split up the R vs. S hitters. SS TA; 3B YM #; 1B JA; C YG #; CF LR; DH EJ; RF LG #; LF AV; 2B CH #.

Still have a decent chance this year, but the Astros were far more talented than Oakland this year or last. It’s not Monday Morning QBing if you state Giolito is the Ace and should start Game 1 before the series. Tony’s mindset was Rodon is a ?, so Lynn could pitch Game 4 on short rest and have a better shot of doing well at home. That’s why he was talking about short rest yesterday during the press conference. To me, if Rodon is a ? or a no go, you go Kopech / Lopez / Bullpen in Game 4, and come back with Lucas on Game 5 (after a Game 1) They still can do this, but he would have had 5 days rest instead of four, and Lynn can start Game 1 of the next series against teams he’s had better success against. I can’t see Tony skipping Lynn for Lucas in Game 5 now, after Lynn pitched Game 1, whereas you don’t have to skip Lynn if he pitches Game 2. Your now forced for either Lynn short rest for Game 4, or back in Houston where he has sucked. Also, if the Sox win Game 1 with Lucas (and he goes 6 +), you can be more aggressive with the Bullpen in Game 2. Definitely pull Lynn before Brantley, after it was clear he just didn’t have it today and the Sox needing to keep it close. You also can’t panic with this small ball bullshit and play your infield in in an 1-0 game in the third. Yoan should have gone to first, but playing in forces a mindset that you need to go home, because that’s what the manager wants, because that is why he has you playing in. If it’s late in a one run game early, that’s one thing, there should have been no desperation in the 3rd inning of a one run game. Ricky would have been crucified for doing that today.

Lynn called bullshit on Tony's assessment. Baseball Savant's assessment. Pitches Swings Pitch Velocity Exit Velocity Pitch Type Count % Swings Whiffs % CS CS+Whiffs CSW% Fouls BIP Max Min Avg Yr-Avg +/- Avg Min Max 4-Seam Fastball 30 39 16 5 31 4 9 30 5 6 97.5 91.9 94.8 94 0.8 ↑ 98.7 79.7 105.4 Cutter 25 33 13 2 15 2 4 16 6 5 92.6 85.8 88.6 88.7 -0.1 ↓ 79.1 33.5 109.1 Sinker 19 25 9 0 0 2 2 11 6 3 95.2 90.1 93.4 92.4 1.0 ↑ 97.5 82.6 106.9 Curveball 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 85.2 85.2 85.2 82.2 3.0 ↑ Changeup 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 94.5 94.5 94.5 87.4 7.1 ↑ 76 38 7 18 8 15 20 17 14 97.5 85.2 92.3 91.5 33.5 109.1

Somebody messed with Jobu's Rum.

Red Sox hit the pen in the second, starter gets one trip through the order. Alex Cora means business, not sure its a good move for the 5 game series.

Up to one year in jail, no slap on the wrist and this is his first DUI. Probably wishes he was friends with Jerry at this point.

Is the game being broadcast on Chicago anywhere? I had to open a non private browser and turn off adblocker in a different window to stream the game below. I checked 560/620/670/720/780/890 and 1300 with no luck. The Chicago ESPN 1000 station is hot garbage, no schedule whatsoever on their website or lame facebook page. https://www.espn.com/radio/play/_/s/mlb Rays get to Boston early, 2-0. Hope they get swept.

Pal, you are not putting up $130, you are putting up $100, and you are cashing for $255, to lay the 1/2. There is a spread between the two teams, but there is an advantage to play the run line in most situations playing the chalk.

The Wild Pitch and throw home was the turning point. No need to play the infield in, Moncada needed to go to first after the spin. Sox exit down a bloop and a blast at that point, much different mindset, at least at that point.

The Run Line was the play today, as it usually is with the chalk, +155 for $100. Save $30 vig if Sox win, get +85 to win by two +.