South Side Hit Men

More rest for Carlos Rodon, he'll likely pitch at some point in Cleveland after returning from the IL last Friday.

Tony loves him some veterans. External acquisitions since the jump: Adam Eaton (Age: 32-283d) Mike Wright (Age: 31-255d) Liam Hendriks (Age: 32-217d) Billy Hamilton (Age: 31-006d) Jake Lamb (Age: 30-341d) Brian Goodwin (Age: 30-317d) Cesar Hernandez (Age: 31-116d) Ryan Tepera (Age: 33-317d) Craig Kimbrel (Age: 33-111d)

Creep.

Tim Anderson's best fWAR is his current 3.5, 3.4 in 2019 his second best. Nicky is having an incredible season.

Though he pitched well tonight and a couple other starts, would agree with this overall assessment. Cues walkup music. Steve Stone who shills for the team co-signs (the Sox are good, not great). There is no magic "switch". So hitters (especially Eloy) and pitchers (Lucas) need to regain their top form and quick, or they will be getting a lot of rest this October.

If your offense doesn’t score, than your not going to win. The only thing to blame Tony for is if he ordered the bunt.

And when he’s actually pitching well, and you used the bullpen hard yesterday, I support letting him try a third time through, though would have someone up in the sixth with a quicker hook than letting him pitch through the fifth. Also can give him confidence for the next start. Big picture.

He’s at 68 pitches. He needs to get through 6. If it’s a meaningful game, it’s a different story.

Yes, Vaughn has earned Tony's trust in the field and at bat, but while Andrew is out, Sheets could use everyday at bats and pre-game work + starts in the OF to provide a solid playoff roster option, and also gets him exposure to prepare for next year. It's going to be a crowded playoff lineup and roster mix, just hoping Sheets gets enough exposure now for Tony to consider him for the playoff roster and potential playoff starts at DH or RF vs. RHP (and PH appearances off the bench).

Opponents cannot stop Gavin Sheets, they can only hope to contain him (or hope La Russa keeps him out of the lineup and plays Brian Goodwin instead). If Goodwin could play even an acceptable level of defense, there may be an argument, but he cannot, which is why he has a negative bWAR this season. If you're going to have a cipher playing in the outfield, may as well play the vastly superior hitter.

Brandyn Sittinger became Arizona's 40th pitcher with two appearances the past week, and are one behind the Mets for the all time NL record after Brad Hand recorded two outs, allowing two hits, on September 4th. Revised standings through games played September 14, 2021: (42) 2019 Seattle Mariners (All time MLB and AL record) (41) 2021 New York Mets (Current NL Record) (40) 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks & 2021 Baltimore Orioles (39) 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers & 2021 Tampa Bay Rays

If he is able to bounce back next Spring, I still see him as being the Sox 5th starter unless they bring back Rodon and or sign a reliable starter this offseason. Kopech can't start the entire 2022 season off of his low 2021 workload. Lopez will likely have limits as well (29 IP last year, 100ish this season combined majors/minors) and is a question mark in terms of whether he can sustain his recent success. You also can't assume the other three starters will remain healthy all season. Yes, they can bring up Lambert and others, but deciding to eat $18M in 2022 is less palatable than at least attempting to salvage Dallas entering 2022. If he can pitch well the first few months and remains healthy, they likely keep him in the back of the rotation and hope he can remain effective for his final season (or perhaps trade him at the deadline or 2022-23 offseason). If he opens 2022 as bad as he has been the past few months, you can still credibly move him to the bullpen and release / trade him around the trade deadline with 80ish IP to ensure he can't reach the other 80 elsewhere. This route also ensures you have adequate depth to navigate 2022, and avoids any credible accusations of dealing in "bad faith" with players on the current roster as well as future free agents. He also (intentionally - planned by the team and him) started out of the gate slow this season, with his delayed start to Spring Training, in an attempt to navigate the full season. He will start Spring Training as aggressively as possible next season, knowing he has a solid base entering 2022 and that he is playing for his next deal (either the vesting option or 2023 FA).

The White Sox have spared the Minnesota Twins from yet another postseason sweep. Next to face elimination is likely the Kansas City Royals. Elimination Number = Magic Number (clinch a tie) + 1 (elimination) 3 Kansas City 5 Detroit 8 Cleveland AL Seed Clinching Number: 25 Tampa Bay (#1 seed) 20 Houston (#2 seed)

The person you quoted is incorrect regarding Dallas' contract. Dallas needs 320 combined innings the next two seasons, with a minimum of 160 IP in 2022, and also needs to "pass a physical" after the 2022 season. If he pitched 159 innings this season, "keeping him under 160 this year", he vests by pitching 161 innings next season.

If both are comfortable with switching, alternating Yoan (2nd vs RHP, 6th vs. LHP) and Luis (opposite) works best in terms of their respective platoon splits.

Most important aspect of this games as Lucas’ return. Had great stuff with a w mistakes. Tim looks healthy and he’s a key. Hope Abreu is OK after his HBP, wouldn’t mind giving him a day off. Keep scaring Tony, Eloy! ?

Hope nobody is “bored” with a three run lead, 2 home runs and six runs after three and a half innings.

Yoan is a great #2 hole option, glad he looks to have settled there with everyone back.

Surprised to here of Lucas’ strong Road over Home form this season. Overcame the Boston outing, and has given up far fewer HRs on the road.

Ain't no sunshine today, beyond watching Norm's old clips. One of the GOATs

Between COVID IL stints and the fact players went from a 60 game to an 162 game season makes this a universal, and expected problem. Hopefully the owners won't lock out players again in 2022, and players can fully adjust to a full season over the next two seasons.

The two Bowmans remain in their roles with the Chicago NHL OrganIzation, Stan also continues, for now, as GM of the US Olympic Men's Hockey Team, though there are calls by child sexual abuse advocates to suspend him from that role. Rocky Wirtz, the other remaining high ranking official from this period, remains as Chairman of the team. The team's non-independent sham investigation continues.

Rodon is a bigger risk but also has bigger upside than Lynn if he can continue to ramp up innings and perform as he has this season. Sure it's a bigger health risk, but there is also a risk Lynn declines due to age, his knee becomes a chronic issue which deteriorates further, etc. Under the current CBA, can a player resign with a club after rejecting a qualifying offer? Are these rules (qualifying offers) in place this offseason with the 12/2/21 end of the CBA? If yes to both, a QO is a near certainty, they can always extend the term on dollars to reach a deal. Depending on the future of a "luxury tax", some big market clubs may still continue to pass on big $ free agents, leaving the Mets and Dodgers as the only two possibly willing to blow through the 2022 threshold, and leaving the Sox in good shape if the Dodgers and Mets decide to pursue other options.