South Side Hit Men

Two of the top three players aren't even options. Hard pass on voting. Name Age G PA HR SB BB% K% ISO BABIP AVG OBP SLG wOBA wRC+ BsR Off Def WAR Yoan Moncada 26 124 529 11 3 13.6% 25.9% .134 .354 .263 .372 .397 .341 119 0.6 12.7 6.9 3.8 Tim Anderson 28 108 484 14 17 3.9% 21.5% .156 .364 .302 .331 .458 .337 116 4.2 13.7 5.0 3.5 Yasmani Grandal 32 72 285 19 0 23.9% 23.9% .300 .236 .233 .419 .533 .406 162 -2.7 19.0 2.6 3.1 Jose Abreu 34 132 568 28 1 8.5% 22.4% .231 .294 .263 .345 .494 .357 129 -3.6 16.7 -8.8 2.7 Luis Robert 23 48 208 7 5 4.8% 21.2% .195 .400 .333 .370 .528 .381 146 1.1 12.7 0.0 2.0 Leury Garcia 30 106 392 3 6 9.4% 21.7% .097 .335 .262 .337 .359 .308 96 5.1 3.2 2.1 1.9 Nick Madrigal 24 54 215 2 1 5.1% 7.9% .120 .324 .305 .349 .425 .335 115 1.2 5.0 1.5 1.4 Adam Engel 29 33 121 7 7 8.3% 19.8% .257 .253 .248 .339 .505 .359 131 0.9 5.5 -0.1 1.0

When I think of Brett Lawrie, I think of his number one fan. "I'm positive they won't trade him back some day. That guy's going to be too good. They're never going to want to trade him back" Waiting for a SoxTalk poster to post their own self video after Nick Madrigal was traded.

You don't even have to be good to make a 16 team playoff. 75-79 wins will likely do it. Making the playoffs, on either side of town, cannot be accepted by fans as the goal. The goal is fielding one of the best teams in baseball, with the talent to be a legitimate WS favorite (top 4-6 teams in MLB). If fans accept mediocrity (wild card team), that's what the owners will provide.

Actually wouldn't mind seeing more rest for this one, either for Abreu (Sheets at 1B) or Robert (Sheets in RF, Hamilton to CF, Vaughn to LF), push back Reynaldo to Friday and make it a bullpen day. Kopech 1-2 Wright 3 Ruiz 4 Tepera 5 Bummer 6 Kimbrel 7 Crochet 8 Hendriks 9 (if there is a bottom of the 9th) Rather punt 1 full game per series than 2-3 games per series with half starters / half bench players.

Link? Couldn't find it, would love to read. Much obliged. http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?/search/&q=minor league&author=NorthSideSox72&search_and_or=or&sortby=relevancy $2M-$3M per team is a few percentage points at most in the current CBA negotiations. The owners support less baseball (minor leagues contracted, MLB games blacked out, lockouts be it COVID/CBA), rendering the regular season competitively meaningless (expanded 14-16+ team playoffs). They also support shittier baseball. Cancerous parasites on fans, players and taxpayers. It is in the Players Union's short and long term interest to fight for their current and future membership. They should fight for a $40k-$60K AAA salary ($30k-$40K for A/AA) and improved working conditions at the minor league level, attempt to organize the minor league level so the owners don't contract the entire minors and just run development at the Arizona/Florida (and perhaps local/Schaumburg) facilities.

Per Fegan's article, Rodon, Cease and Lynn are possiblities if Lynn's bullpen goes well tomorrow. Not sure if Friday will be a bullpen day, saving Rodon for Sunday, if Lynn's bullpen does not go well. Otherwise they could just list Rodon for Friday.

Correct, though Cleveland was next week, not the following. Anaheim followed by a flight to Texas precedes the Detroit and Cleveland (5 games, 4 days) series.

Kansas City’s poor play and Minnesota’s winning vs. Cleveland has now brought parity in the race to be eliminated first. Detroit still has an outside chance. 1. Kansas City 6 1. Minnesota 6 3. Detroit 8 4. Cleveland 14 The road series in Texas, Detroit and Cleveland is the likely clinch location, with the home series against Anaheim a possibility. For the top two AL Playoff seeds: Tampa Bay 16 (White Sox 30) Houston 23 (White Sox 25)

Wonder if Kopech is going to pitch before the Cleveland series.

I was told I was an "amateur" for not considering his sprint speed as an indication he is a good outfielder. He was fine as a NRI mid season signing, but he really is a AAAA player, good enough to show signs he can be on a roster, but not a starter in important games. He seems to only do this with his catchers, rarely takes out Abreu or others even in 10 + run games. When he rests his starters, they may as well wear pajamas, as he will rarely if ever insert them even to pinch hit late in a tie/1 run game.

Goodwin needs to go.

Well, something means jack shit alright. # Name Team G PA HR R RBI SB BB% K% ISO BABIP AVG OBP SLG wOBA xwOBA wRC+ BsR Off Def WAR 1234 Page size: 99 items in 4 pages 1 Jose Ramirez CLE 126 532 32 91 86 21 11.1% 13.9% .285 .247 .261 .352 .546 .373 .370 136 4.3 27.5 5.6 5.1 2 Rafael Devers BOS 135 571 33 86 101 4 9.6% 21.7% .266 .302 .276 .350 .542 .373 .383 135 0.6 24.8 1.5 4.6 3 Yoan Moncada CHW 123 525 11 61 54 3 13.5% 25.9% .135 .357 .265 .373 .400 .343 .348 120 0.5 13.1 8.1 3.9 4 Manny Machado SDP 130 548 24 79 89 11 10.0% 16.8% .214 .291 .276 .347 .490 .351 .367 122 -2.2 13.3 6.4 3.8

How does Yoan suck, exactly? He has an .891 OPS with runners in scoring position, one of the best defenders and position players in baseball.

Also the best RF option if Engel isn't available, definitely the best defensive option not counting Hamilton.

That's a dumb play by Olsen there. Glad to see the other team can do that every so often.

He also narced the kid passing out the popcorn from his humungous bag, then pled faux outrage after security confiscated sad bag.

Only half complete at this junction, though thought people might want to know with Sale scheduled to pitch Sunday. If I were to fill in the blanks, would go with Reynaldo Lopez Friday, Martin Perez (Boston) Saturday, and Carlos Rodon on Sunday. Doubleheader Monday, a makeup for the snow day to start the year, muddies the water for slotting the current IL and rostered pitchers. Lambert likely pitching at least once more next week.

No, just him. Bad defense, bad baserunning, marginal platoon bat, .568 OPS past 28 games. Fine to fill in, once Engel returns, he is the next logical drop. Sheets more valuable

Goodwin needs to go.

It's Cal-Berkeley Night at the game. Oakland manager Bob Melvin is also an alum.

Not at the game? Sox broadcasting at a slightly greater advantage than fans watching at a bar. Another possibility, Jason is Tray.

"It's impossible, to put a Cadillac in your nose, it’s just impossible…..” ? In all seriousness, he can bounce back, hoping the work he has been putting in with Katz will pay off.

Went to the game last night (free skybox tickets). The weather was perfect. The announced paid attendance was 24,925. I’d say there was about half that number actually there. Not counting COVID restricted games (2020-June 2021), I had to go way back to find a home night game with a lower paid attendance. May 5, 1998 Attendance: 21,431

Was expecting Collins to be brought up in Oakland based on Tony’s prior comments regarding wanting a third catcher. Wonder if the latest pitching setbacks and also any Eloy fallout (know his x rays are fine, doesn’t mean any soft tissue injuries will keep him out at this point, and they will middle through at least until the weekend or prior to the 5 game Cleveland series. After all, Tim remains unavailable to catch.

Solid two articles in Baseball Prospectus relative to how a relatively small investment in Minor League players and facilities can pay off significantly in terms of their improved player progression for an organization. Created this thread because the second article released today is free to all. First article (paywall): https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/69444/baseball-therapy-better-minor-league-pay-is-a-good-investment/ Free article: https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/69545/baseball-therapy-minor-league-conditions-anticipating-objections/ Would like to see the Sox step up here, especially with the shift to drafting more high school prospects who will spend more time in the system. It’s would be a nice legacy for Jerry to start this effort, can pay off for his sons financially.