South Side Hit Men

Hahn needed to pull the trigger this afternoon for Frazier. A double whammy because he sucked up 10 pitches on that at bat, nearing 60 pitches.

10 2/3, the no-hit streak is ovah.

Len said Tim was taunting the umps with his glove, asking them if they wanted to check it. Sounds like he was joking around based on the way Len said it.

Len said Adam Engel was penciled in to bat cleanup tonight, until he was placed on the DL. Wonder where Yoan and Jose were (both moved up to 2/3, or were Yoan and Jose separated. Jose moved lower than 4th. Len is announcing the pitcher glove, hat, body umpire checks.

They are going to activate Tony as a player manager at some point.

This is absurd. I think the contract was an overpay but have no personal animosity. Apparently Hahn, Tony, Katz, Rodon and Giolito also hate Grandal because they go with Collins over Grandal. Tony and Hahn twists the hatred knife further by refusing to bat him in the top 5 of the order despite his “elite” ability to walk in front of Leury, and despite the fact Eloy and Luis are out. People opposing the well thought-out White Sox lineup and battery matchups are throwing around “hate”, calling Rodon and Lucas pussys. Sad that they can’t see what the entire White Sox organization sees that a pitchers performance trumps one hitter’s platoon advantage in a lineup.

Beyond some below market rate extension, which Lynn had no reason to agree to, it made sense for other sides to let things play out. Can Lynn remain healthy and effective all year? Can he keep his spin rates up, or will they be down like last game? For the Sox, will JR keep payroll as is? They have already committed a lot to veterans through 2023 (Keuchel assuming he vests, Grandal, Hendriks). I don’t see money for Lynn long term without a substantial payroll increase. Between Rona and the CBA, there was no way the Sox can know how both pan out until after the season. I’d rather pay to keep the younger core, which is why I prefer keeping the top prospects and extending players like Tim and Lucas, or trying to keep Rodon.

Nobody is talking about putting Vaughn in CF. Their corner OF range metrics per Baseball Reference are the same -11 for Vaughn and -10 for Godwin’s entire career (and he is below average at this point since he is 30).Goodwin is already -0.4 dWAR after 8 games (5 CF 3 RF), Vaughn is -0.7 dWAR after 54 OF games. Lamb, also on the wrong side of 30, can’t play any field position adequately. Vaughn plays everyday, not two or three days a week, and unlike Lamb they can keep Vaughn in the entire game. Lamb has 9 ABs against LHP, this is the favorable matchups I am referring to. Play Lamb everyday, or every day against RHP, and Lamb will be exposed and his numbers against RHP and LHP will suffer. Vaughn was held back at first for both defense and against RHPs at times, but Tony saw he can field his position. In a perfect world, Vaughn would have had a full season last year in the minors, but at this stage of where he is at and where the team is at, Vaughn is best suited playing most games in LF (5-6 games per week). You can rotate the rest of the bunch until Hamilton (CF vs. LHP + late replacement) and Eaton (RF vs. most RHP) can return.

And mine on your posts regarding the Sox’ staff Aces carrying the team who you call “Pussys” Elite “like Barry Bonds”, except he’s put at the bottom of the lineup because he’s more like Butters.

Why don’t they bat him 2nd or 5th? That’s right, pitchers will continue to strike him out or get him to GIDP. Bottom line, he bats in front of the White Sox equivalent of a pitcher, and draws a lot of walks. Give him a $76M extension, ASAP. Don’t worry, he won’t cost you any money for no hit rings since “pussy’s” refuse to pitch to him.

Also, the stats play out why Tony gave up on trying to get productive at bats out of he who shall not swing at anything. Tony knows this, leaves him at the bottom of the order even though the whole team is injured, because Grandal hasn’t done shit when pitchers pitch to him at the top of the order, with legitimate hitters ahead and behind him. Grandal 2021 OPS by lineup position: 2nd .424 3rd .425 4th .600 5th .465 6th .908 7th 1.750

What’s sad is the lack of understanding the catcher’s defense and work with a pitcher is far more valuable than accumulating a bunch of walks ahead of Leury Garcia, not to mention a shit load of backwards Ks because he’s a statue both behind and at the plate. I’ll rely on the judgement of, I don’t know, pitchers who pitch no hitters, not to mention the FO and Katz who have decided this is the best route than the rabble on Sox Talk, not even “elite” future sox writers. Lolz

Your opinion is not supported by facts. It’s your feelings that have been exposed, not Lucas’. Win probability determines the better chance at winning. A starting pitchers success has a far greater impact than a couple of at bats at the bottom of a lineup. When there are bad moves, such as bunting, hit and run, using your worst pitchers in high leverage situations, to not shifting your defense to hitter tendencies, the things Tony’s “gut” tells him to do, than I am critical because it lowers the teams win probability. Catching Collins with Giolito and Rodon increases the team’s probability, and in this instance I credit Tony, and or Katz, for making the smart decision. Perhaps Hahn should have considered Grandal’s ability to, I don’t know, catch a baseball, or work with pitchers, or call a game, before plopping down $76M on a guy that is limited to “cheating umpires” and gathering a bunch of empty walks at the bottom of the lineup, becoming a LOB because pitchers just pitch around him to face Leury. You can’t hit Grandal at the top of the lineup, because he won’t come close to walking at those rates with pitchers actually challenging him. He will ground into even more DPs, and clog the bases the rare times he does reach.

Yes, I quoted your comments regarding Lucas' feelings. Katz and the staff clearly think otherwise, as does the rest of MLB.

I believe you hold this view, but are discounting the fact that your proposed alternatives (Lamb, Goodwin and Leury) are not better than Vaughn if they played on an everyday or near everyday vs. RHP basis. Vaughn is the second best defender of the four, Goodwin may be "faster", but his routes and technique are terrible and his defensive metrics over the years exposed this. This is why he was left for the taking in mid-May. In terms of hitting, Jake Lamb has had limited playing time to allow him the most favorable pitching matchups. If he were to play regularly 75% of the time (100% starts vs. RHP), the probability is very high his OPS take a big nose dive. And that is not even addressing the fact that he is not even a marginal OF, he only plays for a few at bats, and in any close game is replaced by someone who can actually play the outfield. Garcia is already playing everyday, and while he can field, his hitting is terrible with no upside. The more he plays, the more he is exposed to pitching, and decreased health. Vaughn has a much better chance to improve on his small sample size struggles, and has greater upside this year, than anything Leury can offer. It's better for the Sox to let Vaughn play everyday, for the success of this year's team, than any of these three alternatives.

What are the odds the White Sox are one of these teams sourced for Buster's article? https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/31674416/some-mlb-teams-plan-ask-umpires-check-pitchers-foreign-substances-sources-say

2 of the 3 were likely to have substantial injuries (Eloy and Eaton), consistent with their prior health history, not to mention the fact Eloy is a terrible fielder, despite his best efforts to improve. This should have been addressed the past two off seasons with two corner OFers signed and Eloy slotted to DH. Mazara, Parrot and Eaton were not the answers.

Genesis 3:25

#CeaseIsOurOhtani

Couldn't have imagined March 15th Andrew Vaughn would lead the team in OF games played, and Hamilton and Lamb who weren't even in ST camp as NRIs would be 4th and 6th, respectively. Never an outfielder as of 3/15/21 Not on the White Sox 3/15/21 Outfield Games Played Vaughn 54 Eaton 52 Garcia 41 Hamilton 35 Robert 25 Lamb 20 Engel 9 Goodwin 8 Williams 3 Gonzalez 1 For those blaming the White Sox trainers, this is a leaguewide phenomenon.

Surly a baseball writer should understand pairing pitchers with catchers goes far beyond placating a pitcher’s “feelings”. Pitch calling, feel, confidence a catcher can catch their best breaking pitches in the dirt. These are some of the factors involved. These are also among “The elite” Grandal’s many weaknesses. It’s why Rodon and Giolito have had far greater success with the “non-Grandal”option when they have pitched at their best. This is why teams, including the White Sox, pair catchers with pitchers when a comfort level is reached. It’s a far more important factor running a baseball team than concern over placating fan’s feelings regarding lineups.

Manfred’s two primary concerns were to make it go away, and cover up as much as possible, especially any and all knowledge or participation by Houston’s scumbag owner, who also took no action when this took place under his “stewardship”, and in fact supported digging in and their bullshit response. If MLB had any integrity, Jim Crane’s ass would be on the street with Jerry Richardson and Donald Sterling. Jim Crane had nothing to worry about, MLB has absolutely zero integrity.

It’s possible the Sox do this, but they have been consistently pairing Collins with Rodon and Lucas. Since the battery faces 20-30 + batters per game, versus 2-3 individual at bats, I agree with the team’s strategy current pairings. The catcher’s most important contribution to a game is his work with the pitcher and defensively. They can also pinch hit for Collins once Lucas is out, allowing Grandal to catch the final innings and then tomorrow to retain his pairing with Cease.

It's time for an extended White Sox winning streak. Lucas Giolito takes the hill tonight, coming off of two no decisions (both White Sox wins). He is the designated stopper tonight. The opposing starter is Tyler Anderson, Pittsburgh's LHP who has lost his last two starts, and has won once since April 21st. The White Sox are 20-18 all time, 9-11 on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Starting Lineups will be posted later today. My projected starting lineup is: SS TA (R), CF AE (R), 3B YM (S), 1B JA (R), LF AV (R), RF LG (S), 2B DM (R), C ZC (L), SP LG (R). Bullpen Usage is linked here, with Foster the only pitcher who may be restricted tonight after 33 pitches on Sunday. Go White Sox!