South Side Hit Men

Awesome. The Sox grounded into more than half of that total (4) last Tuesday. Always been a Gallo fan, been drafting him plenty in Rotisserie leagues, not concerned with the slow power this April, he will not be denied. In Comiskey II, he would be a beast.

No teal required, though Texas would never go for it obviously. For those keeping score at home, Avery Weems starts the season in High A.

Tim’s high BA sets the table for the top to knock him in, in the middle of the current roster lineup he’ll be stranded more with the poor options behind. Leadoff is also a tricky position, similar to closer in terms of comfort level. Wouldn’t want to put too much pressure on Madrigal, he’s still new to the ML. TBH, I’m more worried about Tony playing the best players regularly at this stage rather than their lineup order. Baby steps. Hopefully Hahn inserts more influence in terms of who should get regular playing time, especially now that two of the primary five core players are out (Anderson Abreu and Moncada remain).

I like him as a defensive replacement, can pinch run as well. Wouldn’t mind a start 1 or 2 a week while Robert is out When Engel returns, want him as the regular CFer (80% of starts). Garcia, Mendick, Collins and Hamilton should be the bench. I disagree with Lamb on the team, especially since he is starting to play LF on a platoon basis. No need. I also hope a near week off for Mercedes doesn’t effect his timing. Wouldn’t mind a Mercedes 1B start to give Abreu his first game off tomorrow, with a second on the off-day Thursday. Clear the head and help heal his hand.

Cubs pwned Clayton Kershaw today, chasing him after one inning for the shortest start in his career. Currently 6-0 Cubs. Baseball.

Agreed, though the difference being Scully's stories having something to do with a player in the game or baseball itself , not some navel gazing yuk yuks while ignoring the game. Been grateful for Len and DJ on the radio, Connor McKnight has been good as well filling in, which he will be this week with Stone off and Len shifting to TV.

Agreed. I feared Tony being Tony with Lamb in LF and/or other shenanigan's.

Jake Lamb has become one of Tony's favorites. Eaton, Garcia, Lamb, Vaughn, and Hamilton are the current five. Mercedes is in the doghouse, hopefully he gets to play in KC. He should play catcher occassionally, has a good arm and isn't any worse than Grandal at actually catching the ball. Tony hasn't played Mendick much when he has been on the team. Tony prefers Garcia and Lamb for IF backup, when they are not playing OF,

Rick flew out to Cincinnati, by the looks of the lineup card, he may have written it.

I post about White Sox activity, German and others focus on trolling posters.

Agreed, OK if in Charlotte. Would gut it out with Garcia and Hamilton until Engel returns if they can't get an actual Major League player. The problem is Tony clings to his veterans, and if Goodwin has a good game or two can stick in the lineup over much better options. Jake Lamb and Leury Garcia have Tony'd their way into regular playing time, before the Robert injury. If the Sox had a decent 21st century manager, I wouldn't have concerns or even care about this signing.

I picked up this card at the repast.

You follow me around like a puppy with your sad takes.

Great, another career bench player from Tony's Angels days he can play regularly over Vaughn and Engel when Lamb and Garcia aren't manning Tony's OF. https://www.fangraphs.com/players/brian-goodwin/12858/stats?position=OF 5 seasons, 0.56 fWAR per season.

What should happen: LF Vaughn, CF Engel, RF Eaton Bench: C Collins; OF Garcia; OF Hamilton; IF Mendick. What likely will happen w/ TLR: LF Lamb/Vaughn CF Garcia RF Eaton. Bench: C Collins; OF Hamilton; IF/OF Lamb; (Everyday Garcia plays IF when not CF); OF Engel.

Jerry Reinsdorf is always down for a White Flag Trade. "Anyone who thinks we can catch Cleveland is crazy." - Jerry Reinsdorf, July 31, 1997 "Anyone who thinks we can catch Cleveland is crazy." - Jerry Reinsdorf, 2021 statement date TBD

Would like to see Eaton (leg in injured baserunning) and Abreu (Sunday HBP hand) sit a game or two to let them recover if they are still hurt. They were clearly scuffling Sunday, Tony tried giving Eaton the game off, but Robert's injury changed that plan. Allowing them to recover will help the team more playing near/at full strength vs. scuffling for days attempting playing through it. Tony has already shown a propensity of playing his preferred players nearly every single game (Abreu, Moncada, Eaton), or until they hit the IL (Robert, Anderson) or are late (Mercedes). 3-4 days rest over 1-2 games makes this the last good window for a while. The Sox are going nowhere if Abreu can't get out of his funk.

I said that more as an aside, doubt he would be legally even obligated to return to collect the rest of his salary. The two reasons I could think of if this was a serious proposition is what you mentioned regarding his personal stake in the players who admirably developed and didn't get enough credit for (and also the culture which appears to be much stronger across most players (screw you Keuchel) than Tony's, based on recent reports. The other reason is if Ricky was interested in working again for another team, this willingness to return would likely be highly regarded by prospective teams, being a true professional who went above and beyond even with this organization. Would love to be listening on the phone call if Jerry ordered Hahn to call Ricky to beg for his return, to save Jerry $1-2M.

A good part of this is Tony's mismanagement. He needs to pull starters at the end of an inning (preferably the 5th or 6th) and let relievers start an inning clean with no baserunners, it really makes a difference. They were also a bit cocky reading their press clippings of Jerry's paid for media hacks touting them as the greatest bullpen, when they are mostly inexperienced. The third issue is Tony relying on the bottom of his bullpen for high leverage situations, worried more about Hendriks getting a save than the team getting outs and a team win. White Sox Relievers 60 + MLB game season career totals (max games in parenthesis for those with zero): Two: Hendricks (75 in 2019, 70 in 2017) One: Jace Fry (68 in 2019). Zero: Bummer (58); Marshall (57); Ruiz (40); Foster (32); Heuer (21); Burdi (8); Crochet (5); Kopech (4).

He only needs 21 more wins to do what he primarily came here to do, can get this before the solstice and retire. Jerry's paying Ricky, so they can bring him back to finish the season, nearly all of the players would prefer him anyway. Didn't see Tony beating Ricky's winning percentage this year before the two injuries (35-25 .583), though thought Tony would outperform his own personal White Sox managing winning percentage (.506 entering the season). Rank Name Wins Losses Ties Pct. Pennants/ WS Won 1 Connie Mack 3,731 3,948 76 .486 9/5 2 John McGraw 2,763 1,948 58 .586 10/3 3 Tony La Russa* 2,743 2,377 4 .536 6/3 It's been a sad start, but if it means a fresh modern manager and healthy roster to start 2022, it will be worth it. Thought this was a development year coming in with all of the younger hitters (Madrigal, Robert, Eloy) and pitchers (Kopech, Cease, Crochet) working to play their first full season.

People have been jumping all over the White Sox training staff, but I'd like to share this from The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2562755/2021/05/03/stark-what-we-learned-in-april-offense-is-at-1968-levels-or-worse-but-must-watch-performances-are-everywhere/

Rick Hahn promised a "Multi Championship window". Who gives a rats ass who wins the 2021 AL Central or wild card if they don't have the horses to advance in the playoffs? The AL Central winner may finish with 75 wins, that's how pathetic the division is this season. Cleveland was the last AL Central team to advance even one stinking round, and that was five years ago. The Sox aren't going far if they qualify unless Eloy and Robert are healthy and full strength in October, and that appears to be a pipedream at this point. Eloy was injured several times in his career, and wasn't on the IL when he managed two at bats the final series and short lived playoffs. He must never wear a fielding glove again, and he can still get hurt as he did jumping up and down after Lucas' no-hitter, or running the bases last September. They could have spent a little more, or spent a lot more wisely, but the Sox are the most dysfunctional team in MLB now that the Wilpons are gone, and you have their pathetic manager straight outta a time machine calling the shots, nearly all consistently wrong. Ethan Katz was the Sox' best acquisition the past four seasons, and La Russa had nothing to do with it. And if you haven't had enough Leury and Lamb before the injury, brace yourself because you're going to get a daily helping of Leury and Lamb, scratching La Russa's Veterans fetish until he passes or steps down, maybe this year, maybe in 2026, whenever he damn well pleases because this is a sorry ass Jerry Reinsdorf production and all of his cronies have a job for life, his or theirs.

And he had to hand Jerry one of his balls to consummate the deal.