WookiesOnRitalin

As a Nashville resident, I would go watch the Sox here! In reality, it makes no sense for the Sox to move out of Chicago. It is one of the oldest franchises in the league. I could not even imagine the White Sox being anywhere else.

Sox pitching has really been the main reason the season has slumped so early combined with the early injuries. The Sox are only 13 and 14 runs scored behind Houston and Toronto respectively despite the injury bug. The Sox additionally have 4 starters in the top 14 in strikeouts (currently 4th in the AL). The problem is walks. Control issues seem to be the main thing holding back this staff and thus this team. Free baserunners is killing our chances of winning and if the the staff can figure it out, then we could see a fast improvement over the next several months. It is also clear that the lineup is missing a power bat. You would always hope that Eloy, Robert, and Vaughan were providing more power, but they just are not. If Hahn would be smart, he would figure out how to get another power bat in the lineup. Not sure who is available. The team is also dead last in walks. Any improvement in working counts and being patient would also lead to improvement as imagine. I think the hitting could just maybe use a change of philosophy.

His pitching quality (or lack thereof) is not in contention. The fact that the club is paying him 18 million dollars is the shocking reason. Your highest paid pitcher is sitting for the playoffs. A guy you went out and spent $55 million on is not going to contribute to your playoff run. Nice work FO.

Dallas did not make the playoff roster? What?

My big criticism of Luis last year was how bad the strikeouts were and until he fixed it, we really needed to dampen expectations. With 40 more plate appearances, he's actually struck out 20 less times. That's pretty good improvement and consequently all of his numbers have improved along with it. His approach is better and hopefully he keeps improving from this point on. You know, one day, these bats we have we all actually click at the same time. I just hope that happens in the Houston series. It seems as though no one is hot together. Just one guy and then cools off, then someone else. Can we get these guys to hit at the same time? That would be convenient.

It's possible, but who would be likely suitors? Almost anyone would be interested if the Sox are picking up the tab, but how much would the Sox have to eat in order for that to happen especially when they can just ride out 2022 with him on the roster knowing he's gone after that. I imagine an NL team could be interested if they needed a 4 or 5 that could help them get to the playoffs, but the picture of that would not open up until June or July of 2022.

Dallas' problems are centered around his command which is absent at this point. He's traditionally good for two rotations through a lineup (Roughly 5-6 innings) at which point most hitters have him timed. With his increasing age, this is likely his last hurrah and it is unlikely that he will be here past 2022. His 18 million is a tough pill to swallow, but you hope he bounces back next year to be a serviceable #5. The interesting question is do the Sox cash in the 20 million club option in 2023 if he bounces back in 2022? What scenario would have to happen in order for the Sox to pick it up? I imagine an ERA under 3 and a WHIP around 1.1-1.2. Plus, you have to consider the money needed to extend TA7 at that point.

Lol. He's scheduled to make 18 million in 2022. He'll be on the roster unless he's traded, but at this point, who would trade for him?

At this juncture, it just seems imperative to get the rotation healthy. If this means Lucas misses one or two starts, so be it. The only chance the Sox have at advancing in the playoffs is if they are getting rock solid performances from the top 3 in the rotation (Lynn, Rodon, and Gio). Bats have been far too inconsistent this year to be relied on against playoff level pitching. Rest Lucas for 2 weeks, then really start putting these guys on pitch limits.

I was on vacation with my family during the WS in 2005. I had the game on and they all went to sleep. I was watching intently. What a brutal 1st game that was. Highs and lows. Then Pods gets up, hasn't hit a homer all year, unleashes that homer in that situation. Unreal. I lost my shit. I screamed so loud and woke everyone up. I didn't care. My team was in the World Series for the first time in my life. What a moment. I'll never forget it.

With a 9 game lead, you can afford to be patient. We need these guys banging and terrorizing the hearts of pitching staffs in September. Rush it, it may not be that way. Robert needs time to get his timing back and test the leg. When he's showing signs of both being back to where they need to be, then call him up. I would not do it before then.

Cease has been pretty pedestrian over the last two months. His ERA is somewhere over 5. He's given up twice as many HRs. Let's hope he can manage 6 innings without too much damage.

Could be, but what if the injury rate sustains itself continuing forward? It could just be an abnormality (which I think is more likely). Occasionally you get spikes certain years and dips in others. In general, I feel that the injuries are climbing across all sports. If anything, the drive to enhance human performance (bigger, faster, stronger) has had a consequential correlation of increase in injury prevalence. That's why I just accept that it's now just the cost of doing business. If you want to be a professional athlete, it's risky, that's why it usually comes with a good health plan and decent pay.

The last part was a jest meaning that if you account for all the other variables you are only left with the improbable. We are trying to explain an uptick (mind you a minor one) in injury presentation. Alas, no one has any real good idea why it might be happening. I do not believe the vaccines are causing more injuries. That seems rather silly.

Proof will be in the pudding. If they have a full offseason with normal activity and injury rates drop, then you'll have your conclusion. If they do not, then the only thing that is really different is the prevalence of vaccination among players.