Autumn Dreamin

This is probably the most favorable pitching matchup in a tough series so it would be nice to steal it. Hopefully they keep up the trend of playing well in series openers. Marquez has a solid curveball, a meh slider, a rare changeup, and two hittable fastballs. He’s done okay on the road but been roughed up a bit at Petco, giving up multiple HRs in both of his home starts so far. He’s allowing a .880 OPS to lefties. Colson was 2-3 with a triple against him in Colorado last season. Pretty night and day difference between the Angels and Padres bullpens, there’s 8 innings at most to get a lead with Mason Miller looming.

Jesse Rogers on ESPN Chicago said he's working on a Murakami story due out next week. Named Pirates, Angels, and Padres as teams that got deeper into talks with Mune/his team. Doesn’t think he gets traded this season, but suggested any extension talks would come at the ASB at the earliest (and more likely after the season)

FutureSox suggested a return next week

Chuck talks to NBP reporter Yuri Karasawa about Mune and how his MLB success is being viewed in Japan. Some notes: There has been a visible uptick in Sox merch/fandom in Japan. Mune highlights get shown on the evening news. Karasawa says Mune looks noticeably happy/like a good fit here. Mentioned him looking down at times in NBP and Imai's struggles in Houston as contrasts to Mune smiling and fitting in quickly here. Mune always played with a more "MLB" style and has stuck with the same approach. He had reverse splits in Japan in the last 3 years, so maybe something left to unlock against LHP. Mune and Takatsu have a "special connection." Their "eras" with the Swallows are seen as overlapping, and Mune would have Takatsu join him during media/talk show appearances. Garfien says he'll be shocked if there's a trade this season.

Average and OBP are around the same as last season, the OPS improvement (.874 to 1.189) is almost entirely added slug (.473 to .783) 24 hits through 22 games, and 19 have been for extra bases (11 HR, 8 2B)

His 3rd blown save (after just 1 all last season) and they've all been walkoff homers. 6.14 ERA and 1.64 WHIP both way up from last year. Erceg also running a high WHIP (1.62) but at 7/9 saves for KC. Cade Smith and Dominguez also at 7/9 but with better peripherals. Twins don't have a dedicated closer since moving Duran, they have 5 different guys with 1 save each.

So Boyer was apparently back in Japan around the 22nd. Per translated reports, he spoke with Japanese media about Mune's great start and making the White Sox an attraction for Japanese visitors. Sounds like the Cubs will be involved too as a part of a broader effort to compete with the coasts for tourist attention. There was also confirmation of a Mune bobblehead day (which went around Sox Twitter a little bit ago but don't think it was posted here) currently planned for July 25th when the Sox host the Astros. There will also be a WBC bobblehead variant on July 12th vs. the A's (last game before the ASB/HR Derby). May 12th vs. KC will be a Japan theme day with a T-shirt giveaway. When asked about a possible extension, Boyer voiced his wish for Mune to be a Sox as long as possible and mentioned that involving him being sold on the team and city. Talked about his synergy with the rest of the young core. Of course, he also noted that he's the marketing guy and roster decisions are ultimately up to the GM.

Crochet says he thinks it will be a minimum length IL stint

The HRs will continue until prospect rankings improve

Twins dropped their game in the 9th, so Sox end the day with sole possession of 3rd. After a hot start to the month, Twins are 2-11 in their last 13.

Vargas is still getting tough batted ball luck, his BABIP is bottom 10 for qualified hitters despite good underlying metrics. His production in spite of that bodes well for when it normalizes.

Ankle sprain is the diagnosis, certainly less bad than it could be. Mize also to the IL, left with an adductor strain in the same game.

Win #14 to sweep the Angels and win the homestand 4-2. Date to beat for #15 is 5/20...Pretty sure they'll get there. Nice to see some different ways to win in this series (big late comeback, holding a modest lead, extra inning walkoff). Angels pen helped of course, I imagine they'll have some new names around for the road series. Sox are now 13-12 with a positive run differential since the opening roadtrip. 7-3 in the last 10 is the best mark in the division and T-2 in the AL. After being 11.5 GB in the division to close last April, they finish this April 1.5 GB and in 3rd (likely tied, pending the Twins game). 13-13 in April is their first full month at or above .500 since June 2023. Also the first .500 or better April since 2021. They were 5-21 last April and that's not a typo.

IBB to face Mune just to walk him too is certainly a strategy...gotta feel for Angels fans. Colson finally gets his clutch moment at home

Yes Ser!

Attaboy Sam!

Still an excellent outing from Fedde, bats need to pick him up

Davis "14th round" Martin is pretty good

Win #13 on halfway to Halloween night? Spooky. Took until May 13th last season and May 14th in 2024. Sox secure a series win and (at least) a split of the homestand. Soriano's first loss, 3 ER in 5 IP after none in his previous ~25. Dominguez 4 straight saves and 7/8 for April. Sox playing .500 ball since the opening roadtrip and 6-4 in their last 10. Half a game behind the Twins for 3rd, 2 out of 1st.

Weird challenge.

Antonacci classic HBP

A look at how the big 3 Japanese rookies are settling into their teams. Mostly about Imai's struggles and how it might impact Houston's future reputation in the region, but some relevant Chicago notes too: