hogan873

Aside from the last few years, the Sox had higher payrolls. The problem has been they spend money on the wrong guys. They could have paid Machado or Harper and were apparently close on Machado. Other than reportedly being in on Machado, they haven't been "in" on major free agents. I think it's less about the dollars and more about the length of contracts.

Huge win. Better yet, Mune may be back. I know that one game doesn't mean he's fixed, but he looked more confident. That home run was a blast, and the triple was a nice piece of hitting. Maybe it was the jersey. Just let him wear the Southside jersey all the time now.

This team is wearing down here at the end. I think Mune is gassed, and his injury didn't help. Colson is also probably wiped. I don't think either guy is as bad as they look right now. That goes for the team as a whole, too. They're not this bad. However, I don't think they're a particularly good team, either. They're exciting when they play well and frustrating as hell when they play bad. Even with a loss today, they'll still have a good chance to make the playoffs, due in large part to a pretty meh AL. Limping into the playoffs and playing ball like this will lead to a very quick and depressing exit.

My shitty math aside, if they play .500 ball the rest of the way, they should make the playoffs. I agree, it's not comforting, and I'm not sure anyone truly expects them to get far in the playoffs, provided they get there. They have been an exciting team, up until recently, despite not having a great record. What has made them exciting (the offense) has disappeared. If the offense gets their s%*# together, they might be okay.

Ah...Monday Math Brain. I need a coffee or something.

Well, outside of May, their best month, they are 58-53. Not great, but not below .500. Aside from the four games in March, they've been at or above .500 every month until this pretty bad start to September.

Hopefully the sweep by the Pirates lights a fire under their asses, and they take care of business this weekend. They cannot rely on other teams to lose to make the playoffs.

Some of the same top minds wanted Hagen Smith sent back down after throwing five pitches.

Right field is probably set with B. Montgomery. Peters could be the guy, but as others have said, let's see if he's the real deal. Sam is okay in LF, but if Peters works out and Bonemer ends up being an outfielder, he becomes an extra guy. 2B might be locked up with Meidroth.

I definitely think it's the long MLB season wearing on Mune to a point. The injury didn't help where he lost some momentum. We all figured he was going to a lower BA guy with power and higher OBP. He's slumping right now and probably needs a day off or two. As far as his future, I still think he gets paid. It would be wise for the Sox to have some conversations but leave any decision to next season. If he comes out the gate next season the same guy, I don't think $200M+ is unreasonable. Contract length will be interesting.

Getting to the playoffs will require relying on the offense, heavily. The starting pitching is wearing down, but the bullpen has been solid for the most part. However, they can't rely on the same guys to go out and pitch 4 or 5 innings a game, keeping the opposing offense at bay, while our offense tries to score runs.

Peters must be on this board and saw people talking s%*# about his slump. He said, "I'll show those fuckers."

I think they'll make the playoffs, but it will be a photo finish. The division will likely be won within the last week of the season. Going anywhere beyond the first round looks tough with the starting pitching woes.

Good point. Look at the Cubs the last three games.

As someone else had mentioned, they can be a feast or famine offense. Today's performance really stands out after having some good offensive games at Wrigley and facing a some pitching that they should have teed off on. The reactions are a bit extreme today, but not necessarily unwarranted.

I think the Cubs/Sox series is way too pumped up every year. However, this is the first season in a while when both teams are in contention. I still think series against AL Central teams are much more important. Sure, you want to win every series, but I'd rather lose a series to the Cubs than to the Tigers, Guardians, or Twins.

Maybe adopt a rule like the Frontier League has for extra innings. The 10th inning is played normally, but if no one wins, they go to sudden death. The home team chooses to bat or play defense. A runner starts at 1st base. If the offense scores, they win. If the defense gets three outs with no runs scored, they win.

Frank Beard, ZZ Top's drummer (who didn't have a beard) passed away at 77. I just read that he had stepped away from the band's tour earlier this month due to health issues. Apparently he was in Hospice care when he died.

And stop throwing fastballs right down the middle to PCA.

I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a Google notification saying the Sox won 4-3. I didn't know they lost (in another walk-off) until I came to SoxTalk. Sucks, but I'm less concerned about losing to the Cubs than their record against the AL Central. That being said, they really need to win today.

I'm okay with ABS, but maybe increasing teams' challenges to three per game. Umpires are still missing enough pitches to warrant more. As far as the ghost runner...first of all, it's not a ghost runner. Anyone who played backyard ball or wiffle ball knows a ghost runner means there's an imaginary runner on a base that runs the same speed as the actual runner behind them. Anyway, as far as that rule, I'm okay with the runner, but maybe not in the 10th. The 10th (and maybe 11th) inning is played normally, and the free runner is used once you get to the 11th or 12th.

It's not a very vibrant color for sure.

Meidroth is shaping up to be a much bigger part of the Crochet trade than originally thought. He is truly a grinder that hits for average and now some power. His defense is pretty good, too. He and Antonacci are shaping up to be pains in the ass for other teams on offense, defense, and attitude.

Seems weird to have a retirement game so soon. As others have said, maybe honor him in a few years. For sure, TA was something special, for a short period of time. His walk-off HR in the Field of Dreams game will always be one of the best White Sox highlights. The injuries, to go along with the off field drama, killed a promising career. Starting a fight and promptly getting KO'd didn't help matters.

What the hell, man? Until you go through something like this, don't talk about it. Trust me, it is NOT a bump in the road. It's devastating and something you get through, not over.