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I'll try to convince you. As you said the staff health has been great. However with the full season after the short season once you get into August and September I'm expecting some pretty tired arms. Then multiple rounds of the playoffs. Of course the difference from 2020 to 2021 may apply to every team and pitchers you may trade for . Then throw in the guys on innings limits and Kopech, Crochet, Rodon and young relievers who have never pitched a full season like Heuer. If the Sox want to limit Rodon or other starters innings as much as they can down the stretch a much larger burden will fall to the pen. To me this means I'd like to get 2 arms before any positional talent, preferably veteran arms who have been through the grind before. By the time all those arms reach the World Series can we honestly say Kopech, Crochet and Rodon will still be in the mix ? Those 3 barely pitched at all last year. Rodon pitched about 42 innings combined in 2019 and 2020. Kopech sat out last year and was rehabbing in 2019 so 0 innings in the 2 previous years. Crochet in 2020 pitched 9 innings between the Sox and the Tennessee Volunteers and 65 innings for the Vols in 2019.

He's faster but he gets the worst jumps of just about any OF around. He runs well once he gets going but a good OF also gets going quicker . I'm not saying it was the wrong decision just one I wouldn't have done. Too early to pinch hit. Rodon was rolling along and still 4 innings to go to get more offense. Leave the LHB Goodwin in the game to face the other RHP's who were bound to come into the game once Alexander left and leaving the better defender also comes into play when talking about winning the game.

When TLR had Vaughn pinch hit for Goodwin in the 5th, I was thinking it was kind of a backwards move. I was like if Rodon still has a no hitter I'd rather have Goodwin in LF than Vaughn and also since there was a LHP at that moment I figured he wouldn't be on the mound very long and kind of strange to PH so early when Vaughn very well may be facing RHP after that 1 AB. But it was a bit too early to be thinking about the no hitter. Sox had just taken a 2-0 lead in the 5th when Leury hit the double to drive in Mendick against the LHP Alexander. So Leury on 2nd 1 out, TLR probably just wanted to get that run in from 2nd to get a 3 run lead. I doubt I'd pinch hit there . Even if Goodwin K's Moncada is still up next or maybe he surprises and hits the guy and at least you leave the better fielder in the game and a LH to face RHP later in the game. That hit was just the kind of hit I have been explaining why Vaughn's speed or lack of it matters so much in the OF. He can get good jumps and reads and do a lot of things right but never be more than a mediocre fielder because over time there will just be too many balls he cannot get to. It's why I always cringe when people start talking about Robert being flanked by Vaughn and Eloy. It's also why I'd give Engel more time than anyone else . He's the only one who can prove he can be a good fielder and a good hitter. I know we have plenty of doubters but he has improved hitting every year for 3 years culminating last year with pretty good numbers against RHH and so far in his AB's this year he looks good. He's got a short compact swing , drives the ball, and has HR and extra base power. He's like a poor mans Trout only has learned the craft of hitting much later and now needs a chance to prove he's more than a 4th OF. Good defense in your good hitters matters a lot. It's one reason why Tampa Bay has played well. They lead the league in Outs Against Average. Guys like Betts who can do it all means they can contribute on the bases and in the field and they have hitting slumps.

Leury is a super sub and the Sox are missing 3 guys from positions he can play. He's literally doing exactly what he is getting paid for. It's possible he plays less next week but there is still a hole at those 3 positions . Now that Engel and Goodwin are here there's going to be a lot of mixing and matching in the OF and I have no idea when Hamilton is coming back. Leury could split time at 2nd base with Mendick . I'm not thrilled he's batting leadoff but as we have discovered this is a good team because of our starting pitching and some team speed and decent defense all combining together with an opportunistic offense. Try to think of Leury as a good luck charm if it helps.

That's the spirit . The Sox beat them into submission yesterday. Now show Rodon you can actually score some runs for the guy ! This is team Chemistry class from Professor LaRussa. Keep the team fresh for TB and Stro's.

You have to take notice that TLR is resting guys against a team the Sox can handle without the best lineup. For one it's keep the subs fresh and playing more boosts confidence and unites a team. He's wants his guys fresh for the upcoming games against the Rays and Astro's. They may not be division games but you want your guys to play well against the best teams so they know in their hearts they are capable of beating those same teams in the playoffs. Remember despite bravado it's a young team and they are playing teams that have been to the dance before multiple times. If they can beat them now without Eloy, La Pantera and Madrigal imagine how pumped they will be once they come back and with a few TDL acquisitions that will tell them that management also cares about winning it all this year.

15 HR's would be 1st on the Sox and his .463 Slg would be right behind Abreu for team lead. Of course he's also a switch hitter and can play all infield positions mostly 3rd and 2nd . The problem with Escobar is he hits lefties better than righties just like the rest of the Sox. His splits are a little more dramatic this year than his career splits but he still has 10 of his HR's against RHP. Someone else said his fielding looked good statistically this year at 2nd base but I believe it's only 20 games so not much to go on. There's still time before the TDL to assess the most glaring holes but most would probably agree there is a need for a relief pitcher or 2. When you have 3 RP struggling and Kopech and Crochet on pitching limits and all starting pitching having a good chance of being fatigued due to the short season last year (especially Rodon) it would be wise to load up on relievers. I would think every playoff caliber team will try to do this so it could be a sellers market for relief pitching so my 1st move would be to get ahead of the market and try to get a good one now. I think these factors are often overlooked because it's always more glamorous to dream about more hitting . In summary ,go after relief pitching 1st and foremost striking asap. Keep reassessing the biggest need among position players as long as you can but be ready to pounce when the time is nigh. I anticipate either 2nd base or RF to be the most pressing need but one never knows when someone else may go down. Keep in mind this may be the best year the Sox have to win a World Series so talking about having faith in Mendick , Goodwin , Engel or the pen guys to turn it around won't get the job done. Make the team as strong as you can now. The 2nd half is going to be a bear to all pitchers .

Don't think I'd have Escobar 9th . He has 15 HR's which would easily be the most on the Sox right now. However in your defense that lineup is so stacked I don't really know what to change. I doubt we have the bullets for more than Escobar and a Relief pitcher though. Marte would be pretty cool though.

Based on what ?

I see what you did there !

White Sox 15 Tigers 2 Brian Goodwin , in his 1st start ever for the White Sox went 2 for 5 , including a run scoring double , a 3 run HR, a walk and scored 3 times as the White Sox cruised to an easy victory. Dylan Cease, the recipient of the offensive outburst , improved and 8-0 lifetime against the Tigers and 5-2 on the Season. Cease became the 1st White Sox pitcher to win his first eight career starts against an opponent . Cease is the first major league pitcher to win his first eight starts against another team since Jamie Moyer started 10-0 against the Marlins in 2006-08. Yermin Mercedes chipped in going 2 for 6 with 3 RBI. The White Sox are a season high 16 games over .500

I'm fine with bumping that thread

Thank you very much all true by the 2nd inning !!!

Well here we are. My prediction came true. I didn't think it would happen by the 2nd inning but woooo !

I'm just going to guess that Goodwin , Lamb, Eaton and Leury drive in a combined 4 runs and at least 1 of them hit a HR.

I was wondering about the defensive alignment myself. Despite those who question Leury's routes he is still 2 Outs Above Average which is pretty good with his speed in the OF and OF mistakes can cause a lot of runs to score with men on base so I do question why Lamb and Leury aren't switched. It could be because Lamb hasn't played any 3rd base this year yet but isn't Cease more of a flyball pitcher ? I'd rather have the speed in the OF.

Hmm I don't know he looks 100% to me. I mean if he isn't why bother? He runs hard all the time. He sprinted out of the box on the HR that scraped the top of the wall. and stayed alive in the pickle for a bit , robbed a HR and hit 2 HR's. He's got a .750 slg. 1.100 OPS and a 200 OPS+ and .4 bWAR. That hammy's already been tested pretty much and passed with flying colors. That doesn't mean it can't happen again. Hammy's are notorious for being repeated injuries .

I don't want to sound like an alarmist but I think I have to. This appears to be the year in which the Sox have to try to win the World Series. The starting pitching will never be as good or as cheap as it is now. Escobar and Iglesias (Angels RP) would be huge gets and the Sox should do whatever they have to do to get them or the equivalent. Escobar may not have the on base skills of some on the team but he would easily be leading the Sox in HR's. Getting him should be a no brainer. Switch hitting power guy who can play 2nd, 3rd and SS in a pinch and a free agent after the year. He's a rental which is perfect. The season is basically over for Madrigal. Sorry Danny I love ya but the Sox have needs to fill and you don't fit the bill . The need for LH power to upgrade the Sox record against RHSP is a true necessity as is relief pitching. Do whatever you must to upgrade. The future is now.

A sympathetic ump ?

Whew finally an extra inning win !

Man, Mercedes , Yo and Abreu all got ahead in the count and all 3 made outs on their 1st swing.

That sounds like he's still at least another week away from returning to the Sox. More than that if he goes down for a rehab assignment. My guess is no rehab assignment.

Except for you. You love to play both sides of the fence.

He's primarily a 2nd baseman who occasionally plays LF and RF. He doesn't play SS or CF. If Madrigal is out for the year he is the ideal fit. I think he would take more than the Sox would be willing to offer . I'm sure when the trade deadline comes we'll just have to see how serious Jerry is about winning a World Series this year. When Eloy and Robert return he would be great insurance in case they are slow to recover their batting eyes or if Madrigal needs surgery and is lost for the year. The Sox have a month and a half to figure out any moves they need to make but the holes are mounting among our starting position players and the bullpen. Plus you have to realize that Rodon, Kopech and Crochet and our starting pitching could hit a wall like many other teams and the offense may have to perform better. This year is a war of attrition and the teams willing to cover for injuries and fatigue might just have the best chance.

You're right . He isn't a great player and not worth a great prospect. However he is a good player on a good contract and the Royals should continue to try and get either a top 100 prospects and lower level guys middle of the field guys that may develop into a top prospect. The last thing they want are relief pitchers and 25+ year olds. He is also a starting player and is RH and hits lefties best. Not exactly what the Sox are looking for and the last place the Sox would make a trade is within their own division. Same probably goes for the Royals. He is really inexpensive. If he was LH I'd love to get him. Say the Sox got him at the deadline they would probably owe around $3.5M for the rest of the year and $3M for 2022 and be done with him. I'd say he's right up the Sox alley contract wise and is clearly better than Leury, Mendick and currently on par Madrigal but with more power. I'd certainly inquiry about him and test the waters but it doesn't seem likely to occur.