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Conversely I don't see how you can come up with a compelling argument that Vaughn helps you win a ball game more than Williams against RHP. Everything atm is a SSS but Vaughn has looked better against LHP 0-8 against RHP , 2-6 against LHP. Williams 0-4 against RHP. Between the 2 of them it's 0-12 vs. RHP. I'd rather play the matchup and hope Williams is better defensively which I am not entirely sure is true.

The team ISO is 18th in MLB (.148 )and last in the division so worse than KC,Detroit and Cleveland but the Yankees and A's have been a lot worse. Sox are 23rd in % of hits for extra bases . Errors per game the Sox average 1 which is the worst in baseball and they are also near the bottom in turning double plays. Too many extra outs are being given by the defense. 4.99 Bullpen ERA but it's really the late inning guys , our expected best guys not getting the job done. Kopech and Crochet have been great keeping it close through the middle innings. But outside of them when Ruiz is the only other one being good it get's tough.

1. Sox .354 2. Astros .345 3. Twins .341 Walks per game AL: 1. Sox 5.56 2. Yankees 4.22 3. Cleveland 4.12

The OBP will not stay where it is just as the hitting shouldn't stay where it is. The team is 1st in the AL in OBP . Some other teams are not slugging well either . As you mentioned the Yankees, the A's are abysmal, Toronto, Cardinals, Brewers , Mets and Cubs are all below the Sox. The Sox are 28th in MLB in number of men left on base per game. That's not necessarily a bad thing because the Dodgers are 29th but unlike the Dodgers the Sox don't have as many productive hitters driving them in since the Dodgers are 4th in slugging and the Sox 15th.

I swear if there was a stat about executing with a man on 3rd with less than 2 outs the Sox would have to be last in baseball. I think they have K'd like 90 % of the time in that situation and the other times popped up , the exact 2 things you least want to see in that situation.

I didn't participate in the game thread yesterday. But when Eaton pinch hit for Vaughn I was imagining all the whining going on. For some reason Vaughn is getting cut a tremendous amount of slack. I did check on the game thread to make sure I was right and sure enough there was a lot of bitching about it. I don't get it. What made anyone think that from a win/loss perspective that wasn't the right move ? You take out the struggling rookie with very little pro baseball experience who is RH out against a RHP and replace him with an established experienced veteran LH hitter.

No need to think outside the box.. That's just another way of saying I'm a clueless fan. Cease has to pitch. Everyone has a few extra days of rest . It's a long season after a short season. Cease is going to be in the rotation and he needs his time to make the adjustments that Katz gave him in actual games. That takes repetition until it becomes second nature, not skipping starts.

But Engel might be and he should be back very soon.

Brent Lillibridge ! 2011 age 27 hit 13 HR's in 186 AB's ,slugged .505 and became a Soxtalk legend with 2 catches in RF against the Yankees in the 9th with a runner on 2nd base to preserve a Sox win. He also hit the 10,000 HR in White Sox history that same year.

God I hope we don't have a lot of off days .

As far as position player depth has gone Yermin , Collins, Mendick, Hamilton have done well while Leury and Vaughn have not but the OBP for Vaughn has been fine. Lamb and Williams got a few AB's each. The good has far outweighed the bad so far but the Sox still need Engel and Anderson back asap. Kind of strange we haven't heard any updates on Engel at all. He has to be back soon wouldn't you think ? March 21st he was injured and we heard a few weeks but then on 4/1 the Sox put him on the 10 day IL so that means April 10 or 11th depending if the 10 days started April 1 or the day after. Could be he's activated for tomorrows game .

I think you should set an over and under on some basic hitting categories like batting average , OBP, SLG. like .300. 400. 500c( as an example) and each side picks the over or under , you can set up an odd amount of categories. I used 3 so that whoever picks right in 2 of the 3 categories wins. The hard part will be setting the over and under at something you both can agree on and then actually choosing opposing views. Maybe you can pick 5 categories for the over and under and when you can agree on whats a good line for 3 of them use those 3. Set a date when the bet concludes such as the end of the season and have a minimum amount of AB set . All bets are off if those AB's are not met. @ron883 and @joesaiditstrue DM me and we can work on it . Let's start off with the number of Ab's required ? How does 350 sound for the whole season to you? Then each of you message me about what you think an expected range of BA, OBO and SLG will be for those 350 AB's. such as BA .250-.275, .260-285, .270- 295, .280 -.305 . Keep the range .025 apart. But also give me a final number such as . 275 .Do the same thing with OBP and SLG. Give me your best guess in each category . I will then select some number between both your numbers for each category to try to establish an over and under you can both agree on. If this proves too difficult work it out amongst yourselves and let us all know so we can play along.

But what if he starts chewing tobacco ?

Discipline problems according to a few posts above. That means showing up late for something usually more than once or violating curfew or other team rules.

That's some old school pitching . NIce B2B bombas by the YM's , Yo and Yermie.

That rivals the 487 Robert hit in the playoffs last October.

Not if 3/4 of the starting pitching you face is RH and if the pitching isn't as good as anticipated. Then you miss the playoffs even if it's just the "elite" bullpen becoming an average one.

Very small sample size . Besides my only argument is it's Ok for a game because Keller got belted around by lefties in his one start. I thought it might be 50/50 on who got the start at DH since Collins is LH also. I agree with everything you said but we really need a win in our home opener and the Sox have to get a W against a RH starter. You can send Williams back to the minors for all I care if he doesn't provide a lift in his opportunities.

Holy shit he's a rookie with one year in A ball and you who hasn't proved he can play a legitimate LF or hit MLB pitching . That's so much better of an argument. Plus I gave you better arguments and didn't even bring up with Vaughn has done against RHP so maybe you should just stick with staying on point. 1st you didn't think it was a legit spot to start Williams and clearly it is and now you're going with some argument you think I made about how he's hit against RHP. You're all over the place.

Of course but it's Mercedes who took advantage of the opportunity given to him. That might have something to do with his experience from his time in the minors.

Yep so if Williams is our 7th best OF (according to Soxfan49) ELOY, Robert, Eaton, Engel, , Hamilton Vaughn and Williams. 3 are hurt and 2 are playing the other OF positions that leaves Vaughn and Williams . Since the Sox are winless against RHP so far it's possible we could use another LHB . No wins against RHP and injuries kind of force a managers hand.

All I said was it's a legitimate spot for 1 game. Your anger at LaRussa and reference to his drinking just shows a prejudice against him . Nick Williams has done more MLB against LHP than Vaughn has and has played more LF. Not one person has said Vaughn can't hit RHP but as of now he hasn't . It's equally preposterous to expect Vaughn to be able to hit any MLB pitching with such little experience. Collins , Vaughn, Williams have all paid their dues. Why is it so bad for Vaughn to do the same ? So sue me if for 1 game I think Williams is a better choice than Vaughn and the manager agrees.

It's one game dude and Keller got killed against lefties in his 1st game. Your concern was about a legitimate spot and it is a legitimate spot for 1 game. Not my fault you can't admit it.

Is a LF with some power against a RH pitcher not a legitimate spot for 1 game with the Sox struggling against RH pitching and in his 1 start against the Rangers he gave up 5 hits and 2 walks against LHH in 8 PA 's ? Maybe you are the mess ?

It's not a game. I'm just thinking of ways he can contribute once Engel is back. The questions you asked have nothing to do with that. The Mercedes question perhaps has a little to do with it but until Mercedes or Collins cools off we are likely to see them. Even Hamilton has more chances to play once Engel returns because of the things I asked unless he is the one to go once Engel does return .