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Yes but it depends on how fast the Sox think they have a true read on him and choosing him over guys like Reylo, Cordero and Cishek, his other RHP competition for a playoff roster spot.

Right Ptatc ,Hawk is the only guy I've heard talk about it on a constant basis. That's why I loved Hawk. Some find baseball history boring especially after you hear the same stories over and over again. But if you only hear something once you forget it. You hear it a few times you might not forget it. I wonder if Hawk had any influence on Tim in that regard. It should also be pointed out that finding Right handed hitters who hit for a very high average is much harder than finding LH ones. Baseball was built for Left handers . It wasn't specifically designed to give lefties an advantage but that's how it worked out. In recent history batting champ who consistently hit for high average are lefty Boggs, Gwynn, Carew , Brett . There are some RH exceptions Molitor, Trout, Thomas, Vlad Sr. If you look at the hitters with the highest BA in baseball history its littered with lefties. Most of them born in the 1800's .

That's a huge leap even if he gets another start where he pitches well. Even if he started and went 6 shutout innings I'd still hestitate him starting a playoff game. However I'd definitely take his command as a reliever in a playoff game then.

I'm still of the mind that Stiever may be an option for the bullpen in the playoffs. I know I know that's tough to fathom after 1 appearance but let's see if he gets another start or some relief appearances and find out . Cishek, Reylo, Cordero ,Detwiler, Gio G. and Rodon, who hasn't given you anything yet, should not be locks for a playoff roster spot but the taxi squad is 12 men for the playoffs so Stiever could have a spot on that too. The only thing that gives me pause is I don't know the rules about how you can bring a player from the Taxi squad onto the playoff roster.

My friend sometimes it's best to know that you don't know everything about baseball instead of smugly sticking to your argument.. Fry has been pretty much a lefty specialist even when baseball made it harder to be that. Before yesterday he had pitched in 13 games for a total of 12.1 innings so he usually goes less than 1 inning per outing. He had also walked 6 guys in those 12.1 innings. This was his 1st appearance since coming off the injured list and he is our only left handed reliever that can be trusted unless you think Gio Gonzales or Detwiler are better options for late innings. He is extremely important especially if Bummer doesn't come back. He had already pitched more than he averaged when healthy. Another 2 outs could've been another 20 pitches if he walked another guy. You got a good job from him. You don't risk re-injury to his back by over extending him when he is so important moving forward. The big picture is way more important than another 2 outs with a 4 run lead. Bullpen pitchers have roles and he had already pitched beyond his role in that situation.

Game thread 55 pages. White Sox Winner thread 4 pages. Tons of drama but I dont think I've seen 1 person me tion we have another winning streak going. 5 games now.

Yep, Mazara just isnt hitting so take the speed and defense and HR robbing abilities of Engel and let it play out.

Still big decisions to be made on playoff 28 man roster and 12 man taxi squad playoff guys . 5 more days left to decide lots of key moves.

It's great to have him back. He hadn't given up a run in 9 straight appearances before he got hurt.

I think both are auditioning for BP roles along with Rodon for the playoffs. Yesterday 9/14 Rodon was supposed to resume throwing again. Anyone hear anything , an update, on that ?

El Series ? Is that Spanish ? Perfect for our team ! Oh and before anyone tells me , I do know the El or L is short for the Elevated trains.

The old adage " I'd rather be lucky than good " comes to mind for this game and for Cease this season.

Marshall was visibly pumped out there on the mound showing a lot of emotion after getting key K's.

Jack using the song reference! I like it. Haddaway

Haha, as long as you know your feelings can't be trusted.

Are you one of the 20 or so who missed on Mazara HR prediction ?

What if we win it this year ? Abreu will be the primary 1st baseman next year. You can count on that. Rodon might get non tendered if he still wants a chance to start . I'd tell him he's going to the pen and if he doesn't like it Non-Tender him and see just how many teams want to give him much of a chance to start with his injury history.Who knows they might give Mazara another shot in RF though he is a non tender candidate too. Colome isnt pretty but pretty good save percentages over the time the Sox have had him but he probably tests Free Agency like McCann. Sign Bauer and now you have Cease, Dunning , Kopech and maybe even Stiever and Lopez to go along with Gio, Keuchel and Bauer at the top. That's 8 starting pitchers so some will be in the minors for a bit or the pen like Stiever, Kopech , Rodon or Lopez. Really still too much up in the air about next season to make determinations now. Bullpen will probably need some help . Right now it's the weak spot but the starting pitching has been surprisingly good all season.

Unfortunately since Menechino didn't mention his illness there's mechanical and approach problems. This could be due to Menechino trying to implement more launch angle into his game and with the illness and changing mechanics if Mazara is trying to get more launch angle he just hasn't been able to do it. Of course I would assume once the Sox acquired him they reached out almost immediately to see if he was open to those particular mechanical changes. At this point I'd have to say just go back to your old style and see if that will straighten him out. His normal production from the last 4 years against RHP would've been more than fine on this years Sox. I am no hitting coach but Mazara looks to be standing tall in the box and with an open stance he doesn't seem very good on the outside pitches and cant get any lift on the inside pitches . If you are going to have that open stance you have to be able to lift and pull inside pitches. I don't know if his timing is still off so maybe he needs a smaller leg kick or toe tap. I'd probably also get him to bend his knees a little more, keep more weight on his back foot to use his legs to generate a kind of springboard action for weight transfer. He just seems to be all arms at the plate . Maybe close the stance up too. Bonds had a closed stance and elite bat speed but for a guy as big and strong as Mazara maybe use a lighter bat too to increase bat speed.

Right . The only reason the Sox kept Flores over McRae on the 26 is that Flores is LH and we need that at least until Fry and/ or Bummer come back.

More like show some lack of brain cells. You can't put Vaughn in RF . Usually showing cajones to some adolescent males is showing lack of functioning brain cells.

Maybe I can give you some rudimentary statistical hope for Cishek. In the last 30 days: Cishek has pitched in 10 games, 9 IP, 3.00 ERA , 1.22 WHIP, 3 BB, 10 K , .235 BAA Detwiler 8 8 3.38 1.63 2 7 .314 Cordero 13 12 6.75 1.50 3 11 .288 Marshall 12 11 4.09 1.36 2 13 .277 There is the rest of his competition on the Sox. Not sure if this will give you hope for Cishek or despair for the rest of them. We need Fry to come back too. in his last 30 days he pitched in 7 games, 6.1 innings, 3 BB 9 K ( too many walks but nice K numbers ) 1.11 Whip so not bad even with the walks. .190 BAA . Fry hadn't given up a run in his last 9 appearances before his back problems landed him on the 10 Day IL Sept. 5th . McRae took his place and gave up nothing in 3 innings except 1 hit.

According to the latest from Hahn both Rodon and Bummer have a chance to be back for the last road trip in Cleveland and Cincy Sept. 18-24 . Rodon was shut down til Monday so we might get an idea as early as tomorrow as to his status if he is able to throw.. Day 45 is Thursday the 17th so Rodon officially can come back Friday the 18th . Keuchel next start is supposed to be Thursday the 17th also but that's not a foregone conclusion yet. All of this is from a Merkin article on whitesox.com on 9/11 that I'm paraphrasing. https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/carlos-rodon-aaron-bummer-nearing-return

Big IF but yes it was my mistake thinking he was done for the season after being placed on the 45 day IL. I thought it was a new 45 days instead of being retroactive.

Those last 2 vids from Hannah and Mendick are awesome !

He theoretically could on the 20th according to what South Wallace just posted since that 45 day DL trip is retroactive to an earlier date. The 20th is just a week from now. Do you think he'll be ready then ? Is the 20th accurate ? Is he any more likely to give quality innings than Cishek , Lopez , Flores or McRae from the pen ? I suppose we will find out.