CaliSoxFanViaSWside

QUOTE (Vance Law @ Aug 18, 2015 -> 07:39 PM) The Dodgers didn't mind his baseball hitting. Past tense, then he got his new contract and laughed all the way to the bank. Suckers ... let Boston live with their stupidity with all the ridiculous contracts they handed out.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 18, 2015 -> 06:46 PM) As quiet as they were about Johnson last year, and as many chances as they have had to call him up, I really think there is a reason we don't know about that we haven't seen him. My guess is that they don't trust him. Too active of an imagination. Sox are in no position not to trust him, no position to trade young pitching. They should be more concerned with their own flawed thinking.

Hanley Sure . Hey Boston please pay all of his salary and then pay the Sox more to make him not your problem anymore. Literally the worst type of player to get for every reason all the previous posters have stated. There is nothing positive he could contribute that wouldn't be completely and utterly destroyed by the jumbo jet full of baggage on board.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 10:02 PM) .407 vs. .758 is your answer. RH hitters are hitting .176 with a .407 OPS vs. Joe Smith. LH hitters have fared a lot better. But it was still LaRoche leading off with no one on base, so no speed at all which is essential to scoring a run . Also he could 've been used in the 9th against Street or later in the 8th if any one got on. Like it or not Avi is still one of the teams better hitters and fastest runner ,and with Saladino, Beckham, Flowers all RH hitters due up there would've been plenty of chances to use LaRoche with far worse hitters than Avi up.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 09:38 PM) With Avi being DH, he probably just made the straight platoon switch But why is the question. Served no purpose since Avi is decent against righties . Better than LaRoche against righties for average. Maybe was hoping for a walk ? IDK then even if he walks he can't use Shuck or Sanchez to pinch run because they are the lefties left on the bench to PH . Just don't take one of your only chances for a game tying HR out of the line up. If people get on base then use LaRoche if you need to PH for Flowers or Beckham.

That LaRoche for Avi still confounds me . Even if he's playing match up ,LaRoche is not a guy you want leading off . If he get's on then you must pinch run for him. Avi has a better chance of getting on and also hitting a HR and with his speed you don't have to pinch run.

Um Robin 9 of Avi's 11 homers are against RH's.

If Rodon's K total tonight are any indication, he might not have his best stuff tonight which makes it even more impressive to me.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 01:34 PM) Daren Willman ‏@darenw 4h4 hours ago Most swing & misses in a game this year Kershaw 30 Carrasco 30 Sale 28 Scherzer 27 Hamels 27 Sale 26 Sale 26 Sale 26 Bumgarner 26 And if that list was most games with 25 or more swings and misses Sale is near the top if not on top. No idea how to find a list like that but I know it exists.

Good job Lip . You bring a lot to this site, a welcome historical perspective that was lacking before . That was the only reason to ever visit WSI , their interviews with historical Sox figures.

Rodon 1st Sox rookie since Jason Bere in 1993 to have 2 games of 10 or more K's.

QUOTE (Dunt @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 11:45 AM) Where are you seeing his WAR is 0.9? 0.4 according to Fangraphs Baseball ref. They have a picture list of the top 12 Sox producers by WAR . Put you cursor over the pic for Saladino ,he is 8th. http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/2015.shtml

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 10:54 AM) He has been pretty amazing over there. It blows my mind that he had only played like 5 games ever before he got here. I was just saying in another thread that his defense and base running alone was enough to keep him at 3rd since his hitting didn't negate any of that. I didn't know about the DRS stat but I did sight his .9 WAR which is damn good for the amount he has played. I think the Sox need to have a Salad Dino wherever in the ballpark they serve salads. If he's of Italian heritage maybe some kind of anti-pasta with a nice garlic and red wine vinaigrette.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 07:30 AM) Ugh. I hate west coast starts. Suck it up old man. Take a nap so you can stay up late.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 10:14 AM) You can make it sound like the Sox face3 95% LHP, but it is simply not true. If LaRoche was hitting RHP like normal, he wouldn't be getting booed at USCF. The fact is 80% of the time, right handed pitchers are on the mound. Look what the other Adam with the White Sox is doing in about 30 more PA vs. LHP, and leading off. Why isn't it ever mentioned how his lack of hitting vs. LHP is killing the White Sox? How about Jose Abreu's .235/.311/.370 line vs. LH starters. Should he be benched when they face lefties? Or moved to 7th or 8th? The alternatives for LaRoche vs. LHP weren't great. There is always a chance he might run into one every now and then. It hasn't happened. You make it sound like I said the Sox face 95% LH pitching. Good job at politicking your way to a response .His hitting period in the middle of the order batting 4th, 5th, and 6th has cost the Sox games .Not that anyone else they have would've done any better .Preparing for that possibility and sinking money into an old flawed hitter was not the best use of resources. You just can't have someone who's splits are that radical in the middle of the line up unless you have someone else who fits the MOR profile. But I will admit we are splitting hairs. It's his over all suckage that hurts, but he didn't have to be paid or given the PT like a complete player .

QUOTE (Dunt @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 08:50 AM) If we could find some bats at 2B, SS, C, or RF, I could totally live with Saladino at 3B I'm fine with him there always. His glove and base running provides solid value while his hitting isn't bad enough to negate the running and fielding since he has a .9 WAR in pretty limited playing time compared to the guys who have been playing all year.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 17, 2015 -> 09:35 AM) He has a total of 89 PA vs. LHP. The poster was absolutely correct. Not hitting vs. RHP is what is causing the hatred. Garbage. 89 AB's mostly in the middle of the order is not a low number since you face lefties a lot less often than righties. It is regular AB's in a key position in the lineup . It seems as if the Sox ignored the splits both in the signing and the playing time. Don't make it seem like it was a mere 89 AB's .Abreu and Alexei don't have many more . Not hitting , playing time and his acquisition is what caused him, Ventura and Hahn to be scorned.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Aug 16, 2015 -> 09:17 AM) They actually used to be really good at bringing in retreads...dunno about career norms, but guys that could come in and rebuild their career a bit. Ellis Burks comes to mind. Albert Belle put up a monster year here, although he was pretty amazing for much of his career. Richie Zisk, Oscar Gamble , Eric Soderholm

How can anyone expect the Cubs to win a World Series when they can't even win the Chicago Cup ?

QUOTE (Mike F. @ Aug 16, 2015 -> 12:34 PM) Would you really want him to be pulled in the 8th or 9th inning with a no-hitter going just because of a pitch count? Get there and cross that bridge we will . You're friend , Yoda P.S. May the force be wth you and Chris Sale.

QUOTE (AustinIllini @ Aug 15, 2015 -> 08:59 PM) Sometimes a good thing can last too long. Hawk doesn't believe in advanced metrics, he says things that are blatantly wrong ("Those days when you raise your own players in the minors are over"...ARE YOU KIDDING ME?), he does not relate to younger fans (for example, no one under 40 knows half his references). It's not hard. WAR is important, not everyone is the next Yaz, Trayce Thompson is not a 30 HR hitter, and he's an absolute bore. On days when Stony is out, the White Sox broadcast is unlistenable to anyone who isn't a simpleton. That's rather harsh. Outside of Brian Kenney ,who really is pushing advanced metrics in major league broadcasts besides WAR and WHIP ? I consider myself a student of the game but not a mathematician . Yes I am above 40 but 1st and foremost he promotes the product as most home telecasts do. When he is upset as a Sox fan I think most of us are also. When he is excited for the team so are we. He can't or shouldn't be overly critical of the team like us . Baseball has been around for many many years and has a long rich history. Only dealing with the recent history is also a disservice to the game. Do simpletons enjoy baseball history ? Maybe it's because I'm older I like him . He's like a colorful uncle who might tell you war stories or wild events from his past. Those unwilling to listen and learn are the bored simpletons who cannot look beyond their nose to relieve their boredom.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Aug 15, 2015 -> 04:00 PM) To me it's not a question of 'love' or 'hate' Hawk. It's the realization that he's 73 and simply not the same broadcaster that he was 20 years ago. Plus for right or wrong, he's a symbol of the ever unchanging Sox organization that has grown stale and set in their ways as far as how to run a baseball opearation. New blood is needed on the baseball side of things and that includes the broadcasting booths in my opinion. Mark So what you're saying is that if the Sox make any changes it'll be Hawk 1st to go

Here's somehing we can all agree on... the best part of this game have been the hot blonde and brunette sitting side by side wearing Sox stuff . When lefties are up you can see them.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 15, 2015 -> 07:02 PM) I hope you're right, but why not? Two aces, a great bullpen and a much improved offense since Schwarber got included. I still think they should have been more aggressive at the deadline to add a top pitcher to go along with Arrieta and Lester. Too young, defense isn't great, bullpen isn't as good as you think. Starting pitching isn't that good either. I mean I know what the pitching stats say about them but they're not battle tested. Offense streaky , long way to go . Pitcher's figuring out Bryant somewhat , might do the same with Schwarber.

Cub catcher frames the ball off the plate and its a strike . Damn West can't you see his glove is off the plate ?