Lillian

I don't agree with the opening game lineup choices. However, in trying to understand La Russa's rationale, LH hitters have averaged .313 with a .405 OBP and a .656 SLG %, against MIze. That is probably why he has Lamb, Garcia and Hamilton in the line up. Robert would likely not be up to both games, given his recent flu like symptoms. Again, I don't agree, but I'm trying to understand his thought process.

I just checked Gallo's career split stats. Never mind. Surprisingly, he really hasn't been very good vs RH pitching.

Adding names like Bryant do not solve the biggest offensive deficiency of this team. They still need more balance in the lineup. If Moncada and Grandal are the only two middle of the order LH bats, they are going to be seriously challenged by good RH pitching. Gallo is an interesting name. He could take Eloy's spot this year and replace Eaton next year. Beyond 2023, I hope that the Sox will have solved that lack of LH hitting. I have no idea what it would take to acquire him, but the Rangers are not going to contend, anytime during Gallo's remaining 2 years. Regarding the potential of acquiring another starter: If the Sox manage Kopech's usage, so that he will be available to start in the playoffs, there might be 5 viable candidates for the 3 playoff rotation spots. Giolito, Keuchel, Lynn, Rodon and Kopech all have the ability to be effective in the Post Season. Cease may even get there, if he can harness his command. Next year is another question, with both Lynn and Rodon becoming free agents. However, if Crochet ultimately becomes a starter, they may be able to go with a rotation of Giolito, Kopech, Cease, Keuchel and Crochet, next year. The bullpen may become the greater need, at that point, having lost both Crochet and Kopech to the starting rotation. Therefore, adding a top of the rotation arm, such as Scherzer, would appear to be less important than adding some middle of the rotation depth, to cover injuries. The Sox staff has plenty of dominant arms, but not much behind them.

He is throwing a 2 seamed fastball now, with the commensurate increased movement. I believe that his 100 mph fastball was a 4 seamer.

One often overlooked issue with Moncada is that he represents the only viable option to fulfil that perennially elusive need for a middle of the order LH bat. If he doesn't hit well enough to bat somewhere in the middle of the RH heavy lineup, then who will? Eaton doesn't provide the power and Grandal just isn't a good enough hitter. Many of you think that I place too much emphasis on that issue, but the Sox success versus LH pitching and mediocrity vs RH pitching supports my argument. If he at least lives up to his contract, plays solid defense and steals more bases, the Sox can hope to find a power bat to fill the void, sometime in the near future. Perhaps they will sign one to replace Eaton in RF, next year. However, in the meantime, the lack of balance in the lineup really makes Moncada's success, or failure, a bigger issue than whether he lives up to his contract and expectations. If he were simply another RH hitter, it wouldn't be that critical. However, given that he is probably the only guy on this roster who could provide a middle of the order, LH bat, this team needs him to be a better hitter. La Russa tried batting him cleanup, but so far, that experiment has been a complete failure.

No, we shouldn't "just sign Encarnacion". Encarnacion is 38, right handed, can't play a position and isn't excused from being bad because of an injury. Comparing apples and oranges, is not a valid argument. Asking Vaughn to learn a new position, in his rookie season, is not the best option. If Collins is in the lineup, he shouldn't hit in Eloy's spot, as he is yet unproven. He would have to bat further down in the order. If La Russa doesn't intend to play Lamb, why did they release Lucroy to make room for Lamb? Moreover, why would Lamb sign to sit on the bench?

This team shouldn't worry about facing left handers, against which their heavily weighted RH hitting line up didn't lose a single game last season. RH pitching is an entirely different matter. With that in mind, perhaps Lamb, if healthy, should be in the lineup, on days when the Sox are facing a RH starter: VERSUS RH PITCHING AB 2B 3B HR RBI AVG OBP SLG J. LAMB 2016 & 2017 413 27 7 25 75 .271 .346 .552 404 26 4 25 86 .282 .386 .552 ELOY CAREER STATS: 501 26 2 34 91 .279 .321 .543 Projected lineup vs. RHP: Anderson Eaton Abreu Moncada Robert Lamb Grandal/Collins Vaughn Madrigal

Sorry, typo. Of course I meant Tim Beckham.

I thought Beckman was regarded as the first backup third baseman.

He was a very good hitter against RHP, in 2016 & 2017, before his rotator cuff injury. He had it surgically repaired and If he is finally healthy, his LH bat could be useful. What about the possibility of putting Moncada in LF, just for this year, versus RHP, and letting Lamb play 3RD? Lamb is a solid defensive third baseman. Was his shoulder injury to his throwing arm, and if so, does he still have the arm to play 3RD? If that could work, it might be preferable to putting Vaughn in LF. Moncada would likely be an above average left fielder, given his speed and athleticism.

The concept of starting the year with Kopech and Crochet, as a tandem, in the #5 slot of the starting rotation, is very intriguing. They could go 3 innings each, with a conservative pitch count, to get to the 7TH inning, when they would turn it over to the pen. As they both gain strength and stamina, their load could be expanded to 4 innings each. They could even get to the point of being able to go as far as 5 or 6 innings, late in the season. If one of them emerged as a very strong and effective starter, he could be used in the Post Season rotation, while the other went to bolster the pen, or they could simply continue to function as a tandem team. That kind of decision would also depend upon how the other starters were doing, in terms of both health and effectiveness. For those concerned about service time, why not begin this regimen at Charlotte, and continue it when they're brought to Chicago? In any case, those two fireballers could end up being the most effective part of the starting rotation, and out of the #5 slot. Wouldn't this approach be more effective as a method of achieving the ultimate goal of making starters out of both Crochet and Kopech, than throwing short relief stints? Moreover, the pen is already a team strength and doesn't need either of those arms, as much as the rotation does. It's certainly a very intriguing idea. What team would want to face a righty, lefty tandem, both throwing triple digits?

My question was simply; "Did any of you notice the change?" I haven't heard anyone mention it. Just for clarification; I'm as disenchanted with him, as anyone here.

Did any of you notice that Mazara's batting stance was much less open, last night? It wasn't a closed stance, but not nearly as open, as his normal one.

Simply stated; This should not be a political issue. Nevertheless, it is obvious that I'm talking to the wrong crowd here. I'll drop it. Be well, everybody.

Confirmation bias is always a potential obstacle to discovering the truth. If anyone really wants to discern the truth, they might be better served looking at both sides of this issue. Many doctors have reported very positive results. It is easy to find attempts to reject and dispute their findings. After all, it should be obvious that there is a concerted effort to cover up this information. Again, one should be asking why. This should not be the kind of subject, about which one side of the controversy should be censored. If one does the research, and considers both sides of the argument, they will likely discover that there is something very nefarious transpiring here.

Leaving politics out of the discussion, are you suggesting that the many doctors who are trying to inform the public about their positive results with the HCQ protocol, are doing so with some malevolent motive? What exactly would that motive be? I don't understand the logic.

Has anyone here investigated the very odd and suspicious controversy over hydroxychloroquine plus zinc, as a treatment for Covid-19? Many doctors have asserted that it is a very effective treatment. The curious thing is that Youtube and Twitter have consistently censored and removed such material. Social media companies have waged a campaign to block any positive information about the HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) regimen, as an effective treatment. This is unprecedented and very suspicious. One has to ask themselves; why would these social media companies be blocking and censoring information being presented by doctors, about a disease, and its treatment? What is their motive and who benefits from the censorship of such information?

In the interest of gaining a better understanding about the pandemic, particularly as it relates to professional sports, I'd like to pose the question; How serious is Covid-19. in respect to professional athletes? The data regarding the number of cases and the number of deaths has been critically questioned. Many experts have asserted that it is not a life threatening disease, for younger people, especially if they are in good health. That controversy aside, as baseball fans, we are paying particular attention to its impact on Major League players and teams. Of all of the players, who have tested positive, so far, has any player even gotten very ill, much less been in critical condition? We do know that none of the players have died. If this trend continues, could professional sports simply begin to treat this the same way that they do the flu?

If true, that answers my question. Oh well.

It could be advantageous for Michael, as it would provide him with an opportunity to establish himself, in order to virtually eliminate the possibility of management keeping him in the Minors, at the beginning of next season, which would cost him another year of service time. After just seeing that news regarding his failed marriage, perhaps being around his teammates might be good for his psyche. Who knows?

Would it be possible for Kopech to change his mind, and later decide to pitch this year? If so, could the Sox offer him some extra money, to entice him to do so, since he is not going to get credit for a year of service time?

Just for some context on Sam Long: https://www.milb.com/kannapolis/news/sam-long-earns-second-chance-on-the-diamond-with-white-sox-307387400

McCann's success last year may not have been the aberration, that some assert. He did make significant changes to his approach at the plate, and they seemed to have paid huge dividends. He probably isn't as good as his first half of last season suggests, but he's still pretty decent. Watching him hit, on a daily basis, demonstrates to me that he has a very sound approach. I like the fact that he chokes up on the bat, with 2 strikes and that he is willing to hit the ball to right field, which is a very desirable practice. It has certainly turned around Anderson's career.

As previously stated, because catching is a position which uniquely requires shared playing time, adequate depth really includes a third option. If Grandal were to get injured, who would be Collin's tandem partner? Mercedes can certainly hit, but can he catch well enough to be a viable option? I don't consider Zavala a good enough offensive, or defensive catcher, to be a possibility. If Mercedes could catch well enough, the Sox could get by without McCann, in the event that Grandal were to lose significant playing time. Catching is such a critical defensive position, that the return for McCann would have to be someone with some real potential. Otherwise, I'd prefer the extra insurance that the current depth provides. It is likely that James will elect to sign elsewhere, next year, but by then the Sox may know more about their catching depth.

Ok, I concede I'm over reacting. He'll be fine and probably have even a better year this year, than last. Thanks for talking me off the ledge. LOL.