35thstreetswarm

Wow, Eloy comes back a month and a half early, hits his first two balls about 115 MPH (one over the fence), and the thread topic is "he's fat." Tough crowd

Correct. Plus nullify affected divisional championships and pennants. No fake flags flying.

I absolutely hate it. You’re right—it is disgusting, and their attempts to “own” it are shameful. I don’t love that we have an ex-Astro on our team (though at least he was a pitcher and not a hitter). But I’m really happy we don’t have AJ Hinch as a manager as a daily reminder of that travesty.

Now I’m intrigued…You’re usually a pretty good contra-indicator

Two balls absolutely crushed. Goosebumps

[Freeze frame of laughing faces and clinking glasses.] Narrator: “yes, we were on top of the world. Little did we know…”

It’s always interesting to see the outsider’s perspective on the Sox and their success, which is often simpler, and in my opinion more accurate, than the ones that proliferate among hardcore Sox fans who are just a little too close to, and personally invested in, the rebuild process. The Sox drafted well. The rebuild worked. We have lots of good players now. Enjoy.

You may be right—just comes down to different clubs’ risk tolerances, about which I have no idea. The way this keeps spiraling, though, I could see this being a bigger deal than the “run-of-the-mill” DV case (a depressing idea).

The main beef on this board with TLR's use of Hendriks (and my beef) has been that he hasn't gone to Hendriks often *enough*, or early enough, particularly given his multiple-inning use with the As and his own statements that he likes regular usage to stay fresh. People have criticized TLR for using him in the old-school "closer's" role you describe rather than in high-leverage situations and as long as necessary to ensure wins. Now he gets used for two innings once and somebody jumps on that.

Yes, he’s far from out of the woods on the criminal side. And I wouldn’t read much into the passage of a couple weeks without arrest, either. That’s not a significant amount of time in a criminal investigation, and with a public figure involved they’re probably going to be extra deliberate and conservative.

It's an adage that you don't need an all-star at every position. It's crazy that if we were to trade for a Gallo/Marte in RF, when healthy we would literally have all-star talent at every position (granted you have to squint a bit with Madrigal). Honestly, has that ever even happened?

From the reporting I've read it sounds there won't be a criminal trial (at least at this point) because she initially declined to press charges, though that could change based on a number of factors. Assuming he's not arrested, though, to your ultimate question: I think his future in baseball will depend upon how he handles the civil case. If he simply ends this with a confidential settlement I suspect the details that have leaked to the public will be enough to make MLB clubs steer clear of him. The only way I see him coming back from this (professionally) is by declining to settle, fighting the civil suit, and winning (which would of course require that the entire factual record is somehow favorable to him, and the public revelations give plenty of reason to doubt this is the case.) Even he could win, the process itself would be lengthy, public, and damaging.

The poster meant they don't need to trade for another outfielder (in part because Eloy is coming back, presumably)

You can’t help but be impressed by how this team is holding it together despite the injuries. He deserves at least some credit for that. I remain worried that he’ll make catastrophic in-game decisions in the playoffs, but will be happy to give him credit if they make a deep run and he manages to avoid the unforced errors I fear.

Unfortunately it's just too painful for me to watch first place teams win July series over hated rivals with half a lineup, so I'll have to take y'all's word for it. ? Just kidding, I love you nutjobs

Lynn. I wouldn't want to make a 4-year bet on Carlos's health.

You forgot 3.) god exists and actively hates us

Wow - I saw the "torn tendon" tweet and I got out on the ledge. I then immediately saw the "4-6 weeks" tweet and stepped back. What a roller coaster. Back this season is all I was hoping for at this point.

Yes -- if we start losing core players for the season that would definitely change things, especially one like Grandal for whom there is no real replacement.

The 05 team is an example that should make you optimistic, not pessimistic. They weren't "that well constructed in February" -- give me a break, they weren't some perfectly assembled superteam. Nobody even picked them to win their division. They just clicked, had some great individual performances, and got hot at the right times with a team less talented than this one will be once Eloy and Robert come back. They were healthy outside the closer position? I guess if you don't count losing literally the best player in White Sox franchise history for the season. And who says we don't have a rookie ready to step in and shove? There are many, many more realistic examples of impact young players on this team than there were at this point in 2005. My advice: just keep watching and hoping for the best, and maybe scream into your pillow rather than onto this board.

It's sad all right.

OK, I'll bite, even though I'm pretty sure this whole thing is just performative and not even primarily about baseball. If they're "winning" with their shell of a team decimated by injuries, it would normally give one reason to think that they will improve even further and give reason for optimism when, you know, their two injured superstars return to said winning team in August. (And I know, they will not return, or they will return and be bad, or there will be no baseball, wamp wah -- you don't have to say it.)

They’ve scratched and clawed and fought their way through all that to a very good record and a 6 game division lead. If that’s not good enough to hold your “interest” I don’t know what to tell you, but it doesn’t say much for you as a fan.

It’s facially absurd and will never happen.

So 26-14 against teams not called the Chicago White Sox.