caulfield12

7) The White Sox will trade for Adam Frazier. And replace one vertically challenged, contact-oriented second baseman with another. Losing Nick Madrigal on the heels of having already lost Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert (among others in the lineup) to injuries was a huge blow to a White Sox team that, if healthy, would be a good bet to win the AL pennant. But while Jiménez and Robert are expected back before season’s end, the same can’t be said of Madrigal. All the injuries have caught up to Chicago in recent days, and this team cannot let its opportunity in the AL Central slip away. Frazier is having a career year, comes with an additional season of arbitration control and has enough outfield experience to offer flexibility when Madrigal returns next year. Plus, his lefty bat gives the Sox some needed balance. https://www.mlb.com/news/bold-mlb-predictions-for-july?partnerId=zh-20210701-432379-MLB-1-A&qid=1026&utm_id=zh-20210701-432379-MLB-1-A&bt_ee=cT54QTD4AGaETe5MtF9AA25bDjkMnbvjTOHurcaKjc4Y7238CsUuansy1AdTnZ6N&bt_ts=1625150932455 Also predicting S.Marte to the Yankees, possibly with an extension involved…

Then you’re left with the quandary of putting a Jimenez/Robert/Vaughn outfield and the various injury and defensive risks into play. If you were getting enough offense from second, it would be fine to put one of Jimenez/Abreu/Vaughn at DH (or Vaughn at first with Jose DH) and then put Engel, Hamilton or Goodwin in the other spot. Or the return of the healthier/rejuvenated Eaton. Musical chairs for the remainder of this season…unless we add a legit starting outfielder like a Marte.

As Delta Variant Surges, Outbreaks Return in Many Parts of the World (NY Times) On Wednesday, Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever daily case count. The numbers look set to climb higher as migrant workers return to their villages ahead of a July 1 nationwide lockdown, potentially exposing those communities to the virus. The nationwide shutdown means that all domestic public transportation networks will be suspended and all shops closed for at least a week. But with Bangladesh’s export-driven economy battered by the pandemic, the government has refrained from idling garment factories and mills. “They are hardworking people,” said Mohammed Nasir, the former vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. “Their immune systems are stronger.” If pandemic history is any precedent, such crowded quarters, just like prisons or mass religious gatherings, can turn into petri dishes of infection. Many garment workers, though, are desperate to keep their jobs, especially with annual bonuses due soon. Despite promises from various countries and international organizations, vaccine deliveries to Bangladesh have been underwhelming. Fewer than 3% of Bangladeshis have been fully vaccinated. “We are working to make a balance,” Nasir said, “between lives and livelihoods.” https://www.yahoo.com/news/delta-variant-surges-outbreaks-return-121753569.html

That’s four guys who belong at 1B/DH (obviously, Moncada going nowhere besides 3B) in Abreu, Vaughn, Eloy and Burger for next year. That’s not even counting Collins/Grandal and Sheets. Something’s gotta give. I guess it’s possible they hold onto one of Burger/Sheets as insurance for Abreu next year and into the future. Really have no idea what they’re planning for Jimenez…hard to imagine if Vaughn continues to progress they would force Vaughn into DH in order to play Eloy in the field. 2022 and beyond is the bigger question.

Just like Yermin was the long-term DH solution after one month. In this fantasy world, Gordon Beckham is the White Sox version of Derek Jeter, Brian Anderson is retiring as Torii Hunter Lite and Dayan Viciedo is putting up for the Sox the same Eloy Jimenez numbers that he does in Japan.

What the Twins must fear is the Pale Hose settling in as kings of the AL Central. The rivalry blossomed from 2001 to 2020 as the Twins won 14 season series while losing three and splitting three. Torii Hunter is hated by Sox fans to this day for steamrolling catcher Jamie Burke in 2004. Across the diamond, Mark Buehrle was a pain in the Twins' sides for years, and Jim Thome's home run off Nick Blackburn was the only run in Game 163 in 2008. While the Twins missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons in the 2010s, they were still edging the White Sox during the season. Although the Twins are the two-time defending AL Central champions, the White Sox have been working to unseat them. They traded Chris Sale for Michael Kopech and Joan Moncada. They dealt Adam Eaton for Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning, then dealt Dunning for Lance Lynn. Dylan Cease and Eloy Jimenez came in a deal with the Cubs. Free agency has landed Dallas Keuchel, Liam Hendriks and others. Chicago is built to last. Cleveland, who must have a pumpkin patch they harvest pitchers out of, will remain relevant. The Twins feel they have a core they can move forward with, but have long term questions about their rotation depth. How will the Twins respond? So far, the only thing that has happened this season is that Donaldson has replaced Hunter on the most hated Twin list. www.startribune.com/sports

Someone compared him to Lyle Overbay. 15-20 homer guys at that position are relatively rare, names like Grace and Olerud and Kruk come ro mind, but they were all excellent pure hitters. Or you better play Gold Glove level defense, more like a Brandon Belt.

Unless Vaughn hits righties the same way he has been the last two games. Of course, there’s generic righties vs. the frontline guys he would face in the playoffs. It’s way too early to say he is what he is, not unlike Moncada as a RHB against lefties three seasons ago. As far as Sheets goes, I think Ron (primarily) is just looking for any reason to push Abreu off 1B.

Astudillo isn’t on the roster anymore, right? Arraez? Simmons has a good arm, but they probably need to trade him. Tigers out front early in Game 2, could be up 4 games by 1-2 a.m. EST.

But 7th or 8th in the majors in runs scored with 396, depending on the outcome of the Angels’ game against NYY…

Guess we need to hire an outfield coach/defensive specialist to work with Vaughn, Sheets, Goodwin and Burger.

Now tied for 23rd in the majors with 81 homers.

Well, that’s the opposite result of Torii Hunter and Buxton over the years…

You mean the front office needs to understand how tough he is and pull him for his own good…no top athlete willingly leaves the field.

Is that like the Flying Molina Brothers? On the plus side, looks like Urena might have beaten Quantrill on the road, although not expecting a Tigers sweep even with a favorable Game 2 matchup.

See AJ, Carl Everett or even Aaron Rowand.

“Left-handed throws to second base are adversely affected by right-handed hitters. Controlling the running game is important, and the majority of plate appearances come with a right-hander at the plate. So the assumption is that “throwing through the batter” negatively affects the catcher's accuracy.”

A Jimmy Wynn reference. Just died last year at 78.

Not an affiliate/MiLB. They’re talking about AZ/Extended Spring Training it seems.

What is Vaughn up to with his two hits off righty pitching?

Every game a fight for survival...just need to go 2-3 against Twins the next five.

That’s not a good idea...Abreu almost threw that away.

Here we go again...

Almost prefer Bummer for the 9th...but will be Hendriks. Burr saving the bullpen by stepping up.

Replay on Sunday’s game against Seattle...