caulfield12

Don’t they already have a DHer coming up May 14th (next Fri) in Chicago...? Seems like there could be two (next Sunday) unless they crowd more games into the second half.

The inning before, bottom of the 9th, they walked Naquin (ice cold hitter) to face India, who was 9/20 with RISP. It worked, but that wasn’t the right play, either. Just because he hit a bunch of homers the first two weeks didn’t mean he was at that point in time the bigger threat...if anything, India was much more of a threat to score two with a double than Luplow two with a homer.

If you want to be alarmed, be alarmed about Lindor and Betts underperforming even bigger contracts...with declines in performance on the closer horizon.

Yeah, a 6.75-7.0 fWAR at his age is pretty alarming. Lots of shortstops hit 45-50 homers per season, they practically grow on trees. He also had a 3.1 defensive rating in 2020 at 6’4” and handles the position much better than ARod or Ripken at similar sizes did. Btw, what was Kris Bryant’s K rate at the same age....well, he was just finishing NCAA ball. Besides, I’ve read this same argument about Tim Anderson nearly every season when he goes through a rough defensive patch, it’s just that starting the season and trying to justify a new contract are things to overcome...and he’s also having to get used to playing with a shoulder harness. Missed time in 2020 for what, playing in 59/60 games isn’t enough? In terms of durability, we can pretty much say the exact same thing about Jimenez and Robert, can’t we? At any rate, they have to find a place for CJ Abrams to play, too. https://www.mlb.com/news/padres-inbox-cj-abrams-mackenzie-gore-potential-trades The comp to Tatis isn’t relevant because you would be comparing TLR at essentially the beginning on his second full season managing...if he did that at ages 20-21. How old was TLR when he took over the Sox, already mid to late 30’s, with a law degree and life experience? Even if you want to make a statistical comparison, is TLR really one of the 10-12 best managers in baseball today? And what happens if we don’t see any noticeable improvement during the dog days of August, which is hard on even a 35-50 year old manager? What then?

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/ben-frederickson/benfred-bring-back-pujols-it-would-require-him-accepting-bench-job-and-cards-admitting-the/article_a695bc44-7a0c-5efc-a573-a330260bba9c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1 Excellent summary from the Cardinals’ point of view on Pujols...

Is this the NBA now?

Pretty substantial difference between Top 3 picks and expectations where Collins was drafted.

Is that a play on the JOL/hole in the line-up he'll create, when he's not facing Sox pitching...?

Royals coming in really scuffling, have now lost 5 in a row...(KISS OF DEATH, amirite?) FRI Brad Keller (RHP) vs. Carlos Rodon Eaton, Leury !!!, Mendick (SSS), Yermin and Moncada with best numbers against him. Abreu (5/27) and Anderson (2/17) have really scuffled. Combined Sox numbers=102 AB's /28 hits /4 doubles /0 triples/ 4 HR's/ 11 RBI's (totals) .275 BAA SAT Daniel Lynch (LHP) vs. Lance Lynn Lynch has never faced any current White Sox...looks a lot like where Crochet is now, throwing 95-98, but doubt he has the stamina to pitch past the middle innings (KISS of DEATH two so far.) Fastball 65 Curveball 50 Slider 60 Changeup 55 Control 55 Overall 55 One of three first-round pitchers taken by the Royals in the 2018 Draft, when the club selected eight college pitchers in the first six rounds, Lynch was pitching well at Class A Advanced Wilmington in 2019 before a minor arm issue interrupted his first full season. But the 6-foot-6 lefty made a healthy return in late July to finish the regular season on a high note, then opened eyes as one of the best pitchers in the Arizona Fall League. Lynch made even more progress at the alternate training site in 2020, with some club officials pegging him as the camp’s biggest standout. The Royals suggested Lynch throw more fastballs upon entering the pro ranks after he had pitched with a breaking-ball-heavy arsenal in college. It immediately helped Lynch unlock more velocity, and he sat 95-97 mph while touching 99 mph at Kansas City’s alternate site. A plus, mid-80s slider represents the left-hander’s best secondary pitch and plays nicely off his fastball with its big depth and sharp bite. Lynch’s changeup was a major focus of his work at the alternate site, and he became more comfortable throwing it against hitters on both sides of the plate. He completes his four-pitch mix with an average curveball that he can throw for strikes. That Lynch also got better at repeating his delivery and arm slot while at the alternate site has inspired even more confidence in his capacity to develop at least average command on top of his present above-average control. Lynch’s feel for locating his power stuff speaks to his high ceiling as a starter, and there is little doubt that the big left-hander would be a weapon coming out of a big league bullpen. source: mlb.com SUN Mike Minor (LHP) vs. Lucas Giolito Anderson, Leury another start!!!, Madrigal the only hitters with 800+ OPS against Minor (overall, current Sox hitters just 9 for 42 with a double and just 4 RBI's off him) Prediction: SHOULD be 2/3 to the White Sox, barring some more managerial malfeasance

Only thing I could find is that the Yankees definitely signed Luis Severino's younger brother, Rafael, as a teen...think there was/is also a catcher with that same last name, Pedro. Oh, well.

At 4.4% odds to win the World Series, Sox are very close to that all important 5% threshold that defines whether a contending team should be all-inclusive or not, especially with Jimenez and 50/50 Robert returning the final 6-8 weeks.

Pineda was something like 16-1 (in those games started for team) following a loss since they brought him in...yesterday, even that trend didn't hold up. Happ will definitely get exposed during the heat of the summer outdoors. They really miss the vertain certainty of Odorizzi, Gibson and Rich Hill.

I think they would be elated with 15-18 homers at this pace (so far) for 2021...going to have to make up for it in the summer months.

Tough to do with the Twins around to challenge them for worst (albeit much cheaper) pen... https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2021/05/06/tony-la-russa-managerial-mistakes-chicago-white-sox/4966423001/ “Chicago White Sox's Tony La Russa's managerial mistakes continue to mount”

23 games. But sure, NOBODY WOULD ARGUE THAT, because we were already arguing how dumb it was simply because Fowler had called out Shields, basically forced him off the team/roster...they were FORTUNATE to get anything back for him at all, but of course JR wanted to save the money versus preserving the talent. You know, having all that minor league depth and talent actually AVAILABLE to utilize would come in quite handy at times like right now. By the way, Mookie Betts sucks, has no power and K's too much and Cody Bellinger is injury-prone, lol. Do you really think Dodgers want to rescind their contracts????? C'mon. With any players other than maybe Trout and Acuna (Buxton it's the injuries), you're going to find a lot of warts. Finally, when that stupid trade was made, the White Sox were CLEARLY on the downswing from their 23-10 start. Nothing was going to prevent it, certainly not a washed-up pitcher who wasn't even a true ace for the Royals in 2014-15 and was helped out a ton by pitching in some of those bigger West Coast parks (other than COL).

Just curious, is he related to the Yankees' Luis Severino? Also, Alec Hansen's 15 minutes of fame have passed...at least with the White Sox organization.

I mean, that's the principal reason why the betting numbers are where they are...not anything to do with a current team need. Even if there was, and Mercedes isn't a sure thing yet, Pujols is the last hitter in baseball to meet that need, without a way back machine to ten years ago. Or, they're simply oblivious to Yermin and see/hear about Jimenez/Robert injuries.

TLR 100%.

Guess he’s going to have to get a job with the Cubs now, a reverse Stone/Caray. Well, he started his playing career there...

What does Hector Gomez have to say, haha?

Angels did this on purpose to sabotage White Sox (as a fellow WC competitor, too)...knowing TLR would bite.

Okay, 1/2 gb, KC 1, Twins 6. Pretty sure the Royals have lost five in a row now.

Three way tie for first if McKenzie shutout of KC holds up...Twins 5 1/2 back. Detroit relegated to the International League. Except when my fantasy pitcher faces them in Eovaldi. 0-7 extras record for Twins, Buxton hurt yet again.

I feel like everyone on the site keeps repeating that to no avail.

Pirates...Tigers, despite all their high picks now. Marlins, maybe.