caulfield12

Hasn't been much of a reaction on the Shanghai stock market. Most here would agree it's a bad thing for China's economy, though. RMB continues to hold the line around 6.60 but the great devaluation hasn't happened yet. The irony is that the Chinese market went up 100+ points when rumors of it being added to the MSCI or MCSI or whatever it's called nclusion at a very small 1-2% weighting of the Global/Developing Index of stocks...when they decided to delay the decision because of obvious concerns about how the market is being run here and how off are the "real" numbers for SOE's or even more famous ones like Alibaba...the market just shrugged it off and had almost no negative reaction. Hard to read with all the government buying and manipulation, though...it's definitely institutional/government buys moving the market for the last 6 months, not the mom and pop individual traders who got burned in July/August and then again earlier this year.

Is there any talk of pushing him up to Chicago THIS season to fill the donut-sized hole where Albers/Petricka used to be? Did Burdi discuss that with Hostetler/Bell/Hahn was one of the conditions about being drafted by the Sox and his timetable? What about the rumors (his college coach at LOU was a proponent) of him getting stretched out potentially as a starter in the minors next year?

But that's $9 million we don't have to fill other holes, especially in 2017 and 2018. If you promised me that Hahn could/would replace Avi/bench bat and bring in another RH (veteran reliever), I might be more optimistic. Waiting until mid-July to make those decisions, the ship might have already sailed without the Sox onboard.

Frazier's a mid 700's OPS guy. Not sure if it was realistic to expect improvement switching from the NL to the AL, after his second half and he's 32 now. Lawrie was much better earlier in his career in terms of WAR, but to expect better than this consistently, no way. Saladino, sure, if he was playing everyday...you can see him 50-75 OPS points higher. Garcia just sucks, don't care about his BA w/ RISP if he's only OPSing in the mid 600's. Jackson was 660's in OPS, right where most predicted. Navarro and Avila, where predicted based on years of decline and injury. Eaton has been overperforming, by and large. That leaves this whole theory based on improvement from Abreu (which has already happened), Frazier (slight room for improvement but trending negatively except homers), Rodon and the injection of Tim Anderson (which, optimistically wasn't expected to be much above a 700 OPS number by even his biggest fans THIS YEAR). It's very simple, replace Garcia and get at least one more potent bench bat...and don't put all your eggs in the Justin Morneau basket or it will be too late to course correct. The bullpen needs another RHP. That's a HUGE problem at the moment. And then Shields improving, but he can't get any worse. The White Sox SHOULD have won 2 of the 4 games he has started, so it's not like you expect them to win 3/4. 1/4 obviously isn't going to cut it, and that's probably what the number deserves to be, the rally from 7-0 down cancelling out today's blown game. And I wouldn't count on Gonzalez continuing to pitch as well as he has, either. Rodon Shields Frazier (what higher OPS number can be realistically expected, though??) Avi replaced (Morneau/trade) Anderson doesn't get exposed offensively RH reliever (veteran) Perfect health and Jackson coming back and hitting the ground running where he left off offensively. The same case can be made for every team in the division, and they've all gone through just as much if not more than the Sox. Let's just say we shouldn't bet Greg's house until they actually show they can win 2/3 series against non-MN Central opponents.

Beck didn't have much command with his fastball. He threw it 94-96, but it was his slider that saved him today. And Webb wasn't counted on by anyone to be a part of the bullpen. He was just AAA depth.

I think facing the Blue Jays with a decimated bullpen, a Twins team playing much better and out to avenge two sweeps and the Astros (best team in the AL the last month, along with Texas) will swing the pendulum firmly away from any more desperation additions.

Shields is NOT the reason for the loss today. We might as well blame the ump (Harrelson ploy) for not giving him a K on the 3rd pitch in the sequence to Big Papi. That really stuck with him and affected him with the next hitter, IMO.

QUOTE (ptatc @ Jun 23, 2016 -> 04:06 PM) Unbelievable........ Here we go...nobody can even figure out who to blame, as it's really genius in terms of front office construction to insulate both KW and Hahn from criticism.

The one thing the White Sox are CONSISTENTLY good at is playing just well enough when things are seemingly going south to keep everyone employed and the hamster/gerbil spinning on that wheel another year. Not really in it, but not completely out of it. Stuck in the middle. Same arguments everyone is having about the Bulls' situation going forward.

QUOTE (SoxPride18 @ Jun 23, 2016 -> 04:01 PM) Chances Burdi is called up? He's not in Arizona anymore. Hahn is coming up with a new fireable offense every week if he does that. The White Sox system used to be good at least at producing serviceable relievers. Ynoa has some potential, but Beck just doesn't belong at the major league level. Albers is toast and his confidence is shot. Jennings and Duke have been the bright spots. Robertson is starting to teeter as well.

GAME OVER Knew that was happening. Can't believe I just wasted five hours staying awake from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. This team just doesn't have that killer instinct to put our boot down on another team's neck and crush them. The Red Sox gave us so many chances to sweep the series and we choked the bit.

Beck was like a deer in the headlights. Can't believe that JBJ let him off the hook with that bunt in the air to Lawrie.

How do you walk someone after you have him down 0-2? Might as well walk Bogaerts (pull a Maddon/Bonds) to load the bases. That would result in a wild pitch or walk by Purke, undoubtedly. Such a pathetic but predictable ending looming...hope I'm wrong.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jun 23, 2016 -> 03:52 PM) On the plus side, at least 3 of 4 vs Boston and the offense woke up. Shuck sucks though, horrible. Shields righted the ship. That might end up being more relevant in 2017 and 2018 than this season, but the bleeding there has stopped (for now). On the negative side, Albers and Jones continue to struggle coming up with clean innings. We just have a huge issue in the 7th and 8th inning right now, getting games to Robertson. And Robertson's really starting to show signs of wearing down. When his cutter isn't crisp, he gives up lots of hits, and his walk rate is very high for a closer. I'm convinced his best pitch is that knuckle curve, not the cutter.

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Jun 23, 2016 -> 03:49 PM) I'd much rather have won the first 3 games and lost this one than lost the first 3 and won this one. I don't know what you're talking about. We're falling further and further behind in the AL Central. If we lose it here, Detroit will be 2 games clear and we will be six games back. There's going to be so many teams stacked up in the race for the two wild card spots, the odds will turn against them (see last August)...especially when they have to actually beat AL Central foes down the stretch. And they definitely can't count on sweeping Minnesota a THIRD time this season.

For a veteran "contact" hitter, and a player who has had lots of opportunities to get into his offensive rhythm recently....Shuck just has to get the job done ONE of those times. Anderson's failures are a bit more excusable. And Eaton's had a good game overall, offensively and defensively. Hard to rip on him too much.

Well...this game is a disaster because we have to take a bullpen that has been simply destroyed and face the Blue Jays. Not to mention the Astros next week are one of the hottest teams in baseball. Just hard to recover mentally from not scoring a single run twice with bases loaded, no outs. Purke or Ynoa might hold on for one inning, but the only way the White Sox are going to score is with a homer.

Eaton swinging at lots of high pitches he can't get on top of. Crazy thing is that if Anderson doesn't deflect that ball by Pedroia (against Nate Jones) they have to hold the runner at 3rd and we win by 1.

Boston has a lefty up in the pen... This is nuts. Same 3 hitters can't fail two times, can they? Big decision about leaving Kimbrel in or using the lefty against EATON. Well, that was predictable. Leaving Kimbrel in.

Hernandez/Betts/Pedroia/Bogaerts aren't going to be easy for Ynoa/Purke. Need at least 2 runs, if not 3. White Sox 3-1 on the road in extra innings. The loss was the stupid Tuesday night Scott Carroll disaster May 6th that started this whole string of 13-26.

Please don't load the bases...uh-oh. This is scary.

OMG, Purke and Ynoa are going to attempt to save it.

About to give up on Avi Garcia but he finally came through with a big hit last time up but wasn't scored due to Shuck/Anderson/Eaton. Let's see if he can keep building his "clutch" rep.

QUOTE (Condor13 @ Jun 23, 2016 -> 03:32 PM) He left while only giving up 1, bullpen gave up the other two. He looked much much better. Gutted it out. Had a bad ball/strike call go against. Albers gave up 2 of his runs. Was mostly in the low 90's, high was 94. Did a much better job throwing curves and change-ups...kept hitters off balance. Kind of walked a tightrope but he should have gotten the victory if not for our bullpen.

Pretty crazy to go with Robertson for another inning. He was really labouring. Duke again? Shields' start would have turned out completely different had the umpire given him the strike on Ortiz with his 3rd pitch in the 6th. Totally changed the complexion of that inning around.