caulfield12

https://weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/l/USMI0229:1:US Rain coming their way at 6 or more likely 7 p.m. Might not finish it, or there will be a long rain delay in the 6th/7th/8th.

We haven't had a 100 member LGBT chorus booed yet at USCF...? Actually, would be curious to read the article. Appreciate the CEO's putting pressure on the GM while still simultaneously praising him for some of the good things he's already accomplished while not ignoring the obvious disappointment of the last two seasons.

Didn't Greg already guarantee the Cubs' World Series title? At least 3? That's realistically the only thing standing in their way at this point...

All that's fine and good, but there's just no way the Brewers would accept that package. And there's also no way JR would authorize taking on the Braun contract, so it's a moot point.

They protected Walker and Mitchell for quite awhile, didn't they? I would still be surprised if they just gave up on Hawkins...maybe next year.

Yes, but there was still the idea that Garcia would need a LH platoon partner or eventually to be replaced altogether. And that's confirmed by our 2nd worst OPS against RHP...which didn't improve last night against Zimmerman, despite his far from best stuff.

QUOTE (Lip Man 1 @ Jun 3, 2016 -> 10:06 PM) You know something I was thinking of. The Royals have been gutted by injuries and are still doing well. Cleveland has had two key players out for extended periods of time and are hanging in there. The Sox have had ONE real injury (Jackson) and Melky is gone for three days and they basically have NOTHING coming off the bench to plug in. I mean I could see that if it was 2013...but now? Three years later and the depth still isn't there? I guess this franchise was in even worse shape than I thought in 2013 if three years later they still can't find a bench. Guess everything went towards plugging the black holes among some of the starting spots. Mark They've used 3-4 relievers from the minors (Collins is still out, who was supposed to be their LHR when he was 100% back to health). Dyson missed a month....so Eibner, Merrifield, Fuentes (high draft pick from another system) and Orlando have all shared time there (and obviously now with Gordon). Cheslor Cuthbert (the only Top 10 prospect of a depleted system) has filled in quite well for Moustakas. Butera for Salvy Perez. Colon also played some earlier for Infante (and would again if they DFA him, but he has options). Colon used to be a top prospect because of his high draft status but is no longer really a rookie. At any rate, that's 6-7 players right there who weren't really being counted on coming into the season playing significant roles for a 1st place team the 3rd of June. Only Cuthbert and Colon were close to being "top prospects." I don't think the White Sox have even produced that many hitters in the span of the last 5-7 seasons. Their best position prospect, Mondesi, Jr., will come back in about a month from PEDS suspension and will eventually end up at SS, replacing Alcides Escobar next season or in 2017. Hunter Dozier will also factor in at 3B/OF...depending on whether they leave Cuthbert at 3b or move him to second base. Not bad for a system decimated by trades of pitching (Cueto/Zobrist) and whose top pitching and hitting prospects (Zimmer/Starling) have been complete busts so far.

Bonifacio and Beckham flopping have something to do with that. Sanchez or Saladino would theoretically be fine as the super utility guy (when Anderson arrives). We know all about the Sox lack of ability to develop catching. And then you have the busted Davidson move, Shuck (4th guy most of last year), Sands, etc. Leury has never been a good enough hitter to justify that spot just for PR and defensive replacement. The biggest need was unaddressed....that LH platoon bat/DH/1B/OF that would present a legit power threat off the bench, someone like a Pedro Alvarez.

Now Purke's coming in...

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 3, 2016 -> 08:02 PM) Didn't Caulfield just say something about putting a guy into a position to succeed ? Problem is the Sox never have a big enough lead to do that. So when is a guy like Purke and Kahnle supposed to pitch ? If we burn the good relievers when behind we criticize Robin for that too. What's wrong with Jennings or Putnam? Those are your fifth and six relievers now...technically. Although calling Duke one of the top four is stretching it, I guess.

Yeah, that homer might have subconsciously changed Tyler's approach to think he can be a power hitter for now, instead of a contact guy who occasionally gets a hold of one. Cabrera out of the game with a bad back. Yeah, we're definitely not facing the Yankees' or Royals' pens, you can't concede, even on the road...and even those pens have been more than human recently.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 3, 2016 -> 07:53 PM) Well Robin probably doesn't want to use his best relievers when behind . Has Purke even pitched yet . Odd though just to concede a game like this. We have the pitching match up advantage for the next 2 games so maybe Robin wants to optimize the chances to win in those games. But Kahnle over all those other options? When things ended up the way they did the last time he pitched for the SOX? That just seems nutty.

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Jun 3, 2016 -> 07:53 PM) Well Robin probably doesn't want to use his best relievers when behind . Has Purke even pitched yet . Odd though just to concede a game like this. We have the pitching match up advantage for the next 2 games so maybe Robin wants to optimize the chances to win in those games. But Kahnle over all those other options? When things ended up the way they did the last time he pitched for the SOX? That just seems nutty.

Is there anyone else here in this game thread who would have chosen Kahnle over Jennings/Purke/Putnam/Duke? HONESTLY? Meanwhile, 34 pitches in one inning...and counting, Robin leaving him hanging out to dry. LOL. Of course Justin Upton bails him out by swinging at a ball. THANK GOD he wasn't interested in the White Sox signing him. Trying for the grand slam there instead of taking the free RBI/walk. Pathetic on both sides.

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Jun 3, 2016 -> 07:49 PM) I want Rodon, Shuck. Kahnle, Saladino and everyone velse GIBE by tomorrow ??? elrock's keyboard hacked by Qbert again.

If the Sox end up finishing behind Minnesota, that will be something that costs KW OR Hahn their jobs. MAYBE. 3-10 against DET, CLE and KC just isn't going to cut it. Especially when Zimmermann was hittable tonight and Rodon's defense collapsed behind him.

Thanks for just giving up the game here, Ventura. Of course, they will send Kahnle back down and it will be all his fault when you put him in these types of situations before letting him get his feet wet and building some confidence. Of course he's naturally going to try to do too much to prove he belongs and that will always result in overthrowing and his stuff flattening out. At least he broke Maybin's bat on that change-up. That was actually a decent pitch. But you can't throw 96-98 mph arrow straight fastballs past the Tigers for very long.

Ausmus, the managerial genius...playing run and hit there, and it works with 2 strikes. A bit of luck too on the part of Maybin breaking his bat. Abreu forgetting he has to hold Maybin on...because he'll quickly be at second and out of the DP possibility.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jun 3, 2016 -> 07:33 PM) This bench is just inexcusable. Our team can't hit RHP and all four bench guys (Shuck, Sands, Rollins, Avila) have splits that clearly favor LHP. On top of that, two of those guys have no defensive versatility, while Shuck is a below average defender at the multiple OF spots he can play. What makes it even worse is there are plenty of options at AAA that could likely provide more value. If we're not going to use Sands then why not call up Luery Garcia and use him as a pinch runner & late inning defensive replacement? And why not calling up Coats or Hayes over Shuck? Both have better splits against RHP than Shuck in the minors. Coats is likely a better defender in the OF and Hayes the superior defender at 1B. No doubt neither guy is a sure thing, but at least calling up either of them would be attempting to address a weakness. This team is going nowhere if they continue to rely on guys like Avila, Rollins, & Shuck against RHP.

At the very least, you should think about using Putnam, Jennings or Duke instead of Kahnle. Even Purke has had more time to get comfortable at the big league level. Just don't get it. This whole "must not use Albers/Jones" because we're losing thing...well, we did have an offday yesterday. Kinsler didn't even look like he had any intention of swinging the bat.

And an XB hit...OMG But, can the bullpen (Kahnle likely to come in) actually hold DET scoreless if we do end up scoring him? Eaton in the low 100's over his last 13+ games. Was .132 before tonight but has an 0 for 3. At least he walked. NO BUNTING. NO DOUBLE PLAY or K here Tyler.

BUT BUT BUT they're still going to be at least 3 games above .500 after tonight. So PROGRESS!!! Last year, they were considered out of it by most Sox fans, although we did have that brief two week scare with contention there at the end of July. Avila still has just 2 RBI's. McCann and his .159 BA has that already in this game alone....not to mention all of Saltalamacchia's contributions this season (granted, he's cooled off considerably.)

LOL. This outfield defense wasn't predictable tonight. The thing is, the problems were supposed to come from Avi or Sands, not Shuck. Should have had at least a "quality start" there and a 1 run deficit. Kudos to Lawrie for the heads-up play and saving the 5th run from scoring...but this still sucks.

Rodon at 94 pitches now. McCann up with his .159 BA. Even more evidence that Rodon needs to be throwing harder more consistently...still hitting 96 near 100 pitches. And now 98. Of course, Robin wants to bring in Kahnle instead of a better option. Two pitches this inning at 98. The problem is hitters keep fouling it off. Rodon might need to start the slider outside the strike zone and bring it back in instead of throwing it down and in over and over again.

At least Abreu has a double...so there's that. With the Tigers' bullpen anything is possible. Not good when JD Martinez is getting his first SB against you and the throw down there was terrible from Avila (naturally). Luckily, Upton sucks this year. But can Rodon close out the inning without giving the run back? Sox-killer Aviles up.