Chicago White Sox

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ May 2, 2015 -> 10:46 PM) It was average last year and they improved at most positions, even factoring in regression from Jose and even Eaton. That it's been league worst so far this year is just completely inexplicable IMO. Like rolling a dice and getting snake eyes 3 times in a row. In fact, it's so variant that I think some of it lies with lack of mental preparation and readiness stemming from Robin's poor leadership. I think a major part of the problem is guys are clearly pressing. I don't like blaming a manager for his players' struggles, but when it's widespread across the lineup and for an extended period of time, you really have no other choice.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 3, 2015 -> 03:15 AM) If the Sox aren't gonna fire Ventura they need to do what the Royals did the year before they won the division. Royals put George Brett in the dugout a month; we need to beg Big Frank to be in the dugout a month. Or Bo Jackson. Bo might even be better. Just do it, White Sox. The status quo is ridiculous. We are 2-10 on the road this year and it's only going to get WAY WORSE. Minnesota has a s*** team, complete s*** and we're about to go 0-4 in Minnie vs. them. I agree. Add Big Frank or Bo Jackson to the dugout a month and we're back in business. The only problem is Frank is super busy right now selling his delicious beer in Berwyn. Let's cross our fingers Bo is available.

We've scored 2 runs or less in 11 of 20 games. Our record in those games is 0-11. By contract, we're 7-1 when we score 3 or more runs.

Balta's thread yesterday reversed-jinxed the pitching, so I'm hoping that this thread will get the offense back on track. So real questions to generate some discussion? 1) Will the offense rebound? Poll included. 2) If not, any ideas on how to fix or spark it? I will say this, we can't afford scoring two or less runs a game much longer and Robin & Rick will need to do something soon if this keeps up.

.360 winning percentage on the road, maybe the manager deserves some blame here.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Apr 30, 2015 -> 10:07 PM) Over at SSS one guy mentioned that the Twins broadcast crew was making excuses for the Sox talking about the travel and disjointed series with Baltimore. GMAFB. THIS IS THE TWINS FFS. You know things are bad with a club when the 2015 Twins are making excuses for you. I don't know man, Shark & Sale both s***ting the bed makes me think it's somewhat plausible. Pitching on six days rest in particular probably f***s with their routine.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 30, 2015 -> 09:11 PM) We have seen the same thing all year. Even in the games that were won, the team was making a ton of mistakes. Well that part is true, but writing off individual players based on a handful of games or even a bad month is rather short-sighted. The offense in particular is way better than what we've seen in April. Same goes for Shark. Not saying this is a legit playoff contender, but no way we are close to this bad.

As s***ty as these last two games have been, a lot of you guys sure love jumping to conclusions over a handful of games.

Holy f***, Eaton's ass better sit the rest of this series. Bases loaded down by a f***ton and you swing at the first pitch!?!

I know LaRoche is a notorious slow starter, but my god does he look broken. I really hope the DH factor isn't getting to him.

I love that it's Thursday, haven'ft been able to watch a Sox game in four days, and this is the garbage performance we get. What a f***ing joke, the offense better not just give up. At least score a couple and build some momentum for tomorrow.

According to Gameday, it appears we have a rally going. Let's start chipping away at that lead!

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Apr 29, 2015 -> 08:11 AM) But Dany isn't even close to invasion in the books. At present, it looks like if anything she may be recruiting herself a new khalasar, so that would still have to happen first. I know they say they want to be done in 7 seasons, but I really think they need to make it 8 to get everything that they should in. You're right, but Winds should be roughly the same size as Storm of Swords and that required two seasons. My guess is that they'll end up doing the majority of Winds in season six and split A Dream of Spring and any remaining Winds story into two partial seasons (similar to Sopranos) that will end up being about 1.5 seasons in length. This means plots will need to be thinned-out and accelerated. Dany really needs to settle her story in Essos early next season for her invasion to be given the amount of screen-time it deserves. I think the ultimate end-game of the overarching plot is the fight against the Others, so Dany being firmly established as Queen of Westeros (assuming they go that route) needs to be place by the start of season 7 for that plot to be most effective.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 28, 2015 -> 10:06 PM) Literally the opening of the new book is the HUGE war at Mereen with Victorion leading the way. It was supposed to be in the last book but it was pushed back. I cannot see the show skipping a giant battle. Unless they're saving it for next season, they're definitely skipping the Battle of Mereen. Too much big stuff already planned for episodes 8-10, and that's not including the battle of Winterfell, which might also be in play. And quite frankly, with only 2 to 2.5 seasons of the show left, I don't think they can waste much more time with Dany in Essos. Her invasion of Westeros will be one of the central plots of season six and that story needs to begin fairly early in order to be effective.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Apr 28, 2015 -> 03:34 PM) Do we know Varys ends up in Meereen? Could he go back when he can't find Tyrion? They didn't re-introduce Kevan on the show for no reason, so I suspect something will still happen to him. I agree on Kevan being brought back on the show for a reason. His role in the books is to restore order to House Lannister and reestablish their control of the Iron Throne after Cersei's disastrous rule. IMO, Kevan's death sets up Aegon's rise and Tommen's corresponding downfall. I guess you could substitute Dany for Aegon, but not only hasn't Varys met Dany yet but she's also not an immediate threat to the throne, which is why Varys kills Kevan & Pycelle when he does in the books (Aegon is on the cusp of invasion). Remove the importance of his death, and I'm not quite sure his character is needed on the show.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Apr 28, 2015 -> 01:47 PM) I also assumed Victarion and the horn would have been introduced this season, with possibly the Martells as well. All 3 of the storylines meet at Dany and I thought they would've kept them in that same timeline. Victorion is pretty much confirmed out at this point. Dario happened to steal the exact same amount of Mereeneese ships on the show as the Ironborn sent towards Dany in the books.

Regarding Aegon, what is Varys going to do on the show if he's out of the picture? He stuck around Kings Landing in the books and took out Kevin & Pycelle to create chaos and better set up Westeros for Aegon's arrival. I don't see him doing that on behalf of Dany when he hasn't even met here. Any why send him to Essos on the show but not pair him with Tyrion & Jorah if he's really linked to Dany's cause? There's really no plot for Varys at this point if Aegon is gone. Was the Golden Company located in Volantis in the books? I thought it was interesting last week that Tyrion specifically asked Varys what's in Volantis. Maybe he's planning to meet up with the Golden Company there?

Dumb question, but if yesterday's game is made up as part of a double-header today or tomorrow, is there any way for the Sox to game the system and keep Shark and/or Sale on their regular schedules?

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 27, 2015 -> 10:19 PM) It's a possibility, but it's pretty late in the game to introduce major players. They only have 2 seasons left. Fair point, just not sure how season six will play out with so many important characters missing. Seems like Danny's invasion of Westeros will be one of the major plot points in the Winds of Winter. A weakened Lanister family doesn't seem like enough opposition. Aegon & Euron are poised to be two of her largest obstacles IMO and I find it hard to believe they be cut entirely. One TV theory I've read is that Trystane Martell might be Aegon. While I personally don't like that idea for many reasons, it would make Doran's long-term plan much stronger than in the books and make Dorne an important part of season six. And given how the producers are trying to limit the amount of characters and storylines (see Sansa replacing fake Arya), I really could see this happening unfortunately. The good news is it would mean that Varys' motive would no longer be as simple as just being a "Targaryen" supporter, which is incredibly lazy and lacks any payoff IMO.

QUOTE (TaylorStSox @ Apr 27, 2015 -> 09:43 PM) If Aegon was actually a Targeryan, they'd have cast him in the show. Still too early to say he's out IMO. Doesn't Varys lie to Tyrion about his plans in the book as well? They could just be saving Aegon for a big episode 10 reveal with his invasion of Westeros starting off season six. I think some of the major characters from Feast & Dance that have been omitted from th show, like Euron for instance, will show up in some capacity next season.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Apr 27, 2015 -> 08:39 AM) Please let's stop using ballpark factor as if it is meaningful in 2 weeks' worth of games. The effect isn't even all that huge over a full season, let alone such a short sample. You're saying the ballpark factor at Charlotte isn't that significant or that ballpark factors in general aren't?

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 27, 2015 -> 06:57 PM) Samardzija is starting tomorrow if there's a game, vs Ubaldo. Makes sense, skip your 5th starter when you have an unforeseen off-day.

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Apr 27, 2015 -> 07:28 AM) If you just look at the 5 guys at the back of the bullpen that are the ones who will be pitching in close games (Robertson, Jennings, Duke, Putnam, Petricka), their numbers are pretty phenomenal. Every team is going to have a garbage time reliever that is going to skew the numbers so I think it's safe to ignore them for the sake of deciding just how good a bullpen is. Just looking at those 5 guys they have a 2.52 ERA, 1.99 FIP, 1.066 WHIP, 11.36 K/9, 3.46 K/BB That is really about as good as you could realistically expect and they could be even better depending on what Rodon is going to be able to give you. Spot-on summary. Whether this performance is sustainable is up for debate, but there's no denying just how good the core of the bullpen has been so far this year. IMO, those guys are pretty much the reason our season didn't spiral out of control after the 0-4 start. Anyone arguing against the quality of their work this year is clearly hating for no logical reason.

BUMP Win and a save in one day!

Guys, can we stop trying to jinx this game? Let Robertson get the last out and then we can all glorify him!