Chicago White Sox

Unless they plan to make a major shakeup, I’m not sure where you can add on the positional side, at least when it comes to the starting lineup. If things go well, we’ll have Abreu, Eloy, Vaughn, & Mercedes all fighting for three spots. Everything else is pretty much locked in right now. I think adding to the bench is a must though, with a versatile left-handed IF being the priority. Engel returning will help our outfield depth, but we’re paper thin in the infield. That leaves the pitching staff as the primary source of upgrades. If everyone stays healthy and they can manage Kopech’s workload, adding to the rotation could become a luxury. A 1-2-3 of Giolito, Lynn, & Kopech could be pretty insane come October and that leaves Keuchel facing Rodon for the #4 spot. While adding someone like Scherzer would be awesome, I still think we should be saving our best chips for a controllable starter that can help us from 2022 to 2025 rather than go all in on 2021. I wouldn’t be opposed to adding another high-end reliever. The core four of Hendriks, Bummer, Heuer, & Crochet look legit, but there are some question marks after them at the moment. I think Marshall will be fine, but we may need some insurance in case Foster continues to struggle. None of that may be sexy, but I’d rather not blow my prospect load on rentals with an uncertain future for our pitching staff.

If the season were to end today, I’m not sure how he’s not our #3 starter behind Giolito & Lynn. To me, that might be the best 1-2-3 in baseball...we just need to make sure Kopech doesn’t burn out before then.

Ballgame!

K this fuck

End this shit Ruiz

Madrigal now sporting a wRC+ of 124 with a fairly reasonable .313 BABIP.

Ruiz probably needs the work.

Lol...I was thinking the same thing.

I’m not optimistic it happens with his general lack of experience and the way they are using him.

That fucking works for me!

Hopefully La Russa will finally realize that Crochet should NOT be his extra innings reliever. I love the kid’s stuff, but he’s definitely a bit awkward at fielding his position.

There’s a reason he’s in Arizona and not Schaumburg

Velocity was up a little bit today and he’s pitched in three total games. Did you watch him a lot in Winston Salem? Supposedly his stuff was pretty damn good in the minors.

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So much this...he’s also pitching like scared which isn’t uncommon for a kid with limited experience

Please go back to wherever you were for the love of god!

Stiever time!

Tuesday then

Yeah, clearly not hustling there, but probably not worth him legging it in this game

Save him for tomorrow with Rodon on the mound

Now let Stiever go three and maybe give Ruiz if necessary.

Which will ultimately make or break him, but the stuff looks better this year with improved carry on the 4 seamer and improved Whiff rates on both the fastball & slider. I definitely wish he had shown more progress with the command this year, but at least when he’s missing now it’s much closer evident by his outside the zone swing rate up nearly 8 points vs 2020. He has shown enough improvement to warrant more time in the rotation IMO.

A while because Kopech is still going to be on an innings limit and the Sox aren’t going to pull the plug on Cease as quickly as Soxtalk would since he’s actually shown signs of development vs. last year even if it hasn’t fully clicked just yet.

Not even close to hyperbole. He’s always had a plus plus 4 seamer and slider, but his curveball & changeup are now becoming weapons as well. If he can continue to harness his shit then the league will have no chance.

What happened?