ChiSox59

Lucas xFIP last year 3.66, which is basically right on his average from 2019-2021. He was absolutely murdered by our OF defense. Vaughn and Sheets probably cost him double digit runs. I can see all the misplays replaying in my head. Now, Lucas did take a step back and obviously needs to bounce back, but we cannot underplay how much poor defense really hurt his ERA.

As it pertains to Tim - being a professional athlete is hard. Tim clearly has a difficult time blocking out the haters. I think I would too, so I feel for him. Baseball is a game of failure and he’s generally been a successful player, but it’d be easy to let things get under your skin in todays social media age. Just ignoring thousands of people talking s%*# about you publicly cannot be easy. At the end of the day, you put a mic in front of a guys face long enough with a largely disgruntled fan base looking for anything to jump on, he’s going to say something that could be misconstrued. I think that’s all that is happening here. Here’s to hoping Tim and his teammates shut up the naysayers on the field this season. As others have said, the organization has put its players at the front line of its defense, and that simply isn’t right. But there’s nothing but winning that will cure it.

I hardly ever agree with you, but I do here. Well said.

Sure, but its really not a big deal. He was just saying that it would be helpful if everyone was pulling from the same rope. Big deal.

I didn't listen to the entire Garfien or Barstool Carl interviews, but did listen to chunks of both. I don't really see the problem with anything TA said. So he wants fans pulling from the same rope rather than being ultra negative and that's a problem? He wants to get paid in his next contract and that's a problem? Some of you guys just look for things to b**** about.

This. Charlotte could still use a couple more SP arms, honestly. Very little in the way of upper minors depth after Martin, Stiever, Alexy and Burke. Although Katz did give both Nate Fisher and Jesse Scholtens a shoutout in his interview the other day.

So your solution is to replace him with someone that’s exceptionally likely to be worse just because….he’s younger?

It’s a minor league deal. I don’t give a f*** about the Cubs personally.

This isn't that close. It'll be Cease, Lynn, Kopech, Giolito, Clevinger Graveman, Kelly, Bummer, Lopez, Diekman, Lambert, Ruiz Final spot will go to one of Avila, German or Santos with Avila having the initial upper hand as a rule 5 pick. Or now perhaps Bryan Shaw, but my guess is they'd rather wait on him as its an milb deal and obviously won't have options.

Why? He's awesome. Shaw has made an of average 74 appearances from 2013-2021 (not counting shortened 2020 season). That is absolutely insane. I've always admired him from a distance purely for that.

Nice. Always liked that dude. The ultimate rubber arm. Dude made an of average 74 appearances from 2013-2021 (not counting shortened 2020 season). That is insane.

It is well within the Sox rights to send him down to AAA. There is no grounds for a grievance just because of some spring training puff pieces talking up their closest the big leagues prospect of note. Its silly.

Colas has 1 season in the minor leagues, is a borderline top 100 prospect and there are plenty of things in his 1 minor league season that are cause or concern / reason to not hand him an everyday big league job in a month. He has absolutely zero grounds for a grievance whatsoever if the Sox send him to AAA to start the season.

Again, who is Gavin pinch hitting for? Who is he starting over? The Sox aren't going to sit AV 2-3x a week for Gavin f'in Sheets like you insinuated yesterday. That would be insane. You aren't pinch hitting Sheets for any of the regular players except perhaps whoever is playing 2B that day (Elvis likely most of the time), and the second you make that move, they just bring in a lefty reliever if they can. Sheets has a role on this club when it is not full strength, which will be the case plenty this season. If it IS full strength, he's hardly going to play. He's better off getting regular at bats in AAA in that scenario. Now, if Colas starts in AAA, Gavin will play plenty in the interim. If one of our guys gets hurt between now and Opening Day, again, Gavin will play plenty. But full strength position player core, Gavin's utility on the roster is so minimal that Jake Burger might actually be more useful on the roster.

I think Romy we’ll get regular RF reps in April if Colas isn’t on the OD roster.

Agreed on Sheets

If you’re willing to play Eloy in RF regularly, sure. Otherwise burger is gonna be harder to get ABs for than Sheets. Neither really fit all that well if/when all position players are healthy. But it’s awfully nice depth to have in AAa. Both will be needed plenty in 23.

Haha what?

f*** ya, can repurpose my Chinese knock-off Peavy jersey!

Woof, Leury beter not be getting 2 starts per week. So we're making Andrew Vaugh a part-time player to give Gavin Sheets at bats. Woof. Yes, I realize Sheets has been better again RHP to this point, but their upsides are not even close.

This/ I also believe Colas will (and should) start in AAA and Sheets will have a big role early.

Yes. I think a 4th OF is more important than a guy that will get 5 at bats a week if the roster is full strength. Again, pretty much anyone that doesn’t play up the middle gets hurt and Sheets is suddenly an everyday player. I am not suggesting they send him to the moon.

Grandal can play 1B. I am sure plenty of other guys on the roster could play 1B. Anyone could DH when Eloy sits (which hopefully isn't alot). I am unconcerned about back-up DH/1B. Who is Sheets pinch hitting for if the full roster is available? We're literally talking about him pinch hitting for whoever is playing 2B that day when a RHP is on the mount. Its just such an outrageously limited role for Sheets if Colas is on the roster, and an awful use of a roster spot since he is terrible anywhere you put him defensively. And yes, injuries can throw everything into a blender. It doesn't take much for Sheets to have a major role on this club. For the purposes of this Opening Day roster discussion, I am assuming Colas is on the roster and position players remain at full health. The chances this team is actually fully healthy for an extended stretch is not all that high, so Sheets will get plenty of at bats. Also, no one is promoting "cutting" Sheets. He has a minor league option.

Who is a better use of that roster spot? Don't say Romy because he's highly likely to on the roster anyway.

I think Sheets place on the roster depends on Colas and health of rest of roster. Colas on Opening Day roster and no one is hurt, there is simply no room for Sheets. Bench of Zavala, Leury, Romy and Marisnick/Hamilton. If Colas plays a few weeks in AAA, Sheets is going to get plenty of reps in RF until Colas does arrive. Call him the RF for this analysis, and bench remains the same as above. I suppose this all changes if Sox actually do cut Leury, but I don't see it. As others have said, he does have a role on this team as the 26th man. I don't see a better use of that roster spot internally, frankly.