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The way I see it, Rodon was more likely to be a hero than any of the others.

Isn’t Burdi damaged goods? He seems to have never fully recovered from surgery.

I think the point is that a losing record against over .500 teams does not preclude success in the playoffs.

I’m surprised that so many people think Rodon being a hero was the most unlikely among the candidates.

I don’t find it coincidental at all that Sox management started having more success in the draft immediately after the slotting rules were changed in 2012. At least one neutral observer rated the Sox’s pre-2012 drafting 18th among the 30 teams, above NYY, STL, MN, and CLE. Not good, of course, but not disastrous given the budget constraints: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...he-past-decade. Take it for what you will, as it seems to be based primarily on WAR and total amount of money spent. It might come as a surprise that the Sox had the most 1st round draft picks on its 40-man roster of any MLB team at the beginning of this year: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...9HdBlMIfBjNhr_ The video is 13 minutes long, but you can just skip to the 10:30 mark to save time if you wish. Seven of the 11.5 (he counted sandwich picks as a .5) are Sox draft picks, and the list does not include Sox 1st round pick Andrew Vaughn as he apparently had not yet been added to the 40-man. The success rate by round of the MLB draft, with “success” being a player making the majors (apparently for any length of time and not necessarily with the team that drafted him): 1st round is 66%, 2nd round is 49%, 3-5 rounds is 32%, and it consistently goes down from there. In other words, the average team should expect 6-7 of its 1st round draft picks in any 10-year stretch to play in the majors— https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1219356-examining-the-percentage-of-mlb-draft-p

This. During the same 30-day period, the Sox lead the majors in HRs.

I agree that Rodon has made the biggest impact among the surprise heroes, but I don’t agree that Rodon has been the most unlikely hero, hence my vote for Mercedes.

This. The poll is incomplete without it.

This is why I voted Mercedes. This is exactly why I didn’t vote Rodon.

Which is another reason why resting guys with an 11.5 game lead is a good idea. As Konerko says in this article, the Sox just “ran out of gas” in 2008: https://www.capitalgazette.com/chi-081006-chicago-white-sox-tampa-bay-rays-story.html

I’m aware.

Just remember how the 2008 and 2012 teams wore down towards the end of those seasons. Resting guys will pay dividends.

It seems that you are lumping my posts in with others who have expressed vitriol at Goodwin, which explains your response to my particular posts. I have simply expressed criticism for not making defensive plays that any professional should make, regardless of how well they are paid. No hatred implied or intended.

Yes Harper is a professional. So is Goodwin. Each of them has made unprofessional plays, as referenced in our posts. Each of them has the ability to do better and they should.

No errors is, to say the least, quite generous. He inexplicably took his eye off the ball yesterday as he put his glove up. Today’s non-catch also hit squarely inside his glove. Professionals make those plays.

Well, it balanced out over the weekend I suppose, but man, catch the damn ball! Seriously!!

The point is they know better than we do and part of the reason is they have a LOT more information to work with than we do. In fact, all FOs know much better than their fans do, yet only 8 teams make the playoffs (I don’t consider the play-in games to be playoff games) each year and only 1 team can win it all, despite the fact that all FOs’ collective “judgment [is] so superior to the fans’”.

You sir, are using way too much logic to have a long tenure here.

Solid move that upgrades the roster by trading from minor league depth.

This.

I wonder if any of the 39 upvotes would like a do-over.

My first game at Comiskey since 2019. Great atmosphere, reminded me a bit of 1977 in that everyone basked in the fun atmosphere and anticipated a Sox win. Once Carlos got through the lineup the first time with barely a scratch, I knew Houston wouldn’t do much against him and it was only a matter of the Sox putting up a few runs to cushion against any possible bullpen letdowns. I think it is safe to say TA is back to being TA. I am encouraged by Moncada’s HR, as we need his power probably more than anyone’s until Eloy gets back and fully into his groove. It is very encouraging that the bench players like Mendick and Hamilton continue to make winning plays, which takes pressure off the big guys to have to constantly get it done. I’ve been saying it all season long, another professional win. Go Go Sox!

Going back to the Boston game (pre-crackdown, of course), teams have been sitting on Gio‘s change, especially as an out pitch. Yesterday is a prime example of Gio re-adjusting to the league’s adjusting to him.

Leury seems to go through phases when he has several DTM moments and then he corrects himself for awhile. Part of the reason why he has never gotten over the label of being best utilized as an all-purpose backup.

Gio doing what a stopper does. Young bats showing that they intend to be reckoned with. TA not quite quietly looking like TA again. Team looking professional (except for Leury’s DTM moment (he seems to go through phases when he has those)) as it has all season long thus far. **** the record against above .500 teams, get it done however you can.