Ducksnort

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 9, 2017 -> 05:27 PM) That actually looks like a MLB lineup. A s*** one, but a MLB lineup. Among the obvious negativity surrounding the season, and also along with actually the many positives we have witnessed, there is one positive aspect of this season that I have seen very seldom mentioned: our catchers. If you look at Omar Narvaez' and Kevan Smith's offensive statistics, they are pretty favorable for a couple major league catchers, let alone 2 that don't have much MLB experience. If they can improve their defensive skills and framing, one of them might have a legitimate shot to be the catcher for years to come on this team, with Collins having to force the issue past them. I mean, if you look at other catcher situations on a lot of teams, we are sitting pretty well. I could be wrong, but wasn't Geo Soto re-signed with the Sox for a 1 year deal at the beginning of this season? If so, kind of glad he's been hurt as far as letting our young catchers play. They have done more than their fair share, and IMO have been overlooked by many.

Maybe another surprise win? We shall see. Game start is 7:10 central.

The team with the worst record by far in the AL is destroying the team with the best record by far in the AL...helllooooo baseball. It is a nice feeling to be pounding a team for once, let alone the Astros.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/08/08/whi...reynaldo-lopez/ Pelfs to pen (would personally prefer Shields, but whatever. Contract influence I suppose) Will definitely be watching Friday's game.

Keuchel (9-1, 2.15 ERA) vs. Holland (bad) Astros are 71-40 (31 games over .500) Sox are 41-68 (27 games under .500) Basically opposite records. This series brings an interesting thought to me. Dating back to 2005 when these teams met in the 05 Series, neither has amounted to much since then. A few playoff appearances, but not much to speak of. In 2012, Houston was...ahem...55-107 (wow)...5 years later the Astros are the favorites to take the AL pennant and play in the World Series again. It took them 5 years. The Sox are now just starting their rebuild. Projected to be on current Stros' level in 3-4 years. (Cubs also lost 102 games in 2012, and it took them 4 years...) Gosh, that 30 games over .500 sure looks nice...can't wait to see that under the White Sox name in the standings and be interested in major league baseball come August. Until then, embrace the suck, and enjoy the excitement of the top minor league system in baseball. Especially after having such a mediocre one for so many years. The goal is not to have the best prospects, however, it is only a step toward the real goal...a championship.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Aug 8, 2017 -> 02:02 PM) On a related note, Todd Frazier has absolutely cratered since he got traded to the Yankees, slashing 200/333/309. Ha. Those were basically his numbers when he was with the Sox, no? Maybe just a tad higher when he was here? No reason to think they would change much...other than maybe he might get more opportunities to hit with men on base, but even then he was pretty awful hitting with RISP last year and not great this year...great guy, absolutely love his personality and also his defense at 3B...not so much his hitting. Yeah, he hit 40 bombs...pretty sure a big majority of those were solo shots (or at least it felt like it) or meaningless in lost ballgames. Idk. Will be interesting to see who he goes with next year. He hasn't exactly put himself in a great position to be on a team that is in win-now mode for years to come.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 7, 2017 -> 03:57 PM) Hurt his ankle today it appears stealing a base. Looks very swollen Injuries are literally the ultimate buzzkill

QUOTE (Sox Fan In Husker Land @ Aug 5, 2017 -> 08:57 PM) That Kopech's some kinda something. Last 5 starts: 34 IP 44 K (11.65 K/9) 19 H 5 BB (1.32 BB/9) 0.71 WHIP 1.06 ERA He's at 112 1/3 IP. Previous season high was 65 IP. Putting up video game #s as he hits his career high in IP. Hansen's line at Winston-Salem so far: 41 2/3 IP 58 K (12.53 K/9) 29 H 17 BB (3.67 BB/9) 1.10 WHIP 2.38 ERA Hansen's season line: 114 1/3 IP 150 K (11.81 K/9) 86 H 40 BB (3.15 BB/9) 1.10 WHIP 2.44 ERA Extremely exciting numbers there. My guess is that Kopech will be called up to AAA when Lopez is called up to MLB on Friday. Just as Lopez pretty much has nothing left to prove in AAA, Kopech has nothing left to prove in AA.

The future is slowly but surely arriving. Lopez to get his first taste in a Sox uni, likely to stay there, Giolito probably here in September, then here to stay. More than half of our future projected rotation will be here for good starting in September (Rodon, Lopez, Giolito). I'm guessing Kopech gets called up next year at some point, with Dunning not far behind him. Barring injuries, the Sox future rotation is not far away, and can you imagine how excited Coop must be?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 4, 2017 -> 12:04 PM) I SURVIVED THE GREAT SOXTALK BLACKOUT OF '17! Hahaha same!!! I realized though that this is the best place to get Sox info...its all in one spot. You actually have to search multiple sites for different information when this site isn't avilable, but here it's all on just a couple pages. Really makes you see how convenient this site is.

Very pleasant to wake up to...nice to see an excited team too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 30, 2017 -> 03:38 PM) Worst umpire I've seen all year. These pitches aren't even close. Getaway day. Only explanation I have for it. Shouldn't be an excuse...but he's kicking a team when they are down, for sure. Screwed them over last night too with that Davidson strike. Who is this? Welke?

Rodon very nice inning. Showing glimpses of ace stuff there. If he can hone it, that would be so awesome for him to be a kind of leader for the future rotation.

Rodon is the kind of pitcher that can't afford to not have pinpoint control. When he does have it, he is lights out. When he doesn't, he's way off, walking guys and constant deep counts. Lots of hittable pitches because the deceptive ones are too far off the plate or don't move like they should. I hope he is able to get that under control, because there is nothing more frustrating than watching a pitcher who can't throw good strikes, especially from a young promising one.

Out of everyone that was traded, I will miss Melky the most. Idc what people say, he was a leader and the best personality, and he hit like crazy. Royals will definitely get a boost from him.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jul 29, 2017 -> 10:02 PM) WTF the run should score whether Matt swung or not! Right...not really understanding what happened there. I think what they are saying is yes, it hit him, but according to them he swung so it's a strike but a dead ball all at the same time...

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 27, 2017 -> 09:28 PM) Instead of just saying he sucks, I looked more into Anderson's hitting stats. The biggest areas where he's fallen off from last year is his percent of hits with exit velocity of 95mph or more has gone from 35 pct to 30 pct. His average ground ball exit velocity is down 4 percent also Which implies he isn't squaring the ball up.

No one even covering the base...good strikeout, but come on. Show some effort and competitiveness!

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 26, 2017 -> 09:55 PM) Gonna be hard to win 18 with a bullpen this bad when your starters don't log innings Hopefully, this is the worst of it. I know next year is supposed to not be very good, but not necessarily a tank year. I think it would be good to get the young guys acclimated to a winning culture. I would aim high next year for a .500 record (I might get murdered for saying that), maybe the young'ns suprise.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 26, 2017 -> 09:54 PM) Besides Anibal Sanchez I don't really follow the Tigers, so correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that dude thrown in the pen because of how awful he became as a starter? Was he brought back to the rotation? I would say he would rival Carrasco of Cleveland.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 26, 2017 -> 09:51 PM) what kopech is doing at his age in AA is extraordinary. I think he will be an offseason top 10 in all MLB prospect. Yes I agree. While he probably won't put up Chris Sale numbers, I think he definitely is showing signs of being the future Sox Ace and potentionally the best future number 1 starter in the AL Central.

Gotta love those starts by our minor league studs though. Kopech 6 IP 12 K's!!! 2 Hits and 1 ER Lopez 5 IP 10 K's!!! 4 Hits and 2 ER Dunning 7 IP 6 K's 6 Hits 1 BB and 0 ER!!! All of their ERA's are in the mid-3s. Very exciting for the future rotation with the way these guys are pitching, especially considering the current monstrosity that is the 2017 rotation...

All of these fantastic pitching performances really gives you hope for the future rotation. If they can continue this success in the majors, a rotation of Kopech, Lopez, Dunning, a healthy and successful Rodon, should be very fun to watch.

If Renteria has Moncada playing normal double play positioning, both those ground balls would have been double plays.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Jul 25, 2017 -> 05:14 PM) Doesn't have to with nobody on Didn't know that