tray

Slavery ended after the Civil War. He has a choice and he has made it known to LaRussa. Eloy stated he will go along with DHing (actually he said ("F***K that") some because of the current circumstances, but that he will not agree to becoming a full time DH. It's not going to happen bud. Dream on. https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/white-sox/eloy-jimenez-says-fk-thought-dhing-while-pledging-defensive-improvement

Eloy will agree to DH some this year but he has repeated stated that he is not going to be a full time DH moving forward. Sorry.

or a flash-in-the pan rookie ignoring a take sign for his personal benefit.

I'm not sure what is meant by sportsmen in the context it has been used here. IMO,,,,sportsmanship is more than trying to win every year by throwing money at player payroll. IMO sportsmanship involves respect for your teammates, your opponents, your fans, and your city. It is about playing to ones potential within the rules and then knowing how to win grace and how to lose with dignity.

My own opinion, strictly as a fan, is that AAA at bats are not as consequential or as competitive as major league at-bats. Further, I think Sheets progress might actually be hindered by demoting him. If he had a lot of swing and miss early in counts and looked clueless at the plate. that would be different. Instead Sheets looks like he is tracking pitches pretty well and has some thunder in his bat. I would keep him on the major league 26 man roster over Goodwin and certainly Lamb, but again, I'm just a fan watching the games.

I love your idea to play Robert in RF (and Engel in CF) at last until Robert shows he can run gap to gap like he once did. Engel has shown he is one of the best when it comes to going back to the fence to catch balls and even robbing home runs. In the meantime, Robert's arm plays well in RF.

This year may be a special one for older Sox fans, especially if the Sox get a pennant or another WS ring.

Sheets probably makes that play easy. He has shown good bat-to-ball skills since has been up. Gavin takes pitchers deep into counts. Maybe perceptions would be different if that 112 mph line drive he smashed would have went down for a base clearing double. I hate to see him go down because it looks to me like he is a quick study who is gaining great experience with game and every major league at-bat.

I'm not certain it would be wise to have a Right fielder in a playoff game when he has demonstrated difficulty tracking and catching fly balls. The best argument to keep Goodwin appears to be that Lamb and Sheets are probably not much better out there.

Sox should start live streaming minor league games like they do Spring Training games...for the baseball addicted.

The Sox have several substandard outfielders other than Goodwin that can at least catch a fly ball. I would not trust Goodwin in the outfield in a play-off game. If he doesn't hit the walk-off today, the conversation is different.

I was at the game Sat night and saw Goodwin and Vaughn make errors that cost the game. Hawk's baseball rule number one - you have to catch the ball. I would DFA Goodwin and give the extra at-bats and playing time in RF to Sheets. But, for the reasons stated above , that won't happen.

Players wear down and even wearing out over time. The challenge for Sox Management is to provide enough rest to players and pitchers so that they have enough fuel in the tank to make it to the finish line...kind of like a race ca. where you make sure there is enough fuel and rubber on the tires for the final laps. So Lambert starts today and there are substitutions in the line-up. I think TA could probably use a few days off. He looks a bit worn down even if he would never admit it. Would be nice to win this game, but it is pretty much a toss up now.

Was at the game. Very exhausting and disappointing. Bad defense by Goodwin and Vaughn.. Meanwhile Sheets and Moncada got robbed on good plays. I think the scouting report on Vaughn may now be similar to what it was on Yermin - throw the guy with the leg kick low/outside sliders. Vaughn has to keep trying to take those pitches to the opposite field and make pitchers start to throw him strikes. He looks to be in trouble when he is down 2 strikes. Sheets keeps impressing me with good at bats where he seems to be on almost everything. If only he or Moncada got that big hit tonight... Oh well If we lose tomorrow and Cleveland gets their starting staff reassembled in the upcoming weeks, they might think they can still make a run at us. Get 'em tomorrow and hopefully, blow their doors off to make the memory of this game go away.

Hernandez doesn't change anything? I disagree. Hernandez might be a better defender than Madrigal and he is on pace to hit 25+ home runs. I was a fan of Madrigal, did not like the trade, but it is what it is so we move on.

The acquisition of Cesar Hernandez likely change Hahn's calculation.

I hate to admit it but the Cubs did very well in starting their rebuild and if they tank they will get high first and second round Draft picks, Ricketss has unlimited money to salt the roster with free agents, including re-sgning a few of the old guys including Bryant who already indicated he would consider signing with the Cubs next year.

Almost every major league player or pitcher gets injured at some point, and some end up having numerous surgical procedures, especially pitchers.Grandal has been hurt since Spring Training. He had a recent surgery and had back issues last year, Burger had two torn Achilles. Engel hamstring injury and re-injury has put him on the shelf most of the year, Eloy with the torn pec in the Spring and the recent groin injury. Luis Robert hand injuries and the leg injury this year. The concern for injury often gets exaggerated but even is it isn't, you let these guys play and whatever happens is going to happen. It is part of the game. The thing many are wondering because of so many hamstring and leg injuries this year, is whether players are properly conditioned and whether they warm up enough before games.

Trevor Bauer not looking so golden now though Ron, know what I mean?

I agree that adding a veteran catcher is probably a wise move. One hopes Grandal can recover to the point where he can catch and throw a runner out, but understandably, that might be a challenge given his leg injury.

I've read the entire thread to this point. Setting aside some of the typical sniping there are valid opinions for and against this trade. If the Sox win the WS and Kimbrel is a key, then, of course, this trade will be viewed in hindsight as having been prescient. If the Sox fail early in the playoffs, then the trade may boil down to comparing Madrigal vs Cesar Hernandez or whoever else the Sox have at second base for the next several years. I do not think anyone, including Steve Stone, needs to make negative comments or cast aspersions about Madrigal in order to comment on the trade. It is going to work out one or another over time. I was and am of the opinion that Hahn should have looked beyond the North side to address bullpen needs. There was no need to give up a top prospect like Madrigal. There were other options. You don't need two Closers. Just one good one and a couple of decent L/R set-up men. And what about Cody Heuer? Hahn just throws him into the deal ? And Hahn offered Crochet at one point? Hearing that makes one suspect that Hahn just needed to get this deal done, and offered options for Hoyer to feast on. And what about catcher? What if Grandal comes back and can only DH (like the Sox need another DH) but not catch ? Collins and Zavala? OK..

OK. Whatever. I'm kinda sick of all the one-upmanship here and the need to get the last word in. Well go ahead.

I'd think you we're a little wise ass.

No Fn Way..

The Cubs picked the Yankees pocket for two of their top prospects in exchange for Rizzo, who was absolutely worthless to them. Rizzo would have been entitled to the balance of the money on his contract anyway, so the Cubs got prospects for essentially nothing.