tray

Yes that was the point.

Does Madrigal's skill set at the plate fit well in within the WSox line-up? On another team with less power up and down the line-up, your answer might be different. Using Benetti's volleyball analogy, someone has to set up the ball so others can spike it. Watching Madrigal's at bats has been almost as enjoyable as watching Mercedes. He sees the ball and can put a good swing on it when he wants.

Agree. Framing pitches is also a code for trying to cheat. As we know, Grandal was sought after. in part, because he was a good framer.....he could get pitches that were outside the zone called as strikes. That has now gone to his head and he is literally trying to catch pitches before the batter hits them. If you want to fix a problem, the first thing you need to do is to admit that you have one. Ignoring this won't make it go away.

We did not see as superimposed strike zones on telecasts years ago and did not have ball/strike calls questioned based on video technology. That is why some people suggest that similar technology be applied to improve the accuracy of ball/strike calls. Instead of a blanket rejection of the idea, perhaps consider some kind of compromise solution.

I wonder if the two dimensional rectangle we see over the plate is accurate, whether it is the same height and width as the strike zone the umpire perceives, whether the zone gets adjusted for a player's height, and whether it is really positioned at the front of the plate. Bill Veeck famously mocked the strike zone with Eddie Gaedel. Players don't seem to take advantage by moving up and back in the box, which they can do from pitch to pitch. If a pitcher has a good sinking pitch, why not move to the front of the batter's box to get it before it sinks into the lowest part of the zone? Another issue is catcher "framing" or in Grandal's case, catching the ball almost off the hitter's bat in an effort to alter an umpire's perspective and grab a strike call. IMO, that part of the game has gotten ridiculous. Framing pitches is not something that was always this prevalent in the game, at least as far as I recall.

It is pretty clear that umpires have difficulty determining if a sinking pitch is still in the strike zone when it crosses the plate. That's not a slam against umpires, it is just a limitation on human depth perception from their vantage point behind the plate. Imagine an ump trying to determine whether a pitch is inside or outside if their vantage point was from the side of the plate. Maybe there can be some kind of compromise with a partially automated system, i.e. a way to outline the strike zone for umpires in order to aid their depth perception. Fans see an outline of a strike zone on their TV screens but umpires lack the same advantage. Another idea would be to allow for an appeal of ball/strike calls based on video replay....perhaps for one pitch per inning. That one doesn't sound too good, does it? If the analytical scorecard of umpires mentioned above is based on a system that is presumably 100% accurate, why not switch to it ? Try a few automated strike zones in the minors for a year or two and see how they work.

I didn't realize that Kopech has been friends since childhood with Pat Mahomes, part owner of the Royals who said he is on "the wrong team." I guess we can just about kiss Kopech's ass goodbye after he hits FA if he keeps pitching like this. Let's win one before that happens.

Collins 3 infield hits helped his BA today, but I'd like to see him get more consistent hard contact and jack some some HRs.

The epic trade fukup that may have turned the tide of baseball history on the Southside was Tatis Jr for James Shields. The Mazara and EE deals were mistakes but not really that costly or significant moving forward. Once Eloy returns I can see Big Foot (Vaughn) in LF and Eloy in RF. I want extra offense until the 7th when defensive substitutions can be made (as was done last night).

Fox News is a rank propaganda channel that has divided this nation. It is hard to stop them because they have convinced their viewership to distrust news sources and only tune in to their channel. This has to be challenged head on in some way. Their anti-vax nonsense has to stop.

If Grandal swung away he could have made an out without advancing Robert into scoring position or worse, hit into a double play. If Grandal made an out without advancing Robert, nothing short of a triple would have scored Robert from first. T LaR knew Mercedes would then be walked. However, he also knew that there was little chance that the infield could double up Hamilton even if he hit a grounder. Therefore, chances were that Madrigal would have a chance to win with a single if Hamilton failed, and he just missed winning the game with two line drives that went foul. Criticizing that move in hindsight , especially considering that it worked perfectly, seems like mindless LaRussa hatred. Bunting the winning run into scoring position in the 9th has been part of baseball for generations.

If Kopech can go 4 innings in his next few starts, Cease may lose his spot in the rotation to him.

Nice K

Great defensive switch getting Vaughn out of there

There are many reports of long term health impacts from infection by the Covid virus including brain fog, heart rate spikes, and chronic fatigue. Perhaps Moncada''s Covid experience is an example of that. Not enough is known yet about how long the virus lingers in those infected with it and whether it has long terms impacts like organ damage but the risk of that seems too much to ignore. Young people and some minorities, including those addicted to anti-vax politics, need to be encouraged to get vaxxed. If you don't think it will impact your own health, OK, I get how young people feel invincible, but please do the right thing for your family, your friends and your country and get vaxxed.

I would be in favor of a requirement for proof of Covid vaccination for everyone entering a large public venue. There are several apps out there that could do that. I have considered the privacy issues, but feel that the benefits outweigh privacy concerns. I also think that something like that should be done to encourage people who may have become nonchalant about getting and spreading the virus to get vaccinated. I wonder how many here at Soxtalk have been vaccinated, including those who have attended games already. Edited to add: The CDC may approve the one shot J&J again. If so that should make it easier for baseball fans to get vaccinated since they are largely males. " On Friday, Tom Shimabukuro told the (CDC) panel that all of the 15 cases discovered were women." In other words, there has not been a single case where a male who was vaccinated with the J&J has experienced those complications.

I am worried about Vaughn in LF and the threat he poses to Robert if he runs into him.

I looked at his splits and can't glean anything useful from them that I can cite. I was looking to support or refute the notion that maybe Moncada should forget switch hitting and bat LH no matter who is pitching. I don't know...maybe that would make it easier for him to focus and to adjust to off-speed pitches.

Vaughn should focus on hitting and forget the outfielder's glove. It is nothing but an unnecessary distraction for him. Eloy is gone for most if not all of this season so don't worry about him this year.

I am not trying to be negative, but the line drive to Vaughn looked like a good but mainly routine play for most major league first baseman. Having said that, Vaughn belongs at 1st base instead of the outfield so if that play convinced anyone that he is the natural at 1st, I say it was the greatest play I have ever seen a first basemen make, at least since that Buehrle/Konerko play on Opening day a few years back. I mean wow, what a catch there. Must have been 115 mph off the bat with seeing eyes for the outfield.

I can't find that highlight either. Madrigal hit a hard line drive that rang around the RF corner. He made it to third easily.

Steve Stone said during today's game that Madrigal will be a good major league player for a long time. I have not read any opinions to the contrary outside sports blogs loaded with contrarian/bitchers. Madrigal will be the White Sox second baseman until Sox management decides otherwise, and there is no indication of that. Comparing players that are short in stature with one another is not helpful. How about comparing Yogi Berra (who was Madrigal's height) a 15 time all Star to Madrigal based only on his height? Yogi was a multi-dimensional talent and Madrigal can be as well. He showed some of it today on that triple with hard contact and good base running.

Justin Heyward made a lot of money in the North side and never hit .275 or anywhere close to 35 HR . I think those that are disappointed with Eloy are Cub fans. They are still reeling from that trade. Thanx Cubs!

I think he is thinking back to when Soler was on the Cubs. And that should tell you something.

Yea, I think you are wrong about Eloy as well.