tray

Tony must still have Yadi's phone number.

No doubt and one reason they were quick to characterize Eloy as strictly a DH to minimize his perceived value as soon as he sustained the freak injury this year.

That is what makes the most sense. I have a friend who is a die-hard Cub fan who was quick to react to Eloy's fluke injury (reaching over the wall to bring back a home run.) He said, " that is it, he is now just a career DH." He seemed to be excited about that possibility.

Collins has outhit and outplayed McCann defensively? OK...

Yadi is making $9 Million this year. St. Louis is close to being out of contention.

It wasn't one position because they both DHed and played 1B. McCann was a All Star. Collins is playing at a Minor league level on a contending team. I don't get some of you that complain that Reinsdorf doesn't spend the money to put this team in contention, then you argue that money should not be spent. Hindsight is 20/20 but the decision to save money and go with Collins has proven to be short-sighted.

Precisely.

They already had Grandal signed and Grandal had back issues and a a history of back issues. The amount to get McCann was probably $10 Million a year. Now you potentially have Collins as the primary catcher.

Stone complained tonight about Collins reaching for balls across the plate that otherwise might have been called strikes and allowing balls to get by him for extra bases. I have been excited to see Collins progress this season , but now I question whether he can handle being the primary catcher on a contending team.

Yes. Absolutely, because this year and the next two is the window of contention ...and we knew Grandal had back issues. McCann and Grandal worked great as a catching tandem with Grandal and McCann occasionally DHing or playing 1B. I would rather have done that and sought a cheaper solution than Hendriks to Close or at least waited until the trading deadline to acquire a Closer...but that is another issue..

Ironically,at least in a perverse sense, Collins looked awful behind the plate tonight.

Check on Yadi.

You are half right. He was looking to earn the most money.

Yadier Molina would appear to make some sense. What do you think Cali ?

Benching?? LOL. They were in a platoon last year and they were both happy with their respective roles.

He never said that. You did.

Unfortunately Collins has looked like a back-up catcher who has trouble framing and stopping balls behind the plate. Well, if Grandal is injured seriously it may be time to trade for a decent catcher. I hate to say we told you so but....there were a few of us here who were literally begging the Sox to re-sign James McCann late last season and into the off-season in case Grandal got injured.

Your list includes 6 injuries. It looks like first four kept Eloy out what...anywhere from 3 days to 30 days ? Those appear to be the types of maladies commonly faced by other major league players, especially this year. The May 2020 ankle sprain was characterized by you as "attempting to play Left Field." To be fair and accurate, Eloy made a leaping attempt to catch a home-run ball in the April 26, 2020 game against the Detroit Tigers. In the process, his foot got stuck in the padding of the left-field wall . He returned three weeks later. The fifth injury was September 24, 2020, and was a mid ankle sprain that caused Eloy to miss the last series of the season against the Cubs. The minor ankle sprain had nothing to do with playing in the outfield, but instead happened as Eloy was attempting to score. You further embellish your self-serving list with a 2 day ankle twist celebrating Gio's no hitter. Again , nothing to do with playing the outfield. I see arguments like this from friends and relatives who incessantly parrot political talking points from a news source that traffics in half-truths. They are riddled with spin and largely unpersuasive, as is your argument. Once again, Eloy, at 24 years old, will not agree to become the permanent DH as you suggest...not with the WSox or any other team for the next several years. The last permanent DH for the White Sox was Yermin Mercedes. Note that after a protracted hitting slump Yermin started to get a few hits. Nevertheless, Yermin was summarily removed from the major league 26 man roster by Rick Hahn who explained that the WSox needed more "positional flexibility." Edited to add: Permanent DH? What a great plan for a young man like Eloy to maintain his weight and remain in good physical condition.

The video demonstrates that Eloy has made difficult plays on balls hit in front of him and some over his head and you are correct, he does look out-of-control on many of those. However, 95% of catches he makes that are not on that video are routine fly balls hit in the vicinity where he is set up. I don't think Eloy has to improve his defense greatly. He just has to stay under control - play deep and let balls hit in front of him fall in for base hits, like Vaughn does. Don't slide and dive, jump in the net to catch a foul ball or reach over the fence to rob a home run. Staying within himself is the key - do not try to do to much in order to impress people that he is a gold glove outfielder. In the meantime, Vaughn should continue to play deep and play conservatively to avoid injury. Neither of them is in the outfield because of their defense.

Should have won but for a couple of untimely double plays and a defensive lapse by Burger who should have been covering third on a grounder hit right to TA. Hopefully Moncada is back tomorrow. Not sure about Grandal but the sooner he is back the better as well. Burger looks like prime trade bait. Well done son.

Eloy is 24 years old. He will agree to DH on occasion along with Abreu, Vaughn, Grandal, and others, but he will not agree to limit his role to being the full-time DH, at least not during the next few seasons, nor should he. That is a role for an aging, plodding, one-dimensional player whose value is limited accordingly. I don't even think Abreu will , at least for another 2-3 years. Eloy can play some first base. He can also play the OF like Vaughn, Sheets and Lamb have done - play deep so almost everything is hit in front of you. Cut down on any risky plays like diving or jumping for balls. Pitchers like Keuchel don't like OFs playing deep and allowing balls to drop in for hits, but we don't see them complaining much when powerful corner Outfielders are putting runs on the board. There is a balance to be struck and that depends mostly on who can hit and whether or not they can hit in the clutch.

"the rest of the year when he returns" ?? You mean the last few weeks this season? Uh no takers on that bud, but anyway, that was not the point. Stars like Eloy and Abreu (and sometimes, their agents if things go too far) have a lot to say to management about whether or not they will be relegated to being a full-time DH. I have tried to explain this a few times and do not feel like doing it again. How about asking Eloy if he is OK being a full-time DH for the rest of his career and post his answer? He has already been insulted and called out as being stupid by fans and people in the media because he reached out over the wall to try to prevent a home run and ended up in the netting trying to catch a foul ball. Eloy has the height, reach and speed to become a decent outfielder.

That is what double plays will do for you

Momentum swings back to the Tigers.

Fvking bunt or Hit and Run or whatever but they have to stop hitting into DPs.