Martin vs. Griffin on the mound.

Winning yesterday was absolutely HUGE for our post season chances. We are now effectively up 2.5 games on the guardians with 12 to go. If we can somehow split the next two, that would put us in a tremendous spot to win the AL Central.

For context, if we split the next two and then the Guardians went 6-3 down the stretch, that would put them at 83-79 on the season. The Sox would only need to go 5-5 the rest of the way to match their record and win the division.

Additionally, we have the tiebreakers over Toronto & Texas, which puts us up 3 1/2 & 4 games on them respectively. Obviously we shouldn’t be excited about limping into the final wild card spot, but it’s admittedly a good safety net that hopefully gets some of the young players to stop pressing. More importantly, we remain 2 games up on the Astros for the #2 seed but they have the tie-breaker.

All that said, today is another vitally important game. Of the two remaining, this one feels more winnable than tomorrow. I think Griffin can get got to. I want every RH hitter in the lineup today and take out as many Montgomery’s as possible. In fact, this is what I want to see:

1. Meidroth, 2B

2. Grichuk, RF

3. Vargas, 3B

4. Murakami, 1B*

5. Quero, DH

6. Doyle, CF

7. Peters, LF*

8. Rogers, CA

9. Acuna, SS

Not pretty by any means, but I’ll take my chances. Antonacci, Benintendi, & Teel should replace Doyle, Quero, & Rogers as soon as the bullpen dictates. Again, keep Colson & Braden out of this one altogether and hope we have more competitive at-bats.

Most importantly, we got to hope that Martin can bring it. The lineup doesn’t matter if Davis turns into a pumpkin. He’s posted a great ERA since coming back (0.84), but it’s been mostly smoke & mirrors. He needs to find a way to strike guys out or the results won’t last. Let’s pray he figures that out and can keep us alive for five or six.

Let’s fucking go!!

I’d let Sam and Teel stay in the lineup even against a lefty. I think they’ve earned it. I agree with sitting the Montgomery’s though and I honestly wish there was a way to sit Mune too. This is where having another right handed hitting infielder would be nice.

20 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’d let Sam and Teel stay in the lineup even against a lefty. I think they’ve earned it. I agree with sitting the Montgomery’s though and I honestly wish there was a way to sit Mune too. This is where having another right handed hitting infielder would be nice.

I also wanted to sit Murakami, but couldn’t figure out a way. I also debated Peters vs. Sam for LF, but went with Tristin as he’s the hands-down better defender and has been quite good against LHP over the past month (SSS).

I'd run with Peters, Teel, Sam, Benintendi and Grichuk the rest of the way and dump the handedness crap.

Colson and Mune are either out of gas or exposed. Bonemer for Acuna would be a better option as it feels like Acuna has not played in weeks. We are not facing the worlds greatest pitching over the next week or so see what kind of run Bonemer may have. I am assuming that was why Pham was brought in.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I also wanted to sit Murakami, but couldn’t figure out a way. I also debated Peters vs. Sam for LF, but went with Tristin as he’s the hands-down better defender and has been quite good against LHP over the past month (SSS).

Mune picked up something yesterday and probably needs a day off regardless.

I don't think it's a coincidence that our pitching has gotten better with Teel being back. He's so good at smothering pitchers in the dirt that our pitchers are no longer scared of bouncing a pitch on 0-2. Also his framing is really good. And he's gotten a lot better with challenging pitches.

Great response on the night of a big series. White Sox pretty much dominated game 1.

The Colson and Mune stuff is tough to watch on both a fan and a human level.

My guess is they’re mentally drained, making them way more susceptible to feel the pressure and therefore less able to make the necessary adjustments.

I don’t think they’re just stupid and/or broken forever, as some posters have declared.

Baseball is fucking hard man.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I also wanted to sit Murakami, but couldn’t figure out a way. I also debated Peters vs. Sam for LF, but went with Tristin as he’s the hands-down better defender and has been quite good against LHP over the past month (SSS).

Griffin is more a soft tossing lefty that I think Colson can actually have success against. I would start him at 3B, move Vargas to 1B and have Sam start instead of Mune.

3 minutes ago, BigHurt3515 said:

Griffin is more a soft tossing lefty that I think Colson can actually have success against. I would start him at 3B, move Vargas to 1B and have Sam start instead of Mune.

Yeah I'd give Mune another day off. One of these two games. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn't mind if they did both.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by Bob Sacamano

Win the next 2 and the division is ours.

Win 1 and we are in control, but could still blow it.

Lose 2, and it's 50/50.

So we should go aheadand win both just to be safe.

I like sitting Colson Montgomery, but I don't like both Quero and Doyle in the lineup at the same time, especially back to back . L/R be damned, i'd go with Beni or Kyle Teel over them . I wish there was a way to give Mune a couple of days, at least, on the bench . it's clear that he's not going to fight his way through this with more at bats.

19 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

Not a Chris Murphy fan

Playing with fire with the opener today

52 minutes ago, BigHurt3515 said:

Griffin is more a soft tossing lefty that I think Colson can actually have success against. I would start him at 3B, move Vargas to 1B and have Sam start instead of Mune.

That’s true. Colson’s recent miscues have probably blinded me a bit here.

44 minutes ago, White Sox Park said:

I like sitting Colson Montgomery, but I don't like both Quero and Doyle in the lineup at the same time, especially back to back . L/R be damned, i'd go with Beni or Kyle Teel over them . I wish there was a way to give Mune a couple of days, at least, on the bench . it's clear that he's not going to fight his way through this with more at bats.

They have stopped playing Benintendi against LHP pretty much altogether

3 hours ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

I’d let Sam and Teel stay in the lineup even against a lefty. I think they’ve earned it. I agree with sitting the Montgomery’s though and I honestly wish there was a way to sit Mune too. This is where having another right handed hitting infielder would be nice.

Griffin is a lefty that Sam and Teel can hit. I would put them against Messick on Wednesday.

1 hour ago, BigHurt3515 said:

Not a Chris Murphy fan

What is the junior senator from Connecticut's stats as an opener this year? I honestly think this is overthinking it. Martin's regression was clearly due to injury/fatigue.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Colome's Hat

1 hour ago, BigHurt3515 said:

Not a Chris Murphy fan

I don't like this. I don't mind an opener but Murphy is not good.

3 minutes ago, 2Deep said:

I don't like this. I don't mind an opener but Murphy is not good.

Don't understand this move by Venable at all.

I don't know if there is a prop for this but I would be willing to lay down a few bucks that KWAN either walks or gets a hit to lead of the game for Clev with Murphy pitching

11 minutes ago, 2Deep said:

I don't like this. I don't mind an opener but Murphy is not good.

Just getting him out of the way...at least he can't be used in a high leverage situation later. Just hope we can buy an inning with no runs and Martin goes a strong 6.

I agree with most about Murphy opening. It makes me a little uneasy.

Today would go a very long way towards a playoff spot. Just find a way to win the fucking game. Tribe have a bad offense. Make them put it in play as we did last night and don't walk very many and we'll be good.