14 minutes ago, BigHurt3515 said:

I still would start Sandlin and just have him on a short leash and only expect him to go 2. Or I see us opening with Newcomb

Newcomb as an opener this year: 10.2 IP 0.84 ERA, 1.79 FIP, 0.75 WHIP.

Use him to get through Yordan and let Sandlin or Fedde get innings 2-4/5.

2 hours ago, DoUEvenShift said:

caulfield12 — The International Man of SoxTalk

Caulfield is another massive-volume, deeply knowledgeable, weirdly wide-ranging poster.

His posts frequently go beyond the Sox into international baseball, ownership, economics, politics, overseas life, etc. He is also prolific enough that Greg recently called him “in the running for board MVP.”

He's also part of the forum's meta-lore. There's an old thread specifically discussing which SoxTalk posters could theoretically have their own talk shows, and caulfield himself starts casting various posters in different roles.

His particular superpower is:

Nobody asked for a 700-word explanation of the implications of something.
Caulfield has already written it.

And there will probably be a reference to something happening in Europe.

SoxTalk role: The guy who somehow knows the political situation in Finland, the ownership structure of the Twins, and what happened to a 2004 White Sox prospect.

That's why Benetti and I would get along so well...Civil War buffs. Instead of going to Disneyland/World or Hawaii, my dad instead brought me to 12 major battlefields and places like Arlington Cemetery while growing up.

A further irony is travelling/living around the world when neither of my parents ever possessed a US passport.

Edited 21 hours ago21 hr by caulfield12

22 minutes ago, chw42 said:

Newcomb as an opener this year: 10.2 IP 0.84 ERA, 1.79 FIP, 0.75 WHIP.

Use him to get through Yordan and let Sandlin or Fedde get innings 2-4/5.

And the best overall record as an opener, 5-1.

Hudson down to 5-4.

Taylor/Eisert both 3-1. yay playoff shares!?!

3 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

I'd be totally shocked if they called up any of them especially McDougal since he walked the world in his only appearance. The bullpen started to get better once guys like Hagen and Hicks stopped walking so many guys.

My post was to pitch in Sundays game. I agree none of those guys make playoff roster

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by Buehrle>Wood

18 hours ago, Harry Chappas said:

Sandlin v bullpen date. Will's head is spinning on how to best deploy his splits.

Sandlin's splits against LHH may have changed since he started pitching really good in the minors and got the call up despite most fans clamoring for Thorpe.

If you separate his last 3 starts from his earlier call up he has a 3.45 ERA and 2.08 FIP with only 1 walk and 16 K in 15.2 IP . I'm pretty sure in the those 3 starts there were plenty of LHH. But I think it's obvious he's made some changes to his pitch mix and has better command.

It's a small sample size of course but you're either going to have to trust him or Fedde or both in the series because it's all hands on deck and they have been 2 of our best bulk innings pitchers lately. Fedde's had a 2.96 ERA in his last 85.2 innings since the start of June but he's better at home and gives up a lot of fly balls so they all have their warts. There are no perfect solutions and the same goes for the lineup.

The 1st 2 games are crucial of course and they are going to get criticized no matter how they deploy their pitchers if we lose the series Why'd you use Fedde in the bandbox ? Why did you use Sandlin when LHH kill him? Why did you start Davis Martin when he sucked in his last start ?

Burke had 5 starts in Sept , 3.47 ERA , 3.27 FIP 23.1 IP, 24K but 12 BB is a lot.

21 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

We are stronger against RHP than LHP, so that’s one plus for us. My ideal lineup this week would be the following. Figures below are wRC+ vs. RHP on a full season basis and then just the last two months.

1. S. Antonacci, LF (132 | 107)

2. K. Teel, C (117 | 135)

3. M. Vargas, 3B (126 | 138)

4. M. Murakami, 1B (138 | 82)

5. A. Benintendi, DH (105 | 78)

6. T.Peters, CF (125 | 133)

7. B. Montgomery, RF (117 | 120)

8. C. Meidroth, 2B (90 | 71)

9. C. Montgomery, SS* (78 | 49)

Need to be careful with getting too platoon crazy once the Astros move to the bullpen. Antonacci & Peters have been hitting LHP fairly well as of late and shouldn’t be pinch hit for unless it’s late in the game and ideally with multiple guys on base. Braden is our weakest player against LHP, so the leash can be shorter there.

Grichuk should be saved for biggest PH opportunity against LHP and not just Benintendi’s replacement. I actually hope they find a way to keep Pham on the roster to PH for Andrew if the time comes. Doyle should be late game defensive replacement PH option for Braden if Grichuk has already been used. Acuna should remain as mostly a pinch runner weapon and defensive replacement if one of the stronger RH bats pinch hits for Colson.

We need to will a series win into existence. You must be pretty busy. I think you'd be normally be all over this playoff series.

It is tough to make the lineup . Do you do matchup or go with our 2 hottest OPS guys for September in Grichuk and Doyle. Because of them the Sox got much better against LHP and because of the Colson slump against both hande

Peters was bad in September and July but scorching hot in August. He seems beat up. Got hit by pitches a lot in September but overall his 2nd half has been underwhelming So very hard to say don't use Grichuk or Doyle even against RHP. So i wouldn't hesitate to get him out of the game and I wouldn't bat him 6th. Bottom of the order.

Meidroth has had a really good 2nd half. One of our best OPS guys . I'd keep him near the top of the lineup against all pitchers. No way I bat him 8th. I want our best hitters near the top or middle of the lineup getting as many AB as possible. He shouldn't hitting 8th.

Teel is showing good signs of life especially in the last week and his OBP has been outstanding in the 20 games he played in September. He also hit 3 HR in those 20 games.

Pham made the playoff roster because Houston has a lot of LH Relief pitching

Colson terrible in September and the 2nd half. I'd start Meidroth at SS . You have too. Antonacci at 2nd and Grichuk in LF .

Game 1 is a BP game for the Stros starting RHP Blubaugh so after that maybe the have a bulk innings LHP. Their LH relief pitchers are Josh Hendrickson a 29 YO Aussie called up at the end of the season only 2.2 IP. Bryan King isn't very good . Neither is Bennett Sousa and that's it besides Hader for LH RP.

Need to hit Blubaugh hard and start the game hot.

Hagen Smith starting. Maybe Fedde or Davis Martin after him.

I love seeing Chris Sale all grey. Makes me feel strong in my age. 😆