Last year's Opening Day Thread was made a week in advance, so I figured three days wouldn't be too bad.

Kansas City on Monday- high of 73, but a 50% chance of rain.

:gosox1: :gosox1: :gosox1:

Projected lineups-

Eaton

Cabrera

Abreu

LaRoche

Garcia

Gillaspie

Ramirez

Johnson/Flowers

Flowers/Johnson

 

against

 

A. Escobar

A. Gordon

L. Cain

E. Hosmer

K. Morales

S. Perez

M. Moustakas

O. Infante

J. Dyson

Edited April 3, 201511 yr by Jose Abreu

Projected lineups-

Eaton

Cabrera

Abreu

LaRoche

Garcia

Gillaspie

Ramirez

Johnson/Flowers

Flowers/Johnson

 

against

 

A. Escobar

A. Gordon

L. Cain

E. Hosmer

K. Morales

S. Perez

M. Moustakas

O. Infante

J. Dyson

WHY IS CABRERA HITTING SEC -

 

Wait. Sorry, old habits.

Eaton CF

Cabrera LF

Abreu 1B

LaRoche DH

Ramirez SS

Garcia RF

Gillaspie 3B

Flowers C

Johnson 2B

How are they working pitching?

 

Samardzija for the opener

Quintana

Danks

Noesi for the home opener

Then samardzija again

Then sale?

 

Wouldn't they eventually want samardzija between Quintana and sale?

How are they working pitching?

 

Samardzija for the opener

Quintana

Danks

Noesi for the home opener

Then samardzija again

Then sale?

 

Wouldn't they eventually want samardzija between Quintana and sale?

 

Yes.

 

Barring rain-

KC- Samardzija, Quintana, Danks

Min- Noesi, Samardzija, Sale

Cle- Quintana, Danks

Det- Noesi, Sale, Samardzija

Cle- Quintana, Danks, Noesi

Edited April 3, 201511 yr by flavum

Eaton CF

Cabrera LF

Abreu 1B

LaRoche DH

Ramirez SS

Garcia RF

Gillaspie 3B

Flowers C

Johnson 2B

 

The Sox really really need Garcia to be a good hitter. He can make or break the lineup.

 

The Sox really really need Garcia to be a good hitter. He can make or break the lineup.

I have confidence in him. I think we may see a .275/25/80 type of season from him.

mlb.tv has added a Roku option for 2015, so I have made my purchase and will be watching the game!

I would love to have an opening day that I could watch live for a change. Always working on opening day. Why cant Sunday be opening day every year? Wouldnt that make the most sense?

https://twitter.com/whitesox/status/584052967499763713

 

 

https://twitter.com/whitesox/status/584052967499763713

 

Good God, seeing it on paper it really hits home of how important Johnson is going to be to the bottom of the order. If he doesnt exceed expectations it will be a huge whole in the lineup for the bottom three.

Good God, seeing it on paper it really hits home of how important Johnson is going to be to the bottom of the order. If he doesnt exceed expectations it will be a huge whole in the lineup for the bottom three.

 

We really need to see Gillaspie not be terrible too. Make the routine plays, hit .275 with 10 homers, and knock in some sac flys when needed.

Good God, seeing it on paper it really hits home of how important Johnson is going to be to the bottom of the order. If he doesnt exceed expectations it will be a huge whole in the lineup for the bottom three.

If Gillaspie's in there then odds are it's against a righty and I wouldn't call him a hole. He's legitimately good at hitting right handed pitching.

Good God, seeing it on paper it really hits home of how important Johnson is going to be to the bottom of the order. If he doesnt exceed expectations it will be a huge whole in the lineup for the bottom three.

Conor put up a 124 wRC+ against RHP last year. Even with some regression, 3B is far from a hole as long as Robin platoons Conor with someone capable against LHP. I'm little worried about Beckham being in that role though.

Conor put up a 124 wRC+ against RHP last year. Even with some regression, 3B is far from a hole as long as Robin platoons Conor with someone capable against LHP. I'm little worried about Beckham being in that role though.

 

In order I'm worried about:

 

catcher

2b

back of pen

back or rotation

3b

 

conor, as long as he is protected against LHP, is a completely cromulent 3B.

I think I like Avi in the 5 hole more, but I completely understand why Robin put Alexei there

I'd prefer Avi batting 5th, but maybe he will on Monday. However this Charlotte lineup today may be our Opening Day lineup.

I'd prefer Avi batting 5th, but maybe he will on Monday. However this Charlotte lineup today may be our Opening Day lineup.

 

Based on recent spring training games, this is Monday's lineup.

In order I'm worried about:

 

catcher

2b

back of pen

back or rotation

3b

 

conor, as long as he is protected against LHP, is a completely cromulent 3B.

Honestly, your order looks spot-on to me. I have zero faith in Flowers offensively and we have no real backup plans at catcher if you assume Soto can't take on a regular's workload. At least with 2B and the pitching staff, we have actually some options in AAA that could possibly help at some point. As for 3B, I'm pretty confident we can get league average production out of the position if Robin platoons appropriately (again, assuming Beckham carries his weight).

Conor put up a 124 wRC+ against RHP last year. Even with some regression, 3B is far from a hole as long as Robin platoons Conor with someone capable against LHP. I'm little worried about Beckham being in that role though.

Time for a little Beckham love like non-dislike: He will be a better option than Gillaspie in all aspects when we're facing a lefty starter. That said, his platoon splits last year are a bit of a mirage, they fluctuate year-to-year seemingly at random, and they come out more or less even for his career. But he still clears Gillaspie's bar.

In order I'm worried about:

 

catcher

2b

back of pen

back or rotation

3b

 

conor, as long as he is protected against LHP, is a completely cromulent 3B.

My worry list in order:

 

Pen, overall (May need a boost or two thru the season, especially some power arms)

Back of rotation (How soon will Rodon be helping?)

Catcher (How big a role will Soto have?)

2B (Micah needs to be decent or better, otherwise, the competence of Sanchez, or some other less exciting option comes into play)

3B (Agree that if platooned properly, not much of a worry)

RF (Avi at the plate and in the field may be the biggest key to overall team success)

Edited April 3, 201511 yr by Stan Bahnsen

I like Avi batting behind Alexei because Alexei being in motion much more frequently than Abreu/LaRoche should open up some more holes on the infield for Avi.

I got yer bullpen help RIGHT HERE.

 

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi 2m2 minutes ago

Matt Lindstrom has signed with the #WhiteSox, source says.

Avi and Micah and Johnson are the highest variance players for sure. I would not be suprised to see Avi turn into a 3 WAR player with a 280/330/480 line with 20 steals and solid defense. I also wouldn't be surprised if he was only a 1 WAR player.

 

He is certainly a huge x factor this year.