vilehoopster

There’s plenty of reasons to be upset with LaRussa as manager. He makes mistakes all the time that I think (we all think) hurt the Sox’s chances to win. But this is a bullshit attack. To attack him for his political beliefs, which he explained why he believes it, is wrong. Many, many people believe as he does. I agree with what Kapler said and is doing, but I will absolutely defend TLR’s right to his opinion. Complain about his not pinch hitting for someone, or his lineups, or his batting orders. There’s plenty there to get upset about. But he has the right to his political beliefs and opinions. I know, as he falls apart, why don’t you start another thread on how stupid the Sox were for not resigning Rodon for 44 million.

As I read so many people complain about how things went wrong and continue to go wrong, I get a little tired of people on here saying that Hahn was a complete idiot for this move or that move or for signing this player. What drives me a little crazy is that I have to believe a ton of those people pitching the biggest fit, were totally for those moves when they happened, but seem to have conveniently forgotten that. Let's give some examples. Grandal: When Grandal became available as a free agent, poster after poster was on here was saying how the Sox need to grab him, how great his defense was, how great his framing is and how much with his framing he would help our pitchers. "He's the best catcher in baseball"; that kind of stuff. When the Sox signed him, people on here were losing it in their happiness. "What a great signing." There was a clear majority of people who thought Grandal would bring all that to the Sox and posting it on this board. Now, all I read is what an idiot Hahn was for signing this aging, falling-apart veteran who is terrible defensively. It is so clearly hypocritical for these same posters, and there has to be a lot of them now, who are bashing Hahn for doing something they agreed with at the time. Kimbrel: After the Sox signed him, I came on here wondering if it was a good move. I would guess, at least, 90% of the posters were ecstatic about that trade. Some wondered with we really wanted to trade young talent for an older, unreliable reliever. A few were against it. But 90% of the posters were creaming their pants, "This is such a great move." "The window is open now. We're going for it." Just poster after poster, after poster thinking this was the best move ever. After reading all that, I got really excited about the trade too. Yet, now everyone on here claims that Hahn was a moron for making this move. Again, the revisionist history is hard to take. How many people on here were stating that the Sox needed to unload Abreu and not sign him three or so years ago? "Trade him, trade him while he still has value." It wasn't a strong majority, but there was a majority that wanted to not sign him. What happened? He won the MVP the next year. No one admits they're wrong on that one. More recently, Tons and tons of posters on here were repeatedly saying that Hahn was letting the organization down and "we need him for the window" screaming that Hahn NEEDED to sign Conforto. How did that one turn out? Are those people who were so wrong on that one, are they the same people on here saying that Hahn is an idiot and needs to be fired. I would bet that a lot of them are. So here is an example of Hahn doing the right thing by not making a move, a move that many, many posters wanted him to make. Yet again, Hahn was correct, but those same posters, without admitting they were wrong, continue to demand that Hahn be fired. I understand the examples I'm giving are completely typical of fans in general and of forum posters in particular, but still, the absolute certainty that some posters express on this board that this move or that move was wrong long after it happened, when they for that move before it happened or when it happened, that is really tough to take at times.

The Sox do have options; that’s what’s so maddening. Reylo has been very good as a long reliever. He can start. VV has been up and down, but even when bad, he’s waaaay less bad than Keuchel, and VV has throw a couple good games. Go with Martin; give him another start. Anyone of those guys is better than throwing away a game starting Keuchel.

The exact same thing with me. Bought tickets five weeks before the game, but like you, totally upset when I found out Keuchel was starting. But also like you, it turned out great. Probably the most fun I've had at a Sox game in a looong time. The weather was good, the food tasted excellent, got the TA bobblehead, and and absolutely fun game, especially with the win in the 9th.

Going to the game tonight. Is it still contactless or can you use cash for parking and concessions?

Also going and also pissed it’s Keuchel instead of Kopech. This game could be over after two innings.

Katz should also be thanked, but Hahn or any management brings in a player like VV with the idea that their system/ coaches can do this or that to help and hopefully turn that player around. So that credit has to start with team management, Hahn. And Hahn brought in Katz, so one way or the other, if VV works out, credit has to go to Hahn.

No one answered this. Is Cespedes hurt? Is Colas hurt? In a way, if they are hurt, that means move them up because they’ll fit right in with the White Sox.

Total speculation.

I agree with this. I posted this a few pages earlier on this post. Something is going to happen tomorrow, a serious meeting with Jerry and Hahn and LaRussa. What happened on this road trip, as said, can’t be shrugged off. LaRussa will probably survive but he is gonna have to make concessions of some sort. I would guess that Leary playing every day is one of them. When Stone tweeted that Garcia, however he said it, doesn’t have a place or shouldn’t be on this team, that comment came with the blessings of Sox management.

For someone who was supposed to be a big power guy, has Colas hit a home run yet this year. I try to check box scores every night and don’t remember seeing him hit one.

I agree; he has lost the team. Players want to win. If he hadn’t already lost it, he lost it when he played that triple-A lineup in 2nd game of Cleveland doubleheader.

Jerry’s friend or not, add this to the playing Garcia every day and all the other crazy batshit stuff, and I have to believe TLR’s seat is flaming hot. Real meetings back in Chicago tomorrow with both Rick and Jerry sitting in. It seems it absolutely has to happen. I don’t think he’ll be fired, there has to be some real discussions tomorrow.

This Gio thing, like so many Sox injuries, seems so odd. We hear that it's nothing, then just it goes on and on. With Gio, it was some abdominal pain, and he just came out as a precaution; that's what I heard on the radio during and after the game, talked about how cold it was and a good idea to get him out. Later on it changed to was going to be maybe, worst case, sit out a start. Then it became sit out two starts. Then he was on 10 IL. It seems these thing just grow and go on forever. No where near as bad, but a lot like Engel's thing last year. Is my memory correct, that he pulled that hamstring in spring training? It seemed he was always about to return, but really, he never returned for any time at all and would go right back on the IL. He was more or less out out the entire year. I just looked it up. He only played in 39 games last year, for a hamstring injury in spring ball. Now Gio, originally out as a precaution, out, at least two starts. Let's hope only two starts.

Am I correct that Cespedes, regardless of how good his defense is or his homers/ power, that he’s not going to be seriously considered for the White Sox until he solves his strike out problem? Isn’t that his major concern that needs fixing. Plus, how does one fix that. Learn patience? A better eye to tell a slider from a fastball? What do you do?

Let me start out with an immature "I told you so". So, here goes, about three weeks ago, I said on here, that if we shared an office or worked together and could do a handshake bet, I would bet and give ten to one odds that the Sox would not sign Conforto. Some people called me on that wanting to bet, and I said that it was not realistic (I had no desire) for me to do online bets, but that if we worked together, I would bet $10 or $20 dollars and give that 10 to 1 odds that the Sox wouldn't sign Conforto. I even commented that I if we made the bet, I would feel like I was stealing money from you; that how unlikely I thought it was that the Sox would sign him. Well, with the Pollack trade, I think I can say that I'm have been proven correct. Here's my next metaphorical bet. If I worked with you and someone gave me odds, five to one, you pay me $50 to my $10; I would bet you that Keuchel gets more wins this year than Rodon. ERA, Whip, I don't give a shit about that; Rodon can great in with stats and still not be pitching in August. But wins are accumulated over the entire season; those I would bet on. I believe that with his high cost, the Sox are going to put Keuchel out there every 5th day,or close to that, as long as they can, which I believe will be most of the season. Keuchel doesn't get hurt, as opposed to Rodon. I believe Keuchel will be pitching for the Sox in August into September. I would make that bet; hell, I'd make it at three to one odds. I don't feel as confident about this one (really it's a prediction, not a bet since I won't do it online), as I did about the Conforto one, but I would take that bet, certainly I would take it at five to one.

This is some serious revisionist history here, not close to reality. I just checked the box score and play by play to make sure my memory wasn’t wrong about how bad Rodon was in this game. It wasn’t. He was terrible. 1st inning, he survives a lead off double and Houston doesn’t score. He got a couple strikeouts to strand man on 3rd. This must have been when he was throwing 99. 2nd inning, lead off single, an out later Tucker flies out to warning track. If he was throwing 99, Tucker was barely, barely missing. Can I claim Rodon was more lucky than good this inning. Now things turn ugly: 3rd inning. Starts with a strikeout, that’s good. Than a hit batter, than a flyout, so two out. Now real ugly, walk and another walk, now Bases loaded. A double and two guys score and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Kopech comes in and gets last out stranding those two base runners. To portray that outing as “he gave up some baserunners and two runs” is totally inaccurate. His arm was cooked by the 3rd inning (a hbp, 2 walks, double) before he could get eight outs. The results clearly show that. I would argue his arm was cooked from the first few pitches and he very was lucky the first two innings. But whatever; but my point is that it not realistic to claim that Rodon had a healthy arm to pitch well in this game.

I was happy with what we got from Keuchel. If he stays our 5th starter and gives us all year what he gave against Seattle, I think Sox will easily win the division and be serious World Series contenders. But that’s assuming (hoping??) he’s our 5th starter all season and we keep four starters better than Dallas and keep him as 5th man. I also think tonight with Cease will show a lot. Has he really taken another significant step forward, or was his 1st outing just a beating Detroit thing?

I am really surprised people bemoaning the Sox not outbidding SF for Rodin. Are our memories this short? He was outstanding last year then he wore down. A total non-factor after August 1st. A total non-factor after August and that was his best/ healthiest year in five years, since 2016. Do you really think the Sox should have gone over $44 million for two years for a guy who was, only part way healthy, once in the last five years? Again are our memories this short? Sure he was great that last start. We’ve seen that before too. I could be completely wrong, but I would be shocked if Rodon wins 22 games for SF over the length of that contract, shocked.

Put me as someone else who agrees with this take. Not sure if he’s better or not than Moncada. But the first two steps to being successful are 1. Showing up and 2. Trying your best. For Moncada, that’s zero for two. I’m tired of his shit. Go Burger!

I disagree. I think he makes some very good points, except for # 5. My biggest fear is his reason # 2, we could be giving up players who could be very productive for a long time (Burger and Sheets) for what is clearly a one-year rental. With that said, make the trade.

So, do we need to salt and burn??

That we haven't hear a report that everything is okay and they're just being cautious is clearly a bad sign. It must be a real injury, worthy of some real time, but hopefully not too long.

I don't see that happening. Unless some sort of injury to Vaughn, I would be very surprised if this happens. As a guy who defends management on here, I would be very unhappy if Leury starts 100 games. He is extremely important as a fill-in-anywhere utility backup, but for the Sox to be good, he needs to be a back up. Now if this or that player(s) on the infield is/are injured and he's plays at ton because of that type of situation, that's fine; that's why he on the roster and valuable. But to just start him everyday because he's deemed the better player or option, that is not good.

Me also. I see, at least, 30 home runs from that group, at least 30. Whatever wRC that translates too, it will more than make up for the defense. Am I crazy, but didn’t Sox win a World Series with Dye level defense in RF, literally?