vilehoopster

Benitendi's and Vaughn's terrible starts are more than anything else (we expected the big three to be injured or at least I did) responsible for the completely terrible record the Sox have right now. If both of their results/ stats were only below average, the Sox would have 2 or 3 more wins, but they have both be absolutely pathetic, just pathetic. Both batting, more or less, 100 points below their career BAs. I am completely stumped by Vaughn. Does he lift the ball EVER?? I've watched probably 35% of the total innings the Sox have played this year. I only remember ONCE all this year that I've been watching where he flew out to an outfielder, ONCE in my memory this year. All he hits are line drives and ground balls, ground balls that become double plays, time after time after time after time. I defended Vaughn on this board this winter, but Jesus, he's making me look stupid. I mean, eventually Vaughn and Benitendi have to pull it together and become major league hitters? Don't they?

Back on the original topic of bright spots and this was mentioned here somewhere: but the Mena for Fletcher trade is starting to look pretty good. If Fletcher can just keep doing what he's be doing: lefty bat, hitting .250 (or hopefully better), and throwing guys out at 3rd (I've seen two already, are there more?), the White Sox will be in better shape in RF than I can remember, in at least 7 or 8 years.

I understand that people are angry with the White Sox organization and Grifol, but I don't start to understand how people can be blaming Grifol for these injuries. All three of these were continually injured for the two or three years before Grifol became manager. Moncada and Eloy certainly and Robert a ton in the minors and his first year. Does Grifol get credit for keeping Robert (relatively) injury free last year? No, of course not; it was luck. These guys just get injured continually. It woudn't matter if Jesus Christ was manager.

And can we stop blaming Grifol or the training staff or anyone or anything else for the injuries. This is the player that he is, just like Eloy. Do you really believe that if Grifol and the training staff would have held him out for a few days to rest whatever, that he would have been hurt a week later or two weeks later? Of course not.

Yoan is gonna get the $5 million dollar buy out. but Ryan McGuffey said this and I agree with him. He said unless Moncada can shows that he can stay injury free and stay on the field, the best that Moncada is going to get next year is a sub-million dollar minor league contract loaded with incentives. And I think he will never earn any of those incentives and be out of baseball in a few years. He was the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball when the Sox traded for him. He was the Jackson Holiday of 2016.

Here's a crazy thought: Let's talk about the game tonight. I'm excited to watch it, and I feel good about that line up and the Sox chances to win. I, like everyone else, was really down on the Sox after that 0 and 4 start. But listening to the Atlanta game the Sox won, I heard that about mid-3rd inning of that game that for the year the Sox were 1 for 21 with RISP with 12 strike outs. That's amazing. No wonder they had lost 4 in a row with that stat. But then I thought about it and losing three one-run games with that stat kinda gave me a hope. There's no way a stat like that can last. I realize that some teams and players are better than others at batting with RISP, but a lot of batting with RISP is pretty much random chance. That kind proved itself in the Atlanta win when both RBI singles were very weakly hit. So, let's hope that bad luck streak is over, and I expect the bats and the runs to be better in KC. I hope Soroka does a good job, and let's see if the Sox can take this series.

Thank you for saying this. Come on people; we've got to be smarter than this and have a little bit of a memory. The first few years, everybody remotely related to the Cubs was having a total crap-their-pants reaction to that trade, and it wasn't because of Dylan Cease. Huge Cub fan extraordinaire Dave Kaplan when he was hosting that weeknight sports talk show would have a complete and total fit about that trade, at least, once a week. Every time Quintana would get a loss or they showed a highlight of a Eloy homer, Kaplan literally had to fight to control himself to keep from cursing on the air. I understand that many are extremely angry at the Sox organization, but we have to be smarter than believe something like this off Cubs Cribbie or whatever.

I agree. We can't just keep trading every good player for prospects. I like the quote, "Let's hold on to our nice toys." There has been countless posts on here about, "I hope this player or that player or both of those players are a having good/ great season so we can flip him. " Unless a player is free agent at the end of the year, let's keep our good players and try to add more good players next year, so that with emerging prospects the Sox might actually have a competative team next year. It strikes me as silly that the same people who are complaining that the Sox won't be any good until 2028 or so, are the same guys saying, "I hope he has a good half of a season we can flip him." Sorry this is bold; I typed it on google docs first and can't get rid of bold.

I just don't get it. I don't understand why people think I'm noticing a certain level of negativity on this board lately.

Now you're really just exaggerating to prove your point. I understand you're typing this, but you can't convince me that a difference/ improvement of 20 wins means nothing to you.

I don't believe that a 10 win difference doesn't matter to you as a fan. You don't believe this. You're just saying this to prove your point.

Well . . . I have to give you that one. It is an exercise in futility. But my emotions took over, and I just had a strong urge to go after one person. It was dumb on my part. But again, I don't understand why people come on here, literally posting 30 or more comments a day, just to complain. I mean how many time can a person type "Fire Pedro" in a 24 hour period.

Absolutely nothing? Well, my team is playing baseball and trying to win. To me, that is something to root for. And you're right, there's a lot of negativity here. I'm just hoping there's a little bit less from now on with him gone. But really, on that point, I am not very optimistic

People act like he's only going to eat innings and not help the Sox win a few more games. He was quite clearly the Sox best starter last year, clearly. For all the people complaining about his character, he was never a problem with the Sox last year. I say get him on the team, get him in shape, and give him the ball.

I don't for a second understand this take or mentality. Why is it not worth it. This is three more games this year where I'll be happy and not pissed off. 63 wins is better than 62 wins. I'm gonna follow and get behind this team. Every single win is good and every single loss is band.

I hope so. You started the thread for today's Braves game with this gem: "Keep those losses rolling in!" Then you had some links and some comments about the weather and the chance of rain. Then you said, "Pedro should just email the Braves his lineup card with a note of forfeit. For the whole series." Your constant, endless negativity is a complete drag. I hope you are gone for good. But wait, don't you have to post like 30 "Fire Pedro" comments before you leave for good?

I really felt good about this trade. I thought, while still below average, that the Sox defensively and somewhat offensively would really improve in RF. But Fletcher has looked awful. I know it's early, but he looked awful offensively in spring ball. Pillar has been every bit as bad. RF looks every awful, just like aways.

Again, I'm quoting Ryan McGuffey on Soxtalk: "Yoan Moncada is the Abe Lincoln on the Mount Rushmore of White Sox busts."

Burger in his 1st three games of this year is 6 for 11 with 5 RBIs. But the truth is that if he were still on the Sox, he'd sitting the bench behind Moncada and occasionally pitch hitting.

Okay? I'm looking at the box score. Please explain this stat to me. Leone gives up the two earned runs to tie the game in a 3rd of an inning, but he gets a hold. But Hill gets the blown save. How does that work? It was Leone's man who scored the tying run. Hill is not charged with the run; how does he get the blown save. It's right there on MLB.com box score.

No it wasn't. it was Moncada's at bat. The guy threw one strike and Moncada chased s%*# and struck out.

I don't understand. Why was it completely impossible to trade Eloy. Hmmm, I wonder.

Sox just seem incapable of getting a clutch hit. You knew he wasn't even going to put it in play. You knew it.

Moncada and Eloy gonna cost us this game. We couldn't get rid of them.

I am excited about the upcoming season. I am extremely curious about how the Sox starting rotation is going to do. Yes, the rotation could crater, but I am very curious to watch, and I think our 1st three could be good/ solid. The fact that Touki isn't in the rotation looks like a step up to me. I am completely buying the improved clubhouse thing is going to show a better product on the field. Do I think the Sox will be good? No, but I think the team is less bad than last year in every way, every way. People complaining about the bullpen. It can't, just can't be worse that last year's. People complaining about the weak bats for our two catchers, how can the bats be worse than Grandal and Selby? I expect a huge upgrade in offensive production from the two outfield corners, not good, but much less bad than last year. And the defense, all around will be way better. I am confident that Vaughn wil take a clear step forward with his bat. NIcky is a big step up from what we've had at 2nd base for what seems forever. Is he great? No, but again, way less bad. People freaking out about Sox 6 thru 9 batters in lineup. Have we forgotten how terrible Sox 6 thru 9 batters were there last year, and the year before, and year before. It's gonna be the same; why freak out over it for the upcoming year? I'm going with my Ghostbuster quote from before, "There definitely a very slim chance this White Sox team could succeed". I'm going with and hanging onto that very slim chance. I'm a White Sox fan and I'm excited for the season to start.