poppysox

We always look a little unsure when we have 2 or 3 guys circle the wagons on pop-ups and fly balls. I would like to think they are coached on calling for it. We had several of these plays last night. The Rondon / Abreu play and the Cordell / Engel play where Cordell cut in front of Engel. Some of those plays shouldn't happen at ML level.

When they play like this they are very watchable. Abreu hitting the ball really hard lately. The bunt by Engle contributed and was good to see. Banuelos reminds me of Q. He and McCann could be the answer of does Hahn know what he's doing. Just saying...

McCann along with Moncada, Anderson, Lopez, Colome, Herrera and Banuelos are all have stellar April starts to the season. Several others are contributing and/or showing promise. This might be the start of better times.

Could be our next version of Q.

It is also part of the 1st base coaches job.

Not trying to say an excellent fielder will not make some of those plays. Teams have to decide how much defense they are willing to give up in order to have offense. Apparently the plus defense of Engle is more highly prized over Garcia's bat. When you have three DH types you "hide" Eloy in left. Just saying...

Catching Boston at a good time.

Right field is for the guy with a gun for an arm. Left field is for the big bat and hope you can hide most of the fielding flaws. Eloy has made most of the routine plays just no great ones. He does look bad at the wall I'll give you.

I think Hahn has his job because he is valued for contract negotiations earned as a Harvard grad and agent. His contract skills were well displayed in the Sale, Q, Anderson, etc. extensions. Kenny is valued by Reinsdorf as a talent evaluator. Reinsdorf just like you and I... thinks he knows quite a bit about baseball and am quite sure when Kenny/Hahn suggest someone he questions his advisors and blesses their decisions. Where Jerry is different from us is holding advisors accountable. I would guess that Jerry is guilty of loyalty...not stupidity.

Jones in a low leverage situation without runners on can give you an inning. With runners on base in game on the line situation he is not very good. Can't hold runners on to save his life.

The 1st base coach is not blame free IMO.

As long as this is the rule.... I believe a competent manager should challenge. Its not up to the competition to protect you from your own silly mistakes. I don't like this rule but until it's changed you need to pay attention to what is going on around you. Major leaguers making these mistakes is rather embarrassing.

I have been surprised by the harsh critique of Eloy's defense. Before 1973 when the DH came into being, the left fielder on every team was the worst defensive player. Many of those players made every catch an adventure. I was expecting Eloy to be one of those guys. I've been pleasantly surprised that he was as good a he's been. He's not going to make newsreel plays, but for the most part he has played adequately. We want every player to play All Star defense but just about all teams who prioritize offense will bury those hitters at DH, 1st. base & LF.

Baseball is experimenting with many things as noted here. Surly getting rid of dumb rules like passing the runner in front qualifies as something that needs changing. Having that play reviewed took extra time that MLB has been trying to eliminate.

I can't help but think that some kids at the ball park tonight will become life long Sox fans. What a fan friendly game. Tons of fireworks and fans going nuts. Best game of the rebuild.

They admit their mistake and move on. We don't need to look at Santana ever again.

Really unusual comment. Hope he's right.

I would have understood the Alonso pickup if we didn't already have Palka. There is a premium on lefty power but we didn't need it.

Don't care.

Don't forget to choke-up!

Good News!

Try him in the rotation in place of Nova.

That starting rotation plus Madrigal & Robert and you have a team worth watching.

I have a tendency to like Sox players look positively at their talents. This guy Nova is easily my least favorite player. Terrible results and I hate his mound gyrations. Slow working pitchers are annoying.

Losing doesn't breed fan interest or garner new fans. Hahn and his team of evaluators need to understand that watching players who are really utility level does not hold fan interest. I am a good enough fan that I watch every game every inning. Yet, I've started reading a book while keeping an eye on the game. How is anyone suppose to be interested in Nova walking around the mound in a trance while getting shelled? White Sox management does have a responsibility to keep the product entertaining while the rebuild happens.