South Side Hit Men

The White Sox behind Dallas Keuchel defeated Hyun-Jin Ryu on June 10th at home 5-3. Carlos Rodon faced Toronto three times in his career, all three no decisions, including a 6-1 White Sox win on June 8th, after he gave up 1 run in 5 innings, with the Sox scoring one in the seventh and five in the eight to make a winner out of Garret Crochet. Speaking of which, Garrett Crochet has pitched sixteen times in the 8th inning, posting a 1.26 ERA over 14 1/3 innings. Pass this stat along to Shelley Duncan.

Time for the Sox to begin a new streak. Probable Starters: LHP Carlos Rodon (9-5; 2.38 ERA) vs. LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-6; 3.54 ERA). Lineups To Be Released before the game. Let's do this! Game Preview: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/gameday/white-sox-vs-blue-jays/2021/08/26/632724#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=632724 Also, this is the "Free Game of the Day" on MLB.com, though it may be subject to blackout because MLB is ridiculous: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/live-stream-games/2021/08/26?&affiliateId=editorial White Sox Lineup 1. Tim Anderson (R) SS 2. Luis Robert (R) CF 3. Jose Abreu (R) DH 4. Eloy Jimenez (R) LF 5. Andrew Vaughn (R) 1B 6. Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B 7. Brian Goodwin (L) RF 8. Leury Garcia (S) 3B 9. Seby Zavala (R) C

Something good to salvage from tonight's postgame comments.

Believe it's likely Tim rests in a day game following a night game, with Mendick at short. Tony may give Yoan (Garcia) and Robert (Goodwin) a day off tomorrow as well, bring the core home healthy for Friday. If they have to play TB and Toronto without home field, it is going to be a dicey proposition.

Just don't understand why he didn't have leash tonight, whereas better pitchers (Kimbrel one runner, Tony brought Bummer in to replace Kimbrel and blow it), and Kopech (2 base runners) had a leash. 29 hits and 3 6/7 inning 1 run starts should get you more than 1 win in 3 games.

What a wasted opportunity. Looking forward to the "Sunday" lineup tomorrow.

Agreed he shouldn't start the inning, but why didn't Bummer have the same leash like Kimbrel (one runner) or Kopech (two runners)? And once the run is allowed, wouldn't you want Kimbrel or Kopech in to try to keep it at one? Ruiz or Wright are literally the lowest options. Tony refuses to go to his best late if the score is 1 run behind, many times he doesn't like using them in a tie game since they can't get a precious hold or save.

The Sox have a chance to win. Who does Tony put in? Put in Kimbrel? No it's not a save situation. Kopech? No, it's not a save situation. Ruiz, the low man on the totem pole? Why of course.

This is who Tony pulled Kimbrel for with 2 outs on Friday. Now Ruiz is in, no Kopech, no Kimbrel. Moncada lets one through.

[Narrator] What Joe Said Was True. And Ruiz comes in, because he is the best option.

Still hard to see how he is a starter next season finishing with 60-65 IP this year. Still under 50 IP.

Len said Tony tried to challenge but the 20 second clock ran out, so they didn't review it.

You were right when he first came back he would have limited availability. Very disappointing as he has been solid the past two seasons hitting against RH and LH pitching (always was solid defensively), seemed to figure it out. He turned out to have the worst injury(ies) of all, completely unexpected.

And have to wear a mask in hot weather for five hours, and risk injury lugging 2-3 cases of beer up and down long aisles for hours each game, not to mention COVID. Vendors laid off last season due to the lockdowns may still be eligible for unemployment at or equal or higher rate than what they would earn part time with the Sox’ TP running concessions, including the dues kick back due to SEIU. Hard pass.

Except for this season, more Lynn like.

Glad I don't have a cable bill to pay for this BS.

I don't follow the NBA, but saw the video of Giannis buying 50 chicken nuggets after winning the championship. He seems like a cool guy. He just became the first new part owner of the Brewers since Selig's 2005 sale to Attanasio. https://sports.yahoo.com/bucks-antetokounmpo-joins-brewers-ownership-223458108.html

You do realize you are comparing an $18M player against a minimum salary player. Zavala did better than expected, and the team won at a .640 clip. Not saying he is a great everyday option, just that there wasn't a drop off in Sox wins/losses when he started. Collins was a disaster for the team record, which is why Tony pulled him as the primary backup. Tim Anderson is the biggest loss when out of the lineup. Luis Robert and Yoan Moncada are the next biggest loses, which is why Yoan sucked it up and played hurt in July (Tony won't put Lamb there, Garcia was already covering in the OF). The team relies on these three and Jose for 145-150 games. Grandal is not an everyday player, that is the point. He will be out of the catcher spot at least 50-60 games if healthy, a lot more like this year when he is injured. Grandal primarily sat when healthy and Lucas and Rodon pitched until he was injured. Last season he sat for Lucas and younger rookie pitchers, since McCann is a better game planner/caller/manager. It's why the split ended up Grandal 32, McCann 27.

While LR would be optimal 2nd vs. LHP, though I can't see Tony going with four straight RH hitters (TA, LR, JA, EJ). He'll likely want Grandal fifth as well not to bunch up three straight RH only hitters, whereas I rather see him bat sixth. My optimal lineup would be every game except C rest when needed and no platoon beyond flipping the 2nd and 5th spots: My preferred Playoff Lineup: SS Anderson 3B Moncada (R) or CF Robert (L) 1B Abreu DH Jimenez CF Robert (R) or 3B Moncada (L) C Grandal LF Vaughn 2B Hernandez RF Engel Tony's Likely Playoff Lineup SS Anderson 3B Moncada # 1B Abreu DH/LF Jimenez C/DH Grandal # (if DH & Eloy in LF, Vaughn sits) CF Robert LF Vaughn 2B Hernandez # or Garcia # RF Goodwin^ or Garcia # (R); Engle or Garcia # (L)

The Sox are fourth in HRs, tenth in runs the past 30 days. You are just trolling at this point, after coming across your other post, you have no interest in a baseball discussion. Ignored.

I anticipate the following Wednesday Night (Vs. LH Starter): SS Anderson 2B Hernandez # 1B Abreu LF Jimenez 3B Moncada # CF Robert DH Vaughn RF Garcia# C Collins Bench: Goodwin; Lamb; Mendick; Zavala. Thursday Afternoon (Vs. LH Starter): (WTF Lineup Day, Rodon is a strikeout guy or "Deal with it Dallas" Keuchel lineup, Rest trumps platoons) CF Goodwin ^ 2B Hernandez # 1B Abreu DH Jimenez LF Vaughn 3B Garcia # C Zavala (only because there is a day game after a night game, otherwise he remains in the doghouse for not reading Tony's mind on Tuesday) RF Lamb ^ SS Mendick Bench: Anderson; Collins; Moncada; Robert. (And they will not go in unless someone's arm and/or leg are literally laying on the ground). Expecting a lot of Thursday rest for the day after night, plus astro turf, plus customs and airplane flight.

Yet nobody was doing that here. There were better options than either. And I wasn't the one calling for, let alone giving Ricky a contract extension, only to fire him 60 games later. Perhaps this is why he had little to no say on the third of three managers during his 9 seasons.

I wasn't on board with Kimbrel on Friday, because he issued a single walk, and struck out the last batter he faced. To most, this change was for platoon advantage. Yesterday, Kopech was pulled after giving up two straight hits. He would not have been pulled if he gave up 0 or 1. He was given a longer leash than Kimbrel. Tony's strategy, to pull him if he gave up two runners, as opposed to fretting about a platoon matchup, was sound, regardless of whether it worked or not, He also replaced Kopech with an equal, some may say better reliever, whereas Kimbrel was replaced by Bummer, who most would consider a downgrade in talent, at least this based on performances this season. It's the constant fretting about platoons, whether there is even a real advantage based on the particular players, for hitting and pitching, is what gives me pause in terms of "La Russa Proofing" the roster. Quickly removing Nick Williams and the poor Eaton acquisition gives me hope they will have the right 26 come October.

The Remains of the Day

Not sure what you've been watching. I watched The Field Of Dreams, the Sox acquire a HOF reliever, the one you have been non stop batching about even though he has a higher fWAR than Mr. fWAR himself, despite the fact "relievers have minimal impact." I've also watched the Sox nearly double their lead in the division from six to ten games since Grandal left us once again, with Seby Zavala emerging to take the reins of the staff and lead them to a 16-9 .640 record in his starts. Sadly, Seby has suffered the wrath of Crony LR last night, and may never be seen again. You know what I haven't seen the past six weeks? Grandal playing a single game for the White Sox. I heard a lot of bragging about Grandal having the fastest recovery in the history of mankind, 2-3 weeks, as though a televangelist touched his leg and he was miraculously healed and ready to dance. Yet seven weeks later, despite all of the hype, the recovery has turned out to be as slow as Grandal. Godspeed Yasmani, Godspeed.