South Side Hit Men

If Nick can play 100 games / season for a few years, he will surpass Gordon Beckham's value over 11 seasons relatively quickly. Cesar Hernandez: 9 Seasons; 1,008 Games; 15.4 fWAR (1.7 fWAR/season) (Baseball Reference top comparable - Kolten Wong) Nick Madrigal: 2 Seasons; 83 Games; 1.5 fWAR (0.8 fWAR/season) (Not a large enough sample for a BR comparable) Gordon Beckham: 11 Seasons; 1,069 Games; 5.5 fWAR (0.5 fWAR/season) (Baseball Reference top comparable - Popeye)

Gettin' Miggy with it. 138 HRs in five seasons with the Marilins 362 HRs in his fourteenth season with the Tigers.

PS - What’s with the “Bad Attitude” tag on Kimbrel? Tony said he handled the situation wrong postgame, Kimbrel and Tony had a discussion, and all three (including Katz) are good. https://theathletic.com/2783600/2021/08/22/craig-kimbrel-ok-after-talk-with-tony-la-russa-about-quick-hook-im-not-going-to-be-upset-and-carry-it-over/ Tony Kimbrel Katz

Looks solid to me (and most). Nearly or perhaps every team in baseball would trade their current bullpen for the Sox. ERA through yesterday: Hendriks 3.19 ERA Kimbrel 1.40 Kopech 2.74 Crochet 2.41 Lopez 1.08 Tepera 2.77 Burr 2.59 Ruiz 3.31

Tim Anderson’s late game heroics prevented two sweeps vs. NY and TB. He is the player the Sox can ill afford to lose, can see him sitting a game or two in Toronto. Hope the Sox can avoid both teams/stadiums in the playoffs.

Less Ruiz, please.

Keuchel is the one who should be dropped from the rotation, keep Albatross under 160 innings. And he can play everyday on turf. Two late nights in Ybor City can do that to anyone.

I’d be surprised if Grandal catches more than a game or two a week, the three catchers makes sense for the rest of the year. They will wait to September 1st plus for Hamilton, perhaps they will do the same for Leury and or Engel. Hopefully Grandal is able to catch back to back night games at some point in September, test the injury and stamina before the playoffs, to keep the postseason roster at two catchers. You can swap out a catcher each series if something happens. They may need to IL Lamb again and or make a hard decision about him and Goodwin, since there are four players out (Grandal, Engel, Hamilton, Garcia) and only three available September slots (2 for the 28 man roster plus a reliever (Wright)).

Grandal is not going to Toronto.

More bad news, the Sox should bring up Sheets and send down a reliever to cover all these dead guys.

Woof

All Sox fans felt like this guy (in the Sox hat) following the game yesterday. Rise Above, Chicago White Sox!

In 1983, we stayed over night and bought standing room only tickets, the best available by the time we reached, for $6 each. Between being in my 20s, and boycotting the new park, I didn't go in 1993 or 2000. In 2005, I saw every game but one in the lower bowl (the outlier, and upper deck seat). Tickets were $75-$100 for good lower bowl seats vs. Boston via Stubhub. They were $75 for the UD seat, and $125-$150 (can't remember) for the Angels games via Stubhub. The Sox announced World Series tickets were available if you bought a full 2006 package, so I bought a pair. Face value for the bleacher tickets I got for the World Series were $180 each. I believe scalped tickets were in the $600-$1000 range on Stubhub for decent seats. I'd expect the cost to be double at this point with inflation for the first two rounds on Stubhub ($150-$250). WS Face Value will likely be in the $400-$500 range, I'd say scalped depending on the opponent will be $800-$1,000ish on the low end (San Diego, Atlanta, Milwaukee), $1,200 for a mid range (San Francisco, Philadelphia, Saint Louis) or $1,500-$2,000 for top market opponent (LA or NYM). If you have a full 81 game ticket package, you'll get one WS for each seat, but not necessarily the same seat as your season tickets. Partial plans get partial tickets. Here Hope this helps.

I listen to games, so I don't see if Kimbrel shakes off many/few/any pitches. However, statistics show he has thrown a lot more fastballs since the trade, albeit only over a few weeks. 2021: Fastball to Curve ratio for the entire season is 60% Fastballs vs. 40% Curveballs, so under 3 to 2 before he came to the Sox. August 2021: Fastball to Curve ratio increased to 67% Fastballs vs. 33% Curveballs, or a 2 to 1 ratio. I still don't understand the take that Kimbrel sucked or failed yesterday. He walked one batter. He struck out the last batter he faced. It's safe to say he would likely have had a better chance of escaping with no runs than with the change to Bummer.

Yes, but he didn’t kiss Jerry’s crony GM’s ass, so Kenny dumped him and trashed talked the Sox best player in a century on the way out.

If Goodwin is on the playoff roster, Tony will use him against RH starters, and the Sox will pay dearly.

At least one National League team is assured of setting the National League record for the most pitchers used in League history. Several teams in MLB have a chance to beat the all time record of 42 pitchers used. Barring a change in roster composition, and assuming implementation of the DH in the NL next season, this is the final year NL teams have a chance at breaking the all time record for batters in a season. National League (53) / All Time Record (53 - Tie) for Hitters Used in a Season Contenders: New York Mets 50; Los Angeles Dodgers 49 ; American League Pitcher Used Record (42) Contenders: Toronto 37 ; Tampa Bay 36 Current / Previous Records - National League Pitchers Used in a Season (Previous record 37): New York Mets 39 (Current NL Record Holder); Arizona Diamondbacks 38; Chicago Cubs 37; Milwaukee Brewers 36; Los Angeles Dodgers 35 National (1876 - 2021) & American (1901 - 2021) Team Record Holders: Hitters (NL & AL - 1 or more plate appearances in a season) 53 Philadelphia Athletics (Philadelphia 1901-1954; Kansas City 1955-1967; Oakland 1968-Current) (AL 1915 43-109-2) 53 Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos 1969-2004; Washington Nationals 2005-Current) (NL 2006 71-91) 51 New York Mets (1962-Current) (NL 1967 61-101) 50 Detroit Tigers (1901-Current) (AL 1912 69-84-1) 49 Brooklyn Dodgers (Brooklyn 1884-1957; Los Angeles 1958-Current) (NL 1944 63-91-1) 46 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (Pirates 1882-Current) (NL 1890 23-113-2) 46 Philadelphia Phillies (1883-Current) (NL 1939 45-106-1) 45 Saint Louis Browns (Milwaukee Brewers 1901; Saint Louis Browns 1902-1953; Baltimore Orioles 1954-Current) (AL 1911 45-107-0) 43 Washington Senators (Washington Senators 1901-1960 & Minnesota Twins 1961-Current) (AL 1909 42-110-4) 39 Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) (AL 1902 50-88-3) 36 Washington Nationals (1886-1889) (NL 1886 28-92-5) 35 Cleveland Blues (Guardians 1901-Current) (AL 1901 54-82-2) 31 Philadelphia Quakers (Phillies 1883-Current) (NL 1884 39-73-1) 29 Philadelphia Quakers (Phillies 1883-Current) (NL 1883 17-81-1) 26 Detroit Wolverines (1881-1888) (NL 1881 41-43) 24 New York Mutuals (1876) (NL 1876 21-35) Pitchers (NL & AL - 1 or more batters faced in a season) 42 Seattle Mariners (1977-Current) (AL 2019 68-94) 40 Texas Rangers (Washington Senators 1961-1971; Texas Rangers 1972-Current) (AL 2014 67-95) 40 Seattle Mariners (1977-Current) (AL 2017 78-84) 37 San Diego Padres (1969-Current) (NL 2002 66-96) 37 Atlanta Braves (Boston 1876-1952; Milwaukee 1953-1965; Atlanta 1966-Current) (NL 2015 67-95) 37 Miami Marlins (Florida Marlins 1993-2011; Miami Marlins 2012-Current) (NL 2020 31-29) 34 Toronto Blue Jays (1977-Current) (AL 2012 73-89) 32 Cleveland Indians (Guardians 1901-Current) (AL 2000 90-72) 29 California Angels (Los Angeles 1961-1964 & 2016-Current; California 1965-1996; Anaheim 1997-2004; Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 2005-2015) (AL 1996 70-91) 29 San Diego Padres (1969-Current) (NL 2000 76-86) 27 Philadelphia Athletics (Philadelphia 1901-1954; Kansas City 1955--1967; Oakland 1968-Current) (AL 1915 43-109-2) 27 New York Mets (1962-Current) (NL 1967 61-101) 27 Florida Marlins (Florida Marlins 1993-2011; Miami Marlins 2012-Current) (NL 1995 67-76) 24 Cincinnati Reds (1882-Current) (NL 1912 75-78-2) 24 Philadelphia (1883-Current) (NL 1946 69-85-1) 23 Washington Senators (Washington Senators 1901-1960 & Minnesota Twins 1961-Current) (AL 1913 90-64-1) 22 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (Pirates 1882-Current) (NL 1890 23-113-2) 20 Saint Louis Browns (Milwaukee Brewers 1901; Saint Louis Browns 1902-1953; Baltimore Orioles 1954-Current) (AL 1910 47-107-4) 20 Detroit Tigers (1901-Current) (AL 1912 69-84-1) 19 Boston Red Sox (1901-Current) (AL 1909 88-63-1) 17 Cleveland Bronchos (Guardians 1901-Current) (AL 1902 69-67-1) 17 New York Highlanders (Yankees 1903-Current) (AL 1907 70-78-4) 15 Washington Nationals (1886-1889) (NL 1886 28-92-5) 14 Cleveland Blues (Guardians 1901-Current) (AL 1901 54-82-2) 14 Chicago White Stockings (Cubs 1876-Current) (NL 1884 62-50-1) 9 Buffalo Bisons (1879-1885) (NL 1883 52-45-1) 9 Philadelphia Quakers (Phillies 1883-Current) (NL 1883 17-81-1) 8 Providence Grays (1878-1885) (NL 1878 33-27-2) 7 Cincinnati Reds (1882-Current) (NL 1876 9-56) All Other Professional Leagues Hitters 51 Kansas City Cowboys (Union Association 1884 (16-63-3)) & 51 Washington Nationals (Union Association 1884 (47-65-2)) 35 Brooklyn Atlantics (National Association 1875 (2-42)) 26 Brooklyn Eckfords (National Association 1872 (3-26)) 18 Fort Wayne Kekiongas (National Association 1871 (7-12)) Pitchers 24 Kansas City Cowboys (Union Association 1884 (16-63-3)) 10 Saint Louis Brown Stockings (American Association 1882 (37-43)) 8 Brooklyn Atlantics (National Association (1875 (2-42)) 6 Brooklyn Eckfords (National Association (1872 (3-26)) 3 New York Mutuals (National Association (1871 (16-17)) & 3 Philadelphia Athletics (National Association (1871 (21-7)) Source Baseball Reference

Exactly. Let's be real clear here, Tony pissed his pants and fretted about inserting himself into the game and putting in a LOOGY, consistent with his platoon obsessions on both sides of the ball. He walked one of three batters, retired the other two batters. He just gained big momentum striking out the last batter he was allowed to face. he has a 1.22 ERA. Tony doesn't go with the 1.22 ERA guy, he goes with the left hander with a 3.88 ERA (its 4.22 now, and the inherited runner of course scored as well). There are ZERO consequences for when Tony fails to perform, over and over and over again.

The Baseball Gods smacked Bummer in the back of the head yet again. Hopefully lesson learned and he'll stay silent next Spring Training. Sox will have 22 blown saves after Aaron Bummer's blown save last night is updated on baseball reference, with the Sox 3 off the ML lead of 25 (Phillies). https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2021-reliever-pitching.shtml

That was dumb to not cut off that throw. Nice hitting again Tim!!!

Tepera warming up, somewhat surprised Liam wouldn't go out in the 11th, especially with 8 pitches in the 10th. Good to have him ready though, if needed.

Kudos to Tony for not fretting about a fucking save that may or may not come, and using your closer in the 10th.

Can't blame Andrew Vaughn this time.

Miss me yet?

Billy is on the IL.