South Side Hit Men

The true test is whether he can physically catch for 9 innings. Would expect him to catch 2-3 days a week to start, which is just a game less than he pre-injury workload, and perhaps DH or play 1B as well, to see how he holds up before taking on a 4-5 game a week catching workload.

I wouldn't be so sure on the final statement. He left for a radio job now, but didn't say he wanted to move and remain on radio broadcasts the rest of his life. Steve Stone also took a radio job with the Sox to transition into TV. The Sox have a better handle on the timeline for Steve (retire) and Jason (leave for something else).

Both Len and Steve are baseball announcers. Benneti more suited toward basketball, boxing, MMA. Baseball is too slow for his style and taste. Just hope he stays so us radio listeners get him for 120 or so games a year. Len and DJ are great. Is Len at the park, or still out of the Jerry Springer studios in NBC tower?

Hahn keeps saying Kopech is a starter next year. He’ll need to start in June or July, it’s unrealistic to ramp up from 65 innings (44 now) to 150 + next year, which means at least a month or two off. It’s why I liked his usage better before his IL stint (2 + innings prior, now just an inning). Would have been on pace for 90-100 even with the month off. Now he’ll hit 65-75. They already burnt their 2018 (4) and 2020 (11) high first round picks on one inning guys (Crochet and then Madrigal (+ Heuer) turned into Kimbrel) instead of signing FAs or getting lower cost arms.

No they don’t, and Engel / Vaughn are solid defensively. Engel and Vaughn should only sit at this point for load management. Garcia should only play infield at this point with everyone back but Luis, rest Anderson and Moncada who clearly need rest. Tony will still play Leury in OF with Robert back, he is Tony’s RLRLRLRL missing puzzle piece. 2021 OPS vs. RHP Engel .959 Vaughn .664 (much higher of late) Garcia .635

If it’s load management, I’m fine with it. If it’s platoon bullshit than GFY. Both Vaughn and Engel have been raking against RHP. They should have put Moncada on the IL, admirable he tried to play through it, but long term better for him to heal up. Leury Garcia is a two game a week player playing everyday because he switch hits. OPS - Last 28 Days Hernandez .931 Zavala .909 Vaughn .868 Abreu .851 Engel .834 Goodwin .734 Anderson .693 Moncada .677 Jimenez .552 Garcia .525 Collins .449

Yes, I prefer less packed games in general (save for the perennial sell outs of Opening Day or Playoffs/World Series), but hope the Sox can accommodate everyone that wants to go and can go throughout the rest of the year, and beyond. Was fortunate to attend all the home playoff games in 1983 and 2005, were great experiences win (2005 all but one a winner) or lose (1983). Hope all the fans on Soxtalk get to experience (or continue experiencing) the same this decade, hopefully there will be at least one or two WS runs.

With places in Chicago following updated CDC guidelines and returning to requiring masks for all, and recent outbreaks after outdoor concerts in Michigan and Oregon (the later at a high rate of vaccinated adults (68.5%) & senior citizens (94.8%), wonder if the city or state will clamp down on full capacity at The Cell before the end of the season / playoffs. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pendleton-whisky-music-faster-horses-covid-outbreaks-outdoor-transmission-1208842/

Your Chicago NHL Team update for the weekend. Brad Aldrich calls his rape of children he sexually groomed "consensual experimentation" in his court plea for leniency after his felony convictions for criminal sexual conduct of children. Meanwhile, one of the primary Chicago Hockey Team executives who aided and abetted Brad Aldrich remains US Olympic Team General Manager. One of Aldrich's rape accusers has appealed to authorities to remove Stan Bowman from this role. Rocky and Danny Wirtz, meanwhile, stand by their Stan. Hurry, season ticket deposits due soon, don't miss out.

Chicago died the day Terry Kath died.

Yes he spent a half inning with DJ and Connor, his voice sounded very rough/tired. Not surprised he didn’t visit Stone, they should have done this a week his nemesis was off in Arizona. DJ had a few stories about the HOF weekend, very glad Hawk was able to have his night at home, and celebrate with the family again after his weekend at the HOF weekend. Still bummed Hawk didn’t show during the off day batting practice in 2019. Kittle showed for Hawk, said Hawk skips his appearances often. Still cool to meet Kittle, though not sure how much longer Hawk has at this point. Glad he was able to enjoy this the past few weeks.

No, Steve Stone is still an ass.

Is Kasper at the game, or is Jerry’s fake broke ass still claiming he is too broke to afford broadcasts from the ballpark?

People question the worth of $36M into his deal splitting time last year with McCann, playing even less this year when the fWAR crowd was adamant his ass would be catching 120 games this year.

Grandal took a shit today, his went up 0.2.

Well if the manager didn’t order bunt strikeouts, or pinch hit for his starter with bases loaded later in the game, perhaps they would score more.

Radio crew said Engel’s OPS vs. RHP this year is .910. He needs to play every day he is healthy to play.

It’s his MO, Tony is an idiot.

They mentioned both times. Lucky he wasn’t gunned out at home. Are Len and Stone at Wrigley this weekend, or is Jerry Reinsdorf still broke?

See what happens when you don’t bunt and make outs on purpose, or La Russa. Go Sox!

DJ said Abreu was t paying attention to Engel, not watching at all when Engel stole 3rd.

Did anyone ask Tony if it was his asinine call to have Seby but there, and bunt with two strikes, or was the lapdog media besides James Fegan too busy kissing Tony's ass as is their MO this entire season? Did anyone ask Tony will he ever use one of his best four relievers in a close game, like the 7th, or does he just save them for stats such as holds and saves? The Sox were fortunate to escape that inning with just one run.

Between the heavily weighted division schedules, the fact that teams want their home openers within the 7-10 days, and the majority of AL teams in colder / non domed stadiums, hard to get around this. Teams and players want a balanced mix of home and away games throughout the season, and this schedule accomplishes this.

Once the starters return, there should be same/upgrades at just about every position.

Sorry, every White Sox player, including Eloy, has stated they will play wherever the White Sox ask them to play, to help the team. Eloy's bat and health is the extent Eloy helps the team. He has missed 45% of games over his three seasons, primarily because he can't stay healthy in left field. He also sucks ass in left field. To the extent it helps the team with lineup flexibility, he will see some time in left field. His feelings or demands will not play a role. He can sit out and sulk without pay until 2027, or he can play where the Sox pencil him in and get with the program.