South Side Hit Men

Ernie and Minnie are "Mister Cub/White Sox" for their play on the field, their class handling breaking the color barrier here, and decades as serving as beloved ambassadors for the game and for their respective teams until the day they died. That said, I believe Jose Abreu and his counterpart Anthony Rizzo can serve as the next few generations of "Mr. White Sox / Cub" depending on their post on-field careers, and whether they remain in Chicago. At minimum, both are outstanding representatives and leaders for their teams on and off the field. There is no rational reason to hate either, even if you're not a fan of their respective teams, or even of baseball.

https://theathletic.com/2606689/2021/05/23/white-sox-notes-billy-hamilton-and-tim-anderson-zack-collins-and-carlos-rodon-dylan-cease-has-growing-left-to-do/?source=emp_shared_article&redirected=1 Excellent article, as always, by James Fegan today related to the post no hitter gifts given by Carlos Rodon, Jerry Reinsdorf and artist Cody Sabol (commemorative paintings for the two players). Jerry to Carlos and Zach: Nice rings commemorating the no hitter. Rodon to Zach: Engraved commemorative watch and putter. Rodon to the entire team: Special Johnnie Walker Blue Bottles engraved with the No Hitter Date. Perhaps the biggest gift Carlos handed out were his well earned compliments of Zach Collins.

Be careful, if fans complain too much, can see the owners doubling down with 7 inning games & 5 inning split doubleheaders. They can institute 3-5 minutes of commercials with each half inning and pitching change, increase revenue, decrease game time. Win win in Jerry and Manfred’s eyes.

Well, the Cubs are off to a good start with their sweep of San Diego.

Or the “Gang Banging” Ricky Renteria. Lots of racists everywhere, unfortunately.

Scary play with a collision between Pham and Kim today. Cub haters here will appreciate the fact the dropped ball ended up resulting in a double play, as the runners on 1st and 2nd stayed on their bases, resulting in a 6-5-4 DP while players watched the injured players. https://www.mlb.com/cubs/video/kim-pham-collide-on-popup?q=TeamId%20%3D%3D%20%5B135%5D%20Order%20By%20Timestamp%20DESC&cp=CMS_FIRST&p=0

Michael Jordan’s Minor League OPS .556 (at age 31) Tony La Russa’s Major League OPS .542 Pretty sure Michael would have finished with at least a decent Major League career if he played baseball full time instead of basketball.

The extra game makes it an 11 game road trip in September, and a stretch of 17 of 23 games on the road between September 3 -26. Terrible way to schedule the end of the season for the White Sox.

Agreed. Really wish the inter-league scheme was never concocted. The game attracts many drunken assholes, caters to the lowest common denominator. Still listen or watch, since the games count in the standings, but stopped attending decades ago. The charity games played in the 1980s and prior were a much more enjoyable atmosphere, family friendly events.

And when you read Jose Abreu, POS comes to mind.

Had to laugh at the officer calling Tony La Russa “like the Michael Jordan of Baseball.” https://www.tmz.com/2021/06/02/tony-la-russa-arrest-video-arizona-officers-hall-of-famer-mlb-white-sox-manager/

American League Era: 1. NY Yankees & 2. Cleveland AL West Era: 1. Kansas City & 2. Oakland AL Central Era: 1. Minnesota & 2. Cleveland

It's true the wild card shifting Eloy to DH is his ability to hit in the role, a role which is difficult even for veterans to adjust. I'd disagree with the assessments on Burger and Sheets. I'm not saying they can't be valuable players, just saying at age 25 they are not the same type of prospects as Vaughn, who was promoted at least 2 years earlier (Age 23). Along with Yermin (28 in August), Burger and Sheet's their windows of production are much shorter than elite prospects who can perform above average in their early 20s. Cespedes (23) and Colas (22) are also higher rated, since they are also expected to be productive major leaguers before age 25, the same age all three were lingering in the minors.

Original Post Above ^^^ You did not "clearly" write or mention in the original post that his ratings are based on a "singal" (sic) season. You stated that you have "always" said Jose crumbles under pressure and in the cold. The stat you used to support this theory indicates Abreu is actually "clutch" the past three seasons, the past two of which are the only seasons the White Sox team around him were actually playing games of consequence which "clutch" hitting actually mattered. Jose's rating during the first two months of this season, conducted, wait for it, during the "cold" April and May months (0.33), is the same as last year's rating played in August and September (0.33). Furthermore, your "cold" theory holds no water. Jose is a slow starter. His September/October Splits (w/OBP .372, OPS .884, wRC+ 138) are higher than every month except August. Jose performs better in the second half, because of timing and being immersed in the season. If his performance was weather induced, his September / October splits would be lower than his June and July splits, performed during warmer weather.

The difference being Rodon is likely out of here in 2022 unless Jerry passes the baton, and Lucas in 2023. Cease and Kopech are under control through 2025, would wager Kopech will out perform Cease over the next four seasons.

He leads the bullpen in innings pitched. He has done everything asked of him, and is one of the most valuable pitchers this season. If you hold the birth of a first born child and Jerry's dangling 37 cents on the dollar of a league minimum salary to risk his family's health against him for skipping 2020, than that's on you, not Kopech. Even with a major surgery, he is within a 1/2-2/3 of a season of Cease and Rodon, and just over a full season behind Giolito. Kopech will likely finish with more White Sox IP than the three currently above him, and will have much better pitching statistics in the process. Innings pitched through Age 24, Current Roster since Michael Kopech was acquired (2017-2021): Lucas Giolito 524 Carlos Rodon 429 Dylan Cease 416 Michael Kopech 306

Find it laughable, but if it's "real stat", Jose Abreu has carried a positive "clutch" stat rate each of the past three seasons, the last two the only teams the White Sox actually fielded an above .500 team since Abreu landed here. He won an MVP last year, is 2nd in RBIs this year, and above average in "clutch" at bats the past three seasons. Not "gut or eye" observations, but rather actual production from the consensus American League MVP.

Per Soxtalk statistics, Ron833 carries a 100% bet welch rate.

"This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/billy-hamilton-s-95-1-mph-throw

You're going to hate the 2020s then, because Kopech is real, and he is spectacular.

Would be bad sportsmanship. Written rules are meaningless, unwritten rules are all Tony is concerned with, besides giving Hendriks a save opportunity.

He knocked in 10 last week to be named AL Player of the Week.

Like that Crochet is getting tested with a second inning. Glad Hahn stepped in and corrected Tony’s earlier comment.

Hoping the game is called tomorrow and Lynn works on 4 days rest Thursday, with everyone else getting an extra day.