Autumn Dreamin

Maybe Horn is that long term lefty piece in the pen to replace Bummer and Crochet (if he makes the switch to starting). Or maybe he isn't. But they turned a rental of 30yo journeyman RHRP Keynan Middleton into a RH starter who has Thompson's positives of youth (22yo) and workload (222.2 IP over the last two seasons) with better control (3.3 BB/9) and better results (3.58 ERA). Both are Rule 5 guys, but one seems closer to earning a roster spot. You can hold both and hope that Thompson makes a step this year that he hasn't made in the previous two...or you can cash in now if you think it's unlikely that he raises his value (to this team or another) before hitting minor league free agency. And in the meantime you have several years of a lefty with good stuff who you can keep or trade as you please. Horn finished 2021 at A+ with a WHIP approaching 2 and an ERA well over 5. He repeated the level the next year, and dominated with a .700 WHIP and 0 ER in 10 appearances before being promoted. His first time at AA, he struggled again with a high WHIP (but a reasonable 3.46 ERA). Repeating AA last season, he dominates again with a <1 WHIP and 2 ERA before another quick promotion. He struggles again with a high WHIP his first time in AAA...Sensing a pattern? I get that the Sox currently have Schrodinger's 40 man, where spots are either precious and limited or full of unsalvageable detritus who should be cut without hesitation, depending on what allows for the harshest judgement in the moment. But the Sox are apparently convinced by Horn's demonstrated capacity for adjustment and progression that Thompson hasn't flashed yet (and reasonably confident in their ability to backfill future needs for RHSP with guys like Juan Carela and the upcoming crop of draft arms). I'm not sure you get to accuse the move of being shortsighted if your "analysis" consists of "don't trade starters for relievers" or 23 < 26.

Some non-Statcast games will record every strikeout as 3 pitches and every ball in play as the first pitch (and every walk as 4 straight balls), but that's not what actually happened. He's had some good takes today.

Our $2 million player > their $2 million player?

Can't expect a $2 million/year player to catch up to major league velocity like this, sadly.

Can we use all of our Royals connections to get in on this arrangement?

A handful of highlights: Eloy's double: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/eloy-jimenez-s-rbi-double-x7056 A Nastrini K: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/nick-nastrini-tallies-k-vs-rangers A Leasure K: https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/video/jordan-leasure-strikes-out-justin-foscue-in-the-4th He was really good in AFL, the stuff looked nice.

Bush had a quick 6th, leadoff single erased by a CS then a K and groundout. He finishes with 2IP, 0ER, 3H, 2K, 0BB. Ellard had a not quick 7th. He got 2Ks, but gave up 3R on a a HBP, a pair of doubles, and a single. The last out of the inning was a Quero CS, so that's cool. A bunch of the kids are in now, including Elko, Ramos, Colas, Popeye, and recent waiver claim Peyton Burdick.

First one wasn't particularly hard hit, second sounded more solid. Radio said they were shifting him to pull, and he found a gap both times. Hard to judge how much of either was more Rangers positioning, Moncada trying to hit 'em where they ain't, or some mix of the two.

Moncada single, Eloy double to left center got another run in the 3rd. Leasure with a clean 4th, 2 fly balls and a K. Ky Bush in for the 5th, generating some weak contact in his first inning. Fletcher apparently made a very impressive play on one, but the next two bloops fell for singles. One was maybe playable per the radio team, the other was in no man's land in shallow CF. Bush gets out of it with a K and a routine fly to LF. Sox still up 2-1 headed into bottom 5, with Moncada/LRJ/Eloy slated for probably their last ABs of the day.

Hard luck for Nastrini, as a ball hit to the OF apparently took a weird bounce off the padding for a leadoff triple. The commentary made it sound like there wasn't really much LRJ could have done with the ricochet. The run scored on a groundout. A pop out and K ends the inning. Nastrini finishes with 2IP, 1ER, 1H, 1K, 0BB. Speas pitching now.

We've literally gotten all of those, FWIW.

Nastrini and Bush are supposed to go 2IP each I think. Leasure should pitch too. Nastrini starts off with a perfect first on two grounders and a fly out. Sox threatening after a Benny walk, Moncada single, and LRJ HBP loads the bases.

After Colas got a hit they couldn't fudge away, the home scorer went back and changed Ramos' AB to a hit instead of an E5. Might as well have an errorless game if you can't get the no hitter, I guess.

Deivi Garcia, apparently actually in the best shape of his life, just threw a 97.4 mph FB. Sosa got robbed on a .850 xBA liner up the middle. My guy Mason Adams is in to pitch. Ramos, Montgomery, and Hackenberg in on D.

The Walker FO was 99 mph (.470 xBA). The Suarez one was a 89mph lazy fly (.010 xBA). Statcast feed: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?gamePk=748229&game_date=2/25/2024&date=2/25/2024 Cannon pitch report: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/player-scroll/game?gamePk=748229&player_id=686563

For nerds like me who care, tomorrow's ST game vs AZ is @ Salt River which means means a rare instance of Statcast availability.

Pretty sure he's in Mexico:

The media day photogs did their best with the cropping for most guys, but the Sox pants don't appear to have been spared: Luckily (...I guess ?) the pinstripes are a little more forgiving. Apparently, they've been wearing mostly the greys in camp.

Hmm, yes, on second thought, I'm fine with the new uniforms ?