DashFan

It's painful to watch Soto struggle to throw back to the mound. Will his offensive contributions be worth it?

Good to see Robertson with a decent inning.

I just bought my tickets for this and will be making the drive over from Winston-Salem. This is my first trip to the new park in uptown charlotte. Anyone been before and have advice on where to park and pricing? Thanks!

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ Jul 31, 2014 -> 06:20 PM) Detroit is quietly down to 72% odds to make the playoffs on ESPN, that's not very good for a team that has been all in since the offseason and was well above 90% for most of the year coming into July. It's too bad the Sox aren't just a little better they could really put the pressure on them to win the division if they were 5 over instead of 3 under they would be right there. And we've had so many good results from our core players. Even with the pitching being up and down this year you'd have to think if we'd had just one more positive result this year from a Beckham or Tank or perhaps if Avi stayed healthy we'd be right there in the mix. It's too bad because I really do think this team is very close to contending for at least a WC spot and in a couple more seasons with the right moves and some luck Hahn can have a contender on his hands.

I think Dunn is gone at the deadline for prospects or pitching. I think the organization is soured enough on the whole experience with Adam that they won't keep him around another year no matter what he does the rest of this one. I think we have our 2015 DH in the making with Tank.

QUOTE (BigHurt3515 @ Apr 29, 2014 -> 11:31 PM) Danks should have been in We didn't have the lead. You don't take one of your best hitters out of the game in a 3-3 tie. Hindsight is always 20/20, etc.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Apr 29, 2014 -> 03:23 PM) It's not impossible, but it's the next tier down from that. Over the course of a 162 game season, no player has ever had a BABIP this high. Pitchers will make adjustments and he'll stop hitting line drives, or he'll start trying to hit for power, or something, and the numbers will come down. I don't doubt that. His numbers right now are astronomical. I just think there may be good reason to believe we will see Tyler 2.0 for a full season and be able to assess the catching situation after that. I still think he's a talented player and maybe he's finally figuring things out. I was quick to dismiss Steverson's contributions but listening to him on white sox weekly, I'm starting to wonder if he's actually getting through to these players after all. With players like Tank, you'd easily be able to say that he is a young player still learning to hit MLB pitching - but Steverson has guys like Alexei and Tyler making some very visible adjustments at the plate. Occasionally they get away from it and you see flashes of last season but for the most part they seem to be buying into the new approach. I liked Steverson's focus on collecting data and video to first convince players they need to adjust, then coming up with adjustments and things to work on. I feel like that may be the difference with the Steverson era. I don't think the last couple of guys were as good at getting their message across. Of course I may be eating these words in September

This point may have already been raised, but could it be less about luck and more about the change we've all seen in Tyler's approach at the plate? I'm a stats guy too and I don't mean to go all Hawk TWTW on anyone but I don't recall T Flo taking so many balls the opposite way in years past. I'm thinking we are going to see his BABIP stay up for the season (probably not that high though but above his usual average) as long as he continues to take balls to right center and up the middle. If he starts trying to pull pitches he shouldn't again he will be back to the Tyler Flowers of old.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Apr 26, 2014 -> 12:21 PM) Not quite thread worthy, but how about Tyler Flowers? Away from the bat he is carrying a 39% caught stealing rate. That's outstanding. I am reluctant to be sold on him as a hitter but he definitely has an improved approach and has started gunning guys down. Brian McCann? We don't need no stinkin' Brian McCann! Seriously though, how awesome would it be if Tyler turned his career around this season and became a legit starting catcher? I hope he's for real and can keep it going a full season. One less hole to have to fill this offseason.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 17, 2014 -> 11:13 AM) Surkamp and Rienzo are closer to prospects, IMO, than just organization filler. I would agree with that. They've both shown that their ceiling may be lower than originally envisioned, but they are still developing and still at an age that they should be considered prospects. I still think Rienzo makes it to the MLB either as a 4-5 starter or in the bullpen.

Leury looked just as competent on the mound as half of our bullpen does. I say we just do away with the bullpen all together, build another outfield bar there and have a deep bench of position players who can also pitch.

Miss Dylan Axelrod yet?

Hopefully that AB turns things around for Jose.

Just wanted you guys to know that I listened to both episodes today and thoroughly enjoyed! I live in the Winston-Salem area and have followed the White Sox for years. The podcast has me excited to get out and see my first live baseball of the year and check out what some of the Sox best young prospects are doing. I got to see Hawkins up close from the OF seats here in WS last season. His defense in center did look solid from everything I saw, and you guys are right in saying that people forget with his power tool that he can play an outfield position well. He has good speed too and can be a true 5-tool player if he can put it all together. You guys also have me excited to see Jacob May this year, who I didn't know as much about before hearing the podcast. Anyway, just wanted you guys to know that a fellow baseball nerd enjoyed the podcast today. Thanks for doing this!

Wonder if Robin will be less patient with the pen this year. Monday with just one on against Lindstrom he had two up and throwing to come in.

QUOTE (fathom @ Apr 2, 2014 -> 03:05 PM) Thing is, if he struggles out of the gate the first few weeks, I don't see how you keep sitting Viciedo on the bench. And no, I'm not trolling I was thinking the same thing. Would've been nice to get Tank a few ABs this game, regardless of L/R. I think they are keeping Dunn in against RHP to show the league that he has some value in a platoon, unfortunately it looks like he may not be any better against RHP this year.

Can Dunn still be called a DH if he doesn't H?

QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ Mar 23, 2014 -> 04:15 PM) He does look pretty terrible this spring. Worse than the last 3 He can still work counts, he just can't square up a baseball to save his life. His swing looks as big and slow as it did in 2011.

I have always understood Dunn to offer some value as a platoon against RHP. I'm beginning to doubt that and I think Jordan Danks offers way more this season as a left handed bat with some pop, a much better average, plus defense, and decent speed. I'm so tired of seeing Dunn get AB's just because of his contract. Not worth it and I think he's actually going to become less valuable as the season goes along, but that's just a hunch based on how frustrated and lost he looks hacking at pitches in ST already. His bat speed looks slower than ever. I say we will make the mistake of keeping him around half the season and be forced to eat all of the remaining $ whether he is traded or DFA'd.

What do you think the chances are that Rick is looking to the draft as a target to get us a catcher? Any guys in there that could have an impact in the MLB soon enough?

QUOTE (flavum @ Jan 17, 2014 -> 03:53 PM) https://twitter.com/gordonbeckham/status/424282945264709632 Gordon has been rushed to the majors and as a result has had to learn and develop mostly at the major league level. The curve has been steep, but I think we are going to see that breakout year we've been waiting for from Gordo, if he can stay healthy.

Long time lurker, I'm going to try posting a bit more though. I like this signing and I'm surprised no other teams snagged him up as a cheap 4 or 5 option. For us, he's great depth. If everything goes well this season and our staff can stay healthy, we won't see Axe in the majors. But I've never understood the hate on this board for a guy who makes the most out of what he has and gets results. The game he pitched against King Felix last year was a great example of the kinda stones this guy has. He may not have the greatest stuff but he isn't afraid to attack the strike zone and get guys out. I see so much stuff about how he's going to get destroyed every start and he goes out there and gets his outs. Sure he has had an occasional bad game, but who expected him to be Chris Sale? I certainly felt more confident watching him pitch than Gavin over the past couple seasons. He just has the right mentality. How can you not love the guy?

It cannot be overstated what having Hudson as the 9 hitter has done for the top of our order just in a couple of games. DeAza is much more dangerous now that there's a chance for him to hit with runners on base a couple of times each game. Beckham and Dunn will now also get more opportunities with RISP. No automatic outs in the lineup anymore. Just waiting for Alexi to get it going...

Danks couldn't get any run support last year, maybe they can let him bat this year so he can give himself a chance to win. It's going to be a really long season if these bums can't hit with RISP again.

Wonder which distractions Paulie is referring to...