Bob Sacamano Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 29 minutes ago, ChiSoxTrojan said: Grandal is the other option that makes sense, but Grifol did say last week that he hasn't thought about Grandal as a DH. He said he's the catcher. (1B wasn't mentioned.) Obviously that could change once the season starts, but IMO the best way to keep Grandal healthy and productive is to limit his opportunities, which means that when he's not catching he would be on the bench getting an actual day of rest. Again, that could change if he's hitting like he did in the second half of 2021 when you couldn't take him out of the lineup. You can use the DH spot to give other guys a half days off when Eloy is out. Then the backups get a day in the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, ChiSoxTrojan said: In your scenario, who is the DH/1B when Vaughn or Eloy take a day off, or Eloy is in the OF? Particularly against RHP? I like Sheets on the bench for that role, and for late-game pinch hitting opportunities. So my bench to start the season would be Sheets, Leury, Romy, and Zavala. I don't think it's necessary/worth giving a roster spot to Marisnick/Hamilton/Reyes. I'm fine with Leury in CF once every week or so (Leury is a better CF than RF), and Leury/Romy in RF. Give Romy a shot to prove all the offseason work we've been hearing about translates to success. If he isn't cutting it over the first month of the season he can be sent down and one of the minor league OFs can be brought up. But if Hamilton or Marisnick are given a roster spot out of Spring Training, even if they're struggling offensively (which is likely) they'll be given a long leash because getting rid of them means they need to be DFA'ed. Romy's spot can be temporary. Leury is going to get a few months on the roster regardless, and I'm pretty confident he can have a bounce-back to being a useful back-up after an injury-plagued season, if he's used sparingly. If not, and other players are showing they're more deserving, he could get cut in July. Injuries can throw everything into a blender, so it doesn't make any sense to be cutting players now that might be needed later on. Grandal can play 1B. I am sure plenty of other guys on the roster could play 1B. Anyone could DH when Eloy sits (which hopefully isn't alot). I am unconcerned about back-up DH/1B. Who is Sheets pinch hitting for if the full roster is available? We're literally talking about him pinch hitting for whoever is playing 2B that day when a RHP is on the mount. Its just such an outrageously limited role for Sheets if Colas is on the roster, and an awful use of a roster spot since he is terrible anywhere you put him defensively. And yes, injuries can throw everything into a blender. It doesn't take much for Sheets to have a major role on this club. For the purposes of this Opening Day roster discussion, I am assuming Colas is on the roster and position players remain at full health. The chances this team is actually fully healthy for an extended stretch is not all that high, so Sheets will get plenty of at bats. Also, no one is promoting "cutting" Sheets. He has a minor league option. Edited February 21, 2023 by ChiSox59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 (edited) 14 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said: Grandal can play 1B. I am sure plenty of other guys on the roster could play 1B. Anyone could DH when Eloy sits (which hopefully isn't alot). I am unconcerned about back-up DH/1B. Who is Sheets pinch hitting for if the full roster is available? We're literally talking about him pinch hitting for whoever is playing 2B that day when a RHP is on the mount. Its just such an outrageously limited role for Sheets if Colas is on the roster, and an awful use of a roster spot since he is terrible anywhere you put him defensively. And yes, injuries can throw everything into a blender. It doesn't take much for Sheets to have a major role on this club. For the purposes of this Opening Day roster discussion, I am assuming Colas is on the roster and position players remain at full health. The chances this team is actually fully healthy for an extended stretch is not all that high, so Sheets will get plenty of at bats. Also, no one is promoting "cutting" Sheets. He has a minor league option. Right. And with this team, I would honestly bet on Sheets making the team OD roster (even if Colas makes it OD) out of need due to some sort of minor (hopefully not a major) injury to someone. Edited February 21, 2023 by Bob Sacamano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSoxTrojan Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 29 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said: Grandal can play 1B. I am sure plenty of other guys on the roster could play 1B. Anyone could DH when Eloy sits (which hopefully isn't alot). I am unconcerned about back-up DH/1B. Who is Sheets pinch hitting for if the full roster is available? Its just such a limited role if Colas is on the roster, And yes, injuries can throw everything into a blender. It doesn't take much for Sheets to have a major role on this club. For the purposes of this, I am assuming Colas is on the roster and position players remain at full health. The chances this team is actually fully healthy for an extended stretch is not all that high, so Sheets will get plenty of at bats. It's not just about who is "capable" of playing 1B, it's about who can play 1B and make an impact with the bat. Sheets has a career 118 wRC+ against RHP. That is the second-best number for anyone on the team (behind only Eloy's 129). It's better than Vaughn (93), and even better than any of the other LH hitters like Grandal (115), Benintendi (116), and Moncada (112). Sheets is a guy you should want to be in your lineup against RHP. You really think it's worth not having that bat around, just so Billy Hamilton can swipe a few bases with a .400 OPS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 (edited) 7 minutes ago, ChiSoxTrojan said: It's not just about who is "capable" of playing 1B, it's about who can play 1B and make an impact with the bat. Sheets has a career 118 wRC+ against RHP. That is the second-best number for anyone on the team (behind only Eloy's 129). It's better than Vaughn (93), and even better than any of the other LH hitters like Grandal (115), Benintendi (116), and Moncada (112). Sheets is a guy you should want to be in your lineup against RHP. You really think it's worth not having that bat around, just so Billy Hamilton can swipe a few bases with a .400 OPS? Don't really want Billy Hamilton on the roster, but it seems like Leury and Romy are locks (assuming everyone is healthy which seems unlikely). The 4th bench spot needs to be someone who can play CF. Plus, I think it's close to 50/50 Sheets makes the roster as the strong-side platoon RF for a few weeks while they gain an extra year of control for Colas. Just hope to have big leads early so you can take him out in like the 5th or 6th. Edited February 21, 2023 by Bob Sacamano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 6 minutes ago, ChiSoxTrojan said: It's not just about who is "capable" of playing 1B, it's about who can play 1B and make an impact with the bat. Sheets has a career 118 wRC+ against RHP. That is the second-best number for anyone on the team (behind only Eloy's 129). It's better than Vaughn (93), and even better than any of the other LH hitters like Grandal (115), Benintendi (116), and Moncada (112). Sheets is a guy you should want to be in your lineup against RHP. You really think it's worth not having that bat around, just so Billy Hamilton can swipe a few bases with a .400 OPS? Yes. I think a 4th OF is more important than a guy that will get 5 at bats a week if the roster is full strength. Again, pretty much anyone that doesn’t play up the middle gets hurt and Sheets is suddenly an everyday player. I am not suggesting they send him to the moon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 1 minute ago, Bob Sacamano said: Don't really want Billy Hamilton on the roster, but it seems like Leury and Romy are locks (assuming everyone is healthy which seems unlikely). The 4th bench spot needs to be someone who can play CF. Plus, I think it's close to 50/50 Sheets makes the roster as the strong-side platoon RF for a few weeks while they gain an extra year of control for Colas. Just hope to have big leads early so you can take him out in like the 5th or 6th. This/ I also believe Colas will (and should) start in AAA and Sheets will have a big role early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 4 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said: This/ I also believe Colas will (and should) start in AAA and Sheets will have a big role early. And when we say we need a guy who "can play CF" we mean positively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSoxTrojan Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 3 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said: And when we say we need a guy who "can play CF" we mean positively. Leury has always been a league average CF. His problems have been in RF, which has more difficult reads with balls slicing into the corner. Everyone is down on Leury, and for good reason after last year. But he's going to be on the roster to start the year, and he's going to get 2 starts per week. One of those starts can be in CF. It's one of his better defensive positions (better than RF or 2B at least). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSoxTrojan Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 13 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said: Yes. I think a 4th OF is more important than a guy that will get 5 at bats a week if the roster is full strength. Again, pretty much anyone that doesn’t play up the middle gets hurt and Sheets is suddenly an everyday player. I am not suggesting they send him to the moon. I'd expect Sheets to start 3 games per week at least to start the year. 2 at 1B, 1 at DH. I could easily see it being more if he continues to be one of the best hitters on the team against RHP and Grifol doesn't want him to leave the lineup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSox59 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 23 minutes ago, ChiSoxTrojan said: Leury has always been a league average CF. His problems have been in RF, which has more difficult reads with balls slicing into the corner. Everyone is down on Leury, and for good reason after last year. But he's going to be on the roster to start the year, and he's going to get 2 starts per week. One of those starts can be in CF. It's one of his better defensive positions (better than RF or 2B at least). Woof, Leury beter not be getting 2 starts per week. 20 minutes ago, ChiSoxTrojan said: I'd expect Sheets to start 3 games per week at least to start the year. 2 at 1B, 1 at DH. I could easily see it being more if he continues to be one of the best hitters on the team against RHP and Grifol doesn't want him to leave the lineup. So we're making Andrew Vaugh a part-time player to give Gavin Sheets at bats. Woof. Yes, I realize Sheets has been better again RHP to this point, but their upsides are not even close. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quin Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 1) Lance Lynn has the body type of a first baseman. 2) The Sox love playing people out of position. 3) ??? 4) Profit! 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiSoxTrojan Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 27 minutes ago, ChiSox59 said: Woof, Leury beter not be getting 2 starts per week. So we're making Andrew Vaugh a part-time player to give Gavin Sheets at bats. Woof. Yes, I realize Sheets has been better again RHP to this point, but their upsides are not even close. For a guy that has been averaging 5 starts/week over the past 3 full seasons, 2 starts/week is a significant reduction and is about what I'd expect for Leury. In fact the last couple years all I kept hearing was that Leury was over-used, he should be starting twice per week not every day. 2 starts/week really isn't a lot. It seems like you think every one of the 9 starters is going to play every single day, and that's really not how this works, especially when most of the starters have a history of nagging injuries. And if you call Vaughn a part-time player when he's making 5 of 7 starts per week, then yes I suppose I'm advocating he be a part-time player until he's worthy of getting more work. So far he hasn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Grinder Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 So we're losing the face of our franchise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCCWS Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 "I've seen Leury play for a while. Leury's a talented player. I haven't spoken to him yet. I find this strange. I would think a new manager would have had a conversation, even if it was brief, with every member of the 25 man roster the first few days of camp. Even if it was just a hi, a handshake, and a welcome aboard. Worse case at least a cell call to say hello. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Just now, SCCWS said: "I've seen Leury play for a while. Leury's a talented player. I haven't spoken to him yet. I find this strange. I would think a new manager would have had a conversation, even if it was brief, with every member of the 25 man roster the first few days of camp. Even if it was just a hi, a handshake, and a welcome aboard. Worse case at least a cell call to say hello. He's obviously been reaching out to players, so my guess is that the problem isn't with Pedro trying to get a hold of him... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elrockinMT Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 22 hours ago, southsider2k5 said: I mean if he can get him to be pre 22 Leury, he has a use on the roster. Who knows if that is possible or not, but it is nice to hear he isn't being given the job, even if he probably is. Being pushed a bit by his manager is a good thing for Leury. Might get him motivated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShoeLessRob Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Plugging Grandal in at 1st for a few games is as negligent as putting AV in the OF. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lip Man 1 Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 Both Sox Machine and Garfein think Garcia is not a sure thing this year, that the Sox may cut him. Here is the Sox Machine story: https://soxmachine.com/2023/02/white-sox-not-treating-leury-garcia-as-a-given/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcq Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 If Garcia is blocking someone more valuable yes he could be released. Maybe not right away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fathom Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 40 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said: Both Sox Machine and Garfein think Garcia is not a sure thing this year, that the Sox may cut him. Here is the Sox Machine story: https://soxmachine.com/2023/02/white-sox-not-treating-leury-garcia-as-a-given/ When I saw them say Romy will play all over, it really made me think Leury is gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxBlanco Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 12 minutes ago, fathom said: When I saw them say Romy will play all over, it really made me think Leury is gone I got the same feeling, which would be very interesting. Maybe Colas makes the team, Romy takes over the Leury role, and Sheets gives you a left handed stick off the bench who could also DH or play some 1B. That would still allow you to keep someone like Marisnick as a glove-first outfield reserve. I originally didn’t think there was any scenario where Leury wasn’t on the opening day roster, but now I’m not so sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnetennba Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 17 minutes ago, fathom said: When I saw them say Romy will play all over, it really made me think Leury is gone Feels weird to cut him and eat the cash now after crying poor all winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxBlanco Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 3 minutes ago, Tnetennba said: Feels weird to cut him and eat the cash now after crying poor all winter. At this point, the cash is spent regardless of whether you cut him. The only thing that matters is whether they think they can create a better 26 man roster without him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold's Leg Lift Posted February 22, 2023 Share Posted February 22, 2023 37 minutes ago, fathom said: When I saw them say Romy will play all over, it really made me think Leury is gone If they're willing to eat Leury's money that means they're confident they won't have to eat any of the s%*# bags money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.