Countdown to the Playoffs - 2017 Edition

[illinoisredsox]

What did Sale do with his uniform? I feel like I just fell off the rutabaga truck.

 

Last year, the White Sox were scheduled to wear some 1970s throwback uniforms on a night Sale was scheduled to pitch (not sure which ones, but I do recall they had some hideous ones from that era). Sale didn't want to wear them, refused to play in them and to make his point, went into the clubhouse and cut them jerseys up so that the team couldn't wear them. He was pulled from his start and suspended.

 

The thought was that the incident was more about the strained relationship between Sale and the White Sox front office than the uniforms.

[mvp 78]

Last year, the White Sox were scheduled to wear some 1970s throwback uniforms on a night Sale was scheduled to pitch (not sure which ones, but I do recall they had some hideous ones from that era). Sale didn't want to wear them, refused to play in them and to make his point, went into the clubhouse and cut them jerseys up so that the team couldn't wear them. He was pulled from his start and suspended.

 

The thought was that the incident was more about the strained relationship between Sale and the White Sox front office than the uniforms.

 

Sale already had an antagonistic relationship with ownership going back to the Adam Laroche nonsense. I think he just hated the culture there. I can't blame him for that.

[a700hitter]

Sale already had an antagonistic relationship with ownership going back to the Adam Laroche nonsense. I think he just hated the culture there. I can't blame him for that.

Luckily there had been some discord or they probably would not have traded him.

[moonslav59]

Luckily there had been some discord or they probably would not have traded him.

 

They've dumped just about everyone.

[Maxbialystock]

Last year, the White Sox were scheduled to wear some 1970s throwback uniforms on a night Sale was scheduled to pitch (not sure which ones, but I do recall they had some hideous ones from that era). Sale didn't want to wear them, refused to play in them and to make his point, went into the clubhouse and cut them jerseys up so that the team couldn't wear them. He was pulled from his start and suspended.

 

The thought was that the incident was more about the strained relationship between Sale and the White Sox front office than the uniforms.

 

Wow. Sale did that? Very unusual from a dedicated professional like him. As you say, it had to be the front office drove him to do something dramatic. Heck, for all we know, his goal was to encourage them to let him go.

[cp176]

I know what he did but I really don't anything at all about the circumstances. When you are that good and you are playing for a suck franchise it must have been driving him crazy. We have had a chance to see this guy up close and personal. Looks to me like he is all about the winning. I'm sure that he likes his paycheck but I don't think that that is what drives him. Just like Kimbrel - two guys that just work. They want the ball when it is all on the line. We are fortunate.

[Kimmi]

Last year, the White Sox were scheduled to wear some 1970s throwback uniforms on a night Sale was scheduled to pitch (not sure which ones, but I do recall they had some hideous ones from that era). Sale didn't want to wear them, refused to play in them and to make his point, went into the clubhouse and cut them jerseys up so that the team couldn't wear them. He was pulled from his start and suspended.

 

The thought was that the incident was more about the strained relationship between Sale and the White Sox front office than the uniforms.

 

I am sure that the strained relationship contributed to this incident. The uniforms might have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

 

That said, cutting up the uniforms was wrong, selfish, and pouty. It just was.

 

Sale has been nothing but professional since being with the Sox. He is a great competitor, a great clubhouse presence, and he owns his performances, good or bad. I would take a team full of players with the attitude that he's had since being with the Sox. However, I'm not going to excuse his behavior in cutting up the uniforms. It was wrong to do so.

[Northern Star]

Last year, the White Sox were scheduled to wear some 1970s throwback uniforms on a night Sale was scheduled to pitch (not sure which ones, but I do recall they had some hideous ones from that era). Sale didn't want to wear them, refused to play in them and to make his point, went into the clubhouse and cut them jerseys up so that the team couldn't wear them. He was pulled from his start and suspended.

 

The thought was that the incident was more about the strained relationship between Sale and the White Sox front office than the uniforms.

 

I think throwbacks and special uniforms are pointless, except that I'm sure wearing them gets some fans to buy them. Some fans would buy a turd if it had the team logo on it. But that said, Sale should have sucked it up and worn the abomination.

[Northern Star]

Got that horrible sinking feeling that by the end of the regular season, I'll be like the guy in The Scream, looking at the Sox in the wildcard game.

[illinoisredsox]

Got that horrible sinking feeling that by the end of the regular season, I'll be like the guy in The Scream, looking at the Sox in the wildcard game.

 

If it gets to that, blow the division on Sunday. I want no part of a playoff for the division on Monday followed by the wild card play in on Tuesday.

[Bellhorn04]

Got that horrible sinking feeling that by the end of the regular season, I'll be like the guy in The Scream, looking at the Sox in the wildcard game.

 

It does feel like we're suddenly in deep doo-doo...bad performances by key starting pitchers + injuries...ugh.

[oldtimer]

It does feel like we're suddenly in deep doo-doo...bad performances by key starting pitchers + injuries...ugh.

 

Realistically, we are a flawed team by way of our death of good hitters and especially power hitters. We are further flawed by injuries to our key right handed hitters at the crucial point where we are struggling for the pennant. Our strength of starting pitching looks tired and our relief pitching isn't doing it either for the last two games at least. Add to that, our stretch run is against hot teams whille the Yankees are not facing quite the same challenge.

 

Still we only need to win 2 game of the last 5 while the Yankees lose 1 of their next 5. If that can't happen are we really pennant caliber? I have seen many finishes, good and bad, and hope now for a couple of good pitching performances along with the return of our better hitters so that we can progress.

[Bellhorn04]

In another slightly discouraging piece of news, the last time Porcello faced the Jays at Fenway, a mere 23 days ago, he gave up 7 earned runs and 10 hits in 5.1 IP.

[jacksonianmarch]

You’ve got two things going for you. You can win 3 of 5 to take the pennant or you can go winless and NYY can lose three times for you to win the pennant. We face the Jays to end the year and they always seem to play us tough.

[Bellhorn04]

You’ve got two things going for you. You can win 3 of 5 to take the pennant or you can go winless and NYY can lose three times for you to win the pennant. We face the Jays to end the year and they always seem to play us tough.

 

Well, if we lose tonight we'd have to take 3 of 4 against Houston to clinch without help. I don't like that prospect too much. It makes tonight's game somewhat important. Farrell may need to be prepared for an early hook with Porcello. And Estrada shut us down last time we faced him. We almost need some reverse lock action tonight.

[moonslav59]

Panic City

 

We lose two, and the world is ending.

[SoxnCycles]

Panic City

 

We lose two, and the world is ending.

 

You panic about Sale and I'll panic about losing the division.

 

Deal?

[moonslav59]

You panic about Sale and I'll panic about losing the division.

 

Deal?

 

It's the same thing. We win the division when Sale goes 2-0 over our last 15 games instead of 2-1 or 1-2.

[SoxnCycles]

It's the same thing. We win the division when Sale goes 2-0 over our last 15 games instead of 2-1 or 1-2.

 

How is he going to go 2-0 if he's resting?

[cp176]

It's just the way it has been all year. They have scratched along just well enough to get it done. Injuries, poor performances, bad defense, s***** base running, a lousy manager, under performances by supposed super stars, and more injuries, and somehow this team is still in first place. Enjoy the ride I say!

[Slasher9]

UPDATE.

5 GAMES TO GO.

91-66

 

1st place in the division.

FanGraphs odds to win the division: 95.6%

 

3 Games ahead of MFY.

[OH FOY]

Its not panic time, but its hurting us big time, to line-up starters, and give them rest. If Sale has to go Sunday to win it, this is the problem.

Tonight's game is huge. Yanks don't have to do anything, they can just go 70-80 pitches with their Starters, if they win it great, if they don't, they already know its WC anyway. Keep your Starters fresh if you win the WC. That's the only pressure game for the Yanks.

Pressure on the Sox not the Yanks, to end it.

Edited September 27, 2017 by OH FOY!

[Slasher9]

Its not panic time, but its hurting us big time, to line-up starters, and give them rest. If Sale has to go Sunday to win it, this is the problem.

 

but he's got his 300 K'S!!!!!

personally, even if the division is locked up - i wont be surprised if he talks JF into starting him anyways so that he can get the team record for K's in a season.

player > team.

[OH FOY]

In case nobody has noticed Astros are 11-3 since they got Correa back. Cleveland lost last night Astros 1 game back for best record, they might go all out against us, especially if Cleveland losses tonight and they win.

Tonights game is big for us.

Edited September 27, 2017 by OH FOY!

[moonslav59]

In case nobody has noticed Astros are 11-3 since they got Correa back. Cleveland lost last night Astros 1 game back for best record, they might go all out against us, especially if Cleveland losses tonight and they win.

Tonights game is big for us.

 

The Astros, known more for their hitting, are also the only AL team with 4 starters with an ERA- of 86 or better (and McCullers isn't even one of them)!

 

68 Keuchel

70 Peacock

76 Verlander

86 Morton

 

The Sox have...

64 Sale

74 Pom

86 ERod

100 Porcello

[moonslav59]

but he's got his 300 K'S!!!!!

personally, even if the division is locked up - i wont be surprised if he talks JF into starting him anyways so that he can get the team record for K's in a season.

player > team.

 

No, his plan was to give him all his extra days' rest at once. Assuming we clinch, Sale will have 9 days rest.

[OH FOY]

When the Astros have Altuve in that line-up along with Correa, they are a Hitting Machine. See how the Sox Pitchers do against this Offense.

Plus they are fast, put a lot of Pressure on Defense. They wont be afraid to run against Vazquez or Leon.

Maybe not this series because of injury, but if we face them in Play-offs, they will run.

Edited September 27, 2017 by OH FOY!

[mvp 78]

but he's got his 300 K'S!!!!!

personally, even if the division is locked up - i wont be surprised if he talks JF into starting him anyways so that he can get the team record for K's in a season.

player > team.

 

I'm not sure it's about the k's. I think Sale just thinks he's a warrior who should pitch 125 pitches every 5 days no matter what. It's up to Farrell to manage Sale and he's doing a poor job at it.

[jacksonianmarch]

A coach has to be able to protect the player from the player.

[Slasher9]

I'm not sure it's about the k's. I think Sale just thinks he's a warrior who should pitch 125 pitches every 5 days no matter what. It's up to Farrell to manage Sale and he's doing a poor job at it.

 

then why didnt he pitch the 9th? here's the answer: (only because he got 300 on the final out of the 8th)....

it was 100% about the k's