Maxbialystock

The Astros dazzled me with how they manhandled the Chicago White Sox. They have a pretty good lineup and pitching. That said, I do believe our current lineup is better. And, surprise, surprise, the ALDS box scores show that the Astros have exactly one good starter, McCullers, whom they used twice for 2 of their 3 wins. We have Eovaldi and three other guys who pitched 4 or more consecutive innings each--Houck, Pivetta, and ERod. So, frankly, I give us the edge in pitching. That said, you gotta play the games, and, when you do, anything can happen.

I've been retired-retired for two years and love it, especially since moving to a one level house near our kids. But I also enjoyed working from age 21 to age 78.

Figuring this out is beyond my capability. That said, what Bloom did to "fix" the rotation last winter actually worked for the first half of this season with the Sox leading the AL East and even the AL. Then there's the Rays who move starters in and out like relievers and seem to get away with it because of their bullpen. In this postseason the Sox rotation, which most of us think is in disarray, has looked better than the Rays rotation. I just looked at the Astros rotation, which, based on the ALDS, has one good starter, McCullers. So right now I'm thinking Bloom should do a reverse-Dombrowski and avoid great starters and instead stay with Sale (who scares me), Eovaldi (ace), Pivetta, Houck, and even ERod, depending on his price and perceived value. I agree with you on the relievers and right now think no closer is worth the money his agent will ask for.

Compared to the Sox vs the Rays, all other Div Series have been boooring

Fine with me.

The Boston Braves and Boston Brewers are 4-4 in the 8th.

I think the Rays were better than the Astros, plus they were the returning AL champs. Plus the Sox so far have had the best postseason hitting (OPS) and pitching (ERA) of all the postseason AL teams. That said, the Astros looked awfully good against the White Sox. I like our lineup more, also the way Cora handles the pitching.

I like Sawamura more than Hernandez or Barnes, but I think Barnes gets in because of what he has done overall for this team, plus he just signed a lucrative 2 year extension.

I can't remember the last time I connected "moral compass" to a player or coach. They are in it for the bucks, period. At every level of coaching, the focus is on getting performance out of the players, which means pushing them hard. Morality is irrelevant even though I have met with one NFL coach whose moral compass is quite good. There are no doubt other coaches like him, but morality is not a prerequisite for coaching success.

Schwarber was/is paid $7M this year with an OPS of .928. I don't see a lifetime contract, but would like him to stick around for awhile because he is demonstrably good for this team's lineup--along with JDM, Bogey, Devers, Dugo, Kike, etc. If Schwarber were Babe Ruth, the Sox would send him on to the Yankees. Schwarber gets extra points for the way he handled that egregious error night before last.

Have we lost sight of 2022 again? After the ALDS, I'm thinking Bloom and his boss are looking forward to 2022 because just returning the current team would be a good start as long as Cora is managing. Today the NY Times had an article saying the Sox in the ALDS disproved the adage--one I myself invoke regularly--that good pitching beats good hitting. The Rays had the best ERA in the AL this year and were rested going into the ALDS, but the Sox hitting--after the game 1 shutout--beat them with some real help from Houck, Pivetta, Eovaldi, ERod, Whitlock, et al. So I'm thinking it would be good to return the current lineup of Schwarber, Kike, Devers, Bogey, Verdugo, JDM, Renfroe, Vazquez, and Arroyo (and Iglesias). moonslav can comment on the feasibility of that. Oh, and, hopefully, the "we must have a great defense" craze will go away. The poster child for "hit first, field now and then" has to be Schwarber. He's great for the lineup and actually OK at 1b, that horrible underhand toss notwithstanding. When he did after making the correct toss next time was classic. The crowd loves it, and so did his teammates. The pitching is more complicated. Sale and Eovaldi will of course return. ERod is a question--let him go to free agency or sign him? I see these guys probably returning: Whitlock, Houck, Pivetta, Brasier, Taylor, Sawamura, Robles, and Barnes because of his extension. Bloom has his work cut out for him, but it helps that Cora is his manager.

Yep. Schwarber with that injury was a bit of a gamble, but one that really paid off. As moonslav says, Dalbec filled in nicely (OPS over .900) at 1b. Hard not to be a Schwarber fan after Sunday's game, in which he made that horrible toss for an error, then took a bow when he made a good toss the next time. The fans loved it, and so did the team.

ERod threw 73% strikes last night, which sure ain't nibbling. He also walked no one. This was a great start given the setting--4th game of the ALDS which the Sox were expected to lose--and that he did not have his good changeup which in the past has been very effective.

Sale pitched 1 inning out of the 49 innings the Sox staff pitched against the Yankees and Rays last week and yesterday. Given the rest days every two games in the ALCS, I'm not sure he is needed that much. That said, I would really love to see him back out on the mound this year because to me he is the consummate professional. Houck basically uses just a fastball and slider, both of which Sale has, so maybe he can be effective in the bullpen.

I agree we want the White Sox, but I think the Sox can beat the Astros because the Rays had a better record and better pitching. Plus the Sox had to play the Yankees 2 days before taking on the Rays.

I'm with you, but must make it very clear I am late climbing on the bandwagon, which was started by Kimmi--yes, Kimmi, in the game 1 gamethread--and moonslav.

Major additions? We don't need no stinkin' major additions. You of all people should recognize that "major additions," as amply demonstrated by the Yankees, can be fool's gold. Meanwhile the Rays, who run away from "major additions," seem to stay competitive. Yes, we beat them, but they put up a heckuva fight, except in game 2 when they blew a 5-2 lead big time. What has happened in the postseason is that the lineup has jelled. Fool that I am, I kind of like the idea of bringing back, in order, Schwarber, Kike, Devers, Bogey, Verdugo, JDM, Renfroe, Vazquez, and Iglesias/Arroyo. And, by the way, please identify those who had a "career year" at bat because I couldn't find any. Dever, Bogey, and JDM are all down from 2018. Vazquez is down from last year. Schwarber only played 1 1/2 months. Kike had a higher OPS in 2018 with the Dodgers. Renfroe's 2.4 WAR this year is identical to 2018 and 2019. Dalbec and Arroyo are newbies. Eovaldi on the mound definitely is having a career year. But Sale? ERod? Pivetta? Richards? Perez? Houck and Whitlock have been great, but are newbies. Barnes, meanwhile, crapped out, as has Ottavino. Brasier was out most of the year. Indeed, it can well be argued that the Sox pitching staff this year amply demonstrated the genius of Alex Cora. Rumor has it Bloom won't trade him.

Agree. The 2021 Sox right now have a ferocious lineup that blew away an excellent Rays pitching staff. If jacksonianmarch had read the NY Times today, he would have seen an article saying the Sox overturned the adage, "good pitching beats good hitting." The Rays had the lowest ERA in the AL and before them the Yankees had a good team ERA and their ace Cole on the mound. Facing Schwarber, Kike, Devers, Bogey, Verdugo, JDM, Renfroe, Vazquez, and Arroyo these days is daunting. And the defense is adequate as long as Renfroe chooses his moments when unleashing that arm. Target hit on this year's overall and on the field management, but especially Cora. That said, the 2013 postseason Sox ERA was 2.59, and I don't see this team doing that. On the other hand, these Sox have the lowest postseason ERA in the American League and did it against the Rays (2d most runs scored in AL this year) after having to play the Yankees in the wild card game. Come Friday, the pitching staff will be rested, and four Sox pitchers--Eovaldi, Houck, Pivetta, and ERod--have demonstrated in this postseason they can pitch 4 or 5 good innings against good hitting.

Who seriously thought a week ago this thread was possible? Not me. First the Sox had to beat the Yankees--who most recently swept the Sox at Fenway--and their ace Cole. Then came the Rays, who were and are a tough out, which games 3 and 4 amply demonstrated, what with the best ERA in the AL regular season and the 2d most runs scored--to say nothing of having the home field advantage and not having to play in the wild card game on Tuesday. Now, however, the table is turned. The Sox will be well rested by Friday. We can only hope not too rested, which was part of the Rockies problem in 2007 when the Sox swept them in the WS. Whaddaya think? Disregard this post and thread. Let's go with Yaz's.

He has sucked this season big-time, ERA 4.97, which would have been worse if he hadn't been pretty good in August and September. He got pulled early last Friday because the Sox were down 1 game, Houck was available, and ERod did not have good command, which is essential for him to succeed. I did think he was the only logical choice to start last night and watched every pitch with baited breath. Getting those first three Rays hitters--Arozarena on a line drive and Franco and Lowe on K's--was huge. Ditto the first three innings--no Rays on base. Needing 17 (or was it 18) pitches to K that one guy took a lot of effort and grit, which is probably why he only lasted 5+ innings. But there can be no question this was the good ERod and, given the importance of the game, maybe ERod at his best even though he did not have his good changeup. Four different Sox starters/relievers--Houck, Eovaldi, Pivetta, and ERod--pitched big segments (4 or 5 innings) that were crucial to winning the final three games of the ALDS. Because the Sox had to start Eovaldi Tuesday in the wild card game, the Rays came into this series with a huge advantage. They got beat by a lineup that came alive in game 2 and by segments of exceptional Sox pitching.

I listened to his postgame interview Sunday night (for the first time ever), and he was articulate and team-oriented. I could see why Cora would like him and play him so much.

I probably deserve that because sometimes I do write that way. I just like the discussion and sometimes the arguments. I do try to go back and point out where I was off base. On the other hand, I can't see the harm in claiming the Sox have a real shot at the WS. I mean, they did beat the presumed best team in the AL after first having to use their ace to win the wild card game. And those numbers--best team OPS and best team ERA in the postseason American League--are accurate. Are you rooting for the Astros? Or do you think the White Sox will get to the ALCS?

Apropos of nothing, I just read the NYTimes version of the Sox winning their ALDS. In a nutshell, they said good hitting beat good pitching. To that I would add what I have said before. The final regular season series vs the Nats was absolutely crucial to winning the home field advantage for the wild card game and it was played in a NL park, hence no DH. Nevertheless, Cora went out of his way to play both Schwarber and JDM in all three games. He also went out of his way to get JDM back into the lineup for the final 3 games--all wins--of the ALDS despite his ankle still hurting. So I'm thinking keeping this ALDS line-up (JDM DH and Schwarber 1b) is worthwhile because it's actually the best combo of hitting and defense readily obtainable. Dalbec and Duran on the bench. And I like Iglesias over Arroyo at 2b. We all know this pitching staff stinks to high heaven. Sale is dead. ERod is inconsistent. So is Pivetta. Almost everyone in the bullpen got nailed at least once in this series, even Houck and Pivetta (who did not start). However, this pitching staff also has the lowest ERA, 4.11, of the five American League postseason staffs. Up ahead is the ALCS for further evidence of their ineptitude or, perish the thought, competence. My point is that, while Bloom should definitely be looking for good starters and relievers, he should not spend big. Am I the only who noticed that the Sox won 7 of their last 8 games (including the crucial 3 games series in DC) without a closer? Or that the Sox had a great closer in 2018 and he stunk in the postseason?

What do you mean by issues? Did everyone come down with COVID? Did Eovaldi's arm fall off? I saw no "issues" in game 4. I did see a terrific rally by the Sox against McClanahan, the Rays ace, and after that I saw Tampa climb back into the game with great relief pitching and some hitting--to tying it up in the 8th with 2 runs. They have only done that all season long. Then I saw Whitlock shut them down for the 8th and 9th and Kike drive in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th, which is what the Sox have done all year long. By "issues" do you mean you expected the Rays to roll over and play dead tonight?

Sox now in the ALCS, having beaten both the Yankees and Rays!!! This is already a great season, but the weird thing is they have a real shot at the WS. The hitting is the best it's been all season. And, believe it or not, the Sox have the lowest ERA--despite having to play five games--of the five AL teams in the postseason (including the Yankees).