moonslav59

I think we're about to go on a nice winning stretch. Just a hunch.

Some interesting names at the bottom of the WHIP list this season: 97 (worst) A Wainwright 94 Zimmerman 93 Salazar 92 Moore 90 Sabathia 89 Teheran 87 Arrieta 83 Quintana 81 Harvey 74 Verlander 70 Kluber 66 Lester

But, who has great players on the bench? Comparatively speaking, I think our bench looks very good for short term injuries, and better than average for long term. Long term: OF: Young plays FT. 1B: Moreland or HRam plays FT with S Travis available. 2B: Hernandez/Holt, Rutledge SS: Hernandez, Marrero 3B: Hernandez/Holt/Rutledge and eventually Devers C: Swihart takes the place of Vaz or Leon. Beyond these guys, we don't have much, but this is prey decent, at worst.

Is the nerve issue related to the mix up over the off season workout regime?

lol!

I still think our bench is one of our greatest strengths. We have a winning record despite having our $30M+ starter on the DL all year, our 4/5th starter (Wright) now out all year, our other 4/5 starter (Pom) missing time, and a whole slew of everyday player injuries, illnesses and family leaves. I know all teams have injuries, but other than 3B, I think we have filled in for lost players very very well. Vaz has done a great job as our back up catcher. Moreland and Young have done a very good job playing full time, instead of platoon. In fact, they've done better vs "the wrong handed" pitchers. (Moreland .879 v LHPs/.793 v RHPs and Young .827 v RHPs/.566 v LHPs) As for 3B, it's hard to blame a GM for having his top 4 third basemen out injured for a significant time. Having to bring up Marrero is stunning. Our bull pen has been led by pitchers not expected to be on the opening day roster had everyone been healthy (including Smith & Thornburg). If you agree that this would have been our opening day pen: Kimbrel, Smith, Thornburg, Kelly, Barnes, Ross & Abad, then these pitchers would be considered "depth": Heath Hembree Robbie Scott Ben Taylor Brandon Workman While Kendrick has sucked as our 7th starter, once Price returns, we might not have to see him again.

If it was so team friendly, he should have demanded a no-trade clause. I get your point, though.

At first, I felt Devers looked more like a 1Bman than a 3Bman, at least as he matured, but according to reports, he has done a very good job improving his defense on the farm. I see him as our 3Bman of the future, until he proves otherwise. (I still have not given up on the idea of acquiring a top defensive SS and moving Bogey to 3B. This would allow Devers to play 1B.

Pedey has not just lost speed. I'm still thinking he should not bat first or second anymore.

More than Bagwell? More than Lynn? More than Burleson?

It's not greater than the ML team, unless maybe HRam goes on the DL too. $22M HRam $21M Porcello $16M Pedey $13M Kimbrel $12M Sale $6.5M Young $5.5M Moreland $4.5M Bogey $4.5M Pom $3.6M JBJ $2.8M Kelly $2M Abad Plus scraps for others

With the day off, we don't need a 5th starter for a while, so they brought up Ross for pen help. Johsnon, Velazquez and Owens all have shown reason for consideration as our next 5th starter. So far, we've gone through three 5th starters: Steven Wright (Out for the season.) Kyle Kendrick (Just sent down.) Brian Johnson (Had one start earlier.) If Price had been healthy, one could have called Pomeranz our fourth 5th starter.

Even Sparky Lyle for Danny Cater is worse than this one.

I think the pitching will come around (again), especially when Price and one of our two good RP'ers return.

Here's the worst stretch: Starting AUG 15 2 v STL 3 v NYY 4 @ CLE 3 v BAL 3 @ TOR 4 @ NYY ending SEPT 3

I agree. This one was like a punch in the gut. Losing Fisk was a travesty, but that wasn't a "signing" or "trade"- just sheer madness and incompetency. . The CC signing was horrendous, but we got out from under it, so I'd say the Pablo signing was the worst signing.

It is frustrating for all of us Sox fans, but the season is a long one. An optimist might look at all the injuries, illnesses and family leave days we've lost along side still having a winning record and think we're not so bad off.

Yes, and Victor Diaz has not pitched any this season- so far.

Fair enough.

Moncada's K rate in AA last year was 31%. His K rate in AAA this year is 26%. Jeff Todd wrote this today: White Sox GM Rick Hahn shot down the idea that top prospect Yoan Moncada will push his way onto the MLB roster early this year, as Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago reports. All signs are pointing up for Moncada, who has tamped down on the strikeouts while showing signs of polishing up his defensive game. But that doesn’t mean the club is prepared to make an aggressive promotion. “He’s shown a fair amount of progress in each of those areas that we’ve asked of him,” said GM Rick Hahn. “That said, we want to see that over an extended period of time. It’s awfully important to not lose sight of the fact this is a 21-year-old player, one who was not playing two years ago as of right now. It’s a guy who has fewer than 325 or so plate appearances above A-ball.” Given that, says Hahn, the club won’t “rush” Moncada’s ascension.

No way would I have the same star ranking for Sale and Kimbrel (or Porcello & Kimbrel). How can you have Sandoval with more stars than Price? If you based it on reputation at the time of the acquisition, Price would be 5 and maybe Sandy a 3. If it's in hindsight, Price would be 2-3 and Pablo negative 5. Why rank Pablo and not HRam?

No agenda- No statements- Just some data.... Here is a rundown on how recently traded Sox players and prospects are doing so far this year: For Chris Sale: Y Moncada (AAA):.345/.419/.549/.967 M Kopech (AA): 3.30 ERA/1.100 WHIP (12.6 K/9) L Basabe (A+): .242/.337/.363/.699 For Thornburg (On DL): Travis Shaw: .265/.310/.538/.848 (7 HR, 10 2B+3B and 25 RBI in 30 gms) M. Dubon (AA): .677 OPS J. Pennington (A-): 2.86 ERA/1.165 WHIP and 7.8 K/9 For Pomeranz: A Espinoza (A?): No data For Kimbrel: M Margot: .274/.327/.407/.734 (3 HR and 11 RBI in 147 PAs) J Guerra (A+): .498 OPS L Allen (A): 2.17 ERA/1.034 WHIP (12.1 K/9) C Asuaje (AAA): .649 OPS in 129 PAs/ MLB .532 OPS in 25 PAs

The Mets scored 23 in ONE GAME! Seattle 19 & 12. Wash 17 & 12. Cincy 12 & 12.

I do think we'll be seeing more runs scored from here on out- with a couple small team slumps thrown in here and there.

My guess is most team's stats are greatly helped by 2-3 games- not just the Sox. The only difference was we had our 2 big games later than others.