Chicago White Sox 2019

#101      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
Here’s your lineup: Madrigal, Anderson, Moncada, Abreu, Encarnacion, Jimenez, Robert, Grandal, Mazara. THAT is a murderers row. Quite literally, you have a hard time finding a place to put Grandal, a 70 million dollar stud. I CANNOT WAIT!!!
When they first traded for Mazara, I wasn't sold and thought he clearly needed adjustments to improve to what scouts thought he could be coming up. Now with how the lineup shakes out, even if he doesn't improve, you are going to get 25/70 from a hitter in the bottom third of the lineup. That will be huge.
 
#102      
Here’s your lineup: Madrigal, Anderson, Moncada, Abreu, Encarnacion, Jimenez, Robert, Grandal, Mazara. THAT is a murderers row. Quite literally, you have a hard time finding a place to put Grandal, a 70 million dollar stud. I CANNOT WAIT!!!
Is this lineup in your projected order? Anderson should be bottom 3rd, and Robert should be top 3rd. Of course, Renteria is the manager so the lineup will probably make no sense and Robert will be bunting.

I'd go:

Robert
Moncada
Abreu
Encarnacion
Grandal
Jimenez
Anderson
Mazara
Madrigal
 
#103      

Bailey

Los Angeles
Of course, Renteria is the manager so the lineup will probably make no sense and Robert will be bunting.
LOL
Man, I hope he gets better this year. This lineup is kind of a tricky one too. Only thing I'm sure about is Yoan 2nd.
 
#104      

illini55

The Villages, FL
Is this lineup in your projected order? Anderson should be bottom 3rd, and Robert should be top 3rd. Of course, Renteria is the manager so the lineup will probably make no sense and Robert will be bunting.

I'd go:

Robert
Moncada
Abreu
Encarnacion
Grandal
Jimenez
Anderson
Mazara
Madrigal
You can't put the American League batting champion at the bottom of the order. That's a given. The lineup order IS a tough job. That's what gives me so much optimism. Everyone can play, everyone can hit. I do agree that Madrigal will be near the bottom at first, but after he acclimates, he needs to be near the top. He's going to have one of the highest, if not THE highest, on-base percentage. Nice problem to have...
 
#105      

Bailey

Los Angeles
You can't put the American League batting champion at the bottom of the order. That's a given.
Not sure that's a given. Tim had over 150 PAs at 6/7 spot last year and absolutely murdered. Just keep him out from behind slow runners so you don't handcuff his ability to take an extra base.
 
#106      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
You can't put the American League batting champion at the bottom of the order. That's a given. The lineup order IS a tough job. That's what gives me so much optimism. Everyone can play, everyone can hit. I do agree that Madrigal will be near the bottom at first, but after he acclimates, he needs to be near the top. He's going to have one of the highest, if not THE highest, on-base percentage. Nice problem to have...
The batting title was great for a down year, but TA needs to walk more before I trust his ability to consistently have a high OBP. I'm not sure I want TA in the top half the order. He doesn't walk enough to lead off. I'd rather have Yoan in the 2 spot, and I want the 3-5 slots to be more power/run producers. I like TA in the 6/7 spot with Mazara behind him to drive him in.
 
#107      
You can't put the American League batting champion at the bottom of the order. That's a given. The lineup order IS a tough job. That's what gives me so much optimism. Everyone can play, everyone can hit. I do agree that Madrigal will be near the bottom at first, but after he acclimates, he needs to be near the top. He's going to have one of the highest, if not THE highest, on-base percentage. Nice problem to have...
To agree with the others, I don't put any stock in batting average. By itself, it's basically a useless stat. You might be a very good player, but it's not because you won the batting title, especially if it's a bunch of singles.
 
#108      

illini55

The Villages, FL
To agree with the others, I don't put any stock in batting average. By itself, it's basically a useless stat. You might be a very good player, but it's not because you won the batting title, especially if it's a bunch of singles.
I understand not putting a great emphasis on batting average, but to say you put No stock in it goes too far. When a guy hits .335 and has decent doubles and home run production, he's a player. Anderson was definitely NOT just a singles hitter.
 
#109      
I understand not putting a great emphasis on batting average, but to say you put No stock in it goes too far. When a guy hits .335 and has decent doubles and home run production, he's a player. Anderson was definitely NOT just a singles hitter.
No he wasn't, but what you just described is slugging percentage, where you give weight to doubles, triples, and HRs. That's why I'm an OPS guy (SLG + OBP).
 
#110      
I understand not putting a great emphasis on batting average, but to say you put No stock in it goes too far...

No it doesn't.

Hanser Alberto (Baltimore) had 160 hits in 524 ABs last year for a .305 average.
Austin Meadows (TB) had 154 hits in 530 ABs last year for a .291 average.

What does betting average tell you about the relative quality of these two hitters' performance last year? Nothing. Based on batting average, you might think that the two players were relatively similar batters. Far from the truth.

Batting average doesn't tell you that Meadows had 7 more doubles, 5 more triples, 21 more home runs, and 38 more walks last year than Alberto did.

Thus, absent other information, batting average is essentially meaningless. Now, if I tell you Alberto and Meadows had about the same number of at bats, but that Meadows had a .922 OPS while Alberto had a .751 OPS, you know pretty much all you need to know about the relative quality of the two hitters' performances. You can be a mediocre .300 hitter like Alberto and you can be a great .250 hitter like Josh Donaldson, for example.
 
#111      

Joel Goodson

respect my decision™
No it doesn't.

Hanser Alberto (Baltimore) had 160 hits in 524 ABs last year for a .305 average.
Austin Meadows (TB) had 154 hits in 530 ABs last year for a .291 average.

What does betting average tell you about the relative quality of these two hitters' performance last year? Nothing. Based on batting average, you might think that the two players were relatively similar batters. Far from the truth.

Batting average doesn't tell you that Meadows had 7 more doubles, 5 more triples, 21 more home runs, and 38 more walks last year than Alberto did.

Thus, absent other information, batting average is essentially meaningless. Now, if I tell you Alberto and Meadows had about the same number of at bats, but that Meadows had a .922 OPS while Alberto had a .751 OPS, you know pretty much all you need to know about the relative quality of the two hitters' performances. You can be a mediocre .300 hitter like Alberto and you can be a great .250 hitter like Josh Donaldson, for example.

VG analysis. Batting average seems akin to plus/minus in hockey: pretty much meaningless by itself.

Been out of the baseball loop forever, but this may be the year I start paying attention again. Knock on wood.
 
#114      

ILL in IA

Iowa City
In 2006 I had a chance to play a few holes of golf with Ed at a tournament in South Bend. It was originally scheduled for a Sox off day but they had a rainout rescheduled. Farmer drove the 90 miles to South Bend to play 4 holes of golf with us, to then get back on the road to be back in time for the Sox game. Could have easily canceled and not been a big deal. Really nice guy will definitely be missed
 
#115      
In 2006 I had a chance to play a few holes of golf with Ed at a tournament in South Bend. It was originally scheduled for a Sox off day but they had a rainout rescheduled. Farmer drove the 90 miles to South Bend to play 4 holes of golf with us, to then get back on the road to be back in time for the Sox game. Could have easily canceled and not been a big deal. Really nice guy will definitely be missed
Great story.

And a thought on your avatar ... maybe they should just play the Field of Dreams game this year and forego the rest of the season.
 
#116      
Draft update...Round 1 Chris Sale clone, with the exception Sale was ranked high and dropped while Garret Crochet was right about where he should be, Round 2. Steal of draft , if he signs, ranked higher than 1 st round pick due to signability...BUT one of his friends is already on Sox and they recently talked how cool it would be to be together in Chi, so...could be two top of rotation talents if Jared Kelly signs,which ironically is similar to how they got Sale. ...Go Go White Sox !!! 3 more pitchers rounded out draft with weighting by Chi management put on players who would take less than their draft slot so they can pay Kelly.
 
#117      
Draft update...Round 1 Chris Sale clone, with the exception Sale was ranked high and dropped while Garret Crochet was right about where he should be, Round 2. Steal of draft , if he signs, ranked higher than 1 st round pick due to signability...BUT one of his friends is already on Sox and they recently talked how cool it would be to be together in Chi, so...could be two top of rotation talents if Jared Kelly signs,which ironically is similar to how they got Sale. ...Go Go White Sox !!! 3 more pitchers rounded out draft with weighting by Chi management put on players who would take less than their draft slot so they can pay Kelly.

They had a deal in place before the second round started. That's why he fell to 47. He's signing
 
#119      
Latest statement from MLB after the players voted down the owners' most recent proposal 33-5:

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#120      
White Sox set to open the season with a 3 game series that starts July 24 vs. the Twins at the Cell.

Other key dates on the schedule:
-August 13, 15-16: vs. Cardinals (August 13 Field of Dreams game to air on FOX)
-August 21-23: @ Cubs (Crosstown series at Wrigley)
-August 31-September 2: @ Twins (Only series of season at Target Field)
-September 25-27: vs. Cubs (Season ending Crosstown series at the Cell)
 
#122      
So what does everyone think is going on with Moncada? Have their been reports of Kopech making it to camp yet?
Moncada is probably one of the two with the virus. But it shouldn't be as doom and gloom as everybody is making it out to be. He is a hitter and doesn't need that much time to ramp up as a pitcher. If he is still out by the time we start to play exhibition games next Sunday then we might have problems.

Kopech it sounds like its a family/personal issue. I have been watching NBCSN and they have emphasized it has nothing to do with Michael's health. He has had mental health issues that he has been open about but considering he is from Texas and what is currently going on there, it might be somebody he is close with and/or family has it and has to quarantine due to restrictions (not even going to mention the other possibility that could be keeping him back home in that situation)
 
#125      
I will take this start for sure. I am worried a little bit about the injuries starting to pile up but I think Tim will be back sooner rather than later. Just can't lose any more pitchers.