Riverbrian

I think both of you are right at the same time. DJL44... I think you are right. I think DeSclafini was planned on to bring length to the stable of starters and I think his recent history suggests that he wouldn't last the entire year but he can eat innings as long as he can. Chief: I think you are right. If he would remain healthy this year. I think they had no plans to remove him from the rotation. Because Varland, SWR, Festa would be plugging holes for other members of the rotation who were not as fortunate.

When I hear definitive statements like that. A chill goes down my spine. The front office should know better than all of us that plans are going to need adjustment.

Great article Nick... You have hit the nail on the head. Although... The strategy that you refer to as sensible is not. 33 Million spent on vets sounds like something you can put on a brochure with smiling faces on the cover to sell your organization but the reality is that they spent 33 million on an innings eater (if healthy) and part time players who become full time players when the injuries hit. 33 million on part time players! While cutting 31 million off the payroll. This strategy is never sensible. Farmer and Margot are here to hit left handers. We didn't pay them to hit right handers because if we did that would be hard to justify. Farmer has 1206 Career AB's vs RH with an OPS of .653 Margot has 1939 Career AB's vs RH with an OPS of .659 They hit left handers!!! These are not the players you roster to hit right handers. You roster them to face left handers and you need to roster players to hit left handers if you are committed to making sure Kirilloff, Julien and Wallner don't have to face left handers which occurs 25% of the time. This is a sensible strategy only if players don't get hurt. Once players start getting hurt and become unavailable or even if players stay healthy but are not good like Wallner has been... they have to face right handers and they have shown over 3000 AB's that they shouldn't be doing that. They were so focused on protecting our young left handed hitters against left handed pitchers 25% of the time that they compromised our ability to hit right handers who throw 75% of the time and we paid money we don't have to do it. Injury is not an excuse. Injuries were always going to happen. Injuries are going to happen to every single team. Once we get our injured 3 back... there will be others to replace them on the disabled list. We took a major league switch hitter in Polanco and shed him so we could spend that money on multiple lesser players. Those lesser players are killing us and they will not be released so they will kill us all year. Santana hasn't been what he was a long time ago for quite some time, DeSclafini was just another innings eater. Santana, Margot, Farmer and Vazquez will not be waived. They will be around to kill us all year. If we are to turn this thing around. Those 4 will have to turn it around and I'm doubtful that they will. Bad strategy... Bad Bad Strategy.

I gave you a thumps up because I appreciate the light at the end of the tunnel optimism. I'll just temper it a bit. Don't count on the White Sox to fix what ails us. Our offense is producing so little that every team in the league is constantly within striking distance. There are teams that are producing 2 runs to our 1. It's bad.

Yep... it's there. The flames, green laser eyes, he has the stuff. Hasn't figured out how to harness it yet. Yesterday it was like Darrin (pick your favorite) from Bewitched telling him don't wiggle your nose. He seemed to be throwing more off-speed stuff than normal and missing with it.

Yes he should be a consideration. This type of consideration is how you get through a 162 games schedule. Which pitchers are hanging zeroes and how many innings can you get out of those that are.

That's harsh

You'll need a decent sized sample to feel comfortable.

I've been as frustrated and vocal about Rocco's utilization of our young left handers. However... in the this situation. It would have been the perfect time. 1. They were not just pinch hitters they were defensive replacements as well and we had a two run lead to protect. 2. Santana and Margot are better against left handers and Joey Wentz was on the mound. Of course HInch double crossed Rocco by bringing in a right hander after Margot was announced. The surprise in the game to me was Joey Wentz entering the game after our run of left handed hitters.

"Driven to Tears"

I don't want to blame anyone. Things happen. It wasn't a great throw... but wet grass or not. It was a long enough hop for a MLB catcher to catch. It doesn't matter now anyway. I'm more concerned about Vazquez hitting. And even more concerned about Camargo on the roster if he can't get a trip to the plate with the off charts struggling from his teammates.

Left Handers at the plate.

Once again... you haven't really narrowed it down for easy identification in a crowd.

C;mon baseball phrase: Lead off strike outs will haunt.

What ya'll think on the pickoff move. Bad throw by Julien or not?

Quite a bit when dressed in Pink and dating Ken.

I'll bet this is the last batter Chafin faces.

Rocco singing Sam Cooke while making out the lineup. Another Friday Night and I ain't got nobody.

That really doesn't narrow it down if he has to be identified in a crowd.

Anything for you Sam Cooke.

C'mon now Those dimples C'mon

Who could have predicted that Chafin would enter in this spot with Julien, Kirilloff and Larnach hitting 1,2 and 4 in the lineup?

It was in Celeron, New York. Was... the locals complained about it until it was finally replaced by a much better representation.

And here's a statue with limitations

Yeah... cuz I'd charge you for that.