Podcast: Troubles at home
Guest: David Brown, Baseball Prospectus
What an awful way to start the season at home. The Chicago White Sox were swept by the Detroit Tigers and now have a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
We discuss if fans are overreacting to Yoan Moncada’s slow start to 2018, and sit down with David Brown who spoke with Lucas Giolito about his early struggles.
Of course, we answered your questions in P.O. Sox. Here the questions that made the show:
@soxmachine Given that the first domino (Minaya) has fallen, is Engel the next to go? The quality of his at-bats fell off a cliff after the first 2 games of the season. #POSox
— Russell The K9 (@RusselltheK9) April 8, 2018
@SoxMachine After a week’s worth of games have (hopefully) tempered expectations, what stands out for you more: surprising improvements (Timmy and Davidson’s walks, etc) or the surprising shortcomings (Gio’s hard times, offense going cold against a craphouse Tigers team, etc)?
— Tim Maher (@hathead82) April 8, 2018
I hold my breath every time a ball is hit to Anderson. Are there any optimistic takeaways you’ve seen from the early season/spring training that shows he is progressing? #posox
— Ryan Gleffe (@RGleffe20) April 8, 2018
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What a difference a week makes.
Yup.
Great stuff as always Josh and Jim. Dead on with the whole “hardest hitting team” hype for opening series and fans getting rewarded with nothing and less than nothing. Also great voice of reason for Moncada. It is hard to look at now but we definitely do need to understand the situation.
I have faith that Giolito will pull together to have a decent season. I always saw him as a #2 or really good #3, anyway.
I have greater worries about Moncada, but not of the “send him to AAA” variety. More of the “is he always going to be this inconsistent?” variety.
LL- Did not read your post before maligning all Moncada detractors… You indeed might be right re: inconsistency…
Josh is rightfully emphatic in his exasperation with those calling for a Moncada demotion or those simply wringing their hands over a slow start in 30 degree weather. Give it a rest, people…
Glad to see that Renteria understands what is altogether clear to anyone who has been watching: Adam Engel needs to be on the bench, sent away, DFA’ed, etc. He can’t hit anything above the low thigh! Bring on Leury, all the time!